Depression is more than just feeling down or having a bad day. When a sad mood lasts for a long time and interferes with normal, everyday functioning, you may be depressed.

Anxiety disorders involve more than common nervousness and worry. They can cause terrifying fear about things other people wouldn’t think twice about. Many people with anxiety disorders fully comprehend that their thoughts are irrational. But they still can’t stop them. 

Most likely, depression and anxiety are caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

Most people who go through traumatic events may have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping. 

Getting effective treatment after PTSD symptoms develop can be critical to reducing symptoms and improving function.

Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder that includes conditions such as difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. Adult ADHD often causes problems in personal relationships and at work. Thorough evaluation and proper treatment can improve a patient's life. 

Identifying certain genetic markers in a patient can shed light on whether particular psychiatric drugs will be effective and whether there is a higher risk of adverse events from those drugs for that individual. We can tailor their treatment plan to each patient based on his or her pharmacogenetic markers, which include genetic mutations  to help avoid issues such as lack of effectiveness, drug-resistance and drug interactions. 

Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections—PANDAS for short—is a childhood syndrome thought to be triggered by strep throat and related infections from strep bacteria. Children with PANDAS syndrome will typically develop tics—uncontrolled movements or sounds—and/or symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, seemingly overnight. Other symptoms may arise as well; children diagnosed with PANDAS can display dramatic mood swings or experience sudden bouts of anxiety, and some evidence suggests that a small number may display signs of anorexia. Appropriate school accommodations are necessary for most students with PANS/PANDAS. Typically, a 504 plan or an individualized educational plan (IEP) is created.  

Although bipolar and schizophrenia and psychotic disorders have many similarities, they are different conditions.  These diseases usually develop in late adolescence or early adulthood. The genetic causal factors have been found to be highly similar in these conditions both disorders often appear in the same families. Some people are diagnosed with symptoms of both diseases. 

 While medications are widely used to treat mood disorders, they may not be effective for everyone. Some people may not even want to consider turning to medication at all and will seek alternative options to help them manage their disorders. We’ve put together some drug-free options for managing depression. This list is not meant to replace the opinion of a medical professional, but these methods, or a combination of them, may work to relieve symptoms of and treat depression so that you can live a healthier, happier life.  

Sleep

Your behaviors during the day, and especially before bedtime, can have a major impact on your sleep. They can promote healthy sleep or contribute to sleeplessness. Your daily routines – what you eat and drink, the medications you take, how you schedule your days, and how you choose to spend your evenings – can significantly impact your quality of sleep. Even a few slight adjustments can, in some cases, mean the difference between sound sleep and a restless night.

Exercise

The evidence is clear—physical activity can make you feel better, function better, and sleep better. Even one session of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity reduces anxiety, and even short bouts of physical activity are beneficial. Being physically active also fosters normal growth and development, improves overall health, can reduce the risk of various chronic diseases.

Have you ever wondered why you feel happy, or even euphoric, after a tough workout? It’s thanks to endorphins, which are chemicals in your brain that trigger those feelings. By interacting with certain areas in your brain, endorphins can work to dull your perception of pain, almost like a sedative. But unlike a sedative, endorphins will not lead to dependence. In addition to releasing endorphins, regular exercise can help you sleep better, boost self-confidence, feel more relaxed, and combat symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Meditation

Meditation has a history that goes back thousands of years, and many meditative techniques began in Eastern traditions. The term “meditation” refers to a variety of practices that focus on mind and body integration and are used to calm the mind and enhance overall well-being. Some types of meditation involve maintaining a mental focus on a particular sensation, such as breathing, a sound, a visual image, or a mantra, which is a repeated word or phrase. Other forms of meditation include the practice of mindfulness, which involves maintaining attention or awareness of the present moment without making judgments.

Change in Diet

The old adage that, “you are what you eat,” has some truth to it.  Your diet has a lot of effects on your mental health as well.  Studies associate a healthy diet with a lower incidence of depression symptoms.  

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that causes people to have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including stress, anxiety, depression, medical conditions, and medications. Insomnia can have a significant impact on a person's quality of life, leading to fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and impaired judgment. Insomnia is a common problem that can be treated effectively. If you are struggling with insomnia, talk to us about treatment options.

Mental health is an important part of overall health for children as well as adults. For many adults who have mental disorders, symptoms were present—but often not recognized or addressed—in childhood and adolescence. For a young person with symptoms of a mental disorder, the earlier treatment is started, the more effective it can be. Early treatment can help prevent more severe, lasting problems as a child grows up.  We can identify common behavioral problems, such as:

• Diagnosing ADHD, anxiety, depression, and other difficulties that affect learning

• Outbursts of anger and tantrums

• Diagnosing and treating behavioral disorders (i.e., Oppositional Defiant and Conduct Disorder)

• Helping parents with different styles of co-parenting and supporting one another

• Intervening to address high-functioning autism spectrum symptoms

Obsessive thoughts about appearance, feelings of inferiority because of weight, and the idea that happiness can only be achieved if you lose a certain weight. That can be a sign of an eating disorder.  

Signs you may need help

Unhealthy restriction of food and calories

Restricting food and calories may cause an unhealthy relationship with eating, leading you to become overly anxious about certain foods or even feel guilty when consuming them.

Obsessive thoughts regarding food or your body

Obsessive thinking can manifest in many ways - like comparing one's body to celebrities, feeling inadequate because of your weight, and believing that only when certain goals are met will true happiness ensue. 

Keeping secrets about eating behaviors

When we keep our eating habits hidden, it can be a sign of an unhealthy bond between food and ourselves. We may do this out of fear, guilt, or shame - yet the secrecy will only lead to feeling isolated, anxious, and even depressed. 

Using laxatives

When used excessively or for the wrong reasons, laxatives can be a sign of an adverse relationship between food and body image. 

Post-meal purging

Engaging in purging activities, including throwing up, taking laxatives, and engaging in extreme exercise after meals is profoundly hazardous to your health. It can cause electrolyte imbalances from dehydration, and harm the esophagus due to vomiting.

Binging

Binging on food can be indicative of an eating disorder. Characterized by regular episodes of overeating, often done in privacy or separation, binge eating may result in guilty feelings, humiliation, and aversion that only deepen the situation. People who struggle with binge eating tend to have difficulty controlling their consumption habits despite being aware of its negative influence on health-- leaving them feeling powerless to prevent it from occurring.

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Women’s health is an area of medicine that receives too little attention. Often, women suffer in silence, combating symptoms on their own without seeking professional help. In fact, an estimated one in five women will cope with clinical depression at some point in her life without seeking professional help or guidance. Daily responsibilities and societal expectations can leave women feeling isolated, alone, and unable to pursue treatment.

Seeking a mental health provider can help with: 

• Preconception evaluation and counseling

• Post-Partum Depression 

• Comprehensive psychiatric assessment

• Psychiatric consultation regarding the use of medication in pregnancy and the postpartum period