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Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs) and their Relationship to Psychological Conditions
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Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs) and their Relationship to Psychological Conditions

Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs) are a group of inherited disorders that make people susceptible to not only infections and malignancies but also psychological conditions. Even though the PID / psychological connection is considered under-researched and therefore not fully understood, research shows that PID is strongly associated with psychopathology and even suicidal behavior, especially in women….

Cold Water and Depression
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Cold Water and Depression

Although we need more research, the age-old practice of covering oneself in cold water has been shown to have beneficial health benefits, including helping to lift your mood. For example, studies show that cold water swimming can tamp down inflamation which is often identified as a cause of depression. And we know that dousing your…

Exercise and Depression
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Exercise and Depression

When we exercise, a complex chemical reaction takes place in your brain which can help boost your mood. These chemicals include endorphins and endocannabinoids, which can actually work in tandem to fight depression. Exercise also often gets us out of the house, into the company of others and forces our mind to focus on things…

What is Your Inner Monologue?
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What is Your Inner Monologue?

An inner monologue is basically the conversation that we have with ourselves, in our own heads, as we go about our days. This process is natural and almost everyone undertakes it in some form. In fact, some people speak parts of their inner monologue out loud: we often refer to this as talking to oneself….

Serotonin Primer
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Serotonin Primer

Serotonin is central to many of our behavioral responses. In fact, serotonin has been implicated in practically every type of human behavior, including appetitive, emotional, motor, cognitive and autonomic. The Cleveland Clinic goes so far as to refer to serotonin as your body’s natural “feel good” chemical because of how it helps regulate our moods….

Caffeine Primer
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Caffeine Primer

Caffeine is an extremely popular psychoactive substance and central nervous system stimulant. Most commonly consumed in coffee, it is generally considered safe if consumed if moderate amounts. The Mayo Clinic has concluded that, in general, adults can safely consume up to 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine a day, approximately the amount in four cups of…

ADHD Treatment and the Adderall Shortage
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ADHD Treatment and the Adderall Shortage

We have recently seen some patients struggling to find Adderall. Last October the Food and Drug Administration announced there was a nationwide Adderall shortage. Some of the problems that created this shortage started with production issues at pharmaceutical companies, but it has also been driven by a supposed shortage of ingredients that go into the…

What You Need to Know about Lithium and Weight Gain
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What You Need to Know about Lithium and Weight Gain

About one in every four people experience weight gain from taking the mood stabilizer lithium, as reported by Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. Based on the research conducted on this issue, the average weight gain that people who take lithium experience is usually between ten and twenty six pounds. Some studies show that people taking lithium are…

What are mood swings?
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What are mood swings?

Mood swings are often described as sudden, significant changes in someone’s mood or general state of mind. For example, when experiencing a mood swing, a person may quickly switch from feeling joyful and content to mournful and irritated – or visa versa. People often ask me what the common causes of mood swings are. I…

Has Covid Undercut Social Cohesion and Boosted Anxiety?
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Has Covid Undercut Social Cohesion and Boosted Anxiety?

The Covid pandemic really scrambled a lot of our traditional social cohesion. There are a number of potential reasons for why people might be socializing less. They include fears of getting sick, for one. In addition, many people are no longer working at the office. Instead they are working from home, which cuts down on…

The Potential Social Function of Gossip
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The Potential Social Function of Gossip

According to the authors of the new Dartmouth COSAN Lab study, gossip is largely a means of exchanging information with others and forming relationships. It therefore can build trust between people and initiate societal links that becomes stronger the more communication takes place. People therefore can feel increasingly connected and “social” when they gossip, which…

Postpartum Euphoria: A Primer
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Postpartum Euphoria: A Primer

Most people have at least heard of postpartum depression, but far fewer are aware of postpartum euphoria, also referred to as postpartum hypomania or “the baby pinks.” However, it is a serious mental health issue that can eventually result in postpartum psychosis. Often initially perceived as “super moms” who are energized and can function for…

Rehab After Care: What is It?
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Rehab After Care: What is It?

Getting through addiction treatment can be tough for sure, but keep in mind that following it is no time to let down your guard. Rehab after-care might be a really good idea for you. This type of subsequent care or treatment is a great way to stay sober and get re-acclimated to everyday life with…

All About Self-Care
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All About Self-Care

Self-care refers to an enlightened, ongoing effort taken by someone to preserve and improve their physical and mental health and wellness. Research from the National Institutes of Health shows that awareness, self-control, and self-reliance are central when utilizing self-care to optimize health and well-being. When undertaken correctly, self-care can reduce stress and the risk of…

Psychedelics, Addiction and Mental Health
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Psychedelics, Addiction and Mental Health

It’s always difficult to get a consensus among medical experts, especially about a topic such as psychedelic medication, which is freighted with all sorts of cultural and legal significance. Having said that, from depression to addiction, these drugs really do offer hope for those with mental health disorders according to many authorities, such as says…

Illicit Drug Use, the Role of Covid and Attempting New Legal and Medical Approaches
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Illicit Drug Use, the Role of Covid and Attempting New Legal and Medical Approaches

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) in the United Kingdom has new survey data demonstrating that drug usage jumped and then dropped between 2020 – 2022. It is possible that Covid might have played in these fluctuations. It can be difficult to draw conclusions from just one study, and doctors and healthcare officials often try…

The Side Effects of Antipsychotic Medications
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The Side Effects of Antipsychotic Medications

The side effects of anti-psychotic medications are broad and sometimes include conditions ranging from constipation and dry mouth to sedation, hormonal fluctuations that result in sexual problems, uncontrollable movements of the mouth called tardive dyskinesia and general restlessness that causes discomfort called akathisia. Weight gain is also a risk as is an increased risk of…

Anxiety and it’s Effect on Your Health
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Anxiety and it’s Effect on Your Health

As a psychiatrist, I see patients every day who have medical conditions that have been triggered completely or in part by anxiety. Anxiety can have a very powerful effect on the human mind and body, especially when it’s chronic. These effects are felt in various parts of the body including the nervous, immune, cardiovascular, digestive…

Some Thoughts on Getting Back into Relationships
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Some Thoughts on Getting Back into Relationships

There are certainly some special struggles that long-time singles face when getting back into dating or into a steady, long-term relationship. When someone has been single, perhaps for a very long time, they build up a wide gamut of habits that can sometimes be hard to leave behind when they become involved romantically with a…

The Psychology of Overspending and Developing Healthier Habits
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The Psychology of Overspending and Developing Healthier Habits

To understand the psychology behind overspending it’s crucial to recognize that there’s a lot of emotions behind money in general and the decision-making about spending. One example of this is when people spend beyond their means because they believe that buying things will make them happy. In addition, they often spend on things they can’t…

Hoarding: A Primer
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Hoarding: A Primer

Hoarding is a mental health disorder in which people pack their homes with so many items of limited or no use that they can create health risks to themselves and anyone they live with. This need to save items is often compounded by getting upset when they are confronted about their hoarding and the need…

Remote Work and Mental Health
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Remote Work and Mental Health

By their very nature, humans are social beings. The vast majority of them expect and enjoy interaction with others. Sitting alone in your house all day long in front of a computer turns this natural propensity on it’s head. Therefore, in my opinion, social isolation is a significant threat to the mental well-being of remote…

What is Hydrocodone?
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What is Hydrocodone?

Hydrocodone is an opioid prescribed for moderate-to-severe pain control in patients with trauma, post-operative patients or patients with cancer. Studies have also shown that certain formulations of hydrocodone are effective to relieve chronic pain. Regardless of what it’s prescribed for, all use of hydrocordone must be closely monitored by a physician since it can be…

The Effects of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
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The Effects of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. It is a common disorder that affects people of all ages around the world. Most cases of OCD occur by the age of 19, although boys tend to experience OCD earlier than girls. OCD can take various forms, including…

Morphine Withdrawal: A Primer
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Morphine Withdrawal: A Primer

The body and brain work to maintain a state of balance called homeostasis. But ingesting strong substance alters that balance and then your body has to take steps to adjust, including via your neurotransmitters. So basically the human body makes a physiological adaptation when a foreign substance is introduced or maintained in the system. Opioids…

Financial Imbalances in Marriages
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Financial Imbalances in Marriages

The power balance in marriages and relationships can be a constant source of stress and anxiety since most people want to have a fair say in the important decisions made in their lives. And when there is a financial inequality, it can even threaten the very foundation of a relationship. In fact, American Psychological Association…

Natural Remedies for Depression
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Natural Remedies for Depression

There are lots of natural remedies promoted for depression – but that does not mean they actually work. For example, regarding herbal remedies, the National Institutes of Health cites a large 2018 study (Yeung, Hernandez, et al) which concludes available evidence suggests there is some “utility of some herbal medicines in mitigating anxiety and depression,…

When You’re Just Not Feeling Yourself
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When You’re Just Not Feeling Yourself

We live in a complicated world and are presented with challenges on a daily basis. Sometimes it just seems too much when you look around and see pandemics, war, economic challenges, and environmental problems. These kinds of challenges often result in excess stress and anxiety, and even depression. Many people feel like they’re not prepared…

New Research on the Gut-Brain Axis (GBA)
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New Research on the Gut-Brain Axis (GBA)

For many years mental health professionals like myself have been aware of the “gut-brain axis” or GBA, which refers to the belief that prolonged psychological stress can create intestinal conditions that are experienced as similar to Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). As the National Institutes of health puts it: “The gut-brain axis (GBA) consists of bidirectional communication between…

Moms and Stress
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Moms and Stress

New data shows that moms are experiencing high levels of anxiety and stress as well as depression. In fact, one in ten first-time mothers reported symptoms of moderate to severe anxiety, while almost one in seven reported moderate to severe depression in the first year after giving birth. Recent research from Ireland’s well-respected Trinity College’s…

Double Checking Online Mental Health Information
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Double Checking Online Mental Health Information

More and more people are getting their mental health information online. Lots of information on Tik Tok, for example, is valid, but there is also a lot of false and misleading information out there as well, especially in the age of COVID. And lots of what you read is just “sales talk” masquerading as valid medical advice. So, when…

Opioids and Pain Treatment
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Opioids and Pain Treatment

I subscribe to the guidelines of The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which state that the objective of any opioid-based pain care strategy is to safely reduce pain and increase a patient’s ability to undertake everyday activities. Working with their doctor, patients can usually find safe and effective care options to help them reach their…

Depression and Maintaining Personal Hygiene
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Depression and Maintaining Personal Hygiene

Mental illness, including depression, can be overwhelming. It can work its way into many parts of one’s life. It can even affect seemingly simple tasks, like brushing your teeth or showering. And personal hygiene is often a difficult topic to discuss to begin with, compounding the struggle. To be specific, the definition of hygiene, according…

Ketamine for Depression: What does it have to offer you?
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Ketamine for Depression: What does it have to offer you?

Initially developed as an anesthetic or pain reliever in the 1950s and 1960s, Ketamine was first approved for use in humans by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1970 and has been studied for use against depression since that time, especially in the last 10 or 12 years. And there are now extensive studies…

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force on Anxiety Screenings for Adults
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The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force on Anxiety Screenings for Adults

We are seeing a lot more focus on anxiety treatment these days. In fact, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force on Anxiety Screenings for Adults has just announced its recommendations, which you can read about on their website. As they state “Created in 1984, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is an independent, volunteer panel…