Winter Is a Black Hole: How I Deal With Seasonal Depression
Seasonal depression hits for me, like clockwork, the day after Halloween.
Why We're So Full Of Ourselves: In Defense of Narcissistic Qualities
There's a huge difference between being a "narcissist" and being self-centered, although you wouldn't know it by how often it's used as an insult. Even so, being a little self-centered isn't just a good thing, it's necessary for our mental health. Sure, there's a line, but let's talk about where that line is, and how…
7-Up used to contain lithium
Yesterday, The New York Times published a provocative opinion piece by a Cornell medical school professor that argued for adding lithium to our drinking water. It’s an interesting idea! It is not, however, a new one. In fact, one of America’s favorite soft drinks used to contain the mood stabilizing element.
Ireland Denies Woman Abortion and Then Forces Her to Have a C-Section
A woman who went on a hunger strike after being denied an abortion at eight weeks has been forced by the Irish government to unwillingly undergo a C-section at just 25 weeks' gestation. And then her baby was taken away from her. Woooo! Pro life!
Whisper Cofounders Invest in Mental Health Nonprofit
Spend much time in any corner of the Internet where strangers don't exchange names, and you'll start seeing some dark shit. People will confess all sorts of things under the cover of anonymity—abuse, depression, suicidal thoughts. And one app is attempting to do its part.
How Do Doctors Help a Self-Identified Pedophile?
"My name is Adam," the post read. "I'm 18 and non-exclusively attracted to boys and girls of all ages (particularly very young ones). I am the leader of a support group for non-offending pedophiles around my age… I would be very happy to talk with you."
On Knowing What Your Therapist Really Thinks About You
In his book Half Empty, the late David Rakoff humorously describes the ambivalence he feels upon finding out what his therapist — who he's terminating sessions with — genuinely thinks about him:
Accutane to Be Reviewed in UK After Series of Suicides
A recent spate of suicides among users of the acne drug has prompted the UK to put together a governmental review of its risks and benefits to establish whether it should be taken off the market.
I Lead Inspirational Retreats… And I'm Struggling With Depression
I'm tired. I just spent a week leading a retreat with 22 women, and although I mostly love what I do, I found myself this week understanding, for the first time really, what it means to be emotionally exhausted. I'm awake and filled with gratitude, but I'm drained. How long can one person wear so many hats? Yoga…
Adam Lanza's Father Says Son Would Have Killed Him 'In a Heartbeat'
In a lengthy New Yorker piece published this week, Peter Lanza spoke with Andrew Solomon about why his son Adam Lanza murdered the 26 children and teachers of Sandy Hook Elementary School, his mother Nancy, and ultimately, himself.
This webcomic captures the day-to-day horrors of living with depression
Depression can be a difficult illness to understand if you've never experienced it, and depressive episodes can be incredibly isolating experiences. But the webcomic Depression Comix offers a peek into the depressed mind while helping a lot of depressed folks feel less alone.
Italian Woman Visiting UK Forcibly Sedated, Given C-Section
A really ugly legal battle is about to get underway in the UK, where an Italian national who came to Britain last July on a work-related trip had her infant forcibly removed by caesarean section after social services determined she suffered a mental breakdown and didn't have the capacity to care for the child.
Insurers Now Required to Cover Your Trips to the Shrink and Rehab
The Obama administration will announce a new regulation Friday that would require insurance companies to treat mental health and substance abuse coverage the same way they cover physical ailments. A big deal!
Orange Is The New Black Stars Talk Prison Dehumanization, Corruption
This weekend on Melissa Harris-Perry's MSNBC show, a few actors from Orange Is The New Black made an appearance and discussed prison conditions.
Women Definitely Less Sane Than Men, Claim Men
The problem with being called crazy is that there's no response you can give that will make you sound less crazy. No, I'm not crazy! is exactly the sort of thing that a crazy person would say. So is "I AM THE REINCARNATION OF FAMED WISCONSIN POLITICIAN ROBERT "FIGHTING BOB" LAFOLLETTE AND I AM HERE TO COLLECT YOUR…
Hoarding Is Now an Official Disorder in the DSM-5
Among the many changes made in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published earlier this month, is the addition of hoarding, recognized as its own disorder.
Experts Aren't Psyched About New DSM
This month, a revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—known as the DSM-5—is set to be published, but a growing number of experts in the field are questioning the scientific validity of the guide, and list a number of "potentially harmful" changes.
Dominus Vobiscum: Belief in God May Lead to More Treatable Depression
Suffering from depression? You might want to break out your Quran, your Torah, your Bible or whatever it is that gets you feeling spiritual, not because there's a God out there who can fix your problems, but because of a new study by the Harvard Medical School that shows people with a stronger belief in God have an…
That Woman Is Not Adam Lanza's Mother, and She's Distracting Us From the Real Issue
In light of last Friday's tragic school shooting, some people are arguing that gun control is just a band-aid, and that access to mental health services in this country is the real problem. But the thing is, if I cut myself, I'm not going to say, "No, no band-aid for me, thanks! It won't heal the wound completely on…
