Author Archives: Simon Downes, MD, PhD

Medical educator

Does my mom have a mental illness?

I think my mom has a mental illness, but I am not sure what. She accuses people of stealing her belongings all the time and ends up finding them herself. She doesn’t apologize about it. She would stay up all night looking for things that aren’t in the house But she is convinced it’s hidden…More

What to do about night terrors?

When I was 8 years old, I started to get night terrors. I used to wake up screaming. Over time the night terrors went away. Now I am 22 years old, and I started to get them again. I wake up startled with my heart racing. It feels like I am suffocating. I dont recall…More

What can I do about my insomnia?

I am exhausted all the time. I experience insomnia pretty much every night. I get only about a few hours of sleep a night. I get frustrated that I can’t fall asleep and that makes it worse. I am taking 60mg of Geodon and 20mg of Celexa at night for my anxiety. A friend told…More

Effexor dosage –

I have been on Effexor for about 2 months to help with my social anxiety disorder. My doctor started me on 35.5mg a day for a week, then eventually upped to 75.5mg a day. At this point I was feeling fine. Eventually, my doctor increased the dosage to 225mg and then 300mg. Oddly enough when…More

Do I have social anxiety disorder?

I am afraid I might have social anxiety disorder. I am not a very timid person, but I feel uncomfortable if I am the center of attention, such as speaking in front of a large group. I turn bright red and begin sweating and I can’t keep eye contact. It doesn’t happen when I am…More

I think I am depressed

I think I am depressed. I have never been diagnosed by a doctor. I am not on any medication. I don’t have any allergies that I am aware of. I don’t have any defining point that caused the depression. I don’t cut myself or think about suicide. I’m not really sure what I feel. I…More

Best tips to avoid anxiety

We have all experienced anxiety, and while I really do not think there is a way to completely avoid anxiety, we can certainly develop good coping skills for when anxiety hits us. Let’s start with a clear definition of anxiety, and then discuss some coping strategies, and what to do if your anxiety is reaching…More

How to help a friend with depression

When you notice that a friend or family member has not been herself or himself for a few weeks, this may be an indication that they may have some form of depression. While only a professional can give a certain diagnosis, your close relationship with that person makes you very sensitive to their moods, and…More

Midlife crisis

I am 45 years old and I think I am going through a midlife crisis. I had a reunion with some college friends of mine this past weekend and after seeing how everyone else has grown, I feel like I haven’t. I started to think of all the things I’ve done, and none are noteworthy.…More