The Mendem Life

Panic attacks often feel overwhelming and physically intense—like your body is betraying you. But even though you may not halt one instantly, you can  reduce its intensity and reclaim control using proven strategies. 1. Accept It, Don’t Fight It Resisting a panic attack can amplify distress. Clinicians advise acknowledging what’s happening—“This is a panic attack, and it will pass.” This mindset shift can lessen its grip. 2. Grounding Techniques That Anchor You Reset your sen

What Are ACEs? Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) refer to potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood (before age 18). These experiences include various forms of abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction—such as witnessing domestic violence, living with someone with a substance use disorder, or enduring physical or emotional neglect. The original ACE study, conducted by the CDC and Kaiser Permanente in the 1990s, revealed a groundbreaking connection between early

Many women experience mood swings, anxiety, or depressive symptoms that seem to follow a pattern linked to their menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or menopause. While these changes are often dismissed as "normal," they can significantly impact mental well-being. Understanding the connection between hormones and mental health is essential in creating a balanced and resilient mind. Lifestyle psychiatry offers a holistic approach to balancing hormones naturally to support mental healt

Trauma can have profound and lasting effects on an individual's emotional, psychological, and physical well-being, particularly among women who have experienced sexual or domestic violence. Understanding the neurobiology of trauma helps survivors, their support networks, and healthcare providers grasp why trauma responses occur and how to better support healing. The Neurobiology of Trauma in Women When someone experiences trauma, such as sexual or domestic violence, their bra

Serving as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) from 2011 to October 13, 2020, was one of the most impactful and meaningful roles in my professional journey. During these years, I realized that my calling extended beyond acute medical care—I was destined to serve a greater purpose by supporting survivors on their ongoing journey to healing. Today, I proudly provide holistic, trauma-informed psychiatric care to survivors across Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. What Do

We’ve all been there—pushing through another day of “I’m fine” while secretly running on empty. For high-achieving women juggling careers, caregiving, and expectations (including our own), burnout has become more than a buzzword—it’s become a way of life. But what if your emotional exhaustion wasn’t just mental... but biological? Welcome to the quiet crisis  affecting so many women: dysregulated cortisol . What Is Cortisol and Why Does It Matter? Cortisol is your body’s main