Stress is a common occurrence. Most people experience mild levels of stress every day, which is completely normal. You're running late, traffic is horrible, the kids are fighting — a million and one different things can cause stress levels to rise. However, some people experience more than these normal levels of stress. Although stress and anxiety overlap in many respects, anxiety is a chronic and recurrent condition. There are a number of common signs that most recognize as side effects of anxiety, a few symptoms are less well know and…

Many people associate depression with feelings of sadness, tiredness and lack of motivation or energy. What many don't understand is that depression isn't just a feeling. It's a psychological condition that affects the way you think, feel and even behave. Although it's categorized as a mood disorder, major depressive disorder (MDD) could be rooted in chemical changes occurring in the brain. What Is Depression? Depression is a condition that causes feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Although some people have mild cases that occur only occasionally throughout their life, others struggle…

“Hangry” sounds like a silly made-up word — because it is — you hear in candy bar commercials to try to entice you to buy more. While it makes for a fun commercial, there is some real science behind it. Hanger, or a combination of hungry and angry, is a real problem. Let's take a closer look at the science of hanger and what's going on inside your body when it kicks in. How Hanger Happens Ever heard your stomach growling when you're hungry? Hanger is the same reaction, just…

Many Americans see their work ethic as a point of pride. However, an overzealous work ethic can be detrimental to our physical and mental health. For many, vacations are seen as a luxury. And in fact, for many workers, vacation time is something they can't afford. The U.S. is one of the few developed nations in the world that does not mandate a set number of days off for employees. In fact, one-fourth of all American workers receive no paid time off. Some countries, like France and the United Kingdom,…

Whether you are a freshman or a senior, a full load of classes and busy campus life can take their toll on anyone. That is why those carefree months of summer come at the perfect time. Some look forward to pure relaxation, while others have a productive summer of work, travel or other goals to fill their time. But what no one expects is summer anxiety. Aren't those anxious feelings supposed to melt away once classes let out? Don't let the summer blues rob you of one day from your…

Summer is often associated with vacations, cookouts with friends and other fun activities. With summer also comes rising temperatures and many people take for granted the effects that high temperatures can have on our health. We all know about the risk that high temperatures can have on our physical health — heat exhaustion, heat stroke and the like. You can take precautions to prevent this, such as not working outside during the hottest part of the day or increasing your water intake. But have you ever considered the effects heat…