Tag:

therapy

Have You Been Hit With Autumn Anxiety?

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

Featured Guest Blogger

Why A Social Worker Turned His Passion for Bicycling Into a Mission

written by freudandfashion

One of the best things about blogging is the opportunity to meet like-minded, motivated people in the mental health field who are passionate about making a greater impact in the community. When I first came across Bike and Brain on Facebook, I was impressed by Matt Ryan, LMSW (the founder of Bike and Brain) and his selfless goal to successfully blend his career as a social worker and love for bicycling into a mission that promotes bike riding’s benefits on mental health. What started as a blog one year ago has evolved into an active operation that organizes group rides, provides free bicycles to New York City residents, and is expanding its efforts by becoming a nonprofit organization (continue reading to learn how you can support his cause and enter to receive a free bicycle below). Therefore, I am excited to feature Matt as my first guest blogger as he discusses bicycling and its positive impact on mental health.

———————————————-

Life can quickly become chaotic. We deal with stress from work, relationships, children, and health, to name a few. Too much stress can cause us to feel out-of-control, which can be extremely uncomfortable. In fact, excess stress can be detrimental. As life stressors build, we may experience anxiety and even depression. We may feel like giving up when life appears too much to handle. We may begin to neglect our priorities. Unfortunately, giving in to this feeling only exacerbates the situation. So how do we regain our sense of control?

Whether you’re in control of your own company or the TV clicker, control can be a great feeling. People exert a great deal of effort in life to gain control. You can certainly argue that having too much control may be problematic, but possessing a certain level of control is crucial in order to lead a fulfilling life. It’s important to be in control of your emotions, diet, exercise regimen, sleep patterns, relationships, etc. Furthermore, it’s key to be aware of your role in all of these facets of life. There are obviously things that we can’t control such as when we are mistreated by a friend, loved one, or a rowdy neighbor who keeps us up all night. However, we can control how we respond or how we choose to handle these situations. Learning to control yourself within the important facets of your life can help build confidence, which in turn can make life more enjoyable.

I am a social worker in NYC and it’s safe to say things can feel pretty out-of-control. One of the things I do to stay grounded, motivated, and focused is ride my bicycle. I ride daily and can truly say it plays a crucial role in my life. Bicycling gives me a feeling of control and confidence that transcends into the other compartments of my life. You may be asking how this could be possible — how can riding your bike help any other area of your life?

First off, riding the bicycle provides me with a tangible feeling of control. I determine how fast the bike travels, where it goes, what gear it’s in, and when it stops. The ability to manipulate the bicycle is a reminder that I do have the ability to control things. Merely having the knowledge that I can be in control is beneficial to my daily life. If all else fails, I can utilize my experiences on the bike as a reference point.

Second, riding the bike forces me to direct all of my attention on one thing, which is the road. I am in the moment while on the bike. There is no time to dwell on the stresses of life since distractions could potentially cause an accident. All five of my senses are engaged and my mind is focused. I can feel the wind in my face, the pedals on my feet, and the bars in my hands. Being completely focused on the moment is an extremely powerful tool also known as mindfulness. Essentially, I am putting aside my stress for the duration of the bike ride. This does not eliminate the stresses I may be experiencing. Rather, it is creating free space in my mind so that I may deal with the stress in a more constructive way once I am off the bike.

Finally, cycling makes me happy. Not only does the physical activity release endorphins, but it is the one hobby that provides me complete joy. When everything else may feel out of control, I know that I can hop on my bike to re-charge. In essence, my bicycle acts as my safety net. Cycling will always reinstate a level of confidence and control that is needed to regain my motivation.

And for the record……

I am in the process of creating a nonprofit organization in NYC. We work to provide functional bicycles to people who may not have any other means to obtain one. We believe that there is no reason why we can’t provide people with a FREE bicycle in a city as wealthy as NYC. We have donated a handful of bicycles to date. Each donation has an amazing story attached (Check them out here!).

We will also be giving away a free bicycle (pictured below) on Thanksgiving. Anyone can win this and we will ship it anywhere in the USA. Completely free. All you have to do is like our page on Facebook to enter.

For more information on Bike and Brain, check out their website here.

Photos courtesy of Matt Ryan

October 13, 2015 7 comments

Personal

Fresh Start

written by freudandfashion

{Napa, California}

I’m excited about the new year, but must admit that I’m in a strange transition phase where my professional identity and personal identity are at odds with one another. Most of my life has been devoted to my education and in many ways I believe those years halted my personal development. When most of my childhood friends were getting married and starting their own families, I spent most of my days studying, memorizing, listening to lectures, getting grilled by senior physicians, studying so that I don’t look like an idiot in front of senior physicians, eating, sleeping (then repeat). My free time was spent either catching up on sleep or celebrating to make up for the fact that I spent several straight weeks studying (I think I’ve used the word “studying” way too many times in this post already).

“I wanted to become a doctor so I could serve others. And because of that I’ve lost everything. But I’ve also gained everything.” ~ ‘Patch Adams’

Being in my mid-30’s, I certainly miss the vibrancy that came effortlessly as an energetic 20-something year old. I recall working a 12 hour overnight shift in the Labor & Delivery unit, then heading straight to the airport (with only 1 hour of sleep) and boarding the plane in my scrubs in order to attend my sister’s graduation that day in San Francisco, then flying back the next morning (in my scrubs) to make it in time for another 12 hour shift. Time flew by way too fast. Before you know it, I’m at it again struggling to get a few days off in order to attend my sister’s wedding. I barely had any time to think…and little time to fully enjoy life outside of school. But that’s the path I chose and I am grateful with no regrets. Now that I have a bit more free time, I am mindful that the more I allow myself to savor the present moments and especially invest in my own self-care, the better a person and physician I become. After all, how can I care for others if I can’t take care of myself? In the past, my new year’s resolutions consisted of external measures such as losing weight, getting high grades/scores on exams, etc. But this year my goals are more internal and self-fulfilling…

My goals for 2015:

be present
be mindful
be open to self-discovery
be aware of my need for self-care.

Thought of the Day: What personal goals would you like to achieve in 2015?

Photos by Marlon Santos

January 8, 2015 11 comments

Psychiatry

You Are Not Alone

written by freudandfashion

{OCD Awareness Week}

As a kid, I guess I had strange habits: tip toeing on floors to avoid picking up germs, blinking each eye a certain number of times on each side, tapping my fingers as if I was playing an imaginary piano, and the list goes on. I never thought my habits were a problem until kindergarten when my mom was called to pick me up at school. Apparently, it was wrong for me to pee in my pants because I thought the bathroom in my classroom wasn’t clean enough to use. Fortunately, I outgrew most of these habits (yes, I no longer pee in my pants), but some of my symptoms still persist to some degree. Though I do NOT have OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), I have several patients who suffer from the disorder and feel tormented by their debilitating symptoms.

In support of OCD Awareness Week (October 13-19, 2014), I want to share some knowledge and facts about OCD.

In the United States, OCD is the 4th most common psychiatric diagnosis
- this means that 1 out of every 40 people in this country may suffer from OCD
Internationally, 1 in 100 adults, and up to 1 in 200 children likely have OCD

Therefore, if you have OCD YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

OCD is more detailed to discuss in one post, but the explanation I give my patients includes some of the following points:

Everyone experiences anxiety to some degree. Some may cope with the anxiety by cleaning, organizing, and checking behaviors (such as checking doors to make sure they are locked), but those with OCD repeat these behaviors to the point that their symptoms cause impairment in their day to day lives. Their symptoms can be quite distressing, time-consuming, and debilitating to the point that relationships, school, and work are negatively impacted.
One misconception is that people with OCD are perfectionists, rigid, controlling, domineering, and have a “my way or the highway” mentality. This is not necessarily true because most people with OCD recognize that their symptoms are excessive and problematic, and more often feel embarrassed, ashamed, and far from perfect.

Now, if you’re wondering about my mismatched socks outfit — I’m wearing them to show even more support for OCD Awareness Week. Though the week is almost over, you still have time to show your support and participate in promoting the discussion of OCD by wearing mismatched socks and posting a picture through social media (use hashtags #sockittoocd, #ocdweek).

For more details on OCD and its symptoms, please visit the International OCD Foundation website.

October 16, 2014 4 comments

Psychiatry

Go Green!

written by freudandfashion

I spent this Sunday partaking in what practically 50% of Americans are fans of: watching pro football. I looked in awe at the stylishly bright, slick, and sporty pink athletic gear that each team member wore in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I wished that Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 5-11, 2014) received just as much media and support.

For me, Mental Illness Awareness Week means promoting empathy rather than sympathy. With empathy comes understanding and lessening of stigma. Even as a psychiatrist, there are times when I feel awkward asking friends about depression, so I can imagine how difficult it might be for anyone to openly discuss and start a conversation about mental illness. But keep in mind that mental illness is far more prevalent than you may think:

– 1 in 4 U.S. adults suffer from mental illness

– 1 in 10 Americans take antidepressants

– Almost 50% of children ages 8-15 with a mental illness received NO treatment last year

Yet, despite how prevalent it is, suffering from mental illness is often lonely and isolating and nobody should have to feel that way.

So what can YOU do?

– Go Green! Wear lime green this week to serve as a reminder and trigger discussion among others about raising awareness and destigmatizing mental illness

– check out the Nami website to learn more facts about mental illness, treatment, and resources

– try to lend support rather than avoid. If you sense that someone you know is struggling, please check in on them. It sounds so simple, but you can make a difference and potentially save someone’s life

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Share one thing you did this week to show your support (post in comments below)!

October 7, 2014 4 comments

Psychiatry Travel

Vacation Time

written by freudandfashion

One thing I’ve mastered during residency is the timing of vacation and making the most of those few days of freedom. Four months without vacation is far too long, one month intervals is too soon, but a vacation every 2.5 months comes out to be just right. I’m at the point of yearning for some much-deserved time off, which I plan to spend soaking up sun to boost my Vitamin D and eating/shopping/partying in one of my favorite cities. My key to surviving residency incorporates a balance of combining work, relaxation, and fun, because the former can easily dominate over time, resulting in high anxiety, struggles to get up in the morning, a shorter temper, less sleep, and less people wanting to be around me.

November 1, 2010 0 comment