Athlete with Depression Makes a Statement

The title above has a double meaning. New York Mets relief pitcher Taylor Buchholz made an official announcement today that he was being treated for depression and anxiety. When I read the statement I nearly jumped with excitement. It may seem strange to be happy about this, but for someone in his position openly disclosing his problems is a major step in putting a face on “normal” mental health problems. It is always a fight to try and remove stigma from “mental illness”. When people hear that phrase they think of the seriously mentally ill, like those who have been … Continue reading →

New hope for the depressed?

When working with those who are chronically depressed one thing many in the field worry about is “self-medicating”. It is not unusual for those with chronic mental health problems to turn to alcohol and other drugs when they have nowhere else to turn for help. Medication can be expensive, and therapy can be difficult to get to. So when I read recently that researchers were looking to “club drugs” for possible answers to depression I can’t say that I was totally surprised. Many drugs are known to cause depression after the initial “high”, or cause depression in the first place, … Continue reading →

Facebook Depression?

In March of 2011 a clinical report was released from the American Academy of Pediatrics titled The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and Families. This report covers a variety of issues related to social media, both positive and negative. Something that jumped out is a term they refer to: facebook depression. Facebook depression is not a new concept, as other research has addressed it. But the concept is an interesting one. Can facebook cause depression? What is the connection? In January 2011 a 14-year-old teen killed himself after being taunted on facebook. Other stories have been reported in … Continue reading →

Dad’s Depression has an Impact on Baby

When we discuss postpartum depression, we automatically think of moms suffering from this illness. But a recent study showed that many dads may experience depression after a new baby is born. And this study also revealed that dad’s depression can have major ramification of your children. There appears to be a direct correlation between dad’s depression and spanking. The study showed that 40 percent of depressed dads have spanked their one year old child, compared to only 13 percent of dads that are not suffering. These results are alarming, as children this young most likely will not make the connection … Continue reading →

When Someone You Love Won’t Face Their Depression

I have found myself in a difficult situation. I have come to believe that my husband, whom I love dearly, is suffering from depression. He is expressing a lot of common symptoms. He has lost interest in doing things, to the extent that he will sit in front of the TV all day. He doesn’t have any desire to play with our children. He’s moody and sarcastic. He rarely has anything positive to say. He’s irritable. He has little to no patience. He will sneak away any chance he has and nap. He has no desire for sex. Adding to … Continue reading →

Antidepressants for Dogs: Canines Inadvertently Subjected to Myth

Regular readers of my articles will know that I have strong views on the use of antidepressants. These drugs are marvelous lifesavers for extremely depressed people but were never intended to be used long-term. That is, until the pharmaceutical companies started the myth that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. The idea that depression is caused by an imbalance in the brain’s chemistry is unproven. It is merely a theory. And yet it continues to be spoken about as it if were a given. You can read about my previous articles on this subject at The … Continue reading →

Hormonal Swings and Depression

While the symptoms of PMS are very familiar to many women, those who have a history of anxiety and depression or who currently suffer from anxiety and depression may notice that the changing hormonal levels during the month bring about increased emotional problems. The week before menstruation is well-known by women and feared by men as being the most emotionally difficult week of the month. That makes for twelve to thirteen “difficult” weeks per year for women of childbearing age. However, the ebb and flow of hormones that bring about these changes can have quite a dramatic effect of the … Continue reading →

Depression in the Elderly (2)

As we discussed in the previous article dealing with depression in the elderly, depression can hit at any age. For all the symptoms of depression in the elderly, see the link below So what can trigger depression in the elderly? Life changing events, such as the death of a loved one, particularly a spouse of many years, is a common trigger for older people to become depressed. Other factors moving out of the family home of long standing, inability to socialize due to disability, a physical illness, even deafness can be a trigger for depression due to lack of meaningful … Continue reading →

Depression in the Elderly (1)

Depression is not an uncommon illness across the most of the lifespan and the elderly are no exception. Sometimes elderly people visit their doctor with a series of ailments only to be told they are not physically ill, but are suffering from depression. So what are the symptoms of depression in the elderly? Mostly, they are much the same as those of any age group, yet because of the nature of some of the symptoms, elderly people may assume that something more serious, such as dementia, is causing the symptoms. Below is an outline of the symptoms of depression as … Continue reading →

The Importance of Exercise during Depression

Depression affects such a large proportion of the population that any helpful adjunct to traditional Western medicine is a useful tool for the sufferer. Exercise is one such method to help alleviate the effects of depression on both the body and the mind. When a person is moderately to severely depressed, one of the last things they want to do is exercise. There literally is no interest in anything, so jogging merrily around the block or doing rounds of lunges at the local gym or even in front of an exercise DVD is not going to appeal to the depressed. … Continue reading →