Dr. Vivian Shnaidman, M.D.

You'd have to check with the company you are working for. A lot of them have bizarre requirements and would prefer a pilot to be depressed, suicidal, and plunge the plane into the sea, killing hundreds, not just himself (which happened on Egypt Air) rather than have a medical problem appropriately treated. Ignorance reigns, at least in the USA. But first see a psychiatrist.

I have never met you, so there is no way I can answer that question. The surgery itself does not cause mental issues unless you are one of the extremely rare individuals who have some sort of complications during surgery. But ask yourself: what are you expecting to get out of the surgery? Is losing weight going to really change your life? Are you willing to make the necessary changes that go along with the procedure? I had a friend who got the lap band surgery and she would go out and drink creme de menthe with heavy cream (that's a drink - sounds disgusting to me but whatever). Do
people who are watching their weight drink those kinds of drinks? Or is a glass of white wine more appropriate? Same with food. She had the surgery and would eat super fattening food and
spread it out over a whole day. Chocolate chip mint ice cream pie (she loved mint I guess!). Mashed potatoes. Pasta. I don't eat those things. My guess is that if you want to be emotionally happy, it would be important to address the issues you have around food BEFORE you get the surgery. That same friend - her husband also had the surgery. He would overeat and then vomit and eat some more. Those are mental issues for sure. I know that people are of different sizes and shapes for all kinds of reasons. I tell my patients, my kids, and myself, that if we were the kind of people who could biologically eat anything we wanted, then we would already know we were those people and would never have any weight issues. But we are not (and most people aren't). So if you expect the weight loss surgery to be a magic cure for a lifetime of bad eating habits, then yes, you are going to have mental issues. Good luck to you and I hope this gives you what you want!!

Vivian Shnaidman M.D.

Jersey Forensic Consulting, LLC
475 Wall Street
Princeton, NJ 08540
609-910-1715
http://www.shnaidman.com

Mood disorders are a category. Depression is a type of mood disorder.

I don’t know you or your history. Only a psychiatric evaluation can answer this question.

I recommend CBD oil. Also, meditation, exercise, limit caffeine and sugar intake, and try good psychotherapy based on DBT or therapeutic coaching. You should always have your anxiety evaluated by a medical professional first, though, to ensure it is not the result of a medical problem.
Good luck!!

Vivian Shnaidman, M.D.

The initial treatment of choice for anxiety is almost always an SSRI (serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitor). No mood stabilizers or antipsychotics have been shown to be effective for either GAD or panic disorder. Many medications are inappropriately used off label for anxiety. Antipsychotics, in particular, can cause something called akathisia, the feeling of restlessness, so actually INCREASE anxiety or perceived anxiety. Not sure why so many psychiatrists do not know how medications actually work or what they are approved for.

Vivian Shnaidman M.D.

Side effects are a very personal issue, and choosing an antidepressant is also a very specific issue depending on your symptoms and treatment goals. You won't know your response to a medication until you try it, and it would be foolish to choose a medication based on its presumptive side effect profile.

Antidepressants are not "strong" or "weak." They are either right for you or not right for you. If your doctor has recommended sertraline, he or she thinks it is right for you. I have been prescribing sertraline for my patients since it was first introduced to the US market about 27 or 28 years ago and most patients have done, and continued to do, extremely well on it. I think you can expect to have very good results with minimal side effects. Good luck! (Also remember that 100 mg is actually the highest FDA approved dose).

It depends on all of your symptoms and your personal history. There is no single best medication for anxiety. See a good psychiatrist for an evaluation and treatment plan. Good luck.

No.

It is very important that you see a psychiatrist for a consultation. Appropriate blood work will make sure that these are actually panic attacks and not a mimicking condition; for example, thyroid storm (I made this diagnosis for someone over lunch one day so it's very possible). Once all medical conditions have been ruled out, there are effective pharmacological treatments. Good luck.

A sudden loss of appetite could be indicative of a lot of different conditions. It could be hormonal - but it could be something as scary as cancer. I'd start with taking her to the pediatrician for a full physical examination, including blood work. If all of that comes back completely normal then you might want to consult a psychiatrist to see if stress is contributing to her problems. Eating less than normal does not always indicate a loss of appetite but can sometimes indicate an eating disorder. Still, good practice calls for ruling out any organic (physical/medical) causes of her decreased intake of food first. Good luck!