Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) share similar names and symptoms, but they are distinct disorders. The differences include: The classifications in the DSM-5 Which areas of life the symptoms affect How the patient perceives their symptoms The likelihood of developing certain symptoms Knowing the difference between these two disorders can help people understand themselves, people around them, or treatment options that…

[caption id="attachment_10003" align="alignnone" width="240" class="left"] By: Barry Jones, M.D.[/caption] Have you been diagnosed with a major depressive disorder? If so, you’re not alone. If first-line treatments like medication and therapy haven’t worked for you, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) may be able to help. This safe and effective therapy has been proven to relieve symptoms in people with treatment-resistant depression. How Common is Depression? It…

A poll conducted in April 2020 found that an unprecedented number of adults in the United States--60 percent--experience stress and worry daily. That number represents an increase of 14 percent in just one year. If you’re feeling stressed about your personal life or the state of the world right now, you’re not alone. Most importantly, help is available. While nobody can totally remove stressors…

Dr. Anisha Patel-Dunn, LifeStance Chief Medical Officer, was featured in Medium giving mental health advice for the restaurant industry. “The restaurant industry has been hard hit from all sides,” said Dr. Anisha Patel-Dunn, a psychiatrist and Chief Medical Officer at LifeStance, a behavioral health company based in Bellevue, Washington. “They have the financial loss, but also for restaurant owners there is that sense of…

Regardless of your personal political views, there’s one thing everyone can agree on: this election season has been hard. On top of the stress so many people are feeling about the pandemic, economic turmoil, and civil unrest, the upcoming election is causing anxiety across the country. If the nearing election is giving you panic and stress, you’re not alone. The American Psychological Association (APA)…

Ask any parent about their most important wishes for their child’s future, and you’re likely to hear that they just want the child to be happy. We all want our children to become happy, healthy adults. When you’re in the thick of parenting, this can feel like a difficult task. Part of raising children into happy adults is nurturing their self-image and self-esteem. Once…

When people have cancer, they see oncologists. When they are pregnant, they see OB/GYNs. And when people have trouble with their hearts, they go to cardiologists. You get the gist--when we have specialized health problems, we see specialized medical providers. So why is it that so many people continue to seek psychiatric care from providers who do not specialize in psychiatric care? At LifeStance…

What if scrolling through Instagram could lift your mood and improve your mental health? If you follow the right accounts, that’s exactly what you get. There is a whole world of Instagram influencers talking about mental health and busting the stigmas surrounding it. We hope you’ll follow @LifeStanceHealth on Instagram, but we know we’re not the only ones producing excellent content about mental health.…

In both group therapy and support groups, people in similar situations get together and work toward improving their mental health. So, what’s the difference? And how can someone determine which type of group best fits their needs? To find out, we chatted with licensed therapist Aimee Smrz, Ph.D. Dr. Smrz works in our offices in Massachusetts and helps patients cope with a wide variety…

Anisha Patel-Dunn, LifeStance CMO, was recently featured in Treatment Magazine, sharing her insights about how Americans are handling their mental health during the pandemic. “The real surprise here is the disconnect between how much people are feeling the mental health impact and how difficult it is for them to articulate that,” says Anisha Patel-Dunn, DO, a psychiatrist and the chief medical officer at LifeStance.…