Depression triggers – Part 3: Social media can cause depression

It seems spending time on various social media platforms has become the favorite pastime of Americans, with people using them to connect, share information, entertain themselves or to stay updated.

According to the Pew Research Center, social media use in American adults has increased from a meager 5 percent in 2005 to a whopping 69 percent in 2011. The research also reported social media users to be using relatively different platforms – around 56 percent adults going online used more than one of the five social media platforms studied in this survey. Continue reading →

Depression triggers – Part 2: Study finds link between hormonal contraceptives and depression

The hormonal contraceptive pill is one of the most common methods to avoid unplanned pregnancy among women across the world. According to the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), which studied the contraceptive use among women of childbearing age (ages 15–44) in the United States between 2011 and 2013, 9.7 million women (25.9 percent) were using birth control pills. Continue reading →

Depression triggers – Part 1: Intrinsic association between depression and professions

Various aspects related to the one’s professional journey like increasing workload, job insecurity, choice of job and the burden of long working hours play an important role in triggering high stress among the workforce. This further exposes them to the risk of developing various mental and physical health problems. Continue reading →

Self-help strategies to manage depression

Depression remains the primary cause of disability worldwide with nearly 300 million people suffering from it, highlights the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), in a given year, more than 15 million adults in the United States are afflicted with the disorder. Despite being so rampant in the U.S., not many people come forward to seek support for the fear of being stigmatized. However, untreated depression can become very debilitating and lead to other mental problems or addiction. Continue reading →

Debunking myths surrounding depression

Unlike some common ailments where an afflicted person might be in a position to express his or her agony and call for help, depression is mostly a silent disorder where the patient keeps figuring out about the actual issue. Depression is manifested by sleepless nights, miserable feelings during a particular time of the year or compelling need to cry all the time. People try hard to keep these behavioral traits under the wraps either because of being unaware of the magnitude of the problem or because of the fear of being ostracized. A person with depression yearns to be around loving people yet, remains a loner and avoids social interactions. Continue reading →

Emotional turmoil significantly higher among parents raising children with special needs

Parents taking care of children with special needs, which includes a range of problems, such as learning disabilities, cognitive-behavioral problems, food allergies, terminal illnesses, etc. have to go through immense stress and strains. Yet, there seems to be no high road to achieve a lasting solution to this. It is common for such parents to ride through the distressing times of loneliness, exhaustion and elevated stress. Continue reading →

Tips to conquer menopausal blues

Menopause is an inevitable phase of a woman’s life when she experiences emotional ups and downs due to significant physical and psychological changes. For some women, the symptoms might be mild and the phase might end soon, however, for many others, menopause can be a horrendous experience. From hot flashes to erratic mood swings and insomnia, it can severely affect the quality of life. Continue reading →

Diet and depression – 4: Magnesium foods uplift mood in depressed people

Treatment for mental illnesses cost billions of dollars to the American government. Among various mental health problems that American people suffer from, depression is the most common affecting roughly more than 16 million adults every year, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Scientists attribute the onset and development of depression to many reasons including genetic traits, hormonal abnormalities, substance abuse and inactive lifestyle among others, while clinicians stress on the need to get depressed patients screened for any existing nutritional deficiencies that may result in manifestation of signs of a depressive disorder. Continue reading →

Using phones at night may cause depression in teens, finds study

Mobile phone usage has witnessed a steep rise over the last decade, especially among teens who stay awake for hours hooked to their mobile phones. According to the Pew Research Center, 92 percent of teens are online every day whereas, 24 percent are online “almost constantly.” The researchers have been repeatedly highlighting the adverse effects of overusing mobile phones manifested in the form of high stress levels, poor body image, low confidence, eating disorders, and mental disorders such as anxiety and depression. Continue reading →

Diet and depression – 3: Can vitamin B-12 deficiency be responsible for depression?

Feelings of hopelessness and grief can sometimes be overwhelming and disrupt daily activities. When sadness does not pass away with time and causes persistent pain, it may indicate presence of a depressive disorder. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 16 million American adults experience depression every year while one in six adults is expected to experience depression symptoms at some point in life. While the increase in cases of depression may be attributed to many factors including genetic, social conflicts, professional failure, hormonal imbalance and sedentary lifestyle, scientists look for additional causes such as nutritional deficiencies. Continue reading →

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