*Now Accepting New patients*
Larry O. Sanders, MD. PC
I have been practicing psychiatry for over 30 years. I did my Internship in Internal Medicine, then transferred to Psychiatry. I believe in being a human being first, physician second and psychiatrist third.
Individualized care.
While family history is useful in diagnosis and treatment, everyone is unique. No two people have the same upbringing, the same genetics expressed, nor the same current stressors. Therefore, all people require thorough evaluation and individualized treatments. We will discuss your most pressing needs and treat those first; not what "should" be treated. We devise your treatment plan together.
Standard of Care.
We start with standard of care and for many people that is all that is needed. But at least one-half of people have an inadequate response to treatment or no response at all. If you have not had a full remission (fully well) to treatment, you have a much higher chance of relapsing more quickly, with worse symptoms and symptoms lasting longer. People who have even one symptom of depression remaining will relapse 7 times faster than those that have no symptoms.
Excellent Care.
I always offer FDA approved treatment options first. However, if you happen to have less than a full remission, we will consider other options, both medical and non-medical. There are many safe options which research has proven, but became generic before FDA approval could be obtained. I will offer those medications, that may not be FDA approved for that condition, but have evidence to support their usefulness for you.
Dr. Sanders Treatment Philosophy
Non-Medical Treatments.
While medications are very important, you often get better results when you combine them with other treatments.
Psychotherapy. There are over 100 types of therapy. Some common ones are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Marital Therapy, Family Therapy, and others, They can be a very important part of many treatment regiments.
Self Care. While everyone knows that certain activities are important, it is still vital to actually do them.
1. Getting adequate sleep. Adequate sleep restores neurotransmitters that are vital do dealing with daytime stress. Without adequate sleep, no treatment will work well.
2. Balanced diet. At times, nutritional deficiencies can cause depression and anxiety. While supplements are only occasionally helpful, a balanced diet is vital.
3. Learning how to manage stressors. Wether you utilize Meditation, Relaxing Walks with a partner, or Psychotherapy it is vital to find a way to decrease stress.
4. Stay away from drugs and excess alcohol. Drugs and excessive alcohol will sabotage every form of treatment. If you find yourself using these to "relax", seek help immediately.
Exercise. We all know it's important, research shows it's really important. 30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week (a mix of aerobic and resistance/weight training) has good antidepressant effect. While this is hard to achieve, exercise every 2-3 days per week has strong clinical effect.
Obesity is 50% of depression load.
If you are obese, it can be very difficult to get well on medications alone. Fat creates inflammation which makes all illnesses, including mood, much harder to treat. While losing weight can be challenging, is vital for good mental and physical health.