Last Updated: August 17, 2026 | Author: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara, PMHNP-BC If you have ever found yourself trapped in a negative thought loop, replaying the same painful memory or worry over and over again, you are not alone. In my work as a..
Latest Articles
Is Ketamine for Depression Safe?
Cristi Bundukamara, Ed.D, PMHNP, is a psychiatric nurse practitioner with over 20 years of clinical experience and the owner and director of the Mentally STRONG Clinic in Colorado Springs. The clinic has been offering clients ketamine treatments for depression for three years. Dr. Bundukamara (Dr…
Why do we need to lose our children? | Coping with Grief and Depression
It’s hard to write about something so personal. It’s even harder to read. But I think it’s important. If we want to move forward, we need to understand why our children are taken from us. We need to understand the grief and depression that follows…
Major Depressive Disorder
The following is only a brief overview of the most prevalent diagnosis in our clinic – major depressive disorder. Understanding and differentiating between depression and major depressive disorder symptoms and when medication is necessary and why is essential. Depression or Major Depressive Disorder? We all..
Bipolar II
Diagnosing a client with bipolar II can be difficult. People have been told that they’re moody, that they’re bipolar by their friends or their significant other, or because they have extreme fluctuations in mood. Still, depression, anxiety, and PTSD can also cause drastic mood changes…
5 Daily Practices for Strength When You’ve Lost a Child
Surviving the loss of a child may seem like it’s so hard and impossible, but you need to find the strength to live and turn that pain into purpose. Losing a child changes everything, and the pain is so deep that even just the will..
Bipolar I
Although the DSM V clearly distinguishes bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymia, clinically, they operate on more of a continuum. While a bipolar diagnosis does not necessarily mean a severe mental illness, bipolar I can be debilitating and cause disability in its most brutal form…
Unspecified Psychosis
Unspecified psychosis, as the name implies, speaks to several different situations. This diagnosis is not used very often and is typically limited to certain specialists to properly diagnose. This diagnosis can include psychosis due to intoxication from drugs or alcohol abuse or a medical condition..
Schizoaffective Disorder Symptoms & Treatments
Schizoaffective disorder symptoms & treatments are critical to understand when dealing with a schizoaffective disorder diagnosis. Schizoaffective disorder is a serious mental health disorder that is characterized by symptoms of both mood disorders and schizophrenia symptoms. Continue reading to find out more. Schizoaffective Disorder Symptoms..
Schizophrenia Symptoms & Treatment
Schizophrenia symptoms & treatments are critical to understand when you or a loved one receives a diagnosis. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that causes individuals to interpret reality abnormally. Schizophrenia is a serious disorder that can cause disordered thinking and can negatively affect daily functioning…
Brief Psychotic Disorder & Schizophreniform
Brief psychotic disorder and schizophreniform are both classified in the DSM-5 as Psychotic Disorders. Whether you or someone you love is experiencing symptoms, it is critical to understand the symptoms, treatment, and diagnosis to better understand possible solutions. Keep reading to find out more about..
Delusional Disorder: Symptoms and Treatment
A delusional disorder is a mental illness called psychosis, where the individual is unable to tell what is real and what is imagined. A main feature of this disorder is the presence of delusions, which are beliefs in something untrue. These delusions involve situations that..
4 Signs You May Have Adult ADD or ADHD
While many individuals receive an ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) diagnosis in childhood, there are many others that do not. Older adults may lack a diagnosis because ADD and ADHD knowledge was not as prevalent in the past as it..
ADHD in Children: Symptoms & Treatment
ADHD is the most common diagnosis in children today. It is important to understand the differences between neurotypical children and those with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD in children is often misunderstood—but we are here to break down this misconception. Read on to learn more about..
How to treat an Intellectual Disability?
A diagnosis of an intellectual disability brings about many questions, but often the most prominent is: how do you treat an intellectual disability? Unfortunately, this is a complex question because not everyone’s intellectual disability presents in the same way. Keep reading to understand the variety..