WHOLE PSYCHIATRY

Patient Interviews

What was your initial reason for coming to Dr. Hedaya and how did you find out about him?
"I found out through a therapist who was seeing him already. It took a year and a half of getting worse to drive the hour and a half for appointments. I had basically gotten to where I had 4 semi-functioning hours a day and that was it. I thought I was losing my mind, and was thinking I was going to have to give up my home and move into some kind of facility."

Can you describe what symptoms and/or disorders you were experiencing prior to seeing Dr. Hedaya?
"I couldn't think practically, I was exhausted, my sleep was bad. I couldn't do the little things like desk work and I need to do a certain amount of record keeping and financial things. I couldn't do math. I would have to recheck things 3 times to see if I came out with the same answer on the most basic things. I couldn't take care of myself."

Were you seeing another physician for these problems and or disorders?
"I was seeing 2 doctors. An internist and a psychiatrist."

How long were you seeing these physicians for the symptoms?
"It probably stretches out over 6 years, but the year before it was getting progressively worse. The internist would run blood tests and say I was in great shape and it was probably depression and I should go talk to the psychiatrist and the psychiatrist would say it was the diabetes and I should go talk to the internist about it and it would go back and forth. When I would see the internist I could barely walk down the halls and he would say I was in great shape."

How long were you seeing Dr. Hedaya?
"Almost a year and a half."

How would you describe the difference in your mental and physical state since your initial evaluation with Dr. Hedaya?
"I can sit and have a conversation with you. I can go through some papers this weekend and organize my thoughts. I'm gonna drive home and I'm gonna pick up my grandchild who is a year old and I'm gonna have him for the night. So right there is a complete world of difference. I can think basically. I have a life cause I can do things all day long."

How would you describe the difference between Dr. Hedaya's philosophies of Whole Psychiatry compared with how other doctor's practice medicine?
"He doesn't pass the buck. He also figures there is a reason for something. He listens to you. He believes you so it's not just some woman who thinks it's in her head. He figures there is a reason and he goes after it." A. W. 6/2/01

How would you describe the difference between Dr. Hedaya's philosophies of Whole Psychiatry compared to other doctors in the way they practice medicine?
"The interesting thing that Dr. Hedaya does or the best thing that I think is allowing the patient to participate in what's going on. I feel in some way he is handing over some responsibility to me in my own health as far as telling me things I could do to help myself to help him with what he was doing. I could make sure I ate the right foods, took the supplements, took the medications, followed the program. It's sort of an empowering experience, and that I found to be very great, very motivational. I didn't feel helpless, I had a tendency to feel helpless with other doctors." J.W. 6/02/01

What was your initial reason for coming to Dr. Hedaya and how did you find out about him?
"I found out about him by reading his book and an article about his book in the Washington Post. The name of the book just spoke to me and I have been taking Antidepressants for years. My initial reason for coming was I was feeling so bad I was just searching for someone who could help me."

What symptoms and/or disorders were you experiencing prior to seeing Dr. Hedaya?
"The same litany of symptoms I have been going to doctors for years which include depression, anxiety, fatigue, migraines."

How long were you experiencing these symptoms prior to seeing Dr. Hedaya?
"15 years, at least 15 years."

Approximately how long have you been treated by Dr. Hedaya?
"I came to him last September for the first time, so a little over a year."

How would you describe the difference in your mental and physical state now compared with your initial evaluation?
"The difference is unbelievable. It is absolutely amazing. I am a new person. It's a miracle."

How would you describe the difference in Dr. Hedaya's philosophy of Whole Psychiatry compared with how other doctor's practice medicine?
"The difference Dr. Hedaya brings is that he screens his patients so that he has motivated patients to begin with and you really go through a process of evaluating; are you really ready to get into something as involved as he talked about in terms of testing and behavior and lifestyle changes. And if for yourself if you decide you feel so terrible your going to commit to yourself that your going to try anything and you take that first step and he gets you into his office for two and a half hours, which I don't think I have ever had a doctor interview me for two and a half hours and that's where he starts." D.F. 6/08/01

Can you describe what symptoms and/or disorders you were experiencing prior to seeing Dr. Hedaya?
"High levels of anxiety. Very concerned, a lot of pressures internally, culmination of my daughters health issues and learning disabilities and my wife's brother died in a car accident. It felt like the world was coming down and felt I needed some relief from these pressures."

Were you seeing another physician for these symptoms and or disorders?
"I was seeing an internist. He felt he could prescribe some medication but wanted me to see someone on a special level. When I talked to him about Dr. Hedaya and told him about Dr. Hedaya, lie said if you are comfortable with him and confident with him I should see him."

How long have you been with Dr. Hedaya?
"Probably 7 years. It has been a number of years. He initially put me on Zoloft and we had some initial meetings about all those issues I was dealing with and this was with the psychologist. They worked together which was wonderful. They worked together effectively and I have a lot of confidence in both of them, and they brought some balance to my issues."

How would you describe the difference in your mental and physical state now compared with your initial evaluation?
"I think to give you a little history, I was pretty active. I consider myself to be type A. My wife tells me I look for things to do if I'm not doing something. I felt I was in control. After these things started happening, not that I wasn't in control, but there were clearly high levels of stress. I started gaining weight, exercising less; I guess a lot of these things that are typically associated with depression. It was clear that there was lot of pressures and problems internally. Very solid manager, great kids, but at the same time a lot of stress. About 6 months or a year ago I started talking to him about his program or what he likes to do "Whole Psychiatry," I read his books and I got very excited about what I saw in there and I noticed I felt I was not isolated and he noticed some of the things I felt he identified as a result I started talking to him about his program. He said "I can help you if you are willing to try." I had started gaining weight and there were a lot of issues there, but I felt things were kind of stable, but I still probably didn't recognize it. I committed to it in February and that has resulted in significant major changes, my wife has said it, my family has said it. I have been exercising regularly. In the beginning it was not easy. I went on his program based on some recommendations from testing. I saw a nutritionist he recommended and basically committed to his entire program. Now he is recommending I talk to somebody about meditation which I am not sure about, but I am willing to try anything because it has worked so well. I have now lost close to 25 pounds slowly not fast where I have gone up and down before. Sleeping through the night regularly. Exercising and literally feeling significantly better. I have gotten terrific feedback from family which sort of re-energizes you."

How would you describe the difference between Dr. Hedaya's philosophies of Whole Psychiatry compared with how other doctor's practice medicine?
"Traditionally, from what I've seen you put a physician on a pedestal and do whatever he says at that point. Dr. Hedaya seems to be in tune with the topics my wife and I read about, vitamins, nutrition, yoga and he seems to be on the cutting edge of that and the world seems to be catching up to him. I refer to his book all the time. I go back and refer to it and read it, it's like a textbook." L.W. 6/02/01

What was your initial reason for coming to Dr. Hedaya and how did you find out about him?
"Essentially, dissatisfaction with medication I had been exposed to for years. I have a lot of health problems, depression and physical health. I could not get any doctors that could help me."

What symptoms were you experiencing prior to seeing Dr. Hedaya?
"Depression is a big one, exhaustion, symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, aches and pains, trouble concentrating."

Were you seeing another physician for these symptoms and or disorders?
"I've seen a lot of physicians. I sort of get passed around. I was seeing a psychiatrist mainly for the depression, and for the other disorders I went through a whole slew of doctors. I started off with internal medicine and then I was referred to infectious diseases, endocrinologists, things like that."

Roughly how long were you experiencing these difficulties?
"The depression I've had my whole life. I'm 34 now and I've had it my whole life. I've been going to psychiatrists since I was 20. The really serious medical symptoms have been for about 3 and a half years."

How would you describe the difference in your mental and physical state now compared with your initial evaluation?
"I'd say my outlook in general has improved greatly. As far as my confidence in myself and my confidence in the medical profession as a whole. A couple of years ago I was in a state where I never wanted to go to a doctor again. I was so disheartened with the whole process of having tests and having the tests saying that there was nothing wrong with me and trying different medications and having adverse reactions to the medications. I've actually had life threatening reactions to 2 different medications and I could not get any answers from the doctors."

What was your initial reason for coming to Dr. Hedaya and how did you find out about him?
"I initially found out from an article in the Washington Post Health Section about a year ago and talking about surviving anti?depressants which I had been on for years with a couple of different doctors and every doctor kept upping my prescriptions so at one point I was on 150 or 200 milligrams of Zoloft and had been for 3 years, and if anything it was worse than I had started with. My husband actually read the article."

Can you briefly describe what symptoms and/or disorders you were experiencing prior to seeing Dr. Hedaya?
"When the first doctor diagnosed me with clinical depression, I was surprised. I didn't think I was depressed at all. Yet he put me on this and it totally threw me off because I was working and happy and dealing with my husband, but I felt sluggish and no energy and felt like something is wrong. They tested me and said I was fine including testing me for thyroid; which they said was fine. They put me on Zoloft and I was sick as a dog and my life literally stopped for 2 or 3 months trying to get used to the antidepressant in my body. And I had all the side effects. No sex life with my husband and things like that. I had a whole set of other problems, but I never really got my energy level back."

How long were you experiencing these difficulties prior to seeing Dr. Hedaya?
"3 or 4 years easily and I always had a very active life. With Dr. Hedaya it has been trying to get me off the anti?depressants, and it turns out I had a thyroid problem and an adrenal problem."

How long have been with Dr. Hedaya?
"15 months"

How would you describe the difference between your mental and physical now compared with your initial evaluation?
"Night and day. When my husband came to the first appointment and Dr. Hedaya said, "will you support this," he said "I want my wife back, I want the gal I married back. She's not here anymore." It's amazing. I'm back. I'm still losing weight. I had put on 60 pounds with the antidepressants and I've lost 30 and still losing. But I'm doing all the things I used to do and feeling normal and my marriage is better than it has been in 10 years and life is great."

How would you describe the difference between Dr. Hedaya's philosophies of Whole Psychiatry compared with how other doctors practice medicine?
"I grew up with this philosophy of everything contributing to your health and all the doctors I've seen always say "Oh you must be mentally ill, let's up your prescription and if your not better in 6 months, let's up it again." No re-testing, no how or where or why this is happening and when I came to Dr. Hedaya he said "are you eating well, are you exercising, how's your marriage, do you go to church," which are all important. All the scientific research is proving all these effect your brain."

What would you like other people to know about Dr. Hedaya?
"What Dr. Hedaya is doing is very important and it is working, and it is the right approach with everybody's lives getting busier and busier and this kind of approach is needed now more than 30 years ago. He has found the key. There are many factors in getting a person well and that's what he does. I can't say enough. His book really outlines how to live a healthy life." L.B. 6/02/01

What was your initial reason for coming to Dr. Hedaya and how did you find out about him?
"I've been struggling with depression for 10 years and at that time I was coming out of the worst episode I had ever had. I started teaching high school and had a complete breakdown where I had to go into a day treatment program at a hospital for about a month. The previous problems I had with doctors were weight gain and various side effects and I did not get support with those and would become frustrated and when I would feel better I would take myself off of the medication. With the doctors I had I also had a problem with my sight and the ophthalmologist said it was from the Wellbutrin I was taking. The psychiatrist's response was to get glasses and other patients had worse side effects than I did. My husband found the article in the Post about the book, I read it in 2 days and called and made an appointment."

How long were you having these symptoms and how many physicians have you seen for these symptoms and/or disorders?
"Over the years I've seen probably 4 or 5 different psychiatrists in different parts all over the country, but the treatment was always the same, as far as I'll give the medication and if the depression is getting better that's all I can do."

How long have you been seeing Dr. Hedaya?
"For about 14 months."

How would you describe the difference in your mental and physical state now compared with your initial evaluation?
"It's an extreme world of difference, and not only did I notice it, but family, friends and the therapist I have been seeing for the past 4 years constantly comments on how I'm doing better now than she has ever seen me do. Consequently she has recommended a lot of her patients to Dr. Hedaya with good success also. I've been able to lose 30 pounds which is nice, but I'm still losing. I'm very physically active now which I wasn't. My stamina has improved, my energy has greatly approved. I found out I have thyroid problems. My body doesn't absorb B 12, which I didn't know. My moods are completely more stable. I don't have those great ups and downs, which I used to have. I don't have the irritations. I feel balanced and better than I ever have."

How would you describe the difference between Dr. Hedaya's philosophies of Whole Psychiatry compared with how other doctors practice medicine?
"I've seen doctors from the West Coast to the East Coast and it's all to do with your mental health and not your physical health. And from then only it's mainly med checks and if you have one side-effect from one drug we will put you on another drug for that side effect and so on and so on, which is very frustrating as a patient. I felt completely at their mercy like I was not a partner in my own care to any great extent. With Dr. Hedaya it is a complete world of difference. From the beginning he makes it clear that he wants to work with patients that are ready to help themselves, which I really liked and appreciated. I feel very empowered and very encouraged and listened to. I really love the 50-minute sessions that I can come and have with him. The testing has given me such insight into my own body and actually confirmed to me things that I had suspicions before that were wrong with me, but I never could get anyone to help me with. I've really gotten that help with him. He's so responsive to whatever problem I'm having. He doesn't discount that I know my body and my own feelings better than anybody." J.H 6/02/01

What was your initial reason for coming to Dr. Hedaya and how did you find out about him?
"I came to Dr. Hedaya because I have hypothyroidism and I did not have any success with endocrinologists and I could hardly function. I thought it might be Wilson Syndrome and he was listed as one of the doctors to come see."

Describe what symptoms and/or disorders you were experiencing prior to seeing Dr. Hedaya?
"I could not remember anything, I had low energy, digestive problems, no fingernails, no eyebrows, weight gain, depression and the endocrinologist would say I'm fine and it would get worse and worse to the point where I could not do it anymore, and that's when I came to Dr. Hedaya."

How long were experiencing these side effects?
"I think 2 or 3 years."

How long have you been with Dr. Hedaya?
"A little over a year."

How would you describe the difference in your mental and physical state now compared with your initial evaluation?
"It's better but we have not solved the problem yet."

How would you describe the difference in Dr. Hedaya's philosophy of Whole Psychiatry compared to how other doctors practice medicine?
"Well, I didn't come to see him as a psychiatrist; I came to see him as a doctor. He listens, it's more of a partnership, we work together, he doesn't except symptoms as the answer, he wants to know the underlying cause. Although it's expensive, I view it as an investment for the rest of my life." N.F. 7/09/01

What was your initial reason for coming to Dr. Hedaya and how did you find out about him?
"I've been seeing a psychotherapist for several years. I had depression and I was put on some anti?depressants, which really didn't help me. One was serzone and I had an allergic reaction to. I swore off the medical community altogether, but finally went back because going the serzone cold turkey caused irritable bowel syndrome for about 2 months. I had gone back to the pastoral counselor and said I'm doing better, but I didn't think I was 100%, and I think I need something else and I'm tired of paying a nutritionist for the vitamins. He recommended I see Dr. Hedaya. He said if anyone can diagnose what's wrong with me, it's him."

How long were you seeing the pastoral counselor?
"For 3 months one to one, then a group till about '93. When I saw Dr. Hedaya he diagnosed an anxiety disorder, which nobody had ever caught. I think the pastoral counselor knew I had it, but their way of dealing with it was not through taking drugs but therapy. When I got that, it all made sense."

How long have you been with Dr. Hedaya?
"2 years"

How would you describe the difference in your mental and physical state now compared with your initial evaluation?
"It's really good. Initially with Dr. Hedaya I really wasn't on any medication at all. He put me on Zoloft and things have been remarkable after that."

How would you describe the difference in Dr. Hedaya's philosophy of Whole Psychiatry compared to how other doctors practice medicine?
"Dr. Hedaya has made a concerted effort to find the facts and that's something I did not find with the psychiatrists I have seen before, and I have seen 2. When I told a social worker I had been working with that I can't sleep, I have been up for 48 hours; He said, "What do you want me to give you?" He was basically peddling drugs. Another one I went into I said I think I have ADD can you give me Riddlin and he said sure. I basically was trying to find out if I had it. No one had found my thyroid disorder as well. They would use the standard test, but not the Free T3 or Free T4." J.G. 7/11/O1

What was your initial reason for coming to Dr. Hedaya and how did you find out about him?
"I had a terrible reaction to an anti?depressant that my other psychiatrist had put me on. I had been treated by this other psychiatrist for about 8 years and had severe major depression and I had gone through a number of anti?depressants over the years and I would get better, but I would never get over the depression. Finally, he had tried me on this one and I kept getting sicker and sicker and sicker and almost had to go to the emergency room because I was almost going into a coma. I was able to recover from that episode, but had memory loss and terrible after effects. When I was recovering I read I was reading the Washington Post and a book review on Dr. Hedaya's book and thought I need to see this psychiatrist. I was still depressed. I will take any help I can get. I was in such bad shape mentally and physically."

What symptoms were you suffering from because of the depression?
"Fortunately I am not depressed anymore. But it was a feeling of helplessness, sadness. It was like being in a dark pit. You have no life left in you. You are so miserable. Crying all the time. Saying my life has been a waste. I don't want to live. I was suicidal. My other psychiatrist kept me alive, but nonetheless I had this depression that would not leave for about 13 years. I had no energy, no sex drive, intestinal bloating, trouble focusing, couldn't remember much. I couldn't function well. Pins and needles in my feet, hearing loss, overweight."

How many psychiatrists have you been to?
"Only the one psychiatrist since the `70's for about 8 years. When I recognized I was depressed, I went back to him. I was blaming everything on job stress."

How long have you been treated by Dr. Hedaya?
"From February through August 2000. He treated me with some vitamins and a B 12 shot and I started to get better. Within the year, I'm like a new person. I'm not depressed."

How would you describe the difference between Dr. Hedaya's philosophies of Whole Psychiatry compared with how other doctors practice medicine?
"The other psychiatrist was really doing traditional psychotherapy and it was effective, but Dr. Hedaya was not only looking at emotional symptoms, but diet, exercise, testing the thyroid and hormones and spiritual issues and meditation. His immediate approach was taking a broader approach and I appreciated it." M.G. 7/19101