My Doctor Online The Permanente Medical Group
Are you having back pain with any of the following?
- Severe pain, weakness or tingling in your leg(s).
- Difficulty stopping urination or loss of control of bladder or bowels.
- Unexplained fever, nausea or vomiting.
- A history of cancer or unexplained weight loss.
We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.
We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.
Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.
Peter Cohen, MD
Psychiatry
Welcome to My Doctor Online, a web site that my colleagues and I developed to make it easier for you to take care of your healthcare needs. On this site you will find answers to many of your questions about my clinical practice. Also included are several online features that will allow you to e-mail me, check your laboratory results and refill prescriptions. I hope you find its content informative and useful.
Quick Links
- Mind Body Health Classes
- NAMI en Español (la Alianza Nacional de Enfermedades Mentales)
- WebCare for Depression
- Al-Anon
- Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
- American Group Psychotherapy Association
- Anxiety Disorders Association of America
- Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder
- Cold, Flu and Cough
- National Alliance on Mental Illness
- National Institute of Mental Health
- Understanding Anxiety
- Understanding Depression
General References
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Your mental health is an important part of your overall health. The way you think, feel, and act influences your relationships and how you respond to events in your life. Mental health affects the way you cope with challenges and handle stress.
During tough times, you may need support from family, friends, and sometimes a mental health professional, such as a licensed counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist. A psychiatrist has been to medical school and can also prescribe medications if you need them.
Examples of the types of mental health issues we treat include depression and other mood disorders such as bipolar disorder, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, and many other serious mental health conditions.
How do I know if I need help for a mental health problem?
You may need temporary, short-term help for a stressful event or sudden crisis. You may also need help if you have long-term symptoms of a mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety (chronic problem).
Acute problem
If you experience serious life stress and are unable to cope, we can help. Or if you have trouble coping with daily life as you normally would but are unsure why, we can also help.
For instance, in response to serious stress, you may feel depressed, anxious, fearful, emotional, lack motivation, withdraw from others, or sleep too little or too much. You may also eat too much or too little, gain or lose a significant amount of weight, have trouble keeping your mind focused, have mood swings, cry without a reason, hear or see things others do not, or feel that life is not worth living. Some people also experience physical symptoms triggered by emotional stress.
Chronic problem
If you experience long-term psychological symptoms or the symptoms keep returning, you may have a chronic mental health condition. Examples of such mental health disorders include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder (also called manic-depressive illness), or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). If your issues involve food, you may have an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge-eating disorder. If you see or hear things that others do not, you may have a condition called “psychosis.”
These types of mental health disorders are common and often respond to treatment. Depending on your condition, we may recommend a combination of individual appointments, group appointments, and medication.
Note: Be aware that group and individual therapy that focus on self-improvement, self-awareness, self-actualization, improving marital or relationship problems are not considered “medically necessary” and may not be covered by your insurance plan. You may want to call us first to discuss which services are covered for your specific condition.
Who should I call when I need help?
You can call our nurse advisor or make an appointment with your personal physician. Your primary care doctor or nurse practitioner may be the first one to notice a change in your mental health, or advise you that you may have a mental health condition. Your primary care provider may be able to provide a course of treatment for you if your condition is of a mild or moderate level. Your primary care doctor is able to easily consult with mental health professionals on your behalf, or may recommend that you contact us directly.
However, you do not need a referral to the Psychiatry department. If you have a mental health issue that is interfering with your daily life or if you have been dealing with a significant mental health issue and need help, call us directly to schedule an appointment. During the call, our therapist will guide you to the best person to care for your condition.
What types of therapy are used?
Your treatment depends on the type of mental health issue or condition that you face. Generally, mental health treatment includes individual or group appointments, education about your condition, access to support groups, and medications if needed.
Examples of the different types of therapy that we may use to treat your mental health condition include:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This therapy teaches you that the way you think controls your feelings and behaviors. CBT gives you the power to change the way you think, which makes you feel and behave more positively in the face of challenges you may face.Dialectical behavioral therapy. This is a type of CBT that teaches you specific behaviors to help you tolerate stressful events, adjust your emotions, and improve relationships.
Interpersonal therapy. This therapy focuses on your relationship skills and helps you develop a plan to help you deal with challenging relationships and communication issues.
Supportive therapy. We provide you with a safe, supportive place to talk about the situation. We don’t judge you and do not ask you to change your behavior or way of thinking.
Crisis intervention. If you suddenly lose your ability to cope, we may use this type of therapy. We offer immediate or emergency help if you experience a stressful event or sudden loss which leads you to be unable to function.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). We may use this therapy if you have experienced a traumatic event. We expose you to a memory or a reminder of the event and then instruct you to move your eyes in a certain pattern to help you better process the memory.
Group therapy. We may refer you to one or more group therapy programs. Group therapy can be a powerful way to achieve better mental health in a safe environment with a mental health professional and peers who are working with similar issues.
The goal of therapy is to help you return to a normal level of functioning so that you can enjoy your life again.
During therapy, we’ll help you identify the issues, provide education about your condition, and teach you effective coping skills to manage your issues.
For example, if stress is making it hard for you to function, we may teach you to recognize signs of depression and anxiety and then how to manage your thoughts and feelings in a stressful situation. We can help you improve personal and work relationships and teach you how to identify your particular stress triggers to avoid a relapse.
While therapy cannot alter the past, or remove challenges from your life, it can teach you to accept the past and move forward with the positive goals you set for yourself.
How can group therapy help me?
Group therapy teaches you positive coping skills and how to control your emotions. We recognize that some people are not comfortable talking in groups, but even if you are quiet during the meeting, you learn from the mental health professional and from the experiences of others with similar problems. The power of group therapy comes from the ability of the group to support you while you reach your personal goals.
Groups help you realize that you are not the only person who struggles with particular issues. Sharing feelings with a group may empower you and help you cope with your own issues. Remember, what you say in group is confidential and will not negatively affect others in the group as it might with your friends and family. It is okay to be open and honest in the group setting. Groups can give you a place to practice being who you really are so that you feel free to be yourself in your private life.
How do I know if I have a substance abuse problem?
If you think you might have a problem with alcohol or drugs, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I ever feel that I drank/used too much?
- Have others thought that I drank/used too much?
- Has my substance use interfered with school or work?
- Has my substance use interfered with relationships?
- Have I ever had a DUI or other legal problems because of substance use?
- Have I had to use more of any substance to get a desired effect?
- Do I have a hard time cutting back on the amount I use?
- Do I spend a lot of time obtaining the substances I use?
If you answered “yes” to one or more of these questions, you may have a problem with alcohol or drugs. Be sure to call us so we can privately help you evaluate the situation.
How do I seek help for substance abuse problems?
You do not need a referral. Call us to make an appointment with our Chemical Dependency Services (CDS) clinic.
What should I know before taking psychiatric medication?
We do a careful assessment of your symptoms and history before recommending medications or other treatment. Be sure to tell us about all of your symptoms, the frequency of symptoms, and if you can identify any triggers that may be causing symptoms. If we (or your primary care provider) prescribe medications, you may want to ask one or more of the following questions:
- How will the medication help me?
- When should I take the medication?
- What should I do if I miss a dose?
- If I need to stop taking a medication, what should I do?
- Are there any interactions with other medications I take?
- Can I safely drink alcohol when I take this medication?
- What are the possible side effects? What can I do if I experience side effects?
- Will the pharmacy give me more information about the medication?
If you have any questions or concerns once you begin taking a prescribed medication, be sure to call us