Zoloft vs. Lexapro

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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Bipolar 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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Teen Depression

Depression: Causes of Depression

Second Source article from The Cleveland Clinic

Depression Treatment Options

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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.

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 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.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is considered a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMDD has also been referred to as late luteal phase dysphoric disorder. The cause of PMDD is unknown. Some of the common symptoms of PMDD (not an inclusive list) include mood swings, bloating, fatigue, headache, irritability, headache, breast tenderness, acne, and hot flashes. Treatment for PMDD is with medication to treat the symptoms of PMDD.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

How to Test for Clinical Depression

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.