Why does depression make you tired? Learn more about how depression and other conditions can affect your energy levels by Laura Harris, LCMHC | Jan 30, 2023 | Depression, Mental Health Topics, Sleep It’s normal to feel exhausted at the end of a long day—or after working out, traveling, or even some vigorous spring cleaning. But what about when we’re depressed? Could depression actually affect our energy levels? Can Depression Make You Suddenly Tired? Mental health professionals typically agree that it can. Remember,…
Dealing with PMDD: Diagnosing and treating premenstrual dysphoric disorder by Hannah DeWitt | Nov 17, 2022 | Depression, Mental Health Topics Most people who menstruate can tell you that period symptoms are no fun. However, though many people struggle with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms, some have it even worse. What is PMDD? Well, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD, is a depressive disorder similar to PMS, though more serious. The symptoms, such…
Seasonal affective disorder: A manual to help navigate your seasonal depressive symptoms by Jason Crosby | Sep 26, 2022 | Depression, Mental Health Awareness, Mental Health Topics Like a cold blast of air, seasonal affective disorder (also known as seasonal depression) hits hard for those who experience it. There’s more to this emotional disorder than just feeling down in the winter, though. We’re here to help you navigate the ins and outs of seasonal depression, and find…
Depression medication: Antidepressants and alternatives by Wistar Murray | Aug 17, 2022 | Depression, Medication, Mental Health Topics The discovery of antidepressants was literally a happy accident. In 1952, scientists were trying to treat tuberculosis with a drug called isoniazid, and their patients became inexplicably euphoric. By the end of the 1950s, almost half a million psychiatric patients were being treated with isoniazid, the world’s first prescription antidepressant. …
Diurnal mood variation: Understanding its symptoms, links to major depressive disorder, and circadian rhythms by Jason Crosby | Aug 9, 2022 | Depression, Mental Health Topics Often an associated symptom of major depressive disorder, diurnal mood variation occurs when a depressed individual notes a marked difference in mood over the course of a day. In a majority of cases, low mood is experienced in the early hours but it gradually improves throughout the day, hence its…
Dysthymia: A guide to persistent depressive disorder (PDD) by Wistar Murray | Aug 9, 2022 | Depression, Disorders, Mental Health Topics What if you were depressed for so long that you forgot what happiness felt like? What if your low mood started to feel permanent, like part of your personality? This is the reality for many people with dysthymia, or persistent depressive disorder (PDD), a chronic depressive state that lasts two…
Depressive disorders: Definition, types, and contributing factors by Jason Crosby | Aug 5, 2022 | Depression, Disorders, Mental Health Topics Known more commonly and collectively as depression, depressive disorders are a set of closely related mental health conditions that affect a person’s mood, energy, nervous system, sleep cycles, biochemistry, and even brain waves. There’s little in an individual’s daily life that depressive disorders won’t affect—but other than a shared capacity…
Depression and anxiety: Exploring their links by Wistar Murray | Aug 2, 2022 | Anxiety, Depression, Mental Health Topics Depression and anxiety might be the Ross and Rachel of the mental health field. You try to think of them as separate entities, two platonic Friends with a romantic history, but then they’re back together again. And even in the episodes when they’re not together, you still feel the tension. …
Flowers, chocolate, and CBT: Date night ideas for an anxious or depressed partner by Wistar Murray | Jul 22, 2022 | Anxiety, Depression, Mental Health Topics, Relationships If you’re expecting tips on what medium-priced champagne to buy in order to sweep your lover off their feet this Saturday night, you’re in the wrong place. Sorry. It’s not going to be that kind of a date night. You probably won’t end up in a Jacuzzi, or on a…
A blueprint for understanding major depressive disorder (MDD) by Wistar Murray | Jul 14, 2022 | Depression, Disorders, Mental Health Topics Major depression disorder (MDD) is a mental health condition that impacts emotional well-being and can cause severe functional consequences in daily life. MDD is also called clinical depression, major depression, and unipolar depression (to distinguish it from bipolar depression caused by bipolar disorder). In Ancient Greece, depression was called melancholia,…
Understanding postpartum depression by Kate Hanselman, PMHNP-BC | May 23, 2022 | Depression, Mental Health Topics, Postpartum & Pregnancy Having a baby is life-changing and often brings heightened emotions. While feelings of joy, excitement, and even stress are normal, persistent sadness, guilt, or despair may be a sign of postpartum depression (PPD). PPD is a common disorder that affects many parents, and it’s important to get help and support….
Existential depression: Navigating tough questions and feelings about life by Taylor Bennett | May 20, 2022 | Depression, Feelings & Emotions, Mental Health Topics It’s normal to contemplate the state of the world and life itself; for some, though, these questions stir up intense emotions like distress and despair that last for months or sometimes years. While existential depression is not a formal diagnosis, it is sometimes used to describe these cases of depression…