You are not alone. The majority of our clinicians at Sweetgrass Psychiatry are mothers, and we know it is tough right after having a baby. There is nothing like it and no one can quite prepare you for what to expect. It can be very challenging to determine what is normal after pregnancy vs. postpartum blues vs. postpartum depression. That is what we are here for.

In recent years, the use of animals in therapeutic and support capacities has gained significant traction. Whether it's a dog helping someone navigate a busy street or a cat providing comfort during tough times, animals have proven to be indispensable allies for many individuals. However, there's often confusion surrounding the terms "therapy dog", "service animal", and "emotional support animal." Let's delve into the differences.

Recognizing the potential pitfalls of excessive tech use is the first step towards a healthier relationship with technology. In the end, the challenge of finding balance with technology is an ongoing journey, and one's attachment to their devices can be deeply rooted. It is essential to explore these feelings and motivations and understand why we feel so attached to our screens and notifications. By doing so, individuals can take meaningful steps toward regaining control over their digital lives, fostering a healthier and more fulfilling existence in this tech-integrated world.

In today's digital era, technology has become an inseparable part of our lives. It connects us with the world, makes tasks more convenient, and keeps us entertained. Yet, amidst the constant stream of notifications and social media, many find themselves feeling increasingly miserable and disconnected. How did we reach this point, and more importantly, how do we strike a balance?

Seriously! Quitting smoking is the most challenging habit to stop - we get it. Tobacco cessation is also one of the best decisions you can make for your health, your wallet, your relationships, and your vanity. Luckily, you don’t have to do it alone. I have had many success stories among my patients over the years thanks to their will power, a little encouragement, a little medications for some, and psychotherapy for some. There is no one size fits all. With the right plan, tools, and support, we believe you can do this!

Sleep can be challenging and elusive yet necessary for your best mental health. It is often the first symptom / warning sign of mental health problems and can trigger and/or exacerbate underlying mental health problems. First, you need to characterize your sleep problems and sleep patterns. For example – is it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or are you waking up too early? If you wake up at night, is it difficult to fall back asleep. We recommend keeping a sleep log next to your bed or on an app on your phone.

To best address your issues with sleep, is essential that you and your healthcare provider identify the cause of your sleep problems, which may involve a physical examination, laboratory studies, and additional testing. It is essential to develop and implement behavioral, psychological, and social solutions to improve your sleep. Lastly, you may require interventions such as a Cpap machine and/or medications to improve your sleep quality.

Couples counseling is a type of psychotherapy that can help couples with a variety of concerns or areas of stress in their relationship and life. Many areas of a romantic relationship can be confusing or stressful to manage, such as communication, finances, roles, beliefs, emotional and physical intimacy, chronic illness, relationships with family, child rearing, and more. Therapists can help couples build healthy habits and skills with one another, increasing relationship satisfaction and functionality of the relationship and family.

Neuropharmagen® enables providers to identify the safest psychotropic medication protocol for patients based on their genetic markers and other relevant factors. Finding the right medication for mental health conditions can often be challenging for patients and providers. Being able to quickly discern specific treatments and dosage amounts for antidepressants and other psychoactive drugs may increase a patient’s adherence and chance for a positive outcome.

Sweetgrass Psychiatry is proud to offer an educational mindfulness course about how teens and parents of teens can manage anxiety using evidence based mindfulness techniques. This educational group is specifically for teens and their parents to help foster improved communication and a positive, healthy relationship. Using an evidence-based combination of intentional focusing, nervous system regulation and self compassion, participants will be equipped with realistic skills to more effectively handle the stress in their lives.

When other traditional treatments for depression are not working, such as psychotherapy, medications (SSRIs, SNRIs), exercise, and healthy eating, there are other great treatment options. At Sweetgrass Psychiatry in Mount Pleasant, SC, we are pleased to provide our patients with treatment resistant depression HOPE. One evidence based, safe treatment option is Intramuscular (IM) ketamine.

At Sweetgrass Psychiatry in Mount Pleasant, SC, we are passionate about helping individuals that are struggling with ADHD. We believe it is a brain based illness that can negatively impact one’s functioning and prevent people from achieving their full potential if left untreated. We also believe that ADHD can be over diagnosed, therefore, we carefully evaluate patients’ symptoms and history, review past records, and obtain definitive neuropsychological testing when indicated.

Pornography is not addressed as much as it should be, and education on this topic is critical today. Introducing this topic into the conversation can help the taboo that many individuals face this challenge become more comfortable coming forward and seeking counseling services. If not, individuals suffering might either not know about services, not realize the harm in overuse, or be too afraid to come forward. 

Men suffering from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) are diagnosed at half the rate of women but die by suicide 3 to 4 times as frequently (Swetlitz, 2021). Researchers argue that one of the key reasons behind this phenomenon is how societal gender processes affect how men and boys present depression and that “male-typical” symptoms of depression should be incorporated when assessing a diagnosis (Swetlitz, 2021). This literature review will cover the background and significance of MDD, how it affects young adult men, and how counselors can appropriately support this population. It will also focus on the role of other identity layers, such as culture, race, and economic status, in young adult men with MDD. In the results, one will find several critical influences behind why gender-role cultures create a bias toward men being underdiagnosed with depression. This will also cover how men suffering from this disorder can present in ways that might not be seen as a traditional diagnosis for MDD.

One of the most effective ways to treat depression and anxiety is through psychotherapy. Research continues to show that it is not the type of therapy that matters most in treatment outcomes - it is the relationship you build with your therapist. I compare finding your therapist to like dating - it has to be a “fit.”

Sometimes we may find that our thoughts feel overwhelming, we get wrapped up in them, or that they may tend to dictate how our day goes. We may find that our thoughts change the ways we behave, which may lead to a cycle of negative behavior or feelings. Uncomfortable thoughts may be seen in people experiencing anxiety, depression, and a variety of other mental health concerns. It is possible to find detachment from our thoughts with the practice of cognitive defusion.

Behavioral Activation (BA) is a therapy skill that can be done with or without Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT is a type of therapy highlighting how thinking, behavior, and feelings are all inter-related and directly involved with one’s mental health. BA specifically focuses on the behavior portion involved in our mental health.

At Sweetgrass Psychiatry, we know panic attacks. This is one of the most common issues that we see and treat. Panic attacks can be debilitating and lead to panic disorder. It is extremely important to receive treatment and the necessary coping skills to combat panic attacks.

Our very own Dr. Layne Gritti, DO was featured in a national blog published by the American Psychiatric Association discussing the impact of birth trauma on women. Refer to https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/maternal-mental-health-and-birth-trauma to read the entire blog.

Due to patient request, we have added intramuscular (IM) ketamine treatments to our arsenal at Sweetgrass Psychiatry to defeat depression. Ketamine is well researched and has demonstrated clinical efficacy in treatment resistant depression research studies. Be aware that ketamine is not currently FDA approved for the treatment of treatment resistant major depression, however Spravato/esketamine is.