The burden of depression for many sufferers is that it is a daily and lifelong struggle. It is not possible for one to “snap out” of a depression. Depression can be a severe mental health disorder that causes persistent mood imbalances, persistent depression, low self-esteem, and a decreased inability to enjoy and appreciate life. There is no one size fits all...
There is an old icebreaker joke about a doctor asking a patient if they think that using the word “practice,” to describe a doctor’s work is unnerving. Professional, licensed medical doctors, nurses, and practitioners have a public trust to perform their jobs as efficiently as possible. After all, they take an oath to start their careers. However, when ancient medicine emerged,...
Loneliness is not about you feeling alone. Loneliness is the unceasing suspicion that no one cares or relates to you or your plight. And loneliness is the fuel that powers depression like a monster with an insatiable hunger. Depression is a mental health and mood disorder caused by an imbalance of the chemicals in the brain which regulates mood and emotion. If...
Throughout the spring and summer months, our moods always seem to be enhanced. It’s warmer outside, and we can do more outdoor activities. But when the weather gets colder, we begin to see a shift in our moods. Sometimes it may be nothing. But for others, it’s the result of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). There are traditional ways of dealing with SAD,...
When your child “comes out” as a transgender individual, you want to give all the support in the world. However, you might have feelings of doubt, confusion, and possibly grief for the son or daughter you raised from birth. While those feelings are all valid, you need to do what is best for your child. In some cases, that includes supporting...
About 3 million people in America deal with bipolar disorder. It’s a condition where an individual’s mood changes without warning, prompting emotional highs and lows. With normal bipolar disorder, an individual may experience one or two episodes a year. However, there is another form of bipolar disorder that increases the episodes. It’s called rapid cycling bipolar disorder. Today we’ll be talking about rapid cycling bipolar disorder and how...
The world is put back by the death of everyone who has to sacrifice the development of his or her peculiar gifts to conventionality. – Florence Nightingale One hallmark of nursing school is learning of The Lady With the Lamp, the nurturing woman who, during the Crimean War, despite her exalted social status, spent her life tending to sick soldiers, urging...
In the United States, opioid addiction is a serious issue facing many families. Some of these opioids are not commonly associated with "street drugs." Instead, doctors are the ones who often prescribe them. These drugs are known to produce a sense of euphoria. For that reason, many people do misuse them. If your loved one abuses opioids, here are some...
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends”. – Martin Luther King, Jr. In wholehearted agreement with Dr. King, it is also important to recognize the power that the words, even if they are seemingly caring sentiments from our allies, can hold. Words are a construct. They are often culturally, regionally, ethnically, and situationally specific, but whatever the...
It's a strange time, and can be isolating. To combat this, IP Psych is holding Healing Connecitions, a Weekly Gathering Support Group for those seeking safe community in times of COVID-19. We will meet weekly on Saturdays at 11:00am at Prairie Park, at the picnic tables under the pavilion. Groups will be facilitated by Interpersonal Psychiatry clinicians, with the intent to...
