Author

freudandfashion

I'm a newly graduated psychiatrist who believes it's stylish to talk about mental health. Welcome to my diary, Freud & Fashion, created in 2010 to document my life as a psychiatrist-in-training and share knowledge and psychotherapy pearls that I learned along the way.

Lifestyle Psychiatry

A Psychiatrist’s Tips To Survive Summer Music Festivals

written by freudandfashion

{Coachella in Indio, California}

I’ve been to my fair share of music festivals and several of my patients feel comfortable enough to tell me when they’re attending festivals as well. As fun as music festivals can be, they can also be exhausting, so some may return home feeling physically ill (I admit that I caught the flu after Coachella this year). And though strict policies exist regarding illicit drugs, they still make their way on to festival grounds, and some may experience longer lasting neuropsychiatric symptoms as a result of substance use during these events.

Since we’re in the midst of summer music festival season, the following are my tips on surviving music festivals with your health (and mind) as intact as possible:

Prioritize Sleep & Rest. Music festivals are like a marathon (the typical music festival occurs over one weekend, from Friday to Sunday), so conserve your energy and plan for breaks and naps when needed. You’ll likely return to your accommodations (camp, hotel, house, etc) pretty late (or super early in the morning), so make sure you get enough rest before heading back to the festival grounds. More power to you if your goal is to party all day & night, but chances are you won’t have the energy to make it through the entire festival.

Stay Connected. Most people travel in groups, so minimize the stress of losing track of each other by doing the following:

Set up a group chat (use apps, such as WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, since cell phone reception might be spotty).
Time stamp your text messages — there’s nothing worse than receiving a delayed text (and not knowing it was delayed because there was no time stamp!).
Set a meeting place as a designated spot if you and your crew can’t find each other.

Know where the medical tent is. I know several colleagues who have worked at medical tents for Coachella and they’ve seen it all — from dehydration to intoxication. Each music festival should have a medical staff stationed there, so even if you don’t know where they’re located, at least know that medical services are available if needed.

Stay hydrated. With high temps during the summer combined with a lot of dancing, walking, and possible use of alcohol or drugs that may exacerbate dehydration, it’s important to make sure that you have plenty of water on hand.

Use your best judgment when it comes to drugs and alcohol. Medically, I’d like to say “don’t drink or use drugs,” but the advice of “just say no” has long been proven to be ineffective. And also, I don’t live under a rock — I know that illicit drugs get used at these festivals. So, what I will offer here is my hope that you will use your best judgment, in addition to considering the risk of long-term neuropsychiatric effects that may occur from use of certain substances, especially the commonly used MDMA (ecstasy, Molly, etc). Due to the massive serotonin release of this drug, tolerance develops quickly, and prolonged use can lead to permanent damage to serotonergic mechanisms in the brain. I’ve treated patients with panic attacks, generalized anxiety, depression, memory impairment, insomnia, and other sequelae that have persisted even after stopping use of this drug.

What to pack. Don’t be fooled by social media and assume that everyone dresses in picture perfect outfits and walks around in heels during these festivals (I made this mistake and wore heels to my first festival — worst mistake ever). Comfort should be a priority when it comes to deciding what to wear and what to bring. Aside from clothing, here’s a list of other important items to consider packing:

Comfy shoes
Hat
Sunblock
Portal phone charger
Bandana (to cover face in dusty environments since most festivals are in fields)
Long sleeve or light sweater/jacket when it gets colder at night

And last, but not least — my last tip is to let go of any pressures you have to undergo the ‘perfect’ experience because that mentality just adds unnecessary stress. In my experience, once I let go of trying to look ‘picture perfect’ (not every outfit has to be Instagram-worthy) and do ‘everything’ during the festival, I was able to focus on being present, enjoying the music, and having a fun & memorable time.

June 14, 2017 6 comments

Fashion Medicine

Intern Year Memories in Smitten Scrubs

written by freudandfashion

{Smitten Bliss Scrubs c/o Smitten Scrubs via Scrub Shopper}

The last time that I wore a pair of scrubs was several years ago as an intern physician doing internal medicine. And they were the standard pale blue hospital scrubs that you practically live in as an intern rotating through the hospital wards as part of the internal medicine, family medicine, general surgery, emergency medicine, and ob/gyn teams. I recall running up and down the hospital stairs in them, zipping through the emergency medicine floor in them, and getting various bodily fluids splattered onto them despite my best obsessive-compulsive attempts to keep them clean. Then, the routine was to fall asleep on the couch in my scrubs within seconds upon returning home from a 30-hour shift. Hence, scrubs have provided me with memories both exhausting and accomplishing.

As a psychiatrist, I no longer wear scrubs, though I miss the ease of getting up in the morning without having to dedicate minutes contemplating what to wear to work. Therefore, when Scrub Shopper reached out to me to promote the relaunch of one of their brand lines, Smitten Bliss, I was excited to wear and experience the new generation of scrub designs and styles.

The following is my opinion regarding the Smitten Bliss line scrubs that I received:

Warmth – I was out running errands on a cold, chilly, yet crisp day in so-cal. These scrubs kept me pretty warm and I was able to wear them without having to wear layers underneath nor a jacket over it.
Comfort – the scrubs are made with polyester & spandex and provide enough stretch to allow ease of movement.
Style – these scrubs are far more stylish than the standard hospital scrubs! The material is of high quality. They come in a variety of colors (berry, heather grey, royal blue). The ones I’m wearing are in navy. I also love the pink trim, which adds a pop of color.
Sizing – I love that the pants come in petite sizes (which is perfect since I’m 5’2”). The top in size small was slightly longer in length than I prefer, but I’m sure would be perfect for those taller than me.
Functionality – The pants and top have several pockets, which are much needed while on the job.

And what I really like about Scrub Shopper is their Give Back campaign in which Scrub Shopper offers donations to Susan G Komen, Doctors Without Borders, St. Jude’s, the Abandoned Pet Project, and the Greta James Scholarship Foundation. Customers will have the option at checkout to choose one of those options, and they will donate $1 per order to the organization of their choice.

And as an added bonus, Scrub Shopper and I have collaborated to host a GIVEAWAY for one of my followers on Instagram to receive a free pair of Smitten Bliss scrubs! Check out my link here for simple rules on how to participate!

Do you wear scrubs to work?? And if so, what is the most important factor about the type of scrubs you choose (cost, style, pockets, color, etc)??

March 1, 2017 7 comments

therapy

Last Minute Tips To Get Through Valentine’s Day

written by freudandfashion

It’s possible that you’ve been dreading this day and now that it’s here, keep in mind that there’s just a few more hours you need to get through before it’s OVER. Farewell. Good riddens. Until next year. You can then move forward with the rest of the year once the clock turns midnight (or go to bed really early).

And I’m not just talking about people who are single — I’ve observed an increase in anxiety from people who are single, partnered, married, recently split/divorced, or in a new relationship. Therefore, the following are some tips for minimizing anxiety and getting through Valentine’s Day with a sense of contentment:

FOR THOSE IN A RELATIONSHIP AND PLAN TO CELEBRATE VALENTINE’S DAY

1. Do you get overwhelmed by the Valentine’s Day crowds and long lines at restaurants?? I’ve noticed that even extroverts wish to avoid public places on this day (myself included). Unless you’ve already confirmed dinner reservations for a fancy pre fixe menu (dinner cancellations usually have to be made more than 24 hours in advance), then instead discuss with your significant other if they’re open to having a quiet night in. Sometimes doing something simple that both of you would appreciate will make a far more memorable and meaningful Valentine’s Day.

However, if you’re in a fairly new relationship, then stick with the night out that you’ve already discussed, but be sure to allow yourself enough time to wind down and relax afterwards.

2. Do you resent having to spend an excessive amount of money on Valentine’s Day? Well, you can rest assured knowing you’re not the only one who despises this corporate holiday. An article from The Atlantic discusses how research done by Angeline Close Scheinbaum, Associate Professor of Marketing at the University of Texas at Austin, found that there’s a significant amount of anti-consumerism associated with the holiday.

Here’s Scheinbaum quoting one of her research subjects in the Journal of Business Research:

Most (63 percent) males and some (31 percent) females feel obligated to give a gift to their partner for this holiday. Some couples discuss their frustrations; yet they still buy:

“Valentine’s Day is a way for retailers to get you to spend money in their stores. People get caught up in the B.S. and I should not have to spend extra to show I care, and my girlfriend agrees. But we both still spent plenty!”

3. Be present and in the moment. Oftentimes we set unrealistic expectations of what the ‘perfect’ Valentine’s Day is supposed to look like. And the pressures of media (especially social media) causes many to desire that picture-perfect celebration, which distracts from the whole purpose of the night. Therefore, allot only a few minutes to snap a few memorable photos to document the occasion, THEN be sure to put the phone AWAY for the rest of the occasion.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE SINGLE, SEPARATED, DIVORCED, OR IN A LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP

1. If you’re single, utilize this day to treat yourself. Consider choosing an activity that allows you to reconnect with things YOU enjoy. Remember, Valentine’s Day is often a time when people stress about trying to please the other person in their life, so celebrate the fact that you get a chance to treat yourself without the added pressure! Whether your preferences consist of watching a movie, taking an exercise class, going shopping or out to dinner with a close friend, etc, be sure to plan something you enjoy.

2. If you’re going through a breakup, separation, or divorce — spend time with those who are supportive and close to you. If you’re unable to arrange plans with others, then be sure to arrange for something relaxing and semi-distracting (such as an exercise class, massage, shopping, etc). Or consider arranging to talk on the phone/Skype/FaceTime, etc with a close friend/family member who understands what you’re going through. Oftentimes Valentine’s Day causes people to feel even more lonely and sad about the split, but you can re-direct these thoughts by remembering the reasons you broke up in the first place. Even though you’re sad, keep in mind that ultimately you’ll grow from this experience.

3. Use this day to jumpstart your dating life. Perhaps you’ve been wanting to sign up for an online dating site or have been holding off on having your friends set you up with someone — consider Valentine’s Day as a source of motivation (instead of a trigger for depressive thoughts).

4. If you’re in a long distance relationship — arrange for a phone or Skype date with your significant other, or spend the day with classmates, coworkers, or friends. I was fortunate to have awesome classmates during residency and recall having a group dinner one year on Valentine’s Day. However, if you’re a medical student or resident, you’ll likely have minimal time to celebrate and instead will be distracted by studying anyway.

5. If you’re an independent thinker who prefers not to play into the hype of this ‘holiday,’ then protest this overly commercialized day by treating it as any regular day of the week. Feel free to laugh at those spending hundreds of dollars on gifts and the angry drivers rushing to make it in time for their early dinner reservations.

Well, regardless of what you do, I hope your Valentine’s Day turns out to be one that’s the least anxiety-provoking as possible! 🙂

February 14, 2017 4 comments

Fashion Psychiatry

How A Determined Schizophrenic Woman From NYC Is Breaking Stigma About Mental Illness

written by freudandfashion

{Schizophrenic.NYC buttons, bracelets, stickers}

In just a little over a year since I last interviewed Michelle Hammer (founder of Schizophrenic.NYC, a clothing line aimed at promoting mental health awareness), her company and mission have gained an exponential amount of support from the media and community. Since hundreds of thousands of people with schizophrenia are living on the streets, Michelle’s clothing line donates a portion of its profits to organizations that help the mentally ill homeless population of New York City. Being diagnosed with schizophrenia herself, Michelle demonstrates that people with schizophrenia can succeed, have a career, and live a normal life. She breaks stereotypes about a diagnosis highly stigmatized. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to catch up with Michelle to get an update on Schizophrenic.NYC and her thoughts on living with mental illness:

1. It has been over a year since I last interviewed you on my blog. What would you say has been your biggest accomplishment in the last year?

I would have to say that I have accomplished a lot in the past year, but what I have accomplished the most is changing the way people view mental health and how they respond to it. I’ve talked to many people at my pop-up shops about the mental health issues in NYC as well as across the country. People always seem surprised when I tell them the statistic in NYC is that 1 in 5 New Yorkers have a mental health issue. When people hear that they now understand that mental illness is so much more common than what they originally thought. Also, many people that I know are now much more comfortable about talking about their own mental health struggles. I have had people tell me that, because of me and my openness, they now feel more open to discuss their issues with their family and friends. If everyone would be more open, then more people can see how common mental health issues really are in society.

2. Congratulations on being featured on numerous renowned news platforms such as Buzzfeed and Daily Mail! It’s a testament to how much heart and hard work you put into growing Schizophrenic.NYC and spreading your mission. What do you think it is about Schizophrenic.NYC that the media is most drawn to?

I am so grateful to have been featured in such awesome publications as Buzzfeed, The Daily Mail, and Mashable. I think people are drawn to Schizophrenic.NYC because it was started by me, a girl with schizophrenia, who wants to change the way society sees mental health. It’s often thought that people with schizophrenia cannot build their own business, or work any type of “regular” job. By breaking down that stereotype and barrier I am doing something the general public thought could not be done.

3. Part of Schizophrenic.NYC’s mission is to make a difference in the way that the mentally ill homeless population is treated. What do you think people should consider when they encounter homeless people on the streets? What do you think is the biggest misconception about the mentally ill homeless population?

It’s hard to say what people should do when they encounter homeless people on the streets. When I walk by a homeless person who is yelling at nobody, and exhibiting obvious symptoms of schizophrenia then I start to feel sympathetic. I know that if these people had the support of friends, family and a doctor they would be able to get the treatment they need, and they would be able to function in society. I would say the biggest misconception about the homeless population is that they are a lost cause, and none of them can be helped, which is completely not true. If someone is homeless and mentally ill, they need to get the right help. Here in NYC we need more outreach to help these homeless people who are suffering.

4. A lot of my readers/followers are future mental health clinicians or are in the medical field. Do you feel that people with schizophrenia are often misunderstood when seeking treatment/support? Based on your own experiences, what advice would you give mental health/medical practitioners about how to approach someone diagnosed with schizophrenia?

When I first was diagnosed with schizophrenia I got very depressed. I thought nobody would ever love me or want to associate with me because of my diagnosis. I think that something I should have been told was that with the right medication and monitoring that I can live a perfectly normal life. I am not my diagnosis. I am me. Just because you get diagnosed with schizophrenia doesn’t mean your life is over. It’s just the beginning of getting the best help you can, and living the best life you can.

{Michelle Hammer, creator of Schizophrenic.NYC}

For more info on Schizophrenic.NYC, check out their website, Facebook, and Instagram.

December 15, 2016 2 comments

Psychiatry

Advice on How To Cope With Burnout

written by freudandfashion

{Napa, California}

Hello my blog friends! For those who aren’t on Instagram, I wanted to share what I wrote on my post today about coping with burnout:

One of the hallmarks of burnout is that taking time off from work doesn’t renew your energy/interest in the work you do. After a relaxing Thanksgiving break, I felt super motivated to return to work and start seeing my patients today, yet the way I felt at my previous job during this exact time 2 years ago was a different story. There are numerous factors that contribute to burnout (many are difficult to pinpoint & identify, which is why people often feel they were blindsided by it).

There are different ways to deal with burnout, and though the hope would be that your employers quickly make changes to improve your situation, the likelihood of that can be pretty low. Therefore, you must be PROACTIVE and take action if you want your quality of life to improve. Depending on your situation, this can be anything from taking an extended time off, working out issues with your employer, cutting back on work hours, or finding a new job/career. One of the 1st things to do is get support (from a trusted friend, family member, union, mentor, colleague, therapist, etc). And definitely ADVOCATE for yourself (I can’t stress this enough!). Often in our careers, when we are given unrealistic expectations that challenge our values/views/identity, we are left with feelings of failure and self-defeat, but the only way to improve our situation is to stand up and recognize our value and worth.

Thought of the Day: Have you ever experienced burnout from your job? If so, what did you find to be most helpful at overcoming it?

November 30, 2016 4 comments

Psychiatry

Have You Been Hit With Autumn Anxiety?

written by freudandfashion

I noticed a pattern in several of my Instagram posts the last few weeks: a sense of being hard on myself, feeling like I haven’t been productive enough, lacking any sense of accomplishment, feeling as if there’s no time in the day to get through my task list, etc. Such a surge in self-criticism didn’t sit well with me, so I wanted to gain more insight and determine the trigger (as if I don’t psychoanalyze enough in my day to day life). It wasn’t until I started noticing the anxious tone in my voice each time I told some of my patients to schedule their next appointment in 3 months (which would be around January 2017) and went on to wish them an early “Happy Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas/Hannukah/Qwanzaa,” etc, that an a-ha moment occurred in my mind — Oh my goodness, it’s almost 2017!

So I started researching if there was such a phenomenon related to Autumn anxiety. And much to my relief, I discovered that several others have experienced it and written about it as well! I didn’t find much research on autumn anxiety in medical databases, however, my Google search engine churned out a few articles that validated my experience (isn’t validation of our own experiences/opinions ultimately what we look for anyway?):

Wales therapist Ginny Scully named the phenomenon “Autumn Anxiety” after observing a pattern in her clients as the summer season ended where they experienced an increase in generalized anxiety and anticipation, without really knowing what they were supposed to be anticipating. She noted in the article that people who are more sensitive and aware of changes in their surroundings tend to experience these feelings.
The transition into Fall triggers a sense of loss. Dr. Norman Rosenthal, a psychiatrist, believes the key element to consider is loss, particularly since many consider the summer season as a time for partying, relaxation, leaving work early on Fridays, and having longer summer nights to enjoy. Therefore, once summer ends, life quickly starts to feel more stressful.
The days become shorter, which means less bright light exposure during the autumn season compared to summer. Bright light has been shown to have effects that decrease anxiety.

Have any of you also experienced an increase in anxiety during the transition from summer to autumn? Reading the information I discovered above at least validated my experience and helped me realize I wasn’t alone!

October 12, 2016 15 comments

Psychiatry

World Mental Health Day 2016

written by freudandfashion

I talk about the subject of mental health EVERY SINGLE DAY. Therefore, with today being World Mental Health Day, I thought long and hard about how I’m going to say something any different than what I wrote on this day last year and what I say in my job as a psychiatrist on a daily basis. So here’s what I came up with:

NOTHING.

No joke – I literally sat in front of my computer for hours typing idea after idea, sentence after sentence, complaint after complaint about our mental health system when I decided to scratch everything I wrote and opted instead to free write the following thoughts:

Issue 1: Mental health impacts EVERYONE…whether we choose to acknowledge it or not. The topic of mental health is considered taboo in many cultures and remains highly stigmatized in society. However, in order to break the pattern of silence which gets passed along generations, we must acknowledge our own mental health issues and create a sense of safety within our own families to feel open enough to discuss issues as they arise, thus modeling a healthier way of communicating.

Issue 2: We often tell people “don’t be afraid to ask for help,” yet when they finally decide to seek resources, the first place they may end up is on a long waitlist to see a mental health professional, yet mental health professionals are overworked and becoming burned out trying to meet increased demands and make up for the lack of resources. The bigger issue is that more funding and resources are needed to bridge the gap in order to meet the need.

Issue 3: If you Google ‘World Mental Health Day,’ the top articles on your feed likely consists of links that highlight the Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Prince Harry’s public appearance today to raise awareness of mental health and support the mission of Heads Together, the mental health organization they helped create. I love their theme for World Mental Health Day, which encourages people to celebrate anyone who has supported them through a difficult time using #ThereForMe. Support is absolutely necessary for everyone, especially those struggling with mental illness.

Personally, through each struggle I’ve experienced, I have always been thankful for the support I received. Often when my patients are struggling, they feel comforted knowing they have at least one person they trust to reach out to. I hope that someday each one of us could feel open enough to be that person to someone because addressing mental health isn’t something we should have to go through alone. Rather than waiting on legislation to create measures that prioritize mental health, we can each act now by identifying ways to address our own mental health and be more present for those close to us who might be in need of support.

By the way, I realize that I posted this blogpost quite late today, but I suppose there was no real sense of urgency because in my mind, World Mental Health Day is EVERY DAY.

October 11, 2016 8 comments

Lifestyle Medicine

A Psychiatrist’s Perspective of Time

written by freudandfashion

As a psychiatrist, time dictates my day in the office. My schedule is divided into 20-minute increments for patient follow-up visits and 40-minute blocks for new patient evaluations. I try my best to stay within the specific time limits, but sometimes patients require a bit more time in order to effectively convey & discuss the diagnosis and treatment plan. If a few minutes overtime are needed, I allow it, however, it’s also necessary for a psychiatrist to set boundaries on time because it can take away from each successive patient’s appointment time. Even though some patients may take up more time than allowed, it’s my job as a psychiatrist to direct the interview and complete the entire session within a reasonable timeframe.

Sometimes patients are so anxious about disclosing information that they wait until the last minute when the session is almost over. A psychiatrist should acknowledge the patient’s disclosure and triage/judge whether or not the issue is emergent and must be addressed, or if the issue can wait until the next appointment. I’ve had to remain in the office after hours several times, mostly when a patient is an imminent risk and needs to be assessed for possible hospitalization.

If you don’t feel like you get enough time with your doctor, then you’re not alone. Most doctors wish they could spend more time with their patients, but the pressures to see a patient within a short amount of time exists. Over the past four years that I’ve been in practice, I’ve developed my own therapeutic style that allows me to to efficiently ask necessary questions while maintaining a connection with my patients (hint: such techniques involve direct eye contact, spending the first few minutes allowing the patient to talk uninterrupted, acknowledging factors in their lives other than solely discussing meds, etc). In a 20-minute session, I probably average spending 25% of the time discussing medications. A psychiatrist’s job isn’t easy — I may be a physician, but I’m also a human being and can’t help but be impacted by my patient’s heartbreaking issues. Therefore, prioritizing time for self-care is absolutely necessary.

I utilize my weekends doing non-psychiatry activities (with the exception of blogging & social media). I used to be on-call at my previous job, but realized I needed weekends off to maintain my sanity. I admire anybody who takes call on weekends, but for me there was nothing worse than getting paged at 2 am and driving to the hospital half asleep.

Having made career decisions that doesn’t compromise on providing the best quality of care I can nor the people and activities that are important to me, I feel much more balanced with my current part-time schedule. I used to feel extremely constrained by time (I still feel that way, but not nearly as much), but these days I am far more in control of how I choose to spend it.

Watch: c/o JORD (For the link to my watch, click here)

August 26, 2016 9 comments

Psychiatry

Why Minority Mental Health Is Important

written by freudandfashion

As a psychiatrist who is also in therapy, I remember feeling misunderstood when it came to my culture as a filipino-american, but meant a lot to me to have my therapist express a genuine interest in understanding my culture and asking me for details regarding my experience. Oftentimes I believe clinicians don’t prioritize someone’s identity (ethnicity, culture, religion, sexuality) when it comes to health, especially mental health, yet these factors play a significant role in someone’s values and way of life.

July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month and although today might be the last day, having knowledge of the disparities and struggles that several minorities experience is important if we’re going to eliminate stigma surrounding mental illness. I consider myself as someone who prioritizes cultural competency, yet reading statistics and information regarding certain minorities surprised me and I was happy that this month existed and motivated me to read more about it. Which is the reason why I’m sharing some of the following information with you here on my blog, in addition to some techniques that I use to incorporate someone’s ethnicity/culture/sexual identity, etc into the conversation during treatment (continue reading below).

Statistics:

African American attitudes toward mental illness are another barrier to seeking mental health care. Mental illness retains considerable stigma, and seeking treatment is not always encouraged. One study found that the proportion of African Americans who feared mental health treatment was 2.5 times greater than the proportion of whites (Sussman et al., 1987). (1)
A report from the U.S. Surgeon General found that violent deaths – unintentional injuries, homicide, and suicide – account for 75% of all mortality in the second decade of life for American Indian/Alaska Natives (U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services Office of Minority Health)
Southeast Asian refugees are at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) associated with trauma experienced before and after immigration to the U.S. One study found that 70% of Southeast Asian refugees receiving mental health care were diagnosed with PTSD (U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services Office of Minority Health)
Western culture makes a distinction between the mind and body, but many Asian cultures do not (Lin, 1996). Therefore, it has long been hypothesized that Asians express more somatic symptoms of distress than white Americans (1).
Mexican immigrants who lived fewer than 13 years in the United States, or Puerto Ricans who resided on the island of Puerto Rico had lower prevalence rates of depression and other disorders than did Mexican Americans who were born in the United States, Mexican immigrants who lived in the United States 13 years or more, or Puerto Ricans who lived on the mainland. This consistent pattern of findings across independent investigators, different sites, and two Latino subgroups (Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans) suggests that factors associated with living in the United States are related to an increased risk of mental disorders (1).

The following are a few questions I ask to promote discussion of someone’s identity and incorporate someone’s culture, race, ethnicity into treatment (some of these may sound so simple, yet raising the questions can feel awkward at first especially since the subject of someone’s identity might be perceived as a sensitive subject):

What is your ethnic background?
For someone who is mixed race: Is there a specific ethnicity/culture/race that you identify with most?
What is your sexual identity?
How has your cultural identity influenced the way you approach current issues in your life?
How does your family cope with issues related to mental health?
Tell me what are some of the most misunderstood aspects about your culture that you wish people could better understand?

If you’ve had any positive/negative experiences with clinicians in regards to addressing your health/mental health, please share and comment below!

Source:

1. Office of the Surgeon General (US); Center for Mental Health Services (US); National Institute of Mental Health (US). Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2001 Aug.

Photo collage credit: Patrice N. Douglas

July 31, 2016 12 comments

Fashion Personal

What My Former Boss Told Me About My Wardrobe

written by freudandfashion

{Westlake Village, California}

Though my social media name has the word “fashion,” my fashion sense during the initial stages of my professional career most definitely did not reflect any sense of the word. During college, I apparently believed that it was appropriate to wear flip flops, cut off jeans, and a hooded sweatshirt as both a research associate/front desk clerk for the research center I worked for. Even the more junior researchers wore slacks and pencil skirts, but I’m not sure why I didn’t put two and two together. I vaguely recall the manager asking if I could possibly dress more conservative, but gave her the excuse that driving directly from class to work allotted minimal time for me to change clothing, therefore I promised to at least change my shoes. I honestly thought that I was a rockstar for upgrading my flip flops to the more conservative tennis shoes, but apparently even that wasn’t good enough. And if that wasn’t enough to get me to change, imagine how I responded when I overheard several of my more senior coworkers having a rather loud conversation within earshot discussing the importance of ‘implementing’ a dress code. And yet, I still didn’t realize their words were directed towards me! It wasn’t until my research supervisor had a one-to-one conversation with me that I finally got the message about my wardrobe. He kindly informed me that the center would like for me to not only dress more conservative, but to also dress more professional. He emphasized the fact that since I worked at the front desk, I also served as a representative of the center, and therefore it was important for me to dress professional. To be honest, I was shocked throughout the entire conversation and thought “why didn’t they just tell this to my face sooner?”

The moral of the story is an important note about communication. Oftentimes, we indirectly communicate our thoughts and assume that the person we’re communicating with should understand/comprehend exactly what we’re saying, but that’s not always the case. I talked to one of my patients today about the importance of directly communicating how she feels about her teenage daughter on a deeper level rather than engaging in their usual angry conversations with one another (anger tends to be a secondary manifestation of deeper emotions such as hurt and pain). I truly appreciated my supervisor for having such an honest conversation with me. To this day, I still think about the conversation almost each time I contemplate what to wear to work. Needless to say, that was a pivotal moment in my style transformation and marked the beginning of me discovering and cultivating my own personal and professional wardrobe (yes, I no longer wear cut-off jeans to work).

Photo by Alex M & Jen F

July 20, 2016 4 comments

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