Author's posts
Finding peace after years of abuse: a journey through grief
I had been looking forward to and, at the same time, dreading this appointment. Her husband had been ill for many months, but that had not stopped the verbal abuse that superseded the physical blows he could no longer inflict. She had, over many previo…
What would you save if your house was on fire?
The obvious answer is just that, of course. I would save my wife and myself. Everything else is replaceable—well, almost everything. Read on. Twenty years ago, before the launch of the iPhone and before social media ruled the world, two of the most imp…
Lessons learned in psychiatry: How experience shapes your career
I am now in the twilight of my psychiatric career. Yes, I can write that without wincing now, almost, well, maybe just a little. I have made decisions in the last twelve months that have changed my daily schedule, my work life, and my relationships pro…
Thin places: Where memories come alive
I was listening to Marty Smith of ESPN do the Fore Please, Now Driving podcast for the 87th Masters Golf Tournament this year. The discussion turned to how some places like the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, are just full of memories, …
Haunted by sleep: the chilling reality of hypnagogic hallucinations
“What did you see?” I asked her, as she sat across from me, wide-eyed and obviously unnerved even thinking back about the episode. “It was horrible,” she said, “just horrible. I was lying on my back, and I saw it in the do…
The disturbing reality of homelessness
My flights had been delayed, and I did not arrive at the hotel in downtown San Francisco until almost 1 a.m. As I exited the Uber, struggling to shoulder my briefcase and wrangle my suitcase, I was a bit startled to hear a very loud voice coming from m…
The surprising science of gratitude: How it boosts your well-being
I have never been a very touchy-feely person. I was trained as a biologist and chemist, then went to medical school where more science on top of science was aimed at me like a gushing firehose. I learned to put science and evidence first and to try in …
Narcan: Widening access to overcome opioid overdoses
I often recommend books or podcasts for you when they address timely topics in mental health. The May 4, 2023, episode of The Daily podcast was one such episode that I think you should listen to. On that episode, Jan Hoffman, a health law and affairs r…
Alcohol’s impact: hangovers and health risks
In July, we all got at least one day off to celebrate a very American holiday, Independence Day. If I were a betting man, I would say that many, if not most of you, participated in at least one of those grand old American pastimes: eating hotdogs or ap…
The psychoanalytic hammer: lessons in listening and patient-centered care
She was one of my first long-term, supervised psychotherapy cases during my second psychiatric residency year. She was young but still a year or two older than her inexperienced, wet behind the ears therapist, and I use that term very loosely. I was to…
