Common Signs of Anxiety and Depression
If painful emotions are affecting your daily life, it might be time to seek support.
How to Lower Stress Levels
Take the edge off of stress with relaxation exercies, mood-lifting foods and more.
Tips for Beating the Blues
Feeling sad or low? Lift your spirits by taking care of all aspects of your well-being.
Help for Clinical Depression
Depression is a complex disease, but there is hope. Learn how to treat depression with talk therapy, antidepressants and more.
What You Can Do to Prevent Suicide
Learn the warning signs, how to lower suicide risk and what you can do to help.
How to Help an Addicted Family Member
When someone you love is addicted to alcohol or drugs, the whole family is affected. Here’s how to help.
Featured Articles
How Stress Affects Your Body
Learn the details of how stress takes a toll on your physical health.
Is it Sadness or Depression?
When does feeling bad signal clinical depression? Learn the signs and symptoms.
Depression Symptoms by Age Group
Learn how the signs of depression and triggers differ in children, teens, adults and seniors.
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Ask an Expert
Karen Pantazis, M.D.
Sutter Amador Hospital
My husband had back surgery last year. He takes medication daily for chronic pain. The last few months he seems depressed and has very little interest in sex. Could the medication or the pain be causing this? Any suggestions on how I can help him?
It is not unusual for patients who take pain medication and are depressed due to chronic pain to have diminished interest in sex. It could be due to the medications, the depression, the chronic pain, diminished... continue reading about My husband had back surgery last year. He takes medication daily for chronic pain. The last few months he seems depressed and has very little interest in sex. Could the medication or the pain be causing this? Any suggestions on how I can help him?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
Is there a test to confirm if you are bipolar? And would you have symptoms from birth or does it develop?
Bipolar disorder is an episodic mood disorder, the hallmark of which are manic episodes - characterized by grandiosity, distractibility, increased activity, excessive involvement in indiscreet activities, racin... continue reading about Is there a test to confirm if you are bipolar? And would you have symptoms from birth or does it develop?
Karen Pantazis, M.D.
Sutter Amador Hospital
I've been taking vicodin for a number of years because of chronic back pain. My concern is that I've become dependent on them. Is there a difference between physical dependence and addiction?
This is a common concern for many patients taking pain medications. Yes, there is a difference between addiction and physical dependence.There are several terms that are important to understand related to takin... continue reading about I've been taking vicodin for a number of years because of chronic back pain. My concern is that I've become dependent on them. Is there a difference between physical dependence and addiction?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
I have had asthma since childhood. As an adult, I find that when I'm really stressed or anxious, my asthma gets worse. Is there a correlation? Also how can I tell the difference between an asthma attack and an anxiety attack?
Stress and anxiety can both either trigger asthma or mimic it. With asthma there would tend to also be some wheezing, cough or chest tightness. Also, asthma would respond to Albuterol but anxiety would not. If ... continue reading about I have had asthma since childhood. As an adult, I find that when I'm really stressed or anxious, my asthma gets worse. Is there a correlation? Also how can I tell the difference between an asthma attack and an anxiety attack?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
I'm 30 and have had depression throughout my life. I'm on antidepressants, but lately I've been very antisocial - staying home or working late. I have a high-stress job and haven't been able to sleep. I also have headaches, mood swings, and weight gain.
I am sorry that you have lately been feeling so poorly. You mention a wide variety of symptoms, some of which often have non-psychiatric causes. For this reason, I recommend that you see your primary care physi... continue reading about I'm 30 and have had depression throughout my life. I'm on antidepressants, but lately I've been very antisocial - staying home or working late. I have a high-stress job and haven't been able to sleep. I also have headaches, mood swings, and weight gain.
Nobl Barazangi, M.D., Ph.D.
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
My mom had a stroke about seven months ago. Although she is slowly recovering from it, she seems depressed to me. Is this just part of the recovery, or should I talk to her about it so that she can get some sort of treatment?
Depression is a common occurrence after stroke, and can occur in approximately 20-60 percent of stroke patients, depending on which research study you look at. The depressive symptoms may be in addition to the ... continue reading about My mom had a stroke about seven months ago. Although she is slowly recovering from it, she seems depressed to me. Is this just part of the recovery, or should I talk to her about it so that she can get some sort of treatment?
Toni J. Brayer, M.D.
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
What is the more appropriate way to treat menopausal depression, hormone replacement or SSRIs?
There is no one answer to treating "menopausal depression". Restoring hormones (HRT) and SSRI antidepressants have both been shown to help with depression in mid-life women. There are other things that have bee... continue reading about What is the more appropriate way to treat menopausal depression, hormone replacement or SSRIs?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
What can I do if my SSRI is causing me to have insomnia? I've been on Prozac for a year (and it's been a huge help with my OCD), but I can't seem to string together more than two hours of sleep at a time.
There are many potential causes of insomnia. If you have not done so already, I would recommend that you speak with your physician in order to determine the most likely cause of your insomnia. If, in the opinio... continue reading about What can I do if my SSRI is causing me to have insomnia? I've been on Prozac for a year (and it's been a huge help with my OCD), but I can't seem to string together more than two hours of sleep at a time.
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
I'm 33, with two wonderful kids, but my life is falling apart when it comes to my relationship with my husband. I don't want to be around him because he's so controlling. I cry a lot, my head pounds, I'm dizzy and I have body pain. Is this depression?
You appear to be under a great deal of stress, both in your interpersonal life and with respect to physical symptoms. Some of the symptoms that you mentioned - such as dizziness and pain - can be associated wit... continue reading about I'm 33, with two wonderful kids, but my life is falling apart when it comes to my relationship with my husband. I don't want to be around him because he's so controlling. I cry a lot, my head pounds, I'm dizzy and I have body pain. Is this depression?
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