| "America is truly a land of possibilities!" This statement | | | | their illnesses. Most individuals want a pill to quickly and |
| appeared to resonate around the world in response to | | | | completely alleviate their suffering. I fully understand the |
| Barack Obama being elected the next President of | | | | desire to not become emotional in stressful situations. |
| the United States. Reading Obama's responses to | | | | For my patients, emotional extremes are to be |
| crucial points during his campaign was fascinating to | | | | avoided. Clearly, mental illness is a very painful and |
| me as a psychiatrist. When faced with unbelievable | | | | inward illness. Patients may remain captive to horrible |
| challenges, Obama's reaction was "focus." In a similar | | | | negative, self-critical, and potentially self-destructive |
| vein, maintaining a plan was the message in my award | | | | thoughts for most of their waking hours when their |
| winning book, The Pregnancy Decision Handbook for | | | | illness is active. |
| Women with Depression. | | | | The message is clear from the experts in facing |
| Mankind's greatest challenge is the ability to stay the | | | | incredible odds: "Get focused!" How are you going to |
| course when faced with difficult life situations. It is a | | | | keep your triggers and symptoms of illness in |
| human reaction to respond with negative thinking when | | | | emotional check? First, you have to accept the illness |
| faced with out of control life conditions. Unfortunately, | | | | and then figure out the best treatment based on the |
| individuals who are genetically wired for depression | | | | severity of symptoms. Mild symptoms by definition do |
| can respond to troublesome situations with intense | | | | not interfere with your ability to function in your world. |
| hopelessness and despair. As a psychiatrist, I have | | | | Moderate symptoms are those that force you to |
| noticed that sad situations have the potential to trigger | | | | struggle in order to overcome them. A severe |
| dysfunctional illness in those predisposed to a mood | | | | symptom of illness impedes your ability to function. The |
| disorder. Mastery of emotional wellness allows an | | | | best options for symptom control are yours to |
| individual to use their coping skills in order to remain in | | | | discover. |
| an emotional neutrality zone when dealing with life | | | | If you do not want a relationship with a mental health |
| challenges. In other words, what tools must you master | | | | specialist, clearly that is your choice. Nonetheless, it is |
| that will allow you to respond to life's challenges | | | | your responsibility to do something to get emotionally |
| without your brain becoming negative and critical? | | | | stable. Thank goodness we have many treatment |
| In my role as a psychiatrist, I remind my patients on a | | | | options. This is America, the land of possibilities. Do |
| daily basis of the work required to achieve control of | | | | something for your emotional wellness today! |