Everyone occasionally feels blue or sad, but these feelings are usually fleeting and pass within a couple of days. When a person has a depressive disorder, it interferes with daily life, normal functioning, and causes pain for both the person with the disorder and those who care about him or her. Depression is a common but serious illness, and most who experience it need treatment to get better. Learn more...
Depression FAQs
Depression is a prolonged or deep emotional sensation of sadness, being "blue", or "down." Depressive feelings such as discouragement or sadness are perfectly normal if they do not become too severe or last too long. Depression becomes a clinical problem if a person's mood becomes too depressed or if the episode lasts more than two weeks. Learn more ...
Depression and Disability in Children and Adolescents
For many years, depression and other disorders of mood were thought to be afflictions of only adults. Within the past three decades, however, it has become evident that mood disorders are common among children and adolescents. This digest focuses on three depressive disorders that are exhibited in childhood and adolescence. Learn more ...
Depression and High School Students
Depression is a common but serious mental illness typically marked by sad or anxious feelings. Most students occasionally feel sad or anxious, but these emotions usually pass quickly - within a couple of days. Untreated depression lasts for a long time and interferes with your day-to-day activities. Learn more ...
Depression in Women
When a woman has a depressive disorder, it interferes with daily life and normal functioning, and causes pain for both the woman with the disorder and those who care about her. Depression is a common but serious illness, and most who have it need treatment to get better. Learn more ...
Antidepressant Medications for Children and Adolescents: Information for Parents and Caregivers
As it is in adults, depression in children and adolescents is treatable. Antidepressant medications can be beneficial to children and adolescents with depression. However, knowledge of antidepressant treatments in youth, is limited compared to what is known about treating depression in adults. There is some concern that the use of antidepressant medications may induce suicidal behavior in youths. Some psychological therapies also have been shown to be effective. Learn more ...
Top 10 Things You Should Know About Antidepressants
Antidepressants are prescription drugs used to treat depression and a variety of other psychological conditions such as anxiety, panic, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Some depression drugs are also used to treat medical conditions, such as chronic pain. Learn more ...
Childhood Depression Awareness
As many as one in every 33 children and approximately one in eight adolescents may have depression according to the Center for Mental Health Services. Although many people recognize the warning signs of depression in adults — sadness, withdrawal and lack of interest — few parents are aware that the signs of depression may look differently in youth. Besides feeling sad and hopeless, children with depression may also complain of frequent headaches or stomachaches, become irritable or act out. Learn more ...
Depression and Diabetes
Studies show that depression and diabetes may be linked, but scientists do not yet know whether depression increases the risk of diabetes or diabetes increases the risk of depression. Current research suggests that both cases are possible. Learn more ...
Depression and HIV
Individuals with serious illnesses such as HIV may be at greater risk for depression. Along with treatment for HIV, depression should also be treated. Learn more ...
Diagnosis of Depression in Parkinson’s Disease
Almost half of all patients with Parkinson’s Disease will experience depression at some point in their illness. Depression is an illness characterized by sad mood and/or diminished ability to enjoy things and is accompanied by other symptoms such as changes in appetite, problems sleeping or excessive sleepiness, decreased energy level, slowed movements and poor concentration. Learn more ...
Looking Out For Depression in Older Adults
Depression is an illness that affects many older people. It generally affects their physical as well as their mental well-being. Fortunately, it is a highly treatable illness. Complete, or at least partial improvement, can be obtained in eighty to ninety percent of cases. Learn more ...
Lowdown on Depression
According to the NIMH, most people with a depressive illness do not get the help they need, although the great majority of them can be helped. Without treatment, the symptoms of depression can last for weeks, months, or even years. With treatment, many people can find relief from their symptoms and lead a normal, healthy life. Learn more ...
Manic-Depressive Disorder
Manic-depressive disorder is the former name for bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a serious brain disease that causes extreme shifts in mood, energy, and functioning. Men and women are equally likely to develop this disabling illness. The disorder typically emerges in adolescence or early adulthood, but in some cases appears in childhood. Cycles, or episodes, of depression, mania, or mixed manic and depressive symptoms typically recur and may become more frequent, often disrupting work, school, family, and social life. Learn more ...
Men and Depression
Many men are unaware that "physical" symptoms, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain, can be associated with depression. Learn more ...
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a condition that describes a range of physical and emotional changes that many mothers can have after having a baby. PPD can be treated with medication and counseling. Mothers should talk with their health care provider it they think they might have postpartum depression. Learn more ...
Rates of Depression Among Full-Time Workers
Studies show that employees who are depressed are less productive and are absent more often than their non-depressed co-workers. Workplace depression screening and treatment improves employee health and productivity and can lead to lower overall costs for the employer. Learn more ...
Suicide – Frequently Asked Questions
If someone tells you they are thinking about suicide, you should take their distress seriously, listen nonjudgmentally, and help them get to a professional for evaluation and treatment. Learn more ...
Suicide in America
Suicide is a major public health concern. About 30,000 people die by suicide each year in the United States. More people die by suicide each year than by homicide. Suicide is tragic. But it is often preventable. Knowing the risk factors for suicide and who is at risk can help reduce the suicide rate. Learn more ...
Anabolic Steroids
Awareness is growing that steroid use can cause significant physical and mental harm and may be life threatening. Some studies have identified steroids as gateway drugs to other substance use, including opioids. Learn more ...
Answers to Common Questions about Counseling
Throughout life, there are times when help is needed to address problems and issues that cause emotional distress or make us feel overwhelmed. When experiencing these types of difficulties, individuals may benefit from the assistance of an experienced, trained professional. Learn more ...
Adjustment Disorder
Adjustment disorder is a group of symptoms, such as stress, feeling sad or hopeless, and physical symptoms that can occur after you go through a stressful life event.The symptoms occur because you are having a hard time coping, and the reaction is stronger or greater than what would be expected for the type of event that occurred. Learn more ...
Assessment of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. Symptoms of bipolar disorder are different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through from time to time. Bipolar disorder symptoms can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide. But Bipolar disorder can be treated, and people with this illness can lead full and productive lives. Learn more ...
Bereavement and Grief
Bereavement is defined as a state of sadness or loneliness. Grief is the collection of feelings and behaviors associated with the loss of a person. The loss is commonly caused by death of a friend or family member. However, the loss can also be caused by such events as someone moving away or by a divorce. Learn more ...
Clinical Hypnosis: Understanding Clinical Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis is a method of communication that induces a trance or a trance-like state. Hypnosis can be conducted by one individual addressing another, or it may be conducted with the self (self-hypnosis). Trance is a naturally occurring state in which one's attention is narrowly focused and relatively free of distractions. Examples of trance states are daydreaming and some forms of meditation. Learn more ...
Does Physical Activity Have Positive Effects on the Mind?
It was once thought that cognitive decline was a normal part of aging. But research now suggests that staying physically active as you get older may slow cognitive decline. Learn more ...
Effects of Traumatic Experiences
People who go through traumatic experiences often have symptoms and problems afterward. How serious the symptoms and problems are depends on many things including a person's life experiences before the trauma, a person's own natural ability to cope with stress, how serious the trauma was, and what kind of help and support a person gets from family, friends, and professionals immediately following the trauma. Learn more ...
Putting Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Work for You: Combat Depression, Anxiety and Other Problems
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy used to treat depression, anxiety disorders and other problems such as anger, fears, procrastination as well as improve confidence and relationships. It involves recognizing distorted or negative thinking and learning to replace it with more realistic, positive thoughts or beliefs. Learn more ...
The Death Of A Child
When a parent dies, you lose your past; when a child dies, you lose your future. - Anonymous Learn more ...
The Numbers Count: Mental Health Disorders in America
Mental disorders are common in the United States and internationally. An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older — about one in four adults — suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. Learn more ...
Treatment of Bipolar Disorder: A Guide for Patients and Families
EDIT - Bipolar disorder is a disease in which the person's mood changes in cycles over time. Over the course of the illness, the person experiences periods of elevated mood, periods of depressed mood, and times when mood is normal. The three most important types of medication used to control the symptoms of bipolar disorder are mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and antipsychotics. Learn more ...
Understanding Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder, formerly termed "manic-depressive illness," is meant to characterize the fluctuations in mood from one end or "pole" to the other-severe depression to mania. Learn more ...
When A Child Is Dying
A team of psychologists, hospice professionals, social workers and spiritual counselors can be helpful to the family as they say their goodbyes to the dying child and prepare for what lies ahead. Learn more ...