Making Sense of Our Inner Worlds
People are complex and multifaceted. Different aspects of our emotional worlds may conflict or contradict each other. When this happens, we experience inner tension marked by symptoms of anxiety, self…
Psychiatry: Science or Art?
Psychiatry can be considered both a science and an art. As a science, psychiatry is based on empirical evidence and clinical research. Psychiatrists use a range of diagnostic tools…
Eating for the Brain
The Mediterranean diet is a dietary pattern that is characterized by high consumption of vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, fish, and olive oil, and low consumption of red meat, processed…
Overcoming Stigmas: Starting the Conversation about South Asian Mental Health
I am an Indian American woman born and raised in the Bay Area. Both of my parents immigrated here in the 1970's as physicians. I, too, am a physician (as…
When the human biological clock goes awry
The human biological clock, also known as the circadian rhythm, is a natural, internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and other biological processes in the body. It is driven…
What is the gut-brain axis?
The gut-brain axis is a term for the communication network that connects your gut and brain. There are approximately 100 billion neurons in the human brain; your gut contains 500 million neurons.…
ADHD and Bipolar Disorder: two sides of the same coin?
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and bipolar disorder are two separate conditions that have some similarities in symptoms, but they are distinct and require different treatment approaches. Here are some…