the question isn’t “What‘s wrong with you?” but “What happened to you?” The American Psychological Association defines a traumatic event as “one that threatens injury, death, or the physical integrity of self or others and also causes horror, terror, or helplessness at the time it occurs.” The SAMHSA’s National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative has reported…
addiction/substance abuse defined Addiction and substance abuse of alcohol, prescription medications, or illicit drugs are not the same things, but they are closely related. Addiction is the compulsive use of a substance regardless of the consequences to yourself or others. Substance Abuse is the overuse of a substance or using it in the wrong way,…
I’m just going to put this out there – I have received Botox® treatments to alleviate some fine lines and wrinkles I wasn’t super excited about. I’m not ashamed of having done it, and I liked how it minimized the lines and wrinkles I was targeting. I also liked how I felt when I looked…
what is mental health? Mental health is the emotional, psychological, and well-being that makes us human. It affects how we think, feel, and act toward ourselves and others and directly impacts our positive and negative choices. Mental health issues can affect thinking, mood, behavior, self-esteem, and even our physical health. factors that often contribute to…
We know from experience that women battling poor mental health often do so in silence. Women often feel stigmatized when they experience a mental health issue. Seeking help is frequently avoided for fear of the stigma and judgment of being “not normal.” Besides, women are supposed to be strong, right? Many also feel the root…
Seeing a Psychiatrist for the First Time? Here’s What You Can Expect. When you schedule an appointment to see me or one of the other psychiatric care providers in our Winston-Salem or Raleigh offices, I hope you take a moment to review this post. I want your experience with Certus Psychiatry & Integrated Care to…
Depression Symptoms and Treatment Options Depression has become a blanket term for many different disorders. Still, the truth is, there are several different kinds of depressive disorders that tens of millions of American adults are diagnosed with…every year! Depression is more than just feeling “blue” or going through a tough time in your life. Periods…
Making an Informed Decision about TMS When I have a patient who is not responding to any traditional treatment for depression, I often prescribe TMS therapy. It’s a treatment that has grown in popularity for its effectiveness in helping those with treatment-resistant depression. This post presents the facts about TMS therapy, which we offer at…
Identifying Common Mental Illnesses Symptoms Sometimes, the difference between regular emotions and the signs of a mental illness isn’t always easy to identify. When you have a sore throat or a fever, you know you’ve got some sort of infection, and you may need to go see your family doctor. There is no easy test…
2022: A New Year of Anxiety and Stress – But Self-Care Can Help You Thru Before COVID-19 changed all of our lives, we would look to the New Year as an opportunity for positive change, growth, and a clean slate. However, as we enter into 2022, I’m seeing more and more patients entering the New…