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Welcome to Brain Bites with Dr. B!

Brain Bites is all about broadening your reach with easy-to-digest psych knowledge! Join me for quick, interesting medication and brain science tidbits! Elevate your therapy practice with insight and data from your friendly online psychiatrist!

Jessica Beachkofsky answering medication questions about Cobenfy
Featured Post

She thought machines were injecting her with drugs…

I’ll never forget her. She was so paranoid she didn't even give me her name, just the letter T. T was in her 30s, living alone in a top-floor apartment. She was convinced there were machines living in the attic. Machines that came down at night to inject her with unknown drugs and mess with her stuff; changing her tv channels and filling out her crosswords with the wrong answers. She was terrified. And depressed. And stuck. And very, very psychotic. She wasn’t always like this. Before the...

Dr. Jessica Beachkofsky looking thoughtful while teaching about PDTs for mental health treatment

I'm panicked. Where's the sunscreen? Are there enough pairs of underwear? What about Benadryl? Do I need to bring bandaids? This must mean I'm stressed about packing for spring break! Which I am, because we have to leave in less than 1 hour but I'm typing this email instead of checking to see that I remembered all of the things I already know I remembered. 🙄 Ahhh.... Traveling with kids..... love the shirt! I can't bring you with me on this spring break adventure but what's the opposite? If...

Jessica Beachkofsky wondering about bioidentical hormones and if they're really safer than HRT

I was an art ed major in college before I switched to premed. Yes, a room full of kids with paint sounded like fun to me at that point of my life (before I experienced the terror of my own children with art supplies). The summer before I changed majors, I went to study in Paris! I imagined strolling down a cobblestone street, stopping at a charming little boulangerie, and walking out with the most perfect baguette ever created by human hands. Golden. Fluffy. Maybe handed to me by a...

jessica beachkofsky MD talks about how heart energy affects mental health

Construction paper hearts... Gooey Elmer’s glue... Glitter! (Remember glitter? And how it got EVERYWHERE? Apparently the environment will be dealing with it a lot longer than I will) Candy!! This is what I remember from my Valentines Days past. In my house we didn’t buy a pack of valentines from Publix. I had to MAKE mine with scissors and markers and sequins (if I was lucky). And they usually involved some of my attempts at cute rhymes. But did you realize we’re sending valentines even...

Jessica Beachkofsky Dr. B discusses emotional blunting as a medication side effect from antidepressants

INT. REGINA'S ROOM - FRIDAY NIGHT REGINA angrily walks on a elliptical. MRS. GEORGE enters. MRS. GEORGE: You still on the elliptical, baby? REGINA: (duh) No, I'm over there. MRS. GEORGE: Honey, I know you're not happy with your body right now but remember, real beauty comes from the face. REGINA: Don't ever talk about my body! Gahhhd! MRS. GEORGE: Okay -okay! (tries a new tactic) Let me make you a low-cal snack! I have some shrimp I can spray with that butter-flavored Pam- REGINA: Mommy, I...

Jessica Beachkofsky Dr. B talks pointing to esketamine and her talk about it's treatment for depression

Brrrrrr is the sound that comes out of my mouth when I look at the low for tonight. (and I do that weird arm motion thing too, where they're crossed and my fingers are magically making me feel warm with a reverse version of jazz hands) Still chilly here! In certain parts of the US right now, even my usually warm, sweaty Florida, we’re feeling a whole lot of winter. We’ve been seeing weather warnings for days about freezing temps which is not really a typical thing around here. But it is now....

Dr. B, Jessica Beachkofsky, discussing important side effects, like akathisia, from mental health or psychiatric medications

My heart is with everyone affected by the devastating wildfires in California. It’s impossible to overlook the pain and uncertainty many are experiencing right now. If you or someone you care about has been impacted, please know my thoughts are with you. In times like these, supporting each other matters more than ever. While I can’t change the larger circumstances, I can continue sending useful insights that make navigating mental health just a little easier for you and your clients. And if...

Dr B Jessica Beachkofsky talks about Aloha Summit and her neurofeedback talk

I’m cold. I mean my heat is probably set to 70 but I’ve got my Bucs hoodie pulled over my head and a previously-steaming cup of tea in my hand while I try to type with the other. You already know I’m a weenie when it comes to chilly temps, but our camping trip last weekend got down into the 30s and we’ve stayed there all week! I only have so many joggers and long sleeves. Are you dealing with some frigid January weather? Dreaming of warmer days? And learning more about neurofeedback? Huh....

Dr. B Jessica Beachkofsky talks about normal sleep cycles

I have a sleep number bed. We decided to get one when I was pregnant with our first kid because, back then, I always struggled with sleep. And I think it helped (until my kid was actually born! No bed can help with that). We upgraded a few years ago and now the bed tells ME how I’m sleeping! Which is pretty hilarious because it has to be wrong. this is NOT part of my bedtime routine but it sure looks faster! Every night I get a (low) score out of 100. My high score? It was while I was on...

Dr. B Jessica Beachkofsky talks about interoception, trauma, and the DMN

This holiday season feels weird to me. I've been trying to figure out why, but I'm still not really sure! A lot of people may feel bad at a certain time, or in a certain place, and not really know what's going on. In some cases, it's due to the process of interoception which is one of my very favorite concepts to explain to patients!! This is where the body is taking in all the data it gets from the environment outside AND internally and then decides what to do next. In the context of this...