5/18/2012 6:01:52 AM
Ann, who has schizophrenia, writes to me for help. She says her meds don't work and she fears living in this world. She is considering sleeping at someone's house that she doesn't know to find safety. She asks for my help. Do you have thoughts to share for her?
5/16/2012 2:00:09 PM
Zac suffers from depression, anxiety, irritability, headaches, fatigue and confusion. He also has body aches, joint pain and hair loss. Psychological evaluations clear him of mental disorders, while physicals clear him of illness. He asks me what could be his problem, and I tell him my thoughts. How do yours compare with mine?
5/15/2012 6:00:38 AM
Eliza was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when she was 38; now she's 54. Last year she moved and had to switch doctors. Her new doctor was determined to help stabilize her moods, so he has prescribed different medications for her to try. Now her depression episodes have doubled, and she asks if this is due to all the different medications or because she's started menopause. What do you think?
5/13/2012 2:00:25 PM
Marge wonders if depression is a lifetime illness? Her medication was working well until one day everything went wrong. Now she can't sleep and she's irritable, and just wants to sleep, sleep, sleep because she is so tired, BUT, she can't sleep. Do you have insight for her?
5/11/2012 2:00:17 PM
Debbi's brother, at 20, caught his fiancée cheating on him; he lost it and had to be committed. He was put on medication, which is now changed often as it loses its effect. Then he got married, and five years later his wife cheated on him. She filed for divorce, and he was tasered when removed by police from his home. Now, four years later, she wants to get back together. What do you think?
5/10/2012 6:00:04 AM
Charlotte is 18 and has not wanted to interact with others since she was 5. She has sleeping problems and sometimes delusions and decided she didn't want to go outside. She has remained in her house for the past four years, and now wants to start enjoying life, but doesn't know how. She wants to know how a housebound person can get help. Do you know?
5/8/2012 2:00:23 PM
When Melissa was 20, her 17 year old brother shot and killed her father, a police officer. Years later when her 34 year old brother took his own life. She has gone through years of psych counseling, multiple hospitalizations and a few hearings before a judge. How does she go on with her life when she still feels such pain?
5/6/2012 6:00:19 AM
Liz is a 40 year old woman who always hated school. She found it boring and never challenging and would always get in trouble for not completing her work. As an adult she takes meds for major depression, but after reading my book, wonders if she's been misdiagnosed. She's also thinking about changing careers, even though she's never been able to hold down a job very long. Do you think it's too late for a major change at 40?
5/4/2012 2:00:53 PM
Jahan experiences disorganized thoughts and tension headaches. He was diagnosed with depression and OCD, but hasn't taken meds for a while. He is taking herbal supplements, but now he feels he's losing his mind. What can be done?
5/3/2012 6:00:15 AM
Ryan is a former soldier who served in Iraq. One night he was searching a house and a man stabbed him under his eye. Another time on patrol his humvee was hit, and a grenade exploded next to his head. Now he's a civilian, deaf in one ear and experiencing PTSD symptoms. He asks how to get rid of the nightmares and occasional paranoia. Do you know what he needs to do?
5/1/2012 10:00:35 PM
Anne is a senior occupational therapist who has suffered from anxiety and depression for years, yet was able to work and have a social life. After suffering panic attacks, she took off work for months. Now she's volunteering, which she enjoys, but she's going down to half pay disability soon, which is increasing her anxiety. She asks what she can do from this point on. Do you have a suggestion for her?
4/30/2012 6:00:28 AM
CH has cyclical anxiety/depression and she has done everything right for the past 20 years. Dealing with her mental health, she has always kept a good support system in place. After her husband cheated on her, she took him back BUT lost her support system. Even her family has shunned her since they feel she should have divorced him. Now she feels vulnerable and needs positive people in her life, and soon, as she feels she is relapsing. What would you suggest she do?
4/28/2012 2:00:35 PM
Monique diagnosed herself with ADD from an online quiz. Her friends said she was crazy because ADD is for kids! She went to the doctor, who confirmed her ADD and prescribed a medication that worked wonders! However, since she doesn't like to take meds, she quit and opted for supplements instead. Problem is, they don't help. She asks what to do?
4/27/2012 2:00:09 PM
Jean's nephew, diagnosed bipolar, has been on over 10 different medications since 2005. He's tired, sick, thinks illogical and has hallucinations. He'll take off for weeks at a time, then return home. She doesn't think the doctor made the right diagnosis and doesn't think he's taking the right meds. What would you think if this were your nephew?
4/26/2012 2:00:28 PM
Stan's wife completely recovered from OCD years ago. She started watching the TV show "Doomsday Preppers" and now she's stockpiling food. Not a little bit -- she's turned a bedroom into a food storage unit. He says her OCD is back; she says she's being smart and preparing for the worst. What do you say?
4/25/2012 6:00:41 PM
Patti is worried about her 60 year old sister, who has worked at a deli for 15 years. She suddenly became ill at work, she said due to cleaning chemicals. She took time off which was also recommended by her doctor, but her employer did not offer her job back. She is fixated on chemicals, rubs her privates in public and talks non stop all the time. Advice for this loving sister?
4/23/2012 10:00:21 PM
Angela has a 21 year old daughter who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She's been hospitalized three times but now is attending college and working part time. She is doing well, but she's worried about the approaching summer. She's afraid if she has free time she will relapse. Have you ever heard of free time triggering bipolar? Any advice?
4/22/2012 6:00:06 AM
Sara is a 20 year old black female who is into the punk culture and self injures. Her parents are convinced that blacks do not engage in either of these two activities and forbid it .... but she still does it. She also has multiple personalities, yet does not have the funds for medical assistance. She wants to know what's wrong and what can she do about it. Do you have ideas?
4/20/2012 10:00:34 PM
Rachel has BPD, depression and bipolar and has been hospitalized many times. For the past year she has been better than ever. Feeling great, but now she feels she is relapsing, and is scared and wonders what to do. Thoughts?
4/19/2012 6:00:36 AM
Ricki has a color theme for each day of the week, and if she can't find food in the color for the day, she will become overly anxious and skip the meal. She's happy, in good shape and good health, although her friends think she's crazy. What do you think?
4/17/2012 2:00:51 PM
Brian is a former Wall Street Broker and a high stakes poker player. He also served 4 years at a maximum security prison for a white collar crime. While he had anxiety issues before, they were very minor. As he ages, his anxieties are taking over his life, and now it's all he can do to leave his house in the morning. He wants to know what he can do to have less anxiety?
4/16/2012 10:00:50 PM
Krystle has been seeing mental health professionals for ten years. The problem is that whenever they get too close, she runs. She has had severe depression where she wants to harm herself, as well as extreme highs where she laughs at things not even funny. She goes on spending binges, and has purchased herself into great debt. She sees people who she knows are not really there. She wants to know what she should do. Thoughts?
4/16/2012 6:00:11 AM
Ananth suffers from numerous phobias, even though she knows they're baseless anxieties. At first it was the fear of traveling, but now her fears are expanding. What would you tell her?
4/14/2012 10:00:17 PM
Andrea is beside herself. She suffers from Borderline Personality Disorder, and her baby daddy left her. She has already lost her first husband and two children because of BPD! She's trying to get to Dr. Phil, but he has yet to contact her. She asks me what she can do to save her family. Do you know someone with BPD? Do you have suggestions?
4/14/2012 6:00:07 AM
HJ doesn't like to take medication, but her depression is starting to get worse. She is in talk therapy, but wonders if she should be on medication. What do you think?
