Category: Psychiatry

Don’t yell at me. I’m trying to help.

For many years, I have treated individuals with substance use disorders. I have found this work to be both gratifying and frustrating. Part of the frustration stems from interactions with governmental agencies and families. The families are, of course,…

Stress and medicine: My salute to frontline workers

What is stress? Stress is a bodily response to external pressures. It’s an emotional state that we go through when dealing with difficult situations, and it can have a major impact on our health. When faced with work deadlines, family problems, a…

Film and television continue to depict psychiatrists as heartless swindlers [PODCAST]

“Have you ever watched a movie, television show, or read a book where the villain is a medical doctor? If you are a psychiatrist, you will be alarmed by how many times the villain in these stories turns out to be a psychiatrist. In all fairness, …

Self-care is the Rx we were never taught to write [PODCAST]

“This is our call to action. I have the experience, knowledge, expertise, and deep passion for teaching every medical student these skills. I cannot do it alone. I need you. We need to do this together. I am seeking those of you who are caring, i…

How to protect your resilience [PODCAST]

“Health care delivery will always be inherently unpredictable and challenging. Those drawn to medicine are among our most resilient, but the current landscape reveals acutely a rise in burnout that exceeded acceptable levels even before the COVID…

How divorce helped this physician [PODCAST]

“I now say getting divorced was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Through that painful circumstance, I rediscovered me. I learned more about myself and my ability to do hard things than at any point in my life since medical trainin…

The pandemic’s epidemic: opioid use disorder and subpar suboxone access   

The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated America’s health, taking more than 500 thousand American lives, upending the economy, and perpetuating racial health disparities. It also has worsened the country’s ongoing opioid use disorder (OUD) epidemic. In fac…

Solving imposter syndrome in physicians [PODCAST]

“The good news is that imposter syndrome can be quieted with increased awareness and replacing negative internal messages with positive ones. In our work together, I helped Sheila identify the voices, understand the positive role the voices fill …

The updated benzodiazepine boxed warning: What you need to know

“I am [sharing] my story as I would like to raise awareness about the dangers of benzodiazepines and advocate for stronger warning labels.” I paused to wipe away tears before typing the final words of Bobbi’s report into the FDA’s MedWatch online repor…

Vulnerability is challenging but necessary for health care professionals [PODCAST]

“In the world of medicine, inordinate stress is instead accepted as just part of the job. If you can’t handle the heat, get out of the kitchen — or see a therapist on your own time and dime. I strongly believe that traditional therapy and p…