Podcast appearances and mentions of alpha stim

In this episode, hosts Jessica and Kelly engage in a candid discussion about their personal lives, focusing on health, wellness, and midlife challenges. Jessica talks about her struggles with sleep due to her habit of binge-watching TV shows like Bridgerton and finding solace in reading before bed. She also mentions using an Alpha-Stim device and daily meditation to manage her anxiety and improve sleep quality. Kelly chimes in with her experiences, particularly the impact of screen time on her and her son's sleep and headaches, and the benefits of using blue light blocker glasses. The conversation also touches on the broader themes of balancing rest with productivity, and the challenges of loving oneself while striving for personal health improvements. They reference discussions from other content creators and experts on topics such as diet culture and health management.  Connect With Us:

Dr. Kelly Blodgett⁠ is a General Dentist, board certified in Naturopathic Medical Dentistry as well as Integrative Biological Dental Medicine. He's also certified through the ⁠International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology⁠. He's SMART certified and leader in Biological Dentistry. If you're looking for alternatives to a root canal or other serious dental procedures, this episode is for you. This episode is brought to you by my favorite toothpaste (code: ASHLEY15) and my favorite fish oil. 5:57: Afraid of the Dentist? Here's why you'll feel at ease with Dr. Blodgett Risks and benefits of [wisdom] teeth extraction ⁠L-PRF⁠ (Leukocyte-Platelet Rich Fibrin) ⁠Acupuncture Meridian Assessment⁠ (EAV) Dr. Vol from Germany // ⁠Energy Meridians⁠ Neural Therapy⁠, ⁠ozone⁠, and ⁠vitamin C⁠ Dr. Boyd Haley University of Kentucky⁠ (breast cancer + root canal link) (⁠Another article about Dr. Haley⁠) (⁠YouTube video of Dr. Haley⁠) Curing the Incurable⁠ Hidden Epidemic⁠ Constant Bladder Infections? ⁠Bubble and Bee Toothpaste⁠ (Code: ASHLEY15) 3D Cone Beam⁠ DDE Laser (⁠Diode lasers⁠: a necessity for modern Dentistry) Papilloma removed with zero bleeding ⁠ozone therapy⁠ pub med ⁠NovaThor Bed⁠ ⁠Intraoral scanning⁠ ⁠CREC⁠ (⁠YouTube video⁠) ⁠Alpha Stim⁠ (treatment for anxiety and nervous patients) ⁠Vitamin C IV Drip⁠ (⁠What's Wrong with Ascorbic Acid?⁠)⁠ PUR-C⁠ (medical grade vitamin C) ⁠The Dental Diet⁠ ⁠Gut by Dr. Julia Enders⁠ Where to find Dr. Kelly Blodgett Website (Contact Us form) Instagram YouTube Facebook Phone:  (971) 251-1677

John Crossman has spoken of his friend Thomas Bolen as a superstar. Yet Thomas was going through a dark time, and he found help that was much need. Click on this link for more info on Alpha Stim - https://alpha-stim.com/

Dr. Kelly Blodgett is a General Dentist, board certified in Naturopathic Medical Dentistry as well as Integrative Biological Dental Medicine. He's also certified through the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. He's SMART certified and leader in Biological Dentistry. He's also one of the kindest spirits I've had the pleasure of meeting. I cannot emphasize enough how remarkable and cutting edge his dentistry methods truly are. I hope you enjoy this episode! 5:57: Afraid of the Dentist? Here's why you'll feel at ease with Dr. Blodgett. 12:32: Heart palpatations? 28:00: Risks and benefits of [wisdom] teeth extraction 30:59: L-PRF (Leukocyte-Platelet Rich Fibrin) 34:07: Acupuncture Meridian Assessment (EAV) Dr. Vol from Germany // Energy Meridians Technologies: 35:23: Neural Therapy, ozone, and vitamin C 38:14: Dr. Boyd Haley University of Kentucky (breast cancer + root canal link) (Another article about Dr. Haley) (YouTube video of Dr. Haley) 41:39: Curing the Incurable 41:48: Hidden Epidemic 42:45: Constant Bladder Infections? 48:34: Bubble and Bee Toothpaste 51:34: My Dentist (Dr. Shewta Verma) 56:21: 3D Cone Beam 58:42: DDE Laser (Diode lasers: a necessity for modern Dentistry) 1:00:27: Papilloma removed with zero bleeding 1:02:27: ozone therapy pub med 1:03:29: NovaThor Bed 1:04:23: Intraoral scanning 1:05:00: CREC (YouTube video) 1:07:32: Alpha Stim (treatment for anxiety and nervous patients) 1:09:08: Vitamin C IV Drip (What's Wrong with Ascorbic Acid?) PUR-C (medical grade vitamin C) 1:10:40: The Dental Diet 1:11:40: Gut by Dr. Julia Enders 1:20:38: Fluoride is a neurotoxin 1:24:20: Essential oils 1:27:45: Mouthwash 1:28:26: Oil pulling 1:39:00: Dr Blodgett's Book! Dr. Kelly Blodgett Instagram Dr. Kelly Blodgett Facebook Dr. Kelly Blodgett YouTube Phone:  (971) 251-1677 Additional Links: https://www.instagram.com/blodgettdentalcare/ https://www.blodgettdentalcare.com/meet-the-doctors/ https://www.facebook.com/DrBlodgett/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPRQkcrYQM9xACTomNSP_Kg https://www.ashleydeeley.com/bubbleandbee

Raoul Piette and the alternative to Pain Medication, the "Alpha Stim"Alpha-Stim is a prescription technology that treats patients for pain, anxiety, and insomnia using cranial electrotherapy stimulation, or CES. 9 out of 10 patients achieve significant relief of 25% or better improvement from their symptoms, even when nothing else has worked for them. Over the past 35 years, the technology has been the subject of over 100 independent research studies and published reports that substantiate its efficacy. Most importantly, Alpha-Stim has NO significant side effects and can be used concurrently with traditional treatments, including psych meds. Almost all practitioners reported that they can reduce medications for their patients using Alpha-Stim.Alpha-Stim LA/OC/IE 714-815-5132rpiette@epii.comwww.alpha-stim.comElectromedical Products International, Inc.2201 Garrett Morris ParkwayMineral Wells, TX 76067USA1.800.FOR.PAIN (367.7246) in the USA & CanadaPhone: 940.328.0788LINKS:https://nonprofitarchitect.org/combat-vet-vision/https://www.facebook.com/iconutilityservices/photos/pcb.3282304212030773/3282304082030786/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqvd5sUEtC9xkm7ejGNK5Zw/featuredhttps://www.facebook.com/aqseiberthttps://www.facebook.com/CombatVetVisionEmail: Aqseibert@yahoo.comThe Warrior Built Foundation - https://warriorbuilt.org/The PTSD Foundation of America - https://ptsdusa.org/Virtual Office(Come see me) Virbella.comSponsorsSitch Radio - https://sitchradio.com/If you would like to become a sponsor or advertiser,Call Sitch Radio (714) 643-2500 X 1I part of the solution or the problem.PTSD FOA Warrior Group Chaptershttps://ptsdusa.org/about-us/chapters/

Raoul Piette and the alternative to Pain Medication, the "Alpha Stim"Alpha-Stim is a prescription technology that treats patients for pain, anxiety, and insomnia using cranial electrotherapy stimulation, or CES. 9 out of 10 patients achieve significant relief of 25% or better improvement from their symptoms, even when nothing else has worked for them. Over the past 35 years, the technology has been the subject of over 100 independent research studies and published reports that substantiate the efficacy. Most importantly, Alpha-Stim has NO significant side effects, and can be used concurrently with traditional treatments including psych meds. Almost all practitioners, reported that they can reduce medications for their patients using Alpha-Stim.Alpha-Stim LA/OC/IE 714-815-5132rpiette@epii.comwww.alpha-stim.comElectromedical Products International, Inc.2201 Garrett Morris ParkwayMineral Wells, TX 76067USA1.800.FOR.PAIN (367.7246) in the USA & CanadaPhone: 940.328.0788LINKS:https://nonprofitarchitect.org/combat-vet-vision/https://www.facebook.com/iconutilityservices/photos/pcb.3282304212030773/3282304082030786/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqvd5sUEtC9xkm7ejGNK5Zw/featuredhttps://www.facebook.com/aqseiberthttps://www.facebook.com/CombatVetVisionEmail: Aqseibert@yahoo.comThe Warrior Built Foundation - https://warriorbuilt.org/The PTSD Foundation of America - https://ptsdusa.org/Virtual Office(Come see me) Virbella.comSponsorsSitch Radio - https://sitchradio.com/If you would like to become a sponsor or advertiser Call Sitch Radio (714) 643-2500 X 1I part of the solution or the problem.PTSD FOA Warrior Group Chaptershttps://ptsdusa.org/about-us/chapters/

On this episode of Ask Christian Counseling Associates, join Dr. Rich Hoffman and special guest Rhys Thomas, from Electromedical Products International, as they discuss the issues surrounding treatment using psychiatric medication. Often, medications are prescribed as a first-line treatment for anxiety, depression, and trauma. Recent research brings into question the true effectiveness of these medications. Side effects and addiction from long-term use can be prevalent.  Alternative treatments, like Alpha-Stim, that are researched and effective are available.  Join us as we explore the question, “to medicate or not to medicate?

Mental health missionary Sarah Tatarski joins Alyssa on this week's episode to discuss options for when weekly outpatient therapy just isn't enough. Sarah discussed her experiences with alternative treatment options such as partial hospitalization programs, ketamine, and alpha-Stim. She also provides new perspectives on navigating some of the major flaws in the mental health system.   Sarah Tatarski's Instagram: @vulnerableandnotafraid  Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families Info on the Alpha-Stim device   Check out the Light After Trauma website for transcripts, other episodes, Alyssa's guest appearances, and more at: www.lightaftertrauma.com Want to get more great content and interact with the show? Check us out on Instagram: @lightaftertrauma We need your help! We want to continue to make great content that can help countless trauma warriors on their journey to recovery. So, please help us in supporting the podcast by becoming a recurring patron of the show via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lightaftertrauma You can also check out Alyssa at www.alyssascolari.com   Transcript: Alyssa Scolari: Hey everyone, this is just a quick note that Sarah wanted me to hop on and let you all know. Sarah's mom was not her abuser, so her father was an alcoholic and he was her main abuser when he was alive. Sarah and her mom have had an enmeshed relationship since she was young. Alyssa Scolari: That caused her mother to be a trauma trigger for her, so she just wanted me to come on and clarify that just so you can know who is who and didn't you know, think that somebody was her abuser when in fact they were not. Alyssa Scolari: So, I hope you enjoy this episode. Alyssa Scolari: Hi, everybody. Welcome back to another episode of the Light After Trauma podcast. I am your host, Alyssa Scolari, and we have a guest episode today. It is so rare that we have guests on the podcast these days, but there is a special person who I met just like Jennifer Burns, which Jennifer, if you haven't listened to older episodes, Jennifer is the woman who we talked about crystals, with and how crystals have been used and have helped her with her trauma recovery. Alyssa Scolari: I met Jennifer just because she was a podcast listener and we connected. And we started talking about a topic that we were really passionate about. And a similar thing has happened with today's guest. Her name is Sarah Tatarski. And I met Sarah basically, through the podcast. She was a listener of the podcast, reached out and we started talking via Instagram. Alyssa Scolari: Now, Sarah is an artist, an aspiring entrepreneur, a cat mom, and a mental health missionary. She recently graduated from college in May of 2021, and has been on a mission since then to work through her core wounds from childhood and early adult life. Alyssa Scolari: After four years of only doing CBT and feeling ready to be deeply challenged, she tried more intensive therapeutic approaches. These include trauma focused treatment centers, family therapy, EMDR, ketamine for major depressive disorder, and the use of a cranial electrotherapy stimulation device called Alpha-Stim. Alyssa Scolari: Sarah recently started a mental health focused Instagram called Vulnerable and Not Afraid, to share her recovery from trauma and educate people on other therapeutic options that have personally helped her. Now, we are talking about a really important topic today, and I know I say that shit every week. So, forgive my redundancy, but you know how I love all things, mental health. Alyssa Scolari: But I think that this is particularly, important because for the last two years on this podcast, we have spoken about therapy and treatment pretty much from like a standard outpatient setting. So, how to process things when you're going to therapy once a week or twice a week in your standard outpatient setting. And that isn't always enough. And there certainly, have been many times where it wasn't enough for me. And I know that there are many people out there that hasn't been enough for either including Sarah. Alyssa Scolari: So, we are talking about different treatment options for when you find yourself in a place where therapy once a week or twice a week is just not enough. So, with that said, I will stop talking and I'm going to turn it over to Sarah. Hi, Sarah, welcome to the podcast. Sarah Tatarski: Hello. I'm excited to be here. Alyssa Scolari: I'm really excited to have you. I know we were actually, supposed to record like a week ago, and then I had COVID and lost my voice and sounded like not even remotely myself. So, thank you for rescheduling and bearing with me. Let's start out by saying, or by me asking you, like, tell me what even makes you passionate about this? If you're comfortable, can you tell me about a little bit of your own experiences? Sarah Tatarski: Yeah, in regards to seeking mental health treatment or my trauma or all of it? What particularly? Alyssa Scolari: Yeah. I think, you have a lot of experience and knowledge on alternative forms of treatment. And so, I guess what my question would be is like, did you get to a certain point in your life where you were like, "Hey, just going to therapy once a week isn't enough for me?" How did you know what was going on in your life? Things like that. Sarah Tatarski: Yeah. So, I've had a couple different, I guess you could say breaking points in my life. The first one was March 2019, and I had to take a medical withdrawal from school, but I instantly, felt better not being in school. The stressors were gone. I said, "Okay, cool. I can manage this." Sarah Tatarski: And I trudged along December 2020 came, I had this dramatic memory that I didn't remember resurface. I was living back at home with my mom and I was just spiraling like crazy. And that's when my... The first time my therapist said, "Sarah, you need to go to this trauma center." And I said, "Eh, we'll see." I told her the memory finally. And then, I felt better again. Sarah Tatarski: And so, I just trudge along, trudge along and finished school. And then, I just completely fell apart because post grad depression is real. I don't think people talk about it enough. They're like, "It's so fun. Oh, my gosh, congrats." And I said, "I'm miserable. And I have no path anymore. And I don't know what the hell I'm doing." And a lot of my friends went through this too, especially us graduated in 2020 and 2021, we were so burnt out from COVID and the huge changes we had to go through. Sarah Tatarski: So, for me, I said, "Oh, I'm going to take a break." And that break turned into me, spiraling constantly. And it just got to a point in end of June where I was not really eating, I wasn't really sleeping. That same memory came nagging at my brain. And my therapist said, "You need to forego your income and just go to a trauma center." And I said, "Okay." Alyssa Scolari: Ah, that's a hard thing to hear. That's a really hard thing to hear. Sarah Tatarski: Yeah, it just got to the breaking point then. And I had moved back home again in May 2021 with my mom, which didn't realize back then, but she was a huge trigger, and I didn't quite grasp why she was. And until later after all these therapies I've done, but I was just absolutely miserable. And I said, "Okay, you know what? I'm finally going to do this. I have the ability to not work. I have really good insurance. I'm going to take advantage of this." Sarah Tatarski: And so, that was the line where I was, I'm just miserable every day in my life to the point where I don't know if I can lip. So, that was my breaking point in June 2021. Alyssa Scolari: So, you're saying like you were at that point where you were like, "I just don't even know if I want to be alive anymore? Like, my safety might be on the line? Sarah Tatarski: Yeah, I think we never struggled with SI, suicidal ideation much, but it was getting to that point where I just felt like, I don't know, can I go forward in life? And that's what motivated me to get different help and more intense help. Alyssa Scolari: Okay. So, I really appreciate that you said that, because I think it's very important to highlight that this country makes it seem like in order. I mean, I guess we can just also start out by saying that the system for higher levels of care, isn't the greatest, it's not the greatest. Alyssa Scolari: And so, on one hand, we shame people from talking about their suicidal thoughts, for fear of them getting locked up. But then, on the other hand, when people have suicidal thoughts, they are often told when they go to a hospital and they want treatment. They're often told, "Well, you actually, have to make an attempt," in order to be hospitalized or in order to not even just be hospitalized, but in order to eventually, get to a treatment center. Alyssa Scolari: So, I think it's really, important that you said, "You know what? I'm not necessarily suicidal. I'm not necessarily a danger to myself, but I'm not okay with the quality of life that I currently have. And therefore, I'm seeking alternative forms of treatment," because you don't have to get to a point where your life is on the line to decide, to seek different forms of treatment. I love that you said that. Sarah Tatarski: Yeah. And definitely, I didn't want to get to that point. And it was teetering between that. I've met friends at my trauma centers who are, have attempted, were attempting, got transferred from intensive care to where I was. And yeah, I don't think it's acknowledged enough that you don't have to be either attempt or actively, planning to seek help because I didn't want to get to that point. I never want to. And I hopefully, never will. Alyssa Scolari: You had mentioned a little while ago that you realized after different types of treatment, that your mom was a trigger for you. And one of the questions I have is, was it difficult for you to go to a treatment while living, because you had lived with your mom while doing some of this treatment, was it difficult to live with somebody who is a trigger while going to a treatment? Because I think a lot of people can probably, relate to that. Sarah Tatarski: Yeah, it was a whole another challenge. I'm in my trauma for, let's see, the first trauma center I went to, I was there from 9:00 to 4:00 p.m. I did therapy three times a week individually. We had groups all day, trauma groups, four times a week and relapse prevention, which was incredible, which by the way, I had no idea what relapse prevention was. And I said, "I don't do drugs." Sarah Tatarski: So, I just laughed it off until I got there and said, "Oh, I have a lot of toxic behaviors that are not related to alcohol or any kinds of other drugs." So, life changing. Alyssa Scolari: Yes. Sarah Tatarski: But just doing that all day and having the realizations that I was having. And then, I come home... And by the way, I didn't mention this. I'm in my childhood house where I experienced my trauma, and that is where I'm living right now. Alyssa Scolari: Oh, my... Okay. Sarah Tatarski: That's a whole another level of, I'm living with a trigger, I'm living in a trigger, and I came home every day and I'm like, "Ah." I'm like running around, like a chicken with its head cut off. I'm freaking out. I can't ground myself. I can't focus on my treatment. And the only relief I got was when I stayed with my friend for a whole week and I was like, "Oh." I can come back, and I just lay in bed. I'm like, "I'm so happy and relaxed." But it was extremely challenging. I don't recommend it. I recommend anyone doing what I did. Alyssa Scolari: Yeah. Sarah Tatarski: I mean, living with your trigger and living in the house you were abused. I recommend trauma treatment. Absolutely. Of course, I wouldn't be on here otherwise recommending it. But it made the process that much harder because there was a point, I told my therapist, I said, "I just want to be a prostitute right now. And move out of my house." And he's like, "Sarah, no." And I'm like, "But that's how I feel." And he said, "I'm not going to act on it." Sarah Tatarski: But that's how overwhelmed I am right now. It's like, I will do anything to get out of my house. Of course, I never acted on it. But that's the thought... Alyssa Scolari: Right. So, the point where... Sarah Tatarski: ... that happened. Alyssa Scolari: ... you're considering. Yeah, you're considering like prostitution or sex work to get out. You're like, "I will do whatever I have to get out of this place." Sarah Tatarski: Which is, there's nothing wrong with sex work. It's just not my... I have too much trauma to engage in that field sex workers. You'll do whatever you want. But yeah, that's just to the point. I was so vulnerable that that's what I was just willing to do. And that's not healthy situation to be in. Alyssa Scolari: I mean, right, exactly. It would be ideal. Again, like you said, there's no issue with sex workers. It's feeling like you're trapped and you're backed into a corner to the point where your only way out is considering an option that you know would be retraumatizing for you. That's when you know all the alarm bells are sounding, you're like, "Okay, I need to do something here." Sarah Tatarski: Exactly. Yeah, it was very intense. Alyssa Scolari: So, then can you talk a little bit about, I guess, let's go in specifically, like where should we start? What type of treatment did you start with? Because I know you've done a couple of different things. Sarah Tatarski: Yeah, there were a lot of things I've done the past year. So, I'll just briefly summarize. And then, if you want to ask more specific questions, we can go from there. But the first thing that I did was in July 2021, I went to a partial hospitalization program at a trauma center here in New Orleans called River Oaks, recommended fully. Sarah Tatarski: So, I wasn't living there. I was there from 9:00 to 4:00 like I had mentioned. You're just there during the day, you don't live in the hospital. It's scary inside. I would not want to... Not wanting to stay there. I did not want to stay there. But... Alyssa Scolari: Scary like hospital setting type like? Sarah Tatarski: Yes, it was cold and there were not a lot of lights, and you went outside or not a lot of windows, and you went outside for like 20 minutes a day. It was like jail. So... Alyssa Scolari: Yes, so many partial hospitalizations, like programs are like that. I've been to one myself and it feels like jail. And I'm like, "Why aren't these a little bit happier? You're trying to help people with their mental health, why do we feel like we're locked up?" Sarah Tatarski: Exactly. So, I did that. And then, once I was done with that program, I started seeing a therapist for EMDR. And then, in December 2021, I went to a residential treatment program called Innova Grace in San Antonio, Texas. And I was doing a lot of EMDR there. I used the [inaudible 00:14:40] bed. I used the Alpha-Stim, which I'm wearing right now, like I mentioned earlier. Sarah Tatarski: And after that, continued to do EMDR, that's what I'm doing with my therapist right now. I started ketamine for major depressive disorder. And now, I'm using the Alpha-Stim again. And forgot to mention on top of that, the past, however many months it's been since August 2021. So, nine months, I've been in family therapy. Sarah Tatarski: So, I'm doing 10 different therapies. And also, I recently, joined Adult Children of Alcoholics group and dysfunctional family. So, I've been going to that support group about every two weeks to every week. So, if you want me to expand on all of that, that's a lot of different treatments that I just mentioned. So, happy to talk about any of it in more detail. Alyssa Scolari: Yes, I have questions. I think the first question is, how did you end up getting involved in, especially in a post COVID world, in Adult Children of Alcoholic support group, because I think that there are many people out there who are listening, who would be very interested in that. Sarah Tatarski: Yeah. So, there are always meetings everywhere in the country and world at all times. And a lot of them are on Zoom now, too, which is great. So, you can just hop on Zoom at any time. And for me, I prefer in-person group. So, I go to the one at the church near my house at 5:00 p.m. on Sundays. Sarah Tatarski: And the way to get involved is to just go to their website, look up Adult Children of Alcoholic/dysfunctional families. And if you want to go to in-person meeting, you can just look up your town and see where it is. And if you don't want to go in-person, you can join literally any group, like from what I've seen online, probably, at least half of them are hybrid. Sarah Tatarski: So, you can go in-person if you want, you can go in Zoom if you want. But oh, when they read the laundry list, I don't know if you've ever read that. It's the 14 traits that you can have as an adult with having a dysfunctional family or an alcoholic. And I fit all 14 traits. So, that's when I knew I belonged. Alyssa Scolari: Oh, I don't think that I've ever read that before, but I bet it would be very jarring for me. Sarah Tatarski: You will be surprised. And when I say all 14 traits, I don't mean I have those now. I mean, at some point in my life, I have all 14 of them. So, even if you have one, I'm pretty sure, they're like, if you have one of these traits, you are welcome here. Alyssa Scolari: Wow. Okay. And for the listeners out there, I will link that in the show notes, the website that you can go and you can check it out because I think it's very important and I know that a lot of you can relate. So, okay, cool. So, thank you for that. Alyssa Scolari: So, now question about, so in terms of EMDR, I have, I think... So, I'm going through EMDR right now and I've been open about my experiences, both on my Instagram and I've shared a little bit on the podcast and we've also had people come on and talk about EMGR. Alyssa Scolari: I guess, the main question I have for you about EMGR because for those of you out there who don't know what it is, I talk about it in depth with a licensed clinical social worker. Her name is Melissa Parks on the podcast, and you can feel free to go and check that out. It is a really fantastic treatment for trauma that focuses on rewiring your nervous system, like your brain. So, for EMGR, did you find that was particularly helpful for you? Sarah Tatarski: It's definitely helped. It's not perfect. Of course, no treatment is perfect, but I've honestly, been only able to work on and am working on two memories. But the thing about these specific memories I'm working on is that, they hold a key to other things that I can't remember. And that's why, my therapist says we're going to keep working on these two. And I'm like, "No, I want to be done with them." Sarah Tatarski: But it's definitely, helped me to calm down in regards to my body not being as reactive. And I've noticed that the first memory that really resurfaced after about eight years and that drove me to get the help that I needed. My reaction to it has gone down a lot. Sarah Tatarski: My bodily reaction, I used to like throw up. I used to not eat. And now, it will come up and I'll be like, "Okay, deep breath. It's okay. You're safe like, that's not happening right now." We've talked... I've talked about it many times. I opened up to friends, I went up to multiple therapists. Sarah Tatarski: And so, I'm able to calm myself down. On the past, I literally, I would line around like running around my house. I don't know what the heck I'm doing. I'm scared, all this stuff. So, I significantly reduce my reactions while, and I don't want people to think that it gets rid of the memory. I think some people are like, "I want to get rid of my memories." And I'm like, "That's not how it works." But it reduces your bodily reaction to it. Sarah Tatarski: And I definitely notice, like I said, I'm not violently reacting, like I used to in the past. So, I found relief with it. My brain also likes to block me thinking about these two particular memories because there's some of the most intense memories I have. But as I continue to work on it, I'm able to be less reactive and process it with my therapist. Alyssa Scolari: Yeah, yeah. No, and I think that's ultimately, right. There's no such thing as a perfect treatment. But EMDR, I think is supposed to be beneficial at just like relaxing your nervous system. So, that like hyper vigilance isn't there as much. All right. So, can you talk about Alpha-Stim, and then there was one other... What did you say in addition to Alpha-Stim? Sarah Tatarski: I've been doing ketamine for major depressive disorders. So, there's that, in addition to the Alpha-Stim, family therapy, and then my trauma centers, and EMDR. Alyssa Scolari: Okay. Sarah Tatarski: Which is all like, they're all interconnected, anyway. Alyssa Scolari: Right, right. And can you talk about Alpha-Stim? Because I think that's a very new term. I'm not even familiar with Alpha-Stim. Sarah Tatarski: I am shocked at, I actually, spoke with a psychiatrist a couple of weeks ago. He monitors me when I'm doing ketamine. And I told him about it. He said, "I've never heard of that." And I'm like, "Whew, this is alarming." I'll go into details about it, but I'll give you a little bit of a history because I was wondering, why is this not talked about every single day? Why is this not open on the market? And I'll tell you this. Sarah Tatarski: So, I read about the history of Alpha-Stim. Yes, I'm a nerd. I read the little pamphlet that came with it. But so, the way that it works is, it uses biophysics and biophysics used to be taught in medical school up until the 20th century. And then, the chemistry took over and they stopped teaching biophysics. Of course, we know that pharmaceutical industry has a huge power over everything in this country. Sarah Tatarski: And so, I found that interesting that they used to teach biophysics, but now they don't. And that's probably, why it's not really mainstream as you would want to call it. But I'll just read you exactly, what they say from the website, because I don't want to give any misinformation to y'all. Sarah Tatarski: So, the way that it works is, it's cranial electrotherapy stimulation, and it uses small electrical currents to stimulate certain brain regions. And these currents mimic the electrical activity naturally occurring in the brain, which in turn regulates the electrical part of the brain's electrical chemical signals. And this is how it helps you to get piece of calm. It basically, regulates you without any drugs, just pure biophysics, which our body is... It's just a huge electrical network. Sarah Tatarski: And that's how they use the power of our body to heal with the Alpha-Stim. And you have to use it consistently, like every day over months to really get the full benefits. But you feel benefits within even like a day, because I hadn't used it in three months since I was at my last trauma center, and I got in the mail about two weeks ago. I put it on my ears and after, I was like, "I feel so much better already." And I forgot how magical this thing is. So... Alyssa Scolari: Wow. Wow. Sarah Tatarski: It's been incredible. I'm sleeping better. I've had one migraine the past 11 days. I usually, get them every single day of my life. So, I'm not making the stuff up whenever I would never tell anybody to go buy a medical device if it didn't work. But I just feel so much better. I feel more rested, because I have chronic pain due to my trauma, and I just feel a lot more content with the past two weeks, which is hard for me to say, usually. Alyssa Scolari: I mean, yeah, that's incredible is this. So, when you say like, I have this and I put it on my ears, like, is it, what is it? Are they just like little like sensory, like clips you put on your ears and you have like a little machine around your neck? Sarah Tatarski: Yeah, it's literally this small. Alyssa Scolari: Wow. Sarah Tatarski: Nobody can see it. It's about the size of like a palm, or like a hand depending on how big your hands are. I know, I have a little... I'm small. So, my hands are a little small, but it's about the size of my hand. And the way that it works is that, you put a solution on your ears, and then you clip the electrodes onto your ear. And it just sounds little, little electrical signal to your ear. Sarah Tatarski: And so, you feel this very mild little prick to your ear, but it doesn't hurt. And that's it. You use it at your house. You can use it on an airplane. You can use it wherever you want to use it. It's just like the size, even smaller than the iPhone. So, it's so easy to carry around if you need it to use it anywhere. Alyssa Scolari: And is there like, is it something that like insurance covers, or do people just buy it out of pocket? Do they have to go through like a therapist or a treatment center or anything like that? Sarah Tatarski: So, from what I know, the only insurance that covers it is TRICARE through the military. And only if you're active duty, will they pay for it in full, which is... Alyssa Scolari: Okay. Sarah Tatarski: ... annoying. So, without insurance, it costs $840. And while it sounds like a lot, the amount of money I've spent going to doctors asking, "What is wrong with me? Why am I in so much pain?" The amount of days I've missed work, the amount of days I've missed out on life, the $840 is beyond worth it. Alyssa Scolari: Yes. Sarah Tatarski: And some insurances may cover it. I don't have that answer. My insurance is really good. And they said, "No." They outright said, "We're not even going to give you money back." And I said, "That's really frustrating." And $840 is a lot for people. It's a lot for me. But I got to a point where I was just breaking down and I was like, "I can't do this. I cannot live like this every day of my life." Sarah Tatarski: And so, I took the plunge, I ordered it, I use it twice a day, and I just, I feel so much better. I can't even emphasize. I wish I could show data to show how much less pain I'm in. But like I said, they have a nine out of 10-success rate, and they've been studying this for over 40 years. So, this isn't something that's new to the market. It's not, "Oh, in 2020 we invented this device." It's 40 plus years of research. Alyssa Scolari: Yeah. And it's infuriating because it's also one of those things where it's like, like you said earlier, why is this not talked about more? And it's like, "Well, because it's so successful." And when it's so successful, who suffers big pharma because people require less and less treatment and medication. And therefore, if you heal, you aren't going to be paying as much money on other forms of treatment like meds. It's very, it's no surprise that it's one of those things that's kept hush, hush because... Sarah Tatarski: Absolutely. Absolutely. Because I'm not going to go too much on the tangent because then we would talk for hours. But the big pharma is based on a subscription model. They want you to be sick for your entire life. Why would they not want you to be? They want you to suffer. So, they make money. And that's why I think, insurances aren't going to cover it because they are very much tied into big pharma, of course. Sarah Tatarski: And so, I tell everybody since I got it the past two weeks, anyone that I meet or who was in my life, I'm like, "Pay the $840 if you can, it is worth every dime." And I would never tell anybody to buy something if I really didn't believe it, because that's not like a $100. That's 840. But... Alyssa Scolari: Yes. Sarah Tatarski: ... Like I said, I mean, I'm sure the amount of us who've been through trauma or even if you haven't been through significant amount of trauma, you probably, have some amount of pain from being on your computer all day. So, I just recommend it to anybody if you're able to afford it or, save up to get it. It's really, been incredible. And I'm so lucky that my trauma center, I went to in December to February had access to the Alpha-Stim for me. Alyssa Scolari: Yeah. That's incredible. And I will also link the website, the Alpha-Stim device on the show notes, so you can check that out. And then, so let's talk about ketamine because this is one that I am more familiar with, but I have not spoken with anybody who has gone through it. So, can you talk about like what it is and what your experience is with it? Sarah Tatarski: Yeah. So, I will say there are different kinds of ketamine treatment. There's the nasal spray, which I do. There's the shot and there's also IV. And I don't know which form is the most intense, but I know that the IV one is you get a very strong high and it's very strong, with Spravato, which is the ketamine that I do. Sarah Tatarski: I do two nasal sprays, one in each nose, and you can go up to three sprays or three doses. Sorry, I don't know how many sprays it is, but I do the two. Some people do three doses. I'm very sensitive to drugs in general. So, I was like, "Let's go with the lower one. I don't want to get too high." I would like to see how I feel first. Alyssa Scolari: Yeah. Sarah Tatarski: So, I started looking into do ketamine last fall and my insurance rejected me. I don't know how I don't qualify for it. I would just spent two months at a trauma center. I don't know how they... Apparently, they didn't want to cover it. I struggled with major depressive disorder. Sarah Tatarski: So, I felt really upset. And then, so kindly the clinic I went to called me and I said, "You know that the Johnson& Johnson Patient Assistance Foundation could help cover you, if you qualify, if you don't make enough money, or if you don't, there's some income bracket level that I'm not 100% sure what it is. And if your insurance denies you, they could consider covering you for up to year, and then renew you. Sarah Tatarski: And so, I applied. I'll be honest, I had been making $0. I'd just come out of a trauma center. So, I definitely knew I would qualify because one, my insurance rejected me. Two, my income was at zero at that point. Alyssa Scolari: Right. Sarah Tatarski: And they sent me a card, and for a full year they will cover it. And all I have to pay is, I think a $25 copay each time because out of pocket, it's like $250. So, I'm extremely, lucky that the J&J Patient Assistance Foundation was covering me. And yeah, I started going in March 2022. It's a big commitment, I will admit that. I don't know what it's like for, like I said, the IV or the shot. Sarah Tatarski: But with Spravato, you have to go twice a week for a month and you can't drive yourself there or back because you're too high. And then, the next month, you only go once a week. And then, after that is maintenance, if you choose. So... Alyssa Scolari: Wow. Sarah Tatarski: During the... Yeah, it's a big commit. During the process, you're just lying in a room for two hours by yourself. At least, that's how my clinic does it. So, I'm just lying there and I'm like, "Hi, hi is heck in." I'm just lying there. And it's a really, nice time to almost meditate or just reflect for two hours. I literally, can't do anything. I'm too high. I can't barely look at my phone. Sarah Tatarski: And it's been nice to have that reflection time, while I'm not exactly sure, exactly if it's benefiting me because it's hard. I had just come from a trauma center. I'm in therapy. I'm in family therapy. I have so many variables in my life that are helping me to heal that I can't exactly say, is ketamine helped me because there's just too many factors in my life right now that are helping me feel better. But that forced relaxation has been a challenge for me, because I struggle with relaxing and forcing myself to just exist in the world and just be... Alyssa Scolari: Right, as to many trauma survivors, yeah. Sarah Tatarski: Exactly. So, that's been one of the most healing aspects of ketamine is just being. I even cried during one session. I was like, "What are these emotions that are just suddenly coming up?" I was like, "This is healthy. What?" Alyssa Scolari: What is this? Yeah. Sarah Tatarski: So, it's supposed to help people who struggle a lot with SI. Again, suicide ideation for people who don't know the shorthand. But I have other friends who've done ketamine in different forms and they say, it has changed their life. Again, too many factors in my life are going on for me to give you a definite answer. Yes, it's helping me. Alyssa Scolari: Hard to say. It's hard to say, yeah. Sarah Tatarski: But just being in that community, going to clinic every week and seeing the psychiatrist and stuff, it's more nice to just like have a little community of little ketamine people and we talk to each other. So, that's been nice. Alyssa Scolari: And there are restrictions because ketamine is a drug. So, are there like, do they do thorough evaluations on like, drug abuse history? Because I would imagine that can be tricky. Sarah Tatarski: Yeah. So, I forgot to mention. Of course, I had to do an evaluation. They had to even diagnose me because technically, I mean, there's a lot of diagnoses that I have that are not diagnosed officially. So, they had to do that to make sure, and then send that evaluation to my insurance and be like, "Hey, she has major depressive disorder." Sarah Tatarski: As a former... If you're a recovering drug addict, you can still do ketamine, but you have to be heavily much more monitored than me for who doesn't have a history of drug abuse. But definitely, they're not just throwing it around and saying, "Oh, yeah, everybody can do ketamine." Even if you have major depressive disorder, they need to clear you to make sure that you won't relapse or that you're being monitored on different levels to know that you're okay throughout the process and not going to relapse into a drug addiction. Alyssa Scolari: Now, do you know like, okay, so EMDR helps relapse your nervous system. And similarly, do you know how ketamine is supposed to work like on the body? Sarah Tatarski: Yes. So, I was always thinking ketamine was a psychedelic, but it's not. It slows down the brain and that's what it does. It just slows everything down. You're like in a drunken state while you're in the room. And I think that feeling of, "Oh, I have time to really think and just exist in the world and relax and think about things in a different way. Instead of, with trauma, our anxiety is so high. Sometimes, we can't even think straight. We're just like, ruminating, ruminating, intrusive thoughts all the time. Sarah Tatarski: And yeah, that's how it worked. It slows down the body. And I should mention that, if you're on antidepressants, they want you to continue to stay on those throughout the process. They don't want you to get off of it. And personally, I'm not on an antidepressant right now, but I still qualified because I had tried two different medications and it didn't help me. Alyssa Scolari: Okay. Sarah Tatarski: So, if you have tried two different anxiety medications or depression meds and it didn't work, you can qualify. So, that's why I qualified. But they want you to stay on your antidepressants. And the other thing about Spravato is that, they say, "We don't exactly know what it does. We just know it helps." And so, welcome to big pharma, guys. They don't exactly know what happened... Alyssa Scolari: Yeah, you know it helps. Sarah Tatarski: But they say, "Hey, it helps." So, I'm not complaining. But yeah, you have to be on or continue to remain on your antidepressants throughout the process. They don't want you to cold quit in the middle of ketamine. Alyssa Scolari: Okay, yeah, yeah. I would imagine there's also still so much research to be done about it because I do think it is newer. Sarah Tatarski: Yeah, Spravato was approved I believe in 2019. So, it's very new... Alyssa Scolari: Okay. Sarah Tatarski: ... compared to other drugs. Alyssa Scolari: Yup, very new. And a lot of studies have been on halt because of the pandemic. So, we're still learning. We're still learning. Now, I do have one final question for you, if you don't mind. And this is partially, a question that I have personally, but also a question I think a lot of other people will have. Alyssa Scolari: So, in going to different forms of therapy, right? It sounds like you have had good experiences, but I know that there are so many people out there who have tried alternative forms of therapy and have had bad experiences and places that are poorly run, places that do more harm than good. I know that have certainly, been the experience for myself and many others. What is some advice that you can give people who I think are just feeling down and out about the quality of mental healthcare that they've experienced? Sarah Tatarski: You have to go in with an open mind because these places are run by humans. I mean, like I said, at the first trauma center I went to, it was almost like a jail. And I left, thank God at 4:00 every day, I did not have to sleep there. And there is some stuff that would go down at night, for sure. Sarah Tatarski: Everybody in there has trauma and things happen. So, I think for me, none of the places I've been to, none of my therapists have been perfect. Perfection actually, doesn't even exist in the world. So, doesn't want to say that. But, I mean, of course, if there's abuse going on, if there's emotional abuse or physical abuse from the staff and staff, I'm not saying, "Oh, go in with an open mind," just ignore it. Alyssa Scolari: Right. Sarah Tatarski: But I just know that if you go in thinking that everything's going to be exactly right, everything's going to run smoothly at whatever care center you're at or whatever treatment you do, the reality is that, it won't. And you'll probably, be disappointed. I mean, there are definitely flaws at places that I've been to. Sarah Tatarski: The place I was just at, called Innova Grace. I have had tremendous healing from them. But there's things that could be worked on. Absolutely, could be worked on to make it an even better program. But there are some things I just had to let go because I knew that doing therapy at Innova Grace twice a week and getting EMDR and I was in Texas. So, I was away from my mom. I was away from my childhood home. I was so grateful to be there, and to be able to have that help, that there are some things, if it wasn't overly concerning that I just had to let go in the moment. Alyssa Scolari: Yeah. Sarah Tatarski: And I would complain, I would speak up if there's something that made me uncomfortable and there were things that did change. And sometimes, it didn't. But I also think another thing is, people might be disappointed in alternative treatments because you put in most of the work, if not all of it, therapists are there to guide you. Sarah Tatarski: And I think that's something, I was naive in believing when I was younger, even probably, like two years ago, not even that long where I thought, "Oh, why isn't this therapist fixing me? Why isn't she doing this? Why X, Y, Z and all this stuff?" I was like, "Therapy only works if you're as honest as you are. If you are, if you hold things from your therapist, you're not going to make any progress. If you keep rejecting the way that you behave and act and that how resistant you are to treatment, you're not going to get better. You can't blame the treatment center. You can't blame your therapist. Of course, again, some therapists suck. I just had a really, awful one from September to December. She told me... I said... Alyssa Scolari: Gosh. Sarah Tatarski: ... "I just, I feel like I can't go in public. And I feel like I can't do things by myself. And I'm just, I'm so upset. I don't know what's wrong with me." And she said, "Just do it." Alyssa Scolari: Oh, wow. That's great advice. Thank you, I never thought of that before. Sarah Tatarski: So, again, I just want to restate, there are people that are super problematic and there's abuse in some of these places, there are. And I'm not saying to go in and be like, "Oh, yeah, ignore it and disassociate from it," which is probably, how you coped this long. Don't do that. But it is run by humans and it is how much you contribute. Sarah Tatarski: Because like I told you, before we started recording, one of my therapists, I told her, I said, "I'm really open." And she called me out and she said, "No, you're not, you're not open." And I'm like, "I got so guarded, and I'm like, whatever." And then, I thought about it and I said, "She's right." And that's how we proceeded forward. I was able to really, work with that therapist and get through so many deep things because I was just completely, honest with her and I let myself cry. Sarah Tatarski: So, that's my advice, be open minded, just know the process isn't perfect. If there are major concerns, voice them. If things don't change, then maybe you need to try a different area, like a different place, a different therapist. And you have to contribute your full honesty and vulnerability to it, or else you will not heal. That's something that I wish I had known when I was 19, when I started the journey. Alyssa Scolari: That is incredible advice. All of it, I agree. I mean, you said it perfectly, you said it perfectly. And I want to thank you for coming on the show because this is something that's really, important to talk about. It's something that you spoke a lot of hard truths that people I think really need to hear, hey, including myself. We all need to hear a lot of this stuff and it's also very inspiring. Alyssa Scolari: And I think it certainly, has given me a lot of hope for the future and for my own recovery. And it's hope that we wouldn't have without your willingness to be vulnerable and come on here and talk about it. So, thank you so, so much. I know that I mentioned Sarah's Instagram in the beginning of this episode, which the name is? Can you give the name one more time? Sarah Tatarski: Vulnerable and Not Afraid. Alyssa Scolari: Vulnerable and Not Afraid. You know that will be in the show notes for today's episode. And I just want to say thank you again for coming on the show today. Sarah Tatarski: Yeah, it was so great talking to you, and I'm happy to answer any of the listeners questions if they directly message you or you can directly message me on my Instagram, I'm happy to do a call or send a voice memo, share resources. That's, I mean, the whole reason I started the Instagram, partly for myself to remind myself, "Hey, this is where I've been." And to help others realize that antidepressants and once a week therapy are not the only choices out there. Alyssa Scolari: Amen. Amen. Thank you so, so much, Sarah. Sarah Tatarski: Yeah, no problem. Alyssa Scolari: Thanks for listening, everyone. For more information, please head over to lightaftertrauma.com or you can also follow us on social media. On Instagram, we are @lightaftertrauma. And on Twitter, it is @lightafterpod. Lastly, please head over to patreon.com/lightaftertrauma to support our show. We are asking for $5 a month, which is the equivalent to a cup of coffee at Starbucks. So, please head on over. Again, that's patreon.com/lightaftertrauma. Thank you. And we appreciate your support.

In today's episode, we sit with the Alpha-Stim group from Sandlot Medical who are Making the Difference with our First Responders and veterans with their newest medical technology treating PTSD, Anxiety, and more...

In honor of the upcoming holiday season and November being Suicide Survivor's Month I answer your questions on natural remedies for depression, spiritual bypassing, pharmaceutical medications for mental health, Evan's advice on supporting someone through suicidal depression, if depression is connected to living truthfully, and the physical component of mental health.   Mentioned in this week's episode… - Lost Connections by Johann Hari - Ep. 103 Our Brains Aren't Broken, Our Society Is with Johann Hari - Dr. Joe Dispenza's meditations - Alpha-Stim device - Mad in America by Robert Whitaker - Suicide Hotline: 1800-273-TALK   Upstart is the fast and easy way to pay off your debt with a personal loan–all online. Use code Reality at www.upstart.com   If you or someone you know needs addiction treatment please visit www.ororecovery.com   Follow Alexis (@itsalexishaines), join our Facebook group, and follow @recoveringfromreality on Instagram to stay up to date on all things RFR! You can also enroll in Alexis' Life Reset Course at liferesetcourse.com to learn the exact, tools to recover from limiting and self- sabotaging beliefs, thoughts, emotions, feelings and behaviors and replace them with new ones that will set you up for the life you deserve and are fully capable of as you integrate the learnings and tools in your life.   Produced by Dear Media

SUMMARY While Part 1 of this podcast targets trailblazing research and regulatory approaches to workplace mental health, Part 2 chronicles the evolution of organizational policies, practices, and programs at two very different and unique organizations. Join Quentin Steen (CLAC Labour Relations Representative) and Trever Amendt (AECOM Site Safety Lead, Energy Operations & Maintenance in Lacombe, Alberta) as they share their personal mental health stories and their groups' commitments to building cultures of compassion with strong leadership, workplace-wide peer support, regular training, and ongoing employee communication and engagement. They also touch on the impacts of stigma and the challenges and opportunities presented by COVID-19. TAKEAWAYS This podcast will help you understand: The evolution of workplace mental health policies, practices, and programs in both union (CLAC) and engineering (AECOM) environments Union approach focused on cooperation rather than confrontation Corporate culture that cultivates employees' social and emotional well-being The importance of authentic peer support throughout organizations Types of training needed to optimize workplace mental health Impacts of COVID on workplace mental health What's been learned from COVID that will guide future polices, practices, and programs Return-on-investment for businesses that do workplace health and safety right Types of stigma existing in various workplaces   SPONSORS WorkSafeBC is a provincial agency in British Columbia, Canada that promotes safe and healthy workplaces for more than 2.3 million workers. Serving more than 230,000 employers, WorkSafeBC's services include education, prevention, compensation and support for injured workers, and no-fault insurance to protect employers and workers. WorkSafeBC is committed to creating a province free from workplace injury or illness. By partnering with workers and employers, WorkSafeBC helps British Columbians come home from work safe every day. CLAC is the largest independent, multisector, national union in Canada, representing more 60,000 workers in almost every sector of the economy including construction, education, emergency services, healthcare, retail, service, transportation, manufacturing, and more. CLAC has 14 member centres in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and BC, along with 25 active, independent, affiliated locals. Based on values of respect, dignity, and fairness, CLAC is committed to building better lives, better workplaces, and better communities.  AECOM is a global engineering firm whose infrastructure services for public- and private-sector clients include transportation, water, energy, and environmental projects. Employing about 87,000 people, AECOM was ranked #1 in Engineering News-Record's ‘2020 Top 200 Environmental Firms,' and named one of Fortune magazine's ‘World's Most Admired Companies' for the sixth consecutive year. Transforming the ways it works through technology and digital platforms, AECOM leads the engineering world in environmental, social, and governance solutions… leading to the Ethisphere Institute naming it one of ‘2021 World's Most Ethical Companies.'   RESOURCES National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace and the resulting Case Studies Research Report Addressing the mental health effects of COVID-19 in the workplace: A guide for workers Managing the mental health effects of COVID-19 in the workplace: A guide for employers    Guarding Minds@Work   Antidepressant Skills@Work    Psychological Health and Safety: An Action Guide for Employers    Mental Health Commission of Canada    Canada's Workplace Mental Health    Canadian Mental Health Association    Government of Canada/Mental health in the workplace      Wellness Works Canada        Wellness Together Canada: Mental Health and Substance Use Support provides free online resources, tools, apps, and connections to trained volunteers and qualified mental health professionals.      Workplace Mental Health Playbook for Business Leaders (CAMH)     Workplace Mental Health Research     Deloitte research reveals significant return on investment for workplace mental health programs.   GUESTS  Quentin Steen Quentin Steen is a Labour Relations Representative with the CLAC labour union, who works out of the Kelowna Member Centre and specializes in the transportation, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors. He is also the CLAC Provincial Member Education Coordinator for BC and facilitates numerous workshops for various signatory companies and shop stewards working in BC. Being a certified Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) instructor for the Mental Health Commission of Canada, Quentin is passionate about delivering the MHFA course because of his experience with mental health issues, personally and professionally. Quentin's personal life's mission is to educate others about mental health issues and provide them with the tools/skills they need to recognize changes (possible signs) to the mental well-being in self and others, to help those who may be in a mental heath crisis by offering comfort and support, and to reduce the stigma that surrounds mental health in our workplaces and society.  Phone: 250-868-9111 Email: qsteen@clac.ca Website: www.clac.ca Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clacunion Twitter: https://twitter.com/clacunion Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quentin-steen-23249326/ Trever Amendt Trever Amendt has been the Site Safety Lead for AECOM at the NOVA Joffre Plant in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada for five years. AECOM is the capital projects group on site and completes all project-based work, including pipefitting, electrical, iron work, insulation and scaffolding. AECOM made mental health its number one priority in 2020, and it became an even greater priority when COVID-19 hit in March of last year. To that end, Trever has an open door on site and is always ready to listen to what someone is going through to support them and build trust. The Mental Health First Aid course he took from CLAC in 2019, opened Trever's eyes and gave him a new desire to support and be there to help people when it comes to their mental health. Trever has a real passion for organizations that support people with addictions: the Dream Center in Calgary and Teen Challenge in Allan, Saskatchewan. Red Deer, Alberta is just raising money to redesign a building downtown to start a Dream Center. These centers address the physical, mental, and spiritual components of addiction.  Phone: 780-983-4966 Email: trever.amendt@aecom.com Website: www.aecom.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AecomTechnologyCorporation Twitter: https://twitter.com/aecom   HOST Jo de Vries is a community education and engagement specialist with 30 years of experience helping local governments in British Columbia connect with their citizens about important sustainability issues. In 2006, she established the Fresh Outlook Foundation (FOF) to “inspire community conversations for sustainable change.” FOF's highly acclaimed events include Building SustainABLE Communities conferences, Reel Change SustainAbility Film Fest, Eco-Blast Kids' Camps, CommUnity Innovation Lab, Breakfast of Champions, and Women 4 SustainAbility. FOF's newest ventures are the HEADS UP! Community Mental Health Summit and HEADS UP! Community Mental Health Podcast. Website: Fresh Outlook Foundation Phone: 250-300-8797   PLAY IT FORWARD The move toward optimal workplace mental health becomes possible as more people learn about the challenges, successes, and opportunities. To that end, please share this podcast with anyone who has an interest or stake in the future of workplace mental health and wellness. FOLLOW US For more information about the Fresh Outlook Foundation (FOF) and our programs and events, visit our website, sign up for our newsletter, and like us on Facebook and Twitter.   HELP US As a charity, FOF relies on support from grants, sponsors, and donors to continue its valuable work. If you benefited from the podcast, please help fund future episodes by making a one-time or monthly donation. Quentin Steen, Trever Amendt Interview Transcript You can download a pdf of the transcript here. The entire transcript is also found below: INTRO  0:10 Welcome to the HEADS UP! Community Mental Health Podcast. Join our host Jo de Vries with the Fresh Outlook Foundation as she combines science with storytelling to explore a variety of mental health issues with people from all walks of life. Stay tuned! JO  0:32 Hey, Jo here. Welcome to part two of our podcast on workplace mental health, where we'll build on what we learned in Part 1 about trailblazing research and regulatory approaches. This time around, we'll explore groundbreaking union and business solutions thanks to our co sponsors WorkSafe BC, CLAC, and AECOM. You'll meet Quentin Steen, Labor Relations Representative at CLAC, a Canadian labor union, and Trevor Amendt, Site Safety Lead for AECOM, Energy Operations & Maintenance at the Joffre chemical plant in Lacombe, Alberta. First, let's meet Quentin from CLAC, which represents more than 60,000 workers in almost every sector of the Canadian economy. Based on values of respect, dignity, and fairness, CLAC aims to build better lives, better workplaces, and better communities. The union also helps members reach their full potential by finding their own versions of everyday greatness. Hi, Quentin... thanks for joining us. QUENTIN  1:41 Thank you so much for the invite. It's my pleasure, Jo. JO  1:45 Can you give us an overview of CLAC's approach to mental wellness, and how that differs from that of other labor unions?  QUENTIN  1:56 I'm sure most of the unions out there are tracking some of the similar directions, but CLAC has been a labor union who's pretty proud of their progressive labor relations model, like a collaborative approach between the employer, employee, and the union. It's built on cooperative versus confrontational encounters... we've always believed that it's the most effective model when dealing with workplace issues. And among some of these issues, for sure, is the physical and mental safety and well-being of workers in the workplace. And it all sort of started with us in terms of the weight of this, about three-and-a-half or four years ago. It became a national mandate for the mental health of our CLAC staff and our shop stewards, where we made a huge investment into it. So, this mandate included things like working with our signatory companies in their management to address mental health safety of their employees at the workplace. In CLAC, we have a My Health & Wellness department where you can go to our CLAC website where our members can get the knowledge and tools they need to take charge of their own health and well-being by adopting good habits and a healthy lifestyle, and they can live a better and perhaps a longer life. This site is very interactive, and it's got like several health and wellness tools... like mental health is a specific area. Substance-use case managers are part of that, to financial wellness, workplace wellness. We also have EFAP programs like a lot of companies do, where we have an Employment and Family Assistance Program... that's what it stands for... where we have resources that are available to our members and their families to reach out for free. And they receive confidential help. If they or their loved ones are struggling, then we encourage them not to hesitate on that. We also have a quarterly magazine called The Guide that includes mental health articles and resources for our members and is really ramped up since the pandemic outbreak. Those are sort of our approach the some of the things that are kind of in our toolboxes that we provide for our members and how our organization looks at it. We're very aggressive with it. We think it's really important. We easily put it on par with the physical safety and wellness and well-being of employees at the workplace. Absolutely, one hundred percent. JO  4:14 Quentin... you're a labour relations representative with CLAC. Tell us about the mental health-related work you do specifically. QUENTIN  4:23 I've had a recent change in my role from not just rep but where I do that 50% of my role, but also the other 50% is member education coordinator for BC. Part of my role as the coordinator, and has actually been as a rep for the last three years, is providing Mental Health First Aid courses to our signatory companies, to our staff, and to our stewards. And I've done I think, in the last few years about 23 or 24 in total, and these Mental Health First Aid courses are designed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, and basic courses are about 12 hours. So over two days, generally speaking, and then a blended virtual course that came online as of the pandemic, that's about eight hours. And I deliver these courses throughout BC and Alberta. Part of my role, too, in the last year-and-a-half has been creating Mental Health Moments. And that started of course with the onset of the pandemic, when I was tasked to write Mental Health Moments that were published on a weekly basis to our membership and staff about 60,000 people plus, and now they're published monthly. And they hit a variety of different subjects. The reason I started writing them is because I realized at the beginning of the pandemic, that once the virus comes and goes, or it's no longer on our minds because we've had these vaccinations, and herd [immunity], really what we're left with is really going to be the damage that's caused to our mental health. And so, I started seeing it in our representatives and I asked our national office if I could begin to write some articles for our reps, and they took that and decided it needs to be published to the rest of our membership. And we've gotten a lot of responses from a lot of people sharing their stories. And so that's been very, very great part of my journey in this last year-and-a-half in my role. JO  6:14 And I think in this difficult time, people are just craving that kind of information. QUENTIN  6:20 Oh, absolutely. The reality is, what I've seen anyways, from my perspective, the pandemic did a few things. And I would kind of categorize that impact on three different types of or kinds of experiences out there. The first being someone who has never had mental health-related issues, and they might be anxious, and they might worry from time to time, but never a diagnosable thing. And then all of a sudden, three weeks, four weeks, four months into it, they're now sitting across from a therapist or an EFAP program, and they're talking about an anxiety disorder. And then there's other people that have had them lying in the weeds, like myself for years, but I just kept myself busy, or didn't pay attention to it, or sort of deflected it, or pretended it wasn't there. And with the pandemic, I mean, it just bubbled to the surface for so many people. And then the third category of people, like where I'm at right now, where I have two diagnosable mental illnesses that I've lived with for most of my life. They've just been amplified... I've had to really dig down and really learn how to manage them in the middle of this pandemic, much differently than maybe prior to the pandemic. It is affecting people. JO  7:32 Thank you for being so vulnerable about that. Can you share your story? QUENTIN  7:37 Absolutely love to. I'm 51 years old. And my personal journey with mental health issues goes way, way back. I just didn't realize how far back the rabbit hole really went. But like I said, one of my diagnosable illnesses is clinical depression. I had it from early childhood into adulthood. It was seasonal at first... September was the start of new school year or work year, or January... the start rebooting of that. So, it would come like that, and it was kind of like this cloud that would come over me. And then it started to develop in a year-round in about 2008. It was nonstop, and some weeks were worse than others. Some of the darkest times I battled with suicidal ideations. In fact, those go back to grade four, where I first tried to take my life by suicide. And fortunately, I'm still here. In 2012 it got really bad for me, and those ideations came back again, and I had to pull over to the side of road, while I was traveling between two different cities, and call for help. I didn't realize that I had a clinical depression, until actually I took our Mental Health First Aid course, about five years ago, or four years ago. The irony of this all is I'm married to a former therapist, and three of my friends out of the top four are therapists. And so, they've known this for a long, long time. But like they said to me, you know, you weren't ready to hear it. And so when you're not ready to hear you just shut everything down. So that was kind of ironic the way it came about. I also have an anxiety disorder that I believe just comes from my being an infant... I was adopted... and at an early age I spent my first number of months going between wet nurse to wet nurse. And one particular time I was dropped on my head on the cement sidewalk, and that just changed my brain, physiologically, from that day forward. I didn't know that was an issue, until like I said, about 15 years ago when I was in therapy, and it was brought up as something that that's actually a big impact. And then into early childhood, my attachment issues that come from the adoption, like abandonment, emotional depravations, where the need to feel loved, significant, valued, like us all. But that just added to the anxiety part of it. In the early school years, I was bullied horribly physically because I was adopted. We're from a low-end family, and I was really the runt of the school. And emotionally, for sure, the bullying continued where, you know, I was always picked last or assigned to a group, which is even worse, because no one would pick you. And then it increased into high school where I was routinely held down by a group of guys that were popular, and jocks, and in woodwork shop, for at least by Grade 10 year anyways, and pinned to a table at some point during the class and they poured linseed oil down my throat until I threw up. Then I was sent to the principal's office because I was the troublemaker. And then it just continued on like that throughout high school and I even had a cancer scare. And so, I developed a phobia of death, which added to my anxiety. And then to my adult years was just even harder, in the sense that I made these vows that I would never, ever get rejected or bullied again, which, if you look at life, those are ridiculous, right? Because it happens every time we turn around. But those vows actually turned into my curses, and my default setting... my racket as a human being, I like to call it... is to get big, loud, critical, and overwhelm people. You know, in the midst of that, I developed panic attacks, too. And they started back in 1999. And I occasionally still have them. Last one happened to me was in Costco. And all that to say, though those are my issues, I've learned how to manage them much more effectively now that I know what they are, and how I function inside of them, and how I function with them. I've had a lot of therapy in the last number of years, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, to look at my attachment issues, my anxiety and panic attacks, and ways to deal with that neurofeedback, which is a recalibrating of your brain, Alpha-Stim, which was a big step in adding to my Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I've taken a lot of education and emotional intelligence in why I do the things I do. And then type theory, understanding my personality type. There's been this very robust sort of knowledge that I've gained once I understood what was in front of me. That's kind of my story. I don't think they'll ever go away... I don't expect them to. But that's not the issue. For me, the issue is, how do I function with them? They're part of my life, and they are who they are, and I am who I am. So, how do I learn how to manage them? That really is the issue, not hoping and wishing they would go away, because that's probably not going to help. JO  12:37 Thank you so much for sharing so many very personal experiences. Quentin. One of the things I'm learning through this podcast is just how resilient people can be. And those stories of resilience, and your particular story of resilience, are not only so informative, but inspiring. And people like yourself, they tend to take what they've learned about themselves, and then move that into an area where they can help other people who have similar challenges. I'd like to know, how has your personal experience helped you better understand and serve CLAC members who are struggling? QUENTIN  13:24 That's a great question. Well, let me start with this. One in five Canadians live with a mental health issue... and that figure only actually includes people seeking treatment. And you know what Joanne, I would say the last three years in my classes, it's more like one in three… it's not one in five, I think it's more like one in three. But that's just from what I've seen. And almost 50% of people will develop a mental health illness in their lifetime. Psychological health problems and the illnesses are the number one cause of disability in Canada, according to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety in 2016 survey. The Mental Health Commission of Canada, as well as the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, report that one in five workers experience fatigue, sleeping problems, headaches, and anxiety, and 23% of workers experienced physical health problems caused by stress, anxiety, or major depression, and 20% of all sick leaves are related to mental health. So, nationally, in Canada, an estimated 35 million workdays are lost to mental health conditions amongst our 10 million plus workers. That's astonishing. So, it's not fake. It's real. JO  14:34 Well, not only that, but also the impact on our economy. They say that the impacts of mental health on our economy are at least $55 billion a year. And by the year 2030, or 40, I believe, they expect it to be more than $300 billion a year. QUENTIN  14:55 Yeah... so it's not going away. So, because it's not going away, then my next thing is… it's about promotion. And what I like to say in my discourse with people, whether it's the workplace or wherever else... and what I actually alluded to earlier.... that it's entirely possible to be diagnosed with a serious illness or disorder, and then learn to live with your life, coping well with it and have a positive mental health about it. So, my mental health issues, like I said, might never go away, but it's how I learn to manage them that can make all the difference in terms of a person's resilience. JO  15:26 How has your personal experience helped you serve your members better? QUENTIN  15:32 I just teach them what I know. The reality is that it's a part of my personal mission in life to educate others of the prominence and importance of addressing mental health issues, not just in our society, but in our workplaces... in providing them with the skills and tools necessary in the way that I can, because I got to stay in my lane. I'm not a professional therapist, or a doctor, but I have a lane. And my lane is to be able to help our workers in our workplaces recognize the changes, or possible signs, of the decline of mental health, well-being in their selves first, and then maybe others around them. And then to assist those who might be in a mental health crisis by offering the proper comfort and support. And that's a key. And then probably one of the biggest things outside of that... and connected to this, and sort of the driver of it... is helping reduce the stigma that surrounds mental health in our society and workplaces. And it's there, and it's big. JO  16:29 Thanks, Quentin... we'll dig deeper into that a little later, but now let's bring Trevor from AECOM into the conversation. AECOM is an award-winning infrastructure consulting firm of planners, designers, engineers, consultants, and construction managers. Its Energy Operations & Maintenance Division provides best-in-class maintenance, turnarounds, construction, and fabrication services to North American oil, gas, and chemical industries. Hello, Trevor, and thanks so much for being here. TREVER  17:04 Thanks a lot, Jo. I'm very excited to be part of this conversation with you and with Quentin. Just a side note... Quentin has become probably one of my biggest mentors in the last year-and-a-half. His attitude towards mental health and the way he opens up people is just huge for me. So, thanks again. JO  17:20 You are a site safety lead for AECOM, which is an international engineering firm... which I mentioned earlier. Can you tell us a little bit about your work?  TREVER  17:32 I'm a safety professional here at Joffre NOVA Chemicals. We're about half-an-hour from Lacombe, [Alberta]. We deal with a lot of different trades out here... we've got pipe fitters, iron workers, electricians. And then we have a couple of CLAC groups with our insulators and scaffolders. We have a multiple trade group that does a lot of projects on site, deals with a lot of different, stressful environments... a lot of stuff that can go wrong, day to day. People is a key to our industry. Having people fit for duty, making sure that they're healthy, when it comes to the physical and mental state of their body and their mind, is so important to us. It's really changed I think, too, in the last couple of years of how we support people. We look at them in a different way. And I really put a lot of the onus onto the Mental Health First Aid course that we started two years ago that really changed the way we look at [being] fit for duty. JO  18:22 I understand that AECOM is zealous in its approach to optimizing mental health for its 47,000 workers around the world. What does that look like from your perspective, as the site safety lead in Lacombe? TREVER  18:39 Whatever safety I can give to somebody... when it's procedures, policies, site safety rules... if they're not fit for duty, and they're not healthy to come in, we can achieve that. We just had a milestone last week Wednesday, we've done a full year without any incidents, no injuries, no first aids. And through a time of COVID, it's a huge announcement... it's exciting to have that happen on our site. We've had so much diversity, so much isolation, where people come to work, go home, go to grocery store, go to the mall... there's not much left to do outside of that. We've really tried hard to make sure that people still feel that they're getting that support. Digging deeper… when you see someone who looks off, or just isn't firing on all cylinders, so to speak, that's such an important thing that we don't just push them off or put them in a corner. I like to talk to individuals and find out how they're made inside, and what they like and dislike... how they're wired. Every individual is created in a special unique way, and that's the message I give in every orientation. So, of course the safety guy sits there and 90% of people think the safety guy is just going to pump safety and policies and procedures. But the first interaction I get with every worker... if it's a subcontractor or it's an AECOM person on site... is just that individuality of each person, so we understand that we build that relationship right from the ground level... so they feel that respect built right away, they feel that connection built right away. So, you start that relationship. My safety director, Dale Hartery, he always talks about hand on shoulder... that's one of his favorite lines. That's something I really try to show to people when they come in, it's very clear in our company to see that right from our VP, down to all our corporate, our site managers, and all our safety that work in the service industry. One of the biggest things we use is our human performance tools, that gives them the tools to see obvious things that can cause things to go better, to help them slow down. It gives them triggers to do what's right and not be rushing, not be causing something to cause an accident or an incident on site. We give them the tools that we put in front of them, the traps too, that could cause things to go wrong. So, we make it very clear, you know what, these are common things, stuff that cause problem, but it gives them that opportunity to see what's right. And then of course, we have all the different organizations in our company, through HR, through Morneau Shepell, through the counseling groups, that we can help them to treat anything that's going on. It's not just the physical things that go wrong. It's more the internal, the mental stuff, the mental health issues that people have, that now we can put them into the right place to get that help and get treatment. And I like what Quentin said earlier, a lot of things that we deal with in life, if it's a mental health issue, they don't go away. We need to treat them and figure out a way to manage them. And I think AECOM is getting way better at managing this part of mental health and being able to deal with it. JO  21:36 That's amazing. Trevor, you too have a personal story with mental health challenges. Can you share your story? TREVER  21:43 AbsoluteIy. Mental health challenges, feel like it's part of who you are. It's part of your fiber of your being. And sometimes it's so embedded, you don't know what it is. I grew up on a mixed farm Saskatchewan, had seven siblings, and we all had a part to play on the farm. When I was about 11 years old, my brother Emile, who was 18, passed away from cystic fibrosis. He was born with this disease, and it goes after your digestive and you're breathing. When he passed away, I had to grow up in a big hurry, and I was by no means ready for it at that time. And now I had to take over responsibility for the farm, I was the next person up to do the work and didn't really understand why. Wasn't a lot explained to me why I needed to step up. My dad wasn't very understanding with this specific issue and didn't have time for me to make mistakes along the way. After about five years of trying to figure out where I belonged, I ended up quitting school and moving out... basically running away. We never talked about things at home when it came to how we were feeling or going through. Usually there was a lot of hollering with teaching... very physical aspects to life. There was no point to make mistakes, I guess. When you made mistakes that wasn't looked on as a learning experience. When I can look back on things now, my mental health, my own issues were never dealt with. It was embedded so deep inside me that I never got a chance to talk to anybody about it, And I thought that was a dark part of my life that I didn't dare bring up. My opinion of mental health at that time was someone who was born with the physical disorder. You talk about stigma! To me, mental health wasn't something that you could even have in everyday life. It wasn't something you could deal with. And, in my opinion, it couldn't be corrected or dealt with. This was a huge stigma. I went to drinking and smoking fairly heavy, and at 14 basically became an alcoholic. I didn't know how else to deal with what was going on inside, didn't feel like it was going good enough for my own family, and really struggled for the next seven to eight years with where I belonged and what I should be doing. Feeling like I wasn't good enough really drove me to always try and be the best at anything I tried to accomplish, and not in a good way. I would go on to different jobs and different work jobs, and if I would learn a task, or a school, I would drive until I could be better than anybody on that site. Failure, when I did make a mistake, wasn't a learning experience. So, it basically crushed me. So went from getting into drinking and heavy smoking, into basically working every second of my life. I felt the more I could work, the better I would feel and wouldn't have to deal with those internal mental health embedded hurts and hang-ups which were just always there gnawing at me. I had a son at the age of 19. We were both in the party scene and didn't want to grow up and take care of responsibility. We got married before the baby was born and I ended up working away, of course...  workaholic... work before anything else, and she got into an affair and left me basically a year after the baby was a year old. After a couple of years of back and forth with our son trying to figure out where we could be in life... again, I was working like crazy because I thought that was the way to fix everything. I met a great young lady who had her life together. She was beautiful and really smart young lady who was going to college at the time, taking care of her two young boys. The moment we went on a blind date, set up by one of our cousins, I stopped smoking and drinking all the same night... so I got rid of something that was really causing a problem. This felt like the right thing to do. A year later we were married. As soon as we started out, my mom started to dictate how we lived and especially picked on my new wife, Cindy... on how she was doing everything completely wrong. My old hurts and hang-ups kicked in, and I went straight back into a workaholic... the stress of life knocked me down again. And I hadn't figured out a way to deal with my own mental health, and didn't dare talk to Cindy about it because, again, this was something that I thought you didn't dare bring out... you didn't talk about. And the stigma to me was, this has no value, I've got to somehow bury that and move on. Cindy and I now have been married for 24 years, and it's because of her love and patience and perseverance that have taken us this far. And I have to say very clearly, a year-and-a-half ago, when I went through this Mental Health {First Aid] course, there was so many things that opened my eyes to my own mental health issues that I dealt with. And Cindy and I... she's had an opportunity to see a part of me 23 years after we were married that she'd never seen before. The vulnerability that I've been able to bring to her has changed our marriage. And by no means is it 100%... there's still lots it has to be dealt with, but it's amazing. And what I've gone through in my life, I turned 50 this year, so I'm not quite caught up to Quentin yet, but passion for mental health and people, who I rub shoulders with every day, so not just at work... works very important... but anywhere I go. So, through COVID a big thing I always tried to do if I was out shopping, I keep my eyes up and I try to get eye contact. And if you just say, "Hello, how's it going?" You could just feel that isolation and the hurts of people. We couldn't rub shoulders. We can't hug anymore. We can't shake hands. But man, whatever I could do to show people that you care, and the expressions and the excitement, sometimes in people's voice to get that interaction was just amazing. JO  26:49 You both exemplify the power of vulnerability with the stories that you've shared. Quentin, first, when you're dealing with people in your union who are struggling with mental health challenges, do you share your story? And if so, how does that help those people? QUENTIN  27:09 It's funny that you should say that because when I first started mental health courses, teaching them, I was with a very good friend and colleague at the time, Dave Phillips, who is a family therapist for 30 years. My wife actually worked underneath him in Abbotsford. I remember getting into the weeds of it the very first time and feeling very nervous, because the initial platform was to our entire staff. And I'm about to open my life up in front of my colleagues, which means... and again, attached to stigma... what are they going to think? Here's a guy who's like completely unstable, and should we actually think about promoting him? Or should keep an eye on him? Or maybe we should send someone to visit all these things that kind of going through my brain. And so, the very first course I did, after we were debriefing, Dave just said to me, "Quentin, you got to jump in with both feet, man." I said, "Dave, you know my story, we're very good friends, and I'm not comfortable. What will people think?" He's like, "What have you got to lose? We're not just talking about you, we're talking about other people, and they can learn from your narrative." Your narrative is nothing to run from. It's everything for you to embrace and walk into. I do that... I am not afraid of speaking my story. I'm not afraid of saying I have clinical depression...that I have anxiety disorders... that I get panic attacks every so often. And sometimes I feel like I'm losing my mind. Some days are better than others. Not every day is filled with rainbows and ponies. For me, it becomes very vital that the first sort of entry into mental health is me, at least telling my story when I'm given the opportunity to. And so, every class, I start with my story, and then I turn it over and say, "Why are you here?" Jo, you would not believe the reaction that people have, once you step into that arena and say it's okay to tell me and to tell us, and for you to vocalize who you really are, and where you're really at. And it's amazing. There are people in there that in my 23 classes across the last number of years who have said to me, "I'm going to say something I've never said... I have bipolar." Or, "I live with schizophrenia." That's the first words out of their mouth. I'm telling you right now, Jo, there was a time, and not too long ago, where that was never your entering comment. And so, at the workplace, do the same thing... exactly what Trevor does. I try to maintain eye contact, and I know I can feel it when something's off. I don't necessarily ask a lot of questions, but I do take the opportunity to talk about, "Man looks like you guys got a pretty difficult job here. That must be really wearing on the brain. I know what it would do for me." I think those type of things, just to recognize what they're experiencing and what they're feeling. For me, it's an essential critical step. If you don't have that step, if I'm not sharing my story, my narrative... and my narrative doesn't have to work for everyone, it's not about everyone, it's about me.... but when I do that, it changes the environment. It lightens the air, and it allows people the permission to say, "You know what, things aren't really great... haven't been for a while. Here's what I'm dealing with." JO  30:27 What it does is it really engages people emotionally. And that's where things really start to happen. A personal example of mine is, when I was initially fundraising for the HEADS UP program, I would talk to people about what the program was and what our objectives were, and what our plans were. But when I shared my story of chronic anxiety... and like you, I have an anxiety disorder... when I share that story, people would lean into me. I could see their body language change and their interest in what I was talking about, just increase exponentially. I agree that that vulnerability is so critical. Trevor, how have you found the use of vulnerability to either help or hinder your work? TREVER  31:23 So, first off, when I did this course with Quentin, and I've been in safety now for seven years, but we did this course a year-and-a-half ago, we sat down at the course, I'll be very honest, I was pretty nervous. I was a little stressed about where's this was going to go. I've never gone through that before. Like Quentin said, he tells a story right from the beginning. It's like it knocks your socks right off. And everybody in the room, their eyes are wide open, and they want to speak, it just opens the room. He's not asking them to speak, he's not telling them to speak. People want to tell him their story and open up.  The vulnerability he gives to people… it's such a huge reaction. And I've been involved now with two of his courses, we did that one and three of us from our site went. And then we had a full course here on site with a very mixed group. And it's a true story. Like he says, it's real life. This is real, this isn't something made up. And people, just they want to tell their story. I had so many texts and phone calls that da, ye did it here on site, they couldn't believe that this is actually something that was happening. It opened up such a new part to our site that we've never had before. And it's still there. After COVID, we've had trouble getting training back, but it's slowly coming again. But for me, on a daily basis, this year not as much because we're a lot slower. But in 2019, we had 200 people on site, and almost on a daily basis people would come down and sit in my office, and some would be in tears when they show up... some would be having stresses going on. They would say, "You know what... this is what's going on in my life... this is what's happening at home... this is what's happened to me... my wife isn't doing good... my wife got cancer... I had a family member pass away." And they understand that because I've opened up with my story, what's going on in my life, that they can come to me and say, "Hey, this is what's going on." And they feel like I'm going to be able to either direct them, or just listen to what they have to say. And it completes them for that day. And either I give them the right that they should go home, or they should take a break. It's just that conversation. I don't tell them it's okay. But they have that feeling that now I've been able to open up. And it's part of a treatment that they feel good about, hey, somebody listened. I'm by no means a counselor. But that feeling they get when they leave, it is really good. JO  33:35 They feel they're not alone. And I think that's huge. And particularly during the time of COVID when people are feeling so isolated, people are feeling lonely. That sharing of stories and emotions, and solutions, and all of that great stuff becomes an antidote for isolation and loneliness. And people just realize that they're not alone. TREVER  34:04 I know when COVID hit last year, we had a quite a big group on site. And, of course, we had the COVID payments come from the government, and it was quite a disaster to start off. And I became an in-between person working with HR and payroll, trying to get these ROEs done and trying to get people paid. And some of them it took sometimes a month to almost a month-and-a-half to get there first cheque. And the stress that was caused by that was something we haven't seen for a long time because it happened so quick. The government wasn't ready. And there was a lot of dotted I's and crossed T's that weren't done. So, it took a long time to get people the right help they needed, just financially. So, to be part of that really helped to build a lot more relationships and build a lot more respect for people to be part of that. Again, it had to do with financial, but sometimes they'd be on the phone for 45 minutes just talking to somebody, just taking the time to listen and see what I could to just support that person, and it built again relationships. To me, really, relationship is so important with any mental health issues people are having, because then they feel comfortable to be vulnerable. It's just such a big key. QUENTIN  35:08 Not only that, but going, hey, you know what, no matter what the issue is, not only are there resources, but I can have a preferred future. I don't have to live under the weight of this. I can learn it is manageable. And for some disorders, some mental health issues are harder than others, you can live with them. And there's many examples out there of normal people living with significant issues, learning to manage them, and having good mental health, even though they have a significant mental health issue. JO  35:40 That's just such a good point, Quentin. And I know that, Trevor, you mentioned earlier about how every one of us is unique. And that's why every one of us needs to have a very special management plan. And for me, that includes medication, getting good sleep, good nutrition, regular exercise, support from my family, and my friends. As this unfolds in front of you, you will learn what those management strategies are for yourself. QUENTIN  35:56 And some work better for others. For me, I check all those boxes off too, Jo, maybe in different ways, but those are the boxes that I use as well. What's comforting is to know that there are resources, and that there is a way through these weeds, and that's a God send. When somebody in front of me not only feels comfortable telling me their story about issues they're dealing with, but also how they're dealing with it, that goes a long ways. TREVER  36:43 I understand that there's treatment, I think when that's the key. When you bring on the course, yes, now they have a mental health issue that they've been dealing with their whole life, or it's just come to light, like you said. Now it's out there, but all of a sudden, there's a way to treat this that they never knew was possible before. It's not just being open and vulnerable, but going through whatever avenue we can give them to get that treatment and living a normal life, still having that mental health issue. We talked about Speak Up when it came to mental health, quite a few years ago, and it was so short lived, that there wasn't really any help for it that we could see. And now, with this Mental Health First Aid course that we do, that you've been running for the last year-and-a-half, the treatment is there. We're treating this Mental Health First Aid course just like first aid when it comes to physical injury or when you're born with something that's physical. Stigma, we talk about. We take that away now and say, "You know what, it's no different than going to the doctor when you have cancer, or you've got anything that you have to deal with through life." At certain ages, as men, we've got to go ahead and get tested to make sure we don't have cancer for colon, all these different wonderful fun things we get done. But that's part of life on the physical side. Now we show up and say, "Hey, mental health is the same way. We've got to treat it just like physical illness or injury." And we can live life healthy, dealing with and treating our mental health. And I think that's something when we did these courses, people came out of it, looking at it saying, "Wait a minute, this isn't just some dark thing that we have to hide and put in the past. It's something we need to bring out and talk to people about to help them." But then we can treat this because it's a condition. It's real. It's a fibre of our being. We are born this way, or something pushed us that way. But it's part of our life. I think that's the exciting part of bringing mental health out the open is the treatment side of it. Because now we can help people. And because they have this mental health issue doesn't mean they can't live a healthy life, a good life, and be involved and do all the normal things that everybody else is doing, because we can take care of that. I'm so excited about the learnings I have for mental health. QUENTIN  38:42 There's no discrimination with mental health. It doesn't care who you are. It doesn't care how your status... doesn't care about your sexuality. It doesn't care about your worldview. It doesn't care about your ethnicity. It doesn't care about your social or economical background. It doesn't care, your gender, your religion, it really doesn't. There's no discriminatory pieces to this. It goes after everyone. It's a predator. It's a predator, though, that we not only know more about than ever before, but we're naming it more than we ever have. And we're calling it out. And we're saying, "Enough is enough. You've wreaked havoc long enough. And this is where I draw the line." And we can help people draw the line and go, "That's it." It's like Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings, when he's being chased by the fire demon, and he's across this bridge and he slams down his staff and he says, "You shall not pass." That's the picture of a resilient person who understands the issues, who has the resources and support and goes, "That's it. You have a corner… you stay in that room. That's all I'm giving you. You do not have access to the rest of my life, the way that you have in the past. I am the one, you are not." If we can deliver that, however it is that we do, not only will our workplaces transform, but our families, our relationships, our community, and most of all, with ourself... empathy for self, love for self, compassion for self. When we make those things available to us, even with significant mental health issues... that it's not a character defect, that it's not a problem with whatever it is with me, that there's nothing wrong with me... but when I can actually give myself the permission to feel those things and to accept those things, that is then much easier to give out.  JO  40:39 Wonderful input, thank you. I'd just like to step back for a minute. Quentin, in the union environment, how has people's interest in, and response to, mental health challenges changed over the years you've been doing this work? QUENTIN  40:57 Trevor and AECOM is a classic example. It's the acknowledgement that there's been this increased level of acceptance that mental health issues are real and common, and they're here to stay. And then it's a subject that's influenced lawmakers, HR departments, policies, lunchrooms. It's not as demonized as it used to be, the ones we shall not speak of, that's gone. That kind of mentality is making a quick exit, and it's increased the resources around us to assist people. Those are probably the top markers. JO  41:33 You both mentioned stigma... and you really can't talk about mental health without discussing stigma. So, Quentin, I'm really interested to know how stigma manifests in your members' work environments. Nowadays, I know that great progress is being made, but what are you noticing that still has to be dealt with? QUENTIN  41:57 Let me back it up for a second and just set this as the foundation. The Mental Health Commission of Canada and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety report that, nationally, an estimated, like I said...  35, and I refer to this early because it's really important... 35 million workdays are lost to mental health conditions amongst our 10 million plus workers. So, it's an estimated cost to Canadian employers of $51 billion [annually]. And like you said, Jo, it's going to just catapult after that. But this is the cost of direct services and loss of productivity. So, that's the stage it's on. What are the manifestations? Here's the ones that are most prominent, from my experience of what I've seen, is that there's this sort of denial and apathy... that, "I don't have an issue. It's not that big. Like, for years I didn't know I actually had an issue, or issues." I think language, there's stigmatizing words and ideas and statements and stereotypes and categorizations and interactions based on ignorance and insensitivity. Those are the two things... either you know, and don't care, or you don't know, at all. Not just language, but I just think of fear in general, that we fear what we don't know or what we don't understand.... ones we do not speak of. I think there's fear of repercussions. Actually, the Conference Board of Canada said that 65% of Canadian workers in the survey said they would not disclose a mental health problem to their employer for fear of repercussions, which could look like job loss or lack of promotion, or keeping an eye on somebody, you know, that little extra because you just in case they snap, or discrimination. A Health Canada survey said that 54% of people reported facing discrimination for their mental problems in the workplace. This is all workplace related. There's embarrassment and shame. [In the] Health Canada survey, 54% of respondents who met the criteria of anxiety-related disorders or mood-related disorders, or substance dependence, felt embarrassed about their mental health problems. And then there's a kind of dismissal. I found this astonishing when I came across this, but according to Benefits Canada, there's a survey that was done based on malingering rates in Canada's workplaces, which means you're faking it or exaggerating your issue, your workplace-related health issue. So, the national board for psychological safety in the workplace, they approximate that the malingering rate in Canada workplaces is about 15%, which means, Jo and Trevor, that 85% of the people that are expressing health-related or mental health-related issues are in fact not faking it. It's real. That's significant. But stigma goes, "There's Johnny again, got to pull the slack because he's got an anxiety disorder. Really, what it's code for is he just wants more time off." JO  44:53 So, before we go into how we're going to actually tackle these stigma-related issues, I just want to chime in with you, Trevor, about stigma within the energy industry. And I may be assuming too much, but it would seem to me that that's likely a male-dominated industry. And men in particular, have a hard time expressing their feelings. And perhaps there's the macho thing going on. Can you tell us about that? TREVER  45:28 Absolutely. I think that's a key thing. In oil and gas, especially in construction, it is still mainly men dominated. It's changed a lot in the last couple of years... you see a lot more women in this culture, in this industry... but it is still a lot of men. And I think, as men, we don't want to talk about this stuff. And we really single people out, we build even on a whole crew. You'll go into the lunchroom. and, you know, these guys work together, and all of a sudden Johnny's sitting over there, he's by himself, and yet he's a good worker out there. But there's something different about him that everybody has pushed him out. Or he does have anxiety issues, or things like that, that are slowing him down and he can't keep up with a group. And you see those guys singled out. And it's so important that when that happens for me, especially when I've been in safety, because I have this opportunity now to do that. Those are the people that I warm up to... those are the people that I want to find out their story. I don't want to use that to beat up the other crew. But I want to find out how I can start to deal with this, make it more open. So, everybody sees, you know what, there's nothing wrong with this person. They've got something they're dealing with, but you guys have to accept them for who they are. QUENTIN  46:35 It's really been helped out in the workplace... guys like Trevor and their companies and HR departments and management. There's lots of government legislation out there that helped minimize it in the sense that there's laws that govern the physical safety of the workplace. Those same laws also govern the mental health safety of each worker in their respective workplaces. Some of that stuff comes with other fines, or it could even include jail time. It's serious. We're not just making this up. There's laws that are helping us work through this issue. And like Trevor said, the idea that AECOM is actually celebrating it, normalizing it as a way that can help minimize stigma. Stigma is never going to go away, but the onslaught of further education continues to say, "Here's what's really going on. You break the ice behind here and this is the thing." Part of education for some employers also includes discipline, for those people that continue to be offenders by using these kinds of silos and stigmatizing phrases and sort of nasty behavior. There's discipline in the workplace for that, which is also governed by legislation, that a lot of contracts have 'respect in the workplace' articles, and what that looks like. And if you don't toe the line, this is what you can expect. So, all those things, I think, do help minimize stigma. But like I said, with mental health issues, I don't think stigma will ever go away. We can get the upper hand on it, which is what AECOM is working towards, which is what I'm working towards, but will never completely defeat it. It'll still be there to some extent because we're people, and it's a people thing, it's not some nebulous force. It's something that's part of who we are, unfortunately. JO  48:18 We heard from Trudy and Lisa earlier about key components of mentally healthy workplaces. And there were four primary ones. And this is where we bring part two of this episode into alignment with part one, we're going to talk about those four components... leadership, culture, peer support and training. Starting with leadership, Quentin, how does good leadership set the stage for a mentally healthy workplace?  QUENTIN  48:54 Buy-in at all levels. So, from the owner, to the manager, to the workers themselves, you have to have that buy-in. It starts with the owner. It starts with the CEO. It starts with whoever's at the top. If they own it, it's disseminated much better than if it's not. Proactive HR departments where they make progressive workplace policies, on things like bullying, harassment, or zero-tolerance policies... on behaviors that would stigmatize the workplace and its employees. There's occupational health and safety committees... them using their platform to make mental health an actual regular agenda item for the promotion, or the education, of mental health. And it's awareness. Things like celebrating Mental Health Day. There's the education thing like 'mental health first date' as Trevor's attested to a number of times. It's a powerful, powerful thing for education in the workplace. Education on what is bullying. I'm doing actually a course a couple of weeks from now talking about what is bullying and harassment in the workplace, and what it's not. Respect in the workplace is along the same kind of lines... respect for each other. And on site, companies that take toolboxes, they do their toolbox in the morning just to brief everybody. But some of those toolboxes now are starting to add in Mental Health Moments. That's another great place. And of course, I'm an advocate of proper discipline in the workplace. And what I mean by proper discipline is not just the discipline that's rendered, but it's how they arrive at what discipline we rendered. For instance, I've been advocating into our companies... to our signatories and HR departments... listen, you need to be adding mental health as part of the framing of your investigation. In other words, "Is there a potential mental health issue at play that we need to consider as a factor?" I can remember dealing with a health care unit... a company... and this person had patterns in absenteeism around Christmas for the last three years. This is a number of years ago, going back a number of years ago. And I asked the HR department, the directors, "Have you ever asked this individual why that is? Because you've made a bunch of assumptions here. And maybe there's something going on that we're not aware of?" They said, "I don't think that's my place." I said, "It is absolutely your place to ask." It's the same thing as if you suspect one of your employees might have an addiction to alcohol, you have to ask the questions… "Do you have a problem? Are you in need of assistance?”... these types of things. And I just said, “Listen, do you mind if I approach the individual and ask them?" And so, I did. And I said, "Hey, listen, I just came out of a meeting. They're concerned about this timeframe... every year for the last three years you take it off, or you don't bother phoning in, and then you just go to kind of AWOL." I said, "If there's something going on, that would help me explain the situation to them, that we might be able to reconcile this in a different way than just discipline. And this lady told me that, "Yeah, I'll tell you what it is... I have an anxiety disorder, and it peaks. And it started three years ago, when my aunt and my niece were coming to visit me, and they went through Rogers Pass and got in a head on, and both died instantly on impact. So, every year, the week before Christmas, my brain shuts down, and I can't handle it." I said, "Do you mind if I share this with the HR department, because this is significant, and we can get you help." Long story short, went in there and said, here's the reason. And what we ended up doing is that we're not going to discipline her, what we're going to do is you're going to give her a hall pass for the next couple of years. “We're going to give you the time off, just let us know if you need it. But we'll just make sure that you're off the schedule, so that you can work through this issue, not worrying about leaving us behind.” And within that two years, we also got her some help dealing with a cognitive behavioral therapist about her anxiety disorder  around it. You know what, two years later, different lady and learning how to manage it. And now it's like, every so often, every Christmas since then, maybe a day, if that at all, couple days, but a significant difference. That's what I'm talking about. That's very, very helpful. Or including mental health days as part of the definition of sick days. That's an important piece to put in there. And of course, I think, personally speaking, that the inclusion of personal days, either paid or unpaid, preferably paid into the collective agreement, covering off mental health days, including mental health days, like I said, as definitions of sick days. I think that's huge. I am a big advocate of that. JO  53:25 Trevor, what are AECOM leaders doing to build more mentally healthy environments for its workers? TREVER  53:33 I think a big thing with our leaders, for our VP Shawn Jubinville, he has made this such a big mission of his for the last two years to talk about mental health. So, it's coming down from above, to our corporate guys, to our site managers, to our project managers, to our directors. He is such a key part to our industry. And in that same breath, he's serving the people, coming to the same level so that servant leadership is so important, because then people feel like they can come to you. I've worked for a few different companies in my life, and usually a VP or a director, usually you feel like he's above you, he's so far away that you can't connect, or you can't contact him. When our VP comes to site, or he comes to talk to people, they feel open to talk to him. If they've got an issue, they want something resolved, they'll bring it up to him... he has such a good way to represent our company in that servant way. And it's so easy for me as a site safety, to serve the people here to show them that we want to take care of any mental health issues that come up. And Quentin talked about harassment, and people that get beat up, and we don't see it. They're getting harassed by words... are getting picked on. We've had quite a few different occasions on site where that came to my attention. And we do have the tools to discipline and deal with that very quickly, even quicker than sometimes an instant, because when it comes to harassment, and somebody is getting pushed to the side, getting bullied, we do not allow that. And you don't always get to see it right away, so that's where, when you come in as a servant, you come in at the same level as people, you don't come from above, it's easy for somebody to come over and say, "Trevor, this is what's going on, what do we do?"... because they're at a loss... they feel like they're up against the wall. We need to show anybody in our group that it's very important to speak up. JO  55:16 So, it looks like AECOM is doing a number of really incredible things to foster better mental health. What else could they be doing? You're down in the trenches doing this work every day. What else can they do to help in that move toward minimizing stigma and mental health issues? TREVER  55:38 I think a big thing is we just need to keep pushing and keep speaking up to make sure that our leadership hears that the sites need this. And the importance of it is the same as safety. It's the same as practices, procedures, all the stuff we deal with already this has to be pushed that same level. And I like what Quentin said, when it comes to benefits, we need to get sick days, we need to get things that support mental health, as well as they understand that this is something we need time to deal with. We need to pull away and take that break to recharge, reset, and get that special treatment.  QUENTIN  56:10 If I'm an owner of a company and I have a problem with absenteeism, or even presenteeism, it's a lot more cost effective, to be honest, to provide that in a contract, than for people to take two three weeks off and collect either medical EI or short-term disability. The numbers make sense from a fiscal

On this episode of Living Beyond 120, Dr Gladden and Dr Young talk to Christina Duran about Alpha-Stim Today’s show rundown: If you do not BELIEVE you can live to 120 – you will never get there.  What seems impossible can become inevitable.  When you break things down into simple / smaller things, you can absolutely get where you are trying to go. Alpha-Stim – a brief history.  It is an FDA approved device to treat insomnia, anxiety, and depression.  It  has no lasting side effects, no risk of addiction, and no danger of interaction with medications. Alpha-Stim helps you fight both the sleepless nights and the overwhelming sadness that can make it hard to get out of bed in the morning. It relieves both your nagging lower back pain and the constant burden of stress. Results are long lasting and often immediate. Mark talks about using the Alpha-Stim during his hypnosis sessions.  How it is a force multiplier for these sessions.  How at low output this device can help with getting people to relax, easier to get into a meditative state. https://www.alpha-stim.com/  

QEEG Guru Jay Gunkelman has been analyzing QEEGS for over 50 years joins our Neuropsychologists Dr. Laura Jansons and Dr. Skip Hrin Some epic quotes from "Jay G" re: DSM "You could burn it and flush it down the toilet and I think you've treated it appropriately" "It's the false standard to which we are held" "It doesn't predict anything but your billing" "Good administrative tool" Re: Insurance "They are in the business to deny coverage" Topics include: Autism The Signal In the Noise "Gunkelmentary" Walter Freeman "Jay G" suggested to bring on the show next... Santiago Brand and Martijn Arms Listener Ben P wrote in and asked and we answered: 1. I would love to learn more about methods of transcranial stimulation - or Alpha Stim - or - Len Oaks system- some method that involves actually running current into your body. 2. My primary issues are emotional based which manifest as OCD. I'd really like to hear how neurofeedback helps people, or case studies, deal with and work through emotional-based problems. Can neuro help someone develop the capacity for emotional connection for example?- Questions? Ideas for Topic or guest? Pete@NeuroNoodle.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/neuronoodle/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/neuronoodle/support

Prednisone and Insulin Resistance/Ketosis, Baby Led Weaning, Electrolyte Intake, Vasectomy- Yay or Nay?, Depression and Antidepressants Make your health an act of rebellion. Join The Healthy Rebellion Please Subscribe and Review: Apple Podcasts | RSS   Submit your questions for the podcast here   Show Notes: News topic du jour: Colchicine for Early COVID-19? Trial May Support Oral Therapy at Home — But some find science-by-press-release troubling 1. Prednisone and Insulin Resistance/Ketosis  [31:27] Sunny says: Hi. I've been on prednisone all year for ulcerative colitis. It's been difficult to stick to the right diet because of the cravings, yet that is critical for me to get right in order to get off of prednisone (I think I'm prednisone dependent, whatever that means, but I can't seem to get off it) so I feel stuck. It seems like no matter how well I eat for how long (paleo diet) I still get "sugar crashes". I'd really like to try full carnivore, but worry I will just feel sick the whole time because of the prednisone. What is prednisone doing to my insulin? Is there a way to overcome it? In the morning I have tried to do some intermittent fasting but I end up feeling ill if I don't eat. Thank you.   2. Baby Led Weaning  [36:35] Amanda says: Hi Robb and Nikki I'm very confused about how to best feed my baby. She's 10 months old now and we started solids at 6 months with letting her self feed bacon and raw or lightly cooked garden vegetables. She loved it. Our general approach was to give her whatever we're eating and it worked well initially since we try to eat relatively well. She's since been introduced to less desirable foods with her grandparents including french fries, bread, pasta, crackers, and pretty sugary fruits. It seems like all she wants to eat now is bread and frozen blueberries, not the delicious steak and fish offered. I try to stay chill about what she eats but she will now scream for blueberries at each meal and pick around her meat to eat only frozen blueberries. We've tried frozen mini shrimp to no avail. Is it bad to subsist on blueberries and breast milk? I've generally minimized non paleo foods but wonder if she needs to eat small amounts regularly to avoid allergies? I've read that exposure early and often is important in preventing allergies. As an aside, she won't eat purees and mostly wants to feed herself, not have food fed to her. Finally, is there any data suggesting an optimal breastfeeding duration? My baby seems to get most of her calories and liquids from breast milk still and I'm not sure when or if she will transition more towards solids. Thanks! Amanda   3. Electrolyte Intake [43:18] Josh says: Good morning, I have been on the Ketogenic diet for the last 2 weeks. I am definitely beginning to see the results that I am looking for. I'm curious about electrolytes though. About a week into this, i began to feel an irregular heartbeat, mostly in the evenings. I am a paramedic, so I was able to hook myself up to an EKG, and confirm a sinus arrhymthia. No detrimental side effects, other than just not feeling right. I began to start tracking my electrolyte intake( I have also been supplementing with LMNT), and quickly noticed my potassium intake was low(600-800mg/day). Since noticing this, I have been making a concerted effort to make sure my potassium intake has been increased. My question is this: since LMNT only has 200mg of K each, is it recommended to supplement with actual Potassium tablets? I have been drinking 2-3 LMNT drinks/day, as well as looking for foods that have higher levels of potassium in them, but it definitely seems like an essential electrolyte that is somewhat hard to come by naturally. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Josh   4. Vasectomy- Yay or Nay?  [49:04] Clint says: What’s up Robb and Nikki!? I’ll skip the normal “stats” other than I’m 36 years old, happy and healthy- well versed in the paleo ways of Cordain, Sisson, and most importantly- Wolf. My wife and I have two wonderful kids; a 4 year old and an 18 month old and we have a baby on the way in April (2 under 2- wtf is wrong with us?). I went for a routine physical and my doctor suggested getting a vasectomy since we aren’t wanting to have more kids. I’ve always been of the mindset of wanting to be here “for a long time- not necessarily a good time” meaning I take cold showers, fast from time to time, forego shitty foods, exercise regularly. I’m not a Ben Greenfield longevity bio hacker shining red lights on my balls- but I’d like to do what I can to live a long life. Are you aware of any health and longevity benefits/downsides to getting the old snip-snip? (Other than the benefit of not getting my wife pregnant again). Thanks for all you guys do for us mere mortals- keep fighting the good fight.   5. Depression and Antidepressants  [53:45] Andy says: Hello Robb and Nikki, I've had problems with depression off and on for several years now.  I recently saw a new therapist that my wife has known for 15 years and she is guessing that I've always lived with depression due to family history.  It has just happened that being a hard driving type A I've been able to cope and push through major depressive seasons. She has suggested going on an antidepressant to help me get over the edge and allow me to begin healing from long term depression.  I've always been reluctant to take them and haven't before but I'm feeling that this is probably a wise decision considering I have also had 2 great friends (nurse and social worker) suggest it.  The reason I'm thinking this makes sense is given the year I've had... COVID, 2 miscarriage's, 4 months of unemployment, business losses, and I'm sure I could name more. So, my 2 questions are 1. What do you think about antidepressants in my case 2. Do you have other suggestions that are easy to implement because major changes right now are very hard for me Now, a background on health.  First off, everything seems hard for me right now.  My symptoms include: insomnia, low energy, brain fog, lack of motivation to take action, low desire for sex (although once I'm going I'm fine).  I've also been drinking 2-3 beers a day for several months now as a coping mechanism which is really bad.  My diet is iffy, sometimes I'm good with a good amount of protein (probably not enough but sometimes 150g a day) some healthy fats in meats, olive oil, MCT oil, and some fruits and vegetables.  However, I often have several days a week that I will just not care and go to things like nachos and other carb food.  I don't tend to eat a lot of sugar or sweets but those do sneak in occasionally.  I've been working with a functional doc and the we tried addressing low T with Clomid and boron.  That got my T levels from 250ish to 960 and also caused MAJOR anger issues so we removed the Clomid and dropped the boron down.  The last testing we did was a dutch test in May and it showed low T again, but it also showed that I was clearing a massive amount of cortisol, like above 15k on that test. My exercise habits are pretty poor right now as well.  I was reffing 2 high school soccer games a week during the fall which equated to about 10 miles of running a week.  Now the only activity I am doing is a 6-7 mile hike (moderate difficulty) on Sundays. I'm currently taking the following supps: Morning - 10 mg boron, lithium 5 mg, ashwagandha 300 mg, ADK (5k iu D), Active B Complex from Klaire (double dose since I've shown a B deficiency and single dose didn't impact the deficiency).  Evening - 400 magnesium taurate, physphatldylserine 600 mg, zinc chelate 100 mg, trazedone 100 mg, melatonin 2 mg.  My doc also has me using an Alpha-Stim for 1 hour a day. Hopefully this gives you some good info on my background and may give you something to work with from a suggestion perspective. Thanks, Andy   Share the episode! If something in this show helped you please share the episode with your friends! Sponsor: The Healthy Rebellion Radio is sponsored by our electrolyte company, LMNT. Have you tried LMNT electrolytes yet? If not, this is the time to do it. Until January 31st, 2021 you can get a FREE 8 count sample pack (just pay shipping!). You’ll get: 2 sticks each of citrus salt, raspberry, orange, and RAW unflavored. Click here to get your free LMNT sample pack

While COVID-19 has the headlines, for many, 2020 has also become synonymous with back pain. Working from home has cast many people from their ergonomic office chairs to couches, spare bedrooms, and dining room chairs.  On this episode, our Back Talk Doc, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia, explores the benefits of utilizing electrical stimulation to combat those work-from-home back pains. Electrical stimulation, a form of neuromodulation, is essentially applying different types of electrical or electricity-based products and magnetic-based products to influence the physiology of your nervous system, that is, the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nervous system. (3:46) Dr. Lakhia identifies and briefly reviews three of the most common electrical stimulation devices. https://www.amazon.com/TENS-7000-Digital-Unit-Accessories/dp/B00NCRE4GO (TENS unit) (4:50): TENS stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and is available at any local pharmacy. The cost ranges from $50 to a couple of hundred dollars. The TENS unit stimulates the sensory nerves to block pain signals and generate endorphins. It is often used for the treatment of acute post-operative pain and chronic intractable pain. The downside to TENS is that it provides very short-term relief, sometimes providing relief only while being used, with a maximum relief window of 3-4 hours. https://www.alpha-stim.com/ (Alpha-Stim) (8:45): Alpha-Stim waveform electrotherapy is FDA approved for the treatment of chronic pain, anxiety, and depression and is one of the more well-researched neuromodulation devices for pain. The Alpha-Stim works with small electrodes that clip to your earlobe and send a low microcurrent 0.5-hertz frequency wave through cranial nerve connections from the ear into the deep pain centers of the brain. This can stimulate the brainstem as well as the cortex and affect serotonin, norepinephrine, other neurotransmitter levels. The Alpha-Stim can also be used with wand-like electrode probes that can be applied to each side of an affected area. The probes send quick electrical pulses to the area. The Alpha-Stim may also provide relief to patients suffering from insomnia and other back pain-related sleep problems. https://www.h-wave.com/ (H-Wave) (15:42): H-Wave is a multi-functional electrical stimulation device intended to speed recovery, restore function, and manage chronic, acute, or post-operative pain. The H-Wave delivers a low voltage current that promotes injury recovery and rehabilitation by stimulating muscles and can help prevent disuse atrophy. The H-Wave can provide significant relief, and, like the Alpha-Stim, it appears that the benefits of H-Wave are cumulative and lasting. So, over time, you get better and better results the more you use it. And it's an alternative to the use of prescription pain medication. The typical session lasts around 30 to 60 minutes. H-Wave is available both by prescription and offered as an OTC model. For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia's practice, visit https://www.backtalkdoc.com/ (BackTalkDoc.com) Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website at https://www.cnsa.com/ (carolinaneurosurgery.com).

When anxiety creeps in, go all out for finding friends who make you laugh.

On this encore presentation of episode 37, Dr. Hoye is joined by Col. Kathy Platoni, a military psychologist, and Indiana Licensed Counselor Robert Kallus. They discuss the use and research of the Alpha-stim device. The Alpha-stim is a home medical, neuromodulation device that treats anxiety, insomnia, depression, and pain.This little device has a long history of research and development. The Alpha-stim was developed in the 1980s by Dr. Daniel Kirsch. With over 135 clinical trials, including a recent ground-breaking study for anxiety in the UK, it is one of the most studied home health devices. You may have heard about it in interviews with people like decorated combat veteran Dakota Meyer.Kathy discusses her use of the device in her civilian practice as well as her use of the Alpha-stim in war zones with US combat troops to reduce stress and insomnia. She also discusses her research with the use of the Alpha-stim device with first-responders reduce anxiety and PTSD symptoms. Robert likewise reports about his experience of client success with patients in his private practice.

In this episode, we talk with Patrick, an Alph-Stim representative about the treatment that includes using electricity to treat pain, anxiety, insomnia, and depression using micro amperage electricity. We'll get into the science behind this fascinating treatment.

On this week's AHA Business Podcast, Allan speaks with Tracey Kirsch, president of Electromedical Products International, Inc. Tracey talks about Alpha-Stim, a new cranial electrotherapy stimulation technology that is used to treat anxiety, stress, insomnia, depression, and physical pain. She explains how the technology came to be and how she hopes to make it a more common medical treatment in place of addictive prescription drugs. For more information on Tracey's business and this medical treatment, please visit www.alpha-stim.com To learn more about Allan Hirsh Advisors please visit www.allanhirshadvisors.com

In this episode of the Talking Sound Podcast host Christopher Jordan is in the field at CES 2020 with the Tech Podcast Network walking the booths and checking out some of the latest and greatest technology just released and to be hitting shelves to be hitting shelves and distributors soon!0:00 https://youtu.be/5oLDTqZrHnA Our first stop takes us to the OUI Smart booth to talk with Co-Founder Bruno Lin about the amazing product for travelling Mac designers from ultra-light portables projectors to mega-thin portable USB screensOUI Smart is a company dedicated to delivering sustainable, high-quality tech solutions that improve everyday life. They love creating innovative products that improve people’s lives and are constantly looking for new technologies that will facilitate the use of our modern devices.At Oui Smart, we don’t re-invent the wheel. Oui are the wheel. We create products to make our customers’ lives simpler, while providing the superior quality and functionality that of a Swiss Army Knife. We are committed to designing products which identify problem that current nomad devices in the consumer electronics space are just not cutting it.12:10 https://youtu.be/5oLDTqZrHnAOur final stop on the CES 2020 tour for the day bring us to the Alpha-Stim booth to talk with Josh Briley, PhD, FAIS about the theory of operation behind this incredible medical device for treatment of PTSD, Depression and more.The Alpha-Stim electrotherapy device is proven effective and safe for pain management and treatment of anxiety, insomnia, and depression. It has no lasting side effects, no risk of addiction, and no danger of interaction with medications. Alpha-Stim helps you fight both the sleepless nights and the overwhelming sadness that can make it hard to get out of bed in the morning. It relieves both your nagging lower back pain and the constant burden of stress. Results are long lasting and often immediate.Treatments take only 20 minutes and you can use Alpha-Stim in the privacy of your own home or take it to work with you. The device is portable and the earclips are unobtrusive; you’ll look like you’re just listening to music.The Alpha-Stim electrotherapy device relieves post-traumatic, acute and chronic pain through painless electrical stimulation delivered via two handheld Smart Probes. It can be used on its own or in conjunction with physical therapy, medication and other forms of pain management.Alpha-Stim may seem too good to be true, but volumes of research over multiple decades prove it is a safe and effective therapy.The Talking Sound Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the official app for the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Visit the HC Universal Network online today to get all the latest from the Talking Sound Podcast and more great shows!

In this episode of the Talking Sound Podcast host Christopher Jordan is in the field at CES 2020 with the Tech Podcast Network walking the booths and checking out some of the latest and greatest technology just released and to be hitting shelves to be hitting shelves and distributors soon!0:00 https://youtu.be/5oLDTqZrHnA Our first stop takes us to the OUI Smart booth to talk with Co-Founder Bruno Lin about the amazing product for travelling Mac designers from ultra-light portables projectors to mega-thin portable USB screensOUI Smart is a company dedicated to delivering sustainable, high-quality tech solutions that improve everyday life. They love creating innovative products that improve people's lives and are constantly looking for new technologies that will facilitate the use of our modern devices.At Oui Smart, we don't re-invent the wheel. Oui are the wheel. We create products to make our customers' lives simpler, while providing the superior quality and functionality that of a Swiss Army Knife. We are committed to designing products which identify problem that current nomad devices in the consumer electronics space are just not cutting it.12:10 https://youtu.be/5oLDTqZrHnAOur final stop on the CES 2020 tour for the day bring us to the Alpha-Stim booth to talk with Josh Briley, PhD, FAIS about the theory of operation behind this incredible medical device for treatment of PTSD, Depression and more.The Alpha-Stim electrotherapy device is proven effective and safe for pain management and treatment of anxiety, insomnia, and depression. It has no lasting side effects, no risk of addiction, and no danger of interaction with medications. Alpha-Stim helps you fight both the sleepless nights and the overwhelming sadness that can make it hard to get out of bed in the morning. It relieves both your nagging lower back pain and the constant burden of stress. Results are long lasting and often immediate.Treatments take only 20 minutes and you can use Alpha-Stim in the privacy of your own home or take it to work with you. The device is portable and the earclips are unobtrusive; you'll look like you're just listening to music.The Alpha-Stim electrotherapy device relieves post-traumatic, acute and chronic pain through painless electrical stimulation delivered via two handheld Smart Probes. It can be used on its own or in conjunction with physical therapy, medication and other forms of pain management.Alpha-Stim may seem too good to be true, but volumes of research over multiple decades prove it is a safe and effective therapy.The Talking Sound Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the official app for the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Visit the HC Universal Network online today to get all the latest from the Talking Sound Podcast and more great shows!

In this episode of the Talking Sound Podcast host Christopher Jordan is in the field at CES 2020 with the Tech Podcast Network walking the booths and checking out some of the latest and greatest technology just released and to be hitting shelves to be hitting shelves and distributors soon!0:00 https://youtu.be/5oLDTqZrHnA Our first stop takes us to the OUI Smart booth to talk with Co-Founder Bruno Lin about the amazing product for travelling Mac designers from ultra-light portables projectors to mega-thin portable USB screensOUI Smart is a company dedicated to delivering sustainable, high-quality tech solutions that improve everyday life. They love creating innovative products that improve people’s lives and are constantly looking for new technologies that will facilitate the use of our modern devices.At Oui Smart, we don’t re-invent the wheel. Oui are the wheel. We create products to make our customers’ lives simpler, while providing the superior quality and functionality that of a Swiss Army Knife. We are committed to designing products which identify problem that current nomad devices in the consumer electronics space are just not cutting it.12:10 https://youtu.be/5oLDTqZrHnAOur final stop on the CES 2020 tour for the day bring us to the Alpha-Stim booth to talk with Josh Briley, PhD, FAIS about the theory of operation behind this incredible medical device for treatment of PTSD, Depression and more.The Alpha-Stim electrotherapy device is proven effective and safe for pain management and treatment of anxiety, insomnia, and depression. It has no lasting side effects, no risk of addiction, and no danger of interaction with medications. Alpha-Stim helps you fight both the sleepless nights and the overwhelming sadness that can make it hard to get out of bed in the morning. It relieves both your nagging lower back pain and the constant burden of stress. Results are long lasting and often immediate.Treatments take only 20 minutes and you can use Alpha-Stim in the privacy of your own home or take it to work with you. The device is portable and the earclips are unobtrusive; you’ll look like you’re just listening to music.The Alpha-Stim electrotherapy device relieves post-traumatic, acute and chronic pain through painless electrical stimulation delivered via two handheld Smart Probes. It can be used on its own or in conjunction with physical therapy, medication and other forms of pain management.Alpha-Stim may seem too good to be true, but volumes of research over multiple decades prove it is a safe and effective therapy.The Talking Sound Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the official app for the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Visit the HC Universal Network online today to get all the latest from the Talking Sound Podcast and more great shows!

In this episode of the Talking Sound Podcast host Christopher Jordan is in the field at CES 2020 with the Tech Podcast Network walking the booths and checking out some of the latest and greatest technology just released and to be hitting shelves to be hitting shelves and distributors soon! 0:00 https://youtu.be/5oLDTqZrHnA Our first stop takes us to the OUI Smart booth to talk with Co-Founder Bruno Lin about the amazing product for travelling Mac designers from ultra-light portables projectors to mega-thin portable USB screens OUI Smart is a company dedicated to delivering sustainable, high-quality tech solutions that improve everyday life. They love creating innovative products that improve people’s lives and are constantly looking for new technologies that will facilitate the use of our modern devices. At Oui Smart, we don’t re-invent the wheel. Oui are the wheel. We create products to make our customers’ lives simpler, while providing the superior quality and functionality that of a Swiss Army Knife. We are committed to designing products which identify problem that current nomad devices in the consumer electronics space are just not cutting it. 12:10 https://youtu.be/5oLDTqZrHnA Our final stop on the CES 2020 tour for the day bring us to the Alpha-Stim booth to talk with Josh Briley, PhD, FAIS about the theory of operation behind this incredible medical device for treatment of PTSD, Depression and more. The Alpha-Stim electrotherapy device is proven effective and safe for pain management and treatment of anxiety, insomnia, and depression. It has no lasting side effects, no risk of addiction, and no danger of interaction with medications. Alpha-Stim helps you fight both the sleepless nights and the overwhelming sadness that can make it hard to get out of bed in the morning. It relieves both your nagging lower back pain and the constant burden of stress. Results are long lasting and often immediate. Treatments take only 20 minutes and you can use Alpha-Stim in the privacy of your own home or take it to work with you. The device is portable and the earclips are unobtrusive; you’ll look like you’re just listening to music. The Alpha-Stim electrotherapy device relieves post-traumatic, acute and chronic pain through painless electrical stimulation delivered via two handheld Smart Probes. It can be used on its own or in conjunction with physical therapy, medication and other forms of pain management. Alpha-Stim may seem too good to be true, but volumes of research over multiple decades prove it is a safe and effective therapy. The Talking Sound Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the official app for the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Visit the HC Universal Network online today to get all the latest from the Talking Sound Podcast and more great shows!

In this episode of the Talking Sound Podcast host Christopher Jordan is in the field at CES 2020 with the Tech Podcast Network walking the booths and checking out some of the latest and greatest technology just released and to be hitting shelves to be hitting shelves and distributors soon! 0:00 https://youtu.be/5oLDTqZrHnA Our first stop takes us to the OUI Smart booth to talk with Co-Founder Bruno Lin about the amazing product for travelling Mac designers from ultra-light portables projectors to mega-thin portable USB screens OUI Smart is a company dedicated to delivering sustainable, high-quality tech solutions that improve everyday life. They love creating innovative products that improve people’s lives and are constantly looking for new technologies that will facilitate the use of our modern devices. At Oui Smart, we don’t re-invent the wheel. Oui are the wheel. We create products to make our customers’ lives simpler, while providing the superior quality and functionality that of a Swiss Army Knife. We are committed to designing products which identify problem that current nomad devices in the consumer electronics space are just not cutting it. 12:10 https://youtu.be/5oLDTqZrHnA Our final stop on the CES 2020 tour for the day bring us to the Alpha-Stim booth to talk with Josh Briley, PhD, FAIS about the theory of operation behind this incredible medical device for treatment of PTSD, Depression and more. The Alpha-Stim electrotherapy device is proven effective and safe for pain management and treatment of anxiety, insomnia, and depression. It has no lasting side effects, no risk of addiction, and no danger of interaction with medications. Alpha-Stim helps you fight both the sleepless nights and the overwhelming sadness that can make it hard to get out of bed in the morning. It relieves both your nagging lower back pain and the constant burden of stress. Results are long lasting and often immediate. Treatments take only 20 minutes and you can use Alpha-Stim in the privacy of your own home or take it to work with you. The device is portable and the earclips are unobtrusive; you’ll look like you’re just listening to music. The Alpha-Stim electrotherapy device relieves post-traumatic, acute and chronic pain through painless electrical stimulation delivered via two handheld Smart Probes. It can be used on its own or in conjunction with physical therapy, medication and other forms of pain management. Alpha-Stim may seem too good to be true, but volumes of research over multiple decades prove it is a safe and effective therapy. The Talking Sound Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the official app for the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Visit the HC Universal Network online today to get all the latest from the Talking Sound Podcast and more great shows!

Today we’re taking a deep dive into stress: what causes it, how it affects us, and the various ways we can treat it. As someone who has lived in a huge city for a long time and who travels frequently, stress has wrecked me in various ways — but I know I’m definitely not alone. Gallup reports that 55% of Americans are regularly stressed during the day, and things just seem to be getting worse, as stress-related mental health issues are notably more common in Gen-Z than previous generations. So, clearly, this is a big issue, especially within the United States — but the silver lining is that we do have the tools and knowledge necessary to reduce those statistics. That’s why I was keen to sit down with one of the foremost stress experts, Jim Poole, President and CEO of Solace Lifesciences. Solace Lifesciences is a neuroscience company focused on personalized evidence-based wellness and performance. They created NuCalm, the world's first and only patented technology clinically proven to lower stress and improve sleep quality — without drugs. And by managing the stress response, NuCalm also helps with muscle recovery, healing, focus, productivity, and emotional balance. I’ve tried hundreds of different biohacks and technologies, and I fall off of most of them after a few weeks. But when I find a modality or device that’s this effective, I just become obsessed with it (like happily making myself look like a crazy person on the plane obsessed). I’ve used NuCalm nearly every day since I got one, and it’s really like meditating on steroids.   Interesting in trying out the NuCalm yourself? You can save $500 using the code “luke500” at NuCalm.com.   10:07 — What are some of the most common causes of stress? Everything in modern life causes stress The biggest culprits are technology, the increasing pace of our world, and our food supply Stress is an even more insidious problem than many people think, as most of us aren’t aware of the long-term implications of constant stress on mankind and our planet There’s a cultural issue with work in the USA, with people wearing stress as a badge of honor, but this does seem to be moving in a positive direction The epidemic of overprescribing our children When you’re a teenager, your brain is developing — and adding drugs that suppress the central nervous system is really dangerous What we can learn about stress from Provo, Utah   17:58 — The experience of starting to use NuCalm NuCalm has a cumulative effect How learning the mechanism of action behind a biohacking device helps with compliance I’ve been meditating for a long time and I can do it just about anywhere, but it’s crazy how different I feel when I combine my practice with NuCalm   20:47 — How stress affects your brain and body Self-awareness isn’t always enough to stop a stress response, especially when related to trauma What you should know about your amygdala, cortisol, and adrenaline Reacting Vs. Responding How your brain changes when you have a fight or flight response A perceived threat is just as real as a real threat to your brain and body Why focusing on mindfulness is the best thing we can do to minimize our unnecessary stress responses The intimacy we have with our own stress (and that we never share) Negative thoughts have a greater impact on us than positive ones The difference between fear and anxiety Why does stress wreck our digestion? What the Dalai Lama said about meditation Why is meditation so difficult for some people?   47:00 — The neurotransmitters that calm us down + what’s happening in our brain when we do GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid) is responsible for anything anti-anxiety occurring in your brain chemistry We’d die without GABA — but, weirdly, most people have never heard of it How stress creates disease and kills us Most of us will die from stress There are plenty of things we can use to temporarily alleviate stress by stimulating our GABA receptors (alcohol, opiates, marijuana, etc), but these short-term solutions often have long-term negative side effects What about taking GABA as a supplement? Or Kratom instead of an opiate? What is the vagus nerve and how does it regulate our nervous system and mood?   59:23 — How the NuCalm has evolved over the past 10 years + why the most recent version involves putting a metallic sticker on your wrist NuCalm’s 10-year product evolution The chemical messaging of NuCalm How governments classify some things as a drug vs. a food (even when it doesn’t make sense) How the metallic sticker (it’s a little more complicated than that, but that’s what it looks like) leverages cellular communication through frequency What biohacks can you stack with NuCalm? What shouldn’t you stack? (Hint: don’t use it near anything putting off strong EMFs)   01:23:40 — The neuroacoustics of NuCalm How do binaural beats work and what’s the difference between those and these crazy NuCalm audio files? How these audio files induce specific brain states Composing music with mathematics Why they use scales that most people never hear in popular music How you can use frequencies to affect people both negatively and positively   01:55:10 — NuCalm inventor Dr. Blake Holloway create a mathematical platform that can be used to train your brainwaves in a wide variety of ways — and they are working with people like Tony Robbins to create products that achieve different outcomes Ignite, the neuroacoustic audio track that can hype you up instead of chilling you out NuCalm is designed to help every person on the planet, but Ignite is much more specific Why they don’t want someone using Ignite until they make NuCalm a habit What happens if you use NuCalm in addition to alcohol or marijuana The difference between NuCalm and other products out there using sound, like HUSO, Brain Tap, or Alpha-Stim   02:10:28 — Why is NuCalm so helpful for air travel and jetlag? I would freak out if I left home for a flight without my NuCalm today The case studies they’ve done with pilots The wonders of the 20-minute power nap   02:19:20 — The future of NuCalm The launch of Ignite is imminent They will be releasing their first new track for over a year Why do we feel like we can’t take 30 minutes out of our day to take care of ourselves? The more you train your brain with NuCalm, the more quickly you will experience its benefits when you use it Jim’s words of wisdom for the planet Try NuCalm in person in NYC: www.recover.nyc Try NuCalm in person in LA: www.drgalitzer.com   More about this episode. Watch it on YouTube.   Connect with Luke on social media to learn how to take your lifestyle to the next level, plus catch exclusive live interviews & events: INSTAGRAM - @lukestorey // https://www.instagram.com/lukestorey/ FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/MrLukeStorey/ TWITTER - @MrLukeStorey // https://twitter.com/MRLUKESTOREY YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/c/LukeStorey THIS SHOW IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY: BLUBLOX. BLUblox offers a complete range of evidence-backed blue light blocking glasses to suit every need (and, as a rad bonus, you won’t look like a tool while you’re wearing them). Plus, they even do prescription and reading glasses now, as well as an epic send your own frame service, both using the same world renowned blue light blocking lenses. I’ve also been digging their new REMedy Sleep Mask, which blocks out 100% of the light while you’re sleeping. And it’s not just great for better sleep — it can also be used for meditation, deep touch pressure therapy, air travel, and migraine relief! You can get all of this epicness and more by using the code LIFESTYLIST for 15% off at BLUblox.com.   AND...   CURED NUTRITION. Cured Nutrition makes some of the highest quality CBD-infused products on the market, all made from Colorado-grown organic hemp — and now they’re taking things to the next level with functional mushrooms and adaptogens combined with CBD! I also appreciate their dedication to transparency, which is a big problem in the supplement world. Each Cured product is third-party tested for potency, purity & the absence of harmful contaminants like microbials, pesticides and heavy metals. Fully aligned with complete transparency, they’ve even published the details directly on their website You can get 15% off by using code “lifestylist” at curednutrition.com.   AND…   SUPERFAT. There are certain fats that your body can’t make on its own so you have to get them from your diet. These are called “essential fatty acids.”  Almonds and macadamia nuts are two of the best places to get them, and that’s why the team at SuperFat have created a delicious line of on-the-go nut butter snacks based on these two healthy nuts. With only 3-5 net carbs per serving, SuperFat provides your body with a natural source of fuel — without the crash! Use code LUKE to get 15% off SuperFat nut butter snacks at SuperFat.com. HELP SUPPORT THIS SHOW! Love the Show? You’ll really love Luke’s Master Market Online Store!  It’s a win/win! Get direct links to all of Luke’s hand-picked biohacking and health products all in one place, get exclusive discounts, and support the show by making purchases through the web store >> SHOP NOW.   Other ways to support:  SUBSCRIBE >> Apple Podcasts + Stitcher + Google Podcasts + Spotify LEAVE APPLE PODCASTS REVIEW >> Simple step-by-step instructions SHARE >> Spread the word! Tell your family, friends, neighbors, and all your social pals Resources Use the code “luke500” to save $500 at www.nucalm.com Try NuCalm in person in NYC: www.recover.nyc Try NuCalm in person in LA: www.drgalitzer.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/NuCalm Twitter: twitter.com/NuCalm Liposomal GABA with L-Theanine Jimmy Paige: www.jimmypage.com Brother Craig Marshall: www.nucalm.com/brother-craig Dr. G. Blake Holloway: www.nucalm.com/g-blake-holloway-m-phil-nd Related Shows Episode 94: The Walking Dead And The Path Of Enlightenment Part One With Jeff Kober Episode 95: The Walking Dead And The Path Of Enlightenment Part Two With Jeff Kober

While our medical industry tends to try and solve problems with drugs, there can be many other ways to solve the same problem. For example, many people are incapable of taking medication for insomnia because of work obligations. There is also the possibility of side effects, like more serious health conditions or even addiction. To help overcome these issues is Alpha-Stim.How does Alpha-Stim work?Rather than medication, the Alpha-Stim system works by using electrical impulses. The reasoning behind the method is that 98 percent of the human nervous system is electrical, not chemical. By using the cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) device, people have the potential to treat anxiety, depression, insomnia, and physical pain.The device is in two pieces: the control pack and the ear clips. Together, they look like an MP3 player and earbuds. While the most common usage will be in the privacy of your home, if you were to use it in public, you'll look like you're just listening to music. A session takes 20 minutes and involves incredibly low power - so small that most people never consciously feel it.Why choose Alpha-Stim?While there are other entrants in the personal electrotherapy market, most are not backed by empirical evidence. Alpha-Stim, on the other hand, is. The company provides various studies of the technology showing how it can be effective for various pain management scenarios, as well as insomnia and depression.It is important to note that our staff have not tested the device and cannot speak to personal experiences with it. However, published scientific and clinical studies certainly help alleviate some of the concerns generated by late-night infomercial products making unbelievable claims.Alpha-Stim has two models available ranging from $795 to $1195. You can also get more detailed information about the products and read some of the studies on their website, as well.Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.Sponsored by: Get $5 to protect your credit card information online with Privacy. Amazon Prime gives you more than just free shipping. Get free music, TV shows, movies, videogames and more. The most flexible tools for podcasting. Get a 30 day free trial of storage and statistics.

While our medical industry tends to try and solve problems with drugs, there can be many other ways to solve the same problem. For example, many people are incapable of taking medication for insomnia because of work obligations. There is also the possibility of side effects, like more serious health conditions or even addiction. To help overcome these issues is Alpha-Stim.How does Alpha-Stim work?Rather than medication, the Alpha-Stim system works by using electrical impulses. The reasoning behind the method is that 98 percent of the human nervous system is electrical, not chemical. By using the cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) device, people have the potential to treat anxiety, depression, insomnia, and physical pain.The device is in two pieces: the control pack and the ear clips. Together, they look like an MP3 player and earbuds. While the most common usage will be in the privacy of your home, if you were to use it in public, you'll look like you're just listening to music. A session takes 20 minutes and involves incredibly low power - so small that most people never consciously feel it.Why choose Alpha-Stim?While there are other entrants in the personal electrotherapy market, most are not backed by empirical evidence. Alpha-Stim, on the other hand, is. The company provides various studies of the technology showing how it can be effective for various pain management scenarios, as well as insomnia and depression.It is important to note that our staff have not tested the device and cannot speak to personal experiences with it. However, published scientific and clinical studies certainly help alleviate some of the concerns generated by late-night infomercial products making unbelievable claims.Alpha-Stim has two models available ranging from $795 to $1195. You can also get more detailed information about the products and read some of the studies on their website, as well.Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.Sponsored by: Get $5 to protect your credit card information online with Privacy. Amazon Prime gives you more than just free shipping. Get free music, TV shows, movies, videogames and more. The most flexible tools for podcasting. Get a 30 day free trial of storage and statistics.

Question 1: 0-19:25 Marge from North Carolina “Hi Dr. Berne! I'd love to ask if you have any comments, advice or ideas on how to help with Tinnitus? I've had severe anxiety for 35+ years now and have tried so many things over the years, including the Alpha-Stim device. Started using the Alpha-Stim in July of 2019, and by early August, I had developed Tinnitus! Immediately stopped using the Alpha-Stim. They have no explanation as to why this happened, but it has. Now I don't know what to do about it. I was also wondering if you had some ENT expertise along with eyes…? Coclear Nerve Inflammation is what I read causes it, is this bunk or true? Would appreciate any feedback. So much whacky stuff out there, supplements, hearing aids and stuff! Thanks for all you do!” Question 2: 19:26-25:53 Ray from Tucson, AZ asks: “I suffer from dry eyes, Pterygiums and Floaters. What can you offer me?”

Question 1: 0-19:25 Marge from North Carolina “Hi Dr. Berne! I'd love to ask if you have any comments, advice or ideas on how to help with Tinnitus? I've had severe anxiety for 35+ years now and have tried so many things over the years, including the Alpha-Stim device. Started using the Alpha-Stim in July of 2019, and by early August, I had developed Tinnitus! Immediately stopped using the Alpha-Stim. They have no explanation as to why this happened, but it has. Now I don't know what to do about it. I was also wondering if you had some ENT expertise along with eyes…? Coclear Nerve Inflammation is what I read causes it, is this bunk or true? Would appreciate any feedback. So much whacky stuff out there, supplements, hearing aids and stuff! Thanks for all you do!” Question 2: 19:26-25:53 Ray from Tucson, AZ asks: “I suffer from dry eyes, Pterygiums and Floaters. What can you offer me?”

On episode 37 of the Chicago Psychology Podcast, Dr. Hoye is joined by Col. Kathy Platoni, a military psychologist, and Indiana Licensed Counselor Robert Kallus. They discuss the use and research of the Alpha-stim device. The Alpha-stim is a home medical, neuromodulation device that treats anxiety, insomnia, depression, and pain.   This little device has a long history of research and development. The Alpha-stim was developed in the 1980s by Dr. Daniel Kirsch. With over 135 clinical trials, including a recent ground-breaking study for anxiety in the UK, it is one of the most studied home health devices. You may have heard about it in interviews with people like decorated combat veteran Dakota Meyer.   Kathy discusses her use of the device in her civilian practice as well as her use of the Alpha-stim in war zones withUS combat troops to reduce stress and insomnia. Sh also discusses her research with the use of the Alpha-stim device with first-responders reduce anxiety and PTSD symptoms. Robert likewise reports about his experience of client success with patients in his private practice.   Alpha-stim Website   Kathy Platoni's Website   Robert Kallus's Website   Link to Research on CES of Resting Brain State   Link to Article on UK Study on Anxiety   Dakota Meyer Interview with Alpha-stim  

Dr. K. invites the Chief Science and Clinical Officer Dr. Jeff Marksberry of Alpha Stim to join him to uncover the world of "electro-medical" products. Learn how sending a micro-current of electricity across your brain can help you with anxiety, insomnia and depression. Find out how the device works, when to use it, who it's intended for as well as why it was created. If you already have a sleep supplement stack, a mindfulness practice, mushroom coffees or any of the above, then you need to pay attention to this emerging technology.Interested in boosting your HRV, want to hack your meditation? Alpha-stim has both clinical indications and is now being introduced to the biohacking world as another option to help you feel better, sleep better and have more productive days.Support the show (https://www.instagram.com/sleepbiohacker/)

Dr. Jeffrey Marksberry joins Mark and Dr. Gladden on this episode to discuss the electrostimulation device Alpha-Stim, which runs a low microcurrent through the brain or body. In the brain, it simulates endorphins and serotonin to treat anxiety, insomnia and depression. In the body, it treats peripheral pain. The nervous system is 98% electrically induced, and Dr. Marksberry explains how the treatment works for patients. They discuss how this device can help enhance mental function, exploring the possibilities when paired with other treatments for improved human performance. Dr. Gladden describes some of his own experiences with Alpha-Stim as well. About the guest: Dr. Jeffrey Marksberry serves as the Chief Science & Clinical Officer for Electromedical Products International Inc. (EPI). Dr. Marksberry has more than ten years of experience in medical education as a special consultant for two international medical schools. He also has expertise in medical licensure regulations for all 50 states and sovereign Native American governments as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and The Netherlands. His focus areas included writing curriculum for continuing medical education programs for medical schools and universities. In 2014, Dr. Marksberry was granted the designation of Certified Clinical Research Professional by the Society of Clinical Research Associates.  In 2015, Dr. Marksberry co-authored a chapter in the book Bioelectromagnetic and Subtle Energy Medicine 2nd Edition. (Kirsch DL and Marksberry JM. The Evolution of Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation for Anxiety, Insomnia, Depression and Pain and Its Potential for Other Indications, p 189-209. Bioelectromagnetic and Subtle Energy Medicine 2nd Edition, Rosch, Paul J. (Ed) CRC Press Boca Raton.)

There's a new way people are getting relief from anxiety, insomnia, depression and pain that doesn't require taking a pill. It's called Alpha-Stim and Dr. Hallowell has seen promising results with his patients who've tried it. Listen and learn about this non-invasive treatment that provides quick and safe relief of symptoms without medication.  To learn more visit Alpha-Stim.com. To experience the Alpha-Stim technology call Rebecca Shafir at the Hallowell Center at 978-287-0810.  This episode is sponsored by Landmark College in Putney, Vermont. 

A little device called the Alpha Stim is discussed in today’s show when Peter Mabbutt chats to hypnotherapist Richard Morley about its potential role in hypnotherapy and therapy in general.   The Microcurrent sites can be found here:   www.alpha-stim.co.uk     www.alpha-stim.com     For a bibliography of research into the Alpha-Stim:   http://www.alpha-stim.com/healthcare-professionals/research-and-reviews/     Richard can be contacted at:   0044 (0) 7973 227 492     www.hypnonlp.co.uk          

Cindy will talk about her experience with hypnosis, her study of alternative health methods and how this led her to Alpha-Stim. She will discuss what Alpha-Stim is and how it works for pain, depression, anxiety and stress.

Cindy will talk about her experience with hypnosis, her study of alternative health methods and how this led her to Alpha-Stim. She will discuss what Alpha-Stim is and how it works for pain, depression, anxiety and stress.

Cindy will talk about her experience with hypnosis, her study of alternative health methods and how this led her to Alpha-Stim. She will discuss what Alpha-Stim is and how it works for pain, depression, anxiety and stress.

Cindy will talk about her experience with hypnosis, her study of alternative health methods and how this led her to Alpha-Stim. She will discuss what Alpha-Stim is and how it works for pain, depression, anxiety and stress.