Autism is a neuro-psychiatric disorder affecting children that is typically chronic and lifelong. Currently, DSM-V (Diagnostic manual for psychiatric disorders) has grouped all autism subtypes into one unified diagnosis – ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). ASD is further divided based on severity into 3 subtypes – Level 1 to 3, with Level 3 being the most severe and requiring the most care and support.
I was out of town recently and was excited to see Ayurvedic massage, or Abhyanga, offered at the hotel I was staying at. Unfortunately, the experience was very disappointing. The Abhyanga massage and the Shirodhara I chose, was nowhere close to the original technique and the intended benefits of an authentic service. It was sad to see what passes off as Ayurvedic massage at certain places. I am hoping that this spa is an outlier when it comes to providing authentic Abhyanga massage in the US. So, here’s a description of what this massage treatment is about; so, everyone can be informed consumers.
In early 2018, I received a call from a mother whose daughter had “Misophonia.” Frankly, it is a relatively new “disease.” Misophonia is a condition wherein certain common sounds (breathing, chewing, etc) can trigger intense, exaggerated emotional reaction in people with this condition; resulting in secondary anxiety, depression and disability in many areas of life. My research of this condition indicated that people were recommended antidepressants, noise canceling devices, cognitive behavior therapy, etc. But the prognosis was described as poor with the idea that symptoms are chronic and need to be “managed.”
More than 2000 years ago, Hippocrates – Greek physician and philosopher, widely regarded as the father of modern medicine, said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” We have also heard the very common phrase, “you are what you eat.” This article will delve into the meaning and the urgent need to incorporate these philosophies today.
There are only a few emergency situations in the practice of psychiatry. However, these emergencies can be devastating not just to the patient, their family, and society, but everyone involved, including the care providers. And suicide is the most feared of them all.
Suicide is a hard topic to raise and discuss. Not only in the clinical situation but also in the non-clinical settings. Families, friends, in school/work and society – we are afraid to talk about suicide. But ignoring it does not make it go away. And one day, we are jarred awake with the ugly presence of this menace in our society.
Good morning! My day started with a bit of disappointment today – kids school closed due to the winter storm and today was Mother’s Visitation day! :(.
But, as I was browsing my website, I came across some reviews of my work. This one immediately warmed my heart. Not just because of what it says about my work, but also the words used by this mom to describe her son: “he lives with schizophrenia,” not, “he is schizophrenic (or bipolar or etc).”
No surprise here but I am a big proponent of Direct Care (DC) models. Trinergy Center For Integrative Psychiatry is also a direct care practice. Today in the US, health care costs are staggeringly high, especially compared to other developed countries, but our population is becoming sicker than ever. The current health care model (which is mainly insurance based) is unsustainable for both practitioners and recipients. No wonder, physician burn out is at an all-time high.
It has been said that the brain and mind are the last frontier to conquer. The field of modern psychiatry has undergone so many changes within the last century that it has left some practitioners and clients confused and bewildered. Depression syndrome exemplifies the changes and trends in thinking within the field of mental health.
Pardon my pun here. But let me give you an example to illustrate my point.
I saw this bright young 6 year old girl in my practice. Let’s call her Hope. Hope came in with her mother with complaints of severe anxiety that began with a definite stressor at school. A care-free child before this incident, Hope now became clingy, weepy, crying for hours in the morning and refused to go to school.
Dr. Aruna Tummala is a holistic & integrative psychiatrist who uses evidence based interventions to help you achieve mental wellness.