January has unique properties in comparison to the other months of the year. It promises a fresh start, an opportunity to make change and grow. Many of us will be called to write resolutions. A popular resolution among many is sobriety, from alcohol especially. Drinking has become an extremely social activity, which leads to potentially [...]
Anxiety is a mood disorder that affects 18.1% of Americans each year according to ADAA. Though the holidays are an extremely hectic time that can cause elevated stress, what about the almost ¼ of Americans that suffer year long? As prevalent as anxiety is, there are many individuals that go undiagnosed and untreated due to [...]
The month of November ushers in the holiday season- usually a time of intense productivity and togetherness. These things bring stressors and COVID-19 adds layers of emotion to this already stressful period. We are all dealing with some sort of loss as we wrap up the year and it is fitting that the holidays are [...]
As we approach the fall and winter seasons, some people will experience mood changes. Seasonal change can trigger depression, anxiety, and irritability for some individuals. In the fall, the days are shorter and darker, which can lead to mood shifts. As the weather gets colder, we tend to hibernate and be less active. This can [...]
It is September and many of us (including myself) are feeling overwhelmed. For those with kids, schools have started, which normally would be a huge relief, but for so many parents during Covid, its additional stress since kids are now homeschooled. For those without kids, you might feel overwhelmed by your work during Covid. Several [...]
As we enter our sixth month of quarantine, the most common phrase I hear is “I miss my old life” quickly followed by “I feel guilty for saying that since I’m lucky to be alive”. During times of crisis and change, it is natural to feel grief. Most people associate grief with death, but grief [...]
Now more than ever, people are being laid off or furloughed from their jobs. For many of you, this can feel like a punch in the gut. Not only because of the overwhelming financial worries, but also because you may feel like your job defines you. For some a job is simply a “job that [...]
I’m excited to share this blog with you. Dr. Audrey Prus is an expert in child development, particularly for middle school aged children (please see her bio at the end of the blog). She also happens to be my mom. She created an important tool for character development and self-reflection for my middle school aged [...]
Diane scheduled her first psychiatric appointment because she “was tired of struggling with low self-confidence”. She reports that she had been missing out on work opportunities and feeling “overlooked” for promotions. At first, she thought it was because her boss was “friends” with some of her co-workers but as she began to analyze the situation, [...]
I’m positive that most of my patients don’t want to be on medication. In fact, that’s what most of them tell me the first time that we meet. Honestly, I appreciate their candor. As humans, it doesn’t feel natural or authentic to take a medication every day of our lives. This goes for blood pressure, [...]