Low self-esteem is a growing problem. Especially in young people. There is so much pressure today to be successful, to have a great job, to look a certain way, to have a perfect life, and to be happy about it. These pressures often lead to low self-esteem and self-confidence, which in turn can lead to [...]
“You didn’t kill the baby, Gabe. It was already on life support when you got there and you tried.” I want to assure everyone we aren’t talking about an actual baby. No children were harmed in the writing of this column. The analogy was just used by someone I was venting to. It was a [...]
When I was younger, I saw a poster of Tiger Woods. The caption read, “How do you go from the best to the worst overnight? Turn Pro.” I always kind of thought it was a bit stupid, frankly. Your abilities don’t change because of what pool you’re competing in. Tiger Woods’ golf skills were the [...]
When it comes to psychiatric medications, certain side effects get all the publicity. Everyone discusses the sexual side effects and the increased likelihood of suicide in teenagers. Weight gain (or even the less common weight loss) is another side effect that is often discussed. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of other possible side [...]
A few weeks ago, I got a call from an older male family member asking me about panic attacks and anxiety. Turns out he has been experiencing them for the first time in his life and was confused and concerned. One of the first things he told me was that he has no history of [...]
When individuals are fighting depression, simply getting out of bed can be a difficult task. But just because they are dealing with depression doesn’t mean that their physical health needs don’t need to be addressed. However, people are having an issue simply moving from the bedroom to the living room, suggesting that they go for [...]
Of all the mental illness symptoms that exist, the one that is the most understood and misunderstood is depression. On one hand, depression and sadness share similar traits, like feeling down, low, or a loss of energy. Everyone, at one point or another, has experienced this. One should also consider that depression, as a word, [...]
I receive a lot of e-mail and don’t have time to answer all of it. I want to, but writing, speaking, and watching television takes a lot of my time. Occasionally, I get an e-mail with a really good question and, in addition to answering it, I publicly post the question and answer for others [...]
Society has the backward notion that men aren’t supposed to cry, even when depressed. Sure, men get a pass at their daughter’s wedding or the funeral of a loved one, but even then we are expected to cry in a manly way. We are expected to choke back the tears and fight the emotions instead [...]
I spend a lot of time struggling with how to describe what depression feels like. Partly because I’m a writer and partly because I want my loved ones to understand me, I’m constantly trying to find the perfect explanation. I feel as though I’ve come close using darkness as imagery and trying to build on [...]
