Burger King isn’t going to make you suicidal, at least I don’t think so. And funnel cakes at the beach might not make you bawl right there on the boardwalk. But too much of some of this stuff and you may become unlikeable, to yourself and to everyone around you. A mound of research shows...

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective form of therapy that aims to help a person recognize negative patterns of thought, evaluate them, and replace them with accurate or healthier ways of thinking. CBT also addresses patterns of behavior that result from distorted thinking. This kind of therapy is based on the assumption that faulty...

Approximately 10 percent of depressed persons are treatment resistant. These folks have not responded to antidepressants or any kind of medication. Their efforts at cognitive-behavioral therapy and other types of therapy have failed. Even sessions of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) have proven unsuccessful. These people are the sickest of the sick, and spend their days in...

Depression has long been associated with imbalances of neurotransmitters, chemical messengers in the brain that bridge the synaptic clefts and pass messages from one neuron to the next. Particularly the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, have been said to be responsible for depression and symptoms of mood disorders. However, a wave of research point to...

Deep breathing has become increasingly important in my recovery from depression and anxiety because I recognize that shallow breath contributes to my panic. In fact, at my worst hours, I would use a paper bag to keep from hyperventilating. The practice of deep breathing stimulates our parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), responsible for activities that occur when our body is...