Marty Nemko's Blog, page 392

Beyond SSRIs and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: What are other approaches to mild to moderate depression?

Recently on PsychologyToday.com I interviewed Dr. Thomas Insel, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).on how to treat depression.
That interview as been gnawing at me ever since. You see, the advice he gave is pretty much what has been recommended for a decade or more, that most people with mild to moderate depression are best treated with an SSRI (like Prozac and Zoloft) and/or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT.)
In my admittedly anecdotal experience, having been career and personal coach to many people with depression, their most common experience is that the drug yields some benefit, typically taking the edge off their depression but often, the effect wears off. And the side-effects are often problematic, for example, sexual dysfunction, flattened affect, nausea, and drowsiness. People often go off the medication feeling unsure that the benefits outweigh the side effects
And my clients’ typical experience with cognitive-behavioral therapy is that it helps but, pardon the pun, it’s no magic pill.
Without turning to the treatments usually reserved for severe depression such as electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) or vagus nerve stimulation, what else seems worthy of trial? I address that question in my PsychologyToday.com article today. HERE is the link

When Online Dating Isn’t Right for You

Most people first come to see me for career coaching but occasionally our work also involves my helping the client find a mate. 

My PsychologyToday.com article today describes how I helped one woman develop her plan. HERE is the link.

Voting Smart

Political candidates spend a fortune to manipulate us into voting for them. My PsychologyToday.com article identifies some tricks to watch out for and offers a simple way to vote smart. HERE  is the link.

Your Hair: Should you give it more or less attention?

We spend $80 billion a year on our hair. My PsychologyToday.com article tries to help readers decide whether to spend more or less money and time on it. HERE is the link.

Economic Misfits: When You Don’t Fit In Our Economic World

Some people don't find desirable paid work throughout their lifetime. What might they do? What might society do? I tackle those questions in my PsychologyToday.com article today. HERE is the link.

Terminating a Counseling Relationship

Whether you’re a client or a counselor, terminating the relationship is difficult. My PsychologyToday.com article today offers some thoughts on how to handle it. HERE is the link.


 

Reducing Anxiety: The standard of care and what's on the horizon

My PsychologyToday.com article today: How best to treat anxiety? And is there new hope on the horizon? 
To address those questions, I turned to Dr. Daniel Pine. He has written over 200 papers on anxiety, mood, and behavior disorders and is Chief of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) section of development and affective neuroscience.  HERE is the link.

Sad Lyrics: A source of insight and odd sort of pleasure

Most people prefer laughing and so they like happy songs but a too-ignored group especially enjoys sad ones. 

Sad lyrics often provide insight and an odd sort of pleasure. 

It is for them that, for my PsychologyToday.com article today, I’ve assembled a collection of sad and often profound lyrics. 

HERE is the link. 

A Case Against Following Your Passion: My first weekly contribution to Time.com

I'm now writing one or two articles a week for Time.com's Ideas section.


Here is my first contribution. The title is more unequivocal than I believe appropriate but Time's editor chooses the titles and I didn't want to start off my relationship with her by complaining about it. Sorry if its hyperbole offends: Why Following Your Passion Is the Worst Kind of Career Advice.

15 Psychologically Rich Pieces of Famous Artwork

For my PsychologyToday.com article today, I reviewed 3,000 famous artworks to select 14 paintings and one sculpture that, for me at least, feel the most psychologically moving. HERE is the link.