Category Archive for : ‘Depression’

Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in Caregivers

A Growing Need for Care

According to the Mayo Clinic, as the population ages, more caregiving is provided by people who are informal caregivers.  This does not denote the importance of their work; it refers to people who are not healthcare professionals.

Currently, this number is already 1 in 3 adults in the United States, and that only refers to those who are informal caregivers to adults.  Being a caregiver can be temporary, such as attending to a spouse who has the flu, or indefinite, such as

Stress, Depression, and Divorce  

Mixed Feelings 

Rochester Holistic Psychiatry encounters many patients that have gone through a divorce, are  currently divorcing, or are on the verge of divorce. Even if the split is not a hostile one, divorce can be  intensely stressful on all parties. Each person will have their own cocktail of emotions. When the stress  of a divorce is comorbid with a mental disorder, the effects can hit so much harder and make the  situation that much worse.  

Talk About It 

Unfortunately, there is a social stigma attached to a strained marriage

Neurotransmitter #1: Acetylcholine

Introduction to Neurotransmitters

Rochester Holistic Psychiatry specializes in neuromodulation using transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy, or TMS.  Today, we want to talk about neurotransmitters, which are the chemical messengers in the brain that respond to the TMS treatment to help improve brain function.  One of our most important neurotransmitters is acetylcholine.

What Is Acetylcholine?

Acetylcholine (ACh) is a chemical compound built from acetic acid and choline.  Acetylcholine is released by nerve cells to communicate with cells in our muscles, brains, and glands.  It is produced in humans and a wide variety of

Major Depressive Disorder and Lupus

When the Body Fights Itself

What is lupus?  The proper name for lupus is systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE.  Lupus is an autoimmune disorder that is a chronic condition among sufferers.  Symptoms of the disease vary among patients, but it is essentially the immune system mistaking healthy cells for pathogens and lashing out at them.

Lupus affects the central nervous system, causing physical and psychological distress.  When lupus causes psychiatric symptoms that affect the sufferer’s quality of life, this is called neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus, or NPSLE.

Depression and

Depression in Pre-Teen Children

An Ageless Problem

In this post, when we use the term “depression,” we are using it as a general term for MDD, or major depressive disorder.  Depression doesn’t care who the sufferer is, how old they are, or what people see when they look at the sufferer’s life.

Children today live in a very busy world, and though they may be lively and energetic, their minds can become overloaded the mind, which impedes the brain from processing things well and lessening the amount of rest they get.

Circumstances are extremely

What is PMDD?

PMDD stands for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.  This is a condition that causes significant mental and physical upset before women (we’ll use this general term for our purposes today) and AFAB individuals in their reproductive years begin their menses.

Statistical studies indicate that about 1 in 20 women globally suffer from PMDD, and the number is likely higher.  PMDD is often misconstrued as PMS, and there is a significant amount of stigma and ignorance around these issues.

Symptoms of PMDD

PMDD can have its root causes in past trauma or genetic predisposition

COVID and Comorbidity

COVID-19 stands out among physical illnesses right now for its unprecedented affect on mental illness. A study of over 69 million people in the United States revealed disturbing results. Out of those diagnosed with COVID, nearly 20% developed a new mental health issue, like anxiety or dementia.

“Given the novelty and scope of the pandemic, there is little-to-no framework, particularly during the lifespan of the majority of the population alive, for how to manage the threat to health, lifestyle, and societal change,” says Jessica Stern, PhD, a psychologist and

Depression Part 6: Manic Depression/Bipolar Disorder

A Painful Spectrum

What is bipolar disorder?  Bipolar disorder, also called manic depression, is defined as a depressive disorder that swings between two “poles,” a state of mania and a state of depression.  The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) divides bipolar disorder into three types:

Bipolar 1 involves manic episodes over 7 days long or exhibiting symptoms that require hospitalization.  Depressive episodes tend to last about 14 days.  A mixed state with characteristics of both depression and mania has been observed in some cases.
Bipolar 2 involves

A Common Crossroads

Today, we’ll talk about how hormones affect major depressive disorder (MDD). Imbalanced hormones are a common issue we hear about from our patients. For more on hormones and mental health, check out our posts on postpartum depression and menopausal depression.

What Are Hormones?

Hormones are chemical signals that travel around the body influencing the functions of different organs and tissues. Hormones work with the chemical signals of the brain, called neurotransmitters. Hormones are produced and released by glands placed around the human body:

Adrenal glands
Thyroid glands
Pituitary glands
Testes
Ovaries

Major hormones include cortisol, estrogen,

A Brand-New Person

Having a child is a big deal. It’s usually a joyous time that is anticipated and celebrated, but the period of pregnancy, birth, and a child’s early life is also extremely stressful. The CDC estimates that about 1 in 8 new mothers will experience symptoms of postpartum depression. Today, we’re going to look at postpartum depression: Its definition, causes, symptoms, and how to get help.

What is Postpartum Depression?

Postpartum depression is a type of depression that sets in after giving birth to a baby. It can affect the person