Can Drugs and Alcohol Change The Teenage Brain?
People naturally want to keep doing things that deliver a reward. For example, when a hungry person eats, the brain’s reward system reacts positively with a flood of dopamine, the pleasure hormone. In the same way, a game of Candy Crush on a smartphone helps people relax after a long day. However, the brain’s reward […]
Digging into Prescribed Antidepressant Options
A friend of mine has recently been diagnosed with depression. His doctor has suggested that alongside therapy sessions, he consider medication as well. Unfortunately, the stigma around taking prescribed antidepressants has caused him to resist this course of treatment out of fear of some of the common side effects of antidepressants. He thinks that feeling […]
Bipolar Disorder: Highs, Lows, And In Between
“Bipolar disorder” is a term that people can often misunderstand. You might hear someone casually say, “I’m so bipolar today,” just because they experienced some highs and lows in their moods. But bipolar disorder is far more complex than feeling happy one moment and sad the next. It’s a lifelong mental health condition that involves […]
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Breaking Free From Intrusive Thoughts
Imagine getting ready to leave the house in the morning when a thought suddenly pops into your mind – “Did I leave the stove on?” It’s a familiar, fleeting worry that most people experience from time to time. But for someone living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), that thought isn’t just an occasional inconvenience. It’s persistent, […]
Teenage Mental Heath is now a Global Issue
Teenage mental health in the United States is in crisis. Over the last ten years, mental health among teenagers in the United States has gotten worse, with the COVID-19 pandemic making things even harder. Poor mental health during the teenage years can have long-lasting effects, leading to serious challenges later in life if no action […]
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): When Seasons Affect Mood
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is often dismissed as just the “winter blues,” but for those who experience it, the reality is far more debilitating. It is a form of depression that follows a seasonal pattern, most commonly emerging in the late fall and winter months. While its exact manifestations vary from person to person, the […]
Eating Disorders and the Power of Acting Early
Eating disorders are among the deadliest mental health issues, with someone in the USA losing their life due to an eating disorder every 52 minutes. Many people don’t realize the challenges that make recovery hard, such as limited knowledge about these disorders and how deeply they affect people. This year’s Eating Disorder Awareness Week theme […]
Learn About Seroquel for MDD, Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder
Seroquel (quetiapine) is one of those medications that often fly under the radar unless you or someone close to you has been prescribed it. It’s categorized as an atypical antipsychotic, but its uses extend far beyond schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. With applications ranging from major depressive disorder (as an adjunct) to insomnia (off-label), Seroquel has […]
Mental Health Conversation–Time to Talk Day
As a nutritionist, I spend a lot of time listening to people share their health journeys. Often, the conversation moves away from diet and gets deep into emotional blocks or mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety that are deeply intertwined with and dictate many lifestyle choices. I’ve been trained to talk about sensitive […]
How I Discovered Hope and Healing While Battling Depression
When I think about my own experiences with depression, I remember the nights I couldn’t sleep – not from stress, not from excitement, but from the heavy weight of nothingness that pressed me down. It’s a strange thing, that kind of emptiness. You’re not necessarily sad; you’re just… there. I’d stare at the ceiling, wishing […]
