Dr. David Allen Nover, M.D.

often combined with medication, behavioral therapy, including CBT and DBT, can be helpful. There are psychosocial rehabilitation programs and agencies, such as Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, that can help with part-time volunteer or paid jobs which often helps a person lead a better life.
NAMI, The Mental Health Association and other self-help organizations offer a number of programs. Peer support is a program when people in recovery from mental illness help others not as far along the path.

Absolutely, but find a therapist skilled in dealing with OCD. Usually use exposure and response prevention techniques and cognitive behavioral techniques. Medication treatment is of variable help -- from remarkably better to minimal effect. SSRI's such as Prozac, Luvox or Zoloft are first-line treatments.

You should speak to your school counselor and/or primary care provider about resources in your community. There are many ways online for reducing stress and anxiety, such as Calm App. exercise is a great outlet. Limiting screen time (gaming and social media) may be of help. Spend time with people you like and trust.
There are psychiatrist and therapists who specialize in treating teenagers and your adults.
Avoid alcohol, nicotine products and cannabis products and other drugs -- they only provide temporary relief but often lead to worsening of problems.

Divorce is a major life event. People enter marriage thinking it will last forever. Marriages dissolve for various reasons. People adjust differently. A therapist can provide a private space to talk, objectively look at how you are doing and provide suggestions for you to build your new life.
So, many people find therapy helpful. If you are having symptoms which are interfering with your life (sadness, rumination, increased drinking or drug use, acting impulsively, or being too open about your problems), a psychologist or other qualified therapist would be a great idea.

Teach relaxation training and mindfulness, encourage healthy activities such as exercise and address distorted thinking. Sometimes referral to a psychiatrist is helpful.

Working with a therapist to learn anger management techniques which might also include relaxation training is an excellent option and will be with you for life.

Regarding medications there are many medications which may help, all are off label uses:
SSRI's such as Prozac (fluoxetine)
Buspirone
Antipsychotic medications in low dose
Beta-blockers such as propranolol
Good luck,
David Nover, MD

My first choice is Fluoxetine (Prozac). Bupropion, Escitalopram or sertraline are fine too. Avoid paroxetine. Sertraline (Zoloft) best for breastfeeding.

David Nover

Ages 18 to 25 are the highest risk group for depression with females, at about twice the risk as males. There are many factors that predisposed to depression, including medical illness, various stressors, family history, and postpartum state. Older men are at high risk of suicide. No matter what age, depression is a serious condition and should be treated. There are many available good treatments.

David Nover

If your antidepressant is effective, I would strongly recommend taking it for a minimum of six months and generally closer to a year. If you have had severe recurrent depression, longer periods of time for treatment are recommended. Many anti-depressants have a withdrawal syndrome, so it’s important to work with the doctor and taper slowly to prevent discomfort or confusion as to whether symptoms are returning or you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Furthermore, if you have a slip back into depression, it is good to have your doctor there to assess you and treat you. Many depressed people, “let things go.”

As for herbal remedies, “just because something is natural, doesn’t mean that it is safe“ Saint johns wort, can definitely be effective, but is also associated with some severe side effects at times and restrictions on taking with other medication. Make sure your vitamin D and B12 levels are normal and the thyroid functioning is normal. Ruling out sleep apnea and diabetes as causes of depression is also important.

For better or worse, I’m writing to you from the land without a NHS.

David Nover MD

If you have motor tics and vocal tics, you may have a condition known as Tourette’s syndrome. You can also include some obsessive compulsive symptoms. It is certainly not a close for psychiatric hospitalization! There are some medicines that can help. There are also some medicines that can bring on ticks, such as the stimulants used in attention deficit disorder.

You could speak to your school nurse, leave a message at your doctors office, or mention it when you see your doctor even if your mother is present. Most states do not give minors the right to giving consent for general medical care.

Good luck to you! The specialist you might want to see is a neurologist.

David Nover, MD

No. They can help prevent or treat depression. Folate and vitamin D help prevent/treat depression. Good vit D levels help prevent serious psychiatric illness in the offspring. If you are pregnant and depressed, seek help for your sake and that of your unborn baby!

David Nover

It may become chronic And harder to treat. The best is to treat until complete resolution of symptoms whether with psychotherapy, medication or a combination of the two.

Read the DSM-5 criteria for major depression and for dysthymic disorder (persistent depressive disorder). There are many reading skills available online including the Beck and Hamilton

Panic disorder is a treatable condition. By definition, the level of anxiety is far in excess of what would be appropriate for the circumstances

Yes. There is even a medication with FDA approval for it

Exposure and response prevention therapy is an excellent treatment with lasting results. Several medications have FDA approval for treating OCD.

The best is not to help perpetuate your friends symptoms, such as repeatedly offering reassurance or allowing excessive checking

There are many personality tests. The most common are MMPI and Millon

CBT or exposure therapy (depending in type of anxiety. Best medications are SSRI’s such as Zoloft, Prozac, Celexa. Avoid long term use of benzodiazepines.

CBT, meditation, exercise, distraction

Sometimes. Particularly lithium causing flattening and decreased creativity. Goal is to be healthier version of yourself. Don’t worry, Won’t have radical change in interests and values.