For those of you who have ever wondered, would Darwin take Xanax? - and I know that you're out there - there's finally an answer: no, because depression is a sign of strong evolutionary adaptation. Or something. Maybe.According to a report discussed this week in Newsweek, depression may be an "adaptation" in human beings - and, oddly, rats - that provides for selection of stronger, fitter humans:

Last year during national Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and I mean exactly one year ago on October 28, 2008, I wrote about one of the most disturbing cases with a connection to domestic violence the nation had seen in a while. A tale of horror unfolded, the murders of the mother, brother and young nephew of acclaimed actress and singer Jennifer Hudson. The alleged perpetrator, her sister's estranged husband William Balfour, was later arrested.

Anti-depressants have been in the news a lot recently.  There are new questions about anti-depressant use and the risk of suicide.  Questions about why anti-depressant use seems to be on the rise.  Questions about the risks of using anti-depressants during pregnancy.  And questions about the safety of using anti-depressants in adolescence.  Unfortunately, there are more questions than answers.

Last week I was reading a lot about the latest research linking Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) to the XMRV Retrovirus.  Some of the articles even implied that people suffering with CFS (like myself) should be excited at the possibility that this news could lead to better diagnosis and treatment of CFS.  But, it's not exactly good news for CFS patients, especially for patients hoping for a cure.  Here's why...

About eight months ago I had a turning point in my life. Instead of hiding from and burying my fears - a trait I'd gotten very good at over the years - I began to learn to face them head on. In addition to therapy and medication, I recently discovered two more things I want and need to do to take better care of myself - the first is getting regular exercise and the second is attending a 12-step program (for friends and families of problem drinkers).

While cruising a blog last Friday I heard about the case of Mitrice Richardson, the missing 24-year-old black woman from South Los Angeles who was arrested by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department on Sept. 16 for not paying a $89.21 restaurant bill in upscale Malibu. After her arrest, she was released at 1:25 in the morning without her cell phone or her purse and no transportation because the police had impounded her 1990 Honda Civic in which they say she had less than an ounce of marijuana.

There was an urgency of somebody or something trying to get my attention. I kept hearing Van Morrison’s Inarticulate Speech of the Heart in my head. Well that and various other song lyrics about pain, love and the search of redemptive peace. Finally, I heard Anne Sexton’s name. I had not thought of her for years. I loved her poetry when I was a teen. I remembered how Anne used words that were her tethers to her world.  A world where madness dominated her life and yet she created solid, beautifully crafted poems.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday, September 2, the "largest health care fraud settlement in its history." Pfizer Inc. with subsidiaries Pharmacia & Upjohn Company Inc. must pay $2.3 billion "to resolve criminal and civil liability arising from the illegal promotion of certain pharmaceutical products," according to the DOJ's news release.

There just never seems to be enough time in the day. But even so, we still need to make time to sleep. In fact, getting a good night sleep is just what we need to be at or best during those precious waking hours. The question is... Are you getting enough sleep? We all know that in order to be healthy (and happy) we need to get enough sleep. But still, most of us either don’t get enough sleep or our quality of sleep is lacking.

Could humming help me reduce my blood pressure and heart rate? It sure would be great if it could. It's not just any kind of humming. It's a type of yoga breathing. And there are apparently many health benefits to this type of yoga breath. I am definitely going to give this a try. The Rejuvenation Lounge has a post discussing the 12 Instant Benefits of Humming Daily.

Motherhood has changed many things in my life. No longer can I be wrapped within the cocoon of living my life my way, on my terms- I have a family to consider. Fortunately for me, waiting until mid-life to marry and a have a child certainly has benefits. I have lived overseas, traveled extensively and enjoyed a great career. Now my focus is on family first and because I lived such a full life prior to family, I truly feel like I've had the best of both worlds. My son has also provided motivation for me to keep "it" together. In this instance the "it" I am referring to is my mental health.

Motherhood can take you to some dark places. It's taken me to some dark places. It takes some moms to the darkest, most terrifying places, places where the monster that lurks in the shadows turns out to be a reflection in the mirror.