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Depression

Treatment for Postpartum Depression

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postpartum depression

By Ashley Barnes What is postpartum depression? If you are a mother experiencing postpartum depression, you are not alone. In fact, approximately 1 in 7 women experience PDD (GUNHS, 2021). According to the American Psychological Association (APA), postpartum depression (PPD) is a mood disorder that can appear days or months after a woman gives birth, with symptoms lasting longer than two weeks (2022). The severity of symptoms and their prolonged nature (lasting more than two weeks) distinguishes PDD from the “baby blues.”  The mood disorder can affect any woman regardless of the course of pregnancy, those who are first-time mothers or have had children before, and regardless of race or ethnicity, income, culture or education, and age. However, there are known risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing PPD, including the inevitable shift in hormone levels after giving birth, previous experience of depression and anxiety, family history of depression or …

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Start the New Year with Ketamine IV Therapy

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Start the new year with Ketamine IV therapy

Have you ever heard of Ketamine IV therapy? If not, or if you have but never considered, this can be the year you find the right treatment for depression. Out of the nearly 9 million American adults with major depressive disorder, almost 3 million have treatment-resistant depression (TRD). TRD refers to those who have tried various therapies, including antidepressants, therapy, alternative treatments, and combinations of these, to alleviate symptoms of depression, but nothing has worked successfully. Statistics show that those with TRD have much higher rates of suicidal thoughts and attempts. Therefore, finding a treatment that works is a top priority among researchers. Below is a concise guide to ketamine therapy and how it can help you overcome mental health symptoms in the new year. What is Ketamine? Ketamine was once used as anesthesia for soldiers injured during battles in the 1970s. Around 1975, ketamine had also become a street drug, being misused …

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Can Esketamine for Depression Really Help?

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Can esketamine for depression really help?

Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, with over 280 million people impacted by its symptoms. Depression can cause you to feel sad and blue even though everything in your life seems to be going right. You can feel exhausted even though you get enough sleep. Sometimes, you get too much sleep and aren’t motivated to get out of bed. You aren’t alone. And thankfully, esketamine for depression exists and may be able to help those who feel they have no other options left. Symptoms of Depression Symptoms include weakness, irritability, loss of pleasure in activities you once enjoyed, appetite changes, or a feeling of emptiness. You can have mild, moderate, or severe depression. Depending on the severity, you may have thoughts of suicide. The World Health Organization reports that 700,000 people die by suicide worldwide annually, and it is the fourth leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds. People who …

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Depression and How You Can Support Your Partner

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postpartum depression

By Ashley Barnes Depression and relationships. Depression often impacts a person’s functioning in several spheres of their lives including but not limited to employment, education, tasks of daily living, and our interpersonal relationships. Romantic relationships in particular can take the brunt of depressive hardship. Many people report that their romantic relationships have become strained as a result of living with depression. This strain may be due to the relationship dynamic being impacted by a combination of depression symptoms and a lack of understanding. Understanding depression. Understanding what your partner experiences, even if you haven’t personally experienced depression, can help foster a deeper sense of empathy. Some people best understand depression through metaphors. One such metaphor is that depression feels like being stuck at the bottom of a well. Your partner, at the bottom of the well, feels stuck, isolated, and too exhausted to climb out. They may try to start …

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National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month

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postpartum depression

By Ashley Barnes   What is National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month? October is National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month and was created to call attention to the illness of depression on a national level, emphasizing the importance of educating the public about symptoms and effective treatment. Further, screening for mental health issues is essential in the course of effective treatment. Depression. Depression is one of the most common mental health challenges that people experience. According to Harvard Health Publishing, “Research suggests that depression doesn’t spring from simply having too much or too little of certain brain chemicals. Rather, there are many possible causes of depression, including faulty mood regulation by the brain, genetic vulnerability, and stressful life events. It’s believed that several of these forces interact to bring on depression” (2022).  Common symptoms of depression: Depressed mood: feelings of sadness, hopelessness, emptiness. Lack of pleasure: in various …

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