A Holistic Approach to Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
Benzodiazepine withdrawal has developed a reputation of being extremely difficult, but over the course of my practice, I have seen patients taper off their benzodiazepines with ease. This article focuses on a holistic approach to benzodiazepine withdrawal in a 19-year-old young man, diagnosed with bipolar disorder, who has been taking Klonopin. Read on for more.
Why Antidepressants “Stop Working”
What happens when antidepressants like SSRIs “stop working?” Over the years, I’ve developed my own understanding of why patients’ antidepressants “stop working,” why they feel worse when they stop them, and how to improve their health when it happens. Read on for a brief explanation.
On Goodbyes and Hellos
Have you been experiencing big changes in your life? Has the pandemic caused your life to shift in a completely different direction? Read on for my reflections on how my move is transforming my self-perceptions and creating opportunities for new connections.
The Key Difference Between Antidepressant and Antipsychotic Withdrawal
Because medication withdrawal is poorly understood by psychiatrists and patients, it’s easy to think of medication withdrawal as a single phenomenon. Read on for an important insight and its implication for treatment that will transform how you handle medication withdrawal.
Intentions & the Art of House Hunting
I share my experiences with finding the perfect house to show how intentions work despite the social situation and our own lack of commitment to those intentions when challenged. Read on for the whole story and a picture of my new house!
What My Practice Has Taught Me About Patience
Healing is never a one-way street. It is a circular, holistic process where everyone benefits from the therapeutic relationship. Read on for my reflections on how my patients have shown me a great deal about how to be patient myself.
A Fitting End: My Journey as a Social Enigma
Read about my personal experiences as an immigrant growing up in Utah and my journey as a holistic psychiatrist, where I explored the tension between living authentically and the desire to fit in.
An Update on My Practice
A lot has been going on in my life and practice: my search for a new home in a different state, the IMMH conference this weekend, and arrangements for the upcoming podcast. Here are just some updates this past week that I hope you’ll find interesting.
The Meaning of Medication Side Effects
When we take a medication, it creates a variety of side effects: some good and some bad. As a holistic psychiatrist, I’ve come to appreciate patients’ descriptions of side effects because they reveal a great deal of information about a patient’s health and how to properly care for them.
Resolving Past Medication Trauma
The effects of taking medications go far beyond just the physical. It can rob us of our identity and self-confidence. We must treat the damaging, traumatic effects of medication use (past and present) like they were psychological traumas and not just as biological phenomenon.