You’ve quit drugs. You’ve struggled and made it. The first few days, weeks, even months haven’t been easy. Between facing the past, surviving the present, and taking on an unknown future, sobriety can be overwhelming. Amidst all the chaos, you have to figure out who you are without drugs and alcohol. Who is this “new […]
The Wacky and Wonderful Relapse Prevention Plan
The worksheet below is a rough copy of our Wacky and Wonderful Recovery Pamphlet, “Relapse Prevention Plan.” (This link will take you to a clean version you can purchase right away.) The handout includes 2 pages of check-lists meant to quickly help people in recovery maneuver past triggers and cravings. Page 1 focuses on identifying warning symptoms […]
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The Psychiatric Evaluation
You’ve arranged an appointment with a shrink, you’re not sure why, and your mind is astir with anxiety over the visit. You’ve never seen a psychiatrist before. The questions keep you awake at night. Can they read minds? Will they judge you right away? Will seeing someone even make a difference? The short answers: No, […]
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Don’t Forget to Laugh
Let’s say his name is Pepe el Perrin Prestao (an imaginary person), and oh my he’s good. 100 Euros for half an hour! 150 Euros for an hour! The dogs are black-marketed from apartment to apartment. Humans are happy. Hounds, even more so; they get to sniff out the neighborhood all day long, eye the squirrels, and mark every tree as they go.
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Everything you need to know about Schizoaffective Disorder
Perhaps your doctor diagnosed you (or someone you care about) with schizoaffective disorder. Your first thought is, “Does that mean I have Schizophrenia?” The second is typically, “I’ve never heard of schizoaffective disorder. Is the doctor making things up?” The quick answers: No, you don’t have Schizophrenia. No, your doctor isn’t inventing the diagnosis. Although […]
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Beating obsessive compulsive disorder
You “obsess” over obsessing and find yourself doing unnecessary things over and over again, completing them just because the anxiety won’t go away unless they’re done. A quick visit to your doctor’s office clarifies everything: you’ve got Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Now you have to figure out what to do about it. OCD is marked by […]
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Don’t tell them I’m a shrink
2009 Tucson, Arizona A short story by Dr. Kim The ground is covered with stones. Our host is squatted down, touching each stone passively then rearranging them according to color. He’s engaged mindfully. It’s an impressive coping skill. Even a psychiatrist has to admit that. (The psychiatrist is me, by the way, though I never […]
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How to (medically) get your sex drive working
Ask the Doctor 3-1-2020. Dear Doc, I’m taking medication for depression and find that my sex drive is zilch. Is there something I can take to help with libido? Thanks. It’s unfortunate that many psychiatric medications cause sexual side effects. This includes antidepressants and some antipsychotics too. They’re great meds for depression, anxiety, psychosis, pain, […]
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Self-help page
Below you’ll find a list of self-help articles about surviving and triumphing over life’s challenges, like how-to-guides for rewriting toxic thought patterns, making friends, dealing with difficult people, and much, much more! A Addiction: Dealing with Cravings Addiction: When Someone You Care About Is an Addict Alzheimer’s: telling the difference between Alzheimer’s and normal aging […]
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How do I get rid of this guilt?
Guilt is about feeling bad, even disliking ourselves, over something we did or didn’t do in the past. Guilt can be normal: the fact that we feel it proves that we have compassion for others. At the same time, guilt can become so toxic and destructive that it overwhelms, and that’s when it’s time to […]
