What is cutting? ‘Cutting’ is one of the most common methods of self-injury. As the name implies, it involves cutting one’s body-usually in places that can’t readily be seen or are easily covered up- with sharp items such as razor blades, knives and scissors. Self-injury goes by many names including self-mutilation, self-harm, and parasuicide. It [...] Read more »
Is depression a disease or a disorder? The jury is still out on that one as the debate in psychological circles continues to rage on. Although in the one camp, many psychologists believe depression is a physical illness, others remain unconvinced, despite the fact some research studies have indicated that the symptoms of depression can [...] Read more »
Summer is traditionally a time of good cheer. We look forward to the endless days of sunshine and balmy temperatures, and the annual family holiday somewhere hot, but for a small minority, depression and irritability kicks in as soon as the days lengthen and the mercury begins to climb, so what is summer seasonal affective [...] Read more »
If you have ever watched a depressing movie set in the far northern hemisphere where the dark winters seem to last forever, you can probably see a connection between a lack of sunlight and depression, but it is actually a well-known scientific fact that not enough exposure to sunlight can lead to a low mood [...] Read more »
It is not uncommon to feel a bit fed up over the winter. The weather is cold and miserable and our mood seems to drop as the days shorten, leaving us flat and lacking in motivation. What makes things worse is leaving the house in darkness, spending all day in an artificially lit office, and [...] Read more »
Does light therapy help against seasonal affective disorder? SAD is a recognised medical condition affecting millions of people worldwide. Although it is often referred to as the Winter Blues, seasonal affective disorder can occur at different times of the year and symptoms of SAD arise whenever the body’s natural circadian rhythms are out of balance [...] Read more »
Food and emotions are often inextricably linked. Lots of people comfort-eat when they are feeling upset or miserable, whereas others go off their food entirely. But aside from the blips in our appetite when we are unhappy, is there a link between diet and depression—and can eating the right foods really make a difference? Depression [...] Read more »
The stereotype of sulky, moody, irritable, sullen teens is something all parents are familiar with, which can make depression among teenagers difficult to spot, so how can you tell if your teenage son or daughter is suffering from depression and not just being a typical teenager? Depression among teenagers is on the increase and the [...] Read more »
It would be nice to think that a simple daily vitamin pill could cure depression, but if your symptoms of depression are being caused by a vitamin deficiency, it is possible that a vitamin supplement could be the answer to your mood problems. So what vitamin deficiencies can lead to depression and which are the [...] Read more »
When someone you care about is suffering from depression, you probably want to find out more about how to help someone with depression, but how do you go about helping a depressed person, particularly if they are pushing you away and refusing to accept that they need help? How to help someone with depression It [...] Read more »