Keyword: depression

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Addiction and Depression in the Elderly June 28, 2011

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Sherri Siegel
Category: Addiction & Compulsion, Aging & Mortality

Older adults are an overlooked population of addicts, and alcohol hits them harder than most realize. Armand DiMele and Dr. Sherry Siegel, M.D. examine late-onset substance use, the dangerous mix of alcohol and prescription medications, the leading cause of injury death in people over 65, and how to distinguish grief and sadness from clinical depression.

The Many Faces of Loneliness December 8, 2010

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Linda Vanella
Category: Emotions & Inner Life, Identity & The Self

Loneliness is not a feeling but a perception, Armand DiMele argues, shaped by how many connections we hold and whether we feel truly heard. With Linda Vanella, LCSW-R, he maps the spectrum from highly connected people to those who isolate as self-protection, and examines how shopping, affairs, and caretaking often mask the ache of disconnection.

The Antidepressant Effects of Semen December 2, 2010

Host: Armand DiMele
Category: Depression & Mood, Sexuality & Desire

Research by evolutionary psychologists Gordon Gallup and Rebecca Baruch reveals that semen contains over 50 compounds including cortisol, serotonin, oxytocin, and prolactin. Armand DiMele walks through studies showing women who have condomless sex report significantly lower depression and suicide rates, and considers the ethical weight of publicizing the findings.

Gratitude and the Holiday Season November 1, 2010

Host: Armand DiMele
Category: Emotions & Inner Life, Society, Culture & Current Events

Gratitude is not automatic, Armand argues, and it depends on cost, intention, and empathy. He walks through the psychology of why we feel it, when we don’t, and how giving to others can unlock it. Callers share their own experiences of being alone during the holidays and finding meaning through volunteering.

Trauma and Depression After 9/11 September 14, 2010

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Stephanie D'Ambra
Category: Depression & Mood, Trauma & Healing

Witnessing 9/11 left measurable changes in survivors’ brains four years later. Armand DiMele and Stephanie D’Ambra, LCSW discuss Cornell MRI research on hyperactive amygdala responses, how trauma becomes consolidated in memory, and emerging interventions ranging from video games to medication that may interrupt that process. The second half covers depression’s physical and cognitive toll.

The Illusion of Power September 1, 2010

Host: Armand DiMele
Category: Depression & Mood, Emotions & Inner Life

Power is mostly illusion, Armand argues, and refusing to accept powerlessness is a fast road to depression, rigidity, and compulsion. Through caller conversations, he examines where the hunger for control really comes from, including how unmet childhood needs quietly drive adult behavior.

The Power of Yearning August 26, 2010

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Lauren Sykes
Category: Depression & Mood, Emotions & Inner Life

Yearning is not a weakness but a biological imperative, as fundamental as photosynthesis. Armand DiMele explores how suppressed yearning shapes depression, stunted sexuality, and lopsided love, and why grief research now identifies yearning, not denial, as the defining feature of loss.

The Gifts of Neurodiversity with Dr. Thomas Armstrong June 22, 2010

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Dr. Thomas Armstrong, Stephanie D'Ambra
Category: Identity & The Self, The Mind & Neuroscience

What if autism, depression, anxiety, and ADHD carry genuine strengths alongside their challenges? Dr. Thomas Armstrong argues that reframing these conditions as brain differences rather than disorders reveals hidden gifts, and Armand and Stephanie D’Ambra, LCSW explore how safe relationships and tailored environments help neurodiverse people thrive.

Depression as Brain Overload June 17, 2010

Host: Armand DiMele
Category: Depression & Mood, The Mind & Neuroscience

Depression is not weakness but a physical stress reaction triggered when the brain exhausts its supply of neurotransmitters. Armand DiMele explains the neurochemistry of collapse, the narcissistic wounds that drive suicide, and why a depressed person genuinely cannot imagine a way out. Callers share personal recoveries, including one with an MAO inhibitor.

Acedia and Apathy with Kathleen Norris April 20, 2010

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Kathleen Norris
Category: Depression & Mood, Meaning, Spirituality & Philosophy

The ancient concept of acedia, a toxic blend of restlessness and boredom distinct from depression, gets a modern examination. Poet and author Kathleen Norris draws on monastic wisdom and her own memoir to show how acedia quietly drains connection to others, community, and meaning.