I used to think that once you put down the drink, you were fixed; that once you conjured up the courage to quit your addiction, the hard work was over. But addicts are never really cured. Like cancer survivors, they simply stay in remission for the duration of their lives. There is always a person,...

Some of the best physicians are wounded healers, those who have walked through the pain of depression themselves only to emerge on the other side to help others. Dr. Thomas Franklin is among them. Medical director of The Retreat at Sheppard Pratt, he is a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Maryland School...

I am reposting this blog because I continue to be irritated by the inaccurate association between mental illness and violence. Every time there is a tragedy like the Germanwings crash in which the murderer is suspected of (or is documented with) mental problems, my job as a health advocate who tries to educate the public...

Aristotle once said, “Knowing yourself is the beginning of wisdom,” and Miguel de Cervantes said, “Make it thy business to know thyself, which is the most difficult lesson in the world.” Interpersonal therapy is, of course, one way of getting to know yourself and your triggers. Personal retreats are another—whether they involve an outdoor adventure...

If I had to choose just one piece of advice to give to the person disabled by depression or any mood disorder, it would be this: Work with the right professionals and seek out accurate, evidence-based information. In 2006, having spent years absorbing inaccurate information and working with amateurs, I needed a miracle. I was...