You’re Not Mental: How Overlaps in Psychiatric and Medical Disorders Expose Gaps in Treatment

Miscellaneous, OCD Therapy

Anxiety disorders affect 17-19 million adults every year and are the most commonly diagnosed category of mental disorders. Statistics for depressive disorders are similar — about 15 million Americans will be diagnosed sometime in their adulthood. What if we could identify a medical origin to psychiatric illnesses? What if anxiety or depression could be treated in much the same way a bacterial infection or benign tumor would be? How might this change the landscape of psychiatric diagnosis and treatment?

On Uncertainty & Doubt

Miscellaneous, OCD Subtypes, OCD Therapy

I’m a reformed perfectionist. It’s still a daily effort for me to back off my perfectionistic tendencies and welcome (gasp!) errors into my life. But, when I am able to open the door to imperfection, I feel more human and free. Even harder than welcoming imperfection has been coming to terms with uncertainty and doubt. Perfectionists live with the illusion of control and the false belief that if everything is ‘just so’ they can ward off unpleasant or negative experiences. The trap here, of course, is that perfectionism is, itself, an unpleasant experience.

Film Review: My Kid Is Not Crazy

OCD Film & Book Reviews, OCD Subtypes, OCD Therapy

Last night, I was privileged to sit in the presence of some brave pioneers. If given the choice, I imagine they would opt to not be in this group. Yet, here they were. Parents of children afflicted with a devastating and mysterious condition known as PANDAS or PANS. Children and teens who have suffered for years with not only the brutal symptoms of the disorder….but the chronic failings of our health care industry and the skepticism and judgments of doctors and specialists. Yes, here they were. These brave pioneers.