Lexapro vs. Wellbutrin

What Are the Top 10 Medications for Anxiety?

Here are the top 10 medications for anxiety, which aim to treat the associated symptoms rather than cure the disorder.

What Are 4 Major Causes of Depression?

Depression is not a condition that has one specific cause. It can happen for many different reasons and have many triggers. Depression is a serious condition with a spectrum of diagnoses and a wide range of severity. Depression is a common yet serious mood disorder. The four types of depression include major depression, bipolar disorder, persistent depressive disorder and seasonal affective disorder.

Seasonal Depression

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Depression

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Depression: The Basics

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When a Loved One Has Depression

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Anxiety

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Schizophrenia and Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Second Source article from WebMD

Teen Depression

Depression: Causes of Depression

Second Source article from The Cleveland Clinic

Depression Treatment Options

Second Source article from WebMD

What Is the 3-3-3 Rule for Anxiety?

Parenting a young child can be tough. The 3-3-3 rule is a mindfulness technique that's simple enough for young children and it asks them to name three things they can see, identify three sounds they can hear, and move three different parts of their bodies.

Anxiety

Anxiety is a feeling of apprehension and fear characterized by symptoms such as trouble concentrating, headaches, sleep problems, and irritability. Anxiety disorders are serious medical illnesses that affect approximately 19 million American adults. Treatment for anxiety may incorporate medications and psychotherapy.

Panic Attacks

Panic attacks are sudden feelings of terror that strike without warning. These episodes can occur at any time, even during sleep. A person experiencing a panic attack may believe that he or she is having a heart attack or that death is imminent. The fear and terror that a person experiences during a panic attack are not in proportion to the true situation and may be unrelated to what is happening around them. Most people with panic attacks experience several of the following symptoms: racing heartbeat, faintness, dizziness, numbness or tingling in the hands and fingers, chills, chest pains, difficulty breathing, and a feeling of loss or control. There are several treatments for panic attacks.

Depression: When a Friend is Depressed

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Depression: A Treatable Illness

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Depression

Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. The principal types of depression are major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disease (also called manic-depressive disease).

What Are the 5 Characteristics of Depression?

Although depression includes a wide range of symptoms, here are the 5 most common characteristics of the condition.

What Color Light Is Best for Depression?

Light therapy, also known as phototherapy, involves the use of artificial bright light or blue light to improve mood and reduce depression symptoms. Research indicates that blue light is superior to other lights in the spectrum for treating depression.

Is Sperm Good for Depression?

Studies report that various chemicals in semen may help reduce depression in some women when absorbed in the body.

How Do I Stop Catastrophizing Anxiety?

Similar to other mental health and anxiety disorders, you can stop catastrophizing by managing your negative thoughts through these techniques.

13 Tips for Parenting a Teen With ADHD

Parenting a teenager who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be challenging. Parents can use specific strategies to help their teen cope with school and homework. Special care should be taken to help an ADHD teen drive safely and avoid alcohol and drug use.

What Is ADHD in Children?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) causes the following symptoms in children: excessive activity, problems concentrating, and difficulty controlling impulses. Stimulant medications are the most common medication used to treat ADHD.

Adult ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

About 2%-6% of adults have ADHD, a common behavioral problem. Symptoms include impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention. Treatment may involve ADHD education, attending a support group, skills training, and medication.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that causes a person to suffer repeated obsessions and compulsions. Symptoms include irresistible impulses despite a person's realization that the thoughts are irrational, excessive hand washing, skin picking, lock checking, or repeatedly rearranging items. People with OCD are more likely to develop trichotillomania, muscle or vocal tics, or an eating disorder. Treatment for OCD includes psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, and medication.

How Does Depression Affect a Person's Behavior?

Depression — a serious mood disorder — is the most common mental health disorder. It can interfere with your thoughts, your feelings, and daily activities like sleeping, eating, and working.

Mental Health

Mental health is an optimal way of thinking, relating to others, and feeling. All of the diagnosable mental disorders fall under the umbrella of mental illness. Depression, anxiety, and substance-abuse disorders are common types of mental illness. Symptoms and signs of mental illness include irritability, moodiness, insomnia, headaches, and sadness. Treatment may involve psychotherapy and medication.

Does DMT Help With Depression and Anxiety?

Despite being a controlled drug, DMT is being considered to treat mental conditions, such as depression and anxiety.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a psychiatric condition, can develop after any catastrophic life event. Symptoms include nightmares, flashbacks, sweating, rapid heart rate, detachment, amnesia, sleep problems, irritability, and exaggerated startle response. Treatment may involve psychotherapy, group support, and medication.

Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain is a chronic condition that leads to ongoing pain symptoms. Patients can be predisposed to developing neuropathic pain who have conditions such as diabetes, cancer, stroke, HIV, vitamin deficiencies, shingles, and multiple sclerosis. Patient history and nerve testing are used to diagnose neuropathic pain. Antidepressants, antiseizure medications, and other types of medications are used to treat neuropathic pain. Many people with neuropathic pain are able to attain some level of relief.

What Happens During an Anxiety Attack?

Anxiety can occur during everyday life, it could be fleeting or it could persist and build. But if you have an anxiety disorder, you may feel your anxiety or panic overwhelm you with intense anxiety and fear.

What Parenting Styles Cause Anxiety?

There are times when your child will feel anxious about different things — this is perfectly normal. Authoritarian parenting, which uses stern, harsh behavior with children, can lead to moderately-high levels of anxiety, depression, and withdrawal.

Teen Depression

Depression in teenagers may be caused by many factors. Symptoms of teen depression include apathy, irresponsible behavior, sadness, sudden drop in grades, withdrawal from friends, and alcohol and drug use. Treatment of depression in adolescents may involve psychotherapy and medications.

Can a Parent Cause Anxiety in a Child?

Parents who are stressed, anxious, harsh, fight, sarcastic, hostile or aversive may transmit or cause anxiety in their children.

Can Stress and Anxiety Cause Schizophrenia?

Stress is your body's way of responding to mental, physical, or emotional pressure and anxiety is your body's way of reacting to stressful situations. While stress is not a direct cause of schizophrenia, it can trigger an episode of schizophrenia in an already vulnerable person.

Is Anxiousness the Same as Anxiety?

Anxiousness is not the same as anxiety. Feeling anxious from time to time is normal, whereas severe, ongoing anxiety may be a sign of generalized anxiety disorder.

Can Caffeine Cause Depression?

Researchers are divided as to whether caffeine causes depression, with some believing moderate consumption could help, while others believe it’ll make things worse.

Is Picking at Your Skin a Symptom of Anxiety?

Skin picking may be triggered by anxiety as a way to relieve stress. When it becomes frequent and intense, it can become a mental health disorder.

What Are the Root Causes of Anxiety and Depression?

What causes anxiety and depression? Learn about symptoms and potential root causes that may increase your risk of developing mood disorders.

What Is the Difference Between a Panic Attack and an Anxiety Attack?

What is the difference between a panic attack and an anxiety attack? Learn about the differences between these common occurrences.

Depression in Children

Childhood depression can interfere with social activities, interests, schoolwork and family life. Symptoms and signs include anger, social withdrawal, vocal outbursts, fatigue, physical complaints, and thoughts of suicide. Treatment may involve psychotherapy and medication.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Teens

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in teens is a disruption of neurocognitive functioning. Genetics contribute to ADHD. Symptoms of ADHD in teens include inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, or a combination of these. Treatment may include cognitive behavioral therapy, behavior therapy, medication, or alternative therapies.

Can Major Depression Lead to Bipolar Disorder?

Depression and bipolar disorder are not the same despite sharing some symptoms. Major depression can't lead to bipolar disorder.

Can Major Depression Turn into Schizophrenia?

Sometimes, you can have depressive symptoms in the early stages of schizophrenia before or while you experience psychosis, but these disorders are separate diagnoses. Major depression doesn’t become schizophrenia.

Is Melancholy the Same as Depression?

Melancholy or melancholia is a severe form of depression and it is now termed "melancholic depression." The word “melancholia” is a Greek word to describe the feeling of intense sadness and hopelessness. Melancholic depression makes people lose interest in almost all activities.

Can You Self-diagnose Anxiety?

While the internet is full of self-assessment tests to self-diagnose anxiety, only a thorough clinical examination by a doctor can accurately diagnose the condition.

Mental Illness

Mental illness is any disease or condition affecting the brain that influence the way a person thinks, feels, behaves, and/or relates to others. Mental illness is caused by heredity, biology, psychological trauma and environmental stressors.

What Are the Six Types of Anxiety Disorders?

Anxiety disorders cause worry, fear and panic as an irrational response to mundane situations. The six main types are generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety, separation anxiety, trauma-related disorders and phobias.

Which Color Light Helps Anxiety?

Chromotherapy is an alternative medicine technique that claims to cure various physical or mental disorders by using colors. Most practitioners of modern medicine believe that this technique lacks scientific evidence.

What Is Major Depression Disorder?

The American Psychiatric Association defines major depressive disorder (depression) as a common, but serious, medical illness that negatively affects how one feels, thinks and acts. Depression causes sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. Depression can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and decrease a person’s ability to function at work and home.

Can a Person With Anxiety Live a Normal Life?

Dealing with anxiety isn’t easy, but it is possible to live a normal life with the right treatment and support. Learn how anxiety can be managed successfully.

What Does Anxiety Do to Your Body?

It increases a person’s chances of suffering from other medical conditions, such as heart diseases, raised blood pressure, high cholesterol obesity, depression and diabetes. In short term, anxiety may cause sleep disturbances and poor work performance.

Can Lack of Folic Acid Cause Depression?

Studies identify a link between folate deficiency and depression; however, having low folate levels doesn’t always result in depression.

Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression is a form of depression that occurs within a year after delivery. It is thought that rapid hormone changes after childbirth may lead to depression. Symptoms of postpartum depression include crying a lot, headaches, chest pains, eating too little or too much, sleeping too little or too much, withdrawal from friends and family, and feeling irritable, sad, hopeless, worthless, guilty, and overwhelmed. Treatment typically involves talk therapy and medication.

Is Trichotillomania an Anxiety Disorder?

Trichotillomania, also known as hair-pulling, is an impulse control disorder. It could be caused by anxiety and stress. It can coexist with an anxiety disorder. However, psychiatrists consider it as a separate illness and not an anxiety disorder.

Does Losing Weight Help With Depression?

Losing weight can greatly improve symptoms of depression because of the following reasons.

Can Depression Stop Me From Losing Weight?

While depression itself does not stop you from losing weight, your weight loss goals will be affected if you cope with your depression by reaching for unhealthy foods.

Parenting a Child With ADHD

ADHD is a behavioral condition with characteristics that include hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. Parenting a child with ADHD presents a variety of challenges. Treatment options for children with ADHD include medication and behavioral therapy.

Depression in the Elderly

Depression in the elderly is very common. That doesn't mean, though, it's normal. Treatment may involve antidepressants, psychotherapy, or electroconvulsive therapy.

Is Valerian Root Good for Anxiety?

Valerian is an herb that has been used for many centuries to help relieve anxiety and as a sleep aid in traditional medicine. The studies for proving the effectiveness of valerian root for sleep and anxiety have not been conclusive. More studies are required to prove its effectiveness and find the optimal dose.

What Are the 9 Causes of Depression?

Depression is caused by a combination of biological, environmental, psychological and genetic factors. Here are the top nine causes of depression.

What Is a Nervous Breakdown?

A nervous or mental breakdown is a general term used to describe a period of overwhelming mental distress. This term is usually used to refer to an intense set of emotions a person experiences in a wide variety of mental illnesses, including depression, stress disorder, and anxiety.

Depression and Suicide

Depression is a psychiatric illness that affects one in six people in the United States. Nearly two-thirds of people with depression do not realize that they have a treatable illness and do not seek treatment. Depression could happen when there is a decrease in the functional balance of the brain chemicals e.g., serotonin and norepinephrine.

Holiday Depression, Anxiety, and Stress

Though the holidays are a fun time for most, for others, they're a sad, lonely and anxiety-filled time. Get tips on how to avoid depression and stress during the holiday season.

What Is a Strategy to Help Someone Who Is Suffering From Depression?

Knowing what helps and what doesn’t when it comes to helping someone with depression is incredibly important. Learn these 12 best strategies for helping a person dealing with depression here.

What Age Group Has the Highest Rate of Depression?

American Psychiatric Association defines major depressive disorder (depression) as a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how one feels, thinks and acts. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and decrease a person’s ability to function at work and home. Depression can occur at any age.

Can Stress and Anxiety Hurt My Baby?

Research indicates that stress and anxiety in pregnant women may influence the health of the baby and result in several birth problems.

How to Test for Clinical Depression

Doctors test for clinical depression by asking a set of questions, known as depression screening tests.

What Are 6 Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders?

Here is a quick checklist of 6 signs and symptoms to help determine whether your anxiety is a disorder or not.

What Symptoms Are Caused by Anxiety?

It's normal to feel stressed or worried about things that happen in our everyday lives. However, people who experience anxiety disorders often feel heightened fear or worry about common situations.

How Do You Stop Anxiety Attacks?

You may not always be able to avoid an anxiety attack, but here are 13 ways to manage or stop anxiety attacks when they happen.

What Triggers Social Anxiety?

Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is a mental health condition that is characterized by extreme anxiety and fear of social settings. People with social anxiety disorder have a constant, intense, persistent fear of being watched, judged, negatively evaluated, or rejected in a social situation.

How Do I Get Rid of Winter Depression?

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that is triggered by a change in seasons. Here are 9 ways to get rid of winter depression.

What Are the 5 Symptoms of Anxiety?

Learn the 5 most common types of anxiety disorders and their symptoms below.

What Does It Mean to Be High-Functioning in Depression?

Although not a clinical term, high-functioning depression is a phrase often used to describe a form of depression that may be less debilitating than others.

How Does a Person With Anxiety Feel?

What are symptoms of anxiety? A person with anxiety may experience feelings of nervousness, restlessness, inability to concentrate, stomach problems, and more.

What Foods Are Good for Seasonal Depression?

The 3 nutrients essential for treating seasonal depression are vitamin D, omega-3s, and carbohydrates, as well as the following foods.

What Are General Methods Used to Treat Depression?

While there is no one size fits all solution to treating depression, symptoms may be reduced through medication, therapy, and lifestyle modifications.

How Does Anxiety Affect You Physically?

Physical signs of anxiety include rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, headache, and more. Find out how to recognize and ease your symptoms.

Can Blue Light Cause Depression?

Yes, in humans, there is evidence that supports that blue light disrupts the normal circadian rhythms (biological clock), resulting in mood disorders such as depression.

Is Psoriasis Linked to Anxiety?

Like other chronic conditions, psoriasis can take a toll on your emotional health. Anxiety can trigger or worsen psoriasis, and psoriasis can cause anxiety.

What Is the Main Cause of Anxiety?

Anxiety is usually caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors that may include stress, trauma, family history, and underlying health conditions.

What Does Social Anxiety Feel Like?

People affected by social anxiety or social phobia often feel intense fear or anxiety of being judged or criticized while being in a social situation.

How Can I Help My Young Child With Anxiety?

Anxiety is a normal part of daily life, even for children. Help your young child with anxiety by giving the feeling a label, validating their feelings, tracking causes of anxiety, and using other methods.

Can Anxiety Give You a Stomachache?

Anxiety triggers the release of cortisol, which can cause your stomach to produce more acid and give you a stomachache. Learn about how to cope with anxiety symptoms.

What Is the Best Treatment for Anxiety?

The best treatment for anxiety is typically a combination of psychotherapy and medication. However, lifestyle modifications can also help manage symptoms.

Is Depression a Medically Treatable Disorder?

Depression is a medically treatable disorder because it is caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. Learn about treatment options.