Is Your Thyroid Causing OCD Symptoms? Plus Answers on Lithium & PMS

Join me for an end-of-year live mental health Q&A, where I answer viewer questions in real time across a wide range of topics—from mood disorders and medication questions to caregiving stress, menopause, OCD, psychosis, and the future of mental health treatment. This session is conversational and question-driven, with no presentation—just thoughtful, clinical insights in response to what viewers asked live. 📌 Use the chapters below to jump to specific questions. 🧠 Want to better understand how your brain handles stress, focus, and emotional regulation? Take my FREE 2-minute Brain Quiz to learn how your brain is wired and which tools can help you build resilience and mental clarity: https://drmarks.co/BrainQuiz-yt ⚠️ Important note: This video is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Please consult your own clinician for diagnosis or treatment. If you found this Q&A helpful, let me know in the comments and subscribe for future videos on mental health, neuroscience, and resilience. Questions 0:00 Intro 0:02:14 PMS and bipolar disorder: How to manage mild manic symptoms during PMS while on lithium 0:09:43 How can I find an experienced psychotherapist in NYC who accepts Medicaid? 0:15:21 Can you share a simple morning self-talk that helps during overwhelming caregiving stress? 0:20:06 Could buspirone (Buspar) worsen depression if anxiety is already controlled? 0:23:38 Can hyperthyroidism worsen or mimic OCD symptoms? 0:29:18 When will reliable clinical testing of neurotransmitters become routine? 0:35:49 How do I know if I need a therapist, a psychiatrist, or both? 0:38:09 How can I help my adult son get a psychiatric evaluation if he doesn’t think anything is wrong? 0:43:01 What mental health topics will you be focusing on in 2026? 0:46:54 Is there a psychiatric or mental health component to menopause? 0:50:08 Any advice for psychology students awaiting doctoral program admissions? 0:53:14 Can meditation lead to psychosis? 0:56:21 Will there ever be a cure for depression?