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Mental Health

Whether you’re blue, depressed, anxious or addicted, get help—now—to ease your mental distress and restore balance.

6 Ways to Build Health, Joy and Energy

Find creative ways to boost your body, mind and spirit and get on a path to better health.

Tips for Beating the Blues

Feeling low or sad? Try some easy ways to improve your mood and rejuvenate your body.

Help for Clinical Depression

Depression is a complex disease, but there is hope. Learn how to treat depression with talk therapy, antidepressants and more.

How to Lower Your Stress Levels

A completely stress-free life typically isn’t realistic. But you can do a lot to lower your stress with these tips.

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

    Stressed woman

    How Stress Affects Your Body

    Learn the details of how stress takes a toll on your physical health.

    Woman drinking coffee in bed

    Is it Sadness or Depression?

    When does feeling bad signal clinical depression? Learn the signs and symptoms.

    Father hugging sad son

    Depression Symptoms by Age Group

    Learn how the signs of depression and triggers differ in children, teens, adults and seniors.

    View All Mental Health Articles

    Your Toolkit for Everyday Mental Health

    Scout by Sutter Health™ is a 12-week digital experience supporting resilience and mental health for youth ages 12-26 and their caregivers. This interactive evidence-based toolkit includes tips, activities and resources.

    Sign Up

    Related Videos

    Anxiety and Stress During Covid-19 Crisis

    Ange Stephens, MA, LMFT, talks about handling anxiety during a crisis and demonstrates ways to relax.

    Anxiety and Stress During Covid-19 Crisis

    Breathing and Centering Exercise to Calm Stress

    Ange Stephens, MA, LMFT, leads a meditation exercise via audio recording.

    Breathing and Centering Exercise to Calm Stress

    5-Minute Loving Kindness Exercise

    Listen to Ange Stephens, MA, LMFT, as she leads a short mindfulness session on loving kindness.

    5-Minute Loving Kindness Exercise

    Ask an Expert

    Ask the Expert Team

    Ask the Expert Team

    Sutter Health

    Can you become addicted to over-the-counter sleep aids like Tylenol PM?

    Sleep loss is a problem for millions of Americans. But sleeplessness doesn't have to be a way of life. Regarding over-the-counter products, the active ingredient of over-the-counter sleep aids like Tylenol PM, ... continue reading  about  Can you become addicted to over-the-counter sleep aids like Tylenol PM?

    Gary F. Milechman

    Gary F. Milechman, M.D.

    California Pacific Medical Center

    Awhile ago my husband complained of a pounding heart. He said it felt like it was thumping against his chest. Tests showed that he was fine and it was probably caused by stress. How can we tell the difference between severe anxiety and a heart attack?

    It is often very difficult to differentiate the symptoms of a heart attack from other causes. Even in the Emergency Department, with access to X-rays, EKG's, and fancy lab work, we sometimes cannot be 100 perce... continue reading  about  Awhile ago my husband complained of a pounding heart. He said it felt like it was thumping against his chest. Tests showed that he was fine and it was probably caused by stress. How can we tell the difference between severe anxiety and a heart attack?

    Ask the Expert Team

    Ask the Expert Team

    Sutter Health

    How much does alcohol contribute to high cholesterol, and can I drink while taking Lipitor?

    Moderation is the key, as in many areas of health. In general, moderate alcohol consumption, medically defined as up to two drinks per day for men and one per day for women (different metabolism), has been show... continue reading  about  How much does alcohol contribute to high cholesterol, and can I drink while taking Lipitor?

    Ask the Expert Team

    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.

    Toni J. Brayer

    Toni J. Brayer, M.D.

    Sutter West Bay Medical Group

    Is drinking hard alcohol more likely to contribute to addiction than wine or beer?

    The way your body metabolizes alcohol does not change if it is wine, beer or hard spirits. Addiction depends upon the quantity of alcohol that is consumed, not the type. A 12 oz beer has the same alcohol conten... continue reading  about  Is drinking hard alcohol more likely to contribute to addiction than wine or beer?

    Ask the Expert Team

    Ask the Expert Team

    Sutter Health

    I only drink a glass or two of wine a day, but I have a very hard time giving this up. Does that mean I'm an alcoholic?

    Alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence are not the same thing, but both are commonly thought of as “alcoholism”. Alcohol dependence is defined by physiologic dependence on alcohol from consistent, hea... continue reading  about  I only drink a glass or two of wine a day, but I have a very hard time giving this up. Does that mean I'm an alcoholic?

    Ask the Expert Team

    Ask the Expert Team

    Sutter Health

    I come from a long line of insomniacs who struggle to put together more than three hours of sleep at once. I've heard that chronic insomnia that runs in families can be an indicator of Type 2 Bipolar Depression. What are your thoughts?

    Bipolar II disorder is a major mood disorder characterized by a history of one or more major depressive episodes, as well as one or more hypomanic episodes. Hypomanic episodes are similar to manic episodes - co... continue reading  about  I come from a long line of insomniacs who struggle to put together more than three hours of sleep at once. I've heard that chronic insomnia that runs in families can be an indicator of Type 2 Bipolar Depression. What are your thoughts?

    Ask the Expert Team

    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?

    Toni J. Brayer

    Toni J. Brayer, M.D.

    Sutter West Bay Medical Group

    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?

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