Oftentimes, when the going gets tough, we stress. It’s natural and essential for survival, but not all stress is good. Finding the balance between experiencing harmful and beneficial stress is essential for our long-term well-being. So how can we modulate our stress response and have it work for us? Summary of Key Points Stress and anxiety…

People with depression are sometimes described as “overthinking,” “sentimental,” or having “low stress tolerance.” Even in the modern age when knowledge about depression has become increasingly common, there are still some prejudices or stereotypes about depression. On the other hand, when someone says, “I’ve been feeling down lately,” “I’m not interested in anything,” “I feel…

St. John’s wort begins to bloom around St. John’s Day on June 24, St. John the Baptist’s birthday, until August—hence its name. There is a myth that St. John’s wort sprouted at the site of the beheading of John the Baptist. It was believed that the plant’s healing and protective properties were so profound that the devil perforated its…

People can be forgiven for feeling depressed these days. The future touted by global leaders is dire. The 2021-2022 United Nations Human Development Report states that living standards have declined in nine out of ten countries around the world since 2020 and that multiple crises “are hitting us at the same time and interacting to…

University of New South Wales (UNSW) researchers have found that music could prevent an estimated 800,000 avoidable deaths annually, after unearthing clear evidence that musical engagement improves overall wellbeing and health, decreasing anxiety and improving mood. Matt McCrary, Adjunct Lecturer at UNSW’s Prince of Wales Clinical School and co-author of the study publishing music’s effect…

Children as young as 8 years old should be screened for anxiety according to a leading panel on preventive health, amidst rising cases of mental disorders including depression, among kids and teens, particularly noted during the pandemic. The “B Grade” draft guidance from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for major depressive…