People with depression need treatment. There are several ways that people with depression can be helped, such as through psychotherapy, medicine, or both simultaneously.
Psychotherapy is speaking with a trained professional about your feelings in order to help manage your thoughts, feelings and behaviors that may be contributing to depression.
Medication is another option for treating depression. Antidepressant medications are used to increase activity of neurotransmitters, chemicals in the brain to relieve the symptoms of depression. These medications are not addictive, and are safe to use when prescribed by a doctor.
With both psychotherapy and medication, a trial and error process may be needed to determine what works best. However, when you find what works for you, treatment helps most depressed people feel better in a matter of weeks. Regardless of the extent to which it is working, in general any treatment is better than no treatment.
Overall, when you are feeling low for a long time, and your problems feel out of your control, remember there is help out there. You are not alone, and can ask for help. If you know someone who you think is depressed, encourage them to ask a responsible adult about treatment. If they don’t ask for help on their own, talk to someone you trust and respect. This is especially critical if there is mention of suicide.
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling and Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ, or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201) – 368-3700 or (212)-722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit https://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): A Simple Guide
By: Katerina Kostadimas
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition that affects the way a person thinks, feels, and interacts with others. People with BPD often struggle with intense emotions, unstable relationships, and a strong fear of abandonment.
What Are The Symptoms of BPD?
BPD symptoms are different for everyone, but common signs include:
Emotional Instability
Fear of abandonment
Unstable Relationships
Impulsive Behaviors
Self-harm or Suicidal Thoughts
Identity Issues
Chronic Feelings of Emptiness
Intense Anger
Paranoia or Dissociation
What Causes BPD?
There is no single cause of BPD, but factors that may contribute include:
Genetics
Brain Differences
Trauma or Childhood
How Is BPD Treated?
BPD is treatable, and many people learn to manage their symptoms with the right help. Some common treatments include:
Therapy—Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) has been said to be the most effective treatment. It teaches skills to manage emotions, build healthy relationships, and reduce impulsive behaviors.
Medication- While there is no specific medication for borderline personality disorder, some people benefit from antidepressants, mood stabilizers, or antipsychotic medications to manage symptoms.
Support System- Having understanding friends, family, or support groups can make a big difference in managing BPD.
If you or someone you love has BPD, know that recovery is possible. With the right treatment and support, people can build stable relationships, manage emotions, and lead fulfilling lives.
If you or someone you know is struggling with borderline personality disorder, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling and Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ, or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201) – 368-3700 or (212)-722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit https://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/
Social media plays a significant role in shaping how we connect, communicate, and even view ourselves. While social media has its benefits, it can also have a detrimental impact on mental health. Social media can negatively affect our mental well-being through constant comparisons, unrealistic expectations, and exposure to harmful content. By being intentional about what we engage with, we can use social media as a tool to enhance our lives and protect our mental well-being.
One of the main drawbacks of social media is the tendency to compare ourselves to others. Platforms such as Instagram and TikTok are often filled with images of people’s “perfect” lives, highlighting their achievements, beauty, and happiness. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem, especially when we find ourselves measuring our lives against these unrealistic portrayals. Social media comparison can lead to symptoms of anxiety, depression, and even body image issues. The more we focus on the idealized versions of others’ lives, the more likely we are to forget that what we see online isn’t always an accurate reflection of reality.
The positive aspect is that we can decide what content we engage with. By intentionally following accounts that promote positivity, self-love, and well-being, we can counteract the negative effects. Following fitness influencers who focus on health rather than body perfection, or mental health advocates who offer advice and share stories of resilience, can create a more positive environment. By engaging with content that aligns with our values, we can shift our mindset toward growth and self-empowerment.
Social media often highlights negativity, which can significantly affect our mental well-being. Platforms frequently highlight drama, conflicts, and extreme opinions, contributing to constant criticism and judgment. Posts that focus on problems, such as failed relationships, mental health struggles, or societal issues, can evoke anxiety or feelings of hopelessness. Viral content that spreads negativity, such as gossip or inflammatory comments, often gains attention, while positive messages may not receive the same recognition. This constant exposure to pessimism can leave individuals feeling overwhelmed and disconnected from the positive aspects of life.
While social media has its negative aspects, it’s possible to transform how we interact with it to protect our mental health. By being mindful of the content we consume and consciously seeking out positive, uplifting posts, we can create an online environment that nurtures our well-being. Social media can be a powerful tool for connection, education, and personal growth if used intentionally. Ultimately, it is important to remember that we control our social media environment and can shape it to support our mental health.
If you or someone you love is struggling with depression or anxiety, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling and Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit http://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise and a balanced diet offers significant benefits for mental health. Physical activity and proper nutrition can enhance mood, reduce stress, and promote overall well-being, improving mental and emotional stability.
The Role of Exercise in Mental Health
Exercise is an effective way to boost overall mental health. When we engage in physical activity, the brain releases dopamine and serotonin; neurotransmitters that play key roles in elevating mood, improving cognition, and reducing feelings of anxiety and depression. Regular exercise also helps to lower cortisol levels, the body’s stress hormone, which can help reduce overall stress.
Exercise can also improve sleep quality, which is crucial for emotional well-being. A good night’s rest enhances cognitive function, memory, and emotional regulation. Additionally, accomplishing exercise goals can increase self-esteem and a positive body image, further supporting mental health.
The Impact of Diet on Mental Health
Diet plays an equally important role in mental health. Food provides essential nutrients that support brain function and emotional stability. Food can be a fuel to the body. Healthy and nutrient-filled foods can produce serotonin and dopamine and regulate them. A balanced diet helps stabilize blood sugar levels and prevent energy crashes, which can lead to irritability and fatigue. Foods rich in fiber and probiotics, such as fruits and vegetables, play a key role in emotional regulation.
Exercise and diet together can increase overall mental health. Regular physical activity is a natural treatment for feelings of anxiety and depression. A well-balanced diet provides the energy and nutrients needed to fuel physical activity. Incorporating regular exercise and a healthy diet into daily life can significantly enhance physical and mental health. These habits not only improve mood, reduce stress, and boost self-esteem, but they also support emotional resilience.
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, or other mental health issues, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling & Psychiatric Services. Contact our Paramus, NJ or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit http://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/
College is where many students are excited about independence, opportunities, and new experiences. Some students may experience challenges with change and experience feelings of depression. Balancing academics, social life, and financial difficulties can bring anxiety onto a student. These challenges can significantly impact mental health and lead to depression. Depression not only affects a student’s emotional well-being but disrupts all other aspects of their life.
The Impacts
Academic Struggles
Depression can disrupt a student’s ability to focus, retain important information, and meet deadlines for assignments. Symptoms such as fatigue, lack of motivation, difficulty concentrating, and hopelessness can lead to poor attendance and a decline in grades. Without the proper environment and support, depression can consume a student’s daily life and cause academic struggles.
2. Social Isolation
Depression can impair a student’s social life and cause them to lose the strong support systems they previously had. The withdrawal from social interactions can worsen symptoms of depression and lead students to feel alone. Depression can consume a student, making it difficult to get out of bed and engage in social activities that other students would enjoy.
3. Long Term Consequences
Without the proper support, environment, and treatment, depression can cause long-term effects. Academically, depression can lead students to fail courses and drop out of school which can impact the opportunities that are presented to students in the future. Untreated depression can lead to long-term physical health issues such as heart disease, chronic stress, and unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Coping and Support
Utilize Campus Resources
Many colleges offer a wide range of support systems to help students cope with their depression. Counseling services, support groups, clubs, and mental health and wellness workshops are resources that can support students during difficult times.
2. Establish Healthy Habits
A routine such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, and consistent sleep can improve mood and energy levels. Incorporating mindfulness is a way to reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms. Students can use creative tasks and different outlets students can use to reduce stress and enhance their emotional well-being.
3. Build support
Building a strong support system and a positive environment is a way to decrease feelings and symptoms of depression. Reaching out to people who will provide you with the support you need is important. Staying connected with friends and family provides emotional support and stability.
Depression among college students is an issue that needs awareness and actions to reduce stigma. By prioritizing mental health students can overcome mental health challenges that are constantly experienced. By accessing resources provided by colleges, establishing healthy habits and regular routines, and building a strong support system, students can develop resilience and improve their mental health.
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or other mental health issues, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling & Psychiatric Services. Contact our Paramus, NJ or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit http://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/
Luo, M.-M., Hao, M., Li, X.-H., Liao, J., Wu, C.-M., & Wang, Q. (2024, January 25). Prevalence of depressive tendencies among college students and the influence of attributional styles on depressive tendencies in the post-pandemic era. Frontiers in public health. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10850216/
Dysthymia is mild but has more long-lasting symptoms than major depression. Dysthymia is also known as persistent depression disorder because it is continuous and long-term. There is no exact cause of dysthymia but biological differences, brain chemistry, life events, and inherited traits can play a role. It has been demonstrated that those with depression don’t have any family history of this disorder and those with a family history of depression don’t struggle with this disorder.
Some noticeable symptoms of dysthymia:
Loss of enjoyment of regular activities
Sadness or depressed mood
Lack of motivation
Tiredness
Sleep problems
Problems with decision-making or concentration
Restlessness and impatient
Low self-esteem
Overeating or eating very little
Suicidal thoughts
Substance misuse
Relationship difficulties
School or work hardships
Some ways to help prevent dysthymia:
Reach out to friends and family
Seek medical professional help
Work on reducing stress
Be patient
Be kind to yourself
Practice self-care
Don’t self-medicate
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling & Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ, or Manhattan, NY offices at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to schedule an appointment. For more information, please visit https://aristapsychiatrypsychotherapy.com/
Postpartum depression is a vulnerable time for a woman’s health. Many women are experiencing mood changes and are expected to have an amazing transition into motherhood. However, many women struggle with mental health issues after giving birth. It’s important to spread awareness and show support to the women who are struggling with postpartum depression.
Postpartum depression symptoms start to occur four to six weeks after giving birth and can gradually decrease as time goes on. Nonetheless, depression can reoccur within three years after pregnancy or giving birth. Some common symptoms of postpartum depression can be intrusive, unwanted thoughts and postpartum rage.
Here are some ways to help someone you know or who is struggling with postpartum depression:
Seek help from a licensed mental health professional
Look for a community to help you in both emotional and practical ways
Practice mindfulness and relaxation therapy
Use positive affirmations and be more kind to yourself
Practice skin-to-skin care which can help with reducing the stress hormone cortisol
Avoid alcohol or recreational drug use
Eat healthy
Prioritize rest for yourself
Gaining more knowledge about postpartum depression
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling & Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ, or Manhattan, NY offices at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit https://aristapsychiatrypsychotherapy.com/
Major depressive disorder is a condition that affects many individuals. Major depressive disorder can range from being clinically mild and short-lasting to recurring over and over again, to being highly chronic and treatment-resistant. Depression is known to run in families indicating that there are genetic factors. It can be a combination of life experiences and environment. Genetics plays a mild role in depression. Also, families with certain genetic patterns lived eight years shorter than average. As depression may range from transient to debilitating it is expected that many different sets of genetic alterations are involved. Some genes are associated with weight and body, neuron development, and brain inflammation and another group is associated with proteins that tell the immune system which cells are friendly and which are not. This means that our genetics can not only influence our physical characteristics but also how our brain functions and our immune system interacts and identifies with different cells in the body. Your environment can modify the genetic factors that play a role in depression.
If you are concerned about a strong history of depression in the family and are scared about it affecting you or your future children a study suggests that even with a high tendency for depression, psychotherapy or behavioral activation therapy can reduce it. Individuals need to understand the life-changing impact their environment can have on their mental health. Our emotions are generated by our thinking which may serve as an influence on our behaviors. You may have had genetic roots of depression, a difficult upbringing, or a terrible tragedy that has currently occurred but if you change your thinking then your emotions will change as well.
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling & Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit https://aristapsychiatrypsychotherapy.com/
As the autumn leaves fall, everyone copes with the seasons changing differently. Some embrace the changes, while others may have difficulty with the adjustments. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that occurs during specific seasons. Typically, Seasonal Affective Disorder is most common in the fall and winter months when there is reduced sunlight. The lack of sunlight affects the body’s internal clock, hormone levels, and chemical messengers, Various symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder range from feelings of sadness, low energy, irritability, difficulty sleeping, and changes in appetite.
Multiple treatments are available for managing Seasonal Affective Disorder such as light therapy, counseling or psychotherapy, medication such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Additionally, there are coping methods individuals can try at home. The methods include going outside to get natural sunlight, eating vitamin D-enriched foods, taking vitamin D supplements, avoiding stressful situations, and consuming a healthy and balanced diet. Other methods one can try are getting plenty of outdoor and indoor exercise, talking to family and friends about Seasonal Affective Disorder, making your space as light and airy as possible, and sleeping for at least 7 to 8 hours every night.
It can be difficult to see a loved one struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder. If you or a family member are struggling with mental health, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling & Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ, and Manhattan, NY offices respectively at (201) 368- 3700 or (212) 722- 1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit http://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/
High-functioning depression, also known as dysthymia, is a type of depression that can be described by persistent feelings of sadness, low energy, and a lack of pleasure in activities. People that have high-functioning depression may experience a wide range of symptoms, such as feelings of hopelessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, low self-esteem, sleep disturbances, and/or a lack of interest in activities that were once enjoyable. One of the main differences between high-functioning depression and other forms of depression is the severity of symptoms. Individuals with major depressive disorder may experience highly intense feelings of hopelessness and despair; however those with high-functioning depression may have a more subtle experience of these symptoms. Those with high functioning depression may still be able to fulfill their responsibilities such as work or school, and maintain their relationships, but they may constantly battle with feelings of emptiness and sadness. Another difference has to do with the perception of others. People with high-functioning depression are oftentimes misunderstood and since they appear to be functioning well, others may minimize or dismiss their issues or attribute their feelings to mere moodiness.
Psychotherapy is an effective treatment approach for high-functioning depression. By working with a therapist to identify and transform negative thought patterns, people are able to improve their wellbeing by exploring healthy ways of managing emotions and stress. In some cases, medication may be part of the treatment plan for high-functioning depression. Antidepressant medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can help alleviate symptoms and improve overall well-being.
If you or someone you know is having mental health difficulties and/ or experiencing symptoms of depression, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling & Psychotherapy. Contact our offices at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit http://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/
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