Failure is a word that mental health practitioners hear often. It can be a catchall for anxiety, depression, frustration, and disappointment at not meeting the expectations one has for themselves or that are derived from their family and friends. More concretely, failure can be framed in connection with an inability or lack of desire to […] Read more…
The mythology of perfectionism in the public eye often comes across as harmless, even endearing. Sitcoms from “The Odd Couple” featuring the ultra-fastidious Felix Unger to “Modern Family’s” Alex have portrayed perfectionists as quirky but lovable folks who are simply a bit more focused and particular about their environment or work than the average person. […] Read more…
The 15 Minute Medical Check: “Medical Management” vs. Care and Connection New research published in a paper titled “Psychiatric Services in Advance,” (http://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ps.201600133) by Dr. William Torrey of the Dartmouth Geisel School of medicine has reinforced the essential connection between doctor and patient, and discredits an unfortunate trend in psychiatric care for conducting 15-minute “medical […] Read more…
Meet rTMS: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation One treatment modality gaining favor in the Psychiatric care world is Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ( rTMS ). TMS is part of a group of treatments called Interventional Psychiatry that also include ketamine therapy and ECT. Approved by the FDA in 2008, rTMS is a safe, non-invasive neuromodulation therapy directed […] Read more…
“It is seeing which establishes our place in the surrounding world. The relationship between what we see and what we know is never settled…The reciprocal nature of vision is more fundamental than spoken dialogue.” –John Berger, Ways of Seeing “My selfies give me power.” —Kim Kardashian Understanding the Psychology of “Selfies” Selfies-self-generated portraits-are ubiquitous in […] Read more…
It has been a politically heated time in the United States for the past couple years, although it certainly seems to have reached a climax over the past six months or so. There is a correlation between politics and psychiatry that often goes unacknowledged. It impacts both patients and psychiatrists in a big way and […] Read more…
The Glamorization of College-Life and the University Experience Long after college, many people are inclined to glamorize their college experience, recalling the thrill of learning, endless social opportunities, and late-night gatherings that blend together in an idyllic re-imagining of their campus experience. But the pressures of academia: social, financial, and academic, have created a hothouse of […] Read more…
For many people in the general public, there is an air of invincibility about their physicians. Walking into a doctor’s office seems like a one-way street: a patient comes in with a problem, and their doctor is there to solve it. But the painful truth is that not only are doctors human, they actually suffer […] Read more…
The physical and emotional strain of PTSD can become a struggle for some people and it can linger in the form of panic attacks and other behavioral manifestations that interfere with daily life. The residual effects of a shocking or scary event can continue for months (or even longer,) and make people feel stressed and […] Read more…
The prevalence of social media among all age groups has created a host of potential problems associated with dependency and abuse. While Millennials may be the first generation to not have any awareness of life without social media, all age groups and generations are using social media in various ways. Balancing the positive social benefits […] Read more…