I once watched a Stephen Hawking video where he discussed black holes and quantum mechanics. My brain had trouble grasping some of those concepts. But I’m smart in other ways. College degrees, a 35 year medical career, a history of quite an adventuresome life in these last 50-some years…and even street smart. I’ve weathered many […]

Imagine growing up believing your mother died in a car accident, only to discover years later, it was suicide; and she wanted to take you with her. This was life for Bertha Loaiza, whom at three years old fell from the San Diego Coronado Bridge while in her mother’s arms. While her mother did not […]

Danny Mental health has become such a buzz-worthy and hot-button topic these days that sometimes I wonder if there is still stigma associated with it. I’m involved in so many welcoming and positive communities that sometimes I forget there’s a whole world out there that isn’t on the same page. Then, there are other times […]

If there is any mental illness where stigma is most attached to, it is bipolar disorder. You’ll here it wherever you go. “He/she is so bipolar,” or “This weather is bipolar.” We know that this means that the subject may be frequently changing, but this is where the stigma comes in. Those comments are uneducated […]

Hi friends, In recent months my psychiatrist has been mentioning weaning me off my Effexor. Not completely, but hopes it will help with some of the side effects I’ve been living with like the horrendous night sweats. This plan has been implemented mostly because I am now on Abilify for my moods. The higher strength […]

When the act of murder is committed, the victim’s family rightfully seeks answers and justice. What about when a family loses someone to suicide? Depending on the circumstances, they may expect the same. Who’s to blame if blame is even necessary, when someone takes their own life? Can someone else be held accountable? Many loved ones […]

On Friday, I was fifteen minutes from leaving to meet my new primary care physician, when I found a few seconds to check the Facebook news feed which lead to the news that Anthony Bourdain was the latest to die from suicide. His death followed just days after designer Kate Spade’s. While Spade’s was shocking, […]

We already know that mental illness deserves the same attention and treatment as a physical ailment, but what isn’t discussed as much is the mental health of our children. Approximately 1 in 5 children will be diagnosed with a mental illness, but less than 10% actually receive treatment. The statistics are discouraging considering the increasing […]

As a a small attempt at promoting the blog along with my mother and sister, we walked over three miles in support of NAMI, also knows as the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It was more than self promotion, rather than networking. More importantly, it was about standing up for mental health advocacy. As followers […]

After we lose a loved one, we go through a period of mourning. This is more commonly known as bereavement. Bereavement follows typically after a death although grieving in normal after a break-up or even the loss of a job. This post will focus on the bereavement that one experiences after the passing of a […]