Psychiatry Unboxed with TheKicksShrink

From Dr. Haji, "Dr. Lina Haji is a licensed clinical psychologist and licensed mental health counselor specializing in psychodiagnostic assessment, forensic assessment, dual diagnosis, serious and persistent mental illness, depression, anxiety, personality disorders, and substance abuse treatment. Dr. Haji completed a master’s degree in forensic psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice,...

I had the honor to sit down with Dr. Tyler Black, MD, as we sat down to discuss teen suicide and the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation on social media, video games, and astrophotography.    "Tyler Black, MD, FRCPC, is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Suicidologist who has been in clinical practice for over thirteen years.  For 11 years, he was the Medical Director of Emergenc...

Are you someone who was diagnosed later in life? Are you confused about why it took so long? Are you confused about what to do now? It can be a whirlwind getting an adult ADHD diagnosis, but Dr Sulman Aziz Mirza, MD, Triple Board Certified Psychiatrist, is here to explain what to do!   Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:51 Reasons for delayed ADHD diagnosis 3:56 Misdiagnosis of ADHD 5:12 Reaction to ADHD...

Have you heard about anti-psychiatry? I had not heard about until after I started my residency in it. Anti-psychiatry is a movement aimed against psychiatry and psychiatrists. But, there is a lot of nuance involved, and very different presentations within this movement. Learn from psychiatrist Dr. Sulman Aziz Mirza, MD, as he discusses why this movement may not be a terrible thing.   Chapters...

We are delighted to have had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Jessi Gold, MD about a variety of topics. Dr. Gold is a rising star in the world of psychiatry and mental health, helping to shatter the old stereotypes of what a psychiatrist is supposed to be. I have long admired her for her ability to navigate the changing landscape of mental health discussions in society as a whole, and start a lot...

Athletes are often not thought of as a group that has unique mental health needs, but recent history has thrust a spotlight on this, with athletes like Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka, and Ben Simmons have forced the conversation. Dr. Sulman Aziz Mirza, a psychiatrist who does work with athletes and is a part of the National Basketball Player's Association Mental Health & Wellness Program, sits down...

When going anywhere on social media, talking to friends and family, or just reading online, one of the most common things that gets brought up when talking about how to "cure" depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns is exercise. But is it that easy? Are therapy and medication good for anything if all we need to do is exercise and all is fixed? Dr. Sulman Aziz Mirza, MD sits down to e...

Deprescribing medication, especially psychiatric medications, has become something that has popped up more recently. When done properly, deprescribing can help to clear up potential interactions and make life safer for patients, but has to be done in a very specific manner. Dr. Sulman Aziz Mirza, MD walks us through some of the discussions around deprescribing, and what to look out for when doing...

When discussing the opioid epidemic, the conversation is definitely a tricky one involving millions of people on a very personal level, as everyone has been touched by it in some way. One of the voices that has been gaining more steam has been that of the harm reduction group, and one that Dr. Sulman Aziz Mirza, MD personally advocates for. Learn about what harm reduction is and what it is not, as...

OCD (Obsessive-compulsive disorder) is one of the most misunderstood of the psychiatric disorders, mostly due to how it is used in everyday language incorrectly. OCD is one of the "stickiest" disorders, meaning it is hard to treat sometimes, and often can be one of the most debilitating. In this episode, Dr. Sulman Aziz Mirza, MD walks us through explaining what it is, and what it is not.  Ch...

It is imperative that all doctors, especially those in the mental health field, be aware of the impact of PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder), what used to be called PMS. PMDD can impact up to 30% of those who menstruate, and can have a massive emotional and physical impact. Unfortunately, there is usually not enough focus on this during training, and not having a good grasp on this can lead to...

"Well, if it's not a chemical imbalance, what is it?" For decades, quality psychiatrists have been saying that various psychiatric disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse amongst others, are not because of a chemical imbalance, but due to multiple factors. Dr. Sulman Aziz Mirza, Triple Board Certified Psychiatrist, breaks down what the biopsychosocial model of disease is, and h...

Dr. Sulman Mirza, MD sits down with one of his old work colleagues and friends, Elizabeth Hinkle, LMFT to discuss various topics within therapy and mental health, including challenges of working with different populations, working in telehealth, as well as the differences working with a larger health system, an online system, as well as private practice.   Chapters 0:00 Intro 1:59 Differences...

One of the questions and statements that are bandied around surround the rising rates of Autism spectrum diagnoses being made, with some people claiming that "50% of the population will be Autistic in 10 years". Dr. Mirza, a psychiatrist with over a decade of experience working with an Autistic population and families delves into some of the reasons why people are making these claims, including ch...

Psychosis is a very misunderstood term, not only within our everyday language, but also within the medical field. Psychosis is a symptom rather than a diagnosis, and can be symptomatic of so many things. In this video, Dr. Sulman Aziz Mirza, MD walks you through how to evaluate psychosis, specifically differentiating between medical vs psychiatric reasons for it.    Chapters 0:00 Intro 1...

After coming into the news once again, SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) antidepressants are often misunderstood. What are they? What are they used for? And are they dangerous? Dr. Sulman Aziz Mirza, MD sits down to go over these questions and explain. Also, Eid Mubarak to all celebrating :)   Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:51 SSRI uses 1:30 Old antidepressants (TCAs/MAOIs) vs SSRIs 2:23 A...

"How do I find a psychiatrist?" is one of the most common questions I hear as I spend more time in the world of social media and advocacy to end the stigma and normalize seeking mental health treatment. Dr Sulman Aziz Mirza, MD goes through the question and the multiple layers involved with it, including if you actually really need a psychiatrist...   Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:38 Goodness of fit...

Welcome to another interview with TheKicksShrink, Dr. Sulman Aziz Mirza, MD. Dr. Mirza sits down and talks about the importance of sleep in the role of physical and mental health with his old medical school classmate, Dr. Ashtaad Dalal, MD, Double Board Certified in Family Medicine and Sleep Medicine.    From Dr. Dalal: "Dr. Ashtaad Dalal is originally from New York State and is board-ce...

Adult ADHD and discussion of it has been popping up everywhere, especially in social media and the rise of online pill mills. But what is adult ADHD? Aren't people supposed to stop being ADHD? Isn't it just a made up thing? Dr. Sulman Aziz Mirza, MD explains the facts of ADHD and how it impacts not just kids, but also adults.    __________________________________________  Let's conn...

Have you ever wondered if you are worrying too much? And that worrying may be impacting your overall functioning? You may have an anxiety disorder, one of the most common mental health conditions out there. Dr. Sulman Aziz Mirza, MD goes through and explains the differences between the various anxiety disorders, and how to evaluate for them   Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:41 Anxiety in America 1:21 A...

Are you familiar with The Sinclair Method? Dr. Sulman Aziz Mirza, MD tells you all about it, and how it revolutionized his work with individuals seeking help for alcohol use disorder. Learn all about it, how and why it works, as well as how to take back control.    Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:57 What is taught 2:35 The Sinclair Method 6:22 Thrive Alcohol Recovery/Alcohol Freedom Program (Affil...

Trauma is the big buzz word that is everywhere, from TikTok to television to the courtroom with the recent Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard trial. But what exactly is trauma? And what is PTSD? Dr Sulman Aziz Mirza, MD goes down and breaks it down, explaining the different types of trauma, as well as going through what is needed for someone to qualify for a trauma spectrum disorder.   Chapters 0:00...

When discussing addiction, there are so many words that are just incorrectly used. Dr. Sulman Aziz Mirza, Board Certified in Addiction Medicine, breaks down all the terms that are commonly used and misused (and maybe abused?) when talking about substance use disorders...because oh yeah, the DSM-5 in 2013 made all these words somewhat obsolete? Anyways, use the right words :)   Chapters 0:00 I...

Sulman Aziz Mirza, MD is back with another episode, this time, with the focus on continued risk assessment, asking about guns, and the risks that come along with guns for mental health patients.    Music by Ryan Little - Stasis - https://thmatc.co/?l=E7BA06C9  Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:28 Lethality 1:15 Suicide 2:30 Access 3:23 Wrap-up  __________________________________________&nb...

Sulman Aziz Mirza, MD is so very excited to present the first of hopefully many interviews and discussions to come. The first is with author Bree Barton, who has recently written the middle grade aged best-selling book, "Zia Erases the World", about a middle school girl dealing with depression. We had a wonderful conversation about various topics, including coping with childhood struggles by writi...