Brightview Psychiatry Solutions

16/07/2025

Anhedonia and VA Claims: When the Joy Fades. Read our latest blog: https://ptsdnc.com/f/anhedonia-and-va-claims-when-the-joy-fades

04/07/2025

Freedom and Fireworks: Thinking of Veterans' Mental Health on the Fourth of July

For many Americans, the Fourth of July brings to mind fireworks, BBQs, and the pride of celebrating our country’s independence. But for those who’ve worn the uniform, this day can evoke something deeper—memories of service, sacrifice, and a personal connection to the very freedom we’re celebrating.

As veterans, you don’t just observe history—you’ve shaped it.

A Few Things You May Not Know About the Fourth of July
Before we dive deeper, here are some quick facts about Independence Day:

It wasn’t actually signed on July 4th. The Continental Congress voted for independence on July 2nd, 1776. The Declaration was formally adopted on July 4th.

Only two Founding Fathers signed it on July 4th. Most of the signers added their names in August.

It wasn’t a federal holiday until 1870. Nearly 100 years passed before July 4th became an official holiday.

Veterans have been part of Independence Day since the beginning. George Washington’s troops celebrated it during the Revolutionary War.

These facts remind us that history is full of complexity—and so are our own stories.

The Weight of Freedom
For veterans, Independence Day can be bittersweet. The parades and pageantry can stir pride—but also pain. Fireworks might resemble the sounds of combat. Cookouts might mask the isolation felt around groups who don’t quite understand your experiences.

While Americans celebrate freedom, veterans often carry the weight of what it cost.

It’s important to remember that you don’t have to carry that weight alone.

Let’s Talk About Mental Health
Struggles like PTSD, anxiety, depression, and substance use are more common among veterans than many realize. According to the VA, approximately 11-20% of veterans who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have PTSD in a given year.

And yet, many continue to suffer in silence. This Fourth of July, let’s change that.

Check in with yourself. How are you feeling? Are you sleeping okay? Do loud noises or large crowds cause stress?

Reach out. Whether it’s a buddy from your unit or a mental health professional, connection is powerful.

Know it’s not weakness. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness—it’s a sign of strength. Your service required courage; so does healing.

A Call to Celebrate Yourself, Too
This Fourth of July, we honor not just the birth of our nation, but those who’ve kept it free. That includes you. So as you fire up the grill or watch the fireworks light up the night sky, take a moment to celebrate your own strength—and to take care of your well-being.

If you or someone you know is struggling, the Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7 at 988, then press 1, or you can text 838255.

You’ve fought for freedom. You deserve peace.

22/06/2025

Anger is real—but you don’t have to face it alone.
The AIMS for Anger Management app was built with Veterans in mind. Log your triggers, track your emotions, and use proven tools to stay mission-ready when stress hits.
Download it here: https://mobile.va.gov/app/aims-anger-management

21/06/2025

✈️ Fear of flying is more common than you think—and there’s help available.
If you or someone you know experiences anxiety about flying, Dial A Pilot (https://dialapilot.com/) is a unique resource that connects anxious flyers with real pilots. Talking through your concerns with an experienced professional can make flying feel safer and more manageable.
This isn’t therapy—but it can be a helpful complement to it.

17/06/2025

😵‍💫 Why Doomscrolling Before Bed Is Wrecking Your Sleep

We’ve all done it. You crawl into bed, planning to get a solid eight hours of sleep 😴, only to fall into a black hole of bad news, viral videos, and anxiety-inducing headlines 🌀. One story leads to another, and before you know it, it’s 1 a.m., your brain is buzzing ⚡, and sleep feels like a distant dream.

Welcome to the world of doomscrolling — and yes, it’s hurting you more than you think.

📱 What Is Doomscrolling?
“Doomscrolling” refers to the habit of obsessively scrolling through negative news or content, especially on social media, even when it’s upsetting, stressful, or mentally exhausting 😟. It’s the digital version of rubbernecking at a car crash 🚗💥 — you don’t want to look, but you can’t look away.

The term exploded during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic 🦠, but the behavior has long been a part of our smartphone culture 📲.

🌙 Why We Doomscroll — Especially at Night
Nighttime is when we finally slow down — and ironically, that’s often when our minds start racing 🧠💭. The quiet of the evening can amplify anxiety, and many of us turn to our phones for comfort or distraction. But instead of soothing content, the algorithm often delivers:

⚠️ Breaking news about global disasters

🗳️ Political controversies

📉 Economic doom

🌪️ Climate catastrophes

💔 Celebrity scandals or tragedies

Our brains, wired to react to threat 🧠⚔️, treat this like an emotional buffet — and we keep going back for more.

🛌 How It Hurts Your Sleep
1. Mental Stimulation
Reading alarming headlines or heated comment sections activates your fight-or-flight response 🏃💥. This makes it harder for your brain to wind down and transition into restful sleep.

2. Blue Light Exposure
Screens emit blue light 💡, which suppresses melatonin — the hormone that signals to your body that it’s time to sleep 🌙. This tricks your brain into thinking it’s still daytime.

3. Emotional Dysregulation
Negative content increases stress, anxiety, and even depressive symptoms 😣. If your last thought before bed is a spiraling global crisis 🌍, your sleep is likely to be restless or disturbed.

4. Sleep Procrastination
We tell ourselves “just five more minutes,” ⏳ but doomscrolling often leads to revenge bedtime procrastination — staying up later to reclaim control of your time at the expense of your rest ⏰.

✅ What You Can Do About It
The good news? Doomscrolling is a habit — and habits can be broken 🔄. Here are a few ways to reclaim your nights:

📵 1. Set a Digital Curfew
Cut off screen time at least 30–60 minutes before bed. Use this time to read 📖, stretch 🧘, journal ✍️, or listen to calming music 🎶.

⏳ 2. Use App Timers or Screen Filters
Apps like iOS Screen Time, Digital Wellbeing (Android), or third-party tools like Freedom can help you limit nighttime access to social media and news.

🕯️ 3. Create a Bedtime Ritual
Signal to your brain that it’s time to wind down. Try deep breathing, guided meditation, or a warm shower 🚿. Consistency helps.

📚 4. Replace Scrolling with Reading
Keep a physical book by your bed. Fiction, especially something cozy or uplifting, can redirect your mind away from stress 🌼.

✨ 5. Be Selective About Content
If you must scroll, curate your feed 🌈. Follow accounts that bring you joy, humor, or peace — not panic.

💬 The Bottom Line
In a world full of noise, protecting your peace isn’t selfish — it’s survival 🧘‍♀️🛡️. Doomscrolling before bed might feel like staying informed, but it’s often just staying overwhelmed 😵. Give yourself permission to disconnect. The world will still be there in the morning — and you’ll be better equipped to face it after a good night’s sleep 🌅.

📣 What’s your biggest challenge when it comes to unplugging before bed? Share your thoughts in the comments! 💬👇

16/06/2025

06/06/2025

June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to honor the service and sacrifice of men who’ve worn the uniform—and to shed light on a silent battle that continues long after the war ends: mental health struggles.

04/06/2025

🧠 June is PTSD Awareness Month — Let’s Talk About the Trauma We Don’t Always See

June is PTSD Awareness Month, and here at ptsdNC.com, we want to shine a spotlight on the real and varied experiences that lead to PTSD. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is often misunderstood as something only combat veterans face—but that’s far from the truth. PTSD can affect anyone who has experienced trauma.

Whether you’re a military veteran, a first responder, or a civilian navigating life after a traumatic event, please know: your pain is real, and you are not alone. 💙

🚨 PTSD Isn’t Just About War
Trauma doesn’t discriminate. PTSD can result from many types of experiences—some visible, some silent. Common causes include:

🚗 Car accidents

🏠 Domestic violence or childhood abuse

😢 Sudden loss of a loved one

🚨 Medical emergencies or ICU stays

👊 Physical assault or robbery

⚠️ Sexual assault or harassment

🔥 First responder trauma (police, EMTs, firefighters)

🌪️ Natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, and fires

📸 Witnessing violence or tragedy, even without direct involvement

💔 Emotional abuse or chronic stress environments

PTSD doesn’t care what uniform you wear—or if you wear one at all.

🔍 How Do You Know If You Have PTSD?
PTSD is more than “just being stressed.” It involves lasting psychological changes that interfere with your quality of life.

The DSM-5 outlines the following symptom clusters for diagnosis:

Intrusion symptoms: Flashbacks, nightmares, distressing thoughts

Avoidance: Avoiding reminders of the trauma, emotional numbing

Negative alterations in thinking/mood: Shame, guilt, detachment

Hyperarousal: Insomnia, irritability, jumpiness, hypervigilance

These symptoms must persist for more than one month, cause distress, and impair your relationships, work, or daily life.

If any of this sounds familiar—it might be time to talk to someone.

🌱 Hope and Healing Are Possible
I’m Dr. Jessica Allen, a psychiatrist and trauma specialist. I work with both veterans and civilians to:

✅ Provide diagnostic evaluations for PTSD

💊 Offer evidence-based treatment, including medication and therapy

📝 Provide nexus letters and independent medical evaluations (IMEs) to support VA disability claims for veterans

Whether you’re dealing with flashbacks, emotional shutdowns, or can’t sleep at night—you deserve to feel better. There is a way forward.

📞 Let’s Talk—Free Phone Consultation Available
Healing starts with one step.

👉 Book your free phone consultation today
🔗 https://intakeq.com/booking/ioezdg

Together, we’ll identify what’s going on and create a plan for recovery. If you're a veteran seeking a nexus letter or a civilian needing PTSD support, this is your place to begin. 💬

💬 Final Thoughts
✨ PTSD doesn’t mean you’re broken.
✨ It means you’ve endured pain—and you're still here.
✨ You are worthy of peace, joy, and a future not defined by your past.

Whether you’re a veteran or not, if trauma is holding you back—don’t face it alone. Reach out, reclaim your strength, and let’s start your healing journey today. 💙

24/05/2025

As we enter Memorial Day weekend, let us take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of this sacred day. Memorial Day is not just about cookouts or a long weekend—it is a time to honor the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.

Their courage and dedication deserve more than a passing thought. May we remember them with gratitude, dignity, and respect.

I am deeply honored to work with military veterans every day and to support them on their journeys. Your service—and your stories—matter.

Learn more at https://ptsdnc.com/

12/05/2025

Schedule a Free Phone Consultation: https://intakeq.com/booking/ioezdg
🧠 Filing Depression Secondary to Prostate Cancer? Let’s Talk.

As a psychiatrist specializing in veterans’ mental health and medical-legal evaluations, I understand the deep emotional toll that a prostate cancer diagnosis can bring. Beyond the physical impact, many veterans quietly battle depression—a very real and often overlooked consequence of fighting cancer.

If you're a veteran struggling with depression following your prostate cancer diagnosis and/or treatment, you may be eligible to file a secondary VA disability claim. But the key to a successful claim is clear, clinical documentation that establishes the link. A nexus letter can help.

That’s where I come in. I write detailed, evidence-based nexus letters that connect mental health conditions like depression to service-connected illnesses such as prostate cancer. These letters are crafted to meet VA standards and provide the support your claim deserves.

📩 Send a message hello@brightviewMD.com or visit https://ptsdnc.com/cancer-and-mental-health to learn more about how I can support your journey to receiving the benefits you’ve earned.

12/05/2025

Get the service-connection that you deserve. A nexus letter is just a consultation away. Take the first step by scheduling your free consultation today: https://intakeq.com/booking/ioezdg! 🌟