Several years ago, a good friend and colleague – the chairman of a psychiatry department – notified people about his retirement in a department newsletter. He wrote, “I sent out a letter to the alumni and adjunct faculty that I will retire on Jun…
Category: Psychiatry
Finding emotional presence in a dehumanizing system: a physician’s journey
Virtue and self-sacrifice were supposed to be my protection. As a first-generation immigrant, the necessity of hard work had long been ingrained like a birthmark. I never questioned the belief if I overworked and overprepared, I would fulfill my respon…
The rise of spiritual science: Uniting the soul and science
Until recently, mainstream science has not recognized the field of spiritual science because the consensus has been that science and spirit (soul) are like oil and vinegar — they do not mix. Science is all about facts and evidence relative to the hypot…
The hidden illness: Understanding and overcoming depersonalization-derealization disorder
A strange mental health issue affects millions of people every year. Yet, almost no one in the medical community is aware of it. Many suffer in silence without having the right guidance and support. In this article, I’d like to help you understan…
Assess your tech health in 2023: How screen use is affecting your life and ways to improve
My patient, a retired teacher, looked embarrassed as he said it. “I don’t have a smartphone. I don’t have a computer.” I had to check the readings — somehow, despite this lack of technology in his life, his heart rate was perfec…
Breathing your way out of stress: the simple solution to a growing epidemic
Stress is ubiquitous, and Americans are struggling to deal with it effectively. The tag #mentalhealth on TikTok has amassed 65.5 billion views and counting. Still not sure about that? Answer this question quickly: What do you do when you’re hung…
Hug it out: the power of oxytocin on Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day marks the most romantic day of the year. For this Hallmark holiday, this country displays our love for each other by spending approximately $25 billion on cards, roses, chocolates, and dinners. Why so much? WTF! Like one’s d…
Breaking the stigma: Why doctors are afraid to seek mental health treatment
We are over 25 years apart in our careers. One of us began her medical career in a time before the internet and email. The other is a digital native. Remarkably, though, our experiences have been very similar in one respect. We have spoken with colleag…
Trauma motivated me to become a doctor
“Raise your hand if you said you wanted to become a doctor to help people during your medical school interview. I see practically every hand in the room raised. Keep them raised if you told your interviewer you also wanted to become a doctor to o…
A thank you to those who take care of us
As patients, we often think of our health care providers as infallible beings who can easily handle their profession’s emotional and physical tolls. However, the reality is that health care professionals are human too, and they are not immune to …
