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Bipolar Disorder. What the hell is it?
When I begin my career in psychiatry, as an intern in 1994, there was a defined academic variation I understood, but it didn’t make sense to me in real time. The “Bipolar” patients I saw were filled with anger, anxiety, and depression. They were at the end of their rope. When I would read their
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Don’t Go At It Alone
It’s my understanding that workplace stress and economic stress are both highly searched conditions. There are many studies and surveys as recent as 2023 which suggest that at least 50% of Americans suffer significant stress at their place of work. Another study showed that around 77% of Americans experience financial stress. Retirement and debt management
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Gratitude for Liberty
For several generations, including my own, Americans enjoyed the great luxury of growing up with the ideal that “America is the greatest nation on earth.” With the return of Donald Trump as President, myself and others have had to suffer painful the disillusionment that comes with his re-election. It hurts to go from the comfort
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We Can Ride this Out
You might have already read, in other posts of mine, that Anger Destroys. It is a topic consistently on this psychiatrist’s mind. Anger is meant to scare, and eventually hurt others. In nature, animals recruit anger, infrequently, and for very brief periods. Nature understand’s anger’s purpose. Aggression utilized only in situations of dire survival importance.
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Spring is Just Around the Bend
As we embrace the beautiful weather, and the longer days of sunshine that come with Spring, I’m reminded of how similar the changing of the seasons are to the healing process. When a physical or emotional injury occurs, we first experience anger and stress. When we stub our toe, our intial response is to curse
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Anger Destroys
An occupying warrior approached a monk, at his monastery one day, and demanded to the monk, “Teach me the difference between Heaven and Hell, and I will let you live.” The monk slowly looked up at him, and replied, “You are too ugly and stupid to understand.” The warrior became furious, withdrew his sword and
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WE ARE SCARED
The Covid-19 pandemic was painful for the entire world. The post-pandemic world was especially difficult for middle class and lower middle class income earners. Many jobs were lost, or had been automated. Inflation increased worldwide. Inflation and the cost of living increased worldwide, but in our country it hit, especially hard, lower income individuals. Between
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Let Go, or Be Dragged
I recently got out of a nearly 3 year relationship. My ex-girlfriend is a beautiful woman, friendly and energetic. However, she and I came from completely different backgrounds, had different personalities, different values and different tastes. Never were we a comfortable fit. There was an ambivalence from the start and throughout of our relationship. I
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Maybe. Maybe Not
Maybe. Maybe not. An old farmer had six wild horses roam onto his land. His neighbors said “Oh, you’re so fortunate. You just fell into these highly valuable animals.” The wise old man replied, “Maybe. Maybe not.” About a week later, the man’s son was training the horses. He was thrown from a wild one
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Stressed, Sad, and Happy Holidays
Whether you love them or dread them, there’s no doubt that the holidays are a very emotional time of year. Charlie Brown feels ridiculed and despondent after picking out a puny Christmas tree. Rudolph is lost and alone on the island of misfit toys; and so many Christmas songs are about longing to find Home.
Dr. Holcomb’s Methodology
As a Psychiatrist practicing Psychodynamic Therapy, often it seems as if all I do is emphasize the need to grieve.
The Breakdown on ADHD
ADHD is a debilitating disorder. It is so common that we’ve come to under appreciate the severe social impairment it causes.