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
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How Stress Affects Your Body
Learn the details of how stress takes a toll on your physical health.
![Woman drinking coffee in bed](/images/people/women/woman-drinking-coffee-in-bed-280x150.jpg)
Is it Sadness or Depression?
When does feeling bad signal clinical depression? Learn the signs and symptoms.
![Father hugging sad son](/images/people/family/father-hugging-sad-son-280x150.jpg)
Depression Symptoms by Age Group
Learn how the signs of depression and triggers differ in children, teens, adults and seniors.
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Ange Stephens, MA, LMFT, talks about handling anxiety during a crisis and demonstrates ways to relax.
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5-Minute Loving Kindness Exercise
Listen to Ange Stephens, MA, LMFT, as she leads a short mindfulness session on loving kindness.
Ask an Expert
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
What are the symptoms of a nervous breakdown? How does it differ from depression or anxiety?
"Nervous breakdown" is a slang term that does not have a precise medical or scientific meaning. Even as slang, it is presently used infrequently. It was perhaps in more common usage during the middle part of th... continue reading about What are the symptoms of a nervous breakdown? How does it differ from depression or anxiety?
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
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
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?
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.
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?
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?
Toni J. Brayer, M.D.
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
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
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?
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