The Connection Between Depression and Stress
Stress is a concept that we're all familiar with, and a reality we've all adapted to, more or less. We get stressed routinely – you had a hard day at work, but there's a laundry list of to-do's waiting at home for you; your commute to school took longer than anticipated and so you're late to class; your gas bill was higher than last month and you have to rearrange your finances to cover the difference. All these situations in and of themselves are stressful, but you might not expect them to result in symptoms of depression. However, when stress [...]
How to Increase Awareness of Depression and Suicide in Everyday Life
In the past few decades, the scientific understanding of mental health has changed drastically. Conditions like substance use disorders, bipolar disorders, depression and anxiety used to be considered moral failures or character flaws. Only a century ago, those with mental illnesses were excluded and treated with isolation or sent to asylums. Even though our understanding of mental illness has improved, there is still a social stigma associated with it. There are still common misconceptions about the origins and behaviors of mental health disorders, which can lead to poor treatment and discrimination on personal and institutional levels. For those who are [...]
Identifying Signs of Depression & Anxiety in Your Teen
A teen displaying behaviors and mannerisms that seem uncharacteristic or unhinged is sometimes assumed to be experiencing normal teenage behaviors. But there is a difference between teens going through a somewhat rebellious, angsty phase and instead battling with a mental health disorder. It is important during this time of change and transition in your teen's life to not overwhelm them with unneeded panic about a mental health condition. Instead, if you begin seeing signs that could indicate more than just teenage-related behaviors, it could be time to have a conversation with your teen. Teen anxiety and depression Depression and anxiety [...]
