Welcome to Our Blog
We aspire to be a collection of passionate and thoughtful individuals who challenge ourselves and others to think about the future and get excited about making it better for everyone. We're not always right, and we know that. However, innovation only comes from failure and learning. We are committed to building in the open. Think of us as an open-source healthcare system. If we have something here that is of value, take it. It's yours. Go make the world a better place.
Latest Blogs
What Does Bipolar Disorder Actually Feel Like? A Psychiatrist ExplainsÂ
Medically Reviewed by: Dr. DeWayne Book  Bipolar disorder gets flattened into a punchline more often than it gets explained. Most people picture dramatic mood swings — happy one day, sad the next. The reality is five distinct internal experiences, each neurologically different from the last, each requiring a different clinical response. ...
What Is ERP Therapy for OCD? How Exposure and Response Prevention WorksÂ
Clinically Reviewed By: Kristen Poppe, LCMHC, LCAS Most people who come into a professional for OCD treatment have already tried something. They have tried pushing the thoughts away. They have tried arguing with them, researching them, seeking reassurance from people they trust. They have tried staying busy, avoiding triggers, and white-knuckling their way through the anxiety. And for...
Can Stoicism Help With OCD? What Stoicism and ERP Therapy Have in CommonÂ
Written By: Kristen Poppe, LCMHC, LCAS Two thousand years ago, the Stoic philosopher Epictetus wrote that humans are disturbed not by events themselves, but by the judgments they form about them. He was not writing about obsessive-compulsive disorder — but he could have been. The overlap between Stoicism and...
Is Marijuana Making Your ADHDÂ Worse?Â
Clinically Reviwed By: Dr. Alexandra Spessott, Medical Director at AIM Marijuana is everywhere. It’s been legalized or decriminalized across much of the United States, normalized in popular culture, and marketed as a remedy for everything from anxiety to sleep issues. In fact, marijuana appears to have surpassed daily consumption of alcohol. And while cannabis...
Is ADHD Overdiagnosed? What’s Behind the RiseÂ
Written By Dr. Alexandra Spessott, Medical Director at AIM   It can feel like ADHD is everywhere right now. Your coworker just got diagnosed. Your sister thinks she might have it. Half of TikTok seems to be talking about it. So what’s going on—is ADHD actually more common than it used...
How ADHD Is Properly Diagnosed and Treated
Written by Dr. Alexandra Spessott, Medical Director for the Triangle at AIM.   Getting an ADHD evaluation can feel daunting. Maybe you’ve been told your whole life that you’re “scattered” or “just need to try harder,” and you’re finally wondering if there’s something more going on. Or maybe a...
When is it Time for Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and How to Start?
Clinically reviewed by Corey Kennedy, MSW, LCSW. Corey is the Executive Director of Advaita Health and oversees the Mental Health Treatment at AIM in Raleigh. Many people reach a point in mental health treatment where they wonder if what they are doing is enough.  They may be in therapy, taking medication...
IOP vs Weekly Therapy: How to Choose the Best Option
Clinically reviewed by Corey Kennedy, MSW, LCSW. Corey is the Executive Director of Advaita Health and oversees the Mental Health Treatment at AIM in Raleigh. Many people begin addressing their mental health during a period of struggle, and choosing the right type of care can feel overwhelming. One of...
When Mental Health Medication Isn’t Enough: What to Do Next
Medically Reviewed by Dr. DeWayne Book Chief Medical Officer, Advaita Health Psychiatry & Mental Health Treatment – Raleigh, NC If you’re taking medication for anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or another mental health condition and it feels like you’ve hit a wall, you’re not alone. Many people describe a frustrating plateau—some improvement early on, followed by lingering symptoms that...
10 Signs Your Medication Isn’t Working And What to Do NextÂ
Medically Reviewed by Dr. DeWayne Book  Dr. Book is the Chief Medical Officer of Advaita Health and oversees the Mental Health Treatment at AIM in Raleigh. Psychiatric medications can be life changing. For many people, the right medication reduces symptoms, improves stability, and makes daily life feel more manageable. But...