Author: Melissa Welby, MD

Cultural Interpretations of Mental Illness: Guest Post

Perceptions of mental health are influenced by stigma and also factors that pertain to social, religious and cultural tradition. Cultural interpretations of mental health vary widely around the globe. Simply put, when it comes to culture and mental illness, no two opinions are alike.



Cultural Interpretations of mental health vary globally

A study conducted in 2015 at Brunel University London has revealed that mental health literacy levels are higher in the Western world, namely North America and Europe when compared to African and Asian cultures. read more

7 Ways to Sleep Better Tonight!

Looking for ways to sleep better? Insomnia and exhaustion are such a drag! If you are having problems sleeping read these 7 tips for better sleep. The benefits can be felt the first night. It may take time to reset your “sleep clock” and undo disruptive habits to truly get to the point where you feel rested. Hang in there because it will be worth it! Refresh yourself by getting quality, restorative sleep.



Sleep is one of the basic foundations for how we feel yet it is frequently put low on the to-do-list of busy people. Quality sleep is affected by poor sleep hygiene and sleep disorders. There is a long list of consequences to poor sleep such as weight gain, metabolic syndrome, depression and burnout. read more

A Psychiatrist’s Take on Suicidal Thoughts and Suicide Prevention

As a psychiatrist, part of my job is to talk to people about suicide. In my profession, hearing about suicidal thoughts is not uncommon. Read this post if you need help with suicidal thoughts or if you want to learn how to help someone who is suicidal. Suicide prevention hotline: 800-273-8255



Suicidal thoughts are a symptom like all other symptoms that I consider in my assessments. Often people are fearful that if they admit to feeling this way I will instantly hospitalize them against their will. (Not true — there are only certain situations when I have to which I will explain later). read more

16 Questions to Answer If You Are Seeing a Psychiatrist for the First Time

Going to see a psychiatrist? Make sure you are ready! Before you come in for your first psychiatrist appointment get prepared by answering the following questions. If you do this, we will spend less time recreating your history and more time talking about the reasons you have come in for the psychiatric appointment. If you are seeing a psychiatrist for the first time try to answer these 16 questions before your appointment. You may find it helpful to write down your answers and bring them to the appointment. read more

8 Questions You Need To Ask To Get The Best Psychiatrist

The fit between you and your psychiatrist is extremely important. You could see the best psychiatrist in the world, but if you aren’t comfortable sharing personal information with them then they will not be a good psychiatrist for you. Finding a psychiatrist can be a challenge and sometimes people don’t have a choice as to who they see. Often, finding a good psychiatrist has more to do with what you are personally looking for than the psychiatrist’s expertise. Answering these 8 questions will help you find a psychiatrist who will be a good match and evaluate if you have a good fit with your current psychiatrist. read more

Psychotic Episode and the Support of Others: How to Help Someone With Psychosis

Psychosis can be a terrifying experience for everyone. When a loved one has a psychotic episode, families, and friends are usually not prepared. The first step is figuring out “What is psychosis?” and getting a basic understanding of what might be happening. After that, the first plans can be made as to how to deal with psychosis. People are often too scared to talk to the person because they don’t know how to respond to the psychotic thoughts. It is much easier to support them and stay connected if you know the best ways to communicate. Read this to learn how to help someone with psychosis. read more

Will You Have Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms?

Withdrawal from antidepressants can be uncomfortable if not tapered properly. Antidepressant withdrawal symptoms, also called antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, can happen when lowering a dose of the medication or with discontinuation. Read this to learn about what it is, your risk for it, and how to treat it.

Withdrawal from antidepressants can be uncomfortable if they are not tapered properly. Antidepressant withdrawal symptoms, also called antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, can happen when lowering a dose of the medication or with discontinuation. It is most frequently seen when treatment is abruptly stopped.

Read here to learn all about antidepressant withdrawal:

  • Possible symptoms associated with it,
  • What your risk is for having it,
  • How to minimize your risk, and
  • How to treat discontinuation syndrome if you have it.



Antidepressant withdrawal: What is antidepressant discontinuation syndrome?

Discontinuation syndrome can be unpleasant, although in most cases, the symptoms are mild. The symptoms usually last 1-3 weeks and will fade over time without treatment. If an antidepressant is restarted, the withdrawal symptoms will rapidly go away. read more

3 Easy Ways to Remember to Take Medications

Remembering to take medicine can be a challenge. I was taught that the average person remembers it 70% of the time! That is a lot of missed medication! There are helpful and easy ways to remember to take medications more frequently. In order to increase medication compliance try using a medication reminder app, weekly pill box, or pairing medication with an already established habit.



Depending on the medication you take, missing doses can have negative consequences for your health. For example, taking an antibiotic only 70% of the time can lead to the bacteria becoming resistant to that antibiotic so it will no longer work when you need it. read more

Side Effects of ADHD medication: Advice from a 10-year-old on ADHD and Weight Loss

Even though I am writing this blog to help other kids who have ADHD feel more comfortable I still feel embarrassed to write about this topic: ADHD and weight loss in children. I have lost weight since starting ADHD medication and I feel too skinny. Losing weight is one of the side effects of ADHD medication in children.  I am going to tell you what I do to have a healthy weight gain and how to help kids gain weight. If you are a kid, try my awesome smoothie recipes below! They are really good and will teach you one way to learn how to gain healthy weight. read more

Keys to Coping with Bipolar Disorder

A key to managing bipolar disorder is to recognize early relapse warning signs. Medication will minimize, but not eliminate, mood swings for many people coping with bipolar disorder. Changes in a medication regimen may need to be made to optimize stabilization. Identify your specific early warning signs of bipolar disorder relapse so you can notify your treatment team right away. In order to intervene more effectively, it is important to recognize warning signs prior to shifting into a hypomanic, manic, or depressive episode. read more