Distinguishing mourning (grief) from depression can be tricky due to overlapping symptoms, but they differ in cause and expression. Mourning relates to a specific loss, like a death, breakup, or life change. The pain ties directly to the loss. Depression, however, may arise without a clear trigger or persist beyond a loss.¹ While there are...
I receive inquiries daily regarding whether I perform Autism Testing. The answer depends significantly on the individual’s age. For younger children, typically aged 18–24 months, testing often involves comprehensive evaluations, such as a written report (commonly referred to as a “neuro-psych exam”), which assists in obtaining necessary services or accommodations.[^1]. Early identification and diagnosis are...
How do we determine what is “normal” behavior for teens, versus, a need to find help in the form of a psychiatrist and/or therapist? Generally speaking, if your teenager has irritability without any clear triggers, and their irritability can lead to harm to themselves or to others, then it may be time to seek help.[1]...
Although ADHD is likely over-represented in people with ASD, the other way around is not true. As I wrote in my last blog, there are a lot of similarities between ASD and ADHD1. While ADHD is often characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, ASD involves challenges in social communication, repetitive behaviors, and sensory sensitivities2. Both...
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that affect daily life.1 Symptoms overlap with disorders like ASD, schizophrenia, mood, and substance abuse disorders due to shared dopamine and serotonin pathway dysregulations, affecting attention, mood, and impulse control.2 Genetic and environmental factors, such as prenatal stress, further contribute to these overlaps, though each disorder remains...
Typically, referring to a person as having Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) suggests there is no way to help them from themselves. There are definitely stereotypes of people with BPD, including that they are “manipulative” or “attention-seeking,” that they are “dangerous” or “unstable,” and they are unable to “form healthy relationships.”1 According to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual...
The consensus of the leading researchers and thought leaders in the field of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), including Dr. Phil Wolfson (who wrote The Ketamine Papers), Drs. Raquel Bennett, Carl Bonnett, John Krystal, Scott Shannon (and others) is that ketamine therapy should be used selectively, tailored for those with severe, treatment-resistant conditions, and ideally combined with...
Generally, most people who go on any kind of diet are doing this to lose weight. One of the more famous diets is the Keto Diet, where a close to complete removal of carbohydrates from daily meals will bring the dieting person into what is called Ketosis. This is when the body switches from burning...
Sweet things are good, no? Of course sweet things are good. What about the newer semaglutides (such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus)? First, let’s take a look at some basic facts about sugar and carbohydrates generally. Sugar and carbohydrates are related, but they aren’t the same. Carbohydrates are a macronutrient found in many foods and...
I have seen many patients who complain of either or both derealization and depersonalization. These are dissociative experiences that can occur separately or together, often in response to stress or trauma. They also qualify as “psychotic” symptoms, meaning, these symptoms are characterized by a disconnection from reality. Derealization is a feeling of detachment from one’s...
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