Leading psychiatrists are challenging inconsistent medical insurance coverage for ketamine . . . The doctors maintain that the drug is already widely used and proven highly effective for patients who do not respond to traditional medications. However, some insurers give ketamine an unclear label of ‘investigative.’
In a recent blog, we outlined the differences between depression and sadness. For those with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), it can be even more challenging to determine if you have depression or if you are experiencing temporary sadness due to the temporary nature of SAD. Seasonal depression in Minnesota is particularly common, because of all…
DOS & DON’TS OF SUPPORTING SOMEONE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS With the holidays just around the corner, it’s important to know that this can be a very difficult time of year for those with depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Family gatherings can be overwhelming and conversations, at times, can feel more like interrogations. Yet your help in supporting…
One of the biggest questions people want to know the answer to before going to see a psychiatrist is: Am I depressed? While no one wants to go through the hassle of making a doctor’s appointment for no reason, it’s always best to ask a mental health professional the answer to that question. To help…
While it’s nothing new to hear that the COVID-19 pandemic took a disproportionate toll on those who work in healthcare, teaching, and first response careers, we are now starting to see the lingering effects that the pandemic is still having on their mental health. Today, we are seeing a depression crisis among workers in these…
Psychedelics are considered a relatively new and promising form of therapy for treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other trauma related disorders. While this is new to Western medicine, it has been used by indigenous people around the globe for thousands of years. As modern psychedelics go, Minneapolis has been on the forefront, and our own…
People often come to our Minneapolis depression clinic believing they have tried “every medication” for their depression, though that is rarely the case.
All too often, treatment-resistant patients may, in fact, be very treatable with antidepressants. A patient’s treatment-resistance to antidepressant medication is often caused by one of three scenarios.
In a recent blog, Ketamine Misconceptions: How One Patient’s ‘Weird’ Experience Could Have Been Life-Changing, I address some common misconceptions about ketamine that may be turning people away from this life-saving treatment. In addition to the details shared in this piece, it’s important to know that there is a wide range of patient experiences when…
The New York Times recently printed an opinion piece titled “I took ketamine for depression. Things got pretty weird.” In this piece, writer Vanessa Barbara describes her experience in Juiz de Fora, Brazil using intravenous ketamine treatment for her depression. The essay made me reflect on how ketamine therapy is administered nationwide. I have 38…
It is heartbreaking to hear that a teenager has chosen to end their own life. The devastating news creates shock waves throughout the entire community. Family, friends, teachers, coaches, and many others are all left wondering how it’s possible that this could have happened.