Learning to Recognize Symptoms of Stress
The nagging headache starts at the office. You feel tired. You’re having trouble concentrating. Your productivity starts to suffer, and you begin to wonder if you’re coming down with the flu. By the time you get home you’re ready to tuck yourself into bed. The chills and fever never materialize but your symptoms don’t go away. While persistent headaches, fatigue, frequent forgetfulness and decreased productivity can be signs of illness, stress is often the culprit. Stress can affect your body physically, can impair thoughts and emotions, and can...
read moreDepression During Pregnancy May Warrant Medication
Ground-breaking new guidelines issued by two national physician groups state that while talk therapy alone is considered the best treatment for pregnant women who suffer from depression, in severe cases use of medication is warranted despite potential risk to the developing fetus. Nearly one in four U.S. women experience episodes of depression during pregnancy, 13% of whom are prescribed antidepressant medications. Until now, doctors have lacked coherent professional guidelines to guide pregnant patients in weighing the risks of various treatment procedures for depression during...
read moreWhat’s Love Got to Do With It? Everything!
Love is the force that binds us, one to another. A husband’s love for his wife, a mother’s love for her child, the love shared by siblings, the love of lifelong friendships — these are the ties that define us as human beings. Love gives us the courage to persevere in the face of life’s challenges. It gives us the resilience to bounce back from disappointments and comforts us in times of tragedy. Love adds sweetness to life’s successes and allows us to share its joys. What’s love got to do with life? Everything! So, what happens when love ends? When a spouse...
read moreCornerstones of Good Mental Health
Two important cornerstones of good mental health are resiliency and the ability to develop supportive relationships. Even though disappointment, loss and change are normal events in life; they often cause feelings of stress, sadness and anxiety. People who lack good mental health can be overwhelmed by these feelings. Resiliency, the ability to persevere in the face of adversity and bounce back after traumatic or stressful events, is a vital component of good mental health. Resiliency provides the coping mechanisms people rely on to maintain the focus, flexibility and creativity necessary to...
read moreLack of Sleep Increases Risk of Dying
That sleepless night that makes you grouchy and tired the next day can be a killer — literally. New research shows that getting less than 5 hours of sleep a night increases your risk of death from cardiovascular disease. In a study of 4,600 men and women aged 35 to 55, researchers at University College London and the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom found that women who slept less than 8 hours per night had a higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease than men. Differences in hormone levels may play a role. According to data recently published in the journal Sleep,...
read morePostpartum Depression Overwhelms New Moms
Postpartum depression interferes with a new mother’s ability to care for her baby. Despite the joy that accompanies their child’s birth, 10% to 15% of new moms feel overwhelmed by the stress and responsibility of caring for their child. They may experience negative emotions and anxiety, have trouble sleeping or lose their appetite. Depression can result with negative repercussions for the mother and her newborn. Postpartum depression affects the entire family. Poor understanding of the condition by the woman’s spouse and family members can add to the stress, straining the...
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