An estimated 5 percent of older Americans live with depression, yet many never get treatment for the illness. In some cases, doctors and patients mistake depression symptoms as signs of other age-related conditions. In other instances, seniors are aware of their depression but don’t pursue treatment due to social stigma. Many seniors forgo mental health […]
According to global statistics, over 15% of the world’s children grow up in single-parent households and 85% of those are headed by single mothers. Now consider the fact that up to 80% of women will experience ‘baby blues’, & 1 in 7 will suffer full-blown postpartum depression. It is likely that the majority of single […]
I picked up a drink, for the first time, at the age of thirteen. By the time I was a freshman in high school, I loved the effects of alcohol. In my mind, I believed I was a lot more enjoyable under the influence. I was able to socialize with people easier. Alcohol calmed my […]
As 20-something woman with a serious chronic illness, I know all too well the impact that being a woman has on getting a chronic illness diagnosed. Often, women are not taking seriously by some doctors and may have to wait years to get a proper diagnosis. Is this because of the stereotype that women are […]
Chronic illnesses affect a shocking 6 in 10 adult Americans and it’s estimated that 1 in 3 of these adults experiences some form of depression. To health care experts and those afflicted with chronic illness, the overlap comes as no surprise. Because of the very nature of chronic conditions, in that they can only be […]
Mental illness has become a widespread epidemic across not only the United States but around the world. Depression, in particular, is increasingly common—shown to affect up to 20 percent of the general population during some point in their lives. The current treatments available for mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, including medication and […]
I can still vividly recall my first encounter with anxiety. I was in the third grade, playing hopscotch, lost in my own reverie of make believe. My pretend world was suddenly upended when my classmate asked me if I knew how my father had died. Not waiting for an answer, she delivered the facts surrounding […]
I lost my father two months before I got sober. It was devastating to me. Not only was that horrible to experience; I was straddling the line of wanting to be alive and wanting to be dead for quite a few months before he even died. The crushing blow I felt when my mom called […]
Winter wellness can mean a lot of things, but for individuals who are living with seasonal affective disorder — also known as SAD — it often means finding the best ways to cope with feelings of sadness, exhaustion, and loneliness throughout certain times of the year. The disorder can affect everyone differently, but those who […]
As someone who suffers from a chronic illness AND a mental illness, my daily struggle is extra complicated. I have a chronic illness called POTS, I also have GAD and minor social anxiety. Together, they make my life difficult to say the least. My body is constantly in “flight or fight” mode, and effects my […]
