It’s summer and I feel so… Sad. I mean stressed. And then frustrated. And then the sadness seeps in. Because summer just started and my kids aren’t even bored yet but I’ve done nothing but work at my computer all week. Not how I envisioned the start of summer break. I’m frustrated with a lot of extra admin crapola after my EMR was bought out by another company. It will most definitely be much better eventually but the tedium of the transition to “Yay this is easy!” is taking forever. I’m mentally drained. Worn down by the buzzing AC so I don’t melt during clinic. The struggles of others that leak into my brain through my headset. The drone of my voice as it reverberates inside my skull providing the same types of options to everyone when all I really want is my magic wand so I can wave it all away. “And you’re better, and you’re better, and you’re better…”
And then I’ll turn that magic wand around and wave it over my pool because that’s where I really belong right now! Splashing around with my kids in over-chlorinated water that’s always just a smidge too cold for me to stay in for long. Which is fine because it’s the perfect time to grab that book that’s been waiting for me. Damp sticky fingers from that sweet, juicy bite of watermelon, that I don’t actually have right now, but is clearly the unofficial flavor of “summer at the pool with kids and a book”. Instead I’m drinking old, reheated green tea that tastes like wet notebook paper. Because as it turns out, my wand is still in the shop where it tends to perpetually live. I’m no closer to getting things done and I’m only sad because I let myself get here. So much of my day is being taken up by things that can happen tomorrow. Or even next Tuesday! And you know what? They can just hang out on my list with all the other stuff that lives there. A book is calling... And although reading doesn’t often align with lounging by the pool (who has time for that?? Oh yeah, I’M making time for that!) that’s the summer vibes I’m leaning on right now. And watermelon flavored Extra gum. Kinda summery. -ish.
Which means it’s time for book recommendations! Starting with the 3 most recent books I’ve read:
And then the 3 most recent books I’ve recommended:
And other classics I often recommend to patients and their families:
Plus some others I’ll add in the PS... What are you reading? What do you love to recommend? Reply and tell me so I can read and share them too! Even if you hate the pool or dread exposure to the skin-melting sun (PSA: sunscreen does not cause skin cancer!) and the idea of swimsuits or humidity has you longing for November’s cocoa, we can all agree on the simple summer pleasure of a good book!
Cheers to watermelon AND waterproof e-books! Dr. B Jessica Beachkofsky, MD Your friendly, sweaty, online psychiatrist! P.S. I have a ton of other recommendations! Some of my favorites are novels written from the perspective of someone with mental illness which can help people feel less alone and also really provide context for family or loved ones. Hopefully this list has a bunch of books you've never read before! (These are in no particular order) |
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!
It's well into summer here in sunny (and thunderstormy) Florida! And that means time for me to take a pause for a couple of months. Not just to chill (wouldn't that be nice!) but to study for my Menopause Certification! (See? It's telling me to take a pause right in the name!) Hardcore studying for something feels weird. I read journals and take courses all the time but I usually do that for "fun" or just to add to my bank of information about mental health. This is new. this is what I feel...
Jarod was 56 years old and super anxious. He'd been a nervous kid, a stressed out teen, and was nearly incapacitated by his anxiety as he moved through adulthood. He'd worked with multiple different psychiatrists, and I was consulted because he just wasn't getting any better. How much longer can I go on like this? he wondered. Before we'd met, Jarod paid $400 out of pocket for pharmacogenetic testing. THIS will have the answers! Except... It didn't. Jarod was devastated when his results came...
Introducing: SertraGlow™ Feel more like you again, with support that starts from within. Crafted from a proprietary blend of serotonin support agents, SertraGlow™ is designed to help you: ✨ Enhance emotional balance ✨ Increase your resilience to daily stressors ✨ Support overall mood wellness ✨ Reconnect with what makes life joyful With daily use, SertraGlow™ may promote: Calm clarity in chaotic moments Renewed motivation to tackle your goals A brighter outlook that feels more like home 💊...