8 Counterintuitive Strategies for a Happier Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Here are a few tips to help you and your family keep the peace and make the most of the holiday: 1. Be clear-eyed Manage expectations. It’s nice to have...

Forget Bed Rotting—There’s a Better Way to Recharge

“Take it easy for a few days.” My doctor’s instructions were straightforward. I had just had a lumbar puncture and was supposed to chill out for 48 hours. “Getting enough sleep will help you...

Here’s What You Can Do When the World Feels Upside Down

One of the best parts of my job is getting to hear what’s on your mind. Below are answers to three questions I am asked almost every day from patients, family, friends, and this...

An Antidote for Overthinking

Feelings aren’t facts. A basic principle of every non-pharmaceutical treatment for depression and anxiety involves putting some distance between oneself and one’s emotions. Psychodynamic therapy, mindfulness, meditation and exercise, to name a few, create space...

7 Habits That Can Cut the Risk of Depression in Half

“We are what we repeatedly do.” —Aristotle Your answers to these seven questions have serious implications for your mental health: Do you get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep a night? How much junk food...

The Difference Between Feeling Anxious and Having an Anxiety Disorder

What does anxiety feel like to you? Here are a few descriptions I have heard over the years: From the literal: Queasy Revved up On edge Worried To the metaphorical: Like a pit in my stomach Like...