Articles
Browse every published article connected to Michael Rayel, with exact attribution and full-archive search.
Articles
Browse every published article connected to Michael Rayel, or search within this exact expert archive.
Countless number of patients and their family members have asked me about manic–depression and major depression. “Is there any difference?” “Are they one and the same?” “Is the treatment the same?” And so on. Each time I encounter a chorus of questions like these, I am enthused to provide ...
When suffering from clinical depression, people have different ways of confronting it. Some acknowledge it, face it just like any problem, and seek help. Some ignore it as if it doesn’t exist. And others simply accept that it’s there but they don’t do anything about it. In fact, they don’t even ...
“Only two things are certain in this world — change and death.” A relative told us this as we gathered in the balcony one summer evening many years ago. For a young boy, those words sounded strange and profound. As a physician, I’ve realized that change and death are ...
There’s so much talk about emotional intelligence and how it can promote personal and business success. What is it really? What are its basic tenets? Emotional intelligence is the capacity to recognize, understand, and manage one’s emotions and that of others. This “intelligent” concept focuses ...
When driving, we need to check our rear-view mirror every few minutes to perceive dangers lurking behind — tailgaters, hecklers, over speeding cars, and drivers under the influence. Aside from anticipating threats, it helps us contemplate our next move, giving us enough time to be cautious ...
For the past few years, I’ve talked to parents complaining about their kids and their online or computer habits. “They spend too much time playing online games. No time for homework,” reports a single mom. “When my child loses a game, he yells at me,” adds a ...
“Something is wrong. How can procrastination be effective?” “That’s impossible. I can’t believe it. You’re just kidding.” “No, I’m not. I really believe that procrastination can be positive at times. And I mean it,” I argued with a ...
A British weapon’s inspector was found dead in the woods after he slashed his wrist. For the past few weeks, he was entangled with a controversy about the war in Iraq. On Monday, a Hyundai executive leaped to his death from the 12th floor. He was on trial for allegedly paying off North Korea ...
For the past few weeks, I’ve been reading a book which I bought in 2006 but forgot or deferred to read because I thought it was just a rehash of old, worn-out ideas. Anyway, the book “The Laws of Lifetime Growth” by Sullivan and Nomura has been uniquely engaging. For its size — a small, 127- page book — it contains profound ten life gems or laws that can guarantee extraordinary growth for some people. Out of ten, three Sullivan and Nomura’s laws have caught my attention.
Junkyard Wars, a TV series showed two teams of experts contending for a title. The aim of the competition was for teams to construct a torpedo that can hit a target. But the challenge was more than just the process of construction. The challenge was creating a torpedo out of a junk. Each team ...
Alzheimer’s Dementia has a combination of cognitive and behavioral manifestations. Cognitive impairment is the core problem which includes memory deficits and at least one of the following: aphasia or language problem, agnosia or problems with recognition, apraxia or motor activity problem, and ...
Jill is a 21 y/o college student who used to do well until about a few months ago when she started to experience “weird” attacks almost daily. She described her experience as “horrible.” When she has the attack, she feels that she’s about to die or develop a stroke. One day while she was in a ...
I remember a friend in college who would blush, sweat, and tremble when required by a teacher to speak in class. A few weeks before the presentation, he’d be anxious, agitated, and couldn’t sleep. Because I was still a student then, I didn’t have any clue what he was going through. But I knew ...I remember a friend in college who would blush, sweat, and tremble when required by a teacher to speak in class. A few weeks before the presentation, he’d be anxious, agitated, and couldn’t sleep. Because I was still a student then, I didn’t have any clue what he was going through.
Dysthymic Disorder, used to be called Dysthymia, is a low-grade and yet chronic depression characterized by feelings of sadness or depression associated with lack of interest to do things and some physical symptoms such as lack of energy, sleep, and concentration. Psychological symptoms such as ...
“As parents, what’s really our role?” I asked a group of parents during my lecture on family and emotional intelligence. Each one had an opinion about children and parenting. “Feed them,” said one. “Clothe them,” said another. Soon, others shared their ...
Sarah is a 28 y/o accountant who had a traumatic past that she kept to herself. At age 15, she was grabbed by a masked man while she was jogging in a park. The man threatened to kill her with a knife and brutally raped her. She screamed but nobody seemed to have heard her. Since that time, ...
Maria has been increasingly depressed for the past few years. She has tried at least four newer antidepressants but so far, she doesn’t seem to respond. Unable to work, she’s now feeling helpless and hopeless. Likewise, her family is discouraged. Frustrated and baffled by Maria’s lack of ...
Like in most families, children are around you everyday. Whatever you show to your children is what you teach and impart to them regardless of your intentions. In the eyes of your children, you are a teacher. Everyday you are teaching “live” — whether you like it or not. You’re like a walking ...
I usually put my children to sleep. Routinely, each one takes turn saying prayers before dozing off. “Dear heavenly Father, thank you for my family and relatives and for all the blessings. Thank you for giving me only good dreams and good thoughts.” As this prayer echoes around the room, it ...
Many parents feel stressed before and during school openings, when kids have to wake up earlier than usual, when they have to wrestle with new school mates and new teachers. As well, kids demand latest jeans and designer shirts just to keep up with peers. And who shell out the required funds for these extra and sometimes unnecessary demands? Of course you, honorable parents. Unfortunately such demands can take their toll. Very soon, you’ll notice that you’re becoming more irritable, stressed, and tensed. How do you cope?
“Mike, wake up! You’re daydreaming again!” My best friend in childhood used to accuse me of daydreaming. I’d just laugh each time he would lead me back from my fantasy land to reality. Everyone daydreams. But while others are preoccupied with the miseries of current realities, some dream about ...
With all this talk of recession, of global economic crisis, of failing banks and creeping foreclosures, of unpaid credit card debts, of mounting monthly bills, how can you stay motivated? How can you maintain your momentum when under extreme pressure? When the world is full of negativity and ...
Do you know what emotional intelligence (EI or EQ) is and how it can benefit your life? Do you know how to manage your emotion so you can propel yourself to the next level? In short, do you have the EQ edge for success? There’s so much talk about emotional intelligence and how it can ...
Our community has suffered a blow this week. Dr. Albert O’Mahony, a revered Clarenville family doctor for years, met an untimely death. Only a few weeks ago, I had seen him walk in our neighborhood with Donna. He then greeted us with his signature broad grin and vibrant demeanor. Not ...
A nice lady who sat beside me on a plane narrated her life after learning that I’m a practicing psychiatrist. “I can’t say ‘no.’ That’s my problem for years. I‘m now 68 years old and I still try to please everyone except myself. I feel guilty if I say ...
Nancy was doing very well until about two years ago when Phil, her boyfriend of 9 years, broke-up with her. It was a difficult moment for her especially after she learned that Phil eventually married her cousin. Since then, Nancy had deteriorated. One evening, she was involved in a motor ...
I’m surprised when some patients and caregivers confuse dementia and Alzheimer’s as one and the same. Each time a family member is suffering from memory loss, the conclusion is always Alzheimer’s. Is it reasonable to label all dementias as Alzheimer’s? As a clinician, my answer to queries is ...