Archives
Why It’s Difficult to Find Help for Depression
Over the last few years, it has been harder and harder to find resources for my patients to get the help they need. Being a believer in a multimodal approach to the treatment of psychiatric struggles, I will see people for psychotherapy, medications, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and until recently I would admit patients to… Read More
What is Mental Health?
For nearly 70 years, May has been recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month across the nation. With one in five people in the U.S. affected by “mental health conditions,” this month-long effort centers on celebrating the improvement and recovery of people with mental illness, so it is best to understand Mental Health by the learning… Read More
6 Lessons Learned: Treating Depression with TMS
For a long time, it has been widely known that clinical depression is a complex mental illness. Depression interferes with the ability to live and engage in life. It can be challenging to struggle with a depressed mood that does not respond to treatments. And some depression is not effectively treated despite several medications and… Read More
What is Depression?
Mood Disorders – Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness. People who have it go through unusual mood changes. They go from very happy, “up,” and active to very sad and hopeless, “down,” and inactive, and then back again. They often have normal moods in between. The up feeling is called mania. The down feeling is depression. The… Read More
Mood Disorders – Depression
Persistent Depression is a serious medical illness that involves the brain. It’s more than just a feeling of being “down in the dumps” or “blue” for a few days. If you are one of the more than 20 million people in the United States who have depression, the feelings do not go away. They persist… Read More
Mood Disorders – Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD is a type of depression. Some people experience a serious mood change during the winter months when there is less natural sunlight. It usually lifts during spring and summer. Not everyone with SAD has the same symptoms. They include Sad, anxious or “empty” feelings Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism Feelings… Read More
Mood Disorders – Self-harm
Self-harm refers to a person’s harming their body on purpose. About 1 in 100 people hurts himself or herself in this way. More females hurt themselves than males. A person who self-harms usually does not mean to kill himself or herself. But they are at higher risk of attempting suicide if they do not get… Read More
Eating Disorders – Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that makes people lose more weight than is considered healthy for their age and height. Persons with this disorder may have an intense fear of weight gain, even when they are underweight. They may diet or exercise too much, or use other methods to lose weight. Causes The exact… Read More
Eating Disorders – Binge Eating
Binge eating is when a person eats a much larger amount of food in a shorter period than he or she normally would. During a binge, the person also feels a loss of control. Considerations A binge eater often: Eats 5,000 – 15,000 calories in one sitting Often snacks, in addition to eating three meals… Read More
Eating Disorders – Bulimia
Bulimia is an illness in which a person binges on food or has regular episodes of overeating and feels a loss of control. The person then uses different methods — such as vomiting or abusing laxatives—to prevent weight gain. Many (but not all) people with bulimia also have anorexia nervosa. Causes Many more women than… Read More
Anxiety Disorders – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a real illness. You can get PTSD after living through or seeing a traumatic event, such as war, a hurricane, rape, physical abuse or a bad accident. PTSD makes you feel stressed and afraid after the danger is over. It affects your life and the people around you. PTSD can… Read More
New hope for workers with depression
We all know someone who is doing their job well, hitting all their targets and building a reputation for quality work. Then, for some reason, their performance slips. Their numbers are down, they miss deadlines or they seem to lack enthusiasm. It doesn’t last just a day or two, but goes on and on. It… Read More
2011 Health Care Heroes
WHAT IS THE MOST MEMORABLE THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU ON THE JOB? Watching a group of people come together as a team to meet the needs of a patient is a positive memory I have seen in many contexts. IF YOU HAD TO WORK ANOTHER JOB IN HEALTH CARE, WHAT WOULD IT BE… Read More