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What I
can do to help you . . .
Have
you wondered if a medication could help you feel better
emotionally? Do you question whether you need help, or
whether your mood state is normal? Have others suggested
that you “get help,” or “talk to someone” about symptoms
or diagnoses?
Is there any
harm in asking a professional?
I am
qualified to advise you about psychotropic medications
that have helped others with similar concerns. As an
experienced professional, I can help you understand
various treatment options. I offer up-to-date clinical
information and evidence-based answers to your questions
regarding:
Depression
More than the “blues,” depression is a daily grind. Many
experience it as an absence of fun, of feeling, or of
enjoyment in life’s ordinary pleasures. Depression is with
you almost every day, and all day long; it drains your
energy and smothers your enthusiasm. It feels like it will
never go away. It can cause insomnia or the inability to
get out of bed, and dramatic changes in appetite.
Diagnoses include dysthymia, major depression, cyclothymia,
bipolar I or II, etc.
Anxiety
Feeling dread and/or panic ; sometimes from the moment you
awake, during daily activities like working, driving,
socializing, using an elevator or even returning phone
calls. It may involve nightmares and functional
incapacitation. Terms like social avoidance, acute and
post-traumatic stress, specific phobias, anxious
obsessions, agoraphobia, compulsive behaviors—all of these
and more may be forms of anxiety.
Somatic
Problems
Suffering with a physical condition (headaches,
fatigue, low back pain, muscle tension, etc.) that affects
you emotionally, or—alternatively, an emotional condition
that aggravates a physical problem. It is often very hard
to know the difference. Somatic conditions can seriously
stress the relationship between a patient and his/her
physicians.
Sleep Disorders
Insomnia,
excessive daytime sleepiness,
fragmented/shallow sleep, disruptions due to shift work,
jet lag, early AM wakening, etc.
Thought Disorders
Very distressing and usually obvious to others: A global
loss of organizational ability and disordered thinking.
Delusions, paranoia, altered perceptions (visual or
auditory) and disturbing thought content. Thought
disorders often destroy interpersonal relationships—even
with close family and friends.
Substance
Abuse or Chemical Dependency
Is it “recreational use”? Do others see it as
worrisome and destructive? Unable to cut down or quit,
despite numerous attempts? Is use of a substance causing
persistent negative consequences in your life? I can
screen for problems, refer for evaluation, and provide
medical detoxification in conjunction with professional
treatment. |
