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DR. CHARLES RAISON
Dr. Charles Raison, CNNhealth's mental health expert, is an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. He also serves as clinical director of the mind-body program and co-director of the Collaborative for Contemplative Studies.
Raison earned his medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. He completed his residency at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital in Los Angeles, California. Before joining the Emory faculty, Raison was director of emergency psychiatric services and associate director of consultation and evaluation services at UCLA.
His research focuses on how the brain and body work together, especially as related to depression in the medically ill, and on harnessing scientific understanding of the mind and body to enable more of us to enjoy happiness and health. He says that many people don't understand that the way they structure their thoughts, their relationships, and their physical conditioning will - over time - either promote well-being or contribute greatly to sickness and depression. His specific areas of study include how our immune systems play a key role in our emotional lives and using compassion meditation to prevent depression in college students by reducing stress-related inflammatory activity. He receives research funding from the National Institute of Mental Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"I am convinced that genuine happiness - because it makes people more peaceful, more giving, and more effective - has the power to change the world," Raison says. "True happiness depends on our ability to turn down stress and immune pathway activity in the brain and body - doing so allows us to take full advantage of the tremendous evolutionary advantage offered to species with a capacity for cooperation, compassion and altruism. So I am obsessive about studying ways to safely turn down activity in those pathways, whether it's pharmacological, psychological or spiritual."
Raison is also internationally recognized for his expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of interferon-alpha-induced depression and anxiety.
Is it possible to have mood swings where one moment you are happy, then the next you can be sad? Is this a sign of depression? I do also have ADD as well but currently am not on medicine.
I don't understand how to get clean off heroin. I want to so bad but why do they make it cost so much? For Suboxone, you pay close to $350 for the visit plus $720 for a monthly prescription. Methadone is cheap, but my treatment center doesn't believe in methadone. Do you think methadone is that bad? I feel so lost.
Why is panic disorder classified as just a psychiatric condition when there are so many physical symptoms (some painful) that arise during the attack? They would occur whether in good/bad mood, or even asleep.
I have a fear of snakes that is making my life miserable. I saw two in my yard and ever since cannot focus. I am afraid to go out. I look under my covers before I go to sleep at night. I run to my car to go to work and I don't want to come home knowing a snake might be outside. This is really interfering with my daily life. It is ruining me.
Why do antidepressants cause weight gain?
Recently, my sexual drive and arousal have seemed quite low. I am a 19-year-old male, and I'm having trouble maintaining an erection while in bed with a girl.
I have problem with a 30-year-old male in my family who is constantly in a state of high. He is prescribed Adderall by his doctor and his friends have told me he snorts it. His condition is escalating to the point of violence against relatives. I am very concerned because he has sole custody of a 9-year-old child. I have asked his doctor to cease prescribing Adderall to him but he continues. He stays awake for as long as five nights and his doctors tell us that is physically impossible. The doctors see him occasionally and we see him daily. I know he is going to end up dead or in jail. I'm so afraid of what is happening to him.
To treat depression, what remedy do you suggest other than antidepressants? I'm taking 200mg of Zoloft, but I feel just as depressed as I did two years ago. My sex drive has virtually ended. Is there not another way to treat depression? Possibly talk therapy once or twice a week?
What is the long-term effect of Adderall on a child starting it at age 8? I see there is no appetite from morning to noon, but then the child becomes ravenous from late afternoon until bedtime. How can a child function without eating a good breakfast and getting through the rest of the day at school by picking at lunch? I'm not sure if I want to continue this medication or any other. Can diet alone help?
How can you tell if someone is suffering from Alzheimer's disease or if it is just depression?
Can you suggest alternatives for depression sufferers who have experienced serotonin syndrome? I've suffered from dysthymia and major depressive episodes for my entire life. Until recently, I controlled my depression through strenuous exercise, but returning to graduate school forced me to try antidepressants for the first time. After having adverse reactions to five different SSRIs, I was recently diagnosed with serotonin syndrome. Most of the information I've found talks about treating the syndrome itself but says nothing about what to do next.
I've received medical treatment for depression for approximately 10 years. Recently, single therapies haven't done the trick, so my doctor augmented my antidepressant with Abilify. Due to side effects, I went off that, and he prescribed lithium. I always associated lithium with bipolar disorder, which I don't have. Is lithium an approved therapy to augment an antidepressant? What other add-on therapies are possible?
If a family shows a history of bipolar disorder -- in a mother and her son -- are there environmental steps the son can take to "discourage" the development of bipolar disorder in his children?
Is there any way to help break a sugar addiction that's as powerful as an alcohol addiction without going into rehab? I've been trying for four years and can't seem to break free. It's destroying my body but I can't seem to stop with basic discipline. Clearly there is an emotional component to addiction but therapy doesn't seem to help. Any recommendations? Thank you.
Editor's note: This answer was published originally on May 11, 2010, and prompted considerable response. Today we offer more on the topic from Raison and Dr. Ken Duckworth of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when I was 16, and I'm now 18 and it has gotten where I can't even get a job because I stress myself out so much that I can't even think straight. I've been on Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro, and Seroquel but nothing has helped me get over this. I feel like every time I try to do something a switch comes on in my head, and I get in fight-or-flight mode, and I usually flee. My sleeping patterns are also irregular. If anyone has some suggestions for me I would greatly appreciate it.
I have been seeing a therapist for the past four months now. In that time she had diagnosed me with depression with symptoms of [Obsessive Compulsive Disorder]. She suggested I try medication but looking online I found a therapy called EMDR. I was wondering which is more effective: talk therapy plus medication or EMDR? I have never been on any type of antidepressants but I do have a history of various traumatic experiences. (I may have [post-traumatic stress disorder] as well).
My mum is 67 and has suffered depression on and off all her life. She is just coming off medication from which she was having side effects: excessive sweating, and most disturbing, a shocking loss of short-term memory. She knows that she can't remember but she is extremely worried that she may have the beginning of Alzheimer's disease. She has episodes of being excessively high in her mood swings and appears confused and does not seem to be aware of her surroundings and what she is saying or doing. She then seems to come around and the next day she seems perfectly normal but says she can't remember anything about the episode. I wonder if she is suffering from some form of dementia.
I recently had a terrible experience in the hospital. After surgery, while I was still mostly under and groggy, someone came and pulled the tube out of my mouth rather roughly then inserted another tube without ever speaking one word. This trauma has left me with a rather large problem: I do not eat solid food anymore. I know that this is all in my head, but I cannot overcome this. I am on antidepressant med and have seen a throat specialist. Can anyone help?
I was wondering where I would find information on how pot affects depression and bipolar disorder. I have looked at various sites on the Internet and found that the topic is rarely talked about by a doctor. And when it is, they mention chronic use. What is chronic use, and what is the opinion of workers in the mental heath field?
What are the long-term effects of Xanax use on the brain if taken exactly as directed? It seems that my mind feels like it is stuck in the mud, hazy and there is a feeling of a disconnect with the world sometimes. Ultimately, how long does it take for your brain and mind to return to "normal" function?
What are the effects on your of health using antidepressants for 20 or so years?
This week, Dr. Charles Raison offers part two of his answer to the viewer question: Can a 9- or 10-year-old be bipolar?
Can a 9- or 10-year-old get a true diagnosis of bipolar disorder?
I'm interested in getting some sound information on dissociative disorders. There seems to be some question within the medical community about whether this is actually a disorder or not. Can you tell me more about it?
Are the psychoses of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia very similar? How do you tell psychotic bipolar disorder apart from schizophrenia with mood disorder? How similar are the two diseases considering that the same medicines (anti-psychotics) are beneficial to both?
Are the psychoses of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia very similar? How do you tell psychotic bipolar disorder apart from schizophrenia with mood disorder? How similar are the two diseases considering that the same medicines (anti-psychotics) are beneficial to both?
What else can I do? I have tried antidepressants, therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, rational behavior therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, a treatment center in Arizona. My kids are now 11 and 10. I feel like I have missed their entire lives. My wife is fed up. I joined Alcoholics Anonymous in 2004. That is not working, although I'm not drinking ... no serenity, no peace, no happiness. House has been on the market for a year. Job is miserable. One doctor says, " No meds." Another says, "Go back to a treatment center." Another says to "do my dishes." I feel so lost. ... 40 years old and I'm at the end of my rope. Please help.
I have been having infertility issues for over three years (including many failed IVFs, and miscarriages). Over the last year, I have had good friend after good friend announce her pregnancy. Literally, at least one per month. I am happy for them because I care for them, but each time I hear those words it hurts worse and worse. When I am around them they talk mommy-talk (as they should) but being around them just throws me into depression. I'm afraid to even see my other girlfriends who are "trying" because I know at any second they'll have "good news." How can I be supportive of them while protecting my heart, emotions and mental health?
Somehow I have managed to let stress take over my life. I have several issues to deal with -- a lot of people, financial problems, health problems, family issues, etc. -- but over time I have been worrying and stressing over them constantly. I can't seem to turn my mind off. It feels like I am surrounded by hundreds of little stress monsters, and they constantly fire little stress arrows into my brain. I know that sounds weird, but it's almost like they are competing to be the No. 1 stressor. Sometimes this goes on late into the night, preventing sleep. I guess it would be called "racing thoughts." How can I turn my mind off?
I have a milder form of autism (Asperger's syndrome). Are there certain jobs that I cannot do after I get out of college? What are the jobs that I will not be able to do?
I recently read your answer to the question 'How can I keep my depression from recurring' and was very disheartened. I am 26 and with four major depressive episodes under my belt (as well as my undergraduate studies in psychology) I knew that I was basically out of luck anyway... but I still had hope. After reading your answer though... well, I suppose disheartened really is the best way to put it. Is there no hope? Will I always be on these meds (I take 200 mg sertraline and 300 mg bupropion)? What about starting a family? That's nine-plus months without them and after my last episode I'm actually afraid of what might happen if I went that long without. Please, tell me there's hope.
My husband, age 39, was diagnosed with manic depression/bipolar disorder approximately two years ago. He suffers from recurrent bouts of depression and is currently in a depressive phase. He does not have very many manic phases at all. His short-term memory is getting progressively worse. Lately he cannot seem to remember how to get to places that he had just visited two or three days before. This has happened three times in the past week alone. Is there a correlation between recurrent bouts of depression and memory loss? I would question the medications as a factor, but he has not changed meds in many months and the episodes of memory loss have been in recent weeks. I would appreciate any information you can give me, as the primary caregiver you can imagine that this whole ordeal is very difficult.
I am 26 years old and have had four major depressive episodes. I did not seek treatment until the last (and worst) episode and have since been taking two different antidepressants.
Following a two-month ICU stay five years ago, I was told that I had many symptoms of PTSD. The near-death experience would have been enough to shake me up alone, but when I wound up with ICU delirium ... I don't know how long it lasted, it felt like years, and the hallucinations were worse than all of the surgeries and physical therapy put together. Worse than anything I have ever experienced. They were just too vivid, and my periods of lucidity were few and far between. I couldn't sleep soundly through the night for almost a year afterward.
I don't have a question. However, I would like to make a comment. I found the antidepressant Lamictal to be a godsend. I feel like a new person since I've been taking it. I also take Neurontin, which really takes the edge off. I feel for the person who can't find the right medicine. Don't give up, keep trying new drugs.
It is known that people who have had a depressive episode have a high chance of experiencing a second depressive episode. It seems that people are more "sensitive" to stress/life events (kindling hypothesis). What options are available for people who had a depressive episode in the past, to avoid having a recurrence or at least lower the chances of a recurrence in the future?
My mom died nine months ago, and two days later, I gave birth to my daughter (she was full term, actually late, and completely healthy). I have been struggling with depression and all sorts of other medical problems since my mom passed. I cannot seem to get past crying over my mom. I cried all the time. We were very close, and losing her has been very hard. At the time, my husband was in Iraq, so I was dealing with a newborn by myself, as well as the loss of my best friend, my mom.
I have had a quite a few ups and downs in my life. I have had depression since I was 8 years old. (I am now 26 and was diagnosed as bipolar three years ago.) In my lifetime, I have suffered major emotional abuse and betrayals from a variety of people, not to mention rough circumstances (losing a job last year, and unstable conditions in my current job). I have now gotten to a point where I've become obsessive about money due to fears of once again becoming unemployed, and I find myself drifting away from friends because I don't feel safe being close to anyone any more. It's scary for me because I went through a major depressive episode from ages 14 to 18, and I had to fight just to keep myself alive (medication was not available for me at the time, either). I've fought so hard just to get to my current point in life, which was graduating from college and living independently. I'm just so terrified of losing everything that I've fought for and returning to those lows, but I feel like I have to strike it out on my own just to maintain myself. Is there any chance of me ever feeling any form of security in my life ever again?
My 11-year-old daughter got a diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) about six months ago. She is not currently on any medication but has been regularly seeing a therapist.
Can a stimulant medication for ADHD make the child taking it have mood swings and violent aggression?
What can cause depression when you're 12 years old?
I am a 50-year-old male and have been experiencing a voice talking to me. I lost most of my central vision about 11 years ago from a virus and am legally blind. I was diagnosed with depression two years ago by my doctor and he put me on 20 mg of paroxetine a day. I have always been an antisocial person but even more so after losing most of my vision. For the last several months there has been a voice talking to me. It just carries on normal conversations and warns me of various things, remarks about the news, people, daily activities (don't eat that, eat this instead), stay away from this or that person because they are out to harm you, your neighbors are watching you, etc. What is happening to me? Can you give me some suggestions on how to make the voice stop? I would greatly appreciate any suggestions you can give me. Thank You
I have a diagnosis of brittle bipolar disorder. Most peer-reviewed literature tells me that setting up concrete routines (daily, work, home, etc.) is a good way to help control symptoms. Is this true? Is it an important tool or just speculation? How can I work with my employer/coworkers to limit my symptoms with routines?
My friend's 20-year-old daughter has been diagnosed as bipolar. I have seen the depressive effects, but can you tell me how someone who is having a manic episode would behave? This girl yells, screams, swears, kicks the walls, uses inappropriate language to her parents and it usually happens when she is not getting her way. It looks like a temper tantrum to me.
My boyfriend and I are discussing getting engaged and having children one day. He said he's scared to have kids. His biological grandmother and his father both have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He has no symptoms of it, but some of his siblings do. He is terrified that his children could inherit this disorder! My family has no history of it at all. Since neither of us have it, should we be worried?
I have a 4-month-old baby. I am going through postpartum depression with a lot of anxiety and panic attacks. I went through postpartum depression with my first baby eight years ago but at that time I didn't have anxiety and I didn't take any medication. And I started getting better after 3½ months itself. But now it's been three months that I am going through this. I have been taking medications (Paxil 20 mg, Buspar 10 mg) and getting counseling but it's not helping much. I still don't feel myself and am having unwanted thoughts. How long does postpartum depression last? Is this temporary? Will this anxiety and depression ever go away? Should I stop the medications and try it on my own? Does exercise help to get out of the depression? Will I ever be normal like I was before?
Can traumatic brain injury cause a person to develop a mental health problem or trigger an underlying problem not yet discovered, which then causes the person to create a fantasy world while in a coma, which, when they awake they are adamant is real?
Because of the complexity of this viewer question, three of CNNHealth's expert doctors are offering advice. Last week, Diet and Fitness expert Dr. Melina Jampolis had ideas for gaining weight in a healthy way. Yesterday, Dr. Jennifer Shu offered information about concerns for a baby born to an addicted woman. Today, Mental Health expert Dr. Charles Raison weighs in.
My daughter was treated for anxiety with Zoloft around a year ago. However, her school reported alarming, violent behavior (she never had that before), and we stopped it after only a week. I always understood this to be an "adverse effect," but a nurse today told me it was an allergy. An allergy means she should never take it again, but an adverse effect could be grown out of, and doesn't rule out similar drugs. Was the nurse just dumbing things down, or was she correct?
With the change to ADHD from ADD in the past decades (DSM-III-R, 1987 - DSM-IV-TR), why are professional sites such as CNNhealth.com's Mental Health still utilizing archaic terminology in some articles?
My husband has generalized anxiety disorder, and he always seems to bring up something he says he has seen me do or something I supposedly said when I cannot recall that ever happening. So my question is, can GAD cause a person to worry so much about something that he believes it happened?
My 5-year-old old son has recently had a diagnosis of ADHD and ODD. The nurse put him on Adderall and Risperdal, which do calm him down, help him focus and cut out some of his "behaviors." However, some of my family members think I am wrong for putting him on meds. Are there natural supplements that can give the same results as the prescribed meds? If so, can you get them from a pharmacy so that I can have his insurance pay for it? And lastly, can one ever grow out of these diseases, or will he have to take meds for the rest of his life?
My daughter suffers from borderline personality disorder that appears to be worsening, even though she is now 36 years old. Treatment centers are too expensive, and her insurance will not cover it unless it is a hospital. Why would this disorder seem to be worsening -- mainly impulse control/depression -- and should she have a CT scan or other brain imaging to see if there is an underlying problem? Her primary care doctor has given up on her, and there are no psychiatrists in this town who will treat borderline personality disorder. Any help or information could help.
My wife has suffered from depression her whole life. Her psychiatrist has performed a blood test and identified a mutated gene that produces serotonin in the brain. Antidepressant drugs provide little help. Are there any supplements that can supply the serotonin that is needed to combat the depression?
How can I calm myself down when anxiety strikes? I hate feeling nervous.
I have phase II bipolar and cannot afford the necessary drugs. I'm dealing with this alone, which as you may know is tough. Are there any tips you can give in management of my disorder?
How can I calm myself down when anxiety strikes? I hate feeling nervous.
I am in my late 20s. As I returned to school, I started to take Adderall-XR for attention deficit about a year ago.
My husband's bipolar disorder was diagnosed several years ago. He has tried several medications and the side effects have far outweighed any benefits. Now he refuses to see a doctor about it because he thinks it's hopeless. Not to mention we have moved and discovered that there are few psychiatrists in the area, and the ones who will take him have a six-month waiting list. Our primary care doctor won't treat him for the bipolar (he asked). It is terrible to see him suffer from this disease without any relief in sight. Any suggestions?
I have been reading information in your column about depression. Is it possible to become used to Lexapro or mirtazapine, resulting in a return to depression? I am taking Lamictal, Lexapro, mirtazapine and temazepam to deal with severe depression and related insomnia. I have had severe bouts of depression since I was about 12. I was suicidal about five years ago, and it has been a slow uphill grind all the way. I find myself sliding back down suddenly much more often. It is a well worn path in my mind, but the drops can be sudden and precipitous. I only see a nurse practitioner at this point, but she doesn't seem to be getting the message that things are still less than good and occasionally really bad. I went to counseling for several years, but a betrayal by one therapist and a change of schedule by another has left me hanging. Things in my life haven't really changed very much...they are still fairly dismal. I keep going because of my children. I dread starting all over with someone new. Is there a chance it's medication-related? Is there hope I can ever be actually happy?
Please help. My son has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. However, when he starts feeling better he won't take his medicine, which is risperidone, and it is very difficult for us to get him to take it when he is not feeling well. He is a bright young man who has lost his job many times because of this illness. Are there any new findings for this illness? Can you explain what part of the brain is affected?
Here is a question my extended family has that I'm sure many families have today: Do you have any suggestions on how to get someone to go for help with depression?
I have been depressed my whole life, mostly because of my life as a child and because I am unable to connect with people. I have had two really close friends in my life. I am socially inept, and things just blurt out of my mouth. I want to connect with people and stop being so antisocial, but when I try, people just look at me strangely or find some other reason to avoid me. I was misdiagnosed with bipolar because I had extreme moods but that has calmed down significantly as I get older. I want to break out of this but I can't figure out how. Am I doomed to spend the rest of my life as a socially inept outcast? The ironic thing is that I'm a psychology major who wants to go into counseling. Go figure.
What is the best and safest way to wean yourself off of an antidepressant drug such as Zoloft?
I have heard secondhand information about a drug that was originally developed as a heart medication. However, according to my friend, the medication was recently the subject of a peer-reviewed study that showed it to be effective as a beta blocker and useful for treatment of traumatic memories (PTSD, etc). If you have any information about the drug and the study, I would very much appreciate it, as I would like to read about it.
I deployed to Iraq for 15 months (in 2007-08). Upon my redeployment, I was reassigned; not only was I separated from my 2-year-old twins, but now I had to sell a home and relocate us. I have been back for a year. My husband says I have PTSD. I say it is just stress. I did not see any "hard" combat but worked 18-plus hours a day for 15 months. I have been tense; I don't sleep or dream; I am constantly exhausted. I can't lose weight (despite exercising daily); I have no patience and find myself biting my tongue instead of saying something I will regret later. Additionally, I have no interest in sex or other hobbies that I used to enjoy. Should I seek help? If published, please do not use my name.
I'm a 22-year-old college student who suffers from anxiety disorder. Although I've come to terms with my anxiety, I've started to discover a new source of stress in my life. Last year I started to avoid checking my e-mail for a few days at a time, but what started out as simple avoidance as turned into an agonizing process for me. Lately I've avoided checking my e-mail for upwards of three weeks at a time, but when I recently tried to check my e-mail it resulted in a panic attack. Is this fear of my e-mail normal? What can I do in order to avoid feeling this anxious every time I check my e-mail?
I suffered long-term verbal abuse and bullying at school for nearly six years. Recently a friend in the mental health field suggested that some behaviors I have begun to exhibit appear to correlate strongly with PTSD. Is it possible to develop PTSD from schoolyard bullying?
I am a post-grad student, and I have been suffering from depression for more than a year. I'm shy and I have developed an inferiority complex. Many times I don't even express myself to anyone, or hardly talk to anyone. I tried taking coffee but it causes anxiety worse. Last week I tried 4.5 percent vodka. I really don't know why I'm shy. I feel like I have wasted too many years due to this shyness and inferiority complex. Sometimes I even feel offended when someone talks to me or asks a question. I really don't know what to do. Help!
Is feeling the need to physically lash out when I'm angry, normal? I am a female, and when I am angry (especially when I am angry and hurt) I feel the need to throw something or just grab the person and shake them. I haven't acted out on these feelings besides the occasional shoe thrown at the wall, but it makes me feel out of control, and I worry that it's an indication of a not-so-good side of me. Should I be taking anger management courses or something similar? Or is this normal?
I suffered a career-ending injury in the past and now have further health issues related to that incident. How do you keep from going into a deep depression when you lost your job, have undergone 12 surgical procedures and almost three years of rehab since 2002? I have battled depression, lack of self-worth and confidence.
I found out I have ADD in July. I started out on methylphenidate 5 mg but had violent nightmares and chest pain. I was then switched to bupropion SR 150 but it kept me awake most of the night. I am on Strattera 80 mg since October and I still don't feel like it is working. I can tell a difference if I don't take it but I'm still having concentration problems and forgetting things or losing things. If I try Adderall, will I have [the] same side effects as methylphenidate?
I have been treated for depression since I was 8, and I am now 30. I have tried numerous medications along with a ton of therapy. I am also a recovering alcoholic who is working the AA program. My problem lies in the fact that I am extremely sensitive to medications and of the 30+, I still have yet to find something that actually works. Lexapro seemed to work for a while, but I changed due to the sexual side effects being a problem. When I tried to restart taking it, I was overcome with anxiety. I was also taking 50mg of Serzone if that makes any difference. I am currently taking Prozac-5mg, Serzone -50mg, and Klonopin as needed (reluctantly, I might add). I am hesitant to try electroconvulsive treatment, but I am at a point where I am desperate. The depression interferes with every aspect of my life and makes it difficult to fully live. I feel as if I am merely surviving in this world. I don't know what else I can do. Do you have ANY suggestions? I have a great therapist, doctor and sponsor. My patience is wearing very thin. I just want to be content in my own skin. Please help!
I am a 38-year-old woman who was a victim of date rape when I was 16. I have battled different forms of stress disorder/generalized depressive disorder off and on since. I've been doing well for some time, but now that my teenage daughter has started dating, I'm really falling apart. I'm always obsessively worrying about everything when it comes to my daughter, not just dating issues.
My son's 21-year-old girlfriend seems to be starving herself. When we first met her a couple of years ago, she was a beautiful, athletic, vibrant young woman. She started to do some part-time modeling about a year ago and that seems to be when the obsession with weight control began. We hadn't seen her in quite some time, as they both are enrolled in an out-of-state university. She recently stayed at our home for a few days over Christmas break and her appearance is shocking! She was always trim and fit, but now she looks like a skeleton. Her hair seems to be falling out and she doesn't look at all healthy. I asked my son if he has tried to get her to seek professional help, but he said she just gets very angry whenever he raises the subject and then won't talk to him for a week or more. Her own family doesn't seem to be concerned, but my wife and I certainly are. Do you have any suggestions as to how we might be able to help?
I am in the military and I have a 3-year-old. I am now on active duty and I can see her only on the weekends for the time being. So now that I am coming and going, she is going through some kind of withdrawal. The doctor says she is on a psychological roller coaster right now because of my coming and going. So his suggestion was for me not to see her at all. I am no doctor but I would think some interaction is better than no interaction at all. Can you please help me, because if it's going to make my daughter better I will stay away until I am finished.
I suffer from major depression and panic disorder, and one of the medications that have been prescribed is Seroquel XR 50 mg. Why does it knocks the living daylights out of me all day long?
Why do people lie, in the form of storytelling? My 3½-year-old grandson is already showing signs of it. His father is a liar/storyteller. I find it hard to believe that a 3-year-old could copy that behavior. I believe it must be hereditary, and I will not accept that all 3-year-olds do this. I have two grown children and have been around a lot of children/toddlers and have never seen this type of intelligence in such a young child. My daughter and I are quite concerned because we can't believe a word he says -- he too often gives us dishonest answers or info. What part of the brain is responsible for this behavior, and how can it be corrected? Thank you.
Is it OK to take antidepressants while pregnant?
I am 29 and have been suffering from depression for more than 10 years. It started with losing my virginity in an unpleasant situation, and continues through my mother's battles with severe depression, alcoholism and drug abuse. I have also lost two grandparents to slow, declining dementia. I have tried talk therapy but didn't find it to be very useful. I walk 20 miles a week, try to eat well and maintain social relationships.
I've started having terrible anxiety over the past month and it's starting to become debilitating. What can I do to calm myself down when I feel it start to build up?
Has Cymbalta antidepressant caused any aggression problems such as those alleged for Prozac?
My 9-year-old daughter with a diagnosis of childhood absence epilepsy (currently treated with Depakote) has had two separate episodes, six months apart, where she heard voices telling her to hurt herself and run away. Each episode lasted two weeks. Would the only possible causes for hallucinations be depression/bipolar, or can you list some other possibilities?
I've been on different depression meds. They make me feel loopy. I have disscussed it with my doctor. He says that it's something that I must live with. Now I'm off all meds and feel great but I can feel the symptoms coming back. What could I do without having to go back on the meds? I just don't like the loopiness.
I have suffered from bipolar depression for five years. I am taking medication and worked with a specialist for three years. My question is, can one ever grow out of or heal from this affliction?
What is the best way to deal with a young man's depression and despair? I have a son, almost 22, who has a very high IQ, is very smart, but is extremely depressed and in despair over what he describes as a future that's "not worth it." He finished two years of college, is delaying the final two or three years and is living extremely lower than his potential. Is this the new "normal"?? I am at my wits end. He is a wonderful person, with so much potential (not just my motherly opinion). He seems lost. For his sake, I would like to see him get out of this horribly pessimistic rut. What gives?
I have been taking Zoloft for a few years now and it does not seem to work as well these days, even with a dosage increase. My question is: Can you become immune to antidepressants after a while?
Let me introduce myself. My name is Charles L. Raison, M.D., although whenever anyone calls me "Charles" instead of "Chuck" I get nervous, because as a kid I was called Charles only when I was in trouble.
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