Manlove Brain + Body Health Blog

Read the latest from Dr. Manlove and the MBBH team covering topics such as psychiatry, treatment resistant depression, brain health, lifestyle changes, and more.

Megan Burgard CNP at Manlove Brain and Body Health

Mental Health Specialist, Megan Burgard - Nurse Practitioner

Introducing Nurse Practitioner, Megan Burgard to the Manlove Brain and Body Health team!
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antidepressant medication options

Antidepressant Medications: Classes, Doses & Side Effects

People often come to Manlove Brain + Body Health believing they have tried “every medication” for their depression, though that is rarely the case. A patient’s treatment-resistance to antidepressant medication is often caused by one of three scenarios.
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ketamine, esketamine, Spravato

Does Insurance Cover Esketamine? And, Common Questions About Ketamine and Esketamine (Spravato) Answered

Ketamine and esketamine (Spravato) are becoming a popular topic of discussion among mental health providers and patients suffering from depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
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Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): How it works, what to expect, side effects.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) was developed in 1985, and has been  FDA-approved since 2008 as an alternative treatment for depression. TMS is covered by most health insurance plans for those with treatment resistant depression (TRD) which is defined as a patient who has tried 4 or more antidepressant medications and therapy without relief. It can also help people with symptoms of PTSD, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, social anxiety disorder, seasonal affective disorder, and other mental illnesses.
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Amanda VanConant CNP at Manlove Brain and Body Health in Rapid City, South Dakota a treatment resistant depression clinic specializing in TMS and Ketamine Esketamine (Spravato) mental health treatments.

Mental Health Specialist, Amanda VanConant - Nurse Practitioner

We are so grateful to have Nurse Practitioner Amanda VanConant as part of our team at Manlove Brain and Body Health!
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Ketamine suite at Advanced Brain Body Clinic a ketamine and tms therapy office in Minneapolis Saint Paul Minnesota

How to Have the Best Ketamine Treatment Experience

In a recent blog, Ketamine Misconceptions: How One Patient’s ‘Weird’ Experience Could Have Been Life-Changing, I address some common misconceptions about ketamine that may be turning people away from this life-saving treatment. In addition to the details shared in this piece, it's important to know that there is a wide range of patient experiences when ketamine is used in treating psychiatric conditions. This is due to a variety of factors: the treatment setting, the dosage given, how quickly the dosage is given, the patient’s mindset before and during the infusion, the support staff during the treatment process, and more.
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Screenshot of preview for New York Times Article: I took Ketamine for My Depression. Things Got Pretty Weird. by Vanessa Barbara.

How ‘Weird’ Ketamine Experience Could Have Been Life-Changing

The New York Times recently printed an opinion piece titled “I took ketamine for depression. Things got pretty weird.” In this piece, writer Vanessa Barbara describes her experience in Juiz de Fora, Brazil using intravenous ketamine treatment for her depression. The essay made me reflect on how ketamine therapy is administered nationwide.
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Brain Health for Mental Health at Manlove Brain and Body Health in Rapid City, South Dakota

Brain Health

Led by Certified Health Coach, Jodi Thom, MB+BH patients can now receive coaching to improve their brain health. “When people hear that our patients have only a 10% relapse rate compared to the average depression relapse rate of 40-50%, they want to know what we’re doing differently,” says Ms. Thom. “Focusing on customized lifestyle improvements that will facilitate brain health is one of the main factors that helps our patients get sustaining relief for their unique mental health condition. I’m so excited to take our focus on overall health to the next level by providing patients with personalized plans to improve their habits for activity, diet, sleep, and relationships.”
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Family members, friends, and colleagues with mental health and treatment resistant depression during the holiday season at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner in the Black Hills.

Dos & Don'ts of Supporting Someone with Mental Illness

As a friend or family member of someone with a mental illness, it can be hard to know the best ways to be supportive. With the holidays just around the corner, it’s important to know that while the holidays are a time that many people look forward to, this can be a very hard time of year for those with depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Family gatherings can be overwhelming and conversations, at times, can feel more like interrogations. With this in mind, our team of mental health professionals have put together a list of dos and don’ts to help you better support your loved ones with mental illness this holiday season and beyond. 
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Dr. Stephen Manlove at Manlove Brain and Body Health speaking to woman about mental health, forensic psychiatry, forensic psychiatrist, expert witness, psychiatric evaluation

Mental Healthcare: Where to Start

Once someone decides that it’s time to take control of their mental health, it can be hard to know where to start. Do I see a therapist or a psychiatrist? Do I need medication like ketamine? This blog will walk you through the best approach to start on your mental healthcare journey and provide an overview of the different resources available to help you get started. While these steps are intended for those who have not yet addressed their mental health concerns with a provider, this may also be a useful guide for those who have already started to seek help by seeing where they are in the process and understanding their options for possible next steps.
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Advanced Brain and Body Clinic logo

New Ketamine, TMS & Integrative Medicine Clinic’s Rapid Expansion

Advanced Brain + Body Clinic (AB+BC) is a new interventional psychiatric clinic offering ketamine and esketamine (Spravato) therapy, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), and integrative medicine. After opening just four months ago in Minnetonka, MN, Advanced Brain + Body Clinic is already set to double in size, expanding to a second office this month to accommodate the high demand for their holistic psychiatric care and hard to find treatment options. 
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Get Outside & Get Active!

One of the most amazing things about summer is that there are natural remedies everywhere to help improve your mood. The trick is to make sure that you take advantage of them while you can. The fresh air and sunlight are free resources that will help improve your mood, reduce stress, and improve your overall health. This is particularly important for anyone battling depression and especially treatment-resistant depression.
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