Suburban Psychiatric Specialists

12/16/2025

🧠 What Is Spravato — and How Does It Help Depression? 🧠

Spravato (esketamine) is an FDA-approved nasal spray used for treatment-resistant depression, when traditional antidepressants haven’t helped. It works differently by targeting the brain’s glutamate system, which can create quicker improvements in mood and thinking.

Who Might Benefit?
People who have:
• Tried multiple medications with little relief.
• Ongoing severe depression.
• Need a modern, evidence-based option.

Why Choose Suburban? We provide thorough evaluation, safety monitoring, and personalized care throughout your Spravato journey, given in-clinic only, under close medical supervision. Serving Norwood, Dedham, Westwood, Walpole, Mansfield, Sharon, Foxboro, and nearby areas.

If depression hasn’t improved with typical treatments, Spravato may offer a new chance at relief.

Reach out us today: https://www.sps.healthcare/appointments

,

12/12/2025

🧠 OCD vs Intrusive Thoughts: What’s the Difference? 🧠

Many people experience intrusive thoughts, those sudden, unwanted mental images or “what if” fears that pop into the mind. But having intrusive thoughts doesn’t automatically mean you have OCD.

Here’s how to tell the difference
• Intrusive Thoughts (Common & Normal)
Everyone gets them.
They’re random, uncomfortable, and usually pass quickly.
Example: “What if I drop my phone?” or “What if I embarrass myself?”
Most people brush them off and move on.
• OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)
With OCD, intrusive thoughts become obsessions, upsetting, sticky, repetitive thoughts that feel impossible to ignore. These thoughts create anxiety, guilt, or fear.

To calm the distress, a person may develop compulsions, like: Repeating actions, checking things over and over, seeking reassurance, and mental rituals (counting, reviewing conversations, etc.).

OCD isn’t about being “neat” or “organized.”
It’s about getting stuck in a cycle that feels impossible to break.

How Suburban Psychiatric Specialists Helps? We offer accurate diagnosis, therapy options, and medication management to help break the obsession–compulsion cycle. Our approach is compassionate, evidence-based, and tailored to each individual’s needs.

Reach out us today: https://www.sps.healthcare/appointments

12/10/2025

🌗 Major Depression vs Bipolar Depression. What’s the Difference? 🌗

Major depression and bipolar depression can look very similar, but the patterns behind them are different.
Understanding the difference helps people get the right support and treatment.

At Suburban Psychiatric Specialists, we make that step easier. Our team provides accurate evaluations, personalized treatment plans, and advanced options like Spravato and IV Ketamine for people whose depression hasn’t improved with traditional medications.

We’re here to help you find clarity, stability, and real relief, one step at a time.

Reach out us today: https://www.sps.healthcare/appointments

12/08/2025

💡 Understanding & Coping with Emotional Flooding 💡

We all experience intense emotions in relationships whether with a partner, family member, or friend. But sometimes those emotions become overwhelming. This is called emotional flooding, a state where your body goes into fight-or-flight during conflict, making calm communication almost impossible.

What Helps:
• Notice early signs of overwhelm (racing heart, tension, irritability).
• Take a 20-minute break to reset your body.
• Practice mindfulness or deep breathing.
• Use gentle “I feel…” statements instead of blame.
• Build emotional resilience through self-care.
• Seek professional help when conflicts feel repetitive or unmanageable.

You can break the cycle. With awareness and the right tools, emotional flooding becomes easier to manage helping your relationships feel safer, calmer, and more connected.

At Suburban Psychiatric Specialists, we help individuals and couples understand emotional triggers, improve communication patterns, and build healthy coping skills. Our clinicians provide evidence-based tools to manage emotional overwhelm and strengthen relationship dynamics with compassion and care.

If emotional flooding is impacting your relationships, support is available, you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Reach out us today: https://www.sps.healthcare/appointments

12/05/2025

🧠 10 Signs You Might Be Experiencing Emotional Numbness🧠

Sometimes life feels like a roller coaster, full of ups and downs. Other times, it feels flat, predictable, and emotionally “quiet.” You may be experiencing emotional numbness, a state where you feel disconnected from your own feelings.

Here are 10 common signs:
• You don’t feel as happy as others during joyful moments
Big events like weddings, vacations, or celebrations feel distant or “muted.”
• You don’t feel as sad as you think you “should” during difficult times
Your mind knows it’s a sad moment, but your body feels nothing.
• Your main emotion is irritability or anxiety
When other feelings get pushed down, they can turn into anger or anxiety.
• You struggle to name or understand your emotions
When someone asks how you feel, you’re unsure or you go blank.
• You watch yourself from the outside
You feel like an observer in your own life rather than fully present.
• You feel uncomfortable around people who show strong emotions
Others’ tears or excitement feel overwhelming or awkward.

If you see yourself in these signs, you’re not broken, you’re likely disconnected from emotions, often due to past experiences like emotional neglect or coping patterns learned in childhood.

The good news is, your emotions are still there. With support, you can reconnect with them and bring color and meaning back into your life.

At Suburban Psychiatric Specialists our clinicians help individuals gently identify, understand, and reconnect with their emotions through evidence-based therapy and personalized care. It’s a safe, supportive space to rebuild emotional awareness at your own pace.

Reach out us today: https://www.sps.healthcare/appointments

12/03/2025

👨‍🧠 What Depression in Men Rally Looks Like 👨‍🧠

When people think of depression, they imagine sadness, low mood, or tears. But for many men, depression shows up very differently and often goes unnoticed.

Men may experience depression as:
• Irritability, anger, or frustration.
• Criticism, cynicism, or “short fuse” behavior.
• Withdrawal from family or friends,
• Black-and-white thinking or rigidity.
• Trouble sleeping, focusing, or controlling emotions.
• Blaming external situations instead of noticing inner distress.

Because men are often taught to “be strong,” these signs get overlooked even by the men experiencing them. A mix of biology, upbringing, and cultural expectations can push men to express emotional pain outward as anger instead of inward as sadness.

The good news?
Men often respond very well to treatment once they receive help.
Options include:
• Therapy – Helps men understand emotions and develop healthier coping skills.
• Medication – Often reduces physical and emotional symptoms.
• Spravato (Esketamine) – An FDA approved, fast-acting nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression.
• IV Ketamine Therapy – A rapid-relief option shown to reduce severe depression and suicidal thoughts in hours instead of weeks

At Suburban Psychiatric Specialists support men who struggle with irritability, anger, or withdrawal even if they never realized these could be signs of depression. Our team offers confidential, stigma-free care to help men regain calm, clarity, and emotional balance.

Reach out us today: https://www.sps.healthcare/appointments

12/01/2025

😔 When Leaving Home Feels Impossible: Let’s Talk About Agoraphobia 😔

For some people, even stepping outside the front door can bring intense fear. Agoraphobia isn’t just about crowds or open spaces, it’s the anxiety of being somewhere you might feel trapped, unsafe, or unable to get help. Sometimes it starts after panic attacks and slowly turns everyday places into overwhelming ones.

People with agoraphobia may avoid:
• Public transportation.
• Stores, restaurants, or crowded areas.
• Elevators or enclosed spaces.
• Leaving home alone.

Over time, this can make life feel very limited and isolating.
What Does It Feel Like?

Common signs include fear of being far from home, panic symptoms, needing someone to accompany you, or avoiding more and more places.

The Good News: It’s Treatable.
Helpful treatments include:
• Therapy (CBT & exposure therapy) to gently reduce fear and rebuild confidence.
• Medication when needed to ease symptoms.
• Lifestyle tools like breathing exercises, reducing caffeine, and support from loved ones.

You’re Not Alone. At Suburban Psychiatric Specialists, we help individuals facing agoraphobia. Whether you’re ready for your first step or just curious about your options, we’re here to guide you.

Reach out us to schedule an appointment or learn about treatment options: https://www.sps.healthcare/appointments

11/28/2025

⭐ From Heart Racing to Muscle Tension: How Anxiety Impacts Your Health⭐

Anxiety doesn’t just affect your thoughts, it affects your entire body. Many people experience physical symptoms long before they even realize they’re anxious. Understanding these signs can help you recognize what your body is trying to tell you.

• Rapid Heartbeat
Stress hormones like adrenaline can make your heart race or feel like it’s skipping beats. When this happens often, it can raise the risk of long-term heart issues.
• Fast or Shallow Breathing
Anxiety can make you breathe quickly or feel like you “can’t get enough air.” For people with asthma or lung conditions, this can feel even more intense.
• Fight-or-Flight Response
When your body senses danger, it gets ready to protect you, even if the threat isn’t real. You may feel sweaty, shaky, or on edge as your body prepares to “fight” or “run.”
• Muscle Tension
Shoulder, neck, and jaw tightness are common physical signs of stress. When these muscles stay tense, they can lead to headaches and even migraines.
• Men’s Sexual Health
Chronic stress can lower testosterone over time, affecting sexual desire, s***m health, and overall functioning.
• Women’s Sexual Health
High stress and anxiety can lead to changes in menstrual cycles, increased PMS symptoms, reduced desire, and difficulty getting pregnant.

If you’re noticing these symptoms often, you’re not “overreacting.” Your body is signaling that you may need support. At Suburban Psychiatric Specialists, we help you understand your symptoms, reduce anxiety, and restore balance with compassionate, evidence-based care.

Reach out us to schedule an appointment or learn about treatment options: https://www.sps.healthcare/appointments

11/26/2025

⚠️ Understanding Toxic Work Stress and Its Effects on Your Mental Health⚠️

Some stress at work is normal, but if your job is constantly draining you, overwhelming you, or affecting your mood, it may be taking a toll on your mental health.

Toxic work environments can show up in different ways: feeling anxious before work, being overloaded with tasks, dealing with poor communication, having no boundaries, or feeling unappreciated no matter how hard you try. Over time, this can lead to burnout, irritability, sleep issues, and even depression or anxiety.

If you’re noticing changes in your mood, sleep, motivation, or relationships because of work, you don’t have to navigate it by yourself. That’s where Suburban Psychiatric Specialists comes in.
You deserve a workplace that supports your mental health — not one that breaks it.

If your job is taking a toll on your mental health, reaching out is a sign of strength. Our team at Suburban Psychiatric Specialists is here to help you regain balance and create healthier ways to cope with the challenges you’re facing.

Support is here when you need it
Reach out today: https://www.sps.healthcare/appointments

11/24/2025

💼 Losing Your Job Can Be a Mental Health Struggle — Here’s How to Cope

Losing a job doesn’t only affect your income — it can affect your confidence, mood, and emotional health. Many people feel stressed, worried, sad, or embarrassed after unemployment.
And with long-term unemployment rising, more people are silently struggling.

Why Job Loss Affects Mental Health
• You may feel worthless or “not good enough.”
• Money worries increase stress and anxiety.
• Constant rejections hurt self-esteem.
• Seeing others work while your job searching can feel lonely.

Ways to Cope During Job Loss
• Talk to someone you trust.
• Stay connected to friends/family.
• Keep a daily routine.
• Ask a mental health professional for support.

Remember: Losing a job does NOT mean losing your value.

Suburban Psychiatric Specialists can help. You don’t have to go through this alone.
Our team supports individuals dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, and life transitions like unemployment. Your mental health matters, especially during difficult chapters.

Support is here when you need it
Reach out today: https://www.sps.healthcare/appointments

11/21/2025

🧬 Childhood Trauma Can Leave Marks on the Brain — Here’s What You Should Know

Childhood trauma isn’t just an emotional experience — it can also affect the body and brain in ways we are only beginning to understand.

A new study shows that experiences like abuse or neglect can leave lasting “marks” on an individual’s DNA, known as epigenetic changes. These marks don’t change the DNA itself, but they can affect how the brain grows and how certain genes work.

Researchers found that trauma can affect important areas of the brain that control:
🔹 Emotions
🔹 Memory
🔹 Learning
🔹 Social behavior

One key gene they discovered, called FOXP1, works like a master switch for brain development. When trauma disrupts this gene, it may lead to long-term changes in how an individual handles stress, controls emotions, or responds to the world.

The study even created a risk score that may help identify everyone affected by trauma early — giving them the chance to receive help sooner.

💛 What This Means
Childhood trauma doesn’t just “go away.” It can shape the brain and mental health well into adulthood.

But the good news? With the right support, healing is possible.
At Suburban Psychiatric Specialists, our mental health professionals provide trauma-informed care to help individuals understand their experiences and start healing.

Learn more: https://www.sps.healthcare/appointments

11/21/2025