- With Mayo Clinic psychiatrist
David Mrazek, M.D.
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David Mrazek, M.D.
David Mrazek, M.D.
Dr. David A. Mrazek is chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., and a professor of psychiatry at College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic. Dr. Mrazek has developed a federally funded psychiatric pharmacogenomics research program and implemented clinical psychiatric pharmacogenomics services at Mayo Clinic.
He has received numerous awards including the Award for Creativity in Psychiatric Education from the American College of Psychiatrists and the Agnes Purcell McGavin Award for Distinguished Career Achievement in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry from the American Psychiatric Association. He currently serves as chairman of the board of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Dr. Mrazek has focused his current efforts on using pharmacogenomics testing to improve clinical care. One of his specific goals is to decrease the risks of taking psychiatric medications.
Latest entries
- Depression sometimes shifts to bipolar disorder
Jan. 21, 2012
- Antidepressant use soaring among Americans 12 and over
Dec. 7, 2011
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation offers hope treating depression
Oct. 19, 2011
- New antidepressant offers hope
Sept. 3, 2011
- Sorting out the evidence for antidepressants
July 22, 2011
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Depression blog
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April 16, 2008
Welcome to our new depression blog
By David Mrazek, M.D.
Welcome to our depression blog.
| Need more help? |
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I think it is important to know that depression is treatable. There is hope and medicine is making tremendous strides in understanding depression and how to best treat it. Depression can erode one's sense of self, self-esteem and self-confidence.
People describe not having the same zest for living that they normally do. Characteristic signs and symptoms that can accompany depression include depressed mood, decreased interest in pleasurable activities, sleep, energy, and appetite disturbance, feelings of guilt, hopelessness, helplessness, and worthlessness.
Thoughts of suicide also may accompany depression. Talking about suicide does not mean that one will act on the thoughts. It is imperative to ask for help so that treatment can begin as soon as possible. Use resources such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Be active in your treatment and make sure you're well-informed about your illness. Learning what steps you can take to manage your depression is empowering!
My hope is that the stories you share will help both yourself and others. Depression can feel like an ongoing battle at times. Instead, let's reframe depression as a chronic illness like diabetes or chronic pain. We don't have a cure, but there are tools that help you to manage depression effectively. You don't have to do it alone. Thanks, and I look forward to your comments.
1115 comments posted
November 20, 2011 11:38 p.m.
dear Kat: welcome to the blog, i'm glad u wrote in, i'm not a professional, just a patient just like u, do u think that u may have SAD (seasonal affective disorder) also, along with ur depression?? that's too bad that the therapist didn't click with you, i no how hard it is 2 find the right dr.,what meds. r u on right now?? good luck to you in finding the right dr. & in everything else, write back in if it helps you & let us know how you're doing??
- denise
November 20, 2011 12:14 p.m.
I hate the dark. I live in Florida, but we have had three days of rain I can't take it. I suffer from clinical depression and am seeking new meds and a new therapist. I saw one today but we didn't click. I hope I can get new meds soon. I just want everything to stop for a little while. I love life but feel like I am on a merry-go-round and am not holding on too well.
- Kat
November 19, 2011 3:22 p.m.
Nancy, don't give up. I to have severe depression,I'm 65 and had all my life. Have a great dr and did have a great therapist,but he moved to another city.Started a new therapist this week,don't believe she and I will work out.Just be sure and find the right dr for you and you both work on the best meds for your depression. God Bless!
- Peggy
November 19, 2011 3:17 p.m.
Glad to hear you're doing better,I am also doing so much better. After starting the abilify with 200mg of zoloft,it is better for me. I wish everyone with this disease could find the right meds. God bless!
- Peggy
November 18, 2011 9:06 p.m.
Dear Denise ,,Its never enough about you .Its so wonderfull to hear you sound so happy and doing so well .Tell us more !It really is great for me to hear that one of us has a life again .Im doing ok .Still dealing with some real hard things in therapy .Thats what its all about ,getting rid of all that nasty stuff that fills my head day and night .A great therapist doesnt hurt either .Take one day at a time and hope tomorrow will be better ! Cant keep this Musketeer down for to long .LOL .Always thinking about my 2 musketeers too .Its great to have so much in common ,and be there for the good and the bad .Annette and your support really does help .Take care both of you .Will talk soon !
- Kam
November 18, 2011 7:43 p.m.
dear annette: how's my girl doin?? hope ur doin well?? haven't heard from u 4 a little while?? i'm doin almost 100%!! do u believe it?? i keep track of my meds. that i'm on (i keep kinda like a journal or diary) that way i can go back & see when i was doing good & what med. i was on, i no i'm always doing good in May of every yr. (usually)?? this past yr. i did good 4 over 45 days, long story short i'm on the med. that i was on then, well enough about me, write in when you can & let us know how you are?? you're in my prayers nightly!! hope all is well
- denise
November 18, 2011 4:43 p.m.
dear kam: how's my fellow musketeer doing-lol?? i hope ur doing good, haven't heard from u in awhile, i'm still doing well, write when u can, always thinkin' bout u, take care
- denise
November 18, 2011 9:58 a.m.
dear nancy: i'm glad u wrote in, welcome, i'm not a professional, just a patient like u, i would suggest that u try taking benedryl tabs 4 sleep, they're not addictive & will usually make u drowsy enough to fall asleep & stay asleep, u can get them @ the $ store for 100 tabs for only $4-!! that's a pretty good deal-i think?? take 2 about a half hour to an hour b 4 bed & u should b sleepy by then, it's worth a try instead of all the pres. drugs with all there wonderful side effects, what other meds. r u taking?? anything that mite b causing the insomnia?? good luck to you, i hope this helps & let us know how you're doing??
- denise
November 16, 2011 10:57 a.m.
Hi Nancy .Welome to the blog .A lot of great people here .I have PTSD and suffer from Panic, anixiety,Sleep dissorder,Flashbacks ,and the list goes on .My brain never stops .I see a therapist weekly .Took Ambian for a while .There are a lot of good meds out there.Is there someone you can talk to about what you are going through?How about the person that gave you the Ambian .Is that someone you trust to help ?Best wishes .Write back if you want to to let us know how you are doing .
- kam
November 16, 2011 2:14 a.m.
Hi everyone, I suffer from severe depression and insomina. I wish my brain would just shut down and let me sleep. Any suggestions. I take ambian but can't take it every night becuase I don't want to get to use to it. Thanks Nancy
- Nancy
November 13, 2011 11:45 a.m.
Dear Kam I missed you too. sorry to hear that you lost a family member and you too are going thru hard times. You and Denise are my models of not giving up no matter how difficult life sometimes. am so happy that you and Denise are thinking about me and that am not alone and thank you for making me smile lol. am doing ok now. have to let things go, my health is important than money. you too is in thoughts and prayers. take care and thanks to be my friend.
- Annette
November 13, 2011 11:31 a.m.
Dear Annette So glad to see you are blogging .Am so sorry you have been having such a hard time . Im still taking one day at a time .You and Denise are alway in my thoughts .Do hope tomorrow the sunshines for you and it is a better day . Take care .Miss not talking to you .
- kam
November 13, 2011 11:24 a.m.
Dear Denise thank so much for your encouragement words. am so glad I know you even if I know you only here. am happy that there is someone who understand and pray for me and am not alone. am so happy that you`re doing good back again and can give advices to others who seek advices I can say you`re good in that. keep up the good work. am doing ok now have to let things go my health is more important than money. you too is always in my prayers and in my thoughts. take care always and thanks for condering me as your friend.
- Annette
November 12, 2011 5:49 p.m.
dear elaine: welcome to the blog, we're glad u wrote in, i'm not a professional just a patient just like u, i also suffer from SAD, but have not tried a lite box recently, it should help u, but before you buy one ck. out this web-site: about.com & then go under depression & there's an article titled "before u buy a lite box", this should help answer a lot of ur questions, companies are claiming that a blue lite is better, but this article says "white lite only", so the articles has some good info. in it-i think anyway, i 2 suffer more with my depression @ this time of the year, as i live in mi., where r winters are long, good luck 2 you, go on-line & ck. out some of the lites (there's a lot of them on there), hope this helped u & write back & let us no how ur doing
- denise
November 12, 2011 10:04 a.m.
Having been diagnosed with severe clinical depression,I am on medication & have been for many years. I feel worse at this time of year, although it sneaks up on me. I now have a skin disease (liken simplex chronicus). does anyone think that light therapy would help. & what light should i buy?
- Elaine
November 10, 2011 9:24 p.m.
Annette Missed you.Going through a lot of downs myself .Sorry to hear you are too .Think of you and Denise often . Take care .
- kam
November 10, 2011 4:06 p.m.
Denise,glad to hear from you. I am doing a lttle better,still not wanting to do anything and not wanting to leave the house.I sart seeing a new therapist next week,but my last one was so great I hope the new one is ok. I've also started taking abilify 2mg,may be helping some.Just wish we all could be well! God bless.
- Peggy
November 10, 2011 2:45 p.m.
dear annette: sooo glad 2 hear from u but sorry ur not up to doing anything, sorry you're having problems with ur work, my lamictal has been reduced (over time) from 400 mg. to 100 mg., i think that's helping?? i'm now taking abilify 2 mg.-which has always helped me & works fast-which is good!! u hang in there & ur in my thoughts & prayers, write back when u can, glad to be your friend!!
- denise
November 10, 2011 1:27 p.m.
Dear Denise. sorry haven`t written for a long time. just don`t have the feeling to do something. have problem with my work. sorry i made you worry about me. with regards to my medications they help me enough to function, hope won`t get a relapse due to my present problem. am glad you are back and can give advice again to some people who seek advice. what for new meds are you taking now? hope and pray these are the right meds for you. you too are always in my prayers and in my thoughts. take care always and thanks to be my friend.
- Annette
November 10, 2011 1:05 p.m.
dear peggy: haven't written 2 u in a long time-sorry, haven't " " " very much @ all, b cuz haven't been doing that great, doin better now that the doc has changed around my meds., i read that u have a thyroid problem, have u ever tried the medicine called "Armour Thyroid", it's a natural medication, but a dr. still has to rite a pres. 4 it, it doesn't have the side effects that the other ones have, you may want to try it?? how is your depression doing?? have u been able 2 find a new therapist? it's a hard thing to do, don't give up hope & u'll b in my prayers
- denise
November 9, 2011 9:58 a.m.
dear annette: where's our 3rd musketeer?? lol hope ur ok, haven't heard from u in forever?? write 2 us if u can or maybe have someone else write in 2 tell us how u r?? always thinking of u & you're in my prayers every nite, write soon if u can
- denise
November 9, 2011 9:55 a.m.
so nice 2 hear from u kam!! i'm glad ur feeling a little bit better-one day @ a time, ur on the lowest dose of lamictal-i'm surprised that ur dr. hasn't increased that @ all?? i've been having a med. change & trying 2 figure out whether 2 take the meds. @ nite or during the daytime, been a little more tired during the day then i'd like 2 b, i think about u often 2 & ur always in my prayers, stay well & will talk 2 u soon
- denise
November 7, 2011 7:51 a.m.
Dear Denise I can not tell you how happy I am for you . I am taking one day at a time .Think Im starting to feel a little better .Im on 30 mg Lexapro and 25 mg of Lamotrigine (booster).It does work well ,, but when you really get into the hard stuff nothing but lots of therapy really works best. This Musketeer got a little knocked down ,,but doesnt give up.Lol!Thank you again for all the kind words .Thing about you often and Annette too . Wish you both well.
- kam
November 2, 2011 10:40 a.m.
dear boudica: welcome to the blog i hope that it helps u with whatever ur dealing with, i'm not a professional, just a patient like u, as far as looking 4 a good therapist u might want to ck. with ur local health dept., get a referral from ur dr. or try the phone book-go under clinics, i hope this helps, write back in & let us no how ur doing, if u want to & good luck to you
- denise
November 2, 2011 10:25 a.m.
dear annette: how r u doing?? have seen u haven't written in a while?? i hope u no that i always think of u & ur always in my prayers!! write in if u can, so we no how ur doing?? i'm worried bout u
- denise
1115 comments posted