As a psychiatrist, I evaluate and prescribe medications to help alleviate problems that cause impairment in the lives of my patients. I work at UCLA part time as the Lead Psychiatrist of Behavioral Health Associates, which is an outpatient practice that works with primary care doctors of UCLA Health. I also work part time for Traditions Behavioral Health via Telehealth in Contra Costa County, which is a county clinic for a more ill and economically challenged patient population.
WORK SINCE COVID-19
I was seeing patients in person [at UCLA] up until the first week of April. Since then our clinic has converted all of our patient visits into virtual visits only. I’d say in general, it’s been really good. Not seeing them in person hasn’t been a huge factor.
I certainly have patients who are more anxious and worried since the pandemic, but they usually have other health conditions or they’re living with and caring for someone who also has other health problems. So, for people who have already had anxiety, this has contributed to it. But I don’t feel that people who are already pretty well adjusted are suddenly feeling super anxious.
The thing that’s been interesting to see is I’ve been getting a lot of referrals for patients who think they have ADD. People are saying, ‘Oh I can’t concentrate, I can’t focus, I can’t get things done.’ (I don’t see any kids so these are all adults.) The general sense is that a lot of people are working from home and they’re having to work in situations they’re not used to, and they’ve had to adjust, whether it’s creating office space in their home or working in the presence of children even if they’re in a separate room. And I think this is really hard, especially for people who are used to being very efficient and productive and on the go. All of a sudden, the most movement you’re doing is from bedroom to kitchen, kitchen to other bedroom or living room. It’s kind of hard to feel like you’re doing a lot.
“… I think we should all accept that productivity for most people is going to decrease. And that’s OK.”
I keep seeing articles that are like, ‘Here are some tips on how to be efficient working from home.’ I haven’t read a single one of those, but I bet I could tell you what they’d say: set an alarm or a stick to a routine, or get dressed every morning… But at the end of the day I think we should all accept that productivity for most people is going to decrease. And that’s OK.
The question for me is do you really want to take a medication for that? Is that something that’s really necessary? Is that something that’s going to make things better? And for a lot of people they don’t want take a medication or they don’t even want to label it. But I think they just want that confirmation that there’s nothing wrong with me. People might be thinking, ‘Oh man how come I can’t do XY and Z anymore?’ But again, you were never asked to juggle four things in the same space, and still be a calm and collected person.
I can tell you that I didn’t think the coronavirus pandemic would be this serious nor did I think it was going to be this extensive so I didn’t mentally prepare myself. I guess we’re now going into our third month and everything feels so restrictive. I’m grateful to still be working but it just feels like we don’t have choices. Not feeling like you have the freedom and the choice to go to the beach or take a walk, which I think people have a hard time accepting especially in America. And I get it. People are getting so upset by the demonstrating and picketing. But I think culturally that’s what you’re encouraged to be. You’re encouraged to speak out. It just sucks when those behaviors could potentially harm other people.
ON STAYING SANE
I still try to workout. I just feel so much better afterwards it motivates me to continue. I’m still working with some of the coaches I used to work with through the spin studio or boxing gyms. I’ve been surprised actually by how good of a workout you can get doing it on your own and watching people on the screen. One of my favorite spin instructors has been doing a class on IG Live. She has a suggested donation or if you can’t afford it, she requests you pay it forward by an act of kindness.
My boyfriend also bought a 100 pound heavy bag which we hung on our avocado tree. It gets a lot of frustration out and it’s a really good workout.There’s a social aspect of working out, too. Even when I would do workouts on Zoom, you get the benefits of other people being with you virtually. There are so many things you can’t replace by being there in person, but the substitution of the virtual world, has been remarkably better than the one I would’ve expected.
I’ll admit, I definitely sleep in more now. I used to be up before 6am every morning because my kids are up at 6am, and usually at least three times a week I’d get up at 4:30am to work out. And I haven’t gotten up at 4:30am in a very long time. I don’t have a commute anymore.
RECENT WEEKEND GETAWAY
Hiking has been one of my new favorite things to do in the past couple of years. When they shut it all down, I was totally devastated. But I found this private property in Topanga Canyon, which is owned by multiple residents. And in they have some hiking trails within the property. They had a renovated airstream and an outdoor area with chairs, a grill and a ping-pong table. So, we went up there for the weekend. My kids got super excited. They brought their walkie talkies, flashlights and we packed some food and we just kind of hung out. We explored their local grocery stores, too. There were lots of lizards, birds, and different vegetation. It’s quiet and really peaceful.
I’ve never been to a real campground. I’m just going to admit that right now. I had never even been in an RV or trailer before, so it was fun. The Airstream is small but it’s kind of nice because it forces you to spend the majority of your time outside. The RV basically has a bedroom in the back with an actual bed. There’s a really small bathroom and a closet. And then there’s a kitchen area and what would be a dining area that was converted into another bed. That’s where the girls slept. I believe there were two airstreams, but the other one was separated in a different area. We never saw anybody else and our “campground” was enclosed by a gate that made it private.
I was inspired to go because right at the beginning when all this happened, we bought a tent that we pitched in the backyard. And the twins were obsessed with it. They literally slept there for a whole week. So after, I thought maybe we should go camping for real even though this wasn’t really camping.
I randomly came across this looking at properties in the area under glamping.I would recommend you bring bug spray, which we completely forgot so we had to go buy some. Bring flashlights. Maybe have some music. The twins had fun with their walkie talkies and they got to explore so long as they left one walkie talkie with me. So that was fun.
FAVORITE TRAVEL ACCESSORIES
I always have a foldable bag in my suitcase because with kids, I always end up with with more stuff than I came with. If we go somewhere and my kids want to buy the biggest stuffed animal as a souvenir, I can put it in my bag. I really like the LeSportsac Weekender. I like the extra large size and the durable fabric. It’s so useful; it’s been a lifesaver so many times.
And no matter where I go I always shove a bunch of Ziploc bags, big and small in my bag. We’ll go to Hawaii and we have seashells, or we’ll have sunscreen and we don’t want it to explode. Everyone thinks I’m crazy because I always show up with Ziplock bags but I’ve never heard anyone complain because we always end up needing it.
I also like the Babyganics face wipes for the kids, but I also use it for myself. I have the big ones at home but they also have the small ones and I have those in the car or in my backpack or on the plane. Why didn’t I ever use these before I was a mom?
FAVORITE DESTINATIONS
Paris holds so many memories for me and it represents a lot of things that I enjoy in a vacation: different cultures, food, fashion, and history that is present everywhere. I’ve visited Paris with so many different friends, family, the twins. And every time, it is both the same and different, if that makes sense. There are things that I always miss like the cobble-stone streets, fresh bread, Parisienne dress and cafes with tables all over the sidewalks. But I also find something new every time, like a cool playground or we will picnic somewhere with the Eiffel Tower in the background because thats what fits the vacation at the moment.
Hawaii is my happy place. It represents Aloha and sunshine and a relaxed vibe that makes me think simplicity is the best life and I could be ok with being a beach bum, so long as it’s in Hawaii.
FUTURE TRAVEL PLANS
I don’t know when I’ll travel. I actually bought tickets to Hawaii for Christmas and New Years a month ago just thinking that maybe things will be better by then and it’s something to look forward to.I think for the summer we’ll probably end up doing more of like a road trip and go to Yosemite or the Grand Canyon. I’ve been dying to go to Antelope Canyon. I think we’re going to probably do something more like that but I don’t love being in the car. But I also don’t want to be standing in some crazy line at LAX masking in the plane. I’m supposed to go to Korea in October because my brother postponed his wedding and I can’t imagine wearing a mask for a duration of an 11 or 12 hour flight. That doesn’t seem healthy.
There’s this really good article about the biology of catching a virus, and the virulence of Covid-19, and how many viral particles you need to actually get infected, and how easy it is to infect other people. It is well written and simply explained so you know the real risks and the proper things to be aware of. When you look at the way they lay this out, the biggest risk is the duration of time and number of particles you’re going to be exposed. Anytime you’re going to be in an enclosed space, airplanes, gyms, showers, etc., the likelihood of exposure goes up exponentially. I love to travel. But what can you do? You gotta adjust to the times. Even if I’ll be ok, and my kids will be ok, I would feel terrible if somebody else was adversely affected because we want to have some fun. That’s a hard thing.
— Kelly Kang to TBW