Explore Psychiatry with Dr. Mesrie

Explore Psychiatry with Dr. Mesrie Board-Certified Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist

✨ Continuing our series on Burning Man from a psychiatrist’s perspective, today we’re exploring how to navigate social a...
08/23/2024

✨ Continuing our series on Burning Man from a psychiatrist’s perspective, today we’re exploring how to navigate social anxiety in the unique and vibrant environment of the playa. ✨

Burning Man is known for its radical expression and overwhelming energy, but for those who experience social anxiety, it can sometimes feel like too much. Being surrounded by thousands of people in such an intense atmosphere can trigger feelings of discomfort, overwhelm, and self-doubt.

But remember, attending Burning Man despite these challenges is an incredible act of courage—and can be a powerful opportunity for growth. 🌟

Here are some tips to help manage social anxiety while you’re out there:

1️⃣ Set Boundaries: It’s okay to say no. Understanding your own limits and honoring them is key to making the experience enjoyable and manageable.

2️⃣ Identify Your Comfort Zones: Seek out quieter spaces, smaller gatherings, or calming art installations to help ground yourself when things feel too overwhelming.

3️⃣ Celebrate Small Wins: Every positive social interaction is a victory. The more you engage in small steps, the more resilience you build over time.

4️⃣ Take Breaks: The intensity of the event can take its toll. Taking time to step away and rest is essential for keeping your mental well-being in check.

Facing social anxiety in such a dynamic setting may be daunting, but each moment of courage helps you grow stronger. How do you create balance on the playa when social anxiety kicks in? Share your experiences below. 💬💪🏼



Seen here: Windsurfer in BRC, 2022 (photo via )

🌙 Sleep can be elusive at Burning Man, but it’s also a crucial part of maintaining your mental health during the week.Wh...
08/22/2024

🌙 Sleep can be elusive at Burning Man, but it’s also a crucial part of maintaining your mental health during the week.

While the desert never sleeps, your mind and body do need rest to stay balanced and resilient. Here’s how you can prioritize sleep amidst all the excitement:

💡 Create a Restful Space: Bring earplugs, an eye mask, and even a fan if you can. Find a shaded spot for your tent and insulate it against the heat. Comfort matters when it comes to getting decent rest.

💡 Pace Yourself: The Burn is a marathon, not a sprint. Stay mindful of how much energy you’re exerting during the day and allow yourself time to wind down.

💡 Nap Smartly: Can’t get full nights of sleep? That’s okay—naps can be your best friend. Look for quieter times of the day when the heat is manageable and allow yourself to recharge.

💡 Plan Ahead: As you navigate your days, make mental notes of when and where you might be able to rest. Even short, restorative breaks can make all the difference.

How do you ensure you get enough sleep at the Burn? Share your tips below! 😴✨

🔍 Burning Man is intense, in all the best and sometimes the most challenging ways.Whether it’s dealing with the heat, na...
08/20/2024

🔍 Burning Man is intense, in all the best and sometimes the most challenging ways.
Whether it’s dealing with the heat, navigating social interactions, or feeling overstimulated, it’s crucial to check in with yourself mentally while you’re out in the dust.

💡 How do you know when you need a mental break?

Some signs might be:
✨ Feeling overwhelmed or irritable
✨ Physical tension or fatigue
✨ Zoning out or feeling disconnected

When these signs start showing up, it’s time to hit pause.

🌱 One tip: as you explore throughout the week, take mental notes of places that feel comfortable, quiet, or inspiring to you—whether it’s a shady spot in a camp, a peaceful art installation, or a cozy nook on the playa. These spots can serve as great retreats for when you need a restorative moment.

Grounding yourself can be as simple as sitting in silence for a few minutes, connecting with someone you trust, or practicing deep breathing.

🔮 What are your favorite ways to recenter during the Burn? Drop them in the comments!

In the past year I’ve discovered a new sense of purpose around providing guidance for and more explicitly supporting the...
08/16/2024

In the past year I’ve discovered a new sense of purpose around providing guidance for and more explicitly supporting the mental health of the Burner community 🫂

I’ve decided to start posting about it now that Burning Man 2024 is approaching us ❤️‍🔥

💡Burning Man takes place in an extreme environment where people are influenced by many forces around them to push themselves to extremes along many different dimensions.

This makes for quite the adventure and the potential for discovering a lot of new things in yourself and in others 💪🏼

But it also sets the stage for potential deterioration of your mental health either at the event, during your decompression, or possibly over time the deeper you get involved in the community and subculture. Somehow this has been revealing itself to me as part of the shadow side of the experience that may not get as much attention. People love to talk about what they gain at Burning Man, but rarely talk about what they lost or in what ways they may get inadvertendly harmed.

I’m here to talk about this subject and suggest some tips for how you could take better care of your mental health along your journey.

Stay tuned for more.

Yesterday the Federal Drug Administration declined to approve M**A as a treatment for PTSD citing the need for further s...
08/10/2024

Yesterday the Federal Drug Administration declined to approve M**A as a treatment for PTSD citing the need for further studies. This decision has stirred a lot of disappointment in the field, especially among those who have high hopes for this emerging treatment. While I understand the excitement surrounding M**A’s potential, I also believe it’s crucial to approach this topic with a critical eye.

💡Here’s Why:

In recent years, M**A-assisted therapy has gained rapid acceptance, becoming almost a beacon of hope for many. However this rapid acceptance can make it difficult to avoid bias in the research. The growing public enthusiasm can sometimes overshadow the rigorous scientific scrutiny needed to truly understand the long-term effects and safety of such treatments.

🌍 A Global Perspective:

It’s also worth noting that some countries, like Switzerland for example, have allowed M**A therapy as a last resort when all other treatments have failed. This raises an interesting question; Should the potential benefits of M**A be accessible in certain circumstances, even if more research is needed? Or should we hold off until we have more rebust body of evidence?

🧠 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going:

I’m here to encourage a more nuanced discussion. Let’s remember that science is a process, one that requires patience, transparency and an open mind. While M**A-assisted therapy shows promise, it’s vital to ensure thay yhe scoence behind it is solid, free from bias, and in the best interest of those who need it most.

What are your thoughts on this? Let’s discuss! 👇

A good reminder of a simple yet powerful message.Source:
12/12/2021

A good reminder of a simple yet powerful message.

Source:

Insight is a critical ingredient of the therapeutic process in psychotherapy. By developing your level of self-awareness...
11/20/2021

Insight is a critical ingredient of the therapeutic process in psychotherapy.

By developing your level of self-awareness and seeing yourself more clearly, you can navigate the world around you in a more effective and fulfilling way. This is something that must be culvitated within one’s own mind. We cannot expect others to do the work for us.

Thanks Tim Ferriss for inspiring exploration of this concept.

Excited to be attending .conference - Switzerland’s first scientific conference dedicated to the psychedelic field in La...
10/29/2021

Excited to be attending .conference - Switzerland’s first scientific conference dedicated to the psychedelic field in Lausanne. Switzerland has played such an essential role in the history of psychedelic medicine and continuess to lead the way today in both research and practice. Day 1 has been a huge success! 🇨🇭

“Many men struggle with mental health after becoming fathers, but stigma and societal norms keep them from getting help....
07/20/2021

“Many men struggle with mental health after becoming fathers, but stigma and societal norms keep them from getting help.”

This is really important not only for new parents to think about but for therapists and health care professionals as well. When working with a new father, don’t overlook the impact this new role could have on his mental health. We should be screening all new parents- regardless of gender- for postpartum depression and anxiety.

For the full article, click link in bio.

“In a new study, Yale researchers show that a single dose of psilocybin given to mice prompted an immediate and long-las...
07/05/2021

“In a new study, Yale researchers show that a single dose of psilocybin given to mice prompted an immediate and long-lasting increase in connections between neurons. The findings are published July 5 in the journal Neuron.

“We not only saw a 10% increase in the number of neuronal connections, but also they were on average about 10% larger, so the connections were stronger as well,” said Yale’s Alex Kwan, associate professor of psychiatry and of neuroscience and senior author of the paper.”

See link in bio for full article.

In this poignant work of art, this artist who was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder captures their psychiatrists’...
07/04/2021

In this poignant work of art, this artist who was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder captures their psychiatrists’ words about the condition:

“Bipolar is living in chaos. It’s like having an invisible hawk chained to your neck that wreaks havoc in your life. Eventually you can put it in the corner and train it but in the meantime, spray paint that bastard yellow and never let it be invisible again.”

This description may not be true for everyone, but I thought it was such a compelling concept and loved how the artist channeled the message into visual art.

Find and befriend your own invisible hawk.

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