We’ve all heard the media-driven dogma that everyone needs at least 8 hours of sleep per night for optimal neurophysiological performance. Striving for 8 hours of sleep is generally a healthy rule of thumb [for most people], but shouldn’t be considered a utopian amount for everyone. Many individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) sleep …
Neurofeedback is a technique that involves training an individual to consciously alter the electrical activity (brain waves) within their brain. The technique can be used as an intervention to improve symptoms of a variety of psychological conditions, including depression. Individuals with depression tend to have abnormal brain wave activity compared to those without any preexisting …
If you experience depression solely in the winter months, you may have a condition known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also referred to in layman’s terms as “seasonal depression.” Throughout human evolution, it was speculated that mood changes occurred during inclement conditions such as winter months due to the fact that in these conditions, it …
Vyvanse (Lisdexamfetamine) is a drug developed by Shire Pharmaceuticals as a successor to Adderall. Vyvanse was first approved for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in 2007. In 2015, Vyvanse was approved for binge eating disorder and was found to successfully minimize appetite and number of binge eating episodes per week compared to a placebo. …
Provigil (Modafinil) is a eugeroic drug that was originally approved in 1998 for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea. Despite never attaining FDA approval for the treatment of depression, many anecdotal reports highlight the efficacy of Provigil as an antidepressant. The drug tends to …
Before considering an antidepressant as an elderly person, it is important to evaluate your life. This means evaluating your condition of depression from a logical perspective. Realize that there are plenty of ways to overcome depression without meds. Obviously if your diet isn’t optimal for your mental health, you don’t feel socially connected (or are …
Emotional upheavals are most commonly associated with those who’ve dealt with a traumatic experience, blocked the traumatic emotion and/or memory from conscious perception, and then later end up experiencing a resurfacing of the traumatic memory accompanied by strong emotion. It is the strong surge of unpleasant emotion, seemingly out of thin air that leads people …