- Behavioral Health, Men's Health, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIt’s not a disease. It’s not a sign of a weak personality. And it’s not something to be ashamed of. Sure. Depression drains your energy. Depression makes you sad. Depression makes you feel powerless, tired, less hungry, more anxious. But depression is not always a “bad thing.” And it’s not “incurable.” Everyone goes through some sort of depression. In fact, depression is just part of being human. Of course, everyone experiences it differently, depending on the person, situation and circumstance. For some people, it’s clinical. But there shouldn’t be stigma associated with it. “Do I think it’s derogatory? Absolutely not,” says Donna Phillips, clinical director at Anne Arundel Medical Center’s (AAMC) Psychiatric Day Hospital. “I think you can build strength from it. You can enjoy life and grow from it. Everyone experiences it and we all go through some form of it. You can learn from it. The key in getting better is to know what it is and how you can overcome it.” Learn more about the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center, a 16-bed mental health hospital for adults opening in March. What is depression? Depression is a common but serious mood disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. It can cause severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating or working. Some forms of depression are slightly different or can develop under certain circumstances, like it happened to Kathy. After battling three cancers for seven years, including one that required a hip replacement after she developed a tumor in her pelvis, and going through a divorce amidst all of it, Kathy closed this chapter in 2015 after completing her leukemia treatment. But in August 2016, she got shingles – an event she says that pushed her over the edge. “I was really sad,” says Kathy, a 65-year-old retiree. “When I was five months into my shingles, the pain was relentless and it was really difficult to deal with.” Kathy wasn’t taking care of herself, only ate two meals a day and slept until noon. One day, she started to feel sick while driving on her way to meet with her sons for lunch. “I only had a tea for breakfast and felt really bad, so I pulled over,” she recalls. After calling one of her sons, she decided to go back home to meet them there. Noticing their mother wasn’t well, they encouraged her to go to the emergency room. “I admitted I wasn’t well and that I was very depressed,” she says. “I couldn’t turn it around myself, I needed help.” Seeking help is not a sign of weakness After an eight-day visit to Sheppard Pratt, followed by a hospital visit where she discovered she suffered from pneumonia, Kathy continued her mental health care at AAMC’s Psychiatric Day Hospital, an intensive day treatment program. “Seeking help is a good thing,” she says. “Sometimes you have circumstances, like I did, that push you into a depression where you need help to get out of it. I was ignoring the signs, not really accepting what has happening.” Kathy spent two weeks in AAMC’s program, which offers several mental health services. The program seeks to provide individuals with the necessary skills so they can continue to manage once they’re done, says Phillips. “A person who suffers from depression feels isolated, but they’re not alone,” she says. “There are a lot of support groups that can help individuals talk about their situation. Our program helps people develop what we call a wellness toolbox. We talk to our patients about the importance of staying active, socially and physically, having a schedule to adhere to, having good sleep hygiene, eating healthy, and being aware of one’s automatic negative thought patterns (cognitive distortions) that provoke depression.” Although it might seem like a simple approach, Phillips says she’s seen many patients overcome their depression and move on in life. “There are a lot of steps people can take to overcome depression,” she says. “But it’s important to note that seeking help when you can no longer cope by yourself is one of the first steps.” Lessons learned during depression apply to life in general Kathy says she since left treatment, things have changed for the better. “They taught me coping strategies that are helpful and now I set up an alarm to get up at 8 am or earlier,” she says. “I make breakfast for myself, I have lunch dates with my friends and now I’m looking to volunteer.” Kathy says the biggest change is that she feels better about herself and her future. “I feel good about my life,” she says. “I have a grandson that just turned one and I realize that I have so much to look forward to.” Although it was a challenging time for her, Kathy credits her faith and treatment for helping her look at things differently. Today, she hopes her experience can help others. She says no one should be embarrassed or afraid to seek help because there are a lot of places and organizations that are willing to help. “Depression is not an end, you can turn things around,” she says. “There is hope and life after depression.” MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): A nationwide grassroots advocacy group, NAMI represents people affected by mental illness and offers several support services, including education programs and a HelpLine. On Our Own: A statewide behavioral health consumer education and advocacy group, On Our Own of Maryland promotes equality in all aspects of society for people who receive behavioral health services and develops alternative, recovery-based behavioral health initiatives. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Help is always available. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help. Call 1-800-273-8255. AAMC: If you think AAMC’s Psychiatric Day Hospital can help you or a loved one, talk to your doctor. Your doctor must refer you before you can enroll. If you are looking for a doctor who specializes in mental health, call AAMG Mental Health Specialists at 410-573-9000. Originally published Dec. 31, 2018. Last updated Feb. 10, 2020.0
- Behavioral HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogOver the past few months, many people are talking about race relations in America. Those conversations are hard at times, awkward and even uncomfortable. For those who experience prejudice and discrimination based on religion, race or gender identity, the effect on your mental health can be devastating and long lasting. The day after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Jane Elliott conducted her now famous “blue eyes, brown eyes” exercise with her third grade class. She separated the class into two groups based on eye color. She told one group that they were superior and had special privileges. Meanwhile, she told the other group they were inferior and didn’t give the same praise and privileges as the superior group. Eventually, the kids who were ‘superior’ soared in confidence and felt they were smarter. The kids in the ‘inferior’ group, on the other hand, started making mistakes that they would not normally make, became timid and were angry. This experiment only lasted for a couple of days. Now, imagine if every day of your life felt like Mrs. Elliott’s third grade classroom. And, imagine you are always in the inferior group. Even if no one ever overtly says you are inferior. When people experience prejudice, they may feel that they are not wanted or don’t belong. This causes feelings of mal adjustment that takes a dangerous toll on mental health. Ways Experiences of Prejudice can Affect Your Mental Health Depression If you are constantly in an environment where you are experiencing prejudice, it’s normal to experience feelings of depression. You may start feeling emotionally drained, isolated or lonely. You may also start feeling physical exhaustion, leading to fatigue or insomnia or feelings of low motivation and feelings of wanting to quit. Anxiety If you are feeling judged, whether at work, school or in the community, this can lead to feelings of generalized or social anxiety. For example, you may feel nervous about starting projects or taking risks around others in their daily environment. You may also experience worry about what other people think. This can then lead to negative self-talk and low sense of self. Low self-worth You may question your own worth. For example, you might wonder, “Am I good enough?” or, “Do I even belong here?” Questions like this lead you to start questioning your own value. You will wonder what will you have to do to be treated differently because nothing will ever appear to be good enough. You may feel the effects of imposter syndrome and start to question your own intelligence, your value and your skill level as a result. Feelings of hopelessness You may start to wonder, “Will things ever get better?” or you may start to feel like all hope is lost for change. At this point, you may begin to internalize feelings of being in an inferior group. Then, you may stop demanding for things to change, stop using your voice and accept negative treatment because of a lack of equality. How You can Overcome the Effects of Prejudice We have to pay attention to our internal selves and listen to our mind and bodies. Then, we can start to take care of ourselves. Self-care You can’t pour from an empty cup. Before you can take care of anyone else, you have to take care of yourself first. Take a step back from the TV and social media. Engage in a hobby that you enjoy or spend time with your loved ones. Breathe Take time during the day to just breathe. Set breathing interval times throughout the day so you can remember to clear your mind. Relax your body and decrease stimulation that can feel overwhelming. Positive self-talk Use daily positive self-talk to help increase your self-esteem and self-worth. Tell yourself that you are good enough and you deserve the best from any position that you are in. By reminding yourself that you are worth it, you will believe that you belong when others may want you to believe otherwise. Increase self-awareness Know that you are not the problem. Understand that prejudice exists on many levels in society. When people are able to acknowledge that a greater issue exists, then they can increase self-confidence and be a voice for positive change. The impact of prejudice can be devastating to a person’s mental health. The repercussions can last a lifetime and those feelings can be passed through generations. It is important for all people to continue to have those uncomfortable, difficult conversations about prejudice in society. When we take the time to listen to each other, we will feel like we are making a change. And when there is change, we will notice a positive effect in mental health based on inclusion and equality. Author Jennifer Williams, MA, LPC, LCPC, is a mental health professional at Anne Arundel Medical Group (AAMG) Mental Health Specialists, located in Annapolis. To reach her, call 410-573-9000.0
- Behavioral Health, Men's Health, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhen discussing domestic violence, I often hear comments like, “I’m lucky not to know anyone affected by domestic violence,” or “I have never been exposed to anything like that.” Most people are not only surprised to learn domestic violence is not always as obvious as a black eye—a lot of people, in fact, have been exposed in some capacity. While domestic violence can include physical and sexual violence, the most elusive kind of abuse is emotional abuse. Unlike physical abuse, the people doing it and receiving it may not even be aware it is happening. Emotional abuse can be more harmful than physical abuse. Even in the most violent families, the incidents tend to be cyclical—a violent outburst, followed by a honeymoon period with remorse and attention that eventually ends, and then the violence starts over again. But with emotional abuse, it happens every day. The effects are more harmful because they’re so frequent. This emotional abuse can happen between a parent and child, husband and wife, among relatives, and between friends. The other factor that makes emotional abuse so devastating is victims are more likely to blame themselves. When the words directed at you seem subtle—if the abuser says you’re unattractive, fat, dumb or unlovable—it’s easier to assume this is your own doing. But if someone hits you, it’s easier to see that he or she is the problem. It can undercut what we think about ourselves and impair our ability to be our true selves and escape the abuse. With emotional abuse, the abuser projects their words, attitudes or actions onto an unsuspecting victim. One person controls the other by undermining his or her trust, value, development, or emotional stability, or causes fear or shame by manipulating or exploiting that person. And it’s not so much about the words used, rather the threatening effects of the behavior by the abuser. The body language, tone and actions by an abuser oftentimes contradict the words. And this is very destructive to the victims. Warnings signs of abuse can include: decreased interaction with friends and family, constantly receiving phone calls or text messages inquiring about location and activity, seemingly anxious to please the partner, making excuses for partner’s behavior, going along with everything the partner says and does, decreased productivity at work or school, personality changes, lowered self-esteem, and limited access to transportation and money. These signs of abuse are more common and often overlooked. The support of family and friends can be helpful. But professional counseling will provide the victim with tools to prevent, cope and move on from an abusive situation. Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Abuse and Domestic Violence Program has professionally trained staff available to help patients, employees and community members. For information about abuse, call 443-481-1209. For a 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline, call 410-222-6800. Author Rae Leonard, Anne Arundel Medical Center’s abuse and domestic violence program coordinator, can be reached at 443-481-1209. Originally published Nov. 12, 2015. Last updated Sept. 16, 2025.0
- Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIn 2017, many of us anxiously followed headlines and reports on social media for news of missing Howard County teacher Laura Wallen, only to be saddened at the news of her death. While the public waited and hoped for Laura Wallen’s safe return home, Prince George’s County resident Andrea Grinage was attacked in her apartment and set on fire. What did these women have in common? They were both pregnant and victims of intimate partner violence — or domestic violence. Although these and similar stories frequently report the fact that the suspect is a current or former partner, there is all too often no mention of domestic violence. This very subtle omission is an indication of continued misconceptions about what domestic violence is and who is most at risk. The fact is, over half of all female homicides are in relation to domestic violence. Equally disturbing, as many as 300,000 pregnant women experience some form of domestic violence each year. Undoubtedly, the most dangerous time for women in abusive relationships is when they are attempting to leave an abusive partner and during or just after pregnancy. As in the case of Andrea Grinage and Laura Wallen, these frightening facts hold true. READ MORE: When words hurt: Another kind of domestic violence The media’s omission of domestic violence, to not call it out by name, illustrates the stigma and misconceptions that still surround this issue. Chances are, if you are a woman and have not experienced domestic violence yourself, you know someone (a sister, a mother, a co-worker, a neighbor) who has and you have seen the signs. Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive behavior used by one person to gain power and control over another, usually a current or former intimate partner. Abuse can include physical abuse, verbal abuse and threats, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, isolation, stalking, coercive or controlling behavior and financial abuse. This type of violence does not discriminate. It touches women in all walks of life. It transcends race and socioeconomic status. Support of family and friends can often be vital to those impacted by domestic violence by diminishing the effects of isolation and feelings of hopelessness. Advocates trained in the dynamics of domestic violence can assist victims by screening and assessing risk, documenting injuries, creating safety plans, providing immediate crisis intervention, and referrals to professional counselors, safe shelter, and legal resources. Unfortunately, the stories of so many women like Laura Wallen and Andrea Grinage reach our headlines when they result in tragedy. And even so, reports too often fail to mention domestic violence. It’s time this public health problem is called by its name, domestic violence. Author Amy J.N. Bosworth, Psy.D., is an abuse/domestic violence specialist at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Her email is [email protected]. Originally published Oct. 1, 2017. Last updated Aug. 13, 2025.0
- Cancer Care, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogGenetic testing is a topic of great interest to many men and women these days. In our field of breast cancer surgery, it is a subject we address on a daily basis. All cancers are ultimately due to changes in the genes in cells referred to as mutations. Changes in the DNA of cells can lead to uncontrolled growth. Cancer cells break away from the main tumor and grow elsewhere in the body. This is known as metastasis. Environmental and lifestyle factors can sometimes accelerate changes in the DNA of cells and predispose an individual to development of cancer. Some people have mutations they have inherited (or in rare cases developed before birth) that affect every cell in their body and that essentially ‘jump start’ this process. For some, the development of cancer requires fewer steps. They are much more likely to develop certain cancers and are likely to do so at younger ages than average. Currently, we test for the mutations we feel are most significant in patients who are at greatest risk of having a genetic predisposition. We want to identify those men and women who do have an inherited mutation because, for them, risk of development or recurrence of cancer is a very high. In women, we look for certain ‘red flags’ based on ancestry, family history, age of onset of the breast cancer and type of breast cancer. When these indications are present, we recommend genetic testing. Your risk of developing breast cancer There are programs to help women understand and do something about these red flags. Locally, there is the Risk Assessment and Prevention Program, or RAPP, at the Rebecca Fortney Breast Center at Anne Arundel Medical Center. With innovative resources including genetic counseling and sophisticated imaging technology, breast specialists work closely with each woman. They can talk with you about making lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of breast cancer and other cancers. Specialists can customize a screening schedule to help detect changes in your breasts at an early stage and, in some cases, recommend medications or surgery to reduce your risk. If you can answer yes to any of these questions, you may want to consider taking proactive measures for your breast health. Do you have a mother, daughter or sister who has been diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer? Have any of your aunts, cousins, or grandmothers been diagnosed with ovarian cancer? Have you been told that you have very dense or lumpy breasts? Have you had multiple breast biopsies? Have you been treated with radiation for Hodgkin’s disease? It’s important to know that even women who have no detectable risk factors may still have a high risk of developing breast cancer. And risk increases with age. Talk with your healthcare provider about your risk. Author Robert Buras, MD, FACS, is a breast surgeon at Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Rebecca Fortney Breast Center. To schedule a visit, call 443-481-5300. Victoria Shellem, CRNP, is a nurse practitioner at the Rebecca Fortney Breast Center at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Regina Hampton, MD, FACS, is the president of Medical Staff Doctors Community Hospital and medical director of Doctors Community Breast Center. Meghan Milburn, MD, FACS, is a breast surgeon at Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Breast Center in Bowie. Originally published Oct. 17, 2017. Last updated Oct. 1, 2025.0
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