by Teralyn Sell, PhD | Jun 28, 2026 | BRAIN HEALTH, chemical imbalance theory, deprescribing medication, Health and Wellness, In the News, In the News, medication tapering, medication titration, Medicine, Research
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Teralyn Sell, PhD One of the most important unanswered questions in mental health today is why psychiatric medication withdrawal appears to affect people so differently. While some individuals discontinue medications with relatively few...
by Teralyn Sell, PhD | Jun 21, 2026 | Body, deprescribing medication, medication tapering, medication titration, Medicine
SSRIs are commonly described as medications that “fix” serotonin levels in the brain. What is talked about far less is how SSRIs affect the brain’s energy system. Mitochondria are the parts of cells that make energy, and the brain depends on them more than any other...
by Teralyn Sell, PhD | Jun 16, 2026 | Behavior, Being Human, BRAIN HEALTH, chemical imbalance theory, deprescribing medication, medication tapering, medication titration
Medically reviewed by Dr. Teralyn Sell, PhD The addiction versus dependence debate is being framed as clinical. It isn’t. It is a moral argument being passed off as science, and it is distorting how mental health treatment decisions are made. If you listen closely,...
by Teralyn Sell, PhD | Jun 9, 2026 | Behavior, Being Human, medication tapering, medication titration, Psych Medication Tapering, psychiatric medication
Medically reviewed by Dr. Teralyn Sell, PhD Let’s be precise. Treatment is not built on whether something is called “addiction” or “dependence.” It is built on what the drug does during withdrawal. Mechanism of action drives risk. Mechanism drives pacing. Mechanism...
by Teralyn Sell, PhD | Jun 2, 2026 | BRAIN HEALTH, chemical imbalance theory, deprescribing medication, Medicine
Medically reviewed by Dr. Teralyn Sell, PhD One of the most common and costly mistakes in mental health is answering the question of withdrawal versus relapse too quickly. Symptoms return, mood shifts, anxiety increases, and the default conclusion is often relapse....
by Teralyn Sell, PhD | May 26, 2026 | Anxiety & Depression, Anxiety and Depression, Being Human, BRAIN HEALTH, chemical imbalance theory
Medically reviewed by Dr. Teralyn Sell, PhD Mental health is often reduced to a diagnosis based on a cluster of symptoms. You meet criteria, you receive a label, and treatment follows. This model is efficient, but it is not complete. A research article examining the...
by Teralyn Sell, PhD | May 19, 2026 | Body, BRAIN HEALTH, chemical imbalance theory, Nutrition
When people start thinking about brain health or mental health, diet often comes up. Two of the most talked-about diets are the Mediterranean diet and the ketogenic (keto) diet. Both are often described as “good for the brain,” but they work in very different ways....
by Teralyn Sell, PhD | May 5, 2026 | antidepressants, Anxiety & Depression, Anxiety and Depression, BRAIN HEALTH, chemical imbalance theory, Medicine, Nutrition
Many people notice something strange after starting an SSRI. They crave sugar. Bread, pasta, sweets, and snacks suddenly feel harder to resist. Hunger feels different. Cravings feel urgent. This is often blamed on “emotional eating” or lack of discipline, but that...
by Teralyn Sell, PhD | Apr 14, 2026 | antidepressants, Anxiety & Depression, Anxiety and Depression, BRAIN HEALTH, chemical imbalance theory, Medicine, Nutrition
Mitochondria are tiny parts inside your cells that make energy. Every cell has them, but the brain needs more energy than almost any other part of the body. Thinking, feeling, focusing, remembering, and handling stress all take a lot of power. When mitochondria are...
by Teralyn Sell, PhD | Apr 6, 2026 | antidepressants, Anxiety & Depression, Behavior, Being Human, BRAIN HEALTH, chemical imbalance theory, Health and Wellness
Traditional therapy often focuses on thoughts, feelings, and behavior. These things matter. But when therapy ignores brain health, it misses a major part of the problem. You cannot talk your way out of a brain that is exhausted, inflamed, under-fueled, or chemically...