Tag Archives: Birmingham

Mommy Down: 5 Facts About Postpartum Depression (PPD)

0 comments Mental Health, Women's Mental Healthl , , , ,

Postpartum Depression (PPD) is a serious medical condition that affects women after childbirth. According to the Centers for Disease Control, PPD affects 1 in 9 women in the United States and can last up to a year after a woman gives birth. Sadly, up to 50% of women with PPD go undiagnosed, sometimes with devastating consequences like maternal suicide. Postpartum Depression disrupts a mother’s ability to take care of herself, her new baby, and her family.

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6 Mental Health Benefits of Exercise

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1) Raise endorphin levels Endorphins are brain chemicals that create feelings of euphoria. Exercise releases endorphins as well as sex, certain foods (chocolate, chili peppers), stress, and pain. 2) Decrease stress and anxiety Exercise triggers the release of endorphins which generate happy feelings. Physical activity also increases norepinephrine, a stress hormone that strengthens the mind and body’s response to stress. 3) Improve memory and cognition Exercise raises levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein involved in learning and memory. Exercise also increases the production of new nerve cells (neurogenesis) in the hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in forming […]

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3 Things I Learned From My Toddler

0 comments Children's Mental Health, Parenting , , ,

My youngest daughter, Khloe, turned 3 a few months ago, and she embodies all things “I am three” in her adorable pint-sized form. Multiple times a day she reminds me of how fiercely independent she is as she repeatedly chants, “I can do it!” She is confident. She is sassy. She is persistent. And I’ve learned a few things from her. 1) Remove the limits For Khloe, the rules and societal norms do not apply. It matters not that her preschool-aged peers wear typical school attire for she dons a tutu and princess crown to school almost every day. She wants to […]

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Depression in the Eyes of Our Youth

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As a board certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist, I treat youth with depression almost every day.  Major Depressive Disorder, the medical term for clinical depression, is a debilitating illness that affects 12.5% of US youth aged 12 to 17 according to the National Institute of Mental Health. This means that, in 2015, 3 million teens had experienced at least one major depressive episode. The signs and symptoms of depression include sad mood and/or irritability crying spells too much or too little sleep weight loss or weight gain secondary to changes in appetite worthless and hopeless feelings fatigue difficulty concentrating thoughts of […]

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You are NOT CRAZY

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The dreaded “C” word … No one wants to see a psychiatrist or therapist for fear that he or she will be deemed crazy. Even the Merriam-Webster dictionary app defines the word “crazy” within its stigmatizing framework as one who is “not mentally sound: marked by thought or action that lacks reason.” But I am here to tell you that I don’t treat crazy people. I treat children and adults struggling with profound sadness and despair, paralyzing anxiety, difficulties at school or on their job, in the aftermath of devastating trauma, or reeling from failed relationships. Sometimes the individuals I treat suffer […]

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Taming the Mood Monster: The Curious Chameleon

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A chameleon possesses the unique ability to change the color of its skin.  Color change aids in camouflage, heat regulation, and light absorption; but, a chameleon also changes its color in response to its mood. Brightly colored male chameleons more easily attract females while a chameleon donning black coloring may be stressed. Similarly, youth with anxiety behave differently depending on the child and the setting. This is why I often refer to anxiety as the “the great imitator.” We all have the image of an anxious kid – fretful, pacing, and pensive.  He asks 20 questions while biting his fingers […]

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