Pretzel On Prozac

Although the long life of a confused, anxiety-ridden pet is the focus of "Pretzel on Prozac: The Story of an Immigrant Dog," this book is also a human story. Ellen Palestrant calls this memoir an autobiodography, that is, her dog Pretzel's biography told in tandem with fragments from her own life. With humor, pathos, and great originality, Palestrant offers a moving tale about her maladjusted, routine-bound dog and his many dilemmas.

I Touched A Star In My Dream Last Night, a collection of poems for all ages, is a boundless, energetic, humorous, and imaginative journey into dreams and possibilities.

Reclaim your creativity by exploring the educational, sociological, psychological, and political influences on independent thinking. Have You Ever Had a Hunch is a powerful tool for self-growth and an invaluable gift for anyone wanting to explore their own creativity. In a series of short, to the point chapters, author Ellen Palestrant strips away the layers of inhibition and repression that encumbers us all.

"Capacious and rigorous . . . Blue Dreams, like all good histories of medicine, reveals healing to be art as much as science." --Parul Sehgal, New York Times "Terrific." --@MichaelPollan "Ambitious...Slater's depictions of madness are terrifying and fascinating." --USA Today "A vivid and thought-provoking synthesis." --Harper's A groundbreaking and revelatory history of psychotropic drugs, from "a thoroughly exhilarating and entertaining writer" (Washington Post). Although one in five Americans now takes at least one psychotropic drug, the fact remains that nearly seventy years after doctors first began prescribing them, not even their creators understand exactly how or why these drugs work--or don't work--on what ails our brains. Blue Dreams offers the explosive story of the discovery and development of psychiatric medications, as well as the science and the people behind their invention, told by a riveting writer and psychologist who shares her own experience with the highs and lows of psychiatric drugs. Lauren Slater's revelatory account charts psychiatry's journey from its earliest drugs, Thorazine and lithium, up through Prozac and other major antidepressants of the present. Blue Dreams also chronicles experimental treatments involving Ecstasy, magic mushrooms, the most cutting-edge memory drugs, placebos, and even neural implants. In her thorough analysis of each treatment, Slater asks three fundamental questions: how was the drug born, how does it work (or fail to work), and what does it reveal about the ailments it is meant to treat? Fearlessly weaving her own intimate experiences into comprehensive and wide-ranging research, Slater narrates a personal history of psychiatry itself. In the process, her powerful and groundbreaking exploration casts modern psychiatry's ubiquitous wonder drugs in a new light, revealing their ability to heal us or hurt us, and proving an indispensable resource not only for those with a psychotropic prescription but for anyone who hopes to understand the limits of what we know about the human brain and the possibilities for future treatments.

Spasmodic torticollis, also known as cervical dystonia, affects about three people in 10,000, or an estimated 85,000 individuals in the United States alone. Despite this, there has been until now a lack of information outside of the professional medical literature for use by individuals with this disorder and their families. This book provides comprehensive information on the disorder for people with spasmodic torticollis and those close to them. Medical terms and concepts are introduced sequentially and then used as building blocks for the later discussion. Beginning with a clear definition of the disorder, opening chapters categorize this neurologic disease as one of the broader category of movement disorders, and differentiate it from other conditions with which it is often confused. The authors then present a stepwise introduction to the relevant anatomy and physiology of the nervous system and neck. They draw on the experiences of their patients to build a progressive depiction of the experiences an individual might have as he or she goes through the initial onset of symptoms, progression of the disorder, seeking medical care, diagnosis, treatment, and subsequent outcome. Personal vignettes from the experiences of selected patients are provided where they illustrate particular points in the discussion. Subsequent chapters discuss various modes of treatment for spasmodic torticollis. Prior to the mid-1980?s, there were no specific treatments for this disorder. Nearly all treatment consisted of using oral medications that were primarily intended for other medical conditions. Since most of these medications are still in use, and a few new ones have been added, a chapter is devoted to detailing them and discussing the general principles of medication therapy. During the past decade, chemodenervation using botulinum toxin has become the primary and most effective treatment for spasmodic torticollis. For those few patients who require surgery, a description is provided of the neurosurgical techniques developed during the last twenty years specifically for its treatment. The final chapter is a manual of therapeutic rehabilitation exercises designed to alleviate the symptoms of spasmodic torticollis. These exercises can be performed by most patients with no assistance and a bare minimum of equipment. Since each person?s case of spasmodic torticollis is different, only certain of the exercises may be appropriate for any given individual. They should be undertaken only after discussion with your physician. These exercises are accompanied by detailed illustrations that emphasize the particular muscles relevant to each posture or movement. About the Authors: Dr. Pathak is a neurologist with a special interest in the neurologic rehabilitation of movement disorders, especially spasmodic torticollis. Dr. Frei is a neurologist specialized in the field of neurogenetics, and has conducted clinical trials on a number of movement disorders, including spasmodic torticollis. Dr. Truong is a neurologist and movement disorders specialist. He has conducted active research in the management of movement disorders, including spasmodic torticollus. He was one of the pioneers in the use of botulinum toxin to manage this condition, and has lectured worldwide on the management of movement disorders.

Freelance writer and long‑time Ben & Jerry’s addict Jaine Austen uncovers murderers on the mean streets of Beverly Hills, with a little help from her snarky cat, Prozac, in this witty mystery series from acclaimed TV comedy writer and novelist Laura Levine—a lighthearted treat for cat cozy fans and readers of Joanne Fluke, Miranda James, and Laura Childs. The Bewitched knockoff I Married a Zombie may have flopped in its day, but it’s got a devoted cult following. Jaine is delighted when one of those rabid fans hires her as script doctor for his new play based on the show—until she reads the awful script and meets Misty, the actress who’ll be playing Cryptessa’s role. Misty has Audrey Hepburn’s doe eyes but not a smidgen of her ability. Yet she can certainly act the diva, demanding a special smoothie every day at 3pm. Meanwhile, Jaine is grappling with another spoiled female—her uncooperative cat, Prozac, who’s refusing to be wrangled into a kitty harness for outside walks. When someone spikes Misty’s signature drink with a fatal shot of rat poison, the cast of suspects extends far beyond the theater. What Misty lacked in talent she made up for in enemies. Everyone Jaine talks to maintains their innocence, but one of them is clearly only playing the part. And it’s up to Jaine to figure out who, before a killer schedules an encore performance . . .

Are you satisfied with your weight? Do you have enough energy to make it through the day? Do you consider yourself a happy person? All of these things are related, and your energy, mental clarity, mood and, of course, waistline are all directly connected to what you eat. In Eat Your Way to Happiness, you'll learn that a few simple changes to your diet can have amazing results. Discover: – The 12 super foods that pack an added punch for boosting mood and slimming your waistline. – Nutritious foods that have been scientifically shown to tweak brain chemistry so you feel calmer, happier and more energetic—and more likely to stick to your diet. – The amazing studies showing that chocolate and wine can help you live longer—and more happily. – And much more!

“Exemplary . . . a thoroughly enjoyable cozy with just the right balance of crime, humor, and holiday spirit” by the author of Death of a Bachelorette (Publishers Weekly, starred review). Freelance writer Jaine Austen is feeling festive about spending Christmas house-sitting at a posh Bel Air mansion, accompanied by her friend Lance and her cat, Prozac. But when a grumpy neighbor gets himself iced, she’ll have to find the culprit or she may spend the New Year in jail . . . Scotty Parker is a former child star who once played Tiny Tim, but now he’s grown up into the role of neighborhood Scrooge. He cuts the wires on his neighbors’ Christmas lights and tells local kids that Santa had a stroke. And his miserly, bah-humbug attitude lasts year-round—a fact known all too well by his current wife, his ex-wife, his maid, and many more. Scotty thinks he can stage a comeback with the screenplay he’s working on (The Return of Tiny Tim: Vengeance Is Mine!), and Jaine’s been reluctantly helping him edit it. So when Scotty is bludgeoned with a frozen chocolate yule log and the police start making a list of suspects and checking it twice, Jaine’s name is unfortunately included. True, she’s been under some stress, with Lance trying to set her up on dates and her fickle feline taking a sudden liking to someone else—but she’s not guilty of murder. Now she just has to prove it . . . Praise for the Jaine Austen mysteries “So outrageously funny.” —Joanne Fluke, New York Times bestselling author “Jaine can really dish it out.” —The New York Times Book Review