Mental Health Archive

A 2025 analysis found that people with chronic illnesses, who are highly susceptible to depression and whose conditions often make activity difficult, may need a relatively small amount of weekly exercise to ease depression.

Heart palpitations are sensations of a pounding or racing heartbeat, often triggered by stress, stimulants, or hormonal changes. They're usually harmless but should be checked by a doctor. Palpitations may improve with lifestyle changes or treatment for underlying conditions.

The new year is a good time to focus on cognitive fitness. Exercise, healthy eating, mental challenges, good sleep, controlling stress, and social engagement support neuroplasticity and help keep thinking and memory sharp.

Malaise is a feeling of weakness, fatigue, or being generally unwell. Addressing underlying causes and making healthy lifestyle changes - such as exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep - can help people with malaise feel better.

Joyspan is a term coined by gerontologist Kerry Burnright that refers to the satisfaction and well-being people experience as they move through life. Joy is associated with health benefits such as better immune function, resilience, and longevity.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) uses magnetic pulses to repeatedly activate areas of the brain involved in mood regulation. Updated protocols hold the promise of rapid relief from major depression.

Up to half of heart attack survivors experience some form of psychological distress after the event, including depression, anxiety, or stress, according to a 2025 statement from the American Heart Association.

Men who could benefit from therapy often resist it because it carries a negative stigma for them and they feel uncomfortable about seeking help. For these individuals, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be an option. Many men find CBT appealing because it is short-term, structured, and focused on current issues. CBT is regularly used to treat depression and anxiety disorders, but it can help with managing other common ailments, such as insomnia, chronic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and migraines.

Increasing numbers of older adults are using cannabis over recent years. People over 50 report using it to relax, sleep better, feel good, relieve pain, improve mood or mental health, or treat medical conditions. But older adults are more vulnerable to cannabis side effects, such as falls or interactions with prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Many older adults aren't aware that cannabis products today are far more potent than in decades past. Medical visits related to cannabis use rose more than 27-fold among adults 65 and older between 2008 and 2021.

Men and women can experience many age-related changes and health conditions that can cause their sex drives to decline. Couples who deal with mismatched or missing sex drives should communicate about how they can work together to get back in sync. Both partners should share what they enjoy before and during sex, what issues may be hindering their sex drive, and what strategies they can try, such as recreating dating, planning time for intimacy, and exploring new ways to create romantic moods.