Dr. Krishna Kumar, M.D.

I understand your distress due to depression and anxiety. Do:

• Breathing and Music Relaxation
• Visual Imagery
• Meditation
• Yoga
• Tai Chi

See a psychiatrist for diagnosis, therapy, and medication

Journey of Parenting can be difficult.
•Tell your younger son that you love him and would do activities with him.
•Spend some time everyday separately with both children.
•Share your frustration with father of the children about tantrums of younger son and discuss the ways to give attention and affection to both children.
•Have father of the children be involved in doing activities with both children separately.
•Believe in yourself as a Caring Loving Mother.

I commend you for working a night shift, which takes a toll on the body’s Natural Circadian Rhythm-To work during the day and sleep during night.
Thus, working a night shift can make us tired, have less concentration, and even less productivity.
Consider the following:
•Try to avoid exposure to early-morning daylight on the way home.
•Go to bed as soon as you get home from night shift.
•Have an afternoon nap if you didn’t get enough sleep in the morning.
•Avoid a main sleep in the evening — sleep may be more difficult then because your body temperature is up and you’re more alert.
*On days off, try to be as nocturnal as possible.
•Get up late in the morning (for example, after midday) and go to bed late at night (such as after midnight).
•Feel good about your desire to improve productivity.

Slow shift rotations (changing shifts every week or so):
•Go to bed as soon as you get home from night shift. Avoid a main sleep in the evening — sleep may be more difficult then because your body temperature is up and you’re more alert.
•Have an afternoon nap if you didn’t get enough sleep in the morning.
•Avoid napping during the night shift unless you’re very sleepy — if you do nap, keep it short, no more than 20–30 minutes.
•Try to avoid exposure to early-morning daylight on the way home. Wearing sunglasses may help.
•Eat three regular meals a day, including ‘lunch’ during your night shift.
•Daytime sleep is likely to be shorter and you may become tired after a few nights — usually just as you have to drive home in the morning. If this happens, find an alternative to driving yourself home.

Permanent night workers or those returning to night shift after days off can try the tips above for slow shift rotation. On days off, try to be as nocturnal as possible:
•Get up late in the morning (for example, after midday) and go to bed late at night (such as after midnight).
•Avoid morning sunlight by staying indoors as much as possible or wearing sunglasses.
•Try to stay with your night shift schedule as much as possible.

I understand your distress due to “wife shopping with and without a reason”
Have a Heart to Heart talk with your wife, tell her that you want to have good Spousal Relationship with Emotional, Physical, and Sexual Intimacy; that you are there to understand her feelings, needs and stresses in her life.
Then express your concern about her ‘constantly shopping”, effect on finances, and time away from your relationship; and suggest to see a Psychiatrist for evaluation of her obsessive- compulsive behaviors, and Marital evaluation and Therapy.

You are a caring Mother.
I understand your concern.
Have a Heart to Heart talk with your son, tell him that
• You love him
• You are there to understand his feelings, needs and stresses in his life
• Care for him to have good health,
• You want to have good Mother-Son Relationship
Then encourage him to express his feelings about family members, school, teachers and the Exam; and suggest to him to have Parent-Child meeting with school Counselor to improve his studies and grades.

You are a Caring Person.
I understand your concern about her pacing around the house. This is not a typical sign of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
Please write all her Obsessions which she has expressed to you, and all her Compulsive behaviors which you have observed.
Express your concerns about her behaviors; and advise her to see a Psychiatrist for Diagnosis and Treatment.

I understand your distress.
Depression can cause physical symptoms, such as loss of appetite, loss of weight, and body pains.
Have Therapy by a Psychiatrist and discuss Medication for treatment.
Depression treatment has good results to improve your functioning.

I understand your distress.
Believe that, “I care for my child”
Do not compare yourself with other mothers.
Write your history of depression in the past, your pregnancy course, support/lack of support which you had from your husband or other family members; and your functioning during pregnancy.
Then See a Psychiatrist for Diagnosis, possibly Post- partum Depression; and Treatment.
Depression treatment has good results to improve your functioning.

I understand your distress due to financial and emotional problems and that your husband “doesn't see that he has a problem”.
Have a Heart to Heart talk with your husband, tell him that you want to have good Relationship with Emotional, Physical, and Sexual Intimacy; that you are there to understand his feelings, needs and stresses in his life.
Then express your concern about his behaviors under the influence of Alcohol, and suggest to see a Psychiatrist for Diagnosis and Treatment.
If he refuses, then attend Al-Anon meetings for understanding and support for yourself.

I understand your distress due to gain of 33 lbs in 4 months, and “The urge to eat is beyond my control.”
It is likely that stresses of relationships, unresolved family conflicts, school, and finances have become overwhelming and have led to depression with eating disorder.
See a psychiatrist for a medical-psychiatric evaluation. After that, have Intensive therapy.
Depression and eating disorder treatment have good results to improve your functioning.

To become a Psychiatrist, it requires 4 years of Medical school training, 1 year of Internship, and minimum 3 years of Residency.
Thus, Psychiatrist has deep understanding of body and mind, and can order all needed Lab tests, diagnose medical and psychiatric illnesses; prescribe medications, and thoroughly collaborate with other Physicians and Specialists for the care of the patient.
Psychologist does not have Medical school Education including clinical care and 3 years of Residency including clinical care of the patients.

I understand your concern.
Have a Heart to Heart talk with your daughter, tell her that you want to have good Mother-Daughter Relationship; that you are there to understand her feelings, needs and stresses in her life; and ask if she is getting counseling and medication for stresses, and what you can do to support her.

You are a Caring Mother!
Counseling for your son will be helpful as he is affected by turmoil at home; and be open for Parental Counseling when recommended by his Counselor.
Let the Wise Woman in you Reflect:
•Turmoil with your husband
•Your feelings of hut and anger and their intensity
•Counseling for yourself to resolve conflicts with your husband.

You are a Caring Mother.
I understand your concern about her.
Have a Heart to Heart talk with your daughter and tell her that you want to:
•Have good Mother-Daughter Relationship
•Understand her feelings, needs and stresses in her life
•Share your concern about her pessimistic attitude and academic grades being affected
•Support her with her feelings
Then encourage her to see a Counselor in school; and tell her that you will be willing to have Individual and Family Counseling if recommended.

You are a loving mother!
Hug your son and tell him that you understand his feelings that he is missing his father. Encourage him to release his feelings and show your understanding. Show interest in his activities and show your pride in his daily accomplishments. Tell that you both can go to see a child psychiatrist or child psychologist for counseling.

You are a Caring Mother.
I understand your concern about her.
Have a Heart to Heart talk with your daughter and tell her that you want to:
•Understand her feelings, needs and stresses in her life
•Share your concern about her sadness, hurt and angry feelings while in marriage.
•Support her to release her feelings and show your understanding.
•Share your concern of what she went through her traumatic marriage; and explain that “She has not been herself”
•Encourage her to have Counseling to resolve painful feelings.

•Lorazepam is a medication for anxiety. It is NOT prescribed as 5mg dose. Check the prescription bottle for the dose and instructions as to how often, and how long to take this medication.
•Do not use alcohol or other drugs
•Do not operate any heavy machinery
•Do not drive if you feel drowsy

See Psychiatrist for
•Therapy for stresses in life causing anxiety
•To understand dose, frequency, precautions, benefits, and side effects of Lorazepam
•Breathing relaxation
•Visual imagery
•Meditation

The question was answered.