There are plenty of things that occur in our daily lives that cause us stress: commuter traffic, hassles at work, and tension in our personal relationships to name just a few. If we don’t find healthy ways to deal with this stress, it can fester, eventually causing anxiety, depression, and even health issues such as hypertension and heart disease.One of...[ read more ]
Have you been feeling a bit low lately, but you can’t quite put your finger on why? It may have something to do with your social media habits. According to a recent study, social media use can increase depression and loneliness.For years people have suspected that social media use might have an ability to negatively impact our mental well-being. After...[ read more ]
Did you know that on most days, the average person has between 25,000 and 50,000 thoughts? That’s an impressive amount of thoughts.But when happens when the majority of these thoughts are negative? Imagine the impact on your psyche and your life if you had thousands and thousands of negative thoughts each day?This amount of negative thinking is a hallmark of depression. Negative...[ read more ]
Greetings all, The times are "strange" indeed. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything - right now. As I write this I am following our Pinellas county elected leader's request that non-essential services/businesses close for a time by staying at home. While I consider what I do to be vital and important I do not think it rises to the level...[ read more ]
With 322 million people suffering with depression worldwide, it's not surprising to learn that in America, depression is among the most common mental disorders. The cause of depression is often simplified as a chemical imbalance in the brain, but the reality is that the disease is far more complicated. Scientific research has yet to completely understand the biology of depression....[ read more ]
According to the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, over 47,000 people died by suicide in the United States in 2017. In the same year, there were an estimated 1,400,000 suicide attempts.Knowing the signs of suicide is the primary step in preventing someone you know and love from successfully taking their own life.The Warning Signs of SuicideHopelessnessMany individuals who are contemplating...[ read more ]
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 9% of American adults live with depression. It’s also worth mentioning that a major depressive episode is the leading cause of disability for Americans between the ages of 15 and 44.Antidepressants are commonly prescribed to treat people with moderate or severe depression. And while these drugs do offer some relief,...[ read more ]
A great many alcoholics are also suffering from major depression. Because alcohol can feed our brain’s serotonin receptors, it can make someone feel good for a short amount of time. But eventually the person crashes and feels even worse than they did before.And this vicious cycle continues and is, unfortunately, very hard to break without asking for professional help.The Chicken...[ read more ]
It has long been believed that having faith is key to getting through some of life’s greatest challenges. A spiritual practice can often give people the strength and confidence to push through obstacles and make positive changes.But can faith have a positive effect on depression and anxiety? According to new research, it can.Your Brain on SpiritualityAccording to a study published...[ read more ]
During this time of year, radio and TV ads would have us believe we should all feel merry and bright. Sadly, that’s not always the case. According to the National Institute of Health, many people experience depression during the holiday season.Some of the most common reasons people experience depression during this time of year are:Financial hardship – ‘Tis the season to be jolly, unless...[ read more ]