HomeBlogPatientHints To Help You Have A Better New Year Hints To Help You Have A Better New Year January 6, 2025Blog, Home Feature Patient, Patient The holidays have ended, and a new year has begun—a time when many embrace a fresh start by setting New Year’s resolutions. This year, why not consider solutions rather than resolutions? The distinction is small but important—acting versus thinking. Mental health professionals think it’s a better way forward into 2025. Expert Advice Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Elizabeth Johnson believes that the resolution mindset is an obstacle to action. “When we get stuck in our new year’s resolutions, part of it is just that we’ve gotten stuck in the process, stuck in the details, stuck in the weeds if you will,” Johnson said. “It’s struggling with ‘coulda, woulda, shoulda’ thinking patterns and reasons why maybe we haven’t been able to follow through and stick to those resolutions.” Johnson recommends a new approach for her patients—and for us: simpler, concrete solutions with measurable results. “Instead of setting a big resolution to try to lose 25 pounds, maybe setting a simple solution to reduce drinking soda to one can a day,” she offers. “For some, that’s quite a goal and quite a change, but it’s simple and it’s achievable and it’s measurable.” Solutions can also mean an increased focus on your mental health. For those suffering from mental health conditions such as major depressive disorder, setting and attaining goals can seem even more overwhelming. One important step for 2025 could be to find a mental health professional. Or, if you’re already taking medication for depression, anxiety or ADHD and still struggling, it may be helpful to talk to your clinician about the GeneSight test. The GeneSight Psychotropic test analyzes how your genes may affect your outcomes with medications commonly prescribed to treat depression, anxiety, ADHD, and other mental health conditions. The GeneSight Psychotropic test provides clinicians with information about which medications may require dose adjustments, may be less likely to work, or may have an increased risk of side effects based on a patient’s genetic makeup. Along with a complete assessment of clinical and patient specific factors, Johnson uses the GeneSight test to help inform her medication treatment decision making. “The GeneSight test is imperative to me as a clinician,” says Johnson, “but also a game changer to my patients. When I’m working with a patient, often multiple medications have failed them, and they are sick of feeling like a guinea pig.” Johnson concludes, “The GeneSight test offers me a little bit more of a roadway to making a medication choice. And when you are anxious or depressed, lost, any light bulb, any hope, is such a blessing in that moment.” Prioritize your well-being—Physical and Mental As we step into a new year, prioritize your well-being—both physical and mental. Explore solutions that help you thrive and achieve your goals, moving beyond the usual resolutions for lasting success. Our articles are for informational purposes only and are reviewed by our Medical Information team, which includes PharmDs, MDs, and PhDs. Do not make any changes to your current medications or dosing without consulting your healthcare provider. The GeneSight test must be ordered by and used only in consultation with a healthcare provider who can prescribe medications. As with all genetic tests, the GeneSight test results have limitations and do not constitute medical advice. The test results are designed to be just one part of a larger, complete patient assessment, which would include proper diagnosis and consideration of your medical history, other medications you may be taking, your family history, and other factors. If you are a healthcare provider and interested in learning more about the GeneSight test, please contact us at 855.891.9415. If you are a patient, please talk with your doctor to see if the GeneSight test may be helpful. 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Patient MTHFR Mutations: Clinical Implications and Management Strategies MTHFR mutations—changes in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene—have gained increased attention in the medical community due to their potent... Read more
Patient Can an App Help Me Manage My Anxiety? Health and wellness smartphone apps have become so common that if you can name a health goal, desire or condition, you can probably find an app for it. N... Read more
Patient Black Trailblazers of Psychiatry and Mental Health: A Legacy of Healing and Advocacy As we celebrate Black History Month, we want to recognize a few individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the field of psychiatry and mental heal... Read more
Patient Mindful Moments: Tips for Anxiety If a well-meaning friend or family member has ever told you to “just breathe” when you’re feeling worked up or stressed out, you’d be forgiven if you felt l... Read more
Patient Hints To Help You Have A Better New Year The holidays have ended, and a new year has begun—a time when many embrace a fresh start by setting New Year’s resolutions. This year, why not consider s... Read more
Patient Movement as Medicine: Solutions for Anxiety Moving forward. It sounds like a nice idea, especially when you’re feeling stuck deep in the throes of an anxiety spiral. But it turns out that physically m... Read more
Patient Weight-Loss Drugs and Mental Health: What You Need to Know New medications for weight loss seem to be flying off pharmacy shelves these days. But could they be linked to mental health conditions? Researchers are ... Read more
Patient 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We’re thrilled to share that 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We're so grateful to the dedicated healthcare providers who... Read more
Patient The Model Minority Myth and Mental Health The model minority myth stereotypes one cultural group, typically Asian Americans, as “intelligent, hard-working, and diligent and therefore more academically, ... Read more
Healthcare Provider How Clinicians Can Help Support Their Patients Who Are Being Bullied How Clinicians Can Help Support Their Patients Who Are Being Bullied Acts of bullying can cause feelings of fear, loneliness and sadness, as well as depressi... Read more