If you are curious about sound bath and sound meditation and want to know if this is something that could help you maintain sleep, be comfortable in your body or need a soothing sound sensory experience, then this might be an episode of interest to you. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned: National Alliance page of Mental Illness on Understanding Your Diagnosis...
Jul 14, 2020•12 min•Ep. 209
In this episode, a look at a particularly pesky symptom of depression, hopelessness. And a look at some of the resources you can use to help you understand what is going on and resources for treatment. When you have depression as part of your anxiety condition, being told to think happy thoughts probably isn’t gonna do much for you. You may have to process that info in a different way that does not include the word happy. And you probably need the help of a professional behavioral health person ...
Jul 06, 2020•9 min•Ep. 208
When I read some of the posts and articles about how to deal with depression, I often encounter content that states that "if only you would change your thinking." Or the reader is being told to employ positive thinking techniques. Or is being given the f*ck up bunkie, nobody cares but you pep talk. Or "Pour more faith into it, that will fix it." I have no doubt that some of the above works for a specific set of people. I think the most important thing to understand is that there are multiple for...
Jun 29, 2020•12 min•Ep. 207
Yeah, best laid plans and cucumbers. You know for certain what you are gonna get with cucumbers. But not to leave you totally in the lurch, I have three resources that you might be interested in checking out. First is a free meditation resource and then two books, one is a short e-book on Worry and Anxiety and the other is about having an anxiety condition and a relationship. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7...
Jun 22, 2020•5 min
It is like waiting for the other shoe to drop. I enjoy the rest period, but I’d just assume we’d all get instant enlightenment and be done with it. Since that isn’t going to happen, I do have actionable resources for you to help get a grip on your symptoms and your condition. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned: National Public Radio report about how All Women ...
Jun 15, 2020•9 min•Ep. 206
I tried to write through it. I tried to be pity or intelligent or something. For 10 hours I tried to try to communicate something that would not be a waste of time. I couldn't do it. So, I had to step back and look for some of the help I needed. That is what I want to share in this episode. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned: 2015 Clinical Psychology Review #3...
Jun 09, 2020•11 min•Ep. 205
Agoraphobia is not just the fear of going outside; many agoraphobics do just that. It is the constant feeling of fear and possibly, but not always, the fear of having a panic attack in public. In this episode, a look at treatment resources for those that have this condition. There is a strong link between agoraphobia and a panic disorder. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resour...
Jun 01, 2020•8 min•Ep. 204
I feel like I am between a wall and a hard place. I want to describe options that you have when it comes to treating the diagnosed version of an anxiety condition or disorder. I really don’t want to tell folks what to do with two exceptions, don’t give up and don’t kill yourself. But this is a bad week in a string of bad weeks. We need some re-enforcement. So here are some emotional self care tips to hold us as we intentionally move forward. If you need support contact the National Suicide Preve...
May 25, 2020•11 min•Ep. 203
We don't just talk the talk about these parts, this is a living on-going learning process about how to exist in this time with an anxiety disorder. In this episode, how I headed off a panic attack with a can of frozen orange juice. And more to the point, adjust your symptoms management to the situation. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned: https://www.kpbs.org/...
May 18, 2020•11 min•Ep. 202
In this episode, a look at a disorder that is commonly mistaken for shyness. It isn't about shyness or being bashful. Social Anxiety Disorder (aka Social Phobia) affects a lot of people. According to the Andrew Kukes Foundation, that is 1 in 8 people or 15 million people. Social Phobia is an irrational believe that a person is being observed and judged. The belief is so strong there are physical symptoms and the disorder has the ability to disrupt and impact the quality of a person's life. So le...
May 11, 2020•6 min•Ep. 201
Perhaps there is a better way for both of us to have what we want, occasionally, and eat better 90 percent of the time. We gotta pay attention to both mental and body systems. We have to focused on taking care of the brain and brain functions. One of the ways we do that is by making better food and nutritional choices. So in this episode, a really simplistic definition of oxidative stress and some of the foods and supplements that can keep the free radicals in our bodies from gunking up the work...
May 04, 2020•11 min•Ep. 200
In this short episode, a look at some of the resources you can use to understand how creativity can help you get an understanding about anxiety, or help you cope during isolation or remind yourself to have something to look forward to. We all need that. We really do. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned: From Boing Boing , a trip back to the musical past of 1969...
Apr 26, 2020•6 min•Ep. 199
In this episode, a look at affirmations. Not as a linguistic vending machine. Or a means to be financially powerful. I'm viewing affirmations as a tool to support healing. Not the only tool to be used but as a means of support, nourishment, encouragement and self-care. We are humans. And are hard wired to seek certain things in order to be functional and stable. We don't have those things and we get a little crazy. And then a lot more crazy. Affirmation are not for everyone. There are people who...
Apr 19, 2020•10 min•Ep. 198
It is a mess. It is a time and wowzer, every day a pip. Trauma is waving the freak flag and there are people that are hurting. This includes you and me. What should have been and what's going to be are not something that can be predicted. We have been changed. We are in a state of change and along with the bad stuff is the potential for some good stuff too. But first, we have to recognize that we are fractured and need some healing invisible Spackle to get ourselves in a better place. If you nee...
Apr 10, 2020•8 min•Ep. 197
I go between being rock solid to a quivering mess. Especially when people are making economic decisions about my worth on the planet. I don't know, something about it just doesn't sit right with me. We do things differently around here. Inconsistent as well as predictable.This time out it is a look at certain music videos that might serve as reminders of some self-care techniques. This time it is a look at specific music videos that might speak to the anxious in the ways that the normals might n...
Mar 27, 2020•8 min•Ep. 196
I feel like it has been five years in this one week. It has been a pip of a time with more to come. But we got work to do. This is the next episode on organizing your thoughts to come up with a decision grid to help you see what you want or need to do about treatment. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned: BBC post about protecting your mental health during these...
Mar 20, 2020•12 min•Ep. 195
There was so much chatter about the fear reactions to current events I felt that I needed to put my two cents in. I'll continue the treatment plan episode next time, but in this moment I ask you to even more so take care of yourself. Be kind to yourself. Control the amount of garbage you ingest from certain media sources. Pick up a bottle of ginger ale. I leave the brand to you personal choice, in case you do feel a little grippy. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifel...
Mar 06, 2020•5 min•Ep. 194
This time a look at the research part of creating a treatment plan that works for you. This next phase involves researching and learning your options. Two of those options that might be presented to you are taking medication or seeing a behavioral health professional. Nothing wrong with those options. Well there could be if you don't have the money to access professional services. Or you don't want to take medication. Or see a therapist. I would say that you need to be aware of what the options ...
Feb 28, 2020•11 min•Ep. 193
Many people have an opinion about treating anxiety conditions and disorders. Most of them are not medically qualified to take out a splinter from a toe. Myself included. Each person is unique and different and there is always a little something that gets left out when people try to sell you a cookie cutter approach. So what does it mean to have a treatment plan? What goes into it? In this episode a question, and it is a dilly. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline ...
Feb 21, 2020•9 min•Ep. 192
Very short - being alone on Valentine's Day and making the best of it.
Feb 14, 2020•1 min
I’ve been doing a lot of reading and the abbreviation EMDR is coming up in many documents and websites. I don’t know what that is so I wanted to do a quick episode to learn more about it and find out how it can be helpful as a treatment option. This is a quick episode on the definition of the treatment and some resources you can check out and follow up on. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” ...
Feb 09, 2020•6 min•Ep. 191
This is the second episode about trauma and the connection to grief and anxiety and how some of the symptoms of trauma and grief are similar to anxiety. The goal of the podcast is to share what I have learned and continue to learn about having an anxiety condition or disorder. I am not a medical or mental health professional. I am a fellow traveler who has experienced some of the frustrations and blocks to treatment. I want your path to be a bit easier than mine. If you need support please conta...
Feb 02, 2020•10 min•Ep. 190
For some but not all of us, our anxiety has a root in trauma. So in this episode a look at trauma, the definition(s) and some of the various forms. A few housekeeping items. I’ve recently applied to be on Spotify. If you happen to listen or hear the episode on the service there may be ads before, after or during the podcast. I have no say in it and I don’t get a flipping dime for being on that service. Many long-time listeners know that I choose not to accept advertising. I think it would presen...
Jan 23, 2020•11 min•Ep. 189
A short episode but a necessary one in these times of palpitation. I want to talk about breathing apps and helpful breathing videos. It doesn't matter what the external world is doing, you need to focus on taking care of yourself. Breathing is one way to do that. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. The company that created this lovely two minute breathing videos seems to have gone...
Jan 10, 2020•5 min•Ep. 187
In this weeks episode, a caution about using Facebook as a health journal or health locker and what are symptoms and the ways that they show up in the body. Your body. This time out I'm probably asking the equivalent of looking at your own personal boogie man. Identifying your symptoms. Not an easy thing to do when you are trying to deal with them. It is important to know what you are dealing with because you can waste a lot of time pacifying a symptom when you could be dealing with the larger p...
Jan 03, 2020•8 min•Ep. 186
Little bit of everything in this episode, being broke, meditation tips from Sparrow and understanding some of the causes of an anxiety disorder. And to treat yourself with loving kindness. Now and into the future. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned: Article on BrainFact.org on How Artificial Intelligence is Shaping Personalized Mental Health Care . The Sun Mag...
Dec 27, 2019•10 min•Ep. 185
As I like to mention in the podcast, I have a long list of things that I am not. At the top of the list is not being perfect. I got lost inside of my head. Anger and depression can do that to you. KWOL is an adaptation of an educational outline used for K-12 students known as KWL, knowledge, want to learn and learned. The O in my version stands for option, what are my options going forward. So yeah I got lost on the road a bit but I found a way to help me get back. If you need support contact th...
Dec 19, 2019•11 min•Ep. 184
Like the song says, sometimes we need somebody to lean on. Or talk to, human to human. In this episode a look at telephone support lines. Also in this episode, my brief look at the movie Honey Boy, I can't say if it is a good or bad movie because it spiked into some vintage pain for me and I had to leave. I explain more in the podcast. I can say that if you are triggered by verbal or emotional abuse then this might be a flick that you might need to watch in segments. Or not at all. Then again, i...
Dec 05, 2019•7 min•Ep. 183
You are the only one that can decide what will work for you as you map out your path to wellness. So as I get up off of knees and work my own process, there are two apps to check out to see if they will be of assistance to you. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned: The Breathing App helps you to slow down your breathing - good for symptom control. It is availabl...
Nov 28, 2019•7 min•Ep. 182
There is a lot of marketing hype about the blankets. There are dozens of stories, but is there anything to support the popularity of the blankets? And, should you get one? If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned: The Cleveland Clinic article on can weighted blankets banish nighttime anxiety? Mayo Clinic News Network story about the use of the blankets . There is a ...
Nov 15, 2019•10 min•Ep. 181
