Description

On average, you have over 6,000 thoughts a day. That’s a lot – and about 80 percent of them are negative. Unsettling thoughts, lingering feelings of sadness or losing interest in activities you once enjoyed are all reasons to check in on your mental health with a trusted friend or your clinician. 

If you’re looking for options because something feels off or you know a loved one who is facing depression, you’ll want to listen to the latest episode of The Healthiest You podcast. In Part One of our podcast series on major depression, you’ll hear from psychiatrist Samantha Cerimele, MD, with Lehigh Valley Health Network, part of Jefferson Health.

How can you break the cycle of negative thoughts? What causes depression? Which symptoms should not be ignored? Should you try transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy? Can St. John’s wort supplements help fight depression? We answer these questions and more on The Healthiest You podcast this month.

Chapters:

• 0:01 - Intro
• 1:06 - Why women have a higher risk
• 2:16 - What causes depression
• 2:31 - Most common types of depression
• 3:04 - Symptoms you should not ignore 
• 4:33 - Take these first steps if you have symptoms
• 5:35 - How depression is diagnosed
• 6:16 - Treatment options
• 7:15 - Nonmedication treatment options
• 7:33 - Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
• 8:49 - Side effects of TMS
• 9:14 - Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or talk therapy
• 10:19 - Mental health toolkit
• 11:39 - What to do when your thoughts are spiraling
• 12:16 - Breathing exercise
• 14:29 - St. John’s wort supplement