Meet Our Partners & Friends in the Fight Against Cancer ft. Biju Poulose, MD

Featuring:
Biju Poulose, MD
Michigan Behavioral Medicine
2525 Crooks Road, Suite 100
Troy, MI 48084
https://www.michigantms.com
248-731-7305

Dr. Biju Poulose began his medical training in India and completed his residency in psychiatry at St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Michigan. He is boarded with the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology and practices with Michigan Behavioral Medicine. He fell in love with psychiatry in medical school. Drawn to its holistic approach and the opportunity to practice empathy, he sees a diverse group of patients including cancer patients and their caregivers.

“Cancer can hold so much meaning for patients depending on their unique circumstances. Not only can challenges like anxiety, depression, or panic arise, but cancer can also have physiological impacts on brain chemistry, mood, and sleep. Both patients and their families can benefit from mental health support,” states Dr. Poulose.

Here at Associates of Integrative Medicine, we have masters level counselors who are specialists in anxiety, grief, and depression associated with cancer. But patients may wonder, when should I seek out psychiatric help.

Usually, it’s when we need pharmacological support, but Dr. Poulose cautions that there is a difference between a normal reaction to an abnormal situation, and something more complex and unmanageable. He adds, “Panic, anxiety, and fearfulness are all normal emotions. Providers should be comfortable accepting those normal emotions rather than labeling them as depression. However, chronic changes in sleep, appetite, or sense of pleasure may be indicative of something deeper.”

Sometimes when we are in the middle of the fight, or even after, recovering and concerned about the risk of recurrence, we forget about the role stress can play in creating an environment in which disease flourishes. Dr. Poulose agrees, “Any and every means of de-stressing is a good one—whether it’s friends, exercise, good food, indulging in hobbies, sleep, music, or arts. Even stealing 15 minutes of quiet time, where your brain and body are not in constant chatter, can be very beneficial. Oftentimes, our minds can be compared to a car that is braked, but whose engine is constantly engaged. Mindfulness techniques are a great way to put the “car” of our mind in neutral. One of my favorite mindfulness experts is Dr. Ajahn Brahm, an Australian Buddhist monk, whose guided meditation you can check out here at the Buddhist Society of Western Australia:
https://bswa.org/”

Dr. Poulose shares our concerns about how problematic unmanaged stress can be. “Chronic stress is the real villain - whether it’s psychological, physical, or financial problems. These changes in the brain can lead to changes within the nervous system.” This underlies our emphasis on a holistic approach to survivorship. Staying open to the many ways we approach stress management can be a powerful tool in not just surviving, but thriving.

Interview taken by Raveena Mata, Medical Intern.