Dear Abby: I want my son to be healthy, but he binge eats to cope with depression

Dear Abby: I want my son to be healthy, but he binge eats to cope with depression

DEAR ABBY: I am worried about my 26-year-old son, “Caleb.” He’s severely overweight. Let me be clear: I love him regardless of his weight, but I think he binge eats to cope with anxiety and depression. A mutual love of eating was how my son and his late mom bonded.  For example, when his favorite … Read more

Healthy 26-year-old had penis numbness, orgasm problems from popular drug — even a year and a half after he stopped taking it

Healthy 26-year-old had penis numbness, orgasm problems from popular drug — even a year and a half after he stopped taking it

Not all medications are medical marvels — some may do more harm than good. A 26-year-old man reported sexual side effects like orgasm troubles after taking a hair loss drug popular among millions of men, according to a new case study. Even after discontinuing it, his symptoms persisted for a year and a half. Finasteride … Read more

Tech-savvy contact lenses may be just as effective as Prozac at treating depression: eye-opening study

Tech-savvy contact lenses may be just as effective as Prozac at treating depression: eye-opening study

An insightful new technology has been developed for treating depression. While millions of adults in the US use antidepressants like Prozac, the side effects — like weight gain or sexual dysfunction — can make the medications an uncomfortable option. However, a new, drug-free treatment delivered eye-opening results that were as effective as one of the … Read more

Scientists found the sweet spot for sleep — get less or more and you’re aging yourself faster

Scientists found the sweet spot for sleep — get less or more and you’re aging yourself faster

Too little, too much, or just right. Everyone can feel the effects of a bad night’s sleep, and how long you let your head hit the pillow plays an important role in how your brain ages. Scientists have now found that the amount of sleep you get each night doesn’t just result in brain fog … Read more

Exclusive | Olympic star Ryan Lochte opens up on drugs, depression, divorce, infamous Brazilian arrest — and insists he’s not broke

Exclusive | Olympic star Ryan Lochte opens up on drugs, depression, divorce, infamous Brazilian arrest — and insists he’s not broke

Twelve-time Olympic medal winning swimmer Ryan Lochte stunned fans this week by announcing he has taken a $30,000-a-year assistant coaching gig with Missouri State University. It’s been a rocky few years for the champion after battling depression so crippling some days he couldn’t even get out of bed, he told The Post in an exclusive … Read more

Dear Abby: Should I distance myself from my friend who suffers from depression?

Dear Abby: Should I distance myself from my friend who suffers from depression?

DEAR ABBY: I have a friend I have known for a very long time. We bonded 10 years ago over common interests and mutual friends. Over the years, they have suffered from anxiety, depression, and OCD. In addition, they are also narcissistic, but it has never been a problem before.  I have spent many a … Read more

A viral over-the-counter meds hack supposedly wipes out anxiety — does it really work?

A viral over-the-counter meds hack supposedly wipes out anxiety — does it really work?

Genius anxiety hack or just a hack that should be sacked? Some 19% of adults have an anxiety disorder, with Gen Zers notably packing panic pouches to calm themselves down. Those struggling with anxiety are reaching for any relief they can find — even if it means testing their own solutions. An over-the-counter one-two punch … Read more

Loneliness may be silently eroding your memory, new research reveals

Loneliness may be silently eroding your memory, new research reveals

Feeling lonely may take a toll on older adults’ memory — but it may not speed up cognitive decline, according to a new study. Researchers from Colombia, Spain and Sweden analyzed data from more than 10,000 adults ages 65 to 94 across 12 European countries and found those who reported higher levels of loneliness did … Read more

Do you have frühlingsmüdigkeit? The springtime malady that could be making you tired and moody

Do you have frühlingsmüdigkeit? The springtime malady that could be making you tired and moody

If spring has sprung you into an emotional black hole, listen up. Germans have a word for the general sense of malaise that can, however ironically, accompany the start of a season known for rebirth and vitality.  Frühlingsmüdigkeit — “springtime tiredness” or “springtime lethargy” — is a well-known phenomenon among German speakers who claim spring … Read more

Exclusive | Summer’s coming and these people are miserable about it — but not for the reasons you’d expect

Exclusive | Summer’s coming and these people are miserable about it — but not for the reasons you’d expect

After a punishing winter of arctic temperatures and a record-breaking blizzard, most of us are ready to shed our outer layers — and soak up the sun’s rays. Not Sophia Marren. Day drinking on the patio with pals? Not for her. Beach plans on a sun-drenched Saturday? No thanks. Sophia Marren isn’t a fan of summer … Read more

Dads’ risk for depression and stress disorders jumps by over 30% during key time

Dads’ risk for depression and stress disorders jumps by over 30% during key time

After ages of being dismissed as “baby blues,” postpartum depression, anxiety and even psychosis are finally being taken seriously. But while moms are dealing with massive hormonal changes on top of stress and sleep deprivation, dads’ mental health can also face challenges. And a new study published in JAMA Network Open found that fathers’ risk for … Read more

Weed is actually ‘rarely justified’ to treat anxiety or depression, says major scientific review

Weed is actually ‘rarely justified’ to treat anxiety or depression, says major scientific review

A little green might not be a cure for the blues. New research suggests medical marijuana isn’t the mental health miracle many hope for, finding little evidence that it can effectively treat conditions like anxiety, depression or PTSD. “In the absence of robust medical or counselling support, the use of medicinal cannabis in these cases … Read more

Angry all the time in your 40s? It could be ‘perimenopause rage’

Angry all the time in your 40s? It could be ‘perimenopause rage’

Hit your 40s and suddenly find yourself seeing red over slow walkers, dishes in the sink or even your partner’s breathing? Blame it on the change. “It is not just ‘being moody,’ and it is not a personality flaw,” Dr. Michelle Sands, a licensed naturopathic physician who specializes in women’s hormone health, told The Post. … Read more

Link between cannabis and anxiety, depression has ‘strengthened over time’: new study

Link between cannabis and anxiety, depression has ‘strengthened over time’: new study

Getting high, but feeling low. Science is split on whether the effects of cannabis are good or bad, with recent research showing it could boost brain power in older adults, while other studies show the purported benefits go up in smoke. But a new study has found a growing connection between cannabis use and detrimental … Read more

This plant’s been called ‘nature’s Valium’ — it can help fight anxiety, reduce stress and treat insomnia

This plant’s been called ‘nature’s Valium’ — it can help fight anxiety, reduce stress and treat insomnia

Modern science is just catching up to what folk and traditional healers have known since Homeric times. While lab-developed pharmaceuticals can help manage anxiety, you might also want to check your local botanical garden. Native to parts of Europe and Asia, valerian root has a long-established history as a sedative, with records of its use … Read more

Exclusive | More and more women are popping pills for depression — but are SSRIs actually being overprescribed?

Exclusive | More and more women are popping pills for depression — but are SSRIs actually being overprescribed?

It’s become common to talk about and SSRIs (short for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, a class of antidepressants) the way people talk about supplements: a passing mention, a joke in a group chat, a “same” under a TikTok about Lexapro, even a line tucked into a dating profile bio.  For many young women, the cultural … Read more

What is ‘bigorexia’? Inside the gym goal that’s taking over young men’s lives

What is ‘bigorexia’? Inside the gym goal that’s taking over young men’s lives

It’s a growing problem that’s long been overlooked. For decades, body image issues have been pegged as primarily a female struggle, with one study finding that 53% of American girls are “unhappy with their bodies” by age 13. Now, experts say the epidemic is increasingly reaching boys and young men — and while their female … Read more

This habit after childbirth can reduce moms’ risk of depression for up to 10 years

This habit after childbirth can reduce moms’ risk of depression for up to 10 years

Moms, get pumped for this news. Childbirth brings a plethora of exhausting new responsibilities — but some can affect your health in a good way. New research finds that one task in particular may reduce the likelihood that new moms will experience anxiety and depression later in life. A new study finds that one specific … Read more

‘Double the evidence’ now shows single behavior change is as effective as antidepressants: study

‘Double the evidence’ now shows single behavior change is as effective as antidepressants: study

You’re not going to want to sit down for this. A new study suggests that a single habit is better for the brain than previously thought — and can treat symptoms of depression as effectively as medication and talk therapy. The CDC estimates that the prevalence of depression in U.S. adolescents and adults increased 60% … Read more

Dance your way to better health? Busting a move can protect you against these 4 diseases

Dance your way to better health? Busting a move can protect you against these 4 diseases

Bust a move. Whether you tear up the dance floor or have moves like Elaine from “Seinfeld”, dancing can bring about more than just joy. New research shows the social activity can even protect against four diseases, one of which the number of cases is predicted to skyrocket in the coming years. Dancing has been … Read more