3 John 1:2
Afya (Swahili)~
Health (the state of being free from and of physical or psychological dis-ease, illness, or malfunction); Wholeness of mind, body, and spirit!
Psychiatry is defined by Merriam-Webster (2024) as a branch of medicine that treats mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders and typically includes prescribing psychotropics (medication) and psychotherapy to treat mental illness & dis-ease!
(Major Depressive Disorder; Bipolar I & II Disorders)
(Generalized Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive, Panic)
( Complex-PTSD, Chronic-PTSD, Acute Stress Reaction, Adjustment, etc.,)
(Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective, Dissociative Disorders)
(Autism Spectrum, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder [ADHD], etc.)
(Alzheimer's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Parkinson's, Disease, etc.,)
(Borderline Personality, Narcissistic Personality, Schizoid Personality, Antisocial Personality, etc.,)
(Binge Eating Disorder, Obesity, Bulimia, Anorexia, etc.)
(Sex, Love, Food, Drugs alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, weed, cocaine, etc.,)
Medications that are primarily used to treat some mood & anxiety disorders, as well as eating disorders, and personality disorders, such as Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obesity, PTSD.
(e.g. Trintellix, Vilazodone, Auvelity, Wellbutrin, Lexapro, Prozac, etc.)
Medications that are primarily used to treat some anxiety disorders such as mild- acute severe panic
(e.g. Buspar, Ativan, Valium)
Medications that are primarily used to treat some mood disorders such as Bipolar Affective Mood Disorder I & II, and Cyclothymia
(e.g. Lithium, Lamictal, Trileptal, Topamax, etc.)
Medications that are primarily used for the treatment of Schizophrenia Spectrum and more recently Bipolar Affective Mood Disorder I & II, Treatment-Resistant Depression and Agitation Associated with Dementia due to Alzheimer's Disease
(e.g. Caplyta, Vraylar, Rexulti, Abilify, Latuda, etc.)
Medications that are primarily used to treat moderate-severe sleeping disorders
(e.g. Belsomra, Lunesta)
Medications that are primarily used to treat and can also treat Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder, Binge-Eating Disorder, Narcolepsy, Obesity, and Treatment-Resistant Depression
(e.g. Adderall, Vyvanse, Evekeo, Concerta, Focalin, Modafinil, Wellbutrin, Strattera, Qelbree, Clonidine, Guanfacine)
Medications that are primarily used in more severe and/or treatment-resistant cases such as but not limited to chronic pain, severe depression, and dementia
(e.g. Spravato, Namenda, Dextromethorphan)
Non-invasive brain stimulation to promote brain healing & health for anxiety and depression!
(e.g. NeuroStar)
Psychotherapy should ALWAYS be considered a treatment, standalone, or in conjunction with other options when appropriate.
However, it is VERY important to note that not all therapy is created equal, meaning the correct type of therapy is what produces results!
Therapy, like medication, should be
You-centered rather than one-size-fits-all.
(e.g. Brainspotting, EMDR, DBT, IFS, DARe, Hypnotherapy, PACT, etc.,)
Brief electrical stimulation of the brain while under anesthesia, used to treat more severe, and/or treatment-resistant depression, bipolar affective disorder, etc.
Root-cause & lifestyle as medicine, approaches to dis-ease prevention, reversal, management and treatment!
Prayer & spirituality, coaching, meditation, breathing techniques, massage therapy, acupuncture, stretching, supplements, etc., as a (complimentary) treatment!
Lifestyle Medicine is an evidence-based medical specialty that uses therapeutic lifestyle interventions as medicine to prevent and/or treat chronic conditions including, but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, depression, and obesity.
American College of Lifestyle Medicine
**See The 6 Pillars [behaviors] of Lifestyle Medicine Below**
Using food and nutrition as medicine to improve healthspan and lifespan!
"You are what you eat & you are what you don't eat. You are also what you absorb & you are what you don't absorb"
Using you-centered & appropriate exercise and physical activity as medicine to improve healthspan and lifespan!
Using sleep to restore and promote health & wellbeing! Ideally, sleeping like a baby with no care in the world-that good sleep!
Effectively managing external and internal stress as medicine to improve healthspan and lifespan!
Reducing and/or avoiding risky substances and/or behaviors as a means of improving healthspan and lifespan (e.g. nicotine, alcohol, THC, caffeine, illicit drugs, and addiction such as sex, porn, gambling, food, "love", etc.)
Using healthy, secure-functioning relationships as medicine to promote healthspan and lifespan!
(e.g. romantic, friends, family, professional, social, etc.)
Functional Medicine (Psychiatry) is a systems biology–based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease -Institute of Functional Medicine (2024).
The primary goal of functional medicine & psychiatry is to support the mind & body's ability to heal, support, and restore (health) itself, from and at its core!
You-Focused Precision Psychiatry.
(Mental healthcare differently!)
When
Old-School (Conventional) Psychiatry
Meets
New-School (Whole-Person+Root-Cause+Lifestyle Medicine)
Psychiatry!
Because we are all different, so why wouldn't our healthcare be different?
...Prosper in ALL ways, always!
The AFYA Effect Family Healthcare Services, PLLC
11815 Fountain Way, Suite #300, Newport News, Virginia 23606, United States
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