Kelly Slater is the greatest professional surfer of all time! He's been surfing for 46 years and doesn't plan to quit any time soon. Some of the things he talks about are how he stays so passionate about surfing without burning out, the exact things he does every day to manage his mental health, and how he deals with self-doubt. Check out more about Kelly's story on the new season of Make or Break on Apple TV+. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 13, 2023•29 min•Ep. 247
People often associate mental strength building challenges with physical endurance tasks. But, you don't have to subject yourself to incredible physical challenges to build mental muscle. In fact, you can build mental strength without even getting off the couch. There are many ways to build mental strength. Here are five of my favorite mental strength building exercises that you can do right now from anywhere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 10, 2023•10 min•Ep. 246
Lewis Howes is a New York Times Best-Selling author, industry-leading podcast host, and keynote speaker. His show, The School of Greatness, is one of the top podcasts in the world with more than 500 million downloads. He was recognized by the White House and President Obama as one of the top 100 entrepreneurs in the country under 30. His new book, The Greatness Mindset, describes what he’s learned about creating the life of your dreams, and it includes strategies from some of his favorite mentor...
Mar 06, 2023•36 min•Ep. 245
Your brain lies to you. But, it’s tough to recognize those lies sometimes. Your brain will convince you that you messed everything up or that no one likes you. Or it will trick you into thinking it can predict the future and it’ll tell you something bad is going to happen. Whether you think you’re not smart enough to succeed or you believe that you’ll never get out of debt, your beliefs can quickly turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy. Fortunately, you don’t have to believe everything you think....
Mar 03, 2023•11 min•Ep. 244
Chase Rice is a country music singer and songwriter. He’s sold over 2 million albums, and his songs have been streamed more than 3 billion times. Some of his biggest songs include "Eyes on You" and “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen. (featuring Florida Georgia Line)." Prior to becoming a musician, he appeared on Survivor: Nicaragua where he was a runner-up. His newest album, I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go to Hell, focuses on mental health. Some of the things he talks about on the show today are why...
Feb 27, 2023•34 min•Ep. 243
Many people go online to seek positive affirmations, mental health tips, and strategies for building mental strength. Unfortunately, many social media tips on improving mental health aren’t accurate, and some strategies can be downright damaging. Many slogans, mantras, and tips just aren’t correct. But these pieces of bad mental health advice can go viral if they sound catchy, get paired with some cool music, or appear in an amazing video. Whether we’re talking about Instagram, Facebook, or TikT...
Feb 24, 2023•12 min•Ep. 242
In this bonus episode, I share how to know if online therapy is right for you, who shouldn't sign up for it, and how to find the best service for you. I also answer listeners' questions about online treatment and share some of the winners of Verywell Mind's Online Therapy Awards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Feb 22, 2023•18 min•Ep. 241
Mike Rucker, Ph.D., is an organizational psychologist who focuses on the science of fun. He’s a charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association, and his academic work has been published in peer-reviewed journals. He discovered that many of the tools he had built as a student of positive psychology failed to help him during a difficult time in his life. He realized there’s a lot of misinformation out there about happiness, so he launched his own research into strategies that c...
Feb 20, 2023•41 min•Ep. 240
In recent years, the idea that your physical health is related to your mental health has become less controversial. It’s become clear that physical activity isn’t just good for your body. It’s also good for your mind. But the mind/body connection is a two-way street. There are many ways you can use your mind to help your body too. Everything from laughter to meditation might help you live a healthier, longer life. Your mind can also help you perform better regardless of whether you’re an athlete...
Feb 17, 2023•12 min•Ep. 239
Elissa Epel, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at University of California, San Francisco. She studies psychological, social, and behavioral processes related to chronic stress and how it affects health. She has conducted extensive research on the biological processes of aging with a focus on toxic stress. She’s a New York Times Best-Selling author. Her newest book, The Stress Prescription, provides strategies for managing stress and turning it into your strength. Some of the...
Feb 13, 2023•33 min•Ep. 238
We often avoid calling our friends and relatives simply because we don’t have time. You might think your aunt is impossible to get off the phone with, or you might think your friend can’t possibly hang up until she’s given you every detail of her life over the past month. But there’s evidence that a quick phone call is not only possible but it might also be the key to happiness. Rather than connect for an hour a couple of times per year, your psychological well-being might be better served by mo...
Feb 10, 2023•9 min•Ep. 237
Bessel van der Kolk, MD, is a clinician, researcher, and professor who is best known for his work on post-traumatic stress disorder. He’s the medical director at the Trauma Center in Boston. He’s also a professor of psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine and director of the National Complex Trauma Treatment Network. He’s the author of the wildly popular book The Body Keeps the Score. In it, he describes the link between the brain, mind, and body, and the treatment strategies that can...
Feb 06, 2023•34 min•Ep. 236
A town in Scotland made its street lights blue, and the crime rate decreased. Casinos keep people gambling at their tables longer by making the tabletops red. Those are just a couple of fascinating examples of how color affects behavior. The colors around you can have a bigger impact on you than you might think. Colors evoke emotions. And they can affect your choices and your performance. Companies know this, so they use color to their advantage. Everything from logos to website colors is create...
Feb 03, 2023•9 min•Ep. 235
Dr. Amir Levine is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Columbia University. He’s a leading researcher on the molecular processes that are unique to the developing brain. His research has uncovered findings that may lead to changes in the way mood disorders and addictions are treated in both adolescents and adults. He’s also the co-author of a popular book called Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can H...
Jan 30, 2023•38 min•Ep. 234
At first glance, you might wonder why on earth anyone would be afraid to be happy. But if you think about it a little longer, you might recognize a few times in your life when you experienced an aversion to happiness. Perhaps you won an award, and then you felt so much pressure to live up to the achievement that you were afraid to let yourself really enjoy your success. Or maybe something really good happened, and you were so afraid that those happy feelings weren’t going to last that you didn’t...
Jan 27, 2023•9 min•Ep. 233
Elaine Fox is a cognitive psychologist and the head of the School of Psychology at the University of Adelaide, Australia. She’s a leading mental health researcher who combines genetics, psychology, and neuroscience in her work. She runs the Oxford Elite Performance, a consulting group that brings cutting-edge science and psychology to those at the highest levels of sport, business, and the military. Her newest book, Switch Craft, focuses on the benefits of mental agility. Just like we need a var...
Jan 23, 2023•36 min•Ep. 232
There were a lot of people on social media this year discouraging others from setting a New Year resolution. Opting out of a resolution isn’t necessarily a bad idea. By mid-January, most people consider their resolutions failed. That means their intentions to hit the gym, wake up earlier, or save more money have already fallen by the wayside. So if your plan to create change this year isn't working out, you're not alone but don't give up. Here are some strategies that can help you get back on tr...
Jan 20, 2023•9 min•Ep. 231
Reggie Walker spent seven years in the NFL playing for the Cardinals, the Chargers, and the Broncos before deciding to walk away from the game. Reggie was sexually, emotionally, and physically abused during childhood — something he tried to hide for much of his life. And for a while, football became a socially appropriate way for him to mask his anger because he could be aggressive on the field. He decided to get help to heal from the trauma he endured by talking to a therapist. But weekly thera...
Jan 16, 2023•43 min•Ep. 230
Have you ever spent two hours dreading the fact you were going to see someone for an hour? If so, you just gave that person two extra hours of your life. Have you ever blamed someone for ruining your day or putting you in a bad mood? If so, you gave that person power over your emotions. There are many ways in which we give negative people too much of our time, energy, and mental real estate. And the truth is, we all let negative people take a toll on us sometimes. And if we’re not careful, we mi...
Jan 13, 2023•8 min•Ep. 229
Richie Stephens is an Irish gangster-turned-actor who lives in Los Angeles. He frequently plays villains in TV and movies, including Days of Our Lives, Criminal Minds, MacGyver, and Blue Bloods. He’s also the author of The Gangster’s Guide to Sobriety where he shares how 12-step groups helped him get into recovery after decades of drug and alcohol abuse. Some of the things he talks about today are what made him decide to get into recovery, the lies he had to stop believing, how he learned to man...
Jan 09, 2023•40 min•Ep. 228
We all put things off sometimes — even when we know there will be negative consequences for doing it. Whether we avoid doing household chores, making appointments, or paying our bills, procrastination can become a real problem. And while some people seem to think it’s a time management issue, procrastination is more likely to stem from an emotional regulation issue. We put off things that will cause us to feel uncomfortable emotions like boredom, anxiety, or frustration. Unfortunately, our attem...
Jan 06, 2023•10 min•Ep. 227
I released this episode in 2021. But the strategies are still effective (and perhaps even more relevant now). So we decided to re-release it so you can make 2023 your best year yet! Most resolutions don’t work. In fact, most are abandoned by mid-January. Yet most people continue to establish resolutions year after year hoping that, somehow, this will be the year that they actually create change. That's not to say you shouldn't create a goal for next year. You should. But it's important to do so ...
Jan 02, 2023•10 min•Ep. 226
It’s been a great year hosting The Verywell Mind Podcast. We’ve talked to so many mentally strong people who have been brave enough and kind enough to share their strategies for staying mentally strong and their struggles along the way. I’ve also had a lot of fun creating the Friday Fix episodes to share some of my favorite strategies straight from the therapy office. I use them in my everyday life and I hope you find them helpful too. One of the best parts of being the host of a podcast is hear...
Dec 23, 2022•12 min•Ep. 225
Michael Baldwin says EMDR saved his life. Deborah Korn, PsyD uses EMDR to help people overcome trauma. Together, they wrote a book called Every Memory Deserves Respect. Some of the things they talk about are how EMDR works, why it is so effective in addressing PTSD, what to expect from an EMDR session, and the symptoms that tend to improve with treatment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 19, 2022•53 min•Ep. 224
A decade ago, the idea of meeting with a therapist online seemed a bit too far-fetched for many people. There were concerns about everything from privacy to credibility. But online therapy has become mainstream over the past few years. In fact, the abundance of online therapy sites and additional services being offered over the past few years has left many people feeling overwhelmed by all the choices. And it’s no wonder why. Some online therapy sites take insurance. Others offer subscription se...
Dec 16, 2022•13 min•Ep. 223
Tracy McCubbin has always loved to create clutter-free spaces. So she turned her organizational skills into a full-time business called dClutterfly where she helps people organize their homes. She’s also the author of two books. Her first book, Making Space, Clutter Free, teaches readers how to get rid of the clutter once and for all. Her newest book, Make Space for Happiness, describes the link between clutter and emotional wellness. Some of the things she talks about today are how clutter affe...
Dec 12, 2022•37 min•Ep. 222
It’s called “the most wonderful time of the year,” but for many people, the holidays aren’t joy-filled. In fact, this time of year can be extra tough in many ways. The holidays can amplify existing issues, like loneliness. They create a lot of stress, including financial strain, for many people. Sprinkle in some family tension, grief, and end of the year deadlines, and it’s a recipe for higher rates of distress. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to stay mentally strong throughout ...
Dec 09, 2022•13 min•Ep. 221
Andrea Bonior is a psychologist who spent fifteen years turning what she’d learned in the therapy office into a mental health column for The Washington Post called “Baggage Check.” She’s also the author of three books, including Detox Your Thoughts. She writes for Psychology Today and is the host of a new podcast called Baggage Check. Some of the things Andrea shares are how to deal with people who cancel plans at the last minute, what to do when someone always points out the negative, and how t...
Dec 05, 2022•37 min•Ep. 220
Whether you want an extra hand moving furniture or you need professional help for depression, asking for help can be tough. It can feel scary too. We don’t want people to reject us, judge us, or feel more powerful than us. But the sooner we ask for help and make our needs known, the sooner we can get some relief. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to make asking for help feel a little less uncomfortable. With each successful request, you might build the courage to ask for help again. ...
Dec 02, 2022•10 min•Ep. 219
Since 1993, Maurice Benard has been playing Sonny Corinthos on the ABC soap opera General Hospital. Maurice has made his battle with bipolar disorder public. The writers at General Hospital have even made his on-screen character bipolar so that he can depict what it’s like to live with bipolar disorder. Maurice’s book, Nothing General About It, reveals how he’s learned to live with bipolar and how he’s managing his symptoms. He also started a YouTube show called State of Mind, where he shares in...
Nov 28, 2022•49 min•Ep. 218
