I've Got The Music In Me: Finding What Helps Me CopeMy parents raised their kids on music from a very young age. Mom sang old washing songs for us as she rinsed shampoo out of our hair. My dad made...Reactions0reactions
Thriving with Major Depressive Disorder: 3 Essential Coping StrategiesMajor depressive disorder (MDD) can be challenging to manage, but there are a variety of coping strategies that can make management easier. This article considers 3 coping strategies that make...Reactions0reactions
The Impact of Depression on My CareerI'm a licensed clinical social worker practicing in the New York City area for almost 24 years. I also have lived experience with severe mental illness. Social work is my...Reactions0reactions
MDD-Related FatigueThe question of how I'm doing is usually met with one of the following quippy sayings, "I'm hanging in there," or "livin' the dream," or "one foot in front of...Reactions0reactions
The Depression Cloud... It Always FollowsDo you remember the commercials featuring a depressed drawn figure with a cloud and rain depicted overhead? I sometimes feel like I'm trying to outrun or outwalk my depression and...Reactions0reactions
My Journey to Find "Dr. Right"My healthcare providers have been all over the place through the years. I have seen a host of different physicians for my depression and comorbid anxiety. If you are starting...Reactions0reactions
Suicide Loss Survivors: Coping With Grief and DepressionLosing a loved one is always hard. When that loss is related to suicide, it can be especially devastating. The loss can create a range of emotions, including grief, anger...Reactions0reactions
Birthdays and Anniversaries: A Prescription for DepressionSeveral dates cluster together over a few months of the year that I anticipate bringing up difficult thoughts and feelings. I know I'll get through them. The question is, will...Reactions0reactions
Relationships and Major Depressive Disorder: Navigating Love and FriendshipWhile relationships are complicated, major depressive disorder (MDD) can multiply the complications of acquiring and maintaining relationships. MDD can affect a variety of relationships, such as friendships and romantic associations...Reactions0reactions
Have You Ever Received Bad Advice in Therapy?Following my diagnosis of depression and generalized anxiety disorder, I began seeing a counselor for treatment about 12 years ago. Despite being diagnosed several months earlier, I started counseling only...Reactions0reactions
When The Laundry Keeps Piling Up: Finding Hope (and Motivation) in Small PlacesMajor depressive disorder (MDD) forced me to reshape the way I think about the world in so many different ways. If I'm too tired to make food? Then I have...Reactions0reactions
Qualities I Look for in a TherapistOver the years, I have seen a variety of therapists in hopes of treating my major depressive disorder. Through this trial and error, I have found a variety of qualities...Reactions0reactions
Anticipating Depression: Preparing Ahead For A Difficult DayWhat constitutes a difficult day? Everyone has their definition of a difficult day but I'm referring to days you can anticipate by the calendar's date – anniversaries of a sort...Reactions0reactions
Choosing a Semicolon, Not a Period: a Tattoo for My GrandmothersHere's the thing about tattoos – once you get one, you'll want another, and so on, and so on. Several years ago I felt that itch (not literally, that happens...Reactions0reactions
Anxiety: My Depression's Loyal CompanionWhen depression strikes and rears its ugly head, anxiety is not far behind. At least that has been my experience. Depression and anxiety go hand in hand like peanut butter...Reactions0reactions
In The KitchenOver the years, I've had many a difficult conversations about my mental health and assorted mental illnesses. Sometimes these conversations were to reassure my family that I wasn't actively suicidal...Reactions0reactions
When Our Loved Ones Experience "Compassion Fatigue"I've had depression and anxiety for 20 years. Almost 5 years ago, I went inpatient for 6 weeks because I was suicidal, severely depressed, self-harming, and abusing my anxiety medication...Reactions0reactions
Coping Tools for Depression: Take Our Polls!Depression sucks. And it can feel like an uphill battle trying to find ways to cope. Tools, techniques, therapies... There's a lot out there. So where do you even begin?...Reactions0reactions
Ketamine Treatment for DepressionKetamine is a type of psychedelic drug that has been used in anesthesia for decades. Recently, it has grown in popularity as a treatment option for people with treatment-resistant depression...Reactions0reactions
"Self-care" Isn’t Just a Buzzword (and No, a Spa Day Doesn't Cure Depression)I've lived with depression for most of my life. It is a vicious disease, capable of draining you to the core. If you live with depression, you may be well...Reactions0reactions