Sweetgrass Psychiatry

**WHAT CAUSES DESPAIR?** I aspire to be a despair disrupter. To me, despair means a deficit of dogs in my life, particularly Pomeranians. Most individuals tend to feel miserable when they experience chronic disconnection, lack of purpose, and unresolved emotional pain. Here are some of the biggest contributors to our collective human suffering: 1. Loneliness and Social Isolation We are wired for connection! I recently read that prolonged loneliness is as damaging to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day (yikes!). Feeling unseen, unheard, or unloved can be devastating. 2. A Lack of Purpose or Meaning People who feel like they’re just “going through the motions” without a deeper purpose often struggle with a sense of emptiness. This is why retirement, job loss, empty nest or feeling stuck in life can be so distressing. 3. Regret and Unresolved Guilt Regret over past mistakes or missed opportunities can haunt us. Similarly, guilt, especially when there’s no way to make amends, can be deeply corrosive. 4. Feeling Trapped (in a Job, Relationship, or Life Circumstance) A sense of powerlessness, whether in a bad relationship, an unfulfilling job, or a difficult financial situation, can lead to depression and despair. 5. Chronic Stress and Uncertainty Long-term exposure to stress (financial struggles are often #1, job insecurity, unstable relationships) keeps the brain in a constant fight-or-flight state, leading to burnout and mental health decline. 6. Lack of Autonomy and Control We need to feel like we have some control over our lives. Feeling micromanaged, controlled by others, or unable to make meaningful choices can be deeply frustrating. 7. Comparison and Unmet Expectations Constantly comparing oneself to others (especially in the age of social media) or feeling like life didn’t turn out as expected can lead to chronic dissatisfaction. 8. Betrayal and Broken Trust Being betrayed by a loved one, friend, or institution can shake a person’s sense of safety and reality, leading to deep emotional wounds. 9. Loss and Grief The loss of loved ones, relationships, or even a personal identity (due to illness or trauma) can be one of the most profound sources of suffering. 10. Chronic Pain and Illness Physical suffering, especially when persistent, can lead to hopelessness, isolation, and depression. 11. A Lack of Gratitude and Presence Ironically, even people who “have it all” can be miserable if they are always chasing the next thing and never appreciating what they have. HOW TO COMBAT DESPAIR: - Deep, meaningful #relationships: connection is key - A sense of #purpose: helping others, creative outlets, personal growth - #Self-compassion: letting go of guilt, forgiving oneself - #Gratitude and mindfulness: shifting focus from what’s missing to what’s present - #Resilience and adaptability: accepting change, focusing on what can be controlled #psychiatry #therapy #nature #healing #graditude #mindfulness

What do patients like most about transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy ?? ? Is it the non-invasive nature, the ability to maintain a daily routine after treatment, or the fact it is medication-free? Maybe it's best to hear from the patients and their personal experiences. Down below, I have included TMS testimonials from different patients and excerpts on how TMS had made large or minor differences in their everyday lives. Magstim TMS Stories ?? : Tish's Story : https://lnkd.in/eCeWHb_7 "Now that I've had TMS treatment, it's much easier for me to wake up in the morning. I actually look forward to when my children come home from school." Desiree's Story: https://lnkd.in/enSMjEGJ "The treatment is not painful, it is a very short treatment, the staff was wonderful, you watch movies, I mean it's the easiest thing I've ever done." "I have been in remission for two years from TMS and I probably had depression for 55 years. I wake up joyful, I go to bed joyful, I have normal emotions." TMS Side Effects: One reason for potential positive response and more comfortability with TMS is due to less adverse side effects. The graphic below illustrates the difference in the potential side effects between antidepressant medication and TMS. Summary: It is always great to positive news and see how innovation and accessibility to TMS can lead to amazing patient care and life outlook! If you are a provider and have more questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me or the Magstim team to learn more about how TMS can change patient lives! Image Credit to Griffith Psychiatry. #TMS #testimonials #Depression

What if private practice could prioritize both clinicians and patients equally? Layne Gritti DO discusses joining Brittany Albright MD, MPH at her practice, where ethics are at the core of the practice's foundation. https://lnkd.in/gJQUAbq4

Andrew Solomon's TED Talk on depression has 20,000,000 views. I'm a psychiatrist and I share his powerful insights with my patients. His talk is titled "Depression, the Secret We Share". In it, he shares lessons he learned from his long battle with mental illness. Here they are: 1. Depression is much more intense and overwhelming than sadness. You can feel numb, anxious or stuck, making small tasks feel impossible. 2. The opposite of depression is vitality. Depression takes away your energy and a desire to live fully. True recovery focuses more on regaining vitality than being “happy”. 3. Treatment is a journey. Medication and therapy can both be part of the solution. You’ll relapse from time to time, but persistence can lead to improvement over time. 4. Embrace your stuggles. Denying depression can make the signs and symptoms of the disease more painful. Trying to face it directly can help you build resilience and strength. 5. Small actions matter. Look for tiny sparks that are generated by things that people without depression might take for granted: eat, connect with loved ones, engage in a hobby. 6. Find your community. You are not alone. Share your experience with people who understand and support you. Secrecy about depression worsens isolation. 7. Your feelings don’t define truth. Depression will make you believe things that aren’t true. “No one loves me” and “No one cares” are some common thoughts. Challenge them. 8. Hope can come in unexpected ways. Therapy and medication can work. Look for more “unconventional” approaches like art and music. Healing is personal and unique to you. 9. Value what depression teaches you. There can be lessons to be learned amid the pain. Depression can deepen your understanding of emotions and the importance of joy. You can read more about his journey in the book, "The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression." --------------------------------- What insights about depression would you add? Repost to your network to share insights about depression. Follow me (Eric Arzubi, MD) for more posts like this.

**BREAKING NEWS IN DEPRESSION TREATMENT** Spravato (esketamine) is now approved as the first and only treatment used as monotherapy for adults living with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). What is TRD? Major depressive disorder [MDD] with inadequate response to at least 2 oral antidepressants of adequate dose and duration - that is a significant majority of the patients we see with MDD at Sweetgrass Psychiatry . As a Spravato prescriber since 2019, this is exciting and a long time coming! Backed by over a decade of research and nearly six years of real-world evidence, this approval—granted following FDA Priority Review—opens doors to potentially transformational treatment for even more patients who do not want to continue taking ineffective oral antidepressants that are causing them side effects. Let’s not forget that Spravato is also FDA-approved for depressive symptoms in adults with MDD and acute suicidal ideation or behavior, when used alongside an oral antidepressant. Check out the package insert for side effects, risks and benefits, dosing, etc: https://lnkd.in/egDK-5Df What do you think!? #SPRAVATO #Esketamine #TreatmentResistantDepression #TRD #MentalHealthMatters #InnovativeCare #SweetgrassPsychiatry #PsychiatryInnovation #ketamine #monotherapy #hope #depression Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson