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World Mental Health Day 2023

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World Mental Health Day

By Ashley Barnes, M.S. Why World Mental Health Day? October 10th is World Mental Health Day, founded with the purpose of raising awareness regarding mental health issues on a global scale while also holding the intention of mobilizing efforts in support of mental health.   What is mental health? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mental health encapsulates our emotional, psychological, and social well-being (2021). Our mental health determines how we interact with others, cope with stress, and make healthy choices; it is crucial during every stage of life. Poor mental health and mental illness are not the same, as someone who has poor mental health may not meet the clinical criteria for a mental illness. Similarly, someone who is diagnosed with a mental illness may experience periods of mental well-being. Regardless, our mental health can impact the quality of our lives, highlighting its foundational importance in …

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How to Avoid Seasonal Depression

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woman waking early after learning how to avoid seasonal depression

If you want to know how to avoid seasonal depression, understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is crucial. SAD is a type of depression that occurs at specific times of the year, usually in winter. It’s linked to reduced sunlight, affecting mood-regulating neurotransmitters like serotonin. Symptoms include fatigue, mood swings, and weight gain. Treatment often involves light therapy, medication, and behavioral therapy. Lifestyle changes like exercise and a balanced diet can also help. You may hear someone refer to getting the “wintertime blues” or the “summertime blahs.” They are likely struggling with seasonal affective disorder, which is a type of depression related to changes in seasons. They experience symptoms of depression in a seasonal pattern. Some people notice a dramatic increase in symptoms during winter, while others feel worse in the summer. Symptoms can occur during any season and vary in intensity for each person.  The American Psychiatric Association reports at …

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Physician Spotlight 4: Dr. Miriam Winthrop

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Miriam Winthrop, MD

Physician Spotlight In today’s physician spotlight we highlight Dr. Miriam Winthrop, one of our newest psychiatrists at the Mental Health Center. Dr. Winthrop is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in general adult psychiatry and geriatric psychiatry.  About Dr. Miriam Winthrop Dr. Winthrop believes in taking a holistic approach to addressing mental health. In addition to her expertise in the use of medications, she has extensive training in multiple types of psychotherapy, including cognitive-behavioral and insight-oriented modalities. Dr. Winthrop has extensive experience working with a wide range of issues, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, dementia-related concerns, and end-of-life issues. Dr. Winthrop completed her undergraduate education at Dartmouth College and received her medical degree from the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. She completed her residency in adult psychiatry at LAC+USC Medical Center. She completed her fellowship in geriatric psychiatry at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. …

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About the 4 Attachment Styles

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attachment

By Ashley Barnes, M.S. Attachment As human beings, we are highly social creatures who depend on connection with others to survive. Attachment theory posits that our earlier connections with caregivers shape and influence how we move through the world and romantic relationships. The development of one’s attachment style is understood to be influenced by the following factors: Inconsistency/unpredictability or consistency/predictability in your early environment Temperament Relational trauma Your primary caregiver’s capacity to attune to your needs when you were a baby/child John Bowlby, founder of attachment theory, conducted extensive research on attachment. Psychological researchers continued to expand on his theory, including Mary Ainsworth; Ainsworth created the “Strange Situation” study in the 1970s where toddlers between the ages of 12 to 18 months reacted to a situation in which they were briefly left alone and then reunited with their mother.  Based on the childrens’ responses, Ainsworth concluded that there were three …

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How to Reduce Stress and Anxiety

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Medically reviewed by Dr. Mark Hrymoc, M.D.
man by ocean who learned how to reduce stress and anxiety

The most recent Workplace in America Survey reveals that 77% of respondents experienced work-related stress in the month before the survey. Common complaints were emotional exhaustion, irritability, anger, and lack of support. Other research found that 50% of Americans aged 18-24, 38% of those 25 to 49, and 29% of those 50 to 64 have symptoms of an anxiety or depressive disorder. Stress and anxiety may also be underreported by many Americans simply because they may not realize they exhibit the symptoms or think what they are going through is a part of aging. Reducing stress and anxiety leads to benefits to your overall health. What Is Stress and Anxiety? It is common to see the terms stress and anxiety used interchangeably in reports. While they are related and affect each other, they are different. Stress and anxiety cause physical and psychological bodily responses. External factors usually trigger stress, like …

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