Depression

Things I Wish I Was Told When Diagnosed With Depression

All of my remembered life I have been depressed. Therefore, depression feels deeply entwined with my identity. Most of that time I felt ashamed of being depressed and, therefore, ashamed of who I was. This is the tragic nature of the stigma surrounding mental illness. Because of the stigma, I thought I was alone, and,… Read more »

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7 Warning Signs That a New Mom Needs Help for Troubling Emotions

“Nobody would believe what an effort it is to do what little I am able.”  – Charlotte Perkins Gilman, The Yellow Wallpaper, 1892 For some new moms, motherhood sparks surprisingly difficult emotions. We expect new mothers to greet a newborn with joy and delight. But not every woman will feel these emotions after childbirth. Days,… Read more »

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Why Treating Postpartum Depression As Trauma is Key to Good Care

Most health professionals understand postpartum depression (PPD) and other mood disorders are a serious mental health concern. Raising awareness of postpartum mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) is so important for two reasons. First, professionals need to be more proactive with evaluation and diagnosis, because PMADs can be challenging to detect during a brief office visit.  Women… Read more »

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The Link Between Childhood Trauma and Depression

In a recent article, journalist Johann Hari wrote about the doubt some scientists feel about depression being caused by a “chemically imbalanced” brain. For most of his adult life, Hari had believed that his depression was the result of a biological condition. However, after doing his own investigation into the subject, which led to his… Read more »

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Simple Ways to Reduce the Mental Illness Stigma

Let’s Make it Okay to Ask For Help The problem with the stigma around mental illness is huge! It stops too many people from getting help early, when it’s most effective. With a little knowledge, you and I can help end the stigma, prevent a great deal of suffering and save more lives. “That’s not a… Read more »

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The Role of Anger in Depression

Sigmund Freud used to refer to depression as anger turned inward. While many people may regard this as an overly simplistic approach to the most common mental health disorder in the world, there is no doubt that anger plays a significant role in depression. As one study from 2016 found, when it comes to emotional disorders in… Read more »

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7 Ways To Tell The Difference Between Sadness and Depression

Feelings of sadness, grief, despair and loneliness are normal emotions that all human beings experience at some point in their lives. When these feelings last for a long time, a misdiagnosis is often made as the conditions of being sad and depressed share several common symptoms including difficulty focusing and chronic fatigue paired with sleeplessness… Read more »

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Which is Worst for Your Mental Health: Instagram, Facebook or YouTube?

Social media is a relatively new experience for the human psyche. With social networks becoming more ingrained in people’s lives each year and each generation, it is vital that we understand the full impact each social network has on our mental health. A new report, #StatusOfMind, published by the Royal Society for Public Health in… Read more »

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Am I Depressed? The Difference Between Sadness and Depression

Nobody welcomes feelings of sadness or dejection, but feeling down is sometimes part of life. Sadness is a normal, healthy emotion, and a natural response to loss or disappointment. However, depression is a mental health issue, and a treatable illness. When feeling down, people often wonder, “Am I depressed?” While it may not seem to… Read more »

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Free Webinar on Empowering Strategies to Fight Depression

Please enjoy this FREE Webinar on fighting depression! Check out more Webinars by PsychAlive

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