Et propter vitam vivendi perdere

The question of whether someone who has experienced psychosis can ever fully recover their mental health is one that I often encounter. This journey towards understanding the nuances of psychosis recovery is an issue that requires a profound exploration into its origins, available treatments, and the long-lasting effects on patients' mental health. Psychosis refers to a mental state characterized by impaired thinking, perception, and reality-testing abilities. This might manifest as hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, or disorganized behavior. Causes of psychosis can range from genetic predispositions, environmental factors, brain trauma, substance abuse, and even stress. Given this complexity, it's essential to recognize that the recovery process looks different for everyone. In light of ongoing advancements in psychiatric research, professionals are continuously refining their protocols for treating patients suffering from psychosis. Currently, a comprehensive rec...

Testosterone, often associated with physical strength and virility, plays a crucial role in the psychological well-being of both men and women. While it's commonly known as the "male hormone," it's essential for women's mental health as well. In recent years, research has increasingly pointed to the significance of harnessing the power of testosterone in psychological settings. In this blog post, we will explore the rationale behind this approach and the benefits it can offer. Testosterone and Mental Health Numerous studies have shown a strong correlation between testosterone and mood regulation. Low testosterone levels have been linked to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and overall psychological distress. Conversely, higher levels of testosterone can contribute to enhanced mood stability, resilience, and emotional regulation. Therefore, maintaining optimal testosterone levels may help improve mental health and overall psychological well-being. Testosteron...

Depression is a serious mental health condition that can have a profound impact on a person's life. It affects not only their emotional well-being but also their physical health, relationships, and overall quality of life. Many individuals who have experienced depression wonder if they can ever regain a sense of "normalcy" and fully recover from this debilitating condition. As a clinical psychiatrist, I am often asked this question, and the answer is both hopeful and nuanced. Let's explore the topic further. The Journey of Recovery Recovering from depression is a unique and individualized process. It's important to recognize that the concept of "normal" may vary from person to person. Rather than striving to return to a pre-depression state, the focus should be on achieving a new sense of well-being and resilience. Understanding Depression To comprehend the potential for recovery, it's crucial to understand the nature of depression. Depression is a c...

Anna Bagenholm was an accomplished doctor, who spent much of her free time enjoying the Norwegian outdoors, particularly skiing. On one fateful day, she experienced a life-threatening accident that would change her life forever. Despite the odds being stacked against her, Anna's incredible story of survival is a testament to the human spirit and the power of hope. The Accident Anna Bagenholm was skiing in northern Norway when she lost control and fell off a cliff. She landed on a frozen puddle, which gave way, and she fell through a 20-centimeter thick ice sheet. The impact of the fall caused her body to become trapped underneath the ice, with her head and body submerged in freezing water. Anna was unable to move or call for help, and she quickly began to lose consciousness due to the cold. Her body temperature dropped rapidly, and her heart stopped beating for two hours. In most cases, patients like Anna are pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital, but her story is different....

The well-replicated observation that many people maintain mental health despite exposure to severe psychological or physical adversity has ignited interest in the mechanisms that protect against stress-related mental illness. Focusing on resilience rather than pathophysiology in many ways represents a paradigm shift in clinical-psychological and psychiatric research that has great potential for the development of new prevention and treatment strategies. The Key Mechanism: Positive Appraisal Style The framework is applicable to both animal and human research and supports the design and interpretation of translational studies. The theory emphasizes the causal role of stimulus appraisal (evaluation) processes in the generation of emotional responses, including responses to potential stressors. On this basis, it posits that a positive (non-negative) appraisal style is the key mechanism that protects against the detrimental effects of stress and mediates the effects of other known resilienc...

Resilience is a term that is used to describe an individual's ability to withstand and recover quickly from difficult conditions. The word "resilience" comes from the Latin word "resilire," meaning "to leap back." This concept is not only important in the field of physics, where it describes a strained body's ability to recover its size and form following deformation, but also in the field of psychology, where it is used to describe an individual's ability to adapt to adversity and maintain a positive state of psychological functioning. However, defining resilience can be a challenge as the definitions of adversity and positive adaptation may vary based on the historical and sociocultural context within which the research was conducted, the researchers' conceptual proclivities, and the population sampled. Most researchers agree that both adversity and positive adaptation must be evident for resilience to be demonstrated. But, inconsistencie...