Saint Dymphna’s Playbook

Tommy talks about processing childhood trauma as an adult, introduces listeners to Saint Joachina Vedruna de Mas, and answers listener questions about how to avoid seeking reassurance from family and friends, how to cope with anticipatory grief, and how to cope with all the emotions in the days following a traumatic event. Get the Saint Dymphna's Playbook Book: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/st-dymphnas-playbook. Use code "BEWELL" for 25% off.

Tommy talks about the increase in children seeking mental health services in schools, introduces listeners to Blessed Angelina of Marsciano, and answers listener questions about how to set boundaries with a manipulative family member who lives close by, if OCD is a spiritual attack that needs to be renounced, and what teachers can do to regain a sense of safety in the wake of another tragic school shooting. Get the Saint Dymphna's Playbook Book: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/st-dymphnas-playbook. Use code "BEWELL" for 25% off.

Tommy talks about the impact of sleep deprivation on the mental health of teens, introduces listeners to Saint Ignatius of Laconi, and answers listener questions about how to address caregiver burnout, how to help a friend with religious OCD, and how to address symptoms of hit and run OCD. Get the Saint Dymphna's Playbook Book: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/st-dymphnas-playbook. Use code "BEWELL" for 25% off.

Tommy talks about Metallica starting a mental health conversation, introduces listeners to Venerable Pierre Toussaint, and answers listener questions about how to maintain a friendship with someone we love, if mental illness can be a reason to receive communion at home, and how to help a teen who has experienced trauma. Get the Saint Dymphna's Playbook Book: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/st-dymphnas-playbook. Use code "BEWELL" for 25% off.

Tommy talks about bias in mental health research, introduces listeners to Saint Leopold Mandic, and answers listener questions about accepting limitations related to our mental health, if missing Mass because of depression is a sin, and how to understand body positivity and increase awareness of eating disorders within the Catholic context.

Tommy talks about the the practical limits of mental health apps, introduces listeners to Blessed Michael Giedroyc, and answers listener questions about how to reconcile our spirituality and mental health, how to sort out which spiritual practices will be right for us in light of our mental health, and how to understand a parent's role in the mental health of their children. Get the Saint Dymphna's Playbook Book: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/st-dymphnas-playbook. Use code "BEWELL" for 25% off.

Tommy talks about the growing recovery community on TikTok, introduces listeners to Saint Pedro de San José Betancur, and answers listener questions about being angry at God after a miscarriage, how to cope with Hyperemesis gravidarum, and how to work through workplace trauma. Get the Saint Dymphna's Playbook Book: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/st-dymphnas-playbook. Use code "BEWELL" for 25% off.

Tommy talks about a task force recommended screening for anxiety starting at age 8, introduces listeners to Saint Conrad of Parzham, and answers listener questions about how to help a child diagnosed with alopecia, how a person with strong religious convictions can navigate being a therapist, and how to tackle procrastination. Get the Saint Dymphna's Playbook Book: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/st-dymphnas-playbook. Use code "BEWELL" for 25% off.

Tommy talks about a recent Facebook ad from the US Bureau of Prisons, introduces listeners to Blessed Peter Gonzalez, and answers listener questions about how to grieve in the midst of a grieving family, how to respond to priests who stigmatize those of us with mental illness, and how to approach talking about our mental health in confession. Get the Saint Dymphna's Playbook Book: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/st-dymphnas-playbook. Use code "BEWELL" for 25% off.

Tommy talks about Selena Gomez ditching social media for her mental health, introduces listeners to Saint Crescentia Hoss, and answers listener questions about the connections between mental health and Theology of the Body, how to help a family member with Alcohol Use Disorder, and how to approach a situation with someone suffering from delusional thoughts at Mass. Get the Saint Dymphna's Playbook Book: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/st-dymphnas-playbook. Use code "BEWELL" for 25% off.

Tommy talks about the positive power of music, introduces listeners to Saint Stephen of Mar Saba, and answers listener questions about how to cope with anxiety over the war in Ukraine, how to manage mental wellbeing while living through infertility, and how to find good mental health after leaving an abusive relationship. Get the Saint Dymphna's Playbook Book: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/st-dymphnas-playbook. Use code "BEWELL" for 25% off.

Tommy talks about the importance of supporting our teenage daughters in their mental and emotional wellbeing, introduces listeners to Saint Nicholas Owen, and answers listener questions about Tourette's Syndrome, the practice of memento mori if we also experience suicidal ideation, and how to navigate boundaries with toxic family members. Get the Saint Dymphna's Playbook Book: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/st-dymphnas-playbook. Use code "BEWELL" for 25% off.

Tommy talks about and prays for a college athlete who recently died by suicide, introduces listeners to Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer, and answers listener questions about the experience of long-term grief, how to help a child with intrusive suicidal thoughts, and how we should understand diminished responsibility when it comes to those who have died by suicide. Get the Saint Dymphna's Playbook Book: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/st-dymphnas-playbook. Use code "BEWELL" for 25% off.

Tommy talks about why it's so hard to get connected to mental health care, introduces listeners to Saint John Ogilvie, and answers listener questions about how we should react to Kanye West's very public walk with mental health symptoms, how to handle the reality of religious life not always seeming open to those with mental illness, and if it's okay to miss Mass because of our mental health.

Tommy talks about how to take care of our mental health during the war in Ukraine, introduces listeners to Blessed Daniel Brottier, and answers listener questions about how to talk to someone who has experienced trauma, how to help someone living in an abusive relationship, and whether there are any saints who grew up in abusive childhood homes. Get the Saint Dymphna's Playbook Book: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/st-dymphnas-playbook

Tommy talks about why it's so hard to have quality mental health care for our incarcerated sisters and brothers, introduces listeners to Saint Joseph of Leonissa, and answers listener questions about intergenerational trauma, how to start a conversation on mental health within a religious community, and the practical steps we can take to help ourselves and others walk through emotional distress.

Tommy talks about the problem of misdiagnosis in children of color, introduces listeners to Blessed William Carter, and answers listener questions about the role of exorcism in a Catholic understanding of mental illness, how kids with mental health symptoms can find hope and support in the saints, and how to help a loved one in the midst of a panic attack.

Tommy talks about the continued impact of Simone Biles on the mental health of athletes, introduces listeners to Saint Charles of Sezze, and answers listener questions about how to cope with anticipatory grief, how to understand sin and culpability in relation to compulsive behaviors, and how to help a spouse seek help when they aren't motivated. Saint Dymphna's Playbook Book: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/st-dymphnas-playbook

Tommy talks about the psychological reasons for the popularity of Wordle, introduces listeners to Saint Mary Angela Truszkowska, and answers listener questions about if we should share about our mental health on social media, the pain caused by gender dysphoria not being taken seriously in our church, how early childhood abuse can impact the emotional health of men in adulthood. Saint Dymphna's Playbook Book: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/st-dymphnas-playbook Get 25% off when you use the code BEWELL to purchase the book through Ave Maria Press!

Tommy talks about how physical exercise improves depression, introduces listeners to Saint Angela Merici, and answers listener questions about how to know if we're actually sorry for our sins, how to recognize and fight back against imposter syndrome, and how to be okay with unplugging from all the bad news.

Tommy talks about the new mental health startup led by Simone Biles, introduces listeners to Saint Sabbas, and answers listener questions about how to find peace when we still haven't found our vocation, how to know when a spouse isn't interested in rebuilding a relationship, and how to work through irrational and baseless fears about our spouse cheating on us. The Saint Dymphna's Playbook Book is HERE! Order yours now: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/st-dymphnas-playbook

Tommy talks about research into a blood test hoping to help with diagnosing mood disorders, introduces listeners to Blessed Rafal Chylinski, and answers listener questions about how to respond when someone suggests that a mental illness might be demonic possession, how to have difficult conversations with our young children, and how to battle feelings of shame and guilt when recovering from addiction.

Tommy talks about the importance of supporting the mental health of kids and young adults, introduces listeners to Saint James of the Marches, and answers listener questions about how to find healing after an affair, what to do when sitting in silence makes us feel anxious, and how to walk with a child who has questions about gender identity.

Tommy talks about Selena Gomez's new mental health venture, introduces listeners to Blessed Eustochium of Padua, and answers listener questions about how to help someone after you've referred them to counseling, how to help a family member who doesn't want help, and how to support a partner who is experiencing religious OCD.

Tommy talks about Pope Francis' prayer intention for the month of November, introduces listeners to Saint Agnes of Assisi, and answers listener questions about how the experience of trauma might impact our ability to meditate on the wounds of Christ, how to know when we might need medication for anxiety, and how to respond when our parish hands out a pamphlet that gets it wrong on suicide. The Saint Dymphna's Playbook Book is HERE! Order yours now: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/st-dymphnas-playbook

Tommy talks about how to create a personal plan for times of crisis, introduces listeners to Saint Margaret of Scotland, and answers listener questions about how to recognize if a therapist is bad or unethical, how to cope with not being on the same page in marriage, and how to support a friend who is contemplating suicide while still taking care of ourselves.

Tommy talks about the why God would allow us to suffer from mental illness, introduces listeners to Saint Gertrude the Great, and answers listener questions about how to cope with anxiety-caused nightmares, how to help a daughter experiencing symptoms related to PTSD, and how to engage in our faith when we feel like our local parish isn't doing enough to keep us safe.

Tommy talks about the how to use social media in a way that protects our mental health, introduces listeners to Blessed Bartholomew of Vicenza, and answers listener questions about how to maintain our mental health when the news is so negative, how we should deal with our consumer-driven society as Catholics, and how a Godparent can help a a child with autism grow closer to Christ. The Saint Dymphna's Playbook Book is HERE! Order yours now: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/st-dymphnas-playbook

Tommy talks about how to stop comparing ourselves to those around us, introduces listeners to Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez, and answers listener questions about the difference between scrupulosity and genuine spiritual concern, how to help a family member understand that mental illness isn't about being weak, and how often a couple should have a big check-in conversation to make sure they're on the same page. Exciting news! Tommy wrote a Saint Dymphna's Playbook BOOK, which comes out November 5th. Born out of this podcast, the book serves as a more in-depth guide to finding mental and emotional well-being through a therapeutic approach combined with Catholic faith and spiritual practice. Learn more and pre-order here: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/st-dymphnas-playbook

Tommy talks about the how to get our prayer life back on track in the context of mental health symptoms, introduces listeners to Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, and answers listener questions about how the Church can better love people when mental health struggles impact their faith, how to address the need to walk out of Mass due to anxiety, and how to cope with a roommate who may have Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Exciting news! Tommy wrote a Saint Dymphna's Playbook BOOK, which comes out November 5th. Born out of this podcast, the book serves as a more in-depth guide to finding mental and emotional well-being through a therapeutic approach combined with Catholic faith and spiritual practice. Learn more and pre-order here: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/st-dymphnas-playbook

Tommy talks about the idea of wanting to see a Catholic therapist, introduces listeners to Blessed Claudio Granzotto, and answers listener questions about how to take care of our mental health with all the bad news around us, why those of us with ADHD seem to engage in impulsive behavior, and how to help those around us understand our mental health experience and needs. Exciting news! Tommy wrote a Saint Dymphna's Playbook BOOK, which comes out November 5th. Born out of this podcast, the book serves as a more in-depth guide to finding mental and emotional well-being through a therapeutic approach combined with Catholic faith and spiritual practice. Learn more and pre-order here: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/st-dymphnas-playbook

Tommy talks about Apple's plan to use iPhones to screen for depression, introduces listeners to Saint Giles, and answers listener questions about how families can cope with military deployment, how teachers can avoid burnout, and how to recognize when a therapist might not be a good fit. Exciting news! Tommy wrote a Saint Dymphna's Playbook BOOK, which comes out November 5th. Born out of this podcast, the book serves as a more in-depth guide to finding mental and emotional well-being through a therapeutic approach combined with Catholic faith and spiritual practice. Learn more and pre-order here: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/st-dymphnas-playbook

Tommy talks about a mental health app created by college students, introduces listeners to Saint Rose of Viterbo, and answers listener questions about how to grow close to the Church when the Church triggers feelings around past trauma, how veterans can process the news happening overseas, and how to recognize and cope with vicarious trauma brought on by our work.

Tommy talks about the 988 mental health crisis line getting funded in California, introduces listeners to Saint Joseph Calasanz, and answers listener questions about how help a friend who is overwhelmed by the need to be perfect, how to cope with intrusive thoughts around God and the afterlife, and how to find peace in a Church that's sadly the very place of our trauma.

Tommy talks about the Illinois law allowing children to take mental health days from school, introduces listeners to Saint Joan of the Cross, and answers listener questions about how to help a friend in his journey with his wife's diagnosis, how to honor one's father and mother while setting boundaries at the same time, and how to recognize and cope with anxiety related to climate change.

Tommy talks about online counseling services, introduces listeners to Saint Cajetan, and answers listener questions about how to approach a conversation about the future considering symptoms of OCD, how to support a friend facing infidelity, and the importance of mental health and wellness for caregivers.

Tommy talks about the differences between therapy and spiritual direction, introduces listeners to Blessed Stanley Rother, and answers listener questions about how the faith relates to Overeaters Anonymous, how to approach confession when it leaves us feeling like we did something wrong, and how to understand mental health and marital harmony in the context of the Church's teaching on Natural Family Planning.

Tommy talks about involuntary psychiatric hospitalizations, introduces listeners to Saint Sharbel Makhlouf, and answers listener questions about how to respond to someone who says we use our mental health symptoms as a crutch, if we should pray for our abusers who have died, and how to interact with an adult child who identifies as transgender.

Tommy talks about the mental health considerations in interfaith marriages, introduces listeners to Saint Mary MacKillop, and answers listener questions about mental health medications increasing in dosage over time, how to approach an examination of conscience in the context of depression, and the connections between binge eating and OCD.

Tommy talks about the impact COVID-19 has had on postpartum depression for women of color, introduces listeners to Saint Veronica Giuliani, and answers listener questions about how to understand the words of Jesus about hating our lives, the ideas around co-sleeping with older children, and how to talk to a family member who needs help with anxiety.

Tommy talks about the therapeutic approach known as EMDR, introduces listeners to Blessed Jutta of Thuringia, and answers listener questions about how faith and feelings go together, how to navigate being asked to help at the parish when we don't feel good enough, and what forgiveness means in the context of healing after abuse.

Tommy talks about the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of extroverts, introduces listeners to Saint Albert Chmielowski, and answers listener questions about how to come to terms with a mental health diagnosis, the impact anger has on our health and spiritual wellbeing, and a new Vatican document that talks about mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Tommy talks about atypical symptoms of depression, introduces listeners to Blessed Yolanda of Poland, and answers listener questions about the feeling we have when a doctor suggests a medication for our mental health, if our job can be at risk simply because we seek out mental health treatment, and if we should avoid marriage and having kids because of our struggles with depression.

Tommy talks about racial disparities in diagnosing mental health experiences, introduces listeners to Blessed Franz Jägerstätter, and answers listener questions about how to deal with a family member who won't respect healthy boundaries, the effectiveness of intensive outpatient programs for anxiety, and how best to help a spouse who is living with an anxiety disorder.