Orange County Psychiatrist, Adult Psychiatry

Patient Resources

One of the first things patients will often say to me is “doctor, I'm not crazy”. I am providing the following information for patients who identify with these symptoms to realize that they are not alone in their suffering and that help is readily available.

From my experience, every single patient has a different story and presents with different symptoms. The following are some of the more common problems that I treat patients for. The descriptions below are examples of what I hear from my patients but in no way are they representative of any one particular person.

Panic disorder: Patients who come into my office who have experienced panic attacks will describe how anxious they feel when it happens. Some have gone to the emergency room thinking that they were having a heart attack. They describe feelings of numbness, shaking, labored breathing, and profuse sweating. Sometimes they also have symptoms of light-headedness, feeling dizzy, and feel like they are losing control. They usually feel the need to escape from whatever surrounding that they are in or else they feel trapped. It can be a frightening experience and they often have no idea that these symptoms could be those of a panic disorder. If you would like to have an evaluation and learn about treatment options for panic disorder, click here to contact me.

OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder): I have seen many patients with OCD. They often will start by telling me how embarrassed they are to tell me about their disorder. They will tell me that, while they know what they are doing or thinking is irrational, they can’t stop their behavior. They don’t understand why they do it. Some common things patient get distressed over are: constant checking of things such as locks, counting things, or constant washing of their hands. Some people complain of “thoughts that get stuck in my head” and they can’t get rid of them. They find the thoughts intrusive and annoying. They are surprised to learn that I hear these stories often and that it is a common psychiatric issue that I treat. If you would like to have an evaluation and learn about treatment options for OCD disorder, click here to contact me.

GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder): GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder): Worrying is one of the most common things that my patients complain about. Everyone worries but it is the degree of worrying that can cause problems. Patients with GAD will often tell me that “I worry about everything, I worry about my family, my kids, money, my job.” In GAD, patients find it very difficult to stop worrying and often cannot fall asleep because of it. They may worry about little things that most people would not worry about. These patients sometimes describe “being on edge and can’t relax”. When treated successfully, patients tell me that things don’t bother them as much and that they also feel less tense and anxious. If you would like to have an evaluation and learn about treatment options for GAD disorder, click here to contact me.

Depression: Depression is a very common psychiatric issue that I treat. Patients will describe that they are sad but don’t know why or that they will cry for no reason and that they can’t stop crying. I often hear “I have been depressed all my life” or “I have been depressed for as long as I can remember.” Some patients who are depressed tell me that they don’t enjoy doing things that they used to. Some other common complaints are: problems getting out of bed, not wanting to do things with friends, lack of motivation, not wanting to leave the house, sleep disturbances, difficulty making decisions, memory problems, changes in appetite, hopeless thoughts and even thoughts of suicide or death. Depression is very treatable. If you would like to have an evaluation and learn about treatment options for depression, click here to contact me.

Bipolar (manic-depression): I see many patients with bipolar disorder in my office. Patients or their significant other may say that they are irritable, get angry easily, and have very bad mood swings. Patients may also be getting less sleep and are up all night doing things they normally wouldn’t do. They may also feel an excessive amount of energy to be able to do things. Irritability is very common. Spending money excessively can also occur. Some patients become very impulsive in their judgment which gets them into trouble. Fortunately, there are medication options for treating bipolar. All of them have their advantages and disadvantages and those details should be discussed with a physician who is familiar with those medications. If you would like to have an evaluation and learn about treatment options for bipolar disorder, click here to contact me.

All this information is for your education only and is not intended to replace the advice of a health care professional. You should consult with a psychiatrist if you suspect you may have any of the conditions that are discussed here.

If any of the descriptions above sound like something you or a loved one experiences, please don’t hesitate to call my office for an appointment as there is no need to continue letting your symptoms interfere with your relationship, work, family, or your goals. Click here to contact me.

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