Chris Christie: Friend of the Addict
As a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat, I never thought in a zillion years I would agree with anything Governor of New Jersey and Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie is saying. But what he’s saying — a sympathetic plea for us addicts — is groundbreaking.
Psych Report: Brain Fingerprints
You are 100 percent unique. Your brain has an individualized fingerprint. One that could be used to specialize treatment for your bipolar or for others who have different types of mood disorders, says new study.
Psych Report: What If You Could Quell Depression Instantly?
When you’re first diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it can take up to a year or more to get on the right medication cocktail. But what if you could feel results instantaneously? With Low-Field Magnetic Stimulation, you can.
Psych Report: What if Your Pee Could Determine Your Fate?
There are no brain scans, X-rays, or MRIs that can identify bipolar disorder or any other mood disorder. But pee? Yes, your urine might be able to help discern what mood disorder you may have.
The Psych Report: Mental Illness in the Media
When you hear the words “mentally ill,” the first thing that comes to mind is probably “crazy” — and we have the media’s negative depictions to thank for that. The truth is, many of us who are mentally ill manage our symptoms with medication and therapy and are able to lead normal or near-normal lives.
The Psych Report: Special K To Treat Bipolar Depression?
Ketamine is now being used to treat bipolar depression in clinical trials. First developed for use as an animal tranquilizer, the anesthetic is also known by its street name, Special K. It is used recreationally to enhance the experience of being at a rave or club, producing euphoria and hallucinations.
The Psych Report: ‘The Irrationality of Alcoholics Anonymous’
A scathing article in The Atlantic dissects the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, pointing out its flaws and advocating for a more medical approach to treating alcoholism. I read the 8,000-plus-word piece so you don’t have to. And I’ve got to say, while she’s got some points here, I hardly believe her assessment of the AA program.
Psych Report: Marijuana and Mental Health
If medical marijuana is part of your personal treatment plan for bipolar, you might want to rethink it.
The Psych Report: The Price of Creativity
The tortured artist. There’s a reason why we hear that cliché over and over again. It’s true. Many of the greatest artists, authors and musicians have lived with mood disorders, and subsequently addiction. The two seem to go hand in hand.
The Psych Report: ‘Secrets of the Creative Brain’
Nancy C. Andreasen, a neuroscientist and psychiatrist who studies creativity, wrote a fascinating article “Secrets of the Creative Brain” in a recent issue of The Atlantic.