Category Archives: Mental Health

It may be true that the holidays are a great time to gather, celebrate and enjoy family and friends, but it can be a stressful time too, especially if you are a senior. It is important for your mental health and well-being to keep healthy eating habits in mind at home and during holiday travel. ...click here to read more

The Christmas holidays have come and gone, and that sets us up for the winter blues, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and even depression. It’s the time of the year when it seems as though winter has overstayed its welcome, and spring and summer are too far from our reach. The temperatures are colder, the wind ...click here to read more

For most people the Christmas season means sweet treats, decking the halls and celebrations galore, but for some elderly people, a feeling of depression, also referred to as Blue Christmas, sets in at this time of year. There are a lot of things to love about the holidays – the food, family traditions, music, parties, ...click here to read more

There is a known link between anxiety, depression and aging in the elderly. The elderly are at an increased risk for depression, but it is not a normal part of aging. Depression is far more severe than feeling down. Depression can last for months, and not only does it have a psychological toll, but a ...click here to read more

Bipolar disorder and poor sleep quality trigger negative moods in women. Bipolar disorder is a mental illness characterized by mania highs and extreme lows in mood. These changes in mood are not instant and in fact manic episodes can last for days along with depression. Bipolar disorder can wreak havoc on a person’s sleep in ...click here to read more

Adults who eat fermented foods have a decrease in social anxiety. The study came out of the University of Maryland School of Social Work, where researchers investigated a possible association between social anxiety and fermented foods, which are known to contain probiotics. They found that young adults who consume more fermented foods have fewer social ...click here to read more

Fibromyalgia is associated with a higher risk of stress, anxiety and depression. Aside from being a physical disease – patients with fibromyalgia live with chronic pain – fibromyalgia is also very much a psychological disease and is closely associated with stress and depression. Although much research has revealed the association between the conditions, the exact ...click here to read more

Prostate cancer among elderly men can lead to anxiety and depression. Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in elderly men, and even though medical advancements are allowing more men to live with a diagnosis of prostate cancer, depression and anxiety can still linger and affect treatment and recovery. Both depression and anxiety ...click here to read more

Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, an anxiety disorder, is often associated with those who have gone to war. PTSD happens after people have experienced traumatic events and continue to recall stressors. Symptoms of PTSD can come in the form of nightmares, flashbacks, difficulty sleeping, and feelings of detachment. Since PTSD is most commonly associated with ...click here to read more

Estrogen hormone fluctuation during menopause increases sensitivity to stress and depression. Estrogen is typically a female hormone – it is also found in small amounts in males – that is produced by the ovaries, the adrenal cortex and the fetoplacental unit. Estrogen’s main roles are development and growth in female secondary sexual characteristics, such as ...click here to read more

Pet therapy for seniors in assisted living can help with depression and mood disorders. Pet therapy is a form of therapy that utilizes animals to help individuals cope with health problems. Pet therapy can involve just about any animal – although cats and dogs are most common – and can be beneficial for recovery from ...click here to read more

Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression have been found to share a genetic risk factor, according to a new study. Aside from the recent research, many previous studies also showed a genetic link between all three mental disorders. Below are synopses of the health studies that reveal the connection they all possess. Study on shared ...click here to read more

Aside from being a known diabetes risk, high glycemic index foods have additional side effects. The popular criticisms against sugar center on weight gain and diabetes. But there’s new research to indicate that sugar can have adverse effects on our mental health, too. Foods with high glycemic index scores linked with depression in postmenopausal women ...click here to read more

Loneliness is linked to brain inflammation and premature death. Unlike other illnesses where there are clear symptoms, loneliness can go undetected. It is estimated that 60 million Americans suffer from loneliness and seniors are at highest risk. Research has shown that loneliness is linked with negative health outcomes, such as increasing the risk for obesity. ...click here to read more