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The Wrong Thing: The Hazards of Misdiagnosis

January 28, 2022
an image of a wooden square block on top of a piece of wood with round holes to signify putting a square peg in a round hole.

By Sheila O’Shea [Trigger warning: suicidal ideation] I knew it wasn’t Attention Deficit Disorder. I went through a battery of tests for ADD—pointing at pictures of aliens and reciting their names, holding a metal rod steady so it wouldn’t touch the inside of a metal ring, filling out questionnaires—and the doctor concluded that I didn’t…

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Managing Your Depression During The Holidays

November 17, 2021
A man in a red shirt wearing a red santa hat that is covering his face

By Gordon Corsetti, Skyland Trail adult programs graduate It seems the holidays are annual events that conspire to derail any progress made against my depression. Shorter days mean I get less sunlight. Colder mornings mean it is that much more difficult to extricate myself from the warm sheets. Worst of all though, is the forced…

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The Brain and the Body: How Mental Health and Physical Health Are Connected

February 9, 2021
a graphic showing the brain and dna

In order to fully understand how to best treat mental illness, we must first understand the factors that can cause mental illness, specifically the balance between nature and nurture. It’s important to remember that psychiatric conditions are medical problems that deserve the same kind of attention, research, and treatment as any physical ailment. What Causes…

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The Pharmacology of Antidepressant Medications

July 31, 2019
antidepressant medications smiley face

Evidence-based psychiatric treatment relies on trust between physicians and their clients to find the best solutions possible for dealing with mental illness. Clients should be receptive to medications that can improve mood and quality of life while their doctors make a medication choice based on the client’s personal history, diagnosis, and lifestyle that has the…

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Sleep and Brain Health

June 26, 2019
man sleeping 8 hours a night

We all struggle through times when sleep is in short supply: when college exams, a new baby, or a financial worry prevent us from getting a peaceful night’s rest. But research continues to uncover the consequences of regularly missing out on healthy sleep and the potential perils of sleeping too much. Sleep seems to be…

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What Parents Should Know About Youth Athletics and Mental Health

May 28, 2019
little league baseball pitcher

For decades, youth sports in the United States has been an avenue for kids of all ages to make friends, be physically active, challenge themselves, and learn skills such as teamwork, sportsmanship, and the value of hard work—all of which can provide great stepping stones towards personal growth and achievement later in life. When it…

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7 Ways Skyland Trail Attacks Treatment-Resistant Depression

March 27, 2019
man silhouette at window thinking

Roughly one-third of people with major depressive disorder are affected by treatment-resistant depression, also known as TRD.

Specialized, evidence-based treatment can help people battling treatment-resistant depression reduce their symptoms, improve functioning, and feel better.

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Onset of Mental Illness: First Signs and Symptoms in Young Adults

March 14, 2018
young adults and mental illness

You may think that once you’re out of high school, you’re finished growing up. Physically, you’re probably as tall as you will ever get, and from this point forward, you may remain the same overall size throughout much of your adult life. Whether you head off to college or out to make your own way…

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A Brighter Outlook on Depression

February 12, 2018
process art therapy for depression

What is major depression? Major depressive disorder, also called major depression or unipolar depression, is a serious mood disorder with severe symptoms that can interfere with a person’s ability to handle daily activities, relationships, and work or school responsibilities. Major depression affects about 6.7 percent of U.S. adults in a given year. To be diagnosed…

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5 Tips for Parenting with a Depression Diagnosis

September 13, 2017
mom helping with homework

Parenting can be hard at the best of times. When you’re struggling with depression, you might feel like you can’t provide the care and support your children need. There are many things you can do to make caring for your children a little easier while you treat your own depression. On days when you feel like…

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