Anxiety has a wide range of treatments, though they usually fit into the categories of either psychotherapy or medication. Both treatments are often used alongside one another, since anxiety medications can help lessen the impact of one’s symptoms while therapy deals with the psychological ramifications and sources of the symptoms….
If you’re currently taking an antidepressant, or thinking about it, you probably have some questions. Though psychiatric providers take great care to ensure that you receive the best care possible, most clients have questions about their medication. If you’re curious about the signs your antidepressant dose is too low, or…
Antidepressants are a widely prescribed class of medication that works to treat the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other conditions. Two types of antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), are some of the most popular. SSRIs and SNRIs both work by increasing the amounts of…
Most people who menstruate can tell you that period symptoms are no fun. However, though many people struggle with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms, some have it even worse. What is PMDD? Well, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD, is a depressive disorder similar to PMS, though more serious. The symptoms, such…
The discovery of antidepressants was literally a happy accident. In 1952, scientists were trying to treat tuberculosis with a drug called isoniazid, and their patients became inexplicably euphoric. By the end of the 1950s, almost half a million psychiatric patients were being treated with isoniazid, the world’s first prescription antidepressant. …
Everyone has their sexual preferences or fetishes — for some, that involves extremely erotic practices like being tied up, handcuffed, or being otherwise made to suffer. That said, there’s a fine line between having a sexual fetish and struggling with sexual fantasies and behaviors that cripple your life. When it…
What if you were depressed for so long that you forgot what happiness felt like? What if your low mood started to feel permanent, like part of your personality? This is the reality for many people with dysthymia, or persistent depressive disorder (PDD), a chronic depressive state that lasts two…
All types of depression are characterized by deep sadness and a loss of interest in once-loved activities. Those who are depressed might wake up after a long night’s sleep and still feel miserably tired. They might forget to do simple things like brush their teeth or eat a meal (or…
Have you ever wondered what your dreams mean? The contents of our dreams can be quite perplexing — especially when they’re violent and scary. Take, for example, a recurring dream I used to have when I was a kid: It’s my birthday, and I’m wandering around my backyard. My friends…
Major depression disorder (MDD) is a mental health condition that impacts emotional well-being and can cause severe functional consequences in daily life. MDD is also called clinical depression, major depression, and unipolar depression (to distinguish it from bipolar depression caused by bipolar disorder). In Ancient Greece, depression was called melancholia,…
We all have distinct personalities — a combination of characteristics that make us, us. Funny, empathetic, agreeable, adventurous, charismatic, curious, dramatic, innovative, etc. Some of us, though, have personality disorders, which mean our thoughts and behaviors don’t align with what’s considered “normal.” This comprehensive guide answers the most frequently asked…
Depression Symptoms: What Are They? Am I Depressed? With depression, you might have trouble falling asleep, or you might find yourself going to bed right after dinner. You might skip meals, or you might overeat. You can lose interest in sex, or crave it addictively. You might get headaches or…