Depression

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Older adults and the holidays: Keeping our seniors healthy

Dr. Paul | December 07, 2020 |

During this last year, I’ve been particularly concerned about older adults living alone. In the high-risk group, it has been especially difficult for elders to connect with their families, friends, or neighbors. Many of these adults have become increasingly isolated, and feeling lonely. This can be worsened by the loss of our usual holiday traditions as we try to stem the tide of COVID infections.

A majority of elders have been staying close to home and avoiding crowded places for months because they’re at higher risk of getting severely ill from COVID-19. The same behaviors that... Read More

It’s time to turn the lights on

Dr. Paul | October 12, 2020 |

It’s that time of year again.

By the middle of October, we have only 11 hours of sun compared to 15 hours of sunlight in June. Every day until December 21st, the days shrink. It’s dark when I wake in the morning and soon it will be dark before I finish work at the end of each weekday. Welcome to fall and winter in the Northwest! Did I mention that it rains a lot here too?

When I first arrived here 27 years ago, I noticed in the winter that I felt sluggish and dull for several hours after I woke. I didn't seem to have the get up and go that I had when I lived in the Northeast... Read More

Cultivating inner peace

Dr. Paul | September 28, 2020 |

In late June this year, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) commissioned a survey of 5,412 adults regarding their mental health concerns. Compared to similar surveys conducted in 2019, they found three times the prevalence of anxiety disorders and four times the number of individuals with depressive disorders. This is consistent with my experience as a psychologist —the phones at our behavioral health office at The Everett Clinic, part of OptumCare, are ringing off the hook.

According to the CDC survey, young adults are among the groups that are experiencing the highest degree of... Read More

September is suicide prevention month

Dr. Paul | September 21, 2020 |

Sadly, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) suicide remains the fourth leading cause of death for adults ages 35-54, and the second leading cause of death in younger people ages 10-34. The suicide rate increased 35 percent from 1999 to 2018. In 2019, there were close to 47,000 deaths by suicide compared to nearly 39,000 who died in car accidents. Yet consider how much thought, engineering, and safety resources go into the prevention of automobile accidents compared to suicide prevention. Countries that have made suicide prevention a public health priority have seen drops in... Read More

Beating the seasonal blues

Dr. Paul | November 04, 2019 |

Autumn has arrived. Summer in the Northwest is everyone’s favorite season. The sky is a deep blue and the sun shines. We all look back at those lazy, bright days of summer with warm nostalgia.

I love the long days of summer. On July 4th, we have almost 16 hours of daylight. The sun rises around 5:15 a.m. and sets at 9:10 p.m. The western sky is lit until almost 10 p.m. It’s tough to get kids to bed in the summer and they’re up with the birds. The summer sun feeds our Northwest spirit.

But by October 15th, we only have around 10 hours and 50 minutes of daylight. The sun rises... Read More

Overcoming loneliness in today's age

Dr. Paul | May 22, 2019 |

Despite the rapid growth of social media, a recent survey of 20,000 American adults found that nearly half reported feeling sometimes or always lonely. It’s a paradox. On the one hand, some adults have acquired hundreds of Facebook and Instagram friends and follow their every move. Some folks are receiving and sending texts to family and friends by the bucketload. But on the other hand, these same adults feel lonely. It doesn't make sense. Or does it?

Humans are pack animals, like our close friends, canines. We want to be part of a pack (family), have connections with others, and... Read More

Are you feeling foggy?

Dr. Paul | October 24, 2018 |

It’s time. Turn on the lights.

The days are getting shorter and as of the end of October, we have about 10 and a quarter hours of daylight. At the winter solstice, we only see the sun for about 8 and a half hours! It gets pretty dark around here. And that doesn't figure in that Seattle is the top city in America with the most number of cloudy days—226 to be exact.

I moved to the Northwest 26 years ago in July. I fell in love with the long, sunny days of summer. The western sky was still glowing at 10 pm! But when autumn arrived, I noticed right away that the sunset a lot... Read More

The Pain of Suicide

Dr. Paul | June 13, 2018 |

With the recent suicides of two celebrities, Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, both of whom were at the peak of their fame, once again we find ourselves trying to understand one of the most mysterious causes of death—suicide. Just last month, the Center for Disease Control issued their report on the dramatic increase in suicide, particularly in middle aged white males and in females.

It’s difficult to make sense of two disparate statistics—the significant increased use of anti-depressants among teens and adults and a rising rate of suicide. According to the American Psychiatric... Read More

New research on psychedelic drugs

Dr. Paul | May 29, 2018 |

I am fascinated by the resurgence of interest and research in psychedelic drugs for the treatment of depression, anxiety, and addiction. Michael Polan, the author of the “Omnivore’s Dilemma” has recently published a book on this research titled “How to change your mind”.

A tsunami of depression and anxiety

Dr. Paul | April 18, 2018 |

In the last year, many of my medical colleagues have asked me— “Do you think that there is an increase in depression and anxiety”? I hadn’t thought much about it, but in the first three months of this year, our Behavioral Health department at The Everett Clinic was hit by a tsunami wave of adults and children coming in with these conditions. In January through March alone, we saw over 1500 new patients asking for help. This is unprecedented in the 25 years I have run our department. What’s going on?

With regard to depression, a 2017 study of over 600,000 individuals found... Read More

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