It’s natural to wonder if depression and addiction are connected. Frequently, when one condition is present, the other follows. However, it’s not very useful to expend energy attempting to figure out which came first or which condition caused the other. The key when dealing with depression and addiction to treat both conditions simultaneously, so the…
It can be quite a challenge for individuals who struggle with anxiety disorders to learn how best to manage anxiety. Fortunately, anxiety is one of the most treatable mood disorders people face. Millions of Americans every year seek anxiety treatment for issues ranging from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorders,…
As a practicing clinician, I am regularly told by patients about what they have read on the internet. My clinical colleagues have referred to the internet as “Dr. Google.” Why do people give more weight and authority to something they have read on the internet than what we have discussed in the office? I suspect…
We are the collective creator of our own agony. It is time for a re-awakening of consciousness when we recognize the best in ourselves and overcome the worst. ~Lawrence Overmire Americans are increasingly housebound and left to their own devices as the Covid-19 quarantine stretches into months. Measured reactions to the stress, boredom, and loneliness…
If you asked just about anybody, they would probably tell you that a teenager would love being at home, away from school and other responsibilities. That has proved itself not to be the case. Not even a quarter way through this and I am dying to go back to school and have life unpaused. Being…
Sitting at home with nothing to do would seem like the ideal thing that any student or kid, for that matter, would want. But that’s not necessarily true. The Coronavirus has spread across the globe with its contagious wrath causing chaos and mass panic. News reports tell us it has a very significant chance of…
Brian looks like he has the perfect life. He has a well-paying job, nice house, great wife, and two amazing kids. But his anxiety was like a dark cloud that threatened to ruin everything. He struggled with anxiety and debilitating panic attacks for years. He often isolated at home and work, spending a lot of…
As a practicing psychiatrist, I am often asked this question both by patients as well as family members. The answer is: it depends. It depends on several important factors that patients need to be aware of, especially when they agree to trying a medication for the first time. So, what are these factors? It depends…
Are you or a loved one struggling with tobacco use? Do you want to quit smoking and don’t know how to start? Have you tried to quit before and been unsuccessful? Worried that vaping is not a great alternative? Nicotine has been proven to be a highly addictive substance. According to the Diagnostic Statistic Manual…
September is National Recovery Month. Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to educate Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can help those dealing with a substance use disorder or mental health issue to live a health and rewarding life. The month celebrates the successes of those in recovery and…