For one reason or another, you’ve decided that you want to stop using an antidepressant. Perhaps you’ve made great strides in your healing and feel you don’t need your medication anymore? Or you can’t afford your medication? Or maybe you just want to give a more natural approach a try? Whatever your reasons are for […]
Author: Nancy Schimelpfening, M.S.
Nancy Schimelpfening is the founder of Depression Sanctuary. Unless otherwise stated, all of the content on Depression Sanctuary is written by and maintained by Nancy. Nancy has a master’s degree in community health education from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. She was the About.com (now Verywell.com) expert on depression from 1998-2016. She has also written for other online publications, including Healthline, Health Digest, and MindBodyGreen.
Chromium, Sugar Cravings and Depression?
If you are finding yourself dealing with symptoms like sugar cravings, depression, and problems with managing your blood sugar, it could be that you are not getting enough of an important mineral called chromium. What Is Chromium? Chromium — in particular trivalent chromium (chromium 3+) — is a trace mineral found in certain foods. It […]
Can Depression Be Cured? The Answer May Surprise You
Can depression be cured? Generally, doctors will tell you, “No.” They will tell you that you have a chemical imbalance and that imbalance is only corrected for as long as you take the medication. Once you discontinue the medication, your depression will return. But, is that always true? Can depression never be permanently cured? Let’s […]
Depression Treatments
There are several different depression treatments that are available. Most require a doctor’s approval, but certain herbs and supplements are available over the counter. The best option for you depends on the type of depression you have, the severity of your depression and how well you respond to any given treatment. The following is a […]
Depression Symptoms
Most people will experience depression symptoms at some time in their life. Feelings of sadness and upset are a normal response to stressful situations. Usually people are able to adjust and move forward within a fairly short amount of time. However, when a person’s ability to cope is pushed too far, they may develop what […]
Hypothyroidism and Depression
If you’ve been feeling tired and depressed and you’ve gained a bit of weight, you may be thinking it’s just a normal part of life. Maybe you just need to get more rest and eat a bit better, right? Or, perhaps you’ve considered asking your doctor about an antidepressant to help with your depression? What […]
Can Exercise Help Depression?
Can exercise help depression? According to a study from the Black Dog Institute, even small amounts of exercise can help. In fact, as little as an hour a week – of any intensity – may be helpful, they say. The study is an important one as it was the largest of its kind conducted to […]
Metabolic Syndrome Makes It Hard to Treat Depression
A study published on December 13, 2017 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society says that having metabolic syndrome may make it more difficult to treat depression in older adults. What Is Metabolic Syndrome? Metabolic syndrome is a clustering of certain symptoms, including excess abdominal fat, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood sugar. […]
Antidepressants: What Are They, How Do They Work?
At its simplest, antidepressants are medications which are used to treat depression. Chemically, they are drugs which are capable of altering the amount of the substances within your brain that scientists believe are responsible for regulating mood (neurotransmitters). The Role of Neurotransmitters in Depression To understand how antidepressants affect our brain’s chemistry, we must first […]
Exercise and Depression: How to Set Doable Goals
You’ve probably heard about the many studies dealing with exercise and depression. Experts say it probably helps by increasing blood flow to the brain as well as triggering the release of feel-good chemicals like endorphins and serotonin. It may also help by providing a distraction from your troubles, boosting your confidence and helping you become […]
