With their steady companionship, needs, dependability, and silly antics, our pets can provide welcome relief and distraction from anxiety and depression. Getty Images A few years ago, when Monica’s therapist recommended she get a dog to help with her depression, she didn’t know what to think. What she did know was that she spent the entirety of every session petting her therapist’s golden retriever — it made her feel more relaxed — so, after careful consideration, she decided to become a pet owner. Jasper, a Newfoundland pup, was two months old when she brought him home. Three months later, h ..read more

It’s easy to fall into the habit of saying “yes”—but when it imposes on your mental and emotional well-being, sometimes it’s instead better to say “no.” Getty ImagesPeople-Pleasing vs. Self-Care While many of us have discovered that helping others is one of the best parts of life, learning how to say no when you’re overburdened (or getting there) is a great self-care tool that you can learn. You’ve no doubt encountered times when agreeing to do a favor made you unable to complete your own task or took time away from taking care of yourself (missing a doctor’s appointment, skipping meals, or no ..read more

Here are some easy tips to create a more restful environment for sleeping and to make your bedroom a haven of rejuvenation and relaxation. Ivan Pantic/Getty ImagesSleep Essentials When was the last time you had a satisfying night’s rest? Sleeping well, just like healthy eating and exercising, is essential to feeling your best during the day. (Not to mention that chronic lack of sleep plays a role in depression—and contributes to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, according to the World Association of Sleep Medicine.) Roughly 30 to 40 percent of adults in North America s ..read more

We experience depression not just in our minds but with physical symptoms as well. Recognizing headaches, joint pain, and GI trouble associated with depression is key for optimal treatment. Getty ImagesInexplicable Physical Symptoms & Depression Dichelle was sure she had the flu last fall. She felt exhausted and had a constant headache, and her muscles ached. She took some over-the-counter meds, curled up under a blanket, and waited for it to pass. After a few weeks, she felt worse, not better. When a sinus infection hit, Dichelle made an appointment to see her doctor. “I was as sick ..read more

Whether it be music, dancing, or art therapy, getting those creative juices flowing can be extremely beneficial for our well-being and mental health. Getty ImagesCreativity for Clarity & Positive Change For four summers as an undergraduate, Karissa ran an arts day camp with a dance studio. Sometimes on weekends, when the camp was closed and she was feeling overwhelmed, she’d head to the studio, turn up the volume on the stereo, and dance for an hour. “I couldn’t wait to be in that world,” she recalls. “I’d just turn on the music and let everything out. It was very cathartic for me.” Diagno ..read more

Willpower alone won’t win the war against overeating. To trick your brain, try these tactics. Chris Ryan/Getty ImagesDepression & Dieting Can’t stick to a healthy diet plan? Stop beating yourself up. It turns out you’re not likely to “snap out” of poor eating choices any more than you can snap out of depression. Many obesity researchers are coming to see overeating as a form of addiction, with the same kinds of brain activity and psychological patterns seen in substance use disorders. That means relying on self-control is rarely enough to keep us reaching for carrot sticks instead of chees ..read more

If you’re the pilot of your household and depressive symptoms arise, you need help from your trusted co-pilot. Here’s how to ask for and accept support. Getty ImagesSupport When Depression Returns Most of the time, I’m the one you call when you want someone to cheer you up. I like to dance. I love rock concerts, farmers’ markets, dogs, and children. But there’s another side to me: I have been living with clinical depression since I was a child. Thanks to treatment, coping tools, and lifestyle changes—working from home, eating a natural diet—I am better now than I have ever been. Still, ev ..read more

There is increasing evidence that depression involves multiple body systems and is often linked with chronic, inexplicable pain. Understanding the connection is key to better treatment. Getty ImagesDepression: Pain in Body & Mind While the mind and body are often thought of separately, medical scientists have been working to unravel the interconnected nature of physical and mental/emotional pain or distress. One of the leading motivations for such research is that chronic pain conditions are often comorbid with depression, and a hallmark symptom of depression is physical pain not associate ..read more

Beyond its practical benefits, knitting can also calm the mind and help with stress relief. This kind of crafting can positively affect the brain when coping with depression and anxiety. Guido Mieth/Getty ImagesDepression, Anxiety, & Crafting I was home from work on a sick day when I got a call from the head of human resources: After 27 years with my company, I was being “downsized.” I spent most of the next few days at my sewing machine, completing at least half a dozen Christmas gifts and a baby present. I tried not to think about the layoff except when friends called or stopped by to ch ..read more

As a boy, I was shamed into believing that “real men” don’t struggle with anxiety, fear, panic, or depression. After decades of masking my emotions, I now know that true men are honest about their struggles. Getty Images (Stock photo posed by model)Boys Don’t Cry? I’ve lived with depression and anxiety for a long time. From a young age, I’ve also lived with having to suppress these struggles and pretty much any emotion that didn’t seem “masculine.” This restraint grew into seething anger and resentment of people who were allowed to express how they felt. I didn’t know what to do with this rage ..read more