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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

    Scout by Sutter Health

    A 12-week, non-clinical, digital program that offers personalized, evidence-based, educational tips, tools and resources to help youth ages 12-26 dealing with anxiety and depression, and their caregivers, build everyday resilience.

    Sign Up

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

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

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    Ask an Expert

    Daniel Becker

    Daniel Becker, M.D.

    Mills-Peninsula Physician HMO Network

    What are your thoughts on the long-term use of SSRIs like Prozac? I have OCD and think I'll probably need it for the rest of my life.

    Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that typically begins early in life - and which, for most afflicted individuals, has a chronic fluctuating course. Exacerbations of this disorder are o... continue reading  about  What are your thoughts on the long-term use of SSRIs like Prozac? I have OCD and think I'll probably need it for the rest of my life.

    Caroline Schreiber

    Caroline Schreiber, M.D.

    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Campus

    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?

    Toni J. Brayer

    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?

    Toni J. Brayer

    Toni J. Brayer, M.D.

    Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation

    I've been taking Norco for post-surgery pain. I'm feeling much better now and wonder how long I should take to go off of the pills? I've been taking three a day and I'm afraid of withdrawals.

    You did not mention how long you have been on the Norco but if it is a few weeks or even a month there should be no physical withdrawal from stopping it. You may have well controlled pain because you are taking... continue reading  about  I've been taking Norco for post-surgery pain. I'm feeling much better now and wonder how long I should take to go off of the pills? I've been taking three a day and I'm afraid of withdrawals.

    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?

    Daniel Becker

    Daniel Becker, M.D.

    Mills-Peninsula Physician HMO Network

    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?

    Caroline Schreiber

    Caroline Schreiber, M.D.

    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Campus

    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?

    Nobl Barazangi

    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?

    Junaid H. Khan

    Junaid H. Khan, M.D., FACC, FACS

    Eden Medical Center

    I've been through some bad loses this year (relationship, foreclosure) and have had chest pain and shortness of breath. My doctor said I had stress cardiomyopathy (broken heart syndrome). What are the other symptoms, is it dangerous, will I get it again?

    I am sorry for your losses.Cardiomyopathy can be a serious condition. In addition to chest pain and shortness of breath, patients can have dyspnea on exertion, fatigue, edema, and in some cases hepatic or kidne... continue reading  about  I've been through some bad loses this year (relationship, foreclosure) and have had chest pain and shortness of breath. My doctor said I had stress cardiomyopathy (broken heart syndrome). What are the other symptoms, is it dangerous, will I get it again?

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