Dr. K Psychiatry

03/26/2026

My patient has been increasing her activities out of the house lately, but feeling guilty that she is not home as much for her dog. Her dog is always happy to see her when she arrives. I reminded her that the more she goes out, the more often her dog will be happy to see her! So the back and forth can be a good thing!
- Dr. K

03/17/2026

One of my patients with ADHD told me today that meditation helps her with motivation. Try it!
- Dr. K

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03/10/2026

Just musing here...I'm curious to understand why some people with ADHD talk about "my brain tells me..." this or that, as if it is someone else rather than them. I'm not sure that it's helpful to get tasks accomplished to see that part as separate. The folks that talk that way are the ones who seem to have the biggest problems with procrastinating. I'm not bringing this up because I have a solution, but I'm just thinking about what it means, and what alternatives might be.
- Dr. K

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03/08/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1H3BUzDQ7i/

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03/07/2026

What depression feels like. A TED talk.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Dh3LfFjUH/?mibextid=wwXIfr

03/03/2026

Letting go is a skill. And like any skill, some people are further along in developing it than others — not because their life has been easier, but because they've made a conscious decision to stop carrying what was never theirs to hold.

The good news is none of this is a personality trait you either have or you don't. Every single habit on this list is something you can build. It just takes time, self-awareness, and a willingness to be honest with yourself about what you're holding onto and why. 🖤

03/03/2026

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New research reveals that listening to music can slash dementia risk by 40%.

A landmark Monash University-led study involving more than 10,800 participants has discovered a powerful connection between music and cognitive preservation in seniors. Researchers found that consistently listening to music after age 70 is associated with a staggering 39 percent reduction in dementia risk. For those who play an instrument, the risk is lowered by 35 percent, indicating that both active and passive musical engagement can serve as a potent shield against brain decline.

Lead researchers Emma Jaffa and Professor Joanne Ryan emphasize that these findings offer a vital, accessible strategy for maintaining brain health in an aging global population. Beyond reducing dementia risk, regular musical engagement was linked to sharper episodic memory and improved overall cognition. As medicine continues to extend human lifespans, integrating music into daily life represents a simple yet transformative lifestyle choice that may delay the onset of neurodegenerative conditions where cures remain elusive.

source: Jaffa, E., & Ryan, J. (2025). What is the association between music-related leisure activities and dementia risk? A cohort study. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

03/03/2026

I just did a chart audit. 67% of my new patients this past month were daily cannabis users. 42% of my new patients over the past 3 months were daily cannabis users. That increases to 49% if I exclude geriatric patients. It seems that legalization of cannabis has been great for my business, but not so great for your mental health prospects.

The best thing that these people can do for their mental health is to stop using cannabis. There is precious little that other treatments can do to overcome the ill effects of chronic cannabis use, including depression, anxiety, psychosis, low motivation and poor concentration. You might think you are the exceptional person that it helps. If that was true, you wouldn't need to see a psychiatrist.

I'm not posting this to shame those who use cannabis, but to urge these folks to accept that its a problem and not a solution. Help is available if you want it but change starts with acceptance.

- Dr. K

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03/02/2026

CANNABIS IN ADOLESCENCE AND MENTAL ILLNESS.
Here is an important study discussed by Dr. Iris Gorfinkel on CBC radio today. I heard her describe it and looked it up. This was a study in JAMA Health Forum Published Online February 20, 2026
2026;7;(2):e256839. by Kelly Young-Wolff et al.

The numbers of people studied are huge. 463 396 adolescents (234 114 males [50.5%]; mean [SD] age, 14.5 [1.3] years) were included in the sample. The mean time of follow up was 3.7 years.

At baseline, 26 345 adolescents (5.7%) self-reported past-year cannabis use. Past-year cannabis use was associated with more than double the risk of new psychosis, more than double the risk of new bipolar disorder, 34% increased risk of new depression and 24% increased risk of new anxiety disorders. The strength of the associations between cannabis use and incident depressive and anxiety disorders decreased as adolescents aged. The risks were slightly lower when adjusted for past psychiatric diagnoses, but still similar. These results were highly statistically and clinically significant. The study didn't look at the quantity of cannabis used, only self report of any cannabis.

Cannabis use in the study preceded the new psychiatric disorder diagnoses by a mean of 1.7 to 2.3 years, supporting the possibility of a contributory role.

Dr. Gorfinkel added that the prevalence of adolescent cannabis use in Canada is three times what it was in this study at baseline, because it is legal here.

The study tells us that younger age of onset of cannabis use ls associated with greater risk of mental health problems.
- Dr. K

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03/02/2026

I always think of this image when people keep expecting others to change how they treat them. Expect people to keep behaving the way they do. Like Lucy always pulls the football away from Charlie Brown, even after she promises that she won't. He falls for it every time. Don't be fooled. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

03/02/2026

Here's a great idea from one of my patients. He had some things to do that he was procrastinating on. Instead of the usual paper antiprocrastination exercise, he took a photo of before, then he did what he had to do, then took a photo of the results after. He found that to be very motivating to help him to get even more stuff done.
- Dr. K

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02/22/2026

Science is starting to find explanations for why gratitude practice improves resilience.

Scientific research reveals that practicing gratitude physically rewires your brain.

Expressing gratitude is far more than a polite gesture; it is a biological catalyst that physically reshapes the human brain. Through the process of neuroplasticity, consistently focusing on appreciation strengthens neural circuits linked to emotional regulation and resilience. This habit triggers the immediate release of dopamine and serotonin—the body’s natural feel-good chemicals—while simultaneously lowering levels of the stress hormone cortisol. By activating the prefrontal cortex and the hypothalamus, gratitude provides a natural boost to mental health, effectively training the mind to prioritize well-being over distress.

Beyond immediate mood improvements, a dedicated gratitude practice shifts the brain’s fundamental operating mode from survival to growth. While the human brain is naturally wired for threat detection, intentional thankfulness trains it to scan the environment for opportunities and positive outcomes instead. Whether through journaling or verbal acknowledgment, this repetitive focus builds lasting synaptic connections that make optimistic thinking an automatic habit. Over time, this mental shift fosters a more balanced emotional state, proving that the simple act of noticing the good can yield profound and permanent neurological benefits.

source: Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.