Anxiety Road Podcast

In this episode, I want to give an overview of what a mental health license is, why it is necessary and some of the types of providers that have a specific type of license. Part of the reason the podcast exist is to provide accurate, verifiable information.  So when I hear a statement like, "a license is only for insurance purposes," I have flashbacks of being that girl in class with her arms waving as the rest of the class groans. Resources Mentioned:  There is a simple version from Mental Health Foundation on the types of mental health professionals.    From NAMI, that is the National Alliance of Mental Illness is a PDF fact sheet on the types of mental health professionals, the titles and what they do.   Mental Health America also has a page on the various types of mental healthcare providers. Emergency Resources The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

This is a quick look at the book Beyond Anxiety by Martha Beck. I think most of us would like to be beyond it but our current reality is making that extremely hard to do.  Resources Mentioned:    I found two open chapters of the book Beyond Anxiety on Google Books. If you are interested in author Martha Beck, there is her main website where you can look at some of her social media history and connections. If you want to get a sense of her tone and point of view there is an 2025 interview on the Today show.   Emergency Resources:   The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

Caffeine is one of those substances that can be a friend-enemy. We all know of or experienced the friend-enemy, the one that seems to be supportive while doing dirt in the background.  In limited use like period relief medications, I have no problem supporting that use. Taking caffeine  daily when you have anxiety or depression, might not be such a good idea. It can amp up your existing symptoms or give you new ones.    In this episode, the foods and drinks you might find caffeine and a few resources on how to slowly and safely detox from the stuff. Resources Mentioned:    Both Medline Plus and the Harvard TC Chan School of Public Health Nutrition Source have pages about caffeine. The following resources have information about withdrawing or reducing your intake:   Sutter Health on breaking your caffeine habit Cornell University download flyer tips on Reducing Caffeine Use The Cleveland Clinic on How to Quit Caffeine   Emergency Resources The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.     Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

The way it is presented you'd think that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the only therapy treatment for anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions. No, it isn't. It does work, but not for every person or every mental health condition.   In this episode, a quick review of what CBT is and some of the pros and cons. This isn't an attempt to praise or condemn the therapy. I just want to point out that it might not be right for you at this time or you might needs to get your symptoms in control before you can consider this type of treatment.   Resources Mentioned:  American Psychological Association on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy   Book publisher Wiley has the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Dummies book. On the website you can read sample chapters and there is a cheat sheet you can review to see if the book is a good match for you.   MindDoc is an app that is a CBT type education that you can access via your phone. You can read or listen to a variety of topics, monitoring and self-management your mental health and check in on you daily. There is a free and paid version of the app that is available to Android and iOS users.   What's Up app for iPhone/iPad users provides a basic grounding in CBT topics and skills. it has a journaling and notes section, breathing exercises and grounding tools. It is free but there are in-app purchases. Emergency Resources The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

Anhedonia is the inability to experience pleasure or enjoyment from activities that normally bring satisfaction. You can do things but you can't feel things. Your brain cannot process or have access to pleasure, reward or satisfaction.  This is a quick episode on what the condition is, some of the symptoms and a few learning and treatment options. Resources Mentioned:    Anxiety and Depression Association of America has a video about Anhedonia ADAA also has a support group for people with Major Depression Disorder.    Psych Hub video is also a good starting place to learn about Anhedonia   UC Irvine has an informational blog page about Anhedonia called There is help if it all seems too much   From Helpguide.org Anhedonia Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment   Emergency Resources:   The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Psychedelics are knocking on the door again. It is the generational visit of psychedelics with some people seeing the potential and others seeing the danger and consequences. In this episode, a look at Executive Order 14401 and what is proposed for the treatment of serious mental health conditions. Let me be clear about this. I take no position pro or con in the upcoming debates or discussions about psychedelics. I am learning as I move through this unexpected (for me) treatment option.    I have concerns. Big whomping concerns. I also have distrust and I'm noticing that certain stock markets and pharmaceutical companies are taking interest in this topic.    What I'm trying to say I have biases, both conscious and unconscious. This episode is what I've discovered learning about the topic. My first steps. Psychedelically, you might be further down the road.    One more thing. Dear public relations people. I have never had a guest on the show. I do not plan to in the future. Please peddle your guests to a more appropriate forum. Resources Mentioned:  Psychedelic Information Resources   From Psychology Today What the New Executive Order Means for Psychedelics, A federal policy shift puts psychedelics in the spotlight for mental health.   PBS.org story about the executive order and some of the pros and cons. Like insurance? Nope.   One of the things the Petrie-Flom Center looks at is Health Law Policy. This is a Q&A on the Executive Order on Psychedelics with I. Glenn Cohen and Mason Marks.   FDA Right to Try Fact Sheet  and Congress.gov page on Expanded Access and Right to Try: Access to Investigational Drugs   The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency Drug Scheduling with a list of the drug schedules. Information about executive orders, their history and how to obtain them.   National Constitution Center information page on What is an Executive Order?   The American Bar Association's website has an explainer from a legal perspective on what an executive or is, the format of the document and how to retrieve the official version.   National Archives and Records Administration Archive of all things related to the U.S. government. Maintains a digital index of executive orders that is searchable by date, number, or topic. The orders may be viewed as PDFs or text, in the Federal Register, or within Title 3 of the U.S. Code.   American Presidency Project  is an archive maintained by the University of California Santa Barbara includes text of almost all executive orders, searchable by year of issue back to the early nineteenth century.   Emergency Resources The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

Mental health isn't just fixing one thing. It is more than stopping the symptoms. It is getting the parts back in alignment. Your brain, your spirit, your body and yes even neurotransmitters.     This episode is about the neurotransmitter Dopamine. What it is and the relationship between stress, anxiety and the fight or flight response. I hope understand that this is one of the many processes of recovery.  Do what you can, when you can.  Resources Mentioned:    The Cleveland Clinic has an explainer page on Dopamine.    There are three TED Ed videos that visually explain what is happening in your brain when you have excessive stress and the relationship between anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions.   How stress affects your body - Sharon Horesh Bergquist on what goes on inside our body when we are chronically stressed    Procrastination that includes the flight or fight response and the relationship to anxiety and depression.    How the food you eat affects your brain lesson by Mia Nacamulli explains how food affects your brain,  how Amino Acids change into neurotransmitters and how the food we eat can change how we feel and behave.   Emergency Resources   The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

A few months back, there were statements about SSRIs and increase violence in youth. Not true and I found a well written article explaining what a government official said and what is the factual, data based findings. I'll have that linked below.  What I want to do is share with you the process of evaluating a medication so that you know the benefits and possible side effects so that you can make an informed choice.   The basic questions are:   What is this drug and why do I need it? Specifics on how much to take, when and with or without foods or liquids. What are the known side effects and when should I be concerned? Are there foods, drinks, vitamins, herbals or other things I should not take with the medication? How do I quit or stop taking the medication? There are some meds that you have to be weaned off of or you might experience harsh withdrawal symptoms. Resources Mentioned:  What Is (and What Is Not) on Trump and Kennedy's Make America Healthy Again Public Health Agenda by KFF News. Simply Psychology page on Serotonin and how it affects the brain and body.   The Mayo Clinic has a good information page about anti-depressants   Antidepressants for kids and teens: What the science says. For parents who need background information on anti-depressants for their kids or teenagers.   Medline Plus Drug Information Page, you can type the generic name or the brand name of the drug to get information on it.    Emergency Resources:    The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

I'm seeing more PR stuff and news stories about weight lost drugs for anxiety and depression. The short version for me is that there is not enough science or science research to determine if GLP-1 can be used to treat anxiety and depression. But that doesn't stop news stories and PR pieces from being written. As a starting point, I want to explain what GLP-1 are, the intended use and some of the side effects. both positive and negative a person could experience. Resources Mentioned:    Think Global has an article on the Mental Health Effects of Ozempic and GLP-1 drugs.   From the From the American Psychological Association is a post about weight loss drugs and mental health.   NPR did a news story about the growth of these types of drugs and possible mental health side effects.    PubMed has an editorial on The Potential Role of GLP-1 Agonists in Psychiatric Disorders: A Paradigm Shift in Mental Health Treatment   Novo Nordis is the manufacture of Ozempic. This is a link to there website about the product and you would have access to patient information sheets for consumers, doctors and pharmacists.   Emergency Resources The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

In this episode, a look at loneliness, the connection to anxiety and how the book, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter can help us understand the relationship between the two.   Loneliness is disconnection from the other. Could be the loss of the other person. Could be an an idea or way of being that use to sustain you and now it doesn't.  Could be a country that that use to pretend to live up to 1/4 of their stated ideas and now you find out it closer to 1/32nd and dropping. Anxiety can mean that your brain and body feels that there is instability, danger or a threat. Your symptoms are the visual or sensory representation of something being wrong.    Symptoms can be embarrassing. Many anxious people make the choice of separating themselves from others. There are other options.    Resources Mentioned:  The Heart is a Lonely Hunter Book: The book was written by author Carson McCullers and published in 1940. You should be able to find it at any retail or online book vendor.   Audio: There is an abbreviated BBC full performance and there is a 12-hour narrated version of the entire book by Cherry Jones on Audible.    Movie: There is a trailer on YouTube. Amazon Prime has the 1968 version of the movie that you can either rent or buy. I'm sure that other streaming services that have the film in rotation.  Loneliness Research 2023 The U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community. This is a downloadable document on the research.   Journal of Effective Disorders Emotional and social loneliness and their unique links with social isolation, depression and anxiety. If the above link is troublesome, can try to download the article via the digital object identifier number.  Emergency Resources:   The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Everybody is feeling a bit touchy. Some want to drink their problems away. Even non-alcoholically. There is a brand of wellness drinks that latched onto the words prebiotic and probiotic and put them in a soda pop can. Can it help with brain health and anxiety symptoms? Resources Mentioned:    The website Altruva Wellness has their list of the top prebiotic and probiotic sodas. There are affiliate links on this website - due to the nature of this product, it would be better to purchase retail rather than online.   The food website Sporked has a review of the taste aspect of prebiotic and probiotic sodas.   The non-profit Food Facts.org has a good page on figuring out what the fiber level on food labeling. It is actually a good resource for nutritional information.   Helpguide.org has a good page on high-fiber foods.   Emergency Resources   The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

A panic attack is a single experience. Your symptoms act the fool and you deal with it. A panic disorder is multiple unpredictable attacks that can occur during the day, week or month AND you worry when the next one will come. And they will. They are stinky like that. In this episode, a description of what is a panic disorder, the symptoms and the treatment options. Resources Mentioned:  Medication Information   The Cleveland Clinic has information about SSRI medication.   Anxiety and Depression Association of America has a section on the site explaining the symptoms of panic disorders.   CBT Information   ADAA.org has an explainer video on CBT that you can watch on their website or YouTube channel. There is also a blog post on three things to know about CBT.   Rootd app helps those who have a panic disorder deal with it using CBT as the foundation.   Panic Disorder Information   From the U.S, National Institute of Mental Health has a page about Panic Disorders. It appears that the information is unchanged but the related brochures that appeared have been removed. I don't believe the info has been change due to the current administration (it could happen).   Emergency Resources The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

There are people that have one singular panic attack. They never have another one. Then there are those of us that have it infrequently or as a weekly pest. In this episode, I mention the bear in the driveway.  For my overseas listeners, there are states that have bear populations. And humans have built housing near the areas where the bears and wildlife populate. So their could be a possibility of a bear rumbling through trash can looking for food.    But panic attacks have invisible bears. There is a threat you can't see but your brain is telling you that you are in danger. You body reacts. In this episode, I explain in plain terms what a panic attack is, the symptoms and treatment options.    I should probably tell you that I lean toward science + a whole body approach to treatment.   Resources Mentioned:  Anxiety and Depression Association of America is a non-profit website that has educational resources. They also have a YouTube channel with a Ken Goodman - Coping with Panic Attacks video that explains the panic attack cycle process.   The Mayo Clinic page on When Panic Hits Home  Helpguide.org has an 2026 updated page on panic attacks and panic disorders.   Emergency Resources The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

I do like Desire in Netflix, The Sandman. What a rascal. What does this have to do with foods that support gut health? A lot more than I thought. Balancing your need for a cherry cheesecake versus you know you are going to have a hard time sleeping because of the sugar in your system.  Not to mention what it does to your gut microbiome.   It is hard to make that choice. Because I really want that cheesecake. Or burger. Or that Peach soda I found at an international market. 2 liter bottle. Yeah, I was a little jumpy for a few days.   So in this episode, I do have a few words to say about desire, the feeling. Not the one in Netflix's The Sandman. But honestly, there is a relationship. Desire gets you amped up willing to do the things you shouldn't.    You know you shouldn't. Next thing you know, a half bucket of chicken and all of the Cole slaw is  gone. Then living with shame, regret, and rumblings in your tummy.   The food items that I mention will help the good microbiomes to feel better, have support and send communication to your brain.    That is a good thing. In the long term, a life affirming choice.   But like the song says, I'm only human. Resources Mentioned:  In case you missed the prior episode, the British Nutrition Foundation has an explainer article about the brain - gut connections and recommendations on the food you could be eating. The food info is toward the bottom of the site.   The Arthritis Foundation has a downloadable shopping list of foods you can use when you are in the store and want to make better choices. Some of those bad bugs contribute to inflammation in the body.    From UCSD also known as the University of San Diego is a PDF on seven fermented foods that also includes recipes on how to use them.  Emergency Resources The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

In this episode, I want to briefly define the brain gut health connection. The main question that only you can answer is are you willing to pursue nutrition as part of your anxiety, depression toolkit?  Most people say they want to be heathy but won't give up that extra large burger with chips.  I am not trying to make you give that up. But from experience I do know that I can't sustain physical or mental health eating junk food each and every day. Lord knows I tried.   And if you do have anxiety, depression or the long list of things that can happen to people, then you have to take nutrition seriously.  Your good gut microbiota need help and reinforcements.  Resources Mentioned:  There is an excellent 2 minute video that explains visually the brain and gut health connection. The video is from Professor Mark Dingman YT Channel Neuroscientifically Challenged.  From 2025 is an post from New York Presbyterian Health Matters section of their website, who spoke with Dr. Benjamin Lebwohl, a gastroenterologist about the gut brain axis. The Cleveland Clinic has a 2023 blog post on the brain gut connection. It gives an overview, the functions, bit of an anatomy lesson and some of the conditions associated with an unhappy gut environment    And for those that like the science straight (or is that neat?) there is a journal entry by Niazi, Madiha Khan, Hassan, Farooq, Tufail, Tabussam, ismail, Muhammad Amjed, Riaz, Khadija, The Role of Microbiome in Psychiatric Diseases (Insomnia and Anxiety/Depression) with Microbiological Mechanisms, Advanced Gut & Microbiome Research, 2023, 1566684, 9 pages, 2023.  Emergency Resources   The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

This is a look at the non-profit website Helpguide.org It is that season where I am juggling too many life experiences.  I do want to call attention to their resources for mental health and mental wellness information.  You can find info on most of the anxiety conditions as well as depression, eating disorders and addiction issues.  One of the advantages of the site is that there are no ads or potential monetary conflicts of interest.  I'm going to break out more resources as time allows so that the under mentioned sites get better known.  Resources Mentioned:  The non-profit website Helpguide.org Emergency Resources The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

Does your anxiety or depression symptoms keep you from sleeping? Or maybe you are looking for the drowsy professor type voice that knocks you out.  The Deeply Unimportant podcast might be what you are looking for. Sometimes you need a specific type of voice to put you into the sleep zone.   Once upon a time there was a guy named Terrance McKenna. Very deep into psychoactive plants, mushrooms and alternative waves of being.   I didn't really understand what he was talking about. Not a clue. This was a good thing because within 15 minutes of listening to him I was asleep. Again, I didn't not understand anything. I just knew that if he was on the radio, I was going to be able to go to sleep. These days, I need something more "boring" than Mr. McKenna. No disrespect to Terrance. For those on his wave length he was the man. Now days, we have a lot of options from ASMR to stories but for me, Deeply Uniportant cuts through the mind yapping and slides me into sleepy town.  Resources Mentioned:  The main website is https://deeplyunimportant.com. You can listen to the ad supported version for free or if you need the full eight-hour version you can subscribe and become a member. You also have the option to listen on your favorite podcasting app. There is an audiogram introduction trailer on YouTube about the podcast.   There is a tribute site by Lorenzo called Psychedelic Salon that contains some of the recordings of Terrance McKenna. There is also an official archive site where you can purchase his work. The Simply Noise app can help you with finding the right sound for your needs, that could be a frequency noise or a sound of nature. Windows users can go to the download section of the website and select the items that will give them an audio balm. Emergency Resources:   The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

There is a bunch of tossing and turning in beds across the land. All in an effort to try to get to sleep.  And sleep is the one thing that affects all of us, whether you have an anxiety condition or not.  It is a two-fer. Your body needs it for repair and your brain needs it for cleaning and maintenance. So it is really important to make sure you have what you needs to set yourself up for a good night's sleep.   Especially if you have anxiety and depression type symptoms. This is an overview of what you need to get to sleep and keep it there for as long as you need it.  Resources Mentioned:  Australian Center of Clinical Inventions, there is a PDF handout on Sleep Hygiene with 15 tips on how to get a good night's sleep.   The U.S. non-profit health organization Kaiser Permanente has a page on why sleep is important and suggest that the only things you should do in bed is sleep and sex.    The National Sleep Foundation is an advocacy group for sleep health. They do have a section of their website that talks about the relationship between mental health and sleep.   I do need to let you know that there is another website call Sleep Foundation.org. This is a commercial site that reviews mattresses and sleep products. However they have a lot of info about sleep but they also are probably doing affiliate deals to support the website. The site does have factual information about sleep and sleep habits.   The Cleveland Clinic has a brief information page on weighted blankets.    And Harvard Health Publishing also has a page about weighted blankets with the statement that there isn't enough science research to indicate that they are helpful but people are using them for relief.   Emergency Resources The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Creator Care is a therapy option set up for digital content creators. If you produce gamer videos, TicTok tips or are deep in the YouTube algorithm whiplash then this could be of interest to you. There have been a few notable YouTubers who have decided to take extended breaks, leave the platform or have made the ultimate deep six six dive. Many others are going through burnout or feel that there anxiety levels are a bit too high. Per the vendor's website:   Many creators experience anxiety, burnout, depression, and isolation, yet often face barriers to accessing care.    Currently the service is available only to California digital creators living in CA but they do have plans to expand the service across the U.S.   Resources Mentioned:  If you are a digital creator that lives in California, you can access the Revive Health Therapy portal for Creator Care. There are virtual visits as well as an option for actual offices visits if you live near Oakland or Walnut Creek.   The Anxiety and Depression Association of America website have a directory of providers that focus on these topics. You can search by location, your condition or by your population type, for example, you are a veteran, a senior or a person with disabilities.    The Open Counseling website allows you to put in your zip code or the name of your state and then find a provider. Some of these providers do have a virtual therapy option.   On the main page of the website, there is information on some of the non-profits that might have free or reduced payment options to access therapy treatment. Please note that Open Counseling has an affiliate relationship with the BetterHelp.com group of companies, such as Regain.us, TeenCounseling.com and TalkSpace.com.   Open Path Collective. This is a non-profit membership site that can help you reduce the cost of your therapy sessions. This is open to all, not just digital creators. You get the opportunity to read the profile of the therapist and hopefully have an appropriate and supportive match for your needs. Emergency Resources The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

The FL-100 headset is a possible a treatment option for people that have moderate to severe depression. Well in Europe, UK and  Australia, that is true. Hopefully it is coming some time soon for folks in the U.S.    I should mention that it is expensive and it will only be available via prescription from a doctor or medical provider. This is short episode that gives a brief overview of the product. Resources Mentioned:  I found the news story about the FL-100 on Reuter.com.   There is a video of a young woman giving her view about the product.  She only has one video on her YouTube page but it might give you a real world perspective about the device.    If you would like to visit the Flow Neuroscience website, please be aware it is directed to the UK and European marketplace. You can learn about the product but they do not have a U.S. specific website set    Emergency Resources   The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

In the before times, I would have been hostile to meditation and mindfulness. I didn't have time for it, I wanted the quick cure, the fix and no B.S. I had stuff to do and no time for body symptom nonsense. I had to be karmically convinced to change my mind.  Hard lessons. Embarrassing lessons. But I came to understand the lesson is repeated until you learn.   Meditation might work for you. It might not. But give it a fair chance.  You might not be ready for it now. That is okay. But take a moment to learn about it, understand the potential benefits and then decide.    Resources Mentioned:  At the Penguin Random House website you can listen to an audio sample or read the introduction chapter of the book to get a sense of if it is right for you.   Bear with me, this is a little confusing. The Harris newsletter is on Substack. There you can access links to his podcast, meditations from notables in the field and other do-dads that you might be interested in. Mr. Harris also has a paid app called Happier Meditation. It is a subscription service starting at $99 a year.  For those that can afford the up front that come out to $10 a month or 27 cents per day.  There may be an option for those that have money issues. You should check out the website for more info.   Co-author Jeff Warren has a page on Substack where you can find his views and teachings about meditation, access audio meditation on a wide variety of topics and meditations that focus on ADHD issues.   Emergency Resources   The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

In this episode I talk about what is a mindful walking meditation, the difference between meditation and mindfulness and a few resources to help you get more information about it. I know that in some places in the world you cannot walk freely or without consciousness of your immediate area. Some places in the U.S. do not have sidewalks. Other cities are actively hostile to pedestrians.    The good news is that you can walk at home, in the back yard or visually in your mind.   It is okay, main thing is moving your body or your spirit.   Resources Mentioned:  Serene Madani article on the Woman's Health Magazine website about walking outside phoneless.   Duke Health has an infographic called Mastering Box Breathing: A Simple Technique to Relieve Stress. It shows you visually and in text how to do it.   Mindful.org has a page on A Guided Walking Meditation for Daily Life. There is an audio recording as well as text to help you reconnect with the existing world.   If you really, truly cannot leave home without your phone then you do have the option of adding a meditative podcast or download one of the many guided meditations.   The Centre for Mindfulness Studies in Canada has a 10 minute guided walking meditation in a .m4a audio format. Android users might have problems opening this audio format.   And from Michigan State University  Extension Mindfulness for Better Living is an audio .mp3 recording by Dr. Roxane Chan with more of a emphasis on mindfulness walking.   On the Jack Kornfield website, he has an audio walking meditation you could use as you walk and it might be challenging if you are new to meditation, but if you are further along the path and struggle with wondering attention, this is a good one.   Emergency Resources The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

Well, I have a new to me and probably to you do-dad to help with anxiety symptoms. It is the Opera Air Mindfulness browser. In addition to the standard browsing features it has tools to help you breath and relax, guided meditations and a musical audio mode that can help you focus. Is this a good or bad thing? The TLDR: Some of the tech bros say it is a gimmick and who in their right mind would use it? In my bad times, I would have glommed on to it because I was looking for help. Lots of people are looking for mental health support and aren't too picky where they find it. (we should be, but when a person is in pain they are going to do what they think they need to do.)   I like many of the features but there is a cost. Free ain't free especially online.   Opera Air, like many other browsers is ad supported or allow third party extensions to be used in the browser. Many browser allow ads and cookie tracking to be passed onto those third party data collectors.  A Virtual Private Network (VPN) can hide your location and computer. You generally need to tell it what you want. A free VPN can be problematic. Who is operating it, where is the data passing through and what if it is down and you don't know it? Or it is blocking you from seeing certain web sites?   The security features require users to turn them on. If you don't, oopsie? Also, if you use those third party vendors extensions, you are subject to their terms of service which might include things you in no way agree to.  Again, I am not bashing the browser. I like the reminders about getting up and moving or taking a breathing breaks. But I do want folks to know what the benefits to you is versus cost of your privacy and personal information.     That will be up to you to decide. Resources Mentioned:  If you would like to see how Opera Air works, Brett in Tech has an overview video of the features of the software.   Before you download, I would suggest reading the Opera Help Page and read the FAQs so that you understand what you gain and give up when you use the browser.   If you are interested in giving it a try the address is https://www.opera.com/air   Emergency Resources   The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

If your are an adult human being, you have experienced situational anxiety. It is when you know that this specific thing is making you upset or anxious. It could be about money, your job, the lack of prospects of getting a job. Housing insecurity. Your car breaks down and you do not have cash or credit for the repair bill.   In this episode, a look at situational anxiety. Resources Mentioned:  To learn more about situational anxiety you can take a look at the page on VeryWell Mind. They do tend to go long with their description on the condition, symptoms and treatment options.  VeryWell Mind is a commercial site. It is advertiser supported. If possible, I would suggest that you use a browser like Duck Duck Go in fire mode or Vivaldi in anonymous mode.   Dennis the Anxiety Guy has a video from six years ago about handling situational anxiety.    Dr. Andrea Dinardo, Ph.D has an extract from a longer video on the experience.  The University of Michigan on five red flags you are dealing with situational depression.    Emergency Resources:   The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

There is a video about a dentist joking about giving less medication to people not of her political persuasion. To her audience, I guess they found it funny.  There is a larger story than the dentist and the joke. I waited. I hoped someone would bring a non-political reason what the joke was bad, very bad and unprofessional.    For the record, there are million of us that have some form of dental anxiety or dental phobia.  We need the skills of a professional, qualified and compassionate dentist.   We are scared out of our skulls because we don't know what a few bad teeth yankers of the profession will do to us. Or we clearly remember what a few of them have done to us.   In this episode, a brief definition of dental anxiety and phobia and resources for you to empower yourself.    Resources Mentioned:  There is a website associated with the American Dental Association website called Mouth Healthy. It offer three tips on dealing with dental anxiety.  Cleveland Clinic page on what is dental phobia, the symptoms, causes and treatment options.   The University of Pennsylvania Dental Medicine has a page on how to get over dental anxiety   For those of you in the United Kingdom, the Dental Fear Central page has some good information and suggestions on dealing with dental anxiety.   Emergency Resources The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or use WhatsApp as a means of contact.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

This is a quick definition of fear, why it is an important emotion and two informational resources to help you learn more about. Fear is an emotional response to real or imaginary danger.    Your body enters into protection mode. It is not as some would describe it, a weakness or lack of backbone. You are in trouble and your body is helping you do deal with it.   When you understand what fear this can help you find the tools and skills needed to make healthy adjustments to your natural defense system. Those tools can be food or nutrition, therapy, exercise, education or other things you might not be aware of. Resources Mentioned:  For the TLDR folks, on the Psychology Today blog there is a page on the basics of fear. it talks about what it is, some of the causes and its relationship to phobias and social anxiety. The website Simple Psychology has an explainer page on The Psychology of Fear: Definition, Symptoms, Traits, Causes, Treatment   Emergency Resources The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

I've done episodes about dietary supplements. I didn't take into account the ones sold at the gas station or corner store. People with an anxiety condition or disorder should be very careful about promises of herbal supplements treatment.    I don't want to be elitist here. There is bad stuff in U.S. pharmacies that do not work, known not to be effective or dangerous and yet still on sale. I have examples from Ethan Melillo. PharmD and Grant Harding, PharmD.   It is one thing to buy Slim-Jims from the gas station. I've bought water, two cans for three dollars then I get to the counter where the person looks at me like I'm less than dirt as he rings me up. Then I remember not to go back into that store for the next eight months or so.   I would never, ever purchase an herbal supplement from the gas station store, a convenience store or the 99 Cents or 150 Cents Store-ish variations.   You might decide otherwise. If you do want to risk it, pack a magnifying glass because you have to read the label.    What is the dosage? It might not be the full bottle.    And most important, have the contents been verified by an independent industry respected testing organization?   We need to be careful out in the wild. Just my two cents. This is my opinion which ain't worth a bucket of salt. Which does not stop me from this episode on how to evaluate herbal health supplements.   Resources Mentioned:    Operation Supplement Safety is intended for folks in the military that have restrictions on the kind of supplements they can use. However there is a non-military consumer version of the OSS Postcard that is a PDF download that gives guidelines on how to evaluate a supplement.   U.S. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), National Institutes of Health (NIH) Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know updated January 2023.   National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health page called Herbs at a Glance and Using Dietary Supplements Wisely   U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)   FDA page on Information for Consumers on Using Dietary Supplements, updated 2022.    FDA page on Health Fraud Products Database. You can search by name, vendor, website or a specific action taken by the FDA.   Emergency Resources   The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.    Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.    National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Living in a place with non-human beings can give you an appreciation of the unexpected. I've had encounters with possums, coyotes and skunks. Main skill is be aware of your surroundings, back up and give them a path to exit.   Haven't had a bear encounter yet. Do not want one either. Part of the inspiration of this episode is an old video of a man leaving his home, preoccupied on getting to work only to discover a big ole bear in his driveway.  This can cause most people a wee bit of fright.  That is the topic of this pebble in the anxiety road. Resources Mentioned:  On the Psychology Today blog is a post called Is Anxiety Psychological or Physical?   The National Alliance for Mental Health (NAMI) has a post from 2021 on Anxiety And Fear: What's The Difference? There is an explanation of what is fear and anxiety, the symptoms and some ideas on how to process those experiences.   Emergency Hotline Resources   The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.   Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.   National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 hotline and users can text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.    Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

I had a flashback. What generated it was that I watched a video of a congress person telling his constituents that only the truly deserving should have access to free health care. Those that work are worthy. That is my understanding of what he said. I could be wrong. The example he gave was that a 28 year old person who refused to work. Once upon a time, I was truly ill. I had no savings. I owed bills. I couldn't work. The congress person would have deemed me unworthy.  Just like the Department of Health and Human Services did with the removal of LGBTQ+ access to the 988 suicide hotline. In this episode, what has happened and alternative hotline options. P.S. to the hot fingered. This is a mental health issue.  Resources Mentioned: The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.   Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.   National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of 988 and users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact. There are also text/chat services available to folks in Canada, the UK and Ireland. Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

I can talk about intrusive thoughts. Doesn't mean I don't still have them. Because I do. Here is the thing. Not only is the intrusive thought false but it is repetitive. There are things and practices you can do to reduce the intensity of intrusive thoughts. In this episode, a recent experience of an intrusive thought and three ideas on how to handle the little haters.  I messed up the name of the song so I had to take it out. You can find it on YouTube. It is officially on the CartoonNetwork page. I don't know how long it will last. A lot of cable channels properties are going to be sold or terminated.  So much is changing.  If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned:  The non-profit Helpguide.org has a full page on Intrusive Thoughts and how to handle them. One of their suggestions is adjust the perceptions of your thoughts and let them be.   From the cartoon Steven Universe, the best musical example of what to do with an intrusive thought. 20+ million folks and counting. Here Comes a Thought. You can find the song on YouTube.   The Anxiety and Depression Association of America has a page on Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts. One of the suggestions is to continue what you were doing before the thought.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Trying to get back into the flow. I still don't have a desk or recording equipment. My phone will have to do the job. This is a quick pebble in the road on what is a mental health disorder.   Mental health disorders can affect a person's mood, feelings or become intrusive thoughts.   Most of us have experienced high stress periods or feeling like it's too much or way too much, or you really can't stand it anymore.    For those of us with continuous anxiety symptoms, it leans more toward being a disorder.  Or a condition.   Now, it's really important that you don't self-diagnose. You really should have a thorough workup by your doctor because there are so many physical health problems that have the exact same symptoms as an anxiety symptoms.    I just want you to have a better understanding of what those terms mean.    Bottom line, you have anxiety, you have anxiety symptoms, and they seem to be going on for a long time. It could be a condition. It could be a disorder.    Or it could just be something that you're dealing with and you're learning how to handle.  If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned:  The World Health Organization has an information page on mental disorders.    The American Psychiatric Association has page on What is Mental Illness?. The site uses condition and disorder.  Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.    

After a few minutes of an life update, I talk about the Smiling Minds app, a free resource designed to help practice meditation and also helps to build mental fitness.   If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.   Resources Mentioned:    The Simply Noise app can help you with finding the right sound for your needs, that could be a frequency noise or a sound of nature. Windows users can go to the download section of the website and select the items that will give them an audio balm. Smiling Mind app provides mindfulness and breathing resources but has evolved into a mental health support and fitness app. There are 700+ mindfulness items that you can use. There is also a mood tracker and other resources.   You can find the app on the Apple App Store  or the Google Play Store.   On the main website you can find an explainer page on how to use the app and some of the features.  One of those features is closed captioning.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

A brief update. I'm still going through chaos. I'm having to throw away a lot of things and re-organize my life.    This is a brief pebble in the road on a memory that I wrote down in 2002. It was a bad time.    There are ups and downs with having an anxiety condition. I was scraping cement at that time.   I'm grateful that is this a memory. I'm going to shred this page but I've memorialized it so there is no loss.  If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

In this episode, I talk about my process on handing a problem and four resources that might be helpful to those with panic attacks and panic disorder.    Some of the resources are informative but dry.    Other offerings are written in a more conversational form, accessible but might not explain a concept or two.   I get a little more personal than I like but I wanted to share with you my panic response to some bad news.    There are a lot of changes that I'm experiencing at the moment.    Those changes need attention. I'll do the best I can but it is going to be a challenge to deal with it, work and get out an episode.   I'll do the best I can. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned:    NAMI is the National Association of Mental Health narrative from Yasmina Rebani-Lee that does a good job of explaining her experience and her process of working through it. It is called Unpacking my Panic Attack.   The Mayo Clinic has a page on Panic Attacks and Disorders.    The World Health Organization PDF on Panic Disorders   2022 brochure Panic Attacks, When Fear Overwhelms from the U.S. Department of Mental Health Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

We all have that thing that gets under our skin. The thing we can't stand and won't abide in any form. That at best is an irritation. But for some of us, it can be a problem if it impacts the quality of life. Those four-legged poof balls called cats can be a problem for people with a phobia about cats. In this episode, what it is, the symptoms and treatment resources. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned:  The Cleveland Clinic has a page on ailurophobia, another name for the fear of cats. If you want to go learn about the phobias and treatment options, there is a HelpGuide.org page on Phobias and Irrational Fears. Psychology Today has a directory of mental health providers. You can search by city or zip code. Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

There are forces that have us in a state of stress and unbalance. It is intentional. Our stress levels are way too high.  In this episode, I'm talking specifically about stress but those of us with anxiety still need to pay attention.    We still have the ability to decide how we want to go forward. You might need a personal support system to help you deal with the days, months or however ever long we survive this moment in time.   If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned:  Stress definition and tips to handling it from the World Health Organization. The American Psychological Association has a dictionary style definition from their point of view. The non-profit American Institute of Stress also provides information about stress. There is a stress questionnaire that could help you figure out your stress level and provide information on handling it. There is a fee for accessing the questionnaire and guide.   Mindful.org has A 4-Minute Practice to Clarify What's Important Right Now.   If you would like help in getting started with a mindful practice the free app Healthy Minds provides lessons and practice session to help you learn how to do it.  https://hminnovations.org/meditation-app The American Heart Association has an infographic that you can download to help you remember some of the techniques of stress relief and management. Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

Social anxiety is not about being shy or people not wanting to be social. People with social anxiety beats up on themselves before others get a chance to do it.  It is a condition where an excessive amount of fear is generated by the anticipation of rejection.  Either way, it can be harmful to the spirit. In this episode, a quick look at the book How to Be Your Self by Ellen Hendriksen, Ph.D. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned:  If you need information about Social Anxiety Disorder, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America has a free PDF on the condition and suggestions on treatment options. The Insight Timer app has a course by Dr. Hendriksen called Rising Above Social Anxiety.  The Yale Medicine website has an explainer page on Social Anxiety. Bookshop.org is a way to support independent bookstores. You purchase the book online via the website and an independent store will benefit from the purchase.  Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

Yeah, it is a real thing and we are existing in it. From the looks of things most of us are struggling and that is never a good thing. An infodemic is a smash up between too much information and a pandemic. I didn't invent this term. Goes back to 2001-2003ish.   There is a pandemic of bad, worse and toxic levels of disinformation. People are getting sick or at risk of ingesting poor quality information sources.    I'm not being hyperbolic here. I stopped monitoring local and national news. All of it and cut back on social media too. And I actually turn off my phone at night.    In my limited defense, I did not want constant notifications of dubious statements and horrifying facts. I've mention this in the podcast. It is ok to take a break from the firehouse of news.   But there is a cost.  One morning, I woke up, turned on the phone and found out about not one but two wildfires.   We need safe and viable ways to monitor the news without crushing our spirts to dust. I have an idea or two.  This are just my ideas. We can build something better than what we have.    Doomscrolling will not get us there. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.   Resources Mentioned:  I strongly recommend a safe browser to visit websites. I'm thinking stuff like Duck Duck Go, Vivaldi or using an app that blocks tracking cookies.     Possibly set up a limited use account for your on-line and researching needs. APNews.com, this is a non-profit news organization. It reports the news but does not interpret the story. They don't make the news palatable. They tell you what the news story is and the known facts at the time. AP Fact Check, looks at stories that might be questionable true or false.   Reuters News is a business to business commercial news company. Similar philosophy to the AP, gives the story but generally does not embellish. Reuters news also has a fact check page to evaluate social media and visual images to provide verification on who created it and is it the truth. FactCheck.org is a project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center. Also includes SciCheck for science claims.   The Poyter Institute has Politifact which has fact checking in English and Spanish. Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

In this episode, a brief explanation of cognitive behavioral therapy and then an overview of the mental health apps that claim to provide treatment or support resources. There are a lot of companies that are trying to convince insurance companies, private businesses and consumers that their app is the one to help treat mental health issues.  Just one problem. There is only (at this time in January 2025) that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration allows the smartphone Rejoyn app to be recognized as a treatment for depression.   And you need a prescription for it.   Everything else in the mental health market place needs to be seriously evaluated by consumers to see if what is offered is acceptable to you and supports your treatment goals..   This is an overview of some of the things you should know if you decide to use an app. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned:  Psychology Today post on AI Chatbots for Mental Health: Opportunities and Limitations   The Conversation page on Your AI therapist is not your therapist: The dangers of relying on AI mental health chatbots   NPR Report on Rejoyn Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

The medical term for this is called bruxism. It is when a person grinds, gnash or clench your teeth and jaw bone. We are going to have a lot more people doing this in the year to come.    This is a pebble in the road on the condition and resources you can use to help you make decision about your health. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned:  The Johns Hopkins Medicine site has an explainer about Bruxism that talks about who is at risk, the causes and treatment options.    American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has a page on Understanding the relationship between bruxism and stress.    Open Path Psychotherapy Collective helps folks locate therapists that agree to a sliding fee payments for services. You can filter for those things that you would want in a therapist. Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

Agoraphobia is the fear of being away from a safe place. People with agoraphobia have trouble being in certain types of public places. They also have problems with enclosed areas that don't seem to have an escape path. There are people that do just fine traveling only to a home, the store, work and maybe the church. Anything more than that causes them distress.    There are people that cannot ride a bus or the subway. It is the fear of being trapped without an escape. Then you have people that cannot leave their homes or they can only do so with someone accompany them.    In this episode a quick look at the condition, some of the symptoms and resources to get you started on your recovery journey. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned:  National Library of Health MedlinePlus page on Agoraphobia   National Institute of Mental Health booklet on Panic Disorders HelpGuide.org page on Agoraphobia, this will be a long and detailed account of the condition. Psychology Today has a directory of mental health providers. You can search by city or zip code.   ADAA.org has an online Peer to Peer support portal. It is a meeting place for people with a variety of anxiety conditions, including people that have agoraphobia. You do have to join the group and abide by the group guidelines.     Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

We have to be a lot more careful about the apps we put on our phones and tablets. In the entrepreneurial app space, there are a lot of apps that claim to be mental health or wellness apps. Many now have AI slapped on their covers.  At this time, AI is a collection of words, stolen data and snatched public domain text to make it seem like it can answer a question.   It can't. The response you get is a gussied up form of pattern matching. There is no intelligence or thinking from the app. That doesn't mean that the contraption can or can't help you.   It does mean that you need to be aware of your needs. You should start to have a baseline of what a mental health the app can do for you.     There are going to be a lot more apps being released in 2025. We need to build an understanding of what is and is not acceptable in a so-called mental health or wellness app.   In case you are new here, I do not accept advertising, affiliate links or other forms of compensation. This is my subjective opinion of what I perceived from the experience.   In this episode a quick look at the Zenora app. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned:  Per the website, the Zenora app provides mental health wellness support via a a mood and emotion tracker, a journal function and cognitive behavioral health information. The Knock Off Therapy Blog has a free PDF/paper based tracker and the information on how to use it to track your what is going on with you. Please be aware that you have to subscribe to AJ's newsletter to get the tracker. But you could also read the post to see if it is a good match for you.   The Rootd for Panic Attacks and Anxiety app has many of the same things that Zenora has but there is a specific focus on anxiety and panic attacks. There are short and long term lessons, breathing practices, nature sound and other items. This is a subscription service.   Unstuck CBT Therapy Journal has tracking features, a thought journal, examples of thinking traps and other doo-dads that you can use to track your feelings and thinking patterns. Disclaimer:  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Once upon a time I had this guy call me on Thanksgiving day to sell his carpet cleaning service. He probably thought is was a good idea, everybody would be home. Probably had that 100 calls mentality.  I was not joyful or merry when I got that call. I did not curse him out. I reminded him that it was Thanksgiving day. The call ended shortly after that statement.   For some of us, this is the start of enforced joy and merriment. The imperative to buy, buy and buy some more.    I want for you a different imperative. To take care of yourself as best you can. Watch what you eat and drink. And if you are prone to having alcoholic drinks, make sure you also gulp down plain water for brain hydration.    Or you could, embrace the mocktail life. Just a thought.   Balance your sweets with actual veggies and fruits.  Don't indulge in toxicity from media or other sources. Say "Thank you" if it helps you to get out of the store faster.    Our goal is to get to January 2, 2025. And then we get ready to meet the next challenge.    If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project for LGBTQ+ folks at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned:  Online Vendors U.S.    Certainly can find it via Amazon, Kobo, Abe's for used books and the Barnes and Noble website Online Vendor UK    I found it on the Waterstones Books website.   Online Vendor    Australia Hachette Australian book site.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

EFT Tapping, that takes me back a couple of years. Back when there was limited 240x 120 size video on websites. My symptoms were really bad that that time. I tried to make sense of it. I couldn't. Not with a 56k modem.   I quickly moved on to other possible help sources. About a year ago, I saw a EFT Tapping video. I tried it out. It did work for me if I was on the edge of an attack. Not so much if I have a big hella whopper of one, but that might be just me.    This time, I went looking for answers.   I did find some. Not enough to satisfy folks on the medical evidence-based  side of the fence.    But in-between the hooey and the functional components is a way of feeling better without risk to the body or the wallet.   This technique has been infused with cognitive therapy, meditation and affirmations. Those things do work. It might not work for everyone. But there are folks that have found relief practicing FTF Tapping.   You couldn't get some of those same people go to a meditation class but they are doing a meditative practice and not know it. That is ok.   So here is the thing. Check out the videos. Read the views at Skeptic's Dictionary & Quackwatch. Read a couple of pages from the EFT manual.    You might decide that the technique works for you. Or you decide it is a bunch of junk pseudoscience. Both things can be true.    It is up to you to decide if you want to add it to your anxiety tool kit. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255. Or for LGBTQ folks, The Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned:  Contrary Views of Emotional Freedom Techniques   Skeptic's Dictionary gives a very detailed page about the creators, the practice and the site owners thoughts about the technique. There is also a comments page where folks go deep.   Quackwatch is a website that since 1996 takes a very critical look at claims made regarding questionable health treatments. There is a page on the website that has a few thoughts about EFT. The section on EFT is toward the bottom of the site. Positive Views of Emotional Freedom Techniques: The BBC did a video story about the technique, How Tapping Therapy Can Help Calm Your Mind.   The non-profit Kaiser Permanete page on Emotional Freedom Technique   Gary Craig original site was www.emofree.com now re-directs to Palace of Possibilities.    The EFT International Free Tapping Manual This is a 66-page PDF explaining the concepts of the practice and how to go about it.    Videos:   Nick Ortner Tapping Techniques on YouTube - please be aware that you will see the tapping techniques but the Ortner family does have goods and services for sale.   EFT Tapping for Anxiety   Ten Minute Tapping Meditation for Anxiety, Stress and Worry Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

It has been a few days and some of us are struggling hard. I want to give just a few ideas on how to deal with Class A, what the heck kind of pain is this?   For this space in time, find a moment to just be. For some of us, disassociation is not a bad thing. I don't recommend it for a day-to-day experience but if it gets you to the store and back, score.   For other, you might have a crying jag or two. It is okay. I understand.    When you are ready, we will start again and work our way to better health. In the meantime, don't be ground down.    Don't give your time and attention it to the assholes. Keep it moving in a positive direction.   Monitor your news flow. I'd suggest you go cold turkey on it, but that is just me.   Stay with the basics, eat, bathe and find your internal safe place.   If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255.   The Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

Seems like everybody is catching a little hell. We need to do something about that. Chip at that rock. For folks that are going through Postpartum Depression, there are resources that can help you get through the challenges of having this disorder. This is a short episode that list two or three resources, depending on how you count them on contacting assistance. If I find more, I'll add them to the resource lists or create another episode. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned:  Postpartum Support International has a helpline, a provider directory and community to assist folks with the condition.   PSI also has a page for Queer/Trans parents experiencing postpartum depression.     The site has an app that provides access to information, the helplines and the a community that truly understands the problems of folks that experience PPD or miscarriage.   PSI App via the Apple Store   PSI App via the Google Play Store   National Maternal Mental Health Hotline. Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262). This is a  24/7, free, confidential hotline is for pregnant women and new moms. Counselors speak both English and Spanish. TTY users can use a preferred relay service or dial 711 and then 1-833-852-6262.   The U.S. Office of Women's Health has a PDF Guide to Identifying Support for Postpartum Depression. Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

With attacks on mom and non-mothers, it is easy to forget there are dads that might need assistance too. Giving birth can be a challenging experience.  There are anxiety conditions that can occur because of pregnancy. In this very short episode, I have a resource from Postpartum Support International (PSI) that might be helpful to the fellas that are finding themselves on the Anxiety Road. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned:  Postpartum Support International (PSI) has a page specifically for dads needing assistance with anxiety or depression generated by pregnancy or birth of a child.   There is also a telephone helpline in English and Spanish 800-944-4773, or you can text help to the same number. The helpline is operational from 8am to 11pm Eastern time.   I also has an app that can help parents access help and support as well as a community that understands issues related to the condition. You can find it at the Apple or Google Play App Stores.   Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 

There are a lot of books about anxiety, stress and related conditions. There is junk, AI junk, books that don't work for you and the ones that can change your life. The book You Will Get Through This; A Mental Health Tool Kit may or may not work for you.  But you won't know until you first know about it and read a sample chapter. The book is written by two psychologists and a licensed professional counselor.   The style is clear and they get to the point with good suggestions.  If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned:  You Will Get Through This; A Mental Health Tool Kit—Help for Depression, Anxiety, Grief, and More by Julie Radico, Nicole Helverson, Charity O'Reilly published by The Experiment Publishing.    You can read the table of contents, introduction and a sample chapter that I found on the book page at Kobo.com  Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

In this episode, I want to do a dive into what you should know before buying a book on anxiety support or treatment. Depending on how and where you get that book, there could be a certain amount of misrepresentation.    The topics in this episode include Private Label Release/White Label books, personal narratives and self-help/support and workbooks. One of my goals for 2025 is find current books that help specific populations.    The music for this week's show is from Logan at www.musicformakers.com. I mispronounced the name of the website and had to take it out.   Wee bit of housekeeping.    I am a real person. This is a 95% human generated podcast. I do use search engines. Many of them now have embed AI features. I write my own scripts and use an image editor that to my knowledge, doesn't use AI (yet). I use a company called Auphonic that does have AI sound cleaning features.    Long time listeners know I need all the help I can get in regard to sound quality.   I need to say all of that because there is now technology that an AI generated audio show hosted by two non-human AI voices. That podcast can be created and uploaded in about 20ish minutes.    There are humans that subscribe to that service. Mainly for income generation. More podcasts, more access to advertiser money.    For those of you new here, I do not accept ads, affiliate deals or influencer perks. I don't do interviews for free or for profit. Not saying I'll never do it but I haven't in 8 years so yeah, that is a thing.   If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.   Resources Mentioned:  Descriptive Personal Narrative Resource: Scott Stossel's My Age of Anxiety Self Help, Support & Workbooks:  You Will Get Through This: A Mental Health Tool Kit―Help for Depression, Anxiety, Grief, and More by Julie Radico PsyD, Charity O'Reilly LPC, Nicole Helverson PsyD Combo Personal Narrative & Self-Help/Support:  From Stuck to Unstuck: Break Free from the OCD & Anxiety Loop Using the Triple-A Response® and Take Back Control of Your Life by Matthew Codde LCSW. There is a website with information about the book. There is also a podcast that talks about mental health issues. Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

A quick pebble in the road on those in the population that know what a party line is, not to be confused with the groove line and the collective horrors of swallowing Cod Liver Oil. Anxiety does not have an age limit or time out feature. Age doesn't necessarily protect you from having an anxiety condition.    This is just a brief look at some of the things you should consider if you are take a swig to deal with your symptoms.   P.S, really not a good idea.   If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned:  The U.S. National Institute on Aging has a facts information page about aging and alcohol.   The (UK) Royal College of Psychiatrists on Alcohol, Mental Health and the Brain   The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Mental Health in Canada page on Alcohol Use in Older Adults   And from the U.S. Veterans Health Library, Unhealthy Alcohol and Drug Use and Mental Health, this has the breakdown on how much an adult can drink in a day.  Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.