Also referred to as the 'winter blues,' Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is essentially a category of depression typified by its recurring seasonal pattern. The symptoms of this disorder last roughly about 4 to 5 months each year. In the United States, the individuals afflicted with...
As you probably know, gratitude is the warm feeling of appreciation you have for something or someone. A recent survey found that the average American says "thank you" about five times per day and 2,000 times per year. Unfortunately, this phrase has become so common...
King’s College London recently published a study that found personal accounts of childhood trauma were a stronger prediction of a PTSD diagnosis than legal proof that a traumatic event occurred. We know that abuse is underreported for a variety of reasons, but this study highlights...
It can be difficult to find out what is going on in your isolated teen’s life if they spend most of their time in their room and aren’t the one to initiate conversations with you. Just because your teen prefers to spend time alone doesn’t...
Humor can be an effective defense mechanism when it’s used to reduce the intensity of a situation. Some parents worry that following social media accounts that post depression memes might make their teen more depressed by planting negative thoughts in their heads. However, when teens...
Practitioners of holistic medicine claim that most “diseases” are born during the changing of the seasons. As the temperature, humidity, and length of days start changing as a new season begins, teens with mood disorders may notice shifts in their energy and stress levels. Some...
Current forms of diagnosing depression are based on self-report questionnaires and structured interviews, which are not always reliable. Teens struggling with depression may struggle to identify risk factors in their own lives and recognize that their low mood and energy might be related to something...
The Mayo Clinic is starting a new study on delayed sleep phase disorder in teens, claiming “the majority of high school and middle school students are chronically sleep-deprived.” While some school districts have acknowledged the link between sleep deprivation and teen mental health issues, it...
Watching someone you love struggle with an eating disorder can be extremely painful. It can be frustrating knowing the “simple’ solution is within reach, but you just can’t touch it. Eating disorders are not just physical, they’re mental too. Individuals have many internal conflicts that...
Depression is a huge and very hot topic in today’s society. It affects more than 300 million people worldwide and that number is continuously growing. It is normal to feel sadness or grief sometimes such as after a tragic event, but depression takes sadness and...