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more about #mentalillness Angry-Librarian: Our intellect itself is often maladaptive. We're hunter gatherers designed to get just what we need to thrive and no more, yet every time you see a ... more » bansaiiiiii: Begley's article is to the SciAm one as Natalie Portman's vegan rant is to Jonathan Safran Foer's book. The SciAm article raises a lot of interesting... more » Helen Valentine: Yeah, okay. If I hadn't actively been fighting my depression with mediation and therapy, I would've offed myself. Which would not be great for my gene... more » mypsychoticself: There's also a good evolutionary reason for sickle cell; that doesn't mean I want it. #depression more » Kivrin: "[L]osing the receptor that promotes depression in response to stress is something evolution thought would be a very bad move." Emphasis added by you... more » la.donna.pietra: Plenty of genetic adaptations have simultaneous benefits and disadvantages. Reduced melanin in the epidermis is dandy for vitamin D production at hig... more » NefariousNewt: The problem is: you can say that about anything. Depression. Mania. Anger. We are the sum total of the experiences and genetics of our ancestors, and ... more » PIKITIS!!: Plus, some people act like Prozac is similar to Lortabs or pot where you go around with a giant doofy smile all stoned. It pisses me off. I had a guy ... more » miyamyo: I really hate the "going through hardships will make you stronger" line of thinking sometimes. I mean, yes, in a lot of cases that is true, but it imp... more » MaBell: "That is, it evolved because it made individuals who experienced it fitter, under natural selection, than individuals who did not experience it." Tha... more » Susan B.: A lot of people have this misconception that antidepressants make it so you are never depressed, ever, and that you never feel a negative feeling. Tha... more » AndPreciousLittleofThat: Is depression a perfectly natural response to stress, and does depression serve a real and helpful purpose? Yes, absolutely. But to infer from that ... more » tervalicious: Great. Now my natural optimism and sunny demeanor is a bad thing. Thanks again, evolutionary psychology. #depression more » clevernamehere: The problem with evo bio/psych is that they forget the world we live in now is not the world we evolved in. For most of human history, daily living w... more » Chamalla,barren crone: While I agree I'm certainly stronger NOW, at the end of a really long depression - and perhaps stronger than I would have been without it - I'd still ... more » KentuckyBabe: experiencing depression and cronic depression are so different. yes, we should be subjected to sadness when bad things happen. no, we shouldn't be dep... more » AtomiClash: humanitarian misanthrope: I believe the underlying issue is that the American society, treats symptoms not problems (regardless of condition). If we can treat depression holist... more » TransFat: This article is only making it harder to get insurance help for my brand Wellbutrin. If I take the much, much cheaper generic I get diabetic-like symp... more » Jeremy: How does the average depression of society correlate with the release of anything by Radiohead, most of The Cure and a good portion of Depeche Mode? ... more » FatLynn: Over a quarter of American adults suffer from Seasonal Affected Disorder. In the olden days, it was a way to make us slow down activity and conserve ... more » -
#prozacnation
Turn That Frown Upside Down: Is There A Good Reason We're Depressed?
Why we're depressed? Maybe "it's an adaptation - not a malfunction." But Nature doesn't care if you make it to work on time: More » -
#roevsworld
Why Did This Woman Have 15 Abortions?
Irene Vilar, author of the new book Impossible Motherhood, says she had 15 abortions in 16 years, many as a form of "self-injury." So is she a pro-choicer's nightmare? More » -
#bookreviews
Mad, Bad & Sad: History Of Female Mental Illness Turns Into Indictment Of Psychotherapy
From force-feeding to tooth removal to stomach surgery, mental patients throughout history — many of them women — have endured some pretty horrific therapies. In Mad, Bad & Sad, Lisa Appignanesi questions whether modern treatments are much better.
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#crossingtheborder
Borderline Personality Disorder: Not Just For Women, No Longer Hopeless
Shari Roan of the LA Times says borderline personality disorder has long been seen as one of the most difficult mental illnesses to treat. But advances in therapy are improving that prognosis for sufferers — and busting some stereotypes. More » -
#drinkingitin
Survey Says: Drinkers Are Less Depressed
Norwegian scientists have found that those who abstain from drinking are at a higher risk of suffering from depression than the "moderate drinkers." Lushes, we assume, must be thrilled at the news. More » -
#psychologytoday
"Mad Pride," Mental Illness, And The Age Of Antidepressants
Yesterday ABC interviewed Joe Pantoliano about "Mad Pride," a movement whose members think of mental illnesses as gifts and, in some cases, reject traditional treatment. In this, they have something in common with today's antidepressant critics. More » -
#childinterrupted
Disturbing New Study Reports Depression Occurs In Toddlers
Contrary to the popular perception of toddlers as "carefree," a new study shows that chronic depression can affect children as young as three. Critics, however, worried that the findings will cause excessive use of antidepressants among toddlers. More » -
#babyblues
Should All Women Be Screened For Postpartum Depression?
A bill headed for the Senate would increase funding for postpartum depression research — but it might also increase screening. Is this a good way to help mothers and babies, or another step in the "medicalization of motherhood?" More » -
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#mentalhealthmoment
Study: Maybe There's No "Depression Gene" After All
New research calls into question the idea — first put forth in 2003 — that a single gene greatly influences people's depression risk. Scientists say genetics probably does influence depression, but in a more complicated way than previously thought. [NYT] -
#bitters
They Call Me Mr. Post-Traumatic Embitterment Disorder
It may be the next Narcissistic Personality Disorder (which is already the next sex addiction) — something called post-traumatic embitterment disorder is now enjoying a moment in the harsh, joyless sun. More » -
#cnnfail
If This Is "Love", We Don't Want To Know What Hate Is
A story about mentally-ill men who kill their families leads to yet another disturbing conclusion: CNN has difficulty distinguishing between domestic violence and love (and between "experts" and "one remaining family member"). More » -
#theblackdog
Depression-Stricken Daphne Merkin Finds Anorexics "Enviable"
In her heart-rending and strange essay in Sunday's Times Magazine, writer Daphne Merkin describes a depression so isolating that it made her envy the anorexia patients hospitalized with her.
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#crazytalk
The Good Book
Feministing is concerned that the new revision of The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - often called the "bible of mental illness" -will lead to the "pathologizing and stigmatizing to gender-variant people." [Feministing] -
#histeria
Freudian Slips: The History Of Male Hysteria
Why was hysteria mostly diagnosed in women? According to a new book, Hysterical Men: The Hidden History of Male Nervous Illness, it's because dudes having mental problems was considered totally gay. More » -
#braintrust
For Doctor, Being Bipolar Is An Asset And A Disorder
Today's Times profiles Dr. Alice Flaherty, a neurologist whose bipolar disorder has, she says, made her more empathetic to her patients. More » -
#theysayyourecrazy
Mentally Ill Often Stereotyped According To Gender
According to a new study, the mentally ill receive less sympathy when suffering from a disorder considered "typical" to their gender, such as alcoholism (men) or depression (women). More » -
#suicidegirlsboys
"Mystery" Suicide Epidemic Seems Anything But Mysterious
In less than two years, 25 young people have committed suicide in one small Welsh community. A disturbing Vanity Fair story makes it pretty clear why. More » -
#deathtax
Dying In Obscurity's Not Just Tragic When You're Famous
In the days since girl-group singer Estelle Bennett died, heartbreaking details of her life have come out that make Dreamgirls look sugar-coated. More » -
#thesnakepit
Temporary Insanity: Playing Crazy's Not Funny
Norah Vincent first made headlines by living as a man for her book Self-Made Man. Now, in Voluntary Madness, she goes undercover as a mentally ill person, and ends up a real one. More » -
#annalsofanorexia
Why The Media Should Stop Treating Sick Women Like Celebrities
Vikki Hensley is 24-years-old and currently in the throes of an extremely terrible battle with anorexia. Yet instead of talking about her problems to a therapist, Hensley has shared her story with The Daily Mail. More »
