Buyer Beware

The truth is that two people with the same diagnosis don’t necessarily warrant the same treatment, and it’s the job of your mental health professional(s) to keep abreast of, and understand, the treatment options available and to work with you to find your ‘secret formula’ for optimal health: mental, emotional, physical and spiritual.

OK, “So where do I get one of these brilliant doctors?” you might ask. An excellent question, and the honest answer is ‘caveat emptor’, let the buyer beware. You have to do your homework on who is available in your area. However, I can tell you what kinds of things to look for. You need to seek out mental health professionals, like those at Saratoga Family Health Center in San Jose www.sfhc.com who will take a thorough history of both yourself and your family of origin. They need to ask you detailed questions about your diet, exercise habits, medications, any physical ailments you might have, your job, your romantic relationships and your support system. You also need to have labs done and have a complete physical examination. Why? Because there are many physical ailments that can cause or masquerade as mental illness and some that can make existing mental illness worse. The bottom line is that there are certain problems you can ‘cure’ without medication and there are certain problems that you can’t. It is the job of your mental health professional(s) to know the difference.

Oh, and by the way while we’re on the subject, your best and most powerful defense against mental or physical illness is love, and living a joyful life. Without love and joy, no matter what pills you take, recreational drugs you use, or food you eat, life just isn’t worth living. So engage in joyful behavior every day, and if you’re not, ask yourself why not. And please be sure to tell the people you love, that you love them (and just thinking about it doesn’t count) you’ve got to say it, sing it, Twitter it, email it, nowadays the communication options are almost endless. So do it, come on! You’ll feel better, and as a result we’ll feel better too. Because here it is in a nutshell: when any one of us is ailing we are all ill, and when any one of us is restored to health, we are all made better!

Join Dr. Cochran on November 5^th, 2011in Los Angeles for A JOURNEY THOUGH ROMANTIC LOVE: What it is. What it is not. How to get it. How to keep it, workshop where she focuses on techniques for how to manage, and what to expect from one of the most challenging developmental tasks of adulthood: the many faces of romantic love. For more details email mcochran@drcochran.org or visit www.drcochran.com

Dr. Cochran is a transpersonal psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, educator and author with more than 30 years of experience. Dr. Cochran works with her partner, board certified family physician David J. Waggoner, MD, at Saratoga Family Health Center, where she takes a whole person approach to health and wellness, treating the individual, not the symptoms.

Dr. Cochran is the author of “What Are You Afraid Of” and a columnist for The Huffington Post and a contributor to Psychology Today. Dr. Cochran hosts the radio program; Whole Brain Thinking: Wisdom, Love, Magic Visit: www.drcochran.com and www.sfhc.com

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