Miscellaneous Archives - Page 18 of 25

Do Something Creative Today

by Ellen Vora, MD on Oct 8, 2018 / Share

We need to tap into our creativity on a daily basis. Is this happening in your life?

Weight Loss (Part 2)

by Ellen Vora, MD on Oct 8, 2018 / Share

Today we discuss staying ahead of your hunger and the controversial idea of abstaining from the drug-like foods.

Having Trouble Falling Asleep? Can’t Stay Asleep? These 10 MD-Approved Tips Are Actually Proven To Work

by Ellen Vora, MD on Oct 8, 2018 / Share

Original article in mindbodygreen

Image: Studio Firma

October 8, 2018 — 9:30 AM

So you can’t sleep? You’re in good company (read: nearly everyone these days), but it’s still a lousy problem. Chronic sleep deprivation can make you depressed, anxious, prone to getting sick, at higher risk for cancer, and it makes you more likely to gain weight and develop diabetes and dementia. Poor sleep is at the root of so many cases of ADD/ADHD, and, worst of all, it shortens our life span. And of course it doesn’t feel good to be jolted awake by an alarm when your body is screaming: No! I haven’t gotten enough sleep yet.

Let’s try to solve this problem right here and now, in eight steps—because you’re tired, and that’s about all you can handle at the moment…

13 Steps to Managing Postpartum Sadness, Anxiety & Overwhelm

by Ellen Vora, MD on Oct 8, 2018 / Share

Original article in mindbodygreen

Image: Holly Clark

October 7, 2018 — 9:24 AM

The postpartum period is an incredibly vulnerable time. Countless new moms are sitting in their gliders right now, isolated at home, surrounded by spit-up and burp cloths, delirious with sleep deprivation, nerves frayed from the confusing cries of their infants, and feeling overwhelmed, sad, anxious, and alone.

Every time this happens to a new mom, I feel we have failed as a culture. It’s normal to experience the transition of becoming a mom as a complicated mix of joy and an unexpected gut punch, but when a mom is isolated and feeling like her sadness and anxiety are about to swallow her whole, there is more we can be doing to support this mom. Here are the steps I find most helpful in my holistic psychiatry practice…

A Blood Sugar Crash + 4 Other Reasons You’re Waking Up In The Middle Of The Night

by Ellen Vora, MD on Aug 28, 2018 / Share

Original article on mindbodygreen.

Photo: Michela Ravasio

August 9, 2018 — 9:25 AM

Waking up in the middle of the night, aka “middle insomnia,” is an extremely common type of insomnia and extremely frustrating for those who suffer from it. This is especially true for those who really try to prioritize sleep and good sleep hygiene; those who did the responsible thing and brushed their teeth, got in bed, fell asleep by 10 p.m.—but now it’s 2 a.m. and they’re wide-awake and wired. What gives?

Insomnia of any kind is a multifactorial issue, deeply related to underlying health issues, and typically can’t be attributed to just one thing. Before you turn to over-the-counter medications or talk to your doctor about a prescription sleep aid, consider these five common causes of middle insomnia…

I’m An Integrative Psychiatrist: Here Are 9 Things I Recommend Before Antidepressants

by Ellen Vora, MD on Aug 24, 2018 / Share

Link to original article on mindbodygreen.

Photo: Death to Stock

August 4, 2018 — 9:40 AM

As a culture, we have a total lack of creative thinking when it comes to treating depression. When we or someone we know is depressed, we often think their only two options are prescription psychiatric medications and therapy. And most likely, medication is front of mind. Well, without going into the pros and cons of psychiatric medications, let’s say this: Medication is not the only option when it comes to treating depression. As a holistic psychiatrist, I know firsthand that there are many avenues that often go unexplored.