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Experiencing intense grief after losing a pet is entirely normal and there are ways to find solace and cope. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Anhedonia: The Hidden Weight of Depression Depression is often summed up as a battle with sadness. But for millions, the most crippling symptom is something else entirely: the fading, or even total loss, of the ability to experience positive emotions. This phenomenon, called anhedonia, affects nearly 90% of peopl
When a Companion Dies: Understanding Pet Loss and Its Intersection with Prolonged Grief
Social media is a central component of daily life for adolescents and young adults. Although moderate engagement can foster belonging,1 extensive use has been linked to poorer mental health.2 Most research relies on high school or college students, limiting generalizability to diverse US emerging adults.3 Previous work is largely limited to college students, COVID-19 era data, and predates platforms like TikTok.4 Thus, we examined the cross-sectional association between daily social media use and anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation among a racially and socioeconomically diverse sample of contemporary emerging adults.We used data from the control arm of a longitudinal randomized controlled trial.5 We recruited and conducted baseline assessments in 2018 (mean age = 12.7), with annual follow-ups. The current sample included participants who completed wave 7 (n = 1066; mean age = 19.7; fielded February-August 2025) when social media questions were included. The sample was 51.7% female, 46.3% Hispanic, and diverse (28.7% Black, 30.3% white, 16.0% Asian, 19.0% other, 5.9% multiracial). We assessed symptoms of depression and anxiety with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression6 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder scales,7 respectively. Cut points of at least 10 and at least 8 indicated probable depression8 and anxiety.9 We used the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders5 Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure10 to assess suicidal ideation (past year; yes/no). We assessed social media use with the following question: “On average, how much time do you spend on social media (eg, Twitter/X, Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok) each day?” Responses were “none,” “over 1 hour,” “between 1 and 3 hours,” “between 3 and 6 hours,” and “over 6 hours.” Because of low endorsement of none (n = 18), we combined the initial 2 responses. To enhance accuracy, participants were instructed to consult their phone-reported screen time data before responding. We used multilevel linear regression for anxiety and depression symptoms and logistic regression for probable depression and suicidal ideation. We controlled for sex, race, ethnicity, perceived income, and intraclass correlation in all analyses. Race and ethnicity were included as covariates to account for structural and social inequities associated with both social media use and mental health outcomes.11 The study was approved by the author’s institutional review board.A total of 8.5% (n = 91) of emerging adults reported using social media less than 1 hour per day, 36.3% (n = 387) reported using it 1 to 3 hours per day, 37.9% (n = 404) reported using it 3 to 6 hours per day, and 17.3% (n = 184) reported using it more than 6 hours per day. Social media use differed by sex (P < 0.001), with girls increasingly represented at higher levels of use. Anxiety and depression increased robustly and linearly with frequency of social media use (Table 1). Past-year suicidal ideation followed a similar pattern. Associations persisted for anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation, even after accounting for sex, race, ethnicity, and income (Table 2). Relative to emerging adults with less than an hour of daily use, those with over 6 hours of daily use had higher anxiety (OR = 2.63, P < 0.01) and suicidal ideation (OR = 3.23, P = 0.013). Those reporting over 6 hours of daily use also reported higher depressive symptoms (Beta = 1.73, P = 0.017) and anxiety symptoms (Beta = 2.28, P = 0.001) than those with less than 1 hour per day. Stratification by sex revealed similar overall patterns of association for probable depression, probable anxiety, suicidal ideation, and depression scores. For anxiety scores, the association with social media use was more pronounced among girls. Formal tests of interaction between sex and social media use were conducted for all outcomes. Interaction terms were not statistically significant for probable anxiety, probable depression, suicidal ideation, or depression symptoms. Formal tests of interaction between sex and social media use were conducted for all outcomes. Interaction terms were not statistically significant for probable anxiety, probable depression, suicidal ideation, or depression symptoms. A significant interaction was observed only for anxiety symptoms at the highest level of social media use (>6 hours per day), suggesting a stronger association among girls. Given the limited power to detect interaction effects, sex-stratified models are presented for descriptive purposes.Heavier daily social media use was associated with heightened internalizing symptoms (ie, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation) among emerging adults, even after accounting for demographics, with girls disproportionately represented among higher levels of use. Those reporting over 6 hours of daily use had more than double the odds of anxiety and over 3-fold odds of suicidal ideation. Although studies have linked social media use with poorer mental health among youth,2 few have examined these associations in a large, diverse, non-college sample of emerging adults, enhancing relevance to the broader and more heterogeneous US population. Despite limitations (eg, self-report, cross-sectional, limited measures of social media and suicidal ideation), findings underscore that social media use persists in this developmental stage and may indicate psychological distress, especially at large doses. High use of social media may contribute to poor mental health (eg, via reduced prosocial engagement; social comparison) or the reverse (eg, those with poor mental health use social media to cope or distract from real-world problems). Regardless, social media use may serve as a risk marker in identifying those who may benefit from interventions—in person or online—that address anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.
Approximately 332 million people worldwide have depression, according to the World Health Organization. Depression is about 1.5 times more common in women than in men, although it can affect people of…
We don’t finish a great book upset that it ended. We're thankful we experienced it. Recently bereaved, I'm trying to feel the same.
A new study finds that reflective journaling, in which young people think about their motivations and goals throughout their lives, may alleviate symptoms of depression.
Women with clinical depression who take a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication may be better able to withstand extreme heat compared to those who do not take antidepressant medications, according to a new study by Penn State researchers.
Dr. Carmela Maxell delivers a haunting debut dystopian novel that examines memory, loss, and the human spirit in a
None of us is alone in our grief, though it often feels like we are. In this new, interactive, streaming show Anderson Cooper talks live with guests and listeners about their grief and the losses they’ve experienced. Each week viewers can interact with Anderson and others who are watching, by leaving comments. Watch the show and join the conversation every Thursday at 9:15pm ET at cnn.com/allthereis
Losing a beloved pet is one of the most difficult experiences a pet owner can face. Pets provide companionship, comfort, and unconditional love, and their absence can leave a deep emotional void. Coping with this loss takes time, patience, and self-compassion. While grief is a personal journey, there are steps you can take at home to help process your emotions, honour your pet’s memory, and begin healing. This article is for general knowledge only and is based on information from online sources. Grieving is a personal experience, and everyone copes differently. If you are struggling with prolonged or intense grief, consider seeking support from a licensed counsellor or mental health professional.
Symptom recognition, self-awareness, and practical steps to moving beyond prolonged grief.
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Exercise should be recommended with the same structure and seriousness as medication, argues Nicholas Fabiano, M.D.
There are a number of reasons it may be time to switch to a new antidepressant. Find out what signs experts say you should watch for.
Most of us spend our lives trying to avoid experiencing grief to avoid the pain of loss. But avoiding grief doesn’t make our loss hurt less, Megan Shen writes.
Does depression wire the brain to focus on the negative, or is it an evolutionary survival tool? A recent Comprehensive Psychiatry study suggests this negative attentional bias is real but highly dependent on how scientists measure it.
Miscarriage is a devastating, life-altering event that far too many parents walk through without adequate care for their needs or meaningful recognition of their lost child. Rather than weaponizing the loss, public policy advocates must uplift these families with substantive care and recognize that their grief is not just the end of a pregnancy. It […]
If you've been told to 'just move on' from an estrangement and couldn't, it may be because this is a kind of grief no one prepared you for.
One of the first things many people do after posting on social media is check how many likes they have and who has liked their content. This habit can be an instant mood booster when a post is popular.
The slides outline signs that a dog may be nearing the end of life, including changes in appetite, sleep, breathing, and social behavior. They provide practical guidance for creating a comfortable environment, managing pain, supporting mobility, and maintaining routines. Additional topics include making compassionate end-of-life decisions, planning a peaceful farewell, and addressing the emotional impact of pet loss with self-care and support networks.
Discover how Navy SEAL Brent Gleeson transformed profound personal loss into actionable strategies for building resilience through grief and adversity.
Death is hard to deal with, even when you expect it. Call, text and visit your loved ones, and cherish every moment you share together.
Grief looks different for everyone. Learn how it unfolds, what science says about healing timelines, and what genuinely helps people move forward.
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Coping with the loss of a pet.
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