Comments for pasadena therapist

Comment on Suicide Is Dangerous by Nancy

Nancy — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:34:00 +0000

Make it HARD for people to kill themselves! Spend the money to put up railings or whatever is needed on bridges to deter impulsive jumpers. Do not let guns be bought or be in the home of a mentally ill person. Even if they convince you they are NOT suicidal…but they HAVE showed you bi-polar symptoms before. HIDE all the guns and the ammo. Even if they can go to WalMart and get a gun and ammo…it should be made HARDER for a mentally ill person to get a gun on demand. There should be a waiting period and even at 23 they should have to get a parent to sign for permission. It is just too damn easy in this country to kill yourself when you are depressed. Especially when you are bi-polar and usually the NEXT day…or maybe in a FEW days…you are feeling MUCH better AND you love yourself again and the people in your life. But…like my son, at age 23, he made the ULTIMATE MISTAKE and shot himself in the mouth when he was feeling BLUE and in mental and physical pain. He left us in SO MUCH pain, feeling NO JOY in our lives and feeling like our family was incomlete! We are assured that he went to Heaven and he has no pain and no more tears…but we, as his parents, feel like we have been going through hell…crying all the time and carrying around this pain that will NEVER go away EVER!!
I love YOU Philip and I miss you MORE!!!
Your MaMa

Comment on Antipsychotics as the New Antidepressants by vicki

vicki — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:44:30 +0000

i am bipolar and i am taking seroquel. i did not want to because it is an antiphycotic—stigma!!!!! i have had major depression for quite a while. i only take it because it helps me sleep. when i go awhile without taking it then sart taking it - it has helped with my mood alot!!!! after awhile though i do not see a difference– i still feel very depressed- almost suicidal. plus it can cause hyperlipidema, diabetes
and cad–i have 2 of the side effects-all but diabetes,but probably had them bfore stating seoquel.

Comment on Can Boomers’ Brains Be Saved? by therapydoc

therapydoc — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 02:38:48 +0000

My father and mother, in their late 80’s, credit gin rummy and canasta, respectively.

Comment on Can Boomers’ Brains Be Saved? by Alvaro

Alvaro — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:48:36 +0000

Hello Kalea,

Thank you for adding to the conversation.

Let me offer a few clarifications:

1) We do not “markets tools for cognitive enhancement.” That is one of a number of innacurate statements at PsychCentral. The only thing we market is market research in the form of reports or executive presentations. We cover the field of non-invasive cognitive enhancement as independent analysts, we don’t sell any tools ourselves.

2) I suggest you take a look at my interview with Art Kramer (who has co-authored the main meta-analysis on the value of physical exercise, among many other fascinating things), and many other neuroscientists, at
http://www.sharpbrains.com/resources/neuroscience-interview-series/

I suspect you and your readers may find that more enlightening than several blog posts (including mine).

#) The Cognitive Reserve theory is indeed, a theory, that tries to explain a reality: why lifelong mental stimulation reduces the probability of developing Alzheimer’s symptoms even when the pathology of the disease is present.

Thank you, and kind regards

Comment on Portrait of Dissociative Identity Disorder by Delany

Delany — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:51:47 +0000

Sorry, Pasadena, but I have to offer a word of dissent, or caution, or maybe a voice of reason, here. This is based on the years I spent working with patients who were being diagnosed with MPD, and then DID, at a very rapid and unconscionable rate. This diagnostic trend (or feeding frenzy) was partly driven by social factors, partly driven by greed (private psych hospitals were set up and funded specifically for this purpose; I know, I worked in two of them while I was in grad school).

There are a lot of things going on with people who are diagnosed with DID, but I have found that the act of making that diagnosis tends to make people worse, not better; it changes the way they see themselves in such a way that their lives usually spiral downhill. In the right social climate, with the right suggestions and reinforcement, it is amazingly easy for a person to begin to see herself as composed of different “parts,” and to act out those “parts,” or “alters,” and to trace them “back” to horrific events that may or may not have happened. This person often then becomes totally consumed with the work of “being a multiple,” being in therapy, producing more memories and more detailed charts of different “alters” and their relationships with each other and their supposed origins. This, in my experience, is NOT helpful to the patient.

I have written about this elsewhere (here:
http://www.delanydean.com/2008/01/some-links-i-posted-yesterday-under-del.html

and many others have, as well. I highly recommend two books about this phenomenon: Multiple Personalities, Multiple Disorders; AND Rewriting the Soul (by Ian Hacking).

I very well understand the pathos and compelling nature of the histories provided by and the presentations made by these patients. I just think there are ways to help them that avoid using the diagnosis of DID.

Delany Dean, PhD

Comment on Mindfulness: How is it Relevant to Psychotherapy? by Annie

Annie — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:10:10 +0000

Thanks so much for the thoughts about mindfulness. As a therapist for over thirty years I must say that the relatively new emphasis on mindfulness is helping people. I enjoyed your site and look forward to coming back again. I have bipolar disorder and had to retire my lifes work, blogging is one of the ways I spend my time. Thanks again Annie

Comment on Torture: There Were Orders to Follow by Dyke Vondale Davis

Dyke Vondale Davis — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:03:09 +0000

When growing up here in San Francisco I use to search the library at my Junior High School looking for books on Slavery. To my uttermost regret I found books on horrific photos of Black people being lenched and tortured in what seemed a setting of a white township get together.
The photos depicted a circus or pinic amphere where all the whites were seated comfortably surrounding the hanged body of a black male and were actually ingaged in a family outting.
There was even children, wives and professional people present.
I find myself today at 52 years of age not shocked at the prospect that we are ingaged again in the sysmatic torture and brutality witnessed in Iraq and Afganistan and are now questioning the Bush Administrations use of these inhuman methods all over the world.
I find it also equally frightening that American Medical personnel are working with certain govermental agents in this diabolical practice of torture.
I wonder now how many of out medical and psychriatic institutions are now infected with these medical and mental health monsters and the impact they will have on unsuspecting innocent Americans and people of color.
I will never completely ever trust another white medical or mental health professional for my well-being again until this subject is fully explorered and these people and institutions are vetted openingly.

Comment on Mindfulness: How is it Relevant to Psychotherapy? by Delany

Delany — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:22:47 +0000

Ha! This is great, Kalea! Just today I put up a FAQ entry on my private practice blog, about meditation in psychotherapy!

here it is: http://crimlawdoc.typepad.com/kc_mindfulness/2008/06/faqs-meditation.html

Now, I’m going to go back in and put a link to this page of yours, into one of the “answers.”

Delany

Comment on Scientist Chucks Left Brain for Nirvana by Cindy

Cindy — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 03:43:17 +0000

To really experience Jill Bolte Taylor, I recommend you read her book “MY STROKE OF INSIGHT”. It’s 40-45% off on Amazon and it’s a New York Times Bestseller. It’s an incredible story and beautifully written - truly the best book I’ve read in a long time. It takes the wonder and magic of her TED video and expands it. Enjoy!!

Comment on Kalea Chapman, Psy.D. by Delany Dean, PhD

Delany Dean, PhD — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:02:31 +0000

Hi, Kalea, and congratulations, this is a nice blog! I found it through Google Blog Search, so you are being picked up for searches on mindfulness, and that’s great. My own psychotherapy practice is in Kansas City, and I run a couple of blogs, as well. I use mindfulness-based interventions with my patients, and also train grad students and professionals.

And I totally understand the name/gender thing… people often think I am a man… I really need a hyper-feminine photo to publish on my blogs… another thing for my to-do list!

Best wishes,

Delany