Find Your Peace: An Open Discussion About Mental Health

We wrap up Season 1 of the Find Your Peace podcast on a bittersweet note, as co-host Martha Mather announces she is moving on to another important role. Martha and Dr. Stephen Taylor discuss the range of emotions we experience when we close one chapter to begin another.

As the saying goes, we are our own worst critic. Why is it that we can be so hard on ourselves? UofL Health - Peace Hospital's Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen Taylor talk about self-judgment and explain why it's important to go easy on yourself.

Making decisions can be difficult and can lead us to overthink things. But what is it exactly that causes us to think about something too much? UofL Health - Peace Hospital's Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen Taylor discuss strategies to control overthinking and the anxiety that may come with it.

You've heard the buzz—and it's getting louder—the constant reports of social media and its negative impacts on self-identity and mental health. So, how bad is it? UofL Health - Peace Hospital's Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen Taylor weigh in.

Self-image is the personal view we have of ourselves, but where exactly do we get the idea of who and what we are supposed to be? Does our self-image come from those we spend the most time with, like our parents and peers? Or is the idea of ourselves molded by our abilities and accomplishments? Does pop culture and social media play a role? UofL Health - Peace Hospital's Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen Taylor discuss the complexities tied to how we see ourselves.

UofL Health - Peace Hospital's Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen Taylor continue the conversation about complex relationships and dive deeper into abusive relationships. As they explain, abusive relationships don't always have to be physical. Relationships can be mentally and emotionally abusive too. Martha and Dr. Taylor discuss the warning signs of an abusive relationship and ways to get out safely. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you are in an abusive relationship, you can get 24/7 free, confidential support through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233

Some relationships with friends, family members and co-workers feel easy and effortless, while others are challenging and maintaining them feels like work. What is it that makes two people “click" or want to avoid each other altogether? UofL Health - Peace Hospital's Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen Taylor discuss the complexity of getting along.

Have you ever felt stuck emotionally? UofL Health - Peace Hospital's Dr. Stephen Taylor explains to Martha Mather that he's recently been feeling that way, but he realizes it's important to get those emotions moving. He says staying isolated and ignoring emotions can make things more difficult in the long run, so it's best to talk it out and get yourself emotionally unstuck.

The zombies, vampires, ghosts and goblins are gearing up to give people a good scare on their big night, Halloween. Even ahead of All Hallows' Eve, people are spooking themselves with a trip to a haunted house or to see a scary movie. But why is it that many of us enjoy the feeling of fear all in good fun? UofL Health - Peace Hospital's Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen Taylor explore reasons why playing with fear and suspense may be eerie-sistable for you Halloween lovers.

We are all a little narcissistic. That's what makes us competitive in the world, but when does that trait cross the line? UofL Health - Peace Hospital's Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen Taylor discuss the difference between healthy narcissism and pathological narcissism, and how narcissism affects individuals and those around them.

You've likely heard of a mental or psychotic break. You may even know someone who has suffered from one, and think to yourself, can anyone lose touch with reality? UofL Health - Peace Hospital's Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen Taylor take a deeper look at the state of psychosis and potential triggers.

Have you ever heard anyone say, "That person is neurotic" or "psychotic?" What do those terms actually mean? UofL Health – Peace Hospital's Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen Taylor discuss the mental state of psychosis and neurosis and explain what the difference is between the two.

What is bipolar disorder? How do you know if you or someone you care for is suffering from it? UofL Health - Peace Hospital's Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen Taylor talk about the highs and lows of bipolar disorder, the symptoms and treatments available to help manage it.

Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. In 2020, nearly 46,000 people in the U.S. died by suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Jaydee Graham—an author, social worker and former UofL Health - Peace Hospital patient—rejoins Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen Taylor to dive deeper into her past struggles with thoughts of suicide and actions of self-harm. Jaydee reveals how she overcame the darkness and learned how to heal the pain. She also offers advice to those struggling with their mental health and offers advice to their loved ones too.If you are having thoughts of suicide, reach out for help by calling 988.

Author, social worker and former UofL Health - Peace Hospital patient Jaydee Graham joins Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen Taylor to share her story of strength and survival. Jaydee openly talks about her past struggles with mental health and substance use, and how she fought for light amid the trenches.

Substance use disorders can affect anyone—regardless of age, gender, race or socioeconomic status. It is a disease that impacts a person's brain and behavior. According to the CDC, nearly 92,000 people in the U.S. died from drug overdoses in 2020. What is it exactly that causes someone to become addicted to a substance, why is it happening so frequently and why are substances taking so many lives? Peace Hospital's Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen Taylor discuss what we know about substance use disorder and the treatments out there that can help.

Life seems to surround a series of beginnings and endings that we often mark with rituals. For instance, celebrating the birth of a child with a party or grieving the loss of a loved one at a funeral. However, there are some things in life that provide no definite ending, like the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Wanting closure but not getting it can be frustrating and lead to unwanted feelings. In this conversation, UofL Health - Peace Hospital's Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen Taylor talk about our desire for closure and how to cope with that “up in the air” feeling.

Change can be hard to wrap your head around, especially as it's happening. Over the past two years, we have experienced enormous change while living in a global pandemic. How do we process change and cope with all that we've lost? Peace Hospital's Dr. Stephen Taylor says it starts with pushing away denial and allowing space for our feelings to surface.

Peace Hospital CEO Martha Mather is gearing up for a big overseas trip and is feeling anxious. It's the type of anxiety that can cause you to feel something physically, like a stomachache. Anxiety can take us on a roller coaster of emotions and can cause us to become obsessed with the “what if.” How do you face anxiety and the fears it causes? Psychiatrist Dr. Stephen Taylor provides some tips that you can take with you as you journey through life.

Peace Hospital CEO Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen Taylor continue the conversation about COVID-19 and the feeling of exhaustion as new variants cause spikes in cases. Will the continued practice of self-care help us mentally get through?

After crossing over into a two-year-long pandemic, Peace Hospital's Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen Taylor open up about the difficulties of staying empathetic and the stress the COVID-19 virus has put on their lives. Dr. Taylor believes everyone's' mental health has been impacted by a pandemic that has filled our lives with constant change and loss. After back-to-back years of dealing with bad news, how do we start healing and move forward?

Seven people were killed during a 4th of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois; 19 children and two teachers were killed at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, and 10 people were killed in a supermarket in Buffalo, New York. Those are just three of the latest mass shootings this year that have left our country broken-hearted and angry. Why do mass shootings keep happening in the United States, and how do we change the script? Martha and Dr. Taylor share their thoughts in another difficult conversation about gun violence.

Peace Hospital CEO Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen Taylor continue the conversation about teen mental health and the growing issue of gun violence. They explain that mental illness is not always at the center of acts of violence. So, how do we get to the bottom of the “why?" What is causing people, including our youth, to commit such horrific crimes? Dr. Taylor says finding the answer starts with realizing that gun violence has become a public health crisis and admitting that we are all part of the story.

Data shows struggles with anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts are on the rise among our youth. What is impacting our children's mental health? What role is social media playing? Peace Hospital's Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen. Taylor discuss the alarming trends and share advice with parents on identifying mental illness in children and getting them help.

What exactly is anxiety? What is the difference between excited anxious and anxiety disorder? What does it feel like to have an anxiety or panic attack? Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen Taylor talk about how most people experience true anxiety at some point in their lives. How do you face it and what are ways you can overcome it? Listen to this episode for anxiety advice.

What exactly is anxiety? What is the difference between excited anxious and anxiety disorder? What does it feel like to have an anxiety or panic attack? Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen Taylor talk about how most people experience true anxiety at some point in their lives. How do you face it? Hear what they have to say about all of this and more in this episode.

Has anyone ever told you “cheer up”, “you'll get over it”, “just be happy, “look on the bright side?" Toxic positivity is when someone constantly dismisses negative emotions. Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen Taylor talk about why pushing away difficult emotions can be damaging and why it's important to not leave them unresolved.

Why is there judgment against mental illness? Why is mental health so difficult for us to talk about? Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen Taylor discuss why stigma is such a powerful force and why it is vital to destigmatize mental health disorders.

Grief is a natural part of life, but it is one of the most challenging feelings we face. What causes us to grieve? How do we deal with grief? How do we grow from it? In this episode, UofL Health – Peace Hospital's Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen Taylor get deep about grief and share their experiences with one of life's heaviest emotions.

Welcome to the first episode of “Find your Peace: An Open Discussion About Mental Health with Martha Mather and Dr. Stephen Taylor.” In this episode, Martha and Dr. Taylor, of UofL Health – Peace Hospital, discuss what mental health is and why it's so hard to talk about it. What is trauma? How has our mental health been impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic? These are just a few topics they touch on in this casual conversation.

Psychiatrist Dr. Stephen Taylor and Martha Mather of UofL Health – Peace Hospital are hoping to break down the stigma of mental health by talking about the many different internal battles that many of us have faced, or are facing. Listen to their brief introduction and what you can expect along this emotional journey of understanding yourself and others around you.