Though Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a very real and debilitating form of mental illness, its important to remember that depression is not simply consigned to specific times of the year. By implication this means that, though depression can strike at the heart of summer, we also do not need to ‘resign’ ourselves to feeling bad during the winter months. This blog gives some helpful coping strategies, no matter the date nor the weather. Read them here.
Blue Monday Isn’t the Only Day Depression Can Strike. Here’s How I Cope.
Books Podcast: What Really Causes Depression?
Podcast about an interesting (and controversial) new book written by Johann Hari. Entitled Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression- and the Unexpected Solutions, Mr. Hari’s book offers a different, and sometimes critical, perspective when in reaction to more main stream opinions concerning mental illness. Read more here.
The Top 10 Mental Health Apps
Apps focus on protecting or improving mental health using methods including meditation, hypnosis, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and providing a valuable support network. Medical News Today have put together a list of the top 10 apps that can help to enhance your well-being and look after your mental health. Read about them here.
If I Lose My Chronic Depression, How Much of Myself Will Go With It?
Interesting and very relatable essay on the struggle to combat depression and the anxiety’s associated with trying to change something that is such an indelible aspect of who you are. Read it here.
Leveraging Smartphones in Patient Care
Interesting article published by two doctors considering the potential impact of smartphones to help monitor information relevant to mental illness. Smart phones have become ubiquitous in Western society and are increasingly penetrating developing spaces so there is a lot of potential to exploit the extensive reach of this technology. Read the article here.
Dual Diagnosis: Why Substance Abuse Worsens Your Mental Health
Blog posted by experts from the Cleveland Clinic briefs the different factors that lead to high rates of ‘co-occurrence’, ie instances of both mental illness and substance abuse. It also clearly points out that though the problems associated with both can be overwhelming due to their overlapping, interwoven and mutually reinforcing tendencies, there are plenty of options to help treat the illness. Read the blog here.
10 Ways to Cope with Depression During the Holiday Season
Some useful tips for making this holiday season as stress free, manageable and enjoyable as possible. Read them here.
Depression: ‘I Kept My Head Down to Survive the Day at Work’
This report of Natalie Hall’s struggle to persevere through her depression without letting her colleagues know what she was going through highlights the inner turmoil required by many suffering from mental illness to just ‘get through the day.’ Read it here.
When It Comes To Treating Depression, ‘Step Therapy’ is a Costly Misstep
Dr. Gregory Mattingly, a practicing psychiatrist for over 25 years, offers some insight on the halting and all too commonly ineffective methods used to treat mental illness. As Dr. Mattingly explains, while the initial cost savings insurance companies derive from ‘step therapy’ are desirable, the failure to adequately treat a patient is more expensive over the long run and, most importantly, often fails to alleviate suffering in any measurable way. Read the blog here.
Daylight Savings Time Is A Depression-Inducing Devil, So Here is What I Do To Keep It From Keeping Me Down
Aliya King’s blog offers some useful tips for coping with depressive symptoms that tend to crop up around this time of year. Read it here.
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