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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

    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?

    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.

    Daniel Becker

    Daniel Becker, M.D.

    Mills-Peninsula Physician HMO Network

    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

    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?

    Richard H. Hongo

    Richard H. Hongo, M.D., FACC

    Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation

    I have been having palpitations and skipped heartbeats for several months. My EKGs and blood work are normal. Is this all stress and anxiety?

    Palpitations are frequently caused by anxiety. On the other hand, anxiety can be caused by palpitations. Sometimes it is difficult to determine what is causing what.Typically, if you have no history of heart di... continue reading  about  I have been having palpitations and skipped heartbeats for several months. My EKGs and blood work are normal. Is this all stress and anxiety?

    Catherine A. Madison

    Catherine A. Madison, M.D.

    California Pacific Medical Center

    Memory loss or changes may have multiple causes or impersonators. What are some of them other than stress? Are early onset dementia symptoms recognizable by the person experiencing the symptoms?

    Memory loss is something we can all experience. You are correct; it can be caused by stress when our attention is not well focused. Memory loss can also be contributed to by factors such as poor sleep, mood dis... continue reading  about  Memory loss or changes may have multiple causes or impersonators. What are some of them other than stress? Are early onset dementia symptoms recognizable by the person experiencing the symptoms?

    Deborah Kurzrock

    Deborah Kurzrock, R.D.

    Mills-Peninsula Medical Center

    I am a 49-year-old recovering alcoholic and have three years of sobriety. Since I got sober I have not been able to control my sugar cravings. Is there any thing I can do?

    Congratulations on the hard work of addiction recovery. Sugar cravings are a problem for many people and can become all the more difficult when recovering from alcoholism. Research on food, mood, substance abus... continue reading  about  I am a 49-year-old recovering alcoholic and have three years of sobriety. Since I got sober I have not been able to control my sugar cravings. Is there any thing I can do?

    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?

    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.

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