Psychiatry Associates Blog

We often think of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in association with combat veterans.  While the condition does impact a large percentage of our military, PTSD can occur in anyone who has experienced trauma, whether physical or mental.  Naturally, stress reactions following a traumatic event are expected, but if these stress reactions last longer than three months, cause great distress, or disrupt work/home life, it is time to seek help.

An individual’s personality is the combination of characteristics that makes them unique. Their patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving all combine to form their character as a whole. However, when unhealthy repetitions arise, this can sometimes point to one of the ten personality disorders. According to the American Psychiatric Association, “A personality disorder is a way of thinking, feeling and behaving that deviates from the expectations of the culture, causes distress or problems functioning and lasts over time.” 

Going back to school can be stressful, but going back to school with a full-time job, family and all the responsibilities that adulthood brings can seem like a monumental task. Implement these strategies into your day-to-day routine in order to tackle your overflowing schedule with ease and reach your education goals.

When it comes to nearly any aspect of health, you have likely heard that a healthy diet and exercise are key. Of course, you've heard it so often because it's true. The human body thrives on the right type of fuel and burning that fuel through energy. Doing so keeps us trim and strong. It builds muscle, eliminates fat, and keeps vital components like the cardiovascular system running smoothly. In addition, it is also beneficial to the brain, positively impacting factors such as mood, sleep, and the release of stress hormones.

Everyone has something they fear.  For most, their fears are mild and do not affect their quality of life.  However, for patients with diagnosable phobias, the level of fear and discomfort when confronted with specific objects or situations is exceptional and can significantly impact their day-to-day experiences.  This impact can be so severe that it produces physical symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, and even a panic attack.

Food is at the very foundation of our being, giving us nutrition, energy and supporting life.  Yet, many have a complex relationship with food which can transform from life-sustaining into something more sinister.  For the millions of Americans who deal with an eating disorder, whether they consume too much or too little, food can be problematic.

Remember the hassles you regularly had to deal with before technology provided us with a constant internet connection and cell phones?  The inconvenience of waiting until you got home or stopping at a pay phone for a phone call, printing driving directions or pulling a map from the glove compartment or buying an entire album just to listen that one song you really loved weren’t given a second thought.  Today, such things would seem massively inconvenient.  As technology and connectivity have evolved, so too have our expectations, and now, those expectations are even being extended to our health care.

When a person thinks of anxiety, they often imagine the mental and emotional turmoil.  They likely envision someone who is high-strung, often nervous and prone to depression.  However, while anxiety can certainly manifest in these ways, there are several other potential side effects that are less commonly realized.  Key among these are the physical signs of an anxiety disorder.