Depression

Medically reviewed by Mark Hrymoc, MD Yes, alcohol can exacerbate depression. While it may initially provide temporary relief or euphoria, over time it can aggravate depressive symptoms, increase anxiety, and disrupt sleep. Furthermore, it can also interact negatively with medications used to treat depression, reducing their effectiveness. Major depressive disorders are the most common co-occurring conditions with alcohol use disorders (AUD). Research shows that people who struggle with alcohol use disorder are three times more likely to have depression. Also, women are more likely to develop co-occurring AUD and depression.  Although there is a link between the two, it is not always clear whether alcohol makes depression worse. To determine the answer, it’s important to understand depression and alcohol separately and examine how one affects the other. What is Depression? To be diagnosed with depression, a person must experience symptoms, like the ones below, for at least two weeks and …

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Medically reviewed by Mark Hrymoc MD If COVID has taught us anything over the last few years, we are all vulnerable to mental health ups and downs. Depression rates skyrocketed during the pandemic and are still high today. Research shows that over 17 million adults have had at least one depressive episode. Among adolescents, over 2.5 million have severe depression, yet only about 60% receive treatment. There is no better time to start taking charge of your depression. You can do numerous things to make mental health a priority this year. In this article, you will learn how to manage depression. How to Manage Depression Depression is a common mental health condition that affects millions of people around the world. It can impact every aspect of a person’s life, including work, relationships, and daily routines. While many effective treatments are available for depression, managing the condition can be challenging. This …

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Unipolar depression affects 8.4% of Americans, primarily women and people between 18 and 25. Of those with unipolar depression, close to 15 million people had a severe episode. In addition, 17%, or nearly 3 million, adolescents between 12 and 17 had at least one unipolar episode. Unipolar depression is another name for major depressive disorder. Because there are at least ten types of major depressive disorders, and each requires different treatments, it’s essential to know how to distinguish between them. What is Unipolar Depression? To be diagnosed with unipolar depression, you must lack mania. Also, you must have at least five symptoms listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th edition (DSM5) for two weeks or longer, including: Feeling sad or down for no apparent reason that lasts most of the day and multiple days a week. Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed. Gaining or losing weight without trying …

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