Welcome to Carly Snyder, MD  – Health and Wellness Blog

Hello, and welcome to my health and wellness blog. The goal in writing this blog is to impart my unique perspective on mental health as it pertains to overall health and wellness. In my blog, as in my office, I approach issues from two angles: one considering traditional medicine and psychiatry and the other utilizing integrative-medicine based theories and principles.

The hope is to impart information that allows you to have a varied and detailed understanding of issues that pertain to your life, so that you can make meaningful changes to improve your mental and physical health.

At my core, I believe in the power of choice and autonomy. I believe there is no ‘one right answer,’ and that each person must decide what will make him/her happiest. I will never write that there is a right or a wrong way to approach any issue; instead, I strive to provide a well-researched, balanced and fair perspective on many topics that are of clinical utility.

I formulate my opinions from reading all that I can from medically sound, reputable sources; I speak with trusted colleagues, and am a member of many professional organizations and groups that allow for ongoing learning and growth.

Here is a brief description of some of the various topics you will find on my blog:

Reproductive Psychiatry

My primary specialty and focus in practice is working with women of reproductive age. I see many women who are planning a pregnancy, are in fertility treatment, pregnant or postpartum. Many of my patients are mothers, working to find a comfortable balance in their lives between their roles as moms and their identity beyond that.

Many of my blog posts relate to women’s mental health, and present various tips and suggestions for management of common issues facing women throughout their lives. For example, check out this post discussing why mental health is important during pregnancy and the postpartum , this post on the necessity of sleep , how mental health is linked with fertility and infertility, and this one reviewing a recent paper on SSRIs and miscarriage risk. Look for future posts discussing ways to improve symptoms of severe PMS, known as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, discussing perimenopausal depression, and why taking care of your mental and physical health now can have long-lasting positive impact for the rest of your life.

Food, Glorious Food

Food is a hot topic these days; it seems that everyone has a strong opinion about what the ‘best’ diet is for overall health, for mental health and for weight loss. As noted earlier, I do not believe in a ‘one size fits all’ mentality. For details on my food views, check out this post regarding healthy dietary choices and this one about the benefits of eating organic produce.

Complementary and Alternative Treatment

I believe strongly in the power of the body to heal itself when provided with a healthy diet, exercise and stress reduction. Most of our diets are deficient in certain vitamins and minerals, and many of us walk around with low vitamin D levels, which can have profound negative effects on health and emotional stability. I have spent many years learning all that I can about supplements, and look forward to sharing my interest and knowledge with you.

Check out my posts on the difference between folate and folic acid, and on the role and function of active folate in the body and who may benefit from supplementation. More posts will be coming soon on the benefits of ensuring a normal vitamin d level, and on what supplements can be beneficial for fertility, and what supplements are safe and helpful in pregnancy. Additionally, look out for upcoming posts on the benefits of acupuncture, and the beauty of meditation.

Healthy Lifestyle

Making safe, smart choices about what products you use in your home, on your skin and on your children can profoundly lower the toxin load you and your family are exposed to on a daily basis. Deciding what products to use and what exposures are more versus less important to avoid can be overwhelming. One of my aims with my blog is to help distill the various options and review different products with an eye on safety and ease of use. See my post on toxin free skin care and makeup products. Additional posts will focus on safe cleaning products, toxin free perfumes, and how the toxins we are all exposed to daily can impact our health and the health of our children.

Motherhood

Before and beyond anything else, I am a mother. My goal is to help new moms, as well as those with years of experience, to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. I also want to make parenthood easier for you, and more manageable. Good examples of such posts include one about whether a doula is right for you, and the necessity of date night, which has resources for great, reliable sitters available throughout the country. Look out for future posts on vaccination, sex after becoming parents, and many more.

Resources and Glossary

I hope you find my resources page helpful. It includes many suggestions for reproductive psychiatry-focused websites, many practitioner referrals, lists of toxin-free product options and links to like-minded blogs that I hope you will find interesting and will help you stay informed. This is a growing list, so please check back to it for helpful referrals and suggestions.

The glossary can be used to explain various terms used throughout my blog and website. This list will be updated regularly to ensure that it is timely and remains relevant and helpful.

I am always open to suggestions on topics for future posts and discussions. Please feel free to write your thoughts in the comments section below each post, and to email me at contact@carlysnydermd.com

Until next time, take care of yourself, and be well.

Warmly,

CS