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Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs) are a group of inherited disorders that make people susceptible to not only infections and malignancies but also psychological conditions. Even though the PID / psychological connection is considered under-researched and therefore not fully understood, research shows that PID is strongly associated with psychopathology and even suicidal behavior, especially in women….

It has been proven over many years via much research that mood can have both a positive a negative affect on our health. Anger is usually tied to a strong perception of wrongdoing and a drive to address or undo that wrongdoing. Sometimes anger is a natural response to a set of circumstances and other…

Although we need more research, the age-old practice of covering oneself in cold water has been shown to have beneficial health benefits, including helping to lift your mood. For example, studies show that cold water swimming can tamp down inflamation which is often identified as a cause of depression. And we know that dousing your…

When we exercise, a complex chemical reaction takes place in your brain which can help boost your mood. These chemicals include endorphins and endocannabinoids, which can actually work in tandem to fight depression. Exercise also often gets us out of the house, into the company of others and forces our mind to focus on things…

An inner monologue is basically the conversation that we have with ourselves, in our own heads, as we go about our days. This process is natural and almost everyone undertakes it in some form. In fact, some people speak parts of their inner monologue out loud: we often refer to this as talking to oneself….

Serotonin is central to many of our behavioral responses. In fact, serotonin has been implicated in practically every type of human behavior, including appetitive, emotional, motor, cognitive and autonomic. The Cleveland Clinic goes so far as to refer to serotonin as your body’s natural “feel good” chemical because of how it helps regulate our moods….

Caffeine is an extremely popular psychoactive substance and central nervous system stimulant. Most commonly consumed in coffee, it is generally considered safe if consumed if moderate amounts. The Mayo Clinic has concluded that, in general, adults can safely consume up to 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine a day, approximately the amount in four cups of…

We have recently seen some patients struggling to find Adderall. Last October the Food and Drug Administration announced there was a nationwide Adderall shortage. Some of the problems that created this shortage started with production issues at pharmaceutical companies, but it has also been driven by a supposed shortage of ingredients that go into the…

Many people have jobs, but not all of them are lucky enough to have healthy workplaces. One of the reasons that certain workplaces are not healthy is due to a toxic environment, defined by Wharton professor Nancy Rothbard as one where people are experiencing corrosive pressures that are draining them and making them want to…

About one in every four people experience weight gain from taking the mood stabilizer lithium, as reported by Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. Based on the research conducted on this issue, the average weight gain that people who take lithium experience is usually between ten and twenty six pounds. Some studies show that people taking lithium are…