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Craig Alan Brown, MD
Serving the San Diego Community Since 1975

Recommended Reading: A Critical Piece of Your Mental Health Journey

2/11/2020

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If you're struggling with a mood disorder, looking into the future can be daunting; the road in front of you may seem long, and full of obstacles.  This article from Hope to Cope, A Critical Piece of Your Mental Health Journey, argues that a shift in perspective - making the conscious choice to focus on the here and now, one day at a time - is a vital piece of the puzzle.

A Critical Piece of Your Mental Health Journey, by Carol Rickard
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Recommended Reading: My 'Bipolar Brain'

6/7/2019

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In this article and video from BP Hope, Dave Mowry speaks about the way his brain reacts to and processes a negative comment by creating constant conversations in his head, and offers suggestions for ways to hit the pause button when you're brain feels like it's running away from you.  Read the full article by following the link below:

My 'Bipolar Brain': Constant Conversations in my Mind
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Recommended Reading: Anger Management

2/15/2019

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Anger Management: Letting Go to Start to Heal

Feeling and processing our emotions is painful and exhausting - it's no wonder sometimes it seems easier to just "stuff" a feeling down, promising yourself you'll handle it later.  After a while, things build up like a pressure cooker and inevitably...you explode.

This article from Esperanza, Anger Management: Letting Go to Start to Heal offers exercises to help you recognize, address, and process your feelings - leaving you a healthier, happier human. Find the full article below.

Anger Management: Letting Go to Start to Heal
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Recommended Reading: Separating Your 'True Self' From The Lies Depression Tells You

11/29/2018

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This article from Esperanza magazine, Separating Your 'True Self' From The Lies Depression Tells You, notes that when battling a mood disorder like depression, it's easy to be our own worst critics.  Leaning on friends and family for support and words of advice can help you see past your own biases, feelings about yourself, and depression.

Separating Your 'True Self' From The Lies Depression Tells You
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Recommended Reading: Depression & Conquering Self-Stigma

11/23/2018

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Conquering Self-Stigma

Millions of Americans are affected by mental health conditions every year, but because of the stigma surrounding mental illness, it's rarely discussed.  Struggling with a mental health issue is a challenge in itself, but when self-stigma gets added to the mix, it can be overwhelming.  This article from Esperanza magazine, Depression & Conquering Self-Stigma encourages you to shake off the shame, advocate for yourself, reach out to others, and dive into treatment.

Depression & Conquering Self-Stigma
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Recommended Reading: When Social Media Fuels Your Depression & Anxiety

10/26/2018

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 Social media can be a double edged sword; it offers an easy way to stay in touch with friends and family, but sometimes we leave the site feeling worse rather than better.  We can be tempted to compare our own lives with the picture perfect glimpses of others' we see on Facebook and Instagram.  We may find ourselves compulsively checking our social media accounts for updates, spending hours browsing, or even basing our mood on how many 'likes' we've gotten.  How do we know when it's time to take a break?

This article from Esperanza offers suggestions on how to unplug and recharge.

When Social Media Fuels Your Depression & Anxiety
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Recommended Reading: Maintaining Self-Care through Depression

9/14/2018

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Depression can make it hard to complete the most basic of tasks, but struggling with self-care doesn't make you weak or lazy.  This article from Esperanza will help you learn to set small goals, practice basic self-care, and combat inactivity.

Read the full article from Esperanza here: Maintaining Self-Care through Depression
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Recommended Reading: The Enemy Within

6/11/2018

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Even with the best of intentions, writes Robin L. Flanigan, we have a tendency to "get in our own way."  Self-sabotaging behaviors like procrastination, denial, or falling back into old thought patterns, keep us from moving forward and accomplishing our goals.

This article from BP Hope magazine, titled The Enemy Within: Tools to Stop Self-Sabotage, offers tools and advice for defeating your inner saboteur, which include self-acceptance, seeking support, setting realistic goals, and creating schedules (for sleep, medication, therapy, and more) that will set you up for success.

Read the full article at BP Hope: The Enemy Within
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Recommended Reading: Shame & Guilt

5/1/2018

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Feelings of guilt and shame, while fundamentally human, can often keep us trapped in a cycle of self-criticism and emotional distress.

In her article for Hope to Cope, Robin L. Flanigan writes, "Shame and guilt are two sides of the same coin, different things that often get experienced together and tend to feed our negative self-judgments."

​Learning to identify our emotions allows us to begin to move forward, and break out the cycle of self-judgement and self-criticism. This article highlights the differences between guilt and shame, and offers strategies for moving past self-judgment and toward self-compassion. Read the full article by following the link below:

Shame & Guilt: Two Sides of the Same Coin
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Recommended Reading: The Power of Pets

2/17/2018

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Depression & the Power of Pets

Struggling with a mood disorder?  Research shows us that owning a pet can boost your self-esteem, improve your fitness and physical health, encourage you to be more outgoing, and offer social companionship, which will make you feel less isolated or lonely.*  In short, life with a pet may leave you happier and healthier.

This article from Hope to Cope highlights some of the practical perks of pet ownership - for example, the responsibility of caring for a pet's needs may get you out of bed in the morning - as well as many of the less tangible benefits.  Read more information by following the link below.

The Power of Pets

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Source: Psychology Today
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    Dr. Craig Alan Brown has been providing the highest quality of care and support to the San Diego community for over forty years.

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Dr. Craig Alan Brown MD
Diplomate American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

480 4th Street Avenue, Suite 511
Chula Vista, California 91910
​Phone: (619) 426-0370
​Fax: (619) 426-0676