“Nothing really terrible happened. I’ve never been in a war. I’ve never been assaulted. I had a good childhood. I don’t think I’ve experienced trauma. So why do I still feel depressed, anxious, irritable, and on edge?” I hear some version of this all the time. Many people come to me for help convinced that …
Rethinking Trauma: The Hidden Impact of Everyday Stress on Mental Health—and How to Heal Read More »
Many people across Arizona—from Phoenix and Mesa to Gilbert, Chandler, and Tucson—are beginning to ask a very important question:“Do I really need to stay on all these medications forever?” If you’ve wondered that yourself, you’re not alone. Medications can be life-changing and a lot of the times, they’re necessary, especially during times of crisis. But …
How to Safely Taper or Wean of Psych Meds | Natural Deprescribing in Arizona Read More »
Men (and some women) joke all the time about women “going crazy” pre-menstrually or at other times when our hormones are fluctuating, and while I don’t particularly like the idea of describing what happens to us as “going crazy,” science shows that there is some truth to the idea: the time periods when women’s hormones …
Estrogen & Mood: Is it Depression, Bipolar Disorder, or “Just Her Hormones”? Read More »
Trying to conceive can be an incredibly stressful experience for all parties involved. It is frustrating to face repeated disappointment when your strongest desires are to have an uneventful pregnancy and a healthy baby. When there are additional physical health conditions involved, trying to conceive becomes even more emotionally taxing. We know that this is …
Facing Infertility with Normal Thyroid Function? This May Be Why! Read More »
Have you ever noticed that you’re not quite yourself when you don’t get enough rest? If you’re like me, you are probably more easily irritated or even more emotionally labile when you don’t get quality sleep. Not getting enough sleep can definitely affect your mood and mental health. The reverse is true as well; your …
Unexpected Ways Genetics & Inflammation Can Affect Your Mental Health Read More »
Serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of drugs commonly used to treat depression. You may recognize the most common SSRIs by their trade names: Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, and the list goes on. If you’re on or have ever been on an SSRI, you’ve likely noticed that sexual dysfunction is a common side effect …
Depression vs. Sex: What to Do When Your SSRI Meds Cause Sexual Problems Read More »
My grandmother was my favorite person in the world. She stepped in and took care of me and my siblings in Trinidad while my mom worked immensely hard to secure a better life for us in the US. My grandma always had great advice for me, and I mean ALWAYS. She was a person who …
Silver Alert: How to Prevent or Delay Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease Read More »
Is childhood stress really connected to chronic disease? There is definitely a distinct connection between the mind and the body. Ongoing research continues to validate this fact. Some of the most interesting research about this topic, in my opinion, revolves around the connection between childhood trauma and the inflammatory response, specifically the autoimmune response. But …
A Deeper Look: How Your Stressful Childhood Led to Autoimmune Disease Read More »
Thyroid function is quickly becoming an often-discussed topic both in health and wellness circles and among the general population. It seems as though more and more people are experiencing thyroid dysfunction of some sort. Whereas in the past this was not the case, most people probably know someone who has struggled or is struggling with …
Primary Hypothyroidism: Why Just Checking TSH isn’t Enough Read More »
