After exposure to terrifying or catastrophic events, most people, about 70-80%, eventually recover and resume a normal life with little or no professional intervention. A large number of people, about 20-30%, experience prolonged psychological distress that may interfere with their … Continue reading →
Grief, bereavement, or loss is the price we pay for love and attachment. Sadness or heartbreak is a natural response to losing someone or something precious. When despair is intense, prolonged, unrelenting, and causes trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, and … Continue reading →
Do you feel sad much of the time? Does it seem as if nothing feels good, as if you don’t care about anything? If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, chances are you have depression. Severe depression or Major … Continue reading →
The rate of new-onset psychosis peaks during young adulthood. This is the time when most people are going to school or just starting to work. Psychosis can negatively affect a person’s intellectual, social, and personal growth for the rest of … Continue reading →
Chances are, you’ve heard someone say “I’m depressed today” to describe a terrible mood that lifts at the end of the day. You may also have heard someone say “I’m depressed” because they have been sad for many days for … Continue reading →
“Getting old is not for sissies” said Mae West. To this I would add: neither is experiencing great loss nor dealing with major illness. Most of us need help adapting to major changes in our lives. We all need to process … Continue reading →
I froze like “a deer caught in the headlights.” My clinical supervisor repeated the question: “What would be a contraindication for this medication?” A reasonable question from a clinical supervisor for a senior medical student! Only ten minutes earlier, I … Continue reading →
I am a nervous wreck! I am to conduct my very first series of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) sessions as a resident physician training in psychiatry. I have read Dr. Beck’s “Cognitive Behaviour Therapy” and Dr. Padesky’s “Mind over Mood.” … Continue reading →
Process in art is accomplished by allowing the inner world to express itself through the use of colours and space. Initially, there may be some caution and exploration, suggested by the light colours. As one proceeds, there is greater depth and … Continue reading →
During my training for the Masters’ Degree in counseling I read a weighty textbook about different psychotherapies. One chapter described an exchange between a Gestalt therapist and his client. The client, Ken, was in his late-40s, depressed, and had a … Continue reading →