Many people who face depression don’t know what they can do to address their depressive symptoms. In fact, some people don’t even know that treatments for their depressive feelings exist. When I experienced my first episode of deep depression, I was totally unaware of what could be done to help eliminate this unwelcome feeling. At …
Anxiety is characterized by feelings of fear and nervousness and can significantly affect a person’s overall functioning and wellbeing. When we develop anxiety, our sympathetic nervous system becomes engaged, arousal increases, brain waves speed up, and we may experience physical symptoms such as an increased heart rate. People tend to have varying degrees of anxiety …
If you have major depression, chances are good that you could name a few common antidepressants off the top of your head. When most people think of antidepressants, they think of the current most popular classes of medications: the SSRIs (Selective-Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) and the SNRIs (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors). In particular, the SSRI “Prozac” seems …
Anxiety is defined as an unpleasant feeling of nervousness or fear that is often accompanied by unrealistic thinking, dread, and panic. For some individuals, anxiety is an uncontrollable part of life – no matter what they do, they cannot escape the anxious thoughts, constant worry, and physical symptoms such as a fast heart rate. If …
Many people enjoy drinking alcohol while socializing as a way to have fun and/or enhance a social experience. Although not everyone enjoys recreational drinking, many people enjoy having an occasional beer or glass of wine while out with friends. For individuals that are taking antidepressants, it is important to be aware of potential interactions that …
Most people understand that it is common sense to avoid drugs and alcohol during pregnancy. Various drugs and other substances have been shown to cause birth defects and developmental problems among babies. It is well documented that drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to birth defects, and even smoking marijuana while pregnant could put a child …
Depression is a very common emotion that everyone experiences at some point in life. In some cases depression is triggered by external events and environmental factors. In other cases, no matter how good someone’s environment or healthy their habits, they feel a depression that they cannot shake. This inevitably leads people to search for a …