Tag Archives: Depression

When It’s Not Most Wonderful Time of the Year

November 11, 2021 0 comments Mental Health, Self-Care Anxiety, Christmas, Depression, grief, holiday blues, holidays, Mental Health, mental health awareness, Mental Illness Education, seasonal depression, self-care Dr. Leesha

Come November and we begin to hear Andy Williams song, “It’s most the wonderful time of the year.” Except it isn’t. For so many, the holiday season engenders feelings of loneliness and stress. Less love, holiday parties, and family gatherings and more debt, family drama, and grief and loss. And more focus on who and what is missing and all that is wrong rather than the joy of the holiday season and all that is right. Ever felt this way? If so, it could be the holiday blues. Got a Case of the Holiday Blues? The holiday blues is a […]

Bullying and Depression

November 19, 2018 8 comments Children's Mental Health, Health Education, Mental Health, Schools Birmingham, Birmingham Alabama, children, Depression, Dr. Leesha, Dr. Leesha Ellis-Cox, Mental Health, Psychiatrist, schools, special education Dr. Leesha

Devastating News A few days ago, I learned that 9-year-old Madison Whitsett from Birmingham, Alabama, committed suicide. I have gleaned 3 facts from major news outlets – Madison was diagnosed with ADHD, she was being bullied at school, and she had recently started new medication. Although Madison’s parents have not divulged the name of the medication, some have stated that suicidal thoughts are listed as one of the side effects. I am profoundly devastated by this news. My heart breaks for this precious baby, her family, and the entire community. I thought long and hard about writing this blog post, […]

Mommy Down: 5 Facts About Postpartum Depression (PPD)

December 12, 2017 0 comments Mental Health, Women's Mental Healthl Birmingham, Birmingham Alabama, Depression, Dr. Leesha, Dr. Leesha Ellis-Cox Dr. Leesha

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.

Depression in the Eyes of Our Youth

September 11, 2017 0 comments Children's Mental Health, Mental Health, Parenting Birmingham, Birmingham Alabama, Depression, Dr. Leesha, Dr. Leesha Ellis-Cox, harvesting hope, Mental Health, Mental Illness Education, Parenting, Psychiatrist Dr. Leesha

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 […]

Faith Over Fear

December 16, 2016 0 comments Faith Anxiety, Consulting, Cultivating healthy minds, Depression, Doubt, Dr. Leesha, Dr. Leesha Ellis-Cox, Faith, Fear, harvesting hope, Mental Illness Education, Parenting, Public Speaking, Women's Conference, Work-life balance Dr. Leesha

Deafening. Paralyzing. Incapacitating. The roar of fear is merciless. My heart pounds, my stomach churns, and my mind races. My thoughts a barrage of endless questions that interrupt my momentum: Can I even do this? Am I smart enough? Do they want to hear what I have to say? Even though I struggle with doubt almost daily, I refuse to relinquish my dream to fear. I won’t let anxiety grip my heart or invalidate my core beliefs about who I am as a wife, mother, physician, and Christian. To paraphrase a beautiful statement made by Nelson Mandela, I wish for my […]

Dr. Leesha | Psychiatrist, Therapist, and Parenting Expert