Podcasts about rootstown

In this week's episode of the Gaining Health Podcast, host Karli Burridge speaks with Dr. Rukhsana Iqbal about the intersectionality of mental health, eating disorders, and obesity. They discuss the bi-directional relationship between obesity and mental health disorders, trauma-informed care, the importance of shared decision making and patient-centered care, managing weight-promoting anti-depressant and anti-psychotic medications, diagnosing and managing eating disorders in patients with obesity, and important take-aways for effectively managing patients who are affected by mental health disorders, eating disorders, and obesity. Dr. Iqbal is a board-certified physician and specializes in treating patients with both medical and psychiatric illness. She received her medical degree from Northeast Ohio medical university in Rootstown, OH and went on to do a dua residency in Family Medicine and psychiatry at university Hospital/ case Western Reserve University in Cleveland OH. She then completed her fellowship in consult-liaison psychiatry at northwestern university in Chicago IL. She has practiced as an adult psychiatrist at Hinsdale behavioral health in Hinsdale IL for the past 13 years. She is an adjunct professor at Midwestern University in Downers Grove, IL and teaches family medicine residents from Loyola MacNeal hospital in Maywood, IL. Support the showThe Gaining Health Podcast will release a new episode monthly, every second Wednesday of the month. Episodes including interviews with obesity experts as well as scientific updates and new guidelines for the management of obesity.If you're a clinician or organization looking to start or optimize an obesity management program, and you want additional support and resources, check out the Gaining Health website! We offer monthly and annual Memberships, which include live group coaching, a community forum to ask questions and post resources, pre-recorded Master Classes, digital resources inlcuding patient education materials and office forms, and much more! We also sell our popular Gaining Health products, including a book on developing an obesity management program, editable forms and templates, and patient education materials in our Gaining Health Shop! If you are loving this podcast, please consider supporting us on Patreon

Thursday, September 28, 2023: Akron woman who killed her mom with an iron skillet and knife has been sentenced to prison despite her attorney's claims of mental illness. Plus, we share what we know about a man found stabbed who later died in downtown Cleveland. We also have the latest on a grandfather arrested for aggravated menacing when a woman saw him wearing a Michael Myers mask and waving a knife while he said he was playing with his 6-year-old grandson. Our investigative teams follows up on why Cleveland Police are upset about a story claiming there are 1,000 missing children in the city, and we remind you that authorities are still searching for Keshaun Williams. In Lorain, we tell you which drugs and what kind of weapon a man allegedly had in a home less than 1,000 feet from two schools, while in Rootstown, we report on a man arrested after side-swiping a school bus. In other news, we share what you need to know to watch this year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony live from your home, the special event happening in Playhouse Square tonight, how Heinz is cashing in on a post about Taylor Swift, and more on 3News Daily with Stephanie Haney. Watch Stephanie Haney's Legally Speaking specials and segments here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_SLtTChKczKEzKhgSopjxcmFQniu28GN Connect with Stephanie Haney here: http://youtube.com/@_StephanieHaney http://twitter.com/_StephanieHaney http://instagram.com/_StephanieHaney http://facebook.com/thestephaniehaney Read more here: Sydney Powell sentenced for mother's 2020 murder in Akron https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/akron/sydney-powell-sentenced-murder-mother-akron-trial-guilty/95-1254955d-0183-4da1-ba16-2a43c1560d1b 3News Investigates: Verifying viral headlines stating '1,000 Kids Missing in Cleveland' https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/investigations/3news-investigates-verifying-headlines-reporting-1000-kids-missing-cleveland/95-51c07192-3476-419e-9e66-c244d50b4aa9

Today, we're joined by Kellie and Mike Gregg, owners of Rootstown Reindeer. This exciting business, which started as a "dream," is now a successful agri-tourism attraction for people of all ages!

Daily Mass Readings and reflection for 12/01/22 from Fr. Zachary Coulter from St. Peter of the Fields in Rootstown, Ohio.

Daily Mass Readings and reflection for 11/30/22 from Fr. Zachary Coulter from St. Peter of the Fields in Rootstown, Ohio.

Daily Mass Readings and reflection for 11/29/22 from Fr. Zachary Coulter from St. Peter of the Fields in Rootstown, Ohio.

Daily Mass Readings and reflection for 11/28/22 from Fr. Zachary Coulter from St. Peter of the Fields in Rootstown, Ohio.

Daily Mass Readings and reflection for 11/27/22 from Fr. Zachary Coulter from St. Peter of the Fields in Rootstown, Ohio.

have an outdoor theme (watch out for poison ivy!). The second half of the show features an interview with the beautiful adult performer and feature dancer, Aliya Brynn! Dick talks about her show at Thee Diamond Lodge in Rootstown, OH, and when the interview begins, she talks about recent scenes and movies, her dog, working in an award show, fan art, noisy neighbors and more. This talented woman kills it on stage and on the microphone! So bask in the glory of your favorite guilty pleasure and Dangle On!

  It's SPRINGTIME along the Lake Eeeerie coast and you know what that means, Bigfoot search time!   Considered one of the "Squatchiest States",  a recent film shows a Bigfoot sighting in Rootstown, where Miss X spent some of the happiest times of her childhood. It appears to be fake. Miss X has heard online that apparently there are a lot of Bigfoot sightings down in the Knoxville, Tennessee USA area, and ghostly sightings as well! We explore these sightings tonight with information from the Angry Grandma and 'Sam'.  (First photo is from you tube monster quest on Grassman still, not for monetary gain, educational and entertainment purposes only- Flicker photo credit given; entertainment and no financial gain)  

Episode 230: Chase Leonelli, Wellness Manager for Sequoia Wellness at NEOMED in Rootstown, OH, joined us to talk about how to fit fitness in our every day lives.  For more information about the PCSC, visit PortageCountySafetyCouncil.com today!

This episode deals with the question of weight gain from antipsychotic medication: I'm on 20 milligrams of olanzapine. It's helping me and I don't want to change it. The only thing is that I've gained a lot of weight that makes me feel very unattractive. I've spoken to my psychiatrist about it, but I haven't gotten any guidance on the matter. Are there any solutions to weight gain from this kind of medicine? Modern antipsychotic medications can be very helpful for some people. And they are less likely to cause neurological side effects, compared to their first-generation predecessors. However, many of these newer medicines can cause someone to gain significant amounts of weight. This is a serious problem that the psychiatric profession (in my view) has been very slow to address. In this episode, Dr. Erik Messamore describes several strategies that can reduce the risk of medication-related weight gain or that can reverse weight gain once it has started.   Strategy 1. Choose antipsychotic medications with low weight gain risk Different antipsychotic medications come with different degrees of weight gain risk. Table 1 in this open-access medical journal article lists medications with higher or lower risk of weight gain. The graph in this article also illustrates the differences in weight gain risk among the various antipsychotic medications.   Strategy 2. Switch to an antipsychotic medication with lower weight gain risk People who have gained weight from higher-risk medications – like quetiapine (Seroquel) or olanzapine (Zyprexa), for example – may lose weight after switching to a lower-risk medication. On the other hand, some people (like the person who sent in today's question) might mostly like their current medication, or may not want to take the risks involved in medication switching (e.g., the switched-to medication might not work as well, or might have other side effects). In situations like these, there are several weight loss options worth considering.   Strategy 3. Diet and exercise to reduce weight from antipsychotic medication Many studies show that antipsychotic-induced weight gain does respond to standard diet or exercise interventions. A relatively small reduction of 150 calories per day can lead to about 16 pounds of weight loss over a year. For many people, that can be achieved by sticking to natural, whole foods and avoiding processed foods with a lot of carbohydrates or added sugars. Exercise and physical activity can enhance weight loss. And numerous studies show that exercise can improve mood, reduce anxiety, increase cognitive performance, and reduce symptoms of psychosis. Very low carbohydrate diets like the ketogenic diet are popular these days. These diets are designed to reduce insulin levels, which can make it easier to lose weight (because insulin is a fat-storage signal). Many people who undertake these diets can maintain calorie deficits without feeling hungry. Several case reports and a small clinical study suggest that the low-carb/ketogenic diet might help some people with schizophrenia, psychosis, or bipolar disorder to experience fewer symptoms.   Strategy 4. Metformin to reduce weight from antipsychotic medication Metformin is a widely-used treatment for type-2 diabetes. It improves the body's insulin signals and reduces spikes in blood sugar. Metformin can also help people without diabetes to lose weight. And there are many studies showing the metformin can reduce weight in people who have gained weight from antipsychotic medications.   Strategy 5. GLP-1 Agonists to reduce weight from antipsychotic medication GLP-1 is an abbreviation for glucagon-like peptide 1. The GLP-1 agonist drugs mimic the action of natural GLP-1. They optimize the body's insulin responses and reduce appetite. Some of these medications – liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda); semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy) – even have FDA approval for treating obesity. Lirgalutide has been studied in weight gain from antipsychotic medication and appears to produce more weight loss than metformin.   Strategy 6. Melatonin might reduce weight gain from antipsychotic medications This episode mentions that some studies show that melatonin might reduce the amount of weight gained from antipsychotic medication, while at the same time helping to further reduce symptoms of psychosis. The studies referred to are: Romo-Nava F et al. (2014) Melatonin attenuates antipsychotic metabolic effects: an eight-week randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled clinical trial Modabbernia A et al. (2014) Melatonin for prevention of metabolic side-effects of olanzapine in patients with first-episode schizophrenia: randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. Mostafavi A et al. (2014) Melatonin decreases olanzapine induced metabolic side-effects in adolescents with bipolar disorder: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.   Summary and suggestions Although the psychiatric profession has been slow to respond to the problem of antipsychotic-related weight gain, there are several options that can reduce the risk of weight gain or that can help someone lose weight. Many psychiatrists are aware of these options and are willing to help. But in cases where the psychiatrist does not know about these options or does not have experience with prescribing medications to assist with weight loss, it's likely that a general practice doctor or an endocrinologist does. The goal of treatment is always to maximize improvement and to avoid side effects whenever possible. And in cases where side effects are unavoidable, the goal should be to minimize them as much as possible. If you're concerned about weight gain, there are options and solutions. Your health care provider should be able to address them, or refer you to someone who can.   Topics 0:44 This episode's question is about weight gain from antipsychotic medication 1:20 – How common is the weight gain problem? 5:49 – Which medications are more likely (or less likely) to cause weight gain? 12:38 – How to these medications lead to weight gain? 15:27 – What are some strategies to prevent or reduce weight gain from antipsychotic medications? 20:56 – How effective is diet and exercise for antipsychotic-related weight gain? 26:28 – Suggestions for someone who is concerned about weight gain from antipsychotic medications.   About the Podcast: Dr. Erik Messamore is a board-certified psychiatric physician and PhD-level pharmacologist. He's a consultant psychiatrist, researcher, lecturer, teacher, and solution-focused scholar currently affiliated with the Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown, Ohio. He is joined on this podcast by Melissa Xenophontos, a journalist, radio producer and longtime mental health advocate. Send us a question   Useful Links Dr. Erik's website and blog Podcast website Ask A Psychiatrist YouTube Channel

What is akathisia? Akathisia is a relatively common medication side effect. Akathisia is a feeling of restlessness that many people find difficult to describe. Many people with akathisia say that it makes them feel like they would like to crawl out of their skin.   What does akathisia feel like? Akathisia can be just an uncomfortable feeling. But for many people that feeling of restlessness translates into not being able to sit still. (Akathisia comes from Greek words that mean “not able to sit down”). It can involve fidgeting, or not being able to sit down or lie down for very long without having to move. Akathisia can manifest as walking or pacing as well.   What causes akathisia? Akathisia is sometimes a symptom of neurological illnesses (like Parkinson's disease), but most of the time akathisia is a medication side effect. Medications used to treat psychosis or schizophrenia are the most common cause of akathisia. But antidepressants can cause akathisia. So can some treatments for nausea or vomiting.   Akathisia treatment   Akathisia is relatively easy to treat. The most common treatments for akathisia are: reducing the dose of the medication that's causing it, or getting rid of the medication and switching to a different one. The most common medication treatments for akathisia are propranolol or lorazepam. Other treatment options that have been studied include: cyproheptadine, vitamin B6, benztropine (Cogentin), or diphenhydramine (Benadryl).   In this week's episode, Melissa and Dr. Erik answer questions like: What is akathisia? What causes akathisia? What are the best treatments for akathisia?     Topics covered: 0:44 What is Akathisia?   02:11 Akathisia can consist of feelings or of movements.   3:32 What causes Akathisia?   6:36 Akathisia is a frequently missed or unrecognized side effect.   7:59 Why is Akathisia an often-unrecognized side effect?   10:40 The feeling of Akathisia is hard to express   14:25 A description of what Akathisia looks like   20:20 What to do when a medical problem does not respond to textbook solutions?   23:59 Antidepressant medications can cause Akathisia   26:17 Some medications for nausea or vomiting can cause Akathisia.   28:25 A tragic story of missed Akathisia in the emergency department   30:18 Advice and possible solutions for someone who might be experiencing restlessness   33:07 Weighing your options and choosing the right medications         About the Podcast: Dr. Erik Messamore is a board-certified psychiatric physician and PhD-level pharmacologist. He's a consultant psychiatrist, researcher, lecturer, teacher, and solution-focused scholar currently affiliated with the Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown, Ohio. He is joined on this podcast by Melissa Xenophontos, a journalist, radio producer and longtime mental health advocate. Send us a question Useful Links Dr. Erik's website and blog Podcast website Ask A Psychiatrist YouTube Channel

This week's listener question was “is there any new research about curing anosognosia?” Anosognosia is a medical term derived from Greek root words that mean “lack of disease knowledge.” Although anosognosia started off as a neurological concept, it's also very common for people with psychiatric conditions to have no awareness that their symptoms are unusual, or that they could indicate the presence of a mental illness. Emerging data suggest that impaired insight in mental illness might -- like neurological anosognosia -- involve those outer layers of the right side of the brain. It turns out that a unique form of brain stimulation that activates the right brain can temporarily reverse anosognosia in people who have had strokes... and in people with insight-impairing bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. The studies are small. And the findings are preliminary. But the results open the possibility of treating bipolar disorder or schizophrenia without medications. And the data also suggests very strongly that insight impairment in psychosis is more like the anosognosia typically seen in neurological disorders than the commonly assumed psychological denial or willful disregard. Companion YouTube video about vestibular stimulation as a possible mania-reducing, psychosis-reducing, and insight-improving treatment in bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.   Topics covered 1:01 – What is anosognosia? 1:45 – Is anosognosia a form of psychological denial? 3:19 – Psychological defense mechanisms versus willful denial of illness? 4:15 – The difference between denial and anosognosia 4:40 – History of the anosognosia concept 7:28 – What types of brain injury can cause anosognosia? 10:05 – What are some functions of the cerebral cortex? 12:03 – Can anosognosia be a feature of psychiatric conditions? 12:30 – Lack of illness awareness is common in psychiatric conditions 15:08 – An example of insight impairment in schizophrenia 18:26 – Can psychiatric treatment improve insight or illness awareness? 22:36 – What can family or friends do? 22:52 – The controversy of involuntary treatment 26:00 – Strong caring relationships are better than strong logical arguments 28:23 – Do neurological factors contribute to lack of illness awareness in psychiatric conditions? 29:45 – A simple procedure that can temporarily reduce symptoms and improve insight 34:13 – The possibly paradigm-shifting significance of vestibular stimulation studies   Quotes It's been said that people are persuaded by the strength of relationships more so than by the strength of logic. If you look at people that have had bipolar mania or manic episodes because of brain injuries, then you'll find that about 60% of those individuals have brain damage to the right side of the brain only, and about 10% have brain damage to the left side of the brain. We can temporarily create small windows of insight or temporarily eradicate anosognosia in stroke victims by this cold-water simulation in the left eardrum. And we can do the same thing with schizophrenia and mania, apparently.   Resources The book I Am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help! How to Help Someone Accept Treatment by Xavier Amador is one of the most helpful resources for friends or family members to understand anosognosia/illness unawareness and how to befriend, support, and effectively encourage someone to accept treatment.   About the Podcast: Dr. Erik Messamore is a board-certified psychiatric physician and PhD-level pharmacologist. He's a consultant psychiatrist, researcher, lecturer, teacher, and solution-focused scholar currently affiliated with the Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown, Ohio. He is joined on this podcast by Melissa Xenophontos, a journalist, radio producer and longtime mental health advocate.   Send us a question   Useful Links Dr. Erik's website and blog Podcast website Ask A Psychiatrist YouTube Channel

Can Antidepressants Reduce Self-Harm? Self-harm is a common behavior. About 1 in 8 children and up to 1 in 5 adolescents will deliberately injure themselves without suicidal intent. But even without suicidal intention, self-harm is an alarming and potentially dangerous behavior. Self-harm is a sign that something is wrong… but what's the best way to help? It's not uncommon for someone with self-harming behavior to be prescribed an antidepressant. Most of us would think that someone who is repeatedly harming themselves is very sad or depressed. So, it's not surprising that doctors might prescribe an antidepressant. But it raises several questions like: What causes self-harming behavior? Can antidepressants reduce self-harming behavior? What are the risks? Are there any non-medication alternatives to treat self-harming behavior? Melissa and Dr. Erik address these questions and more in this episode of Ask A Psychiatrist.   Episode highlights 2:10 – What do antidepressant medications do? 3:34 – The types of conditions that “antidepressants” can be useful to treat. 4:36 – Conditions that might be worsened by antidepressant medications. 5:35 – Some less-publicized side effects of antidepressant medications. 7:00 – Why it's useful to know about the possible side effects of any medication. 8:32 – How feelings of numbness happen, and how numbness can drive self-harming behavior. 10:13 – Differences in medication response speak to differences in the cause of the symptoms that the medication was prescribed to treat. 11:36 – What we diagnose as “depression” has many different underlying causes. 12:59 – Are there differences in how children or adolescents respond to antidepressant medications? 14:13 – Antidepressant use in children or adolescents is associated with slightly but significantly increased risk for suicide. 16:04 – Could antidepressant medications increase self-harming behavior risk? 17:46 – What are the causes of self-harming behavior? 19:30 – Self-harming to regulate emotions. 23:09 – Self-harming to change the flow of a discussion or the power in a relationship. 24:49 – The limitations of antidepressant medication as a treatment for self-harming behavior. 26:10 – Are there ways to treat self-harming behavior that don't involve medication?   Notable quotes   “I sometimes say that drugs don't know what they're supposed to do… It turns out that drugs like the antidepressant medications do many things beyond just maybe treating depression.” “It's really helpful to know what the potential downsides are so that you don't mistake a side effect for the symptom of some illness and then get more medicine instead of less medicine.” “If the room is dark, it could be because somebody turned off the light switch… it could be because there's no electricity running into the building… it could be because there are dark curtains over the lights and the windows. There are many pathways to darkness in a room. And there are probably equally many pathways to depression in a human being.” “What we call depression is almost certainly a whole bunch of different underlying processes that have similar top-level symptoms. That the diversity is the most likely explanation for why some people get great results from a particular medicine while others get no results and others get worse.”   About the Podcast: Dr. Erik Messamore is a board-certified psychiatric physician and PhD-level pharmacologist. He's a consultant psychiatrist, researcher, lecturer, teacher, and solution-focused scholar currently affiliated with the Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown, Ohio. He is joined on this podcast by Melissa Xenophontos, a journalist, radio producer and longtime mental health advocate.   Send us a question   Useful Links Dr. Erik's website and blog Podcast website Ask A Psychiatrist YouTube Channel

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (also called CHS) is the topic of this week's episode.  Melissa and Dr. Erik answer the question “How can something that's an anti-vomiting medicine be the cause of a vomiting illness”? Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome involves symptoms like loss of appetite, stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. Vomiting attacks come in waves or cycles. A vomiting attack can last many hours or several days and can be severe enough to cause dehydration or a host of other serious complications.  Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome affects some people who use cannabis regularly. The typical CHS patient will have used cannabis nearly daily for several years. However, there are cases of CHS developing in people who have used it as little as once per week for 6 months.    Time and topics 1:41 -- What is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome? 2:53 -- Symptoms are often relieved by hot water baths or showers 04:30 -- The first report of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome was published in 2004 05:45 -- Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome might have been around longer, but not recognized 06:29 -- Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome might be the result of stronger cannabis being easier to get and use regularly 07:12 -- Why has CHS not more widely known? 08:41 -- It's not profitable to publicize CHS 10:48 -- Why don't cannabis companies warn consumers? 14:00 -- Cannabis prohibition was a bad policy 15:16 -- State governments are mostly silent about CHS 18:40 -- Knowing about risks is important for consumers to make informed decisions 22:29 -- Is CHS dangerous? What are the possible complications of CHS? 26:26 -- How often and for how long before cannabis use poses a risk of CHS? 28:49 -- Treatments for the active phase symptoms of CHS 31:55 -- The definitive treatment for CHS 33:51 -- What to do if you think you might have CHS 34:59 -- The leading theory about what causes CHS 36:51 -- Tips for stopping cannabis use   Notable quotes   “If you don't know that something exists, it's hard to see it.” “This could be a newly-recognized fallout from greater access to higher strength, longer-term use of cannabinoids.” “There can be extremely important medical information that gets published, that probably everybody ought to know about. But there's just not a mechanism to disseminate the kind of information to people… Absent funding to disseminate knowledge at scale, knowledge dissemination happens at a trickle” “Because of prohibition, we know relatively little scientifically about marijuana's risk profile. Through prohibition policies, you've made cannabis way popular. And through prohibition policies, you've made its safety profile a subject of debate” “States, in my view, have done a good thing by trying to make a substance available that might help people… But the idea of having a state government endorse marijuana as a medicine, display medical benefits on their website, and not say one word about risks is irresponsible” “You're not supposed to feel nauseated. You're not supposed to have unexplained appetite loss. And you're certainly not supposed to be vomiting a lot. So, if you have any of those things, do get checked out.” “It can become very confusing. How can something that is supposed to help with vomiting cause vomiting? The answer is because the body develops tolerance, and the body wants to kind of fight back against whatever the drugs are making it do. So, if you take a drug constantly, which turns down the vomiting response, the parts of your brain that regulate vomiting, are actively pushing back against the action of the drug. In chronic suppression of the vomiting system, the vomiting system like builds muscle and gets stronger.” “You might be one of these people for whom the body has just revved up its vomiting machinery. The only way to get back to normal is to put a pause to cannabis use and let the body's vomiting machinery get unwound back to its normal state.” “Recovery is not a solo sport. Recovery is a team effort. So, if you put a pause on cannabis and your stomach is feeling better, then do get friends, get family, get new friends, find online support groups, find a new team, or enhance your current team to help you to support you, so that you can try to figure out other things to do what cannabis used to be doing for you.” “A whole lot of people who are in recovery have been where you're at. And they will lend you some confidence and probably all sorts of love and support in trying to help you to get to a better quality of life.” “Nobody wants you to stop weed and suffer. Everybody wants you to stop weed and to have, you know. a more awesome life as a result.”   About the Host: Dr. Erik Messamore is a board-certified psychiatric physician and PhD-level pharmacologist. He's a consultant psychiatrist, researcher, lecturer, teacher, and solution-focused scholar currently affiliated with the Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown, Ohio. He is joined on this podcast by Melissa Xenophontos, a journalist, radio producer and longtime mental health advocate.   Send us a question   Useful Links Dr. Erik's website and blog Podcast website Ask A Psychiatrist YouTube Channel

Psychosis is a word that gets spoken a lot, but that gets discussed very little. About 1 of every 11 people will experience psychosis at some point in their lives. But even though it's a common experience, we hardly ever talk about it. In this episode of Ask A Psychiatrist, Dr. Erik Messamore and Melissa Xenophontos discuss psychosis. Dr. Messamore explains what psychosis is, how it happens, and what to do about it. We learn that it's easier to understand – and probably more accurate – to think of psychosis as a misperception syndrome. Psychosis by itself is not a standalone diagnosis. Rather, it's a symptom that can have many different causes. It's important that anyone experiencing psychosis have a thorough medical and neurological evaluation to look for the cause. A medical explanation needs to be ruled out before viewing psychosis as a symptom of a mental illness. Mental Health America has an online questionnaire that can help someone determine if they are experiencing psychosis. Dr. Mesamore's website has a blog post that lists the recommended medical tests to rule out medical causes of psychosis. Click here if you'd like to ask a question or suggest a topic to address in a future episode. If you've found this information helpful, please share it with your network!   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (02:00) – No standardized definition of psychosis, introduced in medical literature around 1843 (03:04) – Psychosis should be thought of as misperception syndrome (04:45) – The brain receives about 11 million bits of information per second but conscious awareness works at about 50 bits per second. The necessary “information editing” is where a lot of misperceptions can develop. (09:00) – Misperceived significance can lead to the unusual ideas that often arise in psychosis (13:23) – Psychosis has many possible causes (15:00) – Progression of how to treat psychosis (18:56) – Medications can be a helpful piece of treatment, but should usually not be the only kind of treatment (21:04) – The goal of treatment is to get unquestionably better (22:39) – It's important to talk about side effects in order to avoid or reduce them (25:12) – Specific symptoms of psychosis   QUOTABLE: “The accurate way to think about psychosis is a misperception syndrome or a phenomenon, technically and realistically it is best to think about psychosis as a neurological symptom.” “Conscious awareness is kind of like the dashboard of the entire brain processing.” “Psychosis is fairly easy to recognize, but once it's recognized, the next step should not be an assumption that there's a mental illness. The next step should be the assumption that there's a medical disease going on that needs to be figured out and treated quickly.” “There are about 50 different diseases that can cause psychosis as a symptom… about 100 different medications or drugs which can cause psychosis as a side effect.” “Nobody should assume that psychosis means schizophrenia at all – it could be many other things.” “The goal of treatment is to restore a person's function – the treatment should work; the treatment should make somebody better.” “Any clinician who is worth having should be extremely interested in hearing side effects, and should work with you to prevent, reduce, or eliminate them.”   About the Host: Dr. Erik Messamore is a board-certified psychiatric physician and PhD-level pharmacologist. He's a consultant psychiatrist, researcher, lecturer, teacher, and solution-focused scholar currently affiliated with the Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown, Ohio. He is joined on this podcast by Melissa Xenophontos, a journalist, radio producer and longtime mental health advocate.   Contacts: Website: www.ErikMessamore.com Dr. Messamore @LinkedIn Follow the Podcast: Podcast Facebook page @Facebook @Twitter @Pinterest @Instagram

There are so many forms of therapy today that it can be hard to decide which is best for you. One of these types is “psychotherapy,” which sounds a lot scarier than it is. In this episode of “Ask a Psychiatrist” we learn about what psychotherapy is, how it can benefit your thought life, and why fears about undergoing psychotherapy still persist. Dr. Erik Messamore explains the history of psychotherapy and how Freud's findings dominated professional psychiatric thinking for decades. After about the 1960s or so, Dr. Messamore explains, psychology underwent enormous strides to get us to our modern psycho-pharmacological thinking. And it is better than it's ever been. Discussing both the therapy methods and our evolving understanding of psychoactive drugs, Dr. Messamore tears away the veil and shows why psychotherapy is nothing to be afraid of. Differing from “supportive listening,” true psychotherapy targets the causes of psychological symptoms and provides a framework for handling them in your day-to-day life. Whether or not medications are necessary is decided on a case-by-case basis, but the interesting thing is that the relationship between your thoughts and your brain chemistry is reciprocal. Mood-altering drugs can “correct” brain chemistry, but so can corrective thoughts. What each person needs for their own therapy will vary. Overall, psychotherapy is not a form of healthcare that should be feared. Your doctor will help you feel safe, comfortable, and help you to understand every step of the therapeutic process. To fear this is to miss out on great work you can do in your own life. Click here if you'd like to ask a question or suggest a topic to address in a future episode. If you've found this information helpful, please share it with your network!   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (03:00) – Fear of psychotherapy is common—but it can be overcome. (05:30) – Freud developed a technique called ‘psychoanalysis' to understand underlying urges in the subconscious (09:00) – Today, there are many psychotherapeutic approaches that don't require dredging up the past. (10:30) – The notion of “chemical imbalance” has a convoluted history. (15:00) – Chemical changes can constrain thoughts—but thoughts also affect brain functioning. (17:15) – Evidence-based research today has been able to improve the brain's “wiring,” enabling more effective connections between the parts that generate emotion and the parts that regulate emotion. (19:00) – When Dr. Messamore asks his patients if they have ever done any psychotherapy, and they too often say no. (21:30) – It's important to be given an explanation, in psychological terms, as to why symptoms are being produced. Psychotherapy would give patients a set of techniques to apply to their own situations. (23:45) – The data has shown that psychotherapeutic techniques can help patients get well. (25:30) – There should be measurable and noticeable improvements through proper therapy. (27:20) – A good therapist should be able to tell you all about the process and point you to the right research. (29:20) – Most people who enter the field are going to be looking out for your well-being.   QUOTABLE:   “Freud's view was that these top-level symptoms have, at their origin, a conflict between the id and super-ego.” “Psychoanalysis is a valuable and rich form of therapy, but it's certainly not for everyone.” “The research points to psychotherapeutic approaches that focus on the here and now.” “Saying antidepressants correct a chemical imbalance is extremely over-simplified and probably not applicable to every person experiencing a psychiatric symptom.” “For a person with depression, and who feels like a failure, it's much easier for them to believe that they may have just made some mistakes than to believe that everything is going to be alright.” “The data shows that the people who practice these techniques become well. They get better at regulating their own emotions.” “The right therapy should be deployed for the right condition.” “The goal is to be comfortable, and it's your therapist's job to guarantee that.”   About the Host: Dr. Erik Messamore is a board-certified psychiatric physician and PhD-level pharmacologist. He's a consultant psychiatrist, researcher, lecturer, teacher, and solution-focused scholar currently affiliated with the Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown, Ohio. He is joined on this podcast by Melissa Xenophontos, a journalist, radio producer and longtime mental health advocate.   Contacts: Website: www.ErikMessamore.com Dr. Messamore @LinkedIn   Follow the Podcast: Podcast Facebook page @Facebook @Twitter @Pinterest @Instagram

Anyone who has ever felt anxiety (which pretty much includes all human beings) knows how uncomfortable it can be. In this episode of “Ask a Psychiatrist” we learn about our internal early-warning systems and what it means when our bodies and minds cascade into something more than experiencing the ordinary stressors of everyday life. Dr. Erik Messamore explains that anxiety usually consists of two separate but intertwined processes – the physiological “fight or flight” reaction AND a host of thoughts that usually involve forecasting something bad in the near or distant future. The good news for those of us locked in worry, tension, or panic is that scientists have been studying anxiety for over 100 years. We have a lot of knowledge about anxiety – not only how it works but also how to treat it. Covering both the physiological and psychological elements, Dr. Messamore breaks down the impacts of anxiety on the body as well as the thought patterns that can heighten those symptoms. He provides a framework for examining some of the successful behavioral interventions available as well as thoughts about the role of drug treatment options. Click here if you'd like to ask a question or suggest a topic to address in a future episode. If you've found this information helpful, please share it with your network!   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (01:35) – Anxiety is a normal emotion – even helpful, despite often being uncomfortable. (02:56) – Some of the physical symptoms that signal anxiety: An uncomfortable, almost painful feeling of apprehension. Heart racing and difficulty catching one's breath. Muscle tension and hyper-vigilance (which often extends to interrupting sleep). Feelings of nausea, urgency to urinate or empty one's bowels. (04:26) – About thoughts that can either result from or precipitate anxiety: Ruminating on or catastrophizing about the future. High alert signals reach the brain and start a loop to justify the feeling. (07:24) – Anxiety involves two components: Physiological: Preparing the body to fight or flee. Thought: Drives or explains to the brain why this feeling exists. (08:00) – Anxiety is relatively easy to study because reliable, inexpensive instruments are available to study symptoms, which are mostly objectively measurable and observable. Three strategies for treating anxiety: (10:13) – Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT): Offers tools to short-circuit anxious thoughts and physical reactions by redirecting responses that do not serve and tend to get locked into a negative loop. (17:10) – Systematic Desensitization: Some common phobias/anxieties may be hard-wired biologically and can be overcome by systematically titrating exposure to that which is threatening or fear-inducing. (Dr. Messamore shares detailed, vivid examples of this technique.) (22:46) – Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy: A treatment that identifies stressors in the brain and then subtly interrupts any source of reward/relief, initially causing discomfort but incrementally helping to build tolerance and new ways to manage anxiety. (27:12) – There are drug treatment options available as an alternative to behavioral therapies. In some cases they can modulate or block reflexive physiological symptoms so that patients can develop adaptive strategies for coping with stressors. (31:13) – A bit about SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) that are sometimes prescribed to get physiological responses in the body under control and opening the possibility of treating underlying psychological/emotional issues. (32:05) – Dr. Messamore explains that there are various approaches to treating anxiety, including the effective use of cognitive behavioral and drug treatment programs in combination.      QUOTABLE:   “(An anxiety disorder) can begin to take on a life of its own. It goes from something that is really annoying to something that can have the emotional power of a monster that wants to devour you.” “When your heartbeat starts to accelerate in response to a thought, then we have a scenario that I call ‘The Feel Makes It Real.' ” “Anxiety is a universal human experience. It's extremely uncomfortable.” “People who are anxiety-prone and suffer from anxiety disorders overwhelmingly … look into the future and provide a negative outcome. And thoughts drive emotions.” “Some people find that the physiological response of the body is just so overpowering that using psychological skills has limited value or almost no value at all.” “Medicine can be very helpful and the choice to use medicine or the decision about what is the right time is deeply personal.” “For most people it's ideal to use medicines that can control physiological response in combination with proven, evidence-based psychological therapies because the two of them feed from each other ... It accelerates the program.” “The good news is that anxiety has been studied longer and probably better than any other mood state in humans. We have a lot of techniques that can be very effective and have been proven.”   About the Host: Dr. Erik Messamore is a board-certified psychiatric physician and PhD-level pharmacologist. He's a consultant psychiatrist, researcher, lecturer, teacher, and solution-focused scholar currently affiliated with the Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown, Ohio. He is joined on this podcast by Melissa Xenophontos, a journalist, radio producer and longtime mental health advocate. Contacts: Website: www.ErikMessamore.com Dr. Messamore @LinkedIn   Follow the Podcast: Podcast Facebook page @Facebook @Twitter @Pinterest @Instagram

Why do anti-depressants seem to work well for some and not at all for others? In this episode of Ask a Psychiatrist, Dr. Erik Messamore takes on this question, offering practical information about the multi-faceted nature of depression and factors to consider in choosing from a range of treatment options. A clinician has more than half a dozen pathways to think about the cause of high blood pressure, each with its own family of medications available as possible treatments. But when it comes to depression? It's treated as a one-size-fits-all monolith – as if there are no variants or factors specific to the affected individual. Dr. Messamore has a different take, explaining the range of biological, environmental, social, and even spiritual variables that are relevant to mood. As a first step, Dr. Messamore underscores how important it is for patients, their families and most of all clinicians to put on a Detective's Hat: Keep track of symptoms and the progression of treatment; consider having a personality assessment done to better understand the individual's unique psychological landscape and tendencies; take a pro-active approach to researching and considering alternatives to a bio-chemical approach. When it comes to treatment options, they are as diverse as the nature of depression itself, which is why this episode of Ask a Psychiatrist not only describes some common types of depression but also an array of clinical strategies to augment or replace anti-depressant medications. Dr. Messamore also breaks down how drugs affect particular neurotransmitters and why Evidence-Based Psychotherapy can be a highly effective tool for responding to depression – especially those that are not genetically based. With the incidence of depression on the rise nationally, generation over generation, it's very likely that you or someone you love will encounter the complex and constantly evolving field of psychiatry. Dr. Messamore is here to answer questions and provide information about mental illness and general wellness.* *Advice provided by the host is not addressed to any specific person or personal situation. If you are experiencing a health emergency, please consult a physician. Click here to view a relevant video in which Dr. Messamore offers additional thoughts on this topic. Click here if you'd like to ask a question or suggest a topic to address in a future episode. If you've found this information helpful, please share it with your network! KEY TAKEAWAYS: (01:40) – Depression is not a single disease as defined by one set of symptoms or a single remedy. It's has many causes, and many treatment options. (06:31) – Some people respond to anti-depressants because they're experiencing a genetic deficiency in one of their neurotransmitters, but anti-depressants might also be curative because they increase a general feeling of well-being that encourages resilience. (10:10) – Why is it that – even with all the enhanced treatment options – the rates of depression keep going up and up? (13:34) – Dr. Messamore cites some of the many contributory components of depression and some of the interventions available, such as: Anti-depressants targeting specific neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine and glutamate. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Electro-Convulsive Therapy (15:50) – It's very important for people to know that serotonin isn't the only treatment option out there. (16:20) – Anti-depressants given at the right dose for the right period of time should lead to improvement. If the overall trendline is not towards relief, it's worthwhile to revisit the treatment with your provider. (18:28) – About Evidence-Based Psychotherapy and the use of personality or temperamental assessments in pinpointing/responding to depression. (20:35) – Two symptom clusters that are typical in depression and can help guide bio-chemical treatment approaches: Melancholic Depression: Loss of appetite, sleep disturbance, mood variation that tends to improve as the day goes on. A-Typical Depression: Tendency to sleep a lot, eat a lot (especially carbs) and respond with unusual sensitivity to relationship stressors. (25:11) – Dr. Messamore highlights some of the factors that can trigger a biological response and also play a role in the failure of bio-chemical treatments. (29:29) – Some strategies to consider if you're not getting the results you'd like from your anti-depressant medication: Establish what you're looking for in terms of quality of life and track your moods to determine if progress is being made. If multiple treatment options have failed, assess which drugs have been tried, to what degree they've been effective and whether there are external environmental factors that might be affecting outcomes. Consider undergoing an assessment to see whether you're one of a large subset of people whose personality or temperamental make-up undermines the efficacy of anti-depressants.   QUOTABLE: “We're living in a time where we have more medication treatment options for depression than ever before … yet depression rates are growing. They're going up and up.” “It's important if you're not getting good results from Treatment A or Treatment B to press the pause button with your doctor and talk about all the options.” “The specific symptom cluster that we call Melancholic Depression might tip the scales in favor of assuming that biological factors are more relevant.”  “The thing about perfectionism is that you can never achieve it. You can always envision something better than what you've currently got.” “It's really important for everybody involved – patients, their families and especially clinicians – to put on a Detective Hat as well as a Doctor Hat.” About the Host: Dr. Erik Messamore is a board-certified psychiatric physician and PhD-level pharmacologist. He's a consultant psychiatrist, researcher, lecturer, teacher, and solution-focused scholar currently affiliated with the Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown, Ohio. He is joined on this podcast by Melissa Xenophontos, a journalist, radio producer and longtime mental health advocate.

On The Kenny & JT Show we're joined by country music performer Karissa Ella. The North Canton native will be playing at the Dusty Armadillo in Rootstown this Saturday night. You can also watch the interview on WHBC's Facebook and YouTube pages.

Mike Bluey was raised in the tradition-rich area of western PA near Erie. After his high school playing career, a random phone call to Kennedy Catholic changed the trajectory of his career as legendary coach Joe Votino took him for the week and offered him a job as an assistant while still in college at YSU.  Instead of the military, he was headed to the hardwood and the bench.  Along the way, he met Mike Fuline and became a head coach at Springfield and Tallmadge after roles as an assistant at Rootstown, Jackson and Mount Union.  Eventually, he landed at Hoover and just finished an incredible year...turning a 1-5 start into a Regional berth. Mike's teams reflect his personality: disciplined, regimented and resilient.  We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/teachercoach)

Nick goes 1-on-1 with UFC Flyweight Jessica Eye, a Rootstown native. Then, Nick talks about the path of the Browns making a Super Bowl, copying Tampa Bay. Nick weighs in on the struggles of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the viral cat filter video, and so much more.

Dr. Erik Messamore is a psychiatrist. He has a PHD in pharmacology with an emphasis on neuropharmacology. His early research was focused on the preclinical development of medications to treat Alzheimer's disease. He completed his Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. He earned his Medical Degree from the University of Illinois and completed his residency at Oregon Health and Science University in Poland. Currently, he works as an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown, Ohio. He is also the Medical Director of NEOMED's Best Practices in Schizophrenia Treatment Center. He is also the author of The Unsponsored Psychiatry Report, a periodic letter on pharmacology, psychiatry, and mental health. Website: https://erikmessamore.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007145866470 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-messamore-md/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ErikMessamoreMD Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMKHzQuZuD_1Or0ZuYwXQ8w ------------------------- Thanks for watching The Funky Brain Podcast with Dennis Berry. Dennis is a Life Coach for Addiction Recovery and Life Mastery. If you are struggling with any type of addiction like alcohol, food, porn, drugs, or shopping, reach out for help. Asking for help is the first step in solving the addiction puzzle. Maybe you're not struggling with an addiction, but you are simply “stuck” in life and don't know how to push through. Dennis is the master in helping people get laser-focused, accomplishing their goals and dreams, and achieving life mastery on every level. Dennis works with people worldwide and currently has clients in England, Australia, and India. Zoom is a beautiful tool for helping people all over the world. If you like what you see, and you'd like to hire Dennis to speak at your next event, he is the best motivational keynote speaker on the planet. He brings a ton of energy, experience, motivation, and inspiration to the table. His fun, witty, unique spin on life, with a touch of humor, will leave you motivated to get out there and improve yourself. Website: https://www.DennisBerry.com Email: contact@dennisberry.com LinkedIn: dennisberry1 Facebook: @LifeCoach.DennisBerry You can buy his best-selling book on Amazon - Funky Wisdom: A Practical Guide to Life

Mike Fuline is a born and raised northeast Ohio guy who began his coaching career in Rootstown, Ohio.  His success at Rootstown led to his hiring at Massillon Jackson High School, a Division I power in the state.  Coach Fuline led the Polar Bears to the 2010 State Championship.  The success of the program at Jackson resulted in the rare opportunity to make the move from high school coaching to the college ranks, nearby University of Mount Union sought out Coach Fuline to be a candidate for the vacant head coaching position in the spring 2011.  In 9 easons at the helm, Coach Fuline has helped turn the Purple Raiders into a perennial contender in the always tough Ohio Athletic Conference, and a program that has recently become a national power as well.  When the 2019-2020 season was ended prematurely because  of the COVID-19 pandemic, his team was primed to play for a spot in the Division III Final Four.  Please enjoy my visit with Coach Mike Fuline of the University of Mount Union. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jon-cook0/support