Crisis
Everything we have written on Crisis, in one place.
ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy)
ECT (electroconvulsive therapy, the one with the bad PR from the Jack Nicholson movie) works better than any antidepressant we have, and almost nobody who…
Jun 25, 2026
Involuntary holds: OR/WA specifics
Oregon and Washington don't use the California 5150/5250 numbering, which confuses people who moved up here from the Bay Area expecting that vocabulary.
Jun 10, 2026
Klonopin (Clonazepam)
The pitch for Klonopin, the one I hear from prescribers and from the guys who've been on it for years, is that it's the cleaner benzo.
Mar 4, 2026
Xanax (Alprazolam)
I prescribe Xanax rarely, and when I do I usually regret it within six months.
Mar 2, 2026
You Already Know You Have a Problem
If you're reading this and wondering whether your drinking is a problem... it is. You wouldn't be reading this otherwise.
Sep 15, 2025
Lorazepam (Ativan)
Ativan has a reputation, and half my new patients walk in with strong feelings about lorazepam before I've said anything.
Aug 24, 2025
Medicare for Patients Under 65 (SSDI Disability + Mental Health Coverage)
Medicare is not just a senior thing, and that surprises a lot of guys Most people grow up thinking Medicare is the program your grandfather is on. You…
Aug 11, 2025
Medicaid for Mental Health Care in Oregon and Washington
If you’re an adult in Oregon or Washington and you’re scraping by, there’s a real chance Medicaid covers you, and a real chance it covers more of your…
Aug 3, 2025
How to Actually Appeal an Insurance Denial
Insurance denied your mental health claim.
Jul 31, 2025
PTSD, Explained
PTSD is what happens when your brain encodes a memory wrong.
Jul 19, 2025
Anxiety, Explained
The public conversation about anxiety treatment and the clinical reality have drifted about as far apart as it's possible for two conversations on the…
Jul 7, 2025
Psychiatric hospitalization: what to expect
Most people who get hospitalized for a psychiatric reason have never been inside one and have no idea what's about to happen, which makes a scary thing…
Jun 12, 2025