LifeStance Insights
Our team of expert clinicians give their perspectives across a range of subjects, touching on current topics, family and loved one issues, mental health struggles and the comprehensive services that can help you live a better life.
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What Is Spravato and How Does It Work?
Roughly 1 in 3 individuals with major depression do not improve after trying two or more standard antidepressants. For that group, ordinary treatment plans can start to feel like a series of dead ends. Spravato entered the picture as something genuinely different: the first depression medication in decades to act through a separate pathway in the brain than the pills most individuals have already tried, and one of the few with the potential to ease symptoms within hours rather than weeks.
Understanding what it is, how it works inside the brain, and what a treatment session looks like can make it easier to judge whether this option is worth raising with a healthcare provider.
What Is Spravato?
Spravato is the brand name for esketamine, a prescription nasal spray used to treat certain forms of depression in adults. Esketamine is the more potent form of the ketamine molecule, delivered into the nose so it absorbs through th...
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Sleeping Disorders
Insomnia Tips That Worked for Me: 7 Sleep Tools I Swear By
I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent lying wide awake in my bed at night, waiting for my mind and body to power down. I’ve tried the usual advice: No food a few hours before bed, no caffeine after noon, no bright screens at night, no erratic sleep schedules, no alcohol, no long naps… Yet, I’ve still struggled.
Don’t get me wrong, nailing the sleep hygiene basics is essential. And it’s helped improve my sleep health significantly. But apparently, my mind and body also need a little extra support when it comes to actually falling asleep at a decent hour.
What I’ve learned over the years is that, unfortunately, there is no one magic pill that makes sleep effortless 100% of the time. But there are a lot of different tools out there that can make it easier. And finding the collection of products and services that work for you can make all the difference.
Over the years, I’ve amassed a little ecosystem of the things that truly make it easier for me to get a good night’s sleep. These are the products that I’ve found actually make a difference in my ability to fall (and stay) asleep. Hopefully, some of them can make a difference for you too. Because whether you’re dealing with a sleep disorder or anxiety – or simply a body that refuses to relax – some of these insomnia tips may help you finally get the rest...
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Insomnia Tips That Worked for Me: 7 Sleep Tools I Swear By
I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent lying wide awake in my bed at night, waiting for my mind and body to power down. I’ve tried the usual advice: No food a few hours before bed, no caffeine after noon, no bright screens at night, no erratic sleep schedules, no alcohol, no long naps… Yet, I’ve still struggled.
Don’t get me wrong, nailing the sleep hygiene basics is essential. And it’s helped improve my sleep health significantly. But apparently, my mind and body also need a little extra support when it comes to actually falling asleep at a decent hour.
What I’ve learned over the years is that, unfortunately, there is no one magic pill that makes sleep effortless 100% of the time. But there are a lot of different tools out there that can make it easier. And finding the collection of products and services that work for you can make all the difference.
Over the years, I’ve amassed a little ecosystem of the things that truly make it easier for me to get a good night’s sleep. These are the products that I’ve found actually make a difference in my ability to fall (and stay) asleep. Hopefully, some of them can make a difference for you too. Because whether you’re dealing with a sleep disorder or anxiety – or simply a body that refuses to relax – some of these insomnia tips may help you finally get the rest...
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Anxiety
Lexapro for Anxiety: A Psychiatrist Explains How It Works and What to Expect
About 6.8 million U.S. adults live with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and fewer than half receive treatment for it. When medication is part of a care plan, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed class, and Lexapro (escitalopram) is one of the most widely used SSRIs for anxiety. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Lexapro for two conditions, major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, and psychiatrists also prescribe it off-label for related conditions like social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Here's how Lexapro works for anxiety, how it compares with other options, what to expect once you start, and how it fits into a broader treatment plan.
How Lexapro Works for Anxiety
Lexapro is the brand name for escitalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI. SSRIs are the most prescribed class...
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Lexapro for Anxiety: A Psychiatrist Explains How It Works and What to Expect
About 6.8 million U.S. adults live with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and fewer than half receive treatment for it. When medication is part of a care plan, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed class, and Lexapro (escitalopram) is one of the most widely used SSRIs for anxiety. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Lexapro for two conditions, major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, and psychiatrists also prescribe it off-label for related conditions like social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Here's how Lexapro works for anxiety, how it compares with other options, what to expect once you start, and how it fits into a broader treatment plan.
How Lexapro Works for Anxiety
Lexapro is the brand name for escitalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI. SSRIs are the most prescribed class...
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Self-Help & Wellness
How to Relax on Vacation When Your Trip Feels Anything But
A vacation is supposed to be relaxing, right? You take time off from work and your daily schedule to go off on an adventure with your partner, family, or friends. That’s what a vacation is at its core. But vacations can also contain bumps and surprises that impact your mental well-being. According to a Gallup survey, the majority of Americans don’t return from vacation feeling rested and relaxed.
At times, I have been one of these people. There are certain vacations where I’ve come back feeling tranquil and inspired, but then there are others where I’ve returned feeling drained. Here's what I've learned about why that happens, and what helps me avoid it.
How Can Vacations Be Stressful?
There are lots of factors that can contribute to a vacation feeling anything but a vacation. If you go with a big group or extended family, all those dynamics and decisions can make you feel burned out. Traveling itself can be stressful, wi...
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How to Relax on Vacation When Your Trip Feels Anything But
A vacation is supposed to be relaxing, right? You take time off from work and your daily schedule to go off on an adventure with your partner, family, or friends. That’s what a vacation is at its core. But vacations can also contain bumps and surprises that impact your mental well-being. According to a Gallup survey, the majority of Americans don’t return from vacation feeling rested and relaxed.
At times, I have been one of these people. There are certain vacations where I’ve come back feeling tranquil and inspired, but then there are others where I’ve returned feeling drained. Here's what I've learned about why that happens, and what helps me avoid it.
How Can Vacations Be Stressful?
There are lots of factors that can contribute to a vacation feeling anything but a vacation. If you go with a big group or extended family, all those dynamics and decisions can make you feel burned out. Traveling itself can be stressful, wi...
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Self-Help & Wellness
Vagus Nerve Exercises That Worked for Me
Lately, there’s been a lot of talk about the vagus nerve in the wellness world. TikTokers sharing how to “reset your vagus nerve,” biohackers raving about the benefits of improving your vagal tone. It made me wonder: Is all the hype about the vagus nerve just another viral wellness trend, or is it rooted in real science?
So, I did what I always do when something keeps appearing in my feed: I went down a research rabbit hole, tried a few of the techniques myself, and came out the other side with some answers. Here’s what I learned about how to harness the magic of the vagus nerve, and the simple vagus nerve exercises that actually made a difference for me.
What Is the Vagus Nerve?
I’m an etymology nerd, so I loved discovering that the word “vagus” derives from the Latin for “wandering” or “straying.” And wander, it does. As the longest cranial nerve, the vagus nerve runs from the brain, through the neck and chest, and into...
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Vagus Nerve Exercises That Worked for Me
Lately, there’s been a lot of talk about the vagus nerve in the wellness world. TikTokers sharing how to “reset your vagus nerve,” biohackers raving about the benefits of improving your vagal tone. It made me wonder: Is all the hype about the vagus nerve just another viral wellness trend, or is it rooted in real science?
So, I did what I always do when something keeps appearing in my feed: I went down a research rabbit hole, tried a few of the techniques myself, and came out the other side with some answers. Here’s what I learned about how to harness the magic of the vagus nerve, and the simple vagus nerve exercises that actually made a difference for me.
What Is the Vagus Nerve?
I’m an etymology nerd, so I loved discovering that the word “vagus” derives from the Latin for “wandering” or “straying.” And wander, it does. As the longest cranial nerve, the vagus nerve runs from the brain, through the neck and chest, and into...
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Mood Disorders
Postpartum Psychosis: Understanding the Illness Behind the Headlines
When a mother harms her children during a psychiatric crisis, the headlines almost always reach for the same word: monster. The courtroom, though, keeps arriving at a different answer. Two of the most widely covered maternal tragedies in American history, separated by more than two decades, have turned on a rare and often misunderstood condition that can seize a new mother within days of giving birth and convince her that the unthinkable is the only way to protect her child. That condition is postpartum psychosis, and understanding it is the difference between recognizing a medical emergency and mistaking it for a moral failing.
The recent murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse accused of killing her three young children in Massachusetts, has pulled this condition back into national view, echoing the Andrea Yates case from 2001 that first forced the country to confront it. Both stories are devastating, but they also carry a lesson that can save lives: the warning signs are recognizable, and with fast treatment, the majority of affected mothers can achieve recovery....
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Postpartum Psychosis: Understanding the Illness Behind the Headlines
When a mother harms her children during a psychiatric crisis, the headlines almost always reach for the same word: monster. The courtroom, though, keeps arriving at a different answer. Two of the most widely covered maternal tragedies in American history, separated by more than two decades, have turned on a rare and often misunderstood condition that can seize a new mother within days of giving birth and convince her that the unthinkable is the only way to protect her child. That condition is postpartum psychosis, and understanding it is the difference between recognizing a medical emergency and mistaking it for a moral failing.
The recent murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse accused of killing her three young children in Massachusetts, has pulled this condition back into national view, echoing the Andrea Yates case from 2001 that first forced the country to confront it. Both stories are devastating, but they also carry a lesson that can save lives: the warning signs are recognizable, and with fast treatment, the majority of affected mothers can achieve recovery....
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Self-Help & Wellness
Coloring Apps for Mental Health: 10 Therapist-Informed Picks
Coloring isn’t just for kids, and it’s far from a new idea for grown-ups looking to settle their minds. Adults have reached for colored pencils to unwind for a long time, and the size of the habit shows how mainstream it has become. Estimates of the global adult coloring book market vary widely with how the category is defined, ranging from around $150 million to roughly $1.8 billion today, with projections of about $3.2 billion by 2034. Much of that momentum is credited to demand for stress relief and mindfulness practices, and North America holds the largest regional share.
As phones and tablets became the device always within reach, the coloring-book craze spilled into the app stores, and today plenty of people do their coloring on a screen, whether tapping in a mandala on the train or filling a digital page before bed. What follows is a therapist's view of why coloring can be so settling, what research suggests, and ten coloring apps that may be worth a spot on your home screen.
Why Coloring Calms the Mind...
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Coloring Apps for Mental Health: 10 Therapist-Informed Picks
Coloring isn’t just for kids, and it’s far from a new idea for grown-ups looking to settle their minds. Adults have reached for colored pencils to unwind for a long time, and the size of the habit shows how mainstream it has become. Estimates of the global adult coloring book market vary widely with how the category is defined, ranging from around $150 million to roughly $1.8 billion today, with projections of about $3.2 billion by 2034. Much of that momentum is credited to demand for stress relief and mindfulness practices, and North America holds the largest regional share.
As phones and tablets became the device always within reach, the coloring-book craze spilled into the app stores, and today plenty of people do their coloring on a screen, whether tapping in a mandala on the train or filling a digital page before bed. What follows is a therapist's view of why coloring can be so settling, what research suggests, and ten coloring apps that may be worth a spot on your home screen.
Why Coloring Calms the Mind...
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Diagnosing (Testing & Evaluation)
What an Online ADHD Quiz Can and Can’t Tell You
Type “ADHD test” into a search bar and millions of results appear in under a second, many promising an answer in just a few minutes. The pull is easy to understand. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions, and an estimated 7 million U.S. children aged 3 to 17 have been diagnosed with it, with millions of adults recognizing the same patterns in themselves. The catch is that the quick answer most quizzes appear to offer is not the answer people actually need. A high score on a free ADHD test can be a useful nudge toward help, but it is not a diagnosis, and treating it like one can send a person down the wrong path entirely.
What Is an ADHD Test?
In everyday language, “ADHD test” covers two very different things. The first is the online ADHD quiz: a short, self-scored questionnaire that asks how often a person experiences symptoms like losing focus, fidgeting, m...
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What an Online ADHD Quiz Can and Can’t Tell You
Type “ADHD test” into a search bar and millions of results appear in under a second, many promising an answer in just a few minutes. The pull is easy to understand. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions, and an estimated 7 million U.S. children aged 3 to 17 have been diagnosed with it, with millions of adults recognizing the same patterns in themselves. The catch is that the quick answer most quizzes appear to offer is not the answer people actually need. A high score on a free ADHD test can be a useful nudge toward help, but it is not a diagnosis, and treating it like one can send a person down the wrong path entirely.
What Is an ADHD Test?
In everyday language, “ADHD test” covers two very different things. The first is the online ADHD quiz: a short, self-scored questionnaire that asks how often a person experiences symptoms like losing focus, fidgeting, m...
Read More
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