During 99.9 percent of our species' history, half of all humans died before adulthood. Depression and anxiety are evolutionary defense mechanisms without which humans would not exist. Regular exercise is a powerful antidepressant. A total of 280 million humans suffer from depression. Depression is expected to be the leading cause...

Evolution of Mental Health

The cover story of Psychology Today this month, “Diagnosed In Adulthood,” made me think back to the timing of my own diagnoses. They all came in adulthood, in my late twenties: anorexia, major depressive disorder (with the modifier of with psychotic features added later), and borderline personality disorder.

Borderline Personality Diagnosis: Two Things That Matter

Death anxiety is associated with a variety of mental health disorders. People with physical diseases and disorders can also suffer from extreme death anxiety. At the same time, fear of death can motivate you to achieve your life's goals. Debilitating death anxiety can be treated with therapy and medication. One...

Do You Suffer From Death Anxiety?

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Vision Pet Care

Cats are often considered mysterious and independent creatures, leading many to believe that they are aloof or even indifferent. However, cats communicate in a variety of ways, and understanding their unique language can deepen the bond between you and your feline friend. By learning to interpret their signals, you can enhance your relationship and become a more empathetic cat owner.

Ways to Speak Cat and Deepen Your Bond

Some familiar sayings are as accepted as religious injunctions, yet they gaslight and minimize bad behavior. The proverb "blood is thicker than water" actually means that bonds of choice are deeper than those of blood. "Can't you take a joke?" shifts blame, faulting the injured for lacking a sense of...

10 “Functional” Family Tropes That Are Really Dysfunctional

Events leading to hospitalization vary from person to person. Psychostimulant use is often a contributing factor. The context is important for understanding the illness. My intention in writing this blog is to share the experiences that I went through with my son, starting with the first manifestation of his illness and our journey through numerous subsequent episodes. Also, my purpose is to provide commentary as a parent and psychiatrist on issues that these experiences bring up, such as how the diagnostic process works in mental health, and how to work with treatment providers and medication issues. My hope is that reading this may be helpful for people with mental health issues and also their families and friends.

Events That Lead to a Mental-Illness ER Visit

Traditional definitions of childhood trauma often miss nuanced relational dynamics that can lead to trauma. The definition of relational trauma can encompass trauma from power-imbalanced, dysfunctional relationships. Vignettes depicting examples of relational trauma can show how subtle and indirect actions cause trauma. In my last post, I shared six reasons...

Relational Trauma: Is This You?

Minimizing your feelings or your partner's actions is a lie that can wreak havoc on a relationship. The belief that you can change your partner is a dangerous lie that sets both of you up for disappointment. "We don’t need to talk about that" is one of the most destructive...

The 4 Biggest Lies That Destroy Love

Criticism is damaging because it shifts focus from the issue at hand to the perceived flaws of one's partner. Persistent use of defensiveness only delays addressing problems within the relationship. Contempt conveys to your partner that you consider yourself superior and think very little of them. In 1992, renowned clinical...

The 4 Strongest Predictors of Divorce

Having meaning in life is a strength that is, compared to happiness, more associated with “being yourself.”. Values are ongoing guides for living with purpose and meaning and are expressed in daily actions. An awareness of core values and meaning can aid in navigating through adversity and uncertainty. By...

Explore Meaning and Values to Provide Direction in Uncertainty

Salem, OH

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Northern Kentucky Tribune

Every day, 8-year-old Emma sits in a small garden outside her grandmother’s home in Salem, Ohio, writing letters to her mom and sometimes singing songs her mother used to sing to her.

Thousands of parents die of overdoses; advocates say their kids need more help

Kentucky State

Jefferson County, KY

Louisville, KY

Federal, state and local public health officials have confirmed the first case of the Oropouche virus in Kentucky and Jefferson County in a person who had returned to Louisville after traveling to the Caribbean.

Health officials report first case of Oropouche virus, aka ‘Sloth Fever,’ confirmed in Kentucky

A good-enough marriage greatly depends upon letting go of the idealized partner and the perfect relationship. Identify what each spouse desires, accompanied by agreements of support. Allow clarity about desires and needs to support expressions of love. There are at least three reasons why a marriage will be experienced as...

What's a Good-Enough Marriage?

The preference for human doctors over AI is strong, especially for visits involving psychiatry and therapy. People are less likely to trust AI with personal clinical information, especially regarding mental health. The presence of AI as "the artificial third" impacts the patient-doctor and client-therapist relationship. New research suggests that, for...

Do People Prefer Human Doctors and Psychiatrists or AI?

Psychology research shows that clothes shape first impressions and first impressions linger. The clothes you wear in court will influence the judge and jury's impression of you. The goal is to look trustworthy rather than attractive. You are involved in a legal case and the big day is near. Use...

How Should I Dress for Court?

We need to work consciously to counter the shame around aging that we have internalized. While we certainly suffer many painful losses as we age, we also can gain notable gifts. To age with dignity, we need to come to accept our past, present, and future. by Bret Lyon. We...

We Don't Have to Be Ashamed of Aging

Sometimes, in order to heal, we need to navigate painful emotions like grief and shame. However, there is a difference between productive suffering and unproductive suffering. Consent, hope, and control distinguish productive suffering. Sometimes, in order to heal, we need to navigate painful emotions, like grief and shame. However, there...

Productive and Unproductive Suffering

Vaccinations prevent severe disease, disability, and death. Certain vaccines also seem to have brain benefits. Those who receive the flu and shingles vaccination have a significantly lower incidence of cognitive decline. Have you gotten the shingles vaccination? What about the flu vax? If so, I have good news and more...

The Surprising "Side-Effect" of Some Vaccinations

Each year around this time, I write about my father’s death by suicide. I’ve been writing on this topic for 15 years, through my early 30s and now into my mid-40s. Each year, my take on this traumatic experience shifts as I continue to change, grow, learn, and become.

Trauma's Enduring Hold on the Brain

When we lose people we care about, dealing with our grief and emotional responses can be difficult. Grief can begin our journey toward healing. Emotional agility can help us notice our inner experience and offers flexibility to choose our responses. There’s a beautiful red maple tree in our yard. It...

Seeking Meaning in Love and Loss

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Cultivating Good Mental Health

Mental health disorders have become epidemic in recent decades. One of the factors in lack of mental health is the continuous focus on the external world....

Cultivating Good Mental Health

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