Oxendale & Associates, LLC

12/04/2025

Ask yourself: "Am I really engaged in this relationship?"

TikTokers say it will show the health of your relationship. Does it really show how we think about romance?

11/29/2025

Turns out crafting has more benefits than I realised.

11/04/2025

When was the last time you felt completely "untethered" from technology and others' expectations?

An “invisible day” is a wellness trend that encourages you to unplug. Mental health experts explain what it is, the benefits, and how to try it.

10/19/2025

The Wound is the Way....

08/20/2025

Whether you and your partner have been together for 6 month, 6 years, or 6 decades, there's always something new to learn about each other. 

08/17/2025

...and I think it's getting worse.

2. Shrinking yourself to avoid being "too much."

08/07/2025

To the parents unlearning this and re-learning what love and safety means (while raising kids, no less), I see you 🤍
_whispers_

08/06/2025

A large segment of the population lives in mortal fear of being asked a dreaded question: “What are you feeling?”

08/04/2025

Medication may help in the short-term, but often the long-term psychosocial issues go unaddressed

Is Depression Really Caused by a "Chemical Imbalance"? New Landmark Study Says No.

A comprehensive review led by researchers at University College London (UCL) has found no solid scientific evidence that depression is caused by low serotonin levels or reduced serotonin activity—a theory long believed to underpin the use of common antidepressants.

Published in Molecular Psychiatry, this umbrella review analyzed decades of studies across various disciplines. The findings challenge the widely accepted “chemical imbalance” theory, which forms the foundation of popular antidepressants like SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors).

🔬 While SSRIs are believed to “correct” serotonin deficiencies, this review suggests such deficiencies might not even exist in the first place. Alarmingly, some evidence hints these drugs may actually reduce serotonin over time.

🧠 The researchers caution that up to 90% of the public believes in this now-questioned theory—potentially discouraging hope for recovery and limiting non-drug treatment options, such as therapy, lifestyle changes, and social support.

The authors advocate for a shift in mental health care: focusing more on life stressors, trauma, and socio-environmental factors, and less on unproven biological explanations.

📚 Source:
Moncrieff, J., Cooper, R. E., Stockmann, T., Amendola, S., Hengartner, M. P., & Horowitz, M. A. (2022). The serotonin theory of depression: A systematic umbrella review of the evidence. Molecular Psychiatry.

08/01/2025

Truer words never spoken...