Modern World, Modern Mind

Therapy

Which Gives You Power? Knowing What You Do or Why You Do It?

Mark Rego M.D. on November 27, 2023

How do we change thoughts and feelings we find harmful? It may seem we should find out "why" we think and feel as we do. But a simpler solution is at our fingertips.

How do we change thoughts and feelings we find harmful? It may seem we should find out "why" we think and feel as we do. But a simpler solution is at our fingertips.

Chronic Illness

Recipes for Happiness May Not Work for the Chronically Ill

Mark Rego M.D. on September 25, 2023

Chronic illness can change life into a small, inadequate version of its prior self. Here's how people can rebuild a life and pursue happiness when chronically ill.

Chronic illness can change life into a small, inadequate version of its prior self. Here's how people can rebuild a life and pursue happiness when chronically ill.

Creativity

Mental 'Vitamins' You Have Not Heard About

Mark Rego M.D. on May 25, 2023

Our minds need certain things to keep working at their best, some of which we have fallen out of practice. How can we be more aware of them in daily life?

Our minds need certain things to keep working at their best, some of which we have fallen out of practice. How can we be more aware of them in daily life?

Psychiatry

Questionnaires Give Us Data; They Do Not Tell Your Story

Mark Rego M.D. on April 24, 2023

Questionnaires are increasingly used in mental healthcare—making it more important than ever to understand their strengths and limitations.

Questionnaires are increasingly used in mental healthcare—making it more important than ever to understand their strengths and limitations.

Bipolar Disorder

What Does "Crazy" Really Mean?

Mark Rego M.D. on March 14, 2023

We use words like "crazy" to describe and insult, and in most cases neither use is accurate.

We use words like "crazy" to describe and insult, and in most cases neither use is accurate.

Social Life

Time Pressure Leaves Us Depleted. Is There a Way Back?

Mark Rego M.D. on February 21, 2023

How can we feel restored without more to-dos and too much time alone?

How can we feel restored without more to-dos and too much time alone?

Loneliness

What If Covid Infection Made You Terribly Lonely?

Mark Rego M.D. on October 13, 2022

What if catching the Covid virus would make you very, very lonely? How would we react? Would we band together or exile the infected?

What if catching the Covid virus would make you very, very lonely? How would we react? Would we band together or exile the infected?

Depression

Atypical Depression: A Typical Illness in Women

Mark Rego M.D. on September 14, 2022

A different type of depression affects many women but often remains undiagnosed for years, leaving effective treatment out of reach.

A different type of depression affects many women but often remains undiagnosed for years, leaving effective treatment out of reach.

Stress

Modern Life Changes the Brain. Here's How to Change It Back

Mark Rego M.D. on June 6, 2022

Modern life makes damaging demands on the brain. We cannot change the world, but we can change the way it affects us as individuals.

Modern life makes damaging demands on the brain. We cannot change the world, but we can change the way it affects us as individuals.

Career

How the Brain Handles Modern Life

Mark Rego M.D. on May 22, 2022

Modern life stresses us in a way that makes us vulnerable to mental illness. Only by seeing where modern life and the brain meet will we see how this happens and how to prevent it.

Modern life stresses us in a way that makes us vulnerable to mental illness. Only by seeing where modern life and the brain meet will we see how this happens and how to prevent it.

Health

The One Crisis That Causes Them All

Mark Rego M.D. on May 10, 2022

Mental illness and related crises are spreading like weeds. Where ever we find modern life, we find these changes. Why is this happening and what can we do about it?

Mental illness and related crises are spreading like weeds. Where ever we find modern life, we find these changes. Why is this happening and what can we do about it?

Relapse

Developing an Early Warning System

Mark Rego M.D. on April 20, 2022

For most people, mental disorders present with the same early signs for each episode. By making careful note of these, a treatment team can intervene quickly.

For most people, mental disorders present with the same early signs for each episode. By making careful note of these, a treatment team can intervene quickly.

Chronic Illness

Once You Get Sick, Are You the Same Person?

Mark Rego M.D. on April 4, 2022

Personal Perspective: As someone who has been and remains very ill, I can say that I am not the person I was. On behalf of myself and those like me, I ask where you find the interest and value in us.

Personal Perspective: As someone who has been and remains very ill, I can say that I am not the person I was. On behalf of myself and those like me, I ask where you find the interest and value in us.

Bipolar Disorder

How to Understand Mental Illness

Mark Rego M.D. on March 22, 2022

3 steps toward understanding another person’s experience of a mental disorder.

3 steps toward understanding another person’s experience of a mental disorder.

Health

Does Being Ill Have a Rock Bottom?

Mark Rego M.D. on February 25, 2022

Being ill, mentally or physically, can involve many periods of hard work to get better. What if you will not get better? How do you do the work?

Being ill, mentally or physically, can involve many periods of hard work to get better. What if you will not get better? How do you do the work?

Bipolar Disorder

Why You May Not Be Bipolar

Mark Rego M.D. on January 31, 2022

Bipolar disorder has become greatly over-diagnosed through the past 20 years. Understanding what has happened to bring about this problem is key to solving it.

Bipolar disorder has become greatly over-diagnosed through the past 20 years. Understanding what has happened to bring about this problem is key to solving it.

Personality

40 Years of Diagnostic Fads

Mark Rego M.D. on January 19, 2022

It seems that every decade or so, a diagnosis becomes a fad in mental health care. Here's what has been overdiagnosed, and why it's occurred.

It seems that every decade or so, a diagnosis becomes a fad in mental health care. Here's what has been overdiagnosed, and why it's occurred.

Depression

The 2 Most Important Questions in Psychology That No One Asks

Mark Rego M.D. on January 7, 2022

What should patients or clinicians say when they don't know where to begin? There are some important questions that easily open the door.

What should patients or clinicians say when they don't know where to begin? There are some important questions that easily open the door.

Stress

How Much Stress Is Too Much?

Mark Rego M.D. on December 29, 2021

There is much in the news about trauma, but much of our psychological suffering comes from normal life occurrences. Can we learn to see these before they become overwhelming?

There is much in the news about trauma, but much of our psychological suffering comes from normal life occurrences. Can we learn to see these before they become overwhelming?

Grief

Why Is Mental Pain Considered Less Important Than Physical Pain?

Mark Rego M.D. on December 8, 2021

In our culture, mental pain is often placed on a lower rung of importance than physical pain. We complicate matters with meanings that may not exist.

In our culture, mental pain is often placed on a lower rung of importance than physical pain. We complicate matters with meanings that may not exist.