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psychology

Upcoming Conference Alert! Psych Congress 2019

This post is sponsored by Psych Congress.

Psych Congress 2019 has an amazing lineup of talks/speakers!

‘What to do when an antidepressant is effective, but your patient has sexual dysfunction’ and ‘Top 5 issues clinicians should know about ketamine therapy’ — these are just a few of the talks I plan to attend at the upcoming Psych Congress annual conference (Oct. 3-6 in San Diego). Psychiatry is truly a fascinating and evolving field, so it’s important to stay up to date with the latest research, innovations, and treatment strategies!

Here’s a couple more interesting talks I’ve circled on the conference schedule (just to name a few):

CBD, A Scientific and rational examination of its risks & benefits in psychiatry.

Is Bipolar Disorder under-diagnosed or over-diagnosed?

Stimulant Use Disorder, Clinical Issues and treatment challenges.

Perinatal Psychopharmacology.
Opioid Overdoses & Addiction, Recent Advances in Treatment & Prevention.

If there’s any topics you’re interested in learning more about, drop a comment below & I’ll be sure to share what I learn in a future post!

Also, if you’re interested in attending, be sure to click here and register! Hope to meet and see some of you there!

September 25, 2019 0 comment

Psychiatry

“Debunking 5 Common Misconceptions About ADHD”

written by freudandfashion

The general public’s perception of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) isn’t exactly a positive one, which is unfortunate because people who truly struggle with ADHD often feel misunderstood and wrongly judged. I often hear statements such as “ADHD isn’t real” and “ADHD is an excuse for laziness” and feel the need to defend people with ADHD right away because, for the most part, nobody really knows the extent of the struggles of ADHD, unless you have it or are close to someone who does.

Last month was Mental Health Awareness Month, but we must keep the conversations going to break stigma. And one important step is to better understand the mental health struggles that many of us experience, so check out my article here on Healthline as I debunk 5 common misconceptions about ADHD!

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As of 2023, I am now working as the CMO of Murror. Check us out!

June 15, 2019 0 comment

Featured

“Wedding Planning Anxiety Is Real. Here Are 5 Ways to Cope”

written by freudandfashion

I was never one who dreamed about having the most perfect, magical wedding, so I assumed wedding planning would be a breeze once the time came. But, I was wrong. And I’m sure many of you can relate because anxiety related to wedding planning is actually a common experience. Now that I’m currently in the midst of planning my own wedding, I realize that even as a psychiatrist knowledgeable of various techniques and ways to cope, the process comes with various anxiety triggers. For example, wedding planning may bring up issues related to the following: complex family dynamics, issues with communication, struggles with perfectionism, time management, financial issues, and the list goes on.

In addition, we may find that wedding planning tests our abilities to cope with anxiety. As someone who had seen a therapist for several years, this process has motivated me to recall the skills I learned from my therapist, reflect on my training as a psychiatrist, and utilize the therapy techniques that I regularly share with my patients. So check out the article I wrote for Healthline HERE for tips on how to cope with wedding planning anxiety, which can most definitely be applied to daily life as well!

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As of 2023, I have begun working as the CMO of a new startup centered around wellness and mental health called Murror. Check us out!

March 29, 2019 0 comment

Featured

“Going To Therapy as a Psychiatrist Didn’t Just Help me. It Helped My Patients.”

written by freudandfashion

When I decided to pursue a career as a psychiatrist during medical school, I never fathomed that I would have to address my own mental health. After all, as a physician I’m supposed to help others, but not the other way around right?

When we consider the stigma of mental health, in some ways it’s starting to improve as people start to become more open to share their mental health struggles. However, I come from two backgrounds where the stigma of mental health remains quite high — first, culturally as a minority woman, and second, as a physician where fear exists in regards to potential negative consequences of seeking treatment.

Yet, despite the stigma, I grew to discover the significant, life-changing impact that seeking support from a therapist can have. And I know many of you out there have had similar experiences, or perhaps have contemplated making an appointment, but are hesitant due to the stigma (trust me, I know how you feel).

Check out the article I wrote for Healthline HERE to read more about why I sought therapy and how the experience of seeing a therapist made me a better person and ultimately, a better psychiatrist for my patients.

January 23, 2019 0 comment

Featured

Video: A Psychiatrist Goes To Therapy

written by admin

(SEE VIDEO BELOW)

Not many people talk about being in therapy, but as a psychiatrist, it’s my goal to break the stigma of seeing a therapist because it can be an amazing source of support. In this quick video, I talk about my therapy journey and how it has helped me grow into the person and physician that I am today.

Note: I originally created this video for my IGTV on my Instagram (@freudandfashion), so I apologize for the quality! Let me know your own thoughts about psychotherapy in the comments below! Thanks for watching.

September 30, 2018 1 comment

Psychiatry

Learn About Your Mental Health in 2 Quick Videos

written by admin

{with Dr. Kien Vuu}

One of the reasons I started blogging was to connect with like-minded individuals who were passionate about promoting mental health and ridding of the stigma associated with it. I was happy to connect with Dr. Kien Vuu, an interventional radiologist and professor of medicine at UCLA. Dr. Vuu has made it his mission to empower others to take control of their health through an integrative and holistic approach. Check out his website here to see how he actively engages with the public through his YouTube channel, media, The Live Again Project (nonprofit organization he founded to provide support for those affected by cancer), and other projects. And be sure to check out our two video collaborations below for some quick education (with a dose of humor) about mental health & psychiatry!

April 24, 2018 0 comment

therapy

The Power of Self-Help Books

written by admin

I’m big on self-help books (for myself and for my patients). Below is a list of some of the books I have in my library (pictured above). I select books based on reviews/ratings and also recommendations from my patients and other mental health professionals. I received some additional wonderful self-help book recommendations via comments made on my Instagram post, so I’ll be adding more to my list soon! (Note: these books are to be considered as resources/information only and do NOT replace treatment with your psychiatrist nor other mental health professionals)

The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook

The PTSD Workbook

Mind Over Mood

The OCD Workbook

Mastering Your Adult ADHD

Managing Social Anxiety

Mastery of Anxiety and Panic

If you’d like to add to the list, please leave a comment below!

April 5, 2018 1 comment

Medicine Psychiatry

How Anxiety And Depression Can Affect Quality-of-Life in Endometriosis Patients

written by admin

Since March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, I’m excited that Dr. Tosin Odunsi-Akanji (Instagram: @lifebytosin), one of my fave physicians to follow on social media, took time out of her busy schedule to write a post to increase awareness of how the diagnosis can impact not only physical health, but also mental health.

________________________________________________

Imagine dreading a specific time of the month every month for 14 years. Imagine feeling like you’re being stabbed by hundreds of knives. That was me every time my time of the month paid me a visit. If I was able to, I would spend the first couple days in bed armed with ibuprofen and a heating pad. After a gastrointestinal workup in college came back normal, I figured the pain was normal and must be the cramps women complained about.

Eventually, I said something to my gynecologist and was placed on birth control pills without an interrogation of the pain. This helped bring the intensity of my chronic pain down from an 8/10 to a 4/10. I was more than okay with that. Fast forward to my third year of medical school when I was studying for my USMLE Step 2 Board Exam. One of the practice questions asked for a complication of endometriosis. The answer was ‘infertility.’ I immediately started crying because by this time I suspected this was what I had and I thought I would end up infertile. Soon after that, I was awakened from sleep with severe abdominal pain. I ended up having surgery and finally received a diagnosis of endometriosis.

What is endometriosis? It is a chronic disorder in which the tissue that forms the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) is found outside the uterus where it does not belong. These implants respond to changes in estrogen and may grow and bleed like the uterine lining does during the menstrual cycle. Surrounding tissue can become irritated, inflamed, and swollen which can cause severe pain throughout the month. The breakdown and bleeding of this tissue each month also can cause scar tissue, called adhesions, to form. Sometimes adhesions can cause organs to stick together. The bleeding, inflammation, and scarring can cause pain, especially before and during menstruation.

The most common clinical signs of endometriosis are menstrual irregularities, chronic pelvic pain (CPP), painful periods, painful intercourse, and infertility. Symptoms of endometriosis often affect psychological and social functioning of patients. For this reason, endometriosis can be considered as a disabling condition that may significantly interfere with social relationships, sexuality, and mental health. If this is the case, then an important area to consider is the impact of anxiety and depression on the management of women with endometriosis.

Several studies have been conducted to showcase the influence of CPP on psychological well-being and quality of life of women with endometriosis. Women with endometriosis have a higher risk of developing anxiety, depression, and other psychological symptoms, according to a review study published in the International Journal of Women’s Health. Data suggests that the experience of pelvic pain may significantly affect emotive functioning of affected women. Furthermore, high levels of anxiety and depression can amplify the severity of pain. Additional studies are needed to better understand the relationship between psychological factors and perception of pain.

Treatment of endometriosis may be hormonal or surgical. Surgery is the primary treatment for severe forms of endometriosis. There is not much data in the literature about the influence of psychological factors and psychiatric co-morbidities on the effectiveness of treatments. It is important to evaluate the presence of previous psychiatric diseases in order to select the most appropriate treatment for these patients.

Endometriosis affects roughly 10% of women of reproductive age. On average, endometriosis can take six to ten years to diagnose and three out of five women with endometriosis were told by at least one doctor that nothing was wrong. In my own experience with endometriosis, I did not have an answer for what was causing my pain for 14 years. It is not surprising that part of my life revolved around my menstrual cycle. March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. Perhaps more attention can be paid to women who have psychiatric complaints in addition to CPP in order to better tailor treatment.

For more on Dr. Tosin Odunsi-Akanji, MD, MPH, you can find her on YouTube and Instagram.

References:

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Frequently Asked Questions.

https://www.acog.org/-/media/For-Patients/faq013.pdf?dmc=1&ts=20180320T1527594194

Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Endometriosis: Impact and Management Challenges

https://www.dovepress.com/anxiety-and-depression-in-patients-with-endometriosis-impact-and-manag-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJWH

SpeakEndo

https://www.speakendo.com

March 30, 2018 0 comment

Personal

I’m Back!

written by admin

{with a few of the wonderful medical students I met at OMED 2017}

Hi friends! I know it has been awhile since I last posted here, so here’s a quick update on what I’ve been up to:

I updated the look of my blog, but since I’m not as technologically savvy as I wish, it has taken me far longer than I thought to learn the ins & outs of this site. But aside from that, I hope you like the new look!
I’ve continued to post regularly on my other social media accounts, esp my Instagram, which has proven to be an amazing tool for networking. I’ve met amazing people and healthcare professionals whose ideals (about holistic health, wellness, and normalizing discussions surrounding mental health) align with mine, so stay tuned for upcoming collaborations (videos with Nurse Mendoza (see video below) is one example).
I have been blessed with invitations to speak at amazing conferences to discuss ‘burnout.’ It was an honor to be invited to speak at the Osteopathic Medical Education Conference 2017 (OMED) for the second year in a row, as well as having the opportunity to connect with pre-Health students while speaking at the MEDPEP 7th Annual Pre-Health Conference. Stay tuned for more speaking engagements this year!
I started seeing my therapist again earlier this year. Don’t worry – there’s no crisis, but I did feel there were several barriers getting in the way of me moving forward in my career ventures (coping with grief and loss was one of them). I’m doing much better now, and as you can see, jumping back into blogging is a sign of moving forward and getting back on track.

There’s more I’d like to update you on, but for now, I just wanted to express my gratitude to all of you for supporting my blog throughout the years and all my efforts to combat the stigma towards mental health. I’m so appreciative to all of my long-time readers and also a big ‘thank you’ & ‘welcome’ to all of my newer readers! If there’s any topic requests for future blogposts, please leave a comment below!

PS: upcoming blog posts this month = “How to cope with the stress of social media” & “How to get through Valentine’s Day”

{Quick tips for your mental health with Nurse Mendoza}

February 6, 2018 0 comment

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

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