Let’s face it – even in an un-depressed state, the holidays are stressful and often disappointing. We run ourselves ragged buying gifts, cooking, decorating and entertaining. Tempers flare as we’re thrown together with relatives whom we see infrequently, and don’t necessarily enjoy spending time with. Expectations are high that this season will be magical and perfect as we try to recapture the wonderment we felt as children waiting for Santa, or wait for a rush of emotion as we ponder the religious significance of Christmas and Chanukah. When those feelings don’t automatically well up, we’re disappointed.
Archive for » December, 2008 «
I’m sure that over the past few years you’ve seen articles about the holiday blues, maybe even the one I wrote. To briefly recap, having the holidays blues isn’t the same thing as being depressed during the holidays. No, the holiday blues can strike any of us, whether we have depression or not. Some of the symptoms of clinical depression will usually be present. You might have sadness, sleep or appetite disturbances, anxiety or difficulty concentrating.
Read on
Category: Mental Health Writing
Leave a Comment
A few months ago, my psychiatrist recommended that I take folic acid supplements, as they might boost the effectiveness of my antidepressants. I was surprised to hear his recommendation, as the idea was completely new to me. I had of course taken folic acid when my husband and I were trying to conceive, but didn’t know much about it otherwise.
Category: Mental Health Writing
Leave a Comment
During the holiday season, are you humming “Holly Jolly Christmas” or is “Blue Christmas” the song that keeps running through your head? Maybe it’s “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” with its wistful longing. Are you surprised that you don’t feel as joyous and celebratory as you usually do, or as you feel you should?
You could have the holiday blues. People who aren’t acquainted with depression are surprised when they feel melancholy or blue during the holiday season. (Those who are accustomed to depression are used to feeling that way any time of the year). But these emotions seem so wrong and out of place at this time of the year.
Category: Mental Health Writing
Leave a Comment
A couple of months ago I read a few articles about a study that seriously makes me want to scream and throw things. “Antidepressants May Impair Driving Ability, Research Finds” says one headline. My first thought was, “Oh, crud.” But then, having years of experience in looking critically at studies, I made sure I read the fine print. Sure enough, there are a few big holes in the logic behind this study.
Read on
Category: Mental Health Writing
One Comment
A few months ago I read an article that raised the question of how growing up on antidepressants might affect a child’s psychological development. In Coming of Age on Antidepressants, Dr. Richard A. Friedman tells us that he started considering the issue after talking to a patient, a 31 year old woman who had been on antidepressants since she was 14. Although they had undoubtedly saved her life, she was beginning to wonder what kind of an impact they had had on her psychological development and the development of her personality.
Read on
Category: Mental Health Writing
Leave a Comment
