Health

No one Knows I Have Cancer Unless I Tell Them

In a matter of months I will look more like other cancer patients than like my own family. I have always been amazed by the capabilities of the human body, its ability to navigate us through life. I have taken care of my body by staying active and eating nutritious...

Is It Time to Jump Ship?

Considering the circumstances, do you feel the best you could possibly be feeling? Every day while locked in hotel quarantine, an Australian government social worker called me and posed that question. I thought it was a clever way to ask and it gave me pause to really...

Happy New Year 2022

What a year, right?!  Thank you to my Love and Medicine readers, I am truly grateful for your support. With so much to read out there, I am glad you choose me. Continue to comment and provide feedback. All of your emails and Ask Dr. Annie K. questions are anonymous....

PMDD

"I have been struggling with anxiety and depression throughout most of my life. However, the past few months I have started to notice that these feelings get a lot worse right before and during my period. During my period I feel like I am at my very lowest -...
Polio: Our Parents’ Plague

Polio: Our Parents’ Plague

"Your mom walks funny" a friend said one day in elementary school. I had never noticed my mom walking any different than anyone else. Just like I didn't realize my dad had a Czechoslovakian accent. That is when I found out my mom had polio 40 years earlier. The virus...

Bidet?

Bidet?

I rarely talk about products on this blog. Remember when I saved you $38 by advising you not to buy Sex Dust? The shortage of toilet paper right now is real. Keeping two houses stocked is a challenge, especially when you are limited to one pack per order. We all would...

Soup

Soup

There’s a tradition in our family started by Eva, my dad’s wife, to make a big pot of soup and have it ready when someone comes home from a trip. When you are jetlagged, the last thing you want to do is go out to a restaurant or cook. After a shower, opening the...

Pandemic Pandemonium

Pandemic Pandemonium

These are unprecedented times. Every person in the world has been affected by COVID-19. How we react is generally in line with our personalties. The anxious become more anxious and the cynics deny, deny, deny until they can’t anymore. Then there are people who have...

Freedom from Worry

Freedom from Worry

Now that we understand how dangerous it is to worry, readers are asking for answers on how to control it. Physician, Heal Thyself is an ancient proverb appearing in Luke 4:23. How can a worried psychiatrist treat worried patients? My answer? Better than a psychiatrist...

MOMENTUM

MOMENTUM

Momentum is everything. Most of my readers know how much I love football. During the recent playoffs, I don't know how many times I said/texted/tweeted the word “momentum”, but it was a lot. That sense that the team with the momentum is unstoppable, fueled by the...

7 FOOLPROOF TIPS FOR FALL 2021

This is a time of transition mentally and physically. Some love it, others less so. Here are some tips to help all of us stay present in the moment and accept the changes in this astounding universe. Let's start with the one everyone loves to hate... 1. Get a flu...

Ask Dr. Annie K.: Pain

I’m 22 years old and haven’t had sex yet. I’ve had close encounters, but every time I try I experience a lot of pain. Actually any sort of penetration brings severe pain and discomfort (tampons, fingers etc). i’ve had a basic exam from my gynecologist who reports...

Sugar, sugar

Sugar, sugar

Ask Dr. Annie K: Why do I always crave something sweet after a big meal? Even if I ate enough and I feel full it seems like there's room for a little dessert. Is there a medical explanation for this? “Would you like to take a look at the dessert menu?” Someone...

Stopping Antidepressants

Fran, a 36-year-old teacher, initially presented with symptoms of major depression with anxiety. She responded well to an antidepressant and I saw her twice a year for medication management. Nine years later, we discussed stopping the medication. I gave my usual...