What Does Depression Physically Feel Like?

The Huffington Post  | By Meredith Melnick & Alissa Scheller

For people with depression, it can be a truly difficult task to explain their condition. Because it is a disease that is more commonly associated with mental symptoms -- not outward, physical ones --those on the outside are often curious about what depression feels like. And it certainly feels like something: "In general, the worse the painful physical symptoms, the more severe the depression," researchers wrote inan overview of depression and physical symptoms in the Journal of Clinical Psychology. "Symptoms have been found to increase the duration of depressed mood."

In fact, patients often first complain of physical symptoms to a primary care physician, making depression more apt to be misdiagnosed.

That's what makes discussions about the physical experience of being depressed all the more important. In this regard, look no further than forums on Reddit, in which those who have struggled can commune over the truly all-encompassing physical reality of their illness.

We chose a few of their honest (and anonymous) descriptions and illustrated them in an attempt to gain some insight into the experience.

"When I'm on my lows, my girlfriend says it's like I'm on autopilot."

"Physically to me, it feels like someone with an army boot is pressing down on my chest."

"I always likened it to trying to run up a hill made of mud, every bit of progress you seem to make, you just slide right back down."

"I don't remember that last time I didn't feel like a tiny black hole."

"I feel really tight in the chest, like someone has grabbed my heart and holding on tightly."

"Getting off the couch to make a sandwich is akin to climbing Mount Everest, so fuck that."

"At the worst times I would describe it as, having my insides on fire while I slowly drown. It's overwhelming and exhausting."

"Most of you say you feel heavy.. Am I the only one who feels absolutely nothing at all? Physical and psychological. Just empty space."

"Each little action felt like climbing a dozen flights of stairs."

"Heavy. Claustrophobic. Like I'm moving through syrup, not air. It makes me feel much weaker."

What does depression feel like to you? Emailstrongertogether@huffingtonpost.com, or give us a call at (860) 348-3376, and you can record your story in your own words. Please be sure to include your name and phone number.

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

15 Tips to Fall Asleep, Stay Asleep, and Wake Refreshed

By Ellen G. Goldman 

How many times have you collapsed into bed at night and found yourself too exhausted to sleep? Doesn't seem to make much sense -- you're feeling so tired, but your body does not seem to want to relax and allow you to fall into the sleep you so desperately need. Your mind is a whirlwind of all the things you wanted to get done that day and didn't accomplish. Tomorrow's "to-do list" keeps getting longer with each passing minute.

You are locked into a catch-22. If only you had more energy during the day, you would be more efficient and get more done. But if you cannot sleep at night, how in the world will you have the energy? There are so many reasons why you might be having difficulty falling asleep, or staying asleep soundly, but rather than wrack your brain trying to figure it out, try some of these tips and see if the problem resolves itself.

1. Get the number of hours of sleep each night you need to function optimally. Although it varies, most individuals need between seven and eight hours of sleep every night. When sleep-deprived, you are less efficient and focused during the day, and may be leaving yourself open for health risks as well. Research has shown sleep deprivation can affect appetite, weight gain, diabetes risk, the strength of your immune system and even your chance of developing depression. If you have been trying to get by on less sleep, try backing up bedtime by 15 minutes each week, until you are getting the amount of sleep that leaves you feeling refreshed in the morning.

2. Create a calming atmosphere in your bedroom. If your room is cluttered with work, books that have not been read, papers to attend to, and dirty laundry, it will be a constant reminder of all you need to do. Take 15 minutes each day and begin clearing the clutter and making your room one you will look forward to relaxing in at the end of each day.

3. Make your bed in the morning. A straightened bed is so much more appealing to go to at night then one that is a jumble of sheets and blankets.

4. Reserve your bed for sleep and sex only. This will allow your mind to associate your bed with rest and relaxation only. Watch TV, use your computer, talk on the phone, and eat somewhere else.

5. Create a calming nighttime ritual. Turn off your computer, shut the TV, and do not answer your phone for an hour before you want to go to sleep. Choose activities you find calming. Take a warm bath, read a magazine or novel, have some decaffeinated tea or cookies and milk.

6. Keep your bedroom cool at night. For most individuals, 65 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit will allow the dip in core body temperature you need to induce sleep.

7. Avoid caffeine in the later afternoon and evening. Caffeinated coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate and sugar-laden snacks can all keep you too wired to fall asleep at bedtime.

8. Avoid late night workouts. Exercise is a great sleep aid, but a vigorous workout too late in the day may keep you up at night. However, a leisurely walk after dinner could be just the thing to calm your body and mind.

9. Avoid alcohol and spicy foods in the late evenings. Although a nightcap may help you fall asleep, you will probably experience fragmented sleep, and find yourself wide-awake within a few hours. Steer clear of spicy foods or anything you know causes you heartburn or gastric distress.

10. If an evening party or celebration finds you consuming wine or cocktails, drink plenty of water throughout the evening, and keep a water bottle by your bedside. This way, if you do wake up dehydrated, you will not need to get out of bed.

11. Spend a few minutes creating your "to do list" and preparing for the next day. This will allow your mind to know everything is ready and your morning will be calmer as well.

12. Keep a pad and pen by your bedside. If you wake in the middle of the night, and your mind is racing with thoughts of things you neglected to do, or need to get done, writing them down will release your mind from worrying about forgetting in the morning, allowing you to drift back to sleep.

13. If you have not fallen asleep after 20 minutes, get out of bed and find a relaxing spot to read. Do not use your technology or watch TV, do anything that requires brain work, or look at a clock. Any of these will stimulate you and increase your anxiety. As soon as you feel sleepy, return to bed.

14. Eliminate or reduce afternoon naps to a maximum of 30 minutes, regardless of how little you slept the night before. Napping too late in the day or for too long can set you up for another sleepless night and a vicious cycle.

15. Go to bed and get up at the same time every day no matter how much sleep you had the night before. The closer you can keep to a routine, the more your body will recognize and respond appropriately to your bedtime and wake up hours. Don't attempt to make up for lost sleep during the week by sleeping in all weekend.

Focus your energy on one tip for an entire week, adding one each week once the previous ones feel like habit. Notice whether or not you are falling asleep easier and sleeping more soundly. If you are still feeling exhausted and sleep deprived, talk to your doctor. Chronic insomnia, sleep apnea (a breathing disorder that causes sleep disturbance) or restless leg syndrome (leg pains that lead to frequent movement while asleep) are all treatable with professional help.

With some small changes in your habits and routines, you will notice big changes in your quality of sleep. As a result, rise and shine will take on a new meaning.

5 Reasons Potatoes Don't Deserve Their Bad Reputation

The Huffington Post  | By Sarah Klein

The potato isn't inherently bad, and, really, it shouldn't be treated as such.

Yes, it's often smothered in cheese, mixed up with mayo, doused in sour cream or deep-fried -- but when it isn't is when the potato truly shines. In its purest, most potato-y (and perhaps organic) form, it actually packs some very real health perks. Here are five very good reasons to love potatoes.

They're loaded with potassium.

One large spud baked with the skin on contains a whopping 1,600 milligrams of potassium, nearly half the recommended amount for an entire day and almost four times as much as a medium banana, famed for its potassium count. Not only is it an essential electrolyte key to hydration and athletic performance, potassium may also play a role in lowering blood pressure.

Potatoes are packed with fiber.

If you eat the skin, at least. That same large spud contains 7 grams of dietary fiber, about a quarter of what you should aim for in a day -- but without the skin that fiber count drops to just 1 gram. A diet rich in fiber will not only help you stay fuller for longer (thereby leading to less snacking), it's also been shown to reduce heart attack risk, lower cholesterol and help prevent diabetes.

They've got a hearty dose of vitamin C.

Also in the skin of your potato is a solid amount of vitamin C -- you'll nab nearly 29 milligrams of the stuff in a large tater, to be exact, nearly half of your goal for the day, and more than a third of the amount found in famed vitamin C deliverer, the orange. While getting enough C probably won't nip a cold in the bud, it plays an important role as an antioxidant and helps heal wounds.

Potatoes are a good source of manganese.

You might be less familiar with this nutrient, but that doesn't mean you don't need it. Manganese plays an essential role in processing protein, carbs and cholesterol and may also be involved in bone formation, according to WebMD. One large potato with the skin on contains 33 percent of your recommended daily amount of manganese.

And they're rich in vitamin B6.

This vitamin does much of its work "behind the scenes," American Dietetic Association spokesperson Dee Sandquist, MS, RD, CD, told Everyday Health, but it's working hard, in the cardiovascular, digestive, immune, muscular and nervous systems. It also produces essential brain hormones, the website reported. With 46 percent of your daily recommended B6, a potato (with the skin!) is a good place to start.

5 Times When Saying 'No' Is The Nicest Thing You Can Do For Yourself

The Huffington Post  | By Alena Hall

The vast majority of us live in a 24/7 world. Our days do not begin and end within office hours. And after accounting for the optimal amount of sleep we all should be logging each night, that leaves about 72 hours each week to attend to our families, friends, chores, hobbies and passions. We live by our calendars and agendas, tirelessly scheduling everything we can possibly fit into this amount of time. But sometimes, the payoff is far greater when we deviate from the plan and simply say "no."

This quick, two-letter word can often be one of the hardest for us to say. In fact, research shows that we frequently agree to more than we truly want to because feeling overbooked and overwhelmed seems more comfortable in the moment than disappointing others. And it only gets harder when we have to say "no" face to face.

"One of our most fundamental needs is for social connection and a feeling that we belong," Dr. Vanessa Bohns, assistant professor of management sciences at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, told The Wall Street Journal. "Saying "no" feels threatening to our relationships and that feeling of connectedness."

Unfortunately, this desire to remain connected to everyone else often disconnects us from our true selves. We sacrifice our own needs and wants for the sake of social grace, a sacrifice that may not be worth it every time.

Throughout this "year of mindfulness," we have pondered what it means to live mindfully. One of the key elements focuses on our ability to feel what we feel -- both good and bad. When we are mindful, we are honest and accepting of how we feel in the present moment as opposed to working to resist, control or change it.

Truly being in tune with yourself involves knowing when you need to deviate from the norm for your own physical, mental and emotional well-being. Saying "no" to others ultimately begins with telling yourself that "no" is a viable option.

Here are five times you should quiet that inner desire to please others and, instead, listen for what will make you happy.

Need a little headspace? Skip happy hour.

Crowds, loud conversations and alcohol rarely help a person who is already feeling overstimulated -- introverts in particular. Check in with yourself at the end of the day and ask yourself what you really need once you clock out. If that answer involves a little peace, quiet and solitude, don't hesitate to head straight home. True friends will not only accept this aspect of your personality, but also understand that everyone needs a little "me" time every now and then.

Feeling physically exhausted? Give yourself the night off.

Even the most dedicated athletes have days that leave them feeling incredibly drained and worn out -- so much so that an evening workout isn't always in their best interest. Listen to your body and give it time to recuperate when it needs it rather than pushing through your scheduled class or training run just because you always go. Shift your priorities from following a routine to following your feelings. Indulging in a quiet evening at home and early bedtime will likely make the following day and workout that much better.

Can't hear yourself think? Create your "cave."

When rambling thoughts are getting the best of you, one of the best solutions is retreating to a quiet, relaxing space that will help you find a complete sense of calm. Design your "cave" within your home with simple, soothing and tech-free elements. Whether you need an entire room or just your favorite chair with a good book, having a set place at at the end of the day to escape all outside stressors can be the best medicine for a restless mind.

Had a rough week? Take a personal Friday night.

If you feel more excited by the idea of heading home, shutting out the world and just spending a relaxing night at home, go for it! Instead of feeling obligated to a late night of bar-hopping because everyone else wants to go, enjoy prepping a home-cooked meal and watching the latest episode of your favorite show you didn't catch live earlier in the week. Invitations to others are optional -- it's your free time, so decide how you want to spend it.

Just not in the mood? Simply say "no."

At the end of the day, you don't actually need a circumstantial reason to take a personal night. The only agenda you are truly obligated to is the one within yourself. Gracefully decline offers, shift a few weekday plans to the weekend, and revel in the joys of spending time in your space, your comfort zone, the place that makes you feel most mindful.

Why Biting Your Nails Is More Than Just A Bad Habit

By Amanda Chan

The question: I've always been told that I should stop biting my nails because it's "bad for me." But why is it bad?

The answer: Sure, biting and picking at your nails is kinda gross. It also is a sure-fire way to make your manicure that was supposed to last all week last only a day. And while it's a nervous habit that's certainly on the more innocuous side of the spectrum, it can still affect your health.

For starters, biting your nails can raise the risk of catching a cold or other illness because you're putting your unwashed hands in your mouth. It can also raise the risk of paronychia, or infection of the skin surrounding the nail, says Rochelle Torgerson, M.D., Ph.D., a dermatologist at the Mayo Clinic.

You can "end up with redness and swelling and pain and discomfort -- that's a sign of infection," Torgerson tells HuffPost. While most instances of paronychia are bacterial, they can also be fungal.

In addition, if you have a wart, biting your fingernails is a way to raise your risk of spreading warts to other parts of your hands. That's because warts are caused by one of the many kinds of human papillomavirus (HPV), a virus that spreads as an infection. "The more open skin you have, the more you're going to spread" the virus, she says.

Biting or picking your nails could also lead to temporary or permanent effects to your actual nail. Torgerson explains that the majority of the fingernail is produced in the area of the nail bed where there is a "white hill," also called the lunula. The fingernail is made there, as well as the area beneath the lunula that extends down underneath the skin. "So if you end up with a lot of inflammation or an infection of that skin ... where the fingernail is made, you can start making a funny fingernail," she explains. "You may end up with a fingernail that's bumpy or ridge-y."

Sometimes these effects are temporary. An infection that lasts a week or two might lead to a funny-looking nail for a short period of time, she says. But "you can also do permanent damage to the area, so you forever make a funny nail."

Aside from nail biting or picking, some people also have the nervous habit of using one hand to push down the cuticles of fingers on their other hand (most commonly the thumbs). People who do this "push back the cuticle so often and so aggressively that [they] end up making a fingernail that has horizontal ridges in it" -- called a habit-tic deformity, Torgerson explains. This is "repeat trauma to that area," which can also result in a funny-looking fingernail.

Nail biting can also have effects on your teeth: As Everyday Health points out, it can lead to teeth shifting out of place, as well as potential breaks in teeth or tooth enamel.

So what can you do to kick the habit? Torgerson notes that most people bite or pick at their fingernails as a way of relieving, or channeling, stress. Finding another way to release that stress -- that doesn't involve picking at or gnawing on a part of your body -- could be useful. Try twirling a ring instead, or playing with a hair tie on your wrist. "Basically, instead of telling someone [to] just stop, maybe you can come up with another way of relieving the stress that's driving you to do it that doesn't end up causing damage," she says. 

9 Things Good Listeners Do Differently

By Lindsay Holmes 

Despite being taught the importance of listening from a young age -- think about how many teachers have asked you to "put your listening ears on" -- the truth is, most of us aren't as good at the skill as we ought to be.

Research shows that the average person listens with only 25 percent efficiency -- meaning there's a lot we're letting go in one ear and out the other. But as listening expert Paul Sacco, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work, explains, there are just a few simple habits that set the realgood listeners apart from the rest.

"We all have a good listener within us," Sacco tells The Huffington Post. "It all just depends on the ability and desire to be mindful of where you are and who you're talking to. A lot of us are focused on the mechanics of listening -- eye contact, nodding your head -- but for good listeners, there's a naturalness to that behavior that we should all aspire to."

As Greek philosopher Epictetus once theorized, "We have two ears and one mouth so we can listen twice as much as we speak." So how do we start using those features more proportionally -- or, as Sacco advises -- access our inner good listener? Below are nine habits that good listeners practice in their everyday lives and conversations that you can adopt for yourself.

They're present.

Being mindful in conversations is a hallmark characteristic of a good listener, Sacco notes. When you're fully aware in the moment, you're more likely to retain what you're hearing and respond with more authenticity. That means stashing those phones and ridding yourself of all distractions. "Good listeners really put everything down and focus on [the person in front of them]," he says. "And as a result, the other person becomes instantly aware that they have an interest in what they have to say."

They're empathetic.
Part of effective listening is the effort to empathize with the person you're speaking with. Whether or not you're able to fully relate, your compassion won't go unnoticed. "Spend a moment putting yourself in their position, what's going through their head and what it must be like for them," Sacco says. "Understanding what their experience is even before you talk to them [can help you connect with them]. And it sounds bad, but even if you blow it, you're still better off because the other person will see the attempt."

They realize their shortcomings.

It may be a strange way of thinking about it, but accepting yourself is key to being a good listener overall, Sacco says. In other words, we can't pick up on everything everyone is saying all the time -- and that's OK. "I've definitely had my share of reflective listening failures," Sacco admits. "Sometimes... having that intentionality to listen and allowing yourself to miss the boat sometimes [is good enough]."

They have an open mind.
Great listeners know that every conversation they have isn't going to resolve a larger issue -- but it puts them one step closer to understanding the people they communicate with on a daily basis. "Listening isn't magic," Sacco explains. "If I have a conflict with my daughter, I still have a conflict -- but it puts you in a position where you can start to problem-solve. ... It allows each person to understand the other's thoughts."

They're emotionally intelligent.

Emotional intelligence, or the awareness of our emotions and the emotions of those around us, can help enhance any interaction -- especially when it comes to listening.

According to Travis Bradberry, author of Emotional Intelligence 2.0, cultivating a high "EQ" is paramount when sharpening your listening skills. And all it takes is practice and focus. "When you're caught up with thinking about what you're going to say next, you aren't listening," he told the Chicago Tribune in 2011. "But if you stop what you're doing, and really focus on the person talking, you activate neurons in your brain and your body starts to hone in on the other person. This helps you retain more information."

They pose significant questions.
Part of active listening isn't just lending your ear, but asking appropriate follow-up questions to draw out more information. This ability to provide thought-provoking feedback is one of the best ways to show you're engaged in what the other person has to say, Sacco says. "People who are good listeners validate other people's feelings," he adds. "It shows that what they're saying makes sense."

They're not on the defensive.

Not all of the things you hear are going to be rosy. "I'm great at listening when someone is telling me things I want to hear," Sacco explains. "It gets a little more difficult when someone gives you feedback that you find troubling or you perceive as being damaging to your ego."

Effective listeners don't block out negative criticism. Instead, they listen and develop an understanding of what the person is trying to convey before responding. "They're aware of their own reactions to other people," Sacco says. "The difference between a terrible listener and a great listener can sometimes be the response time. A lot of conversations ... can go pretty bad or pretty well depending on the ability to step back and just take a moment [before responding]."

They're OK with being uncomfortable.
In addition to not playing defense, Sacco also advises embracing every emotion during your conversations -- even feelings of discomfort or anger. "You need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable," Sacco says. "When you're having difficult conversations with people, if you want to be fully listening, that may be a hard thing for you to do but it's important to try."

They're good leaders.

Research has shown that there's a direct correlation between strong leadership and strong listening skills -- and it really comes as no surprise. As Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin Group writes, the most effective leaders and entrepreneurs listen more than they speak:

To be a good leader you have to be a great listener. Brilliant ideas can spring from the most unlikely places, so you should always keep your ears open for some shrewd advice. This can mean following online comments as closely as board meeting notes, or asking the frontline staff for their opinions as often as the CEOs. Get out there, listen to people, draw people out and learn from them.

8 Ways Technology Makes You Stupid

The Huffington Post  | By Rebecca Hiscott

People assume that iPhones, laptops and Netflix are evidence of progress. In some ways, that's true. A moderate amount of Googling, for instance, can be good for your brain, and there are apps that can boost brain function and activity.

Yet tech advancements also come with some unintended consequences. Our brains being "massively rewired" by tech, says neuroscientist Michael Merzenich in The Shallows: What The Internet Is Doing To Our Brains, a Pulitzer-nominated 2011 book by Nicholas Carr. Merzenich warns that the effect of technology on human intelligence could be “deadly.”

That got us thinking. How exactly is technology messing up our brains?

1. Tech is screwing up your sleep.

Studies have shown that blue-enriched light, which is emitted by gadgets like smartphones, tablets and laptops, can suppress the body’s release of melatonin at night. Melatonin is a key hormone that helps regulate your internal clock, telling your body when it is nighttime and when to feel sleepy. Blue light can disrupt that process, making it impossible for you to stick to a proper sleep schedule.

Losing sleep has a number of negative effects on your brain. If you’re not logging seven or more hours of sleep each night, you might suffer from increasingly bad moods, decreased focus at work and problems with memory, not to mention a loss of actual brain tissue -- all of which makes you less than a joy to be around.

2. You’re easily distracted.

You don't really need science to know this, but technology makes it much easier to get distracted, whether that’s stepping away from an important project to check your smartphone or flipping between multiple browser tabs without really focusing on any one. It has been proven that toggling between multiple tasks at once doesn’t actually work -- in fact, you just wind up performing all your duties even worse.

Teens in particular are more distracted than ever. A 2012 Pew Research Center survey of more than 2,400 teachers found that most educators feel students are more distracted than previous generations. Some 87 percent of teachers agreed with the statement, “today’s digital technologies are creating an easily distracted generation with short attention spans,” while 64 percent agreed with the idea that “today’s digital technologies do more to distract students than to help them academically.” Yikes.

3. You can’t remember much...

Technology's tendency to butt into whatever else you're doing makes it more difficult to form new memories. As Nicholas Carr explains in The Shallows, memory comes in two types: transient working memory and long-term memory, which is more permanent. Information needs to pass from working memory into long-term memory in order to be stored. Any break in the processes of working memory -- like, say, stopping to check your email or send a text message in the middle of reading an article -- can erase information from your mind before that transfer occurs.

There’s also a limit to how much information your working memory can take in at once. Taking in too much information -- which happens a lot online -- is like “having water poured into a glass continuously all day long, so whatever was there at the top has to spill out as the new water comes down,” productivity expert Tony Schwartz told The Huffington Post last year.

4. ...so you’re relying on the Internet to remember things for you.

People used to be able to retain really vast quantities of knowledge -- like reciting entire novels, word for word -- but technology has eliminated both the need and the drive to do so. When you know that Google or your smartphone can retain a piece of information for you, you’re less likely to store it in memory, studies have shown. Scientific American last year likened the Internet to an “external hard drive” for our brains, as we outsource an increasing amount of information to the web.

That’s not the worst thing in the world, Scientific American adds. We’ve always outsourced some of that information to external “hard drives” of sorts, relying on friends rather than technology to fill in the gaps in our knowledge. But these day we're "outsourcing" way more.

5. And you're much more forgetful than you used to be.

Millennials are actually more likely to forget what day it is or where they put their keys than people over the age of 55, according to a 2013 Trending Machine survey. In a press release for the survey, family and occupational therapist Patricia Gutentag called out technology as one of the main culprits: “This is a population that has grown up multitasking using technology, often compounded by lack of sleep, all of which results in high levels of forgetfulness,” she said.

6. You can’t concentrate on what you’re reading.

Even if you’ve shunned all distractions, you still won’t absorb information you read online as well as you would if you’d read it in a book. And you can blame hypertext for that. Those colorful little links scattered throughout online articles (including this one) make your brain work harder than it would otherwise, leaving less brain power to process what you’re reading. Even just reading on screens, like a laptop or iPad -- links or no links -- has been shown to diminish comprehension.

Research has shown that reading linked text “entails a lot of mental calisthenics -- evaluating hyperlinks, deciding whether to click, adjusting to different formats -- that are extraneous to the process of reading,” Carr wrote in “The Shallows.” And giving your brain more work to do makes it harder to absorb information. Text that’s peppered with photos, videos and ads is even worse.

7. You can’t find your way around without GPS.

People who rely on GPS to get around have less activity in the hippocampus, an area of the brain involved in both memory and navigation, according to a series of studies presented in 2010. Using spatial memory -- which involves using visual cues to develop "cognitive maps" that remember routes -- instead of operating on GPS-induced autopilot can help avert memory problems later in life, the studies found.

A 2008 study from the University of London even found that taxi drivers had more developed hippocampi than non-taxi drivers -- perhaps because they are so accustomed to navigating cities using spatial memory, rather than relying on GPS (though that may no longer be true of smartphone-equipped taxi drivers).

8. You have the brain of a drug addict.

No, “Internet addiction” isn’t just some BS term parents throw around to terrify youngsters who spend too much time playing Candy Crush. Spending too much time on the Internet can actually cause changes in the brain that mimic those caused by drug and alcohol dependence, according to a 2012 study.

Internet addicts -- most notably gamers who shun food, school and sleep to play for days on end -- have abnormal white and grey matter in their brains, which disrupts and cripples the regions involved in processing emotion and regulating attention and decision-making. Alcoholics and drug addicts have strikingly similar brain abnormalities, the study found.

“I have seen people who stopped attending university lectures, failed their degrees or their marriages broke down” because of Internet gaming addiction, Dr. Henriette Bowden Jones, who runs a British clinic for Internet addicts, told The Independent.

Now that you're properly terrified of the effects of technology on the old noggin, let us remind you that you do have the power to prevent brain drain and time-suck. Just log off every once in a while!