In her private practice as a psychiatrist, Dr. Forest specializes in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and linked disorders; trauma/PTSD; and adult ADHD.

Depression

  • Persistent feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and guilt
  • Loss of interest in activities you previously enjoyed
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Sleeplessness, irritability, and restlessness
  • Fatigue, numbness, and exhaustion
  • Changes in appetite
  • Sensitivity to rejection or criticism
  • Thoughts of death or suicide

Anxiety

  • Feelings of worry or excessive concern
  • Restless thoughts and feelings
  • Difficulty falling or staying asleep
  • May shift into feelings of numbness and fatigue
  • Ruminating or “spinning” on negative “what if” outcomes
  • Difficulty concentrating

Panic Disorder

  • A time limited but very intense period of time during which you feel overwhelmed by fear or worry
  • May have heart palpitations or increased heart rate
  • Feelings of dizziness, nausea, choking, or shortness of breath
  • Sudden fear of dying or losing control
  • Numbness or tingling in extremities
  • Chills or intense sensations of heat in the body

Phobias

  • A specific, intense fear centered around an object or situation (e.g. flying, spiders, enclosed spaces, social situations, etc.)
  • Immediately provokes anxiety and fear that is out of proportion to the object or situation
  • Has caused avoidance behaviors and severe anxiety symptoms

Trauma: Types include PTSD, complex PTSD, community violence, systemic violence, racism, abuse in any form, post-pandemic or disaster, early childhood trauma, etc

  • Flashbacks, dreams, or intrusive, involuntary thoughts about the trauma
  • Avoidance of situations, feelings, or discussions connected to or similar to the trauma
  • Rarely feel positive emotions like satisfaction or happiness
  • Negative or exaggerated thoughts or feelings about oneself or others; difficulty trusting others; feeling detached from others
  • Irritable behavior and angry outbursts with little or no provocation
  • Easy to startle, yet may have difficulty concentrating; hypervigilance
  • Difficulty falling or staying asleep, restless sleep

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Adults

  • Difficulty scheduling tasks and adhering to strict time schedules
  • May struggle with motivation if the reward isn’t immediate
  • Often have poor self-image and self-confidence
  • Struggle focusing on some tasks while hyper-focusing on others
  • External or internal restlessness; feels like mind must always be busy
  • Women often present with different symptoms than men
  • Being told you have ‘’all this good potential but you are lazy’’
  • Easily distracted, losing things, feeling inadequate
  • Feeling like ‘’an impostor’’ in your own life