Why can’t we just be neurotic?

by Menninger Clinic October 21, 2011

I miss neurosis. It’s long gone from the official manual for psychiatric diagnosis, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, now in its fourth iteration, DSM-IV.1 Unfortunately, taking neurosis out of the manual has not eradicated it from the human condition. I can attest to that fact from personal experience, and I’ve had many […]

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National Coming Out Day highlights double stigma of LGBT community

by Menninger Clinic October 10, 2011

October 11 is National Coming Out Day for people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). This day is set aside to acknowledge the triumph and bravery of those who have come out as LGBT to themselves and their loved ones. Coming out is a never-ending process, not limited to a singular event […]

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Suicide risk assessment: Is there a crystal ball in the house?

by Menninger Clinic October 3, 2011

Try a thought experiment: Imagine you’ve been asked to predict whether it will rain day after tomorrow, and someone’s life depends on your accuracy. And the loved ones of that someone are looking to you to get it right. If you fail, and this person dies, they not only will be devastated (not to mention […]

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Attach, and give your brain a break from stress

by Menninger Clinic September 27, 2011

I had the good fortune recently to participate in a think tank and conference in The Netherlands with Jim Coan, a talented clinical psychologist at the University of Virginia who is conducting pioneering neurobiological research on attachment. I think the results of his research have profound implications for stress management and for treatment; I inform […]

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An open letter to those coping with addiction

by Menninger Clinic September 16, 2011

To all who struggle with addiction or substance abuse: As a psychiatric nurse, I deal every day with people who are trying to cope with anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, schizophrenia or other mental illnesses. Many of them have been trying to cope with the distress of their illnesses by self-medicating. Some abuse prescription medications such […]

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CNO offers thoughts on World Suicide Prevention Day

by Menninger Clinic September 9, 2011

It is mindboggling to think that one million people worldwide take their lives each year. One million! More than 32,000 of those suicides occur in the United States. In the U.S., the death rate by suicide is nearly twice the rate of death by homicide. The global issue of suicide is enormous. I asked myself, […]

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Why would you want to be a psychiatric nurse?

by Menninger Clinic August 19, 2011

“What exactly will you do?” This was the question. It was fair. I’ll admit it: Even I didn’t know the answer in its entirety. After accepting a psychiatric nurse resident position at The Menninger Clinic, everyone asked me this very question. And while those who inquired seemed eager to find out, I couldn’t help but […]

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NFL star Brandon Marshall is changing the face of borderline personality disorder

by Menninger Clinic August 2, 2011

For the past week, the vast majority of sports media has focused on the end of the labor lockout in the National Football League. With a spate of free agency announcements, trades, signings and wage negotiations, the lockout has provided sports fans considerable drama in a short amount of time. Amid the fervor surrounding millions […]

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Back to black and back: mourning the death of Amy Winehouse

by Menninger Clinic July 26, 2011

Once again we hear about one of our young gods dying. Singer and songwriter Amy Winehouse was 27 when she was found dead, the same age as Janis Joplin so many years ago, both great voices stopped too soon. Amy Winehouse’s music was a testament to rebellion, to female independence and to the twisted and […]

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Remembering Betty Ford

by Menninger Clinic July 13, 2011

Like many who came of age in the ’60s and ’70s, I was saddened to hear of Betty Ford’s death last Friday. For those of us from Michigan, we had reason to be especially proud of her role in our national life. Although I lived in a different Congressional district, Gerald Ford was the only […]

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