Anxiety Road Podcast

This is a quickie cuz life is a bit to vivid today. I'm working on the Humanistic therapy episode and I hope to have it ready soon. In the meantime, I'm struggling with compassionate acceptance and I bet that you are too. So I have three resources that might help you and me hold on as we rest up on the anxiety road. 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 Hachette Audio UK come a ten minute mediation from the Book Mindfulness for Health by Vidyamala Burch and Danny Penman. From Greater Good in Action a three minute self-compassion break. You can read the text or head toward the bottom of the page for an audio recording by Kristen Neff. And from Mindful.org Three Breath Meditations to Connect to Your Best Self Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health

I want to introduce you to some of the other therapy treatments that you might encounter. This week, Solutions Focused Brief Therapy. 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:  Good Therapy.org give a lot of good information about the history, treatment options and some of the things to watch out about SFBT. The page is designed for mental health professionals but is is accessible to consumers. From a site that looks like it was birthed in 1999, consumer readable pages about SFTB that are associated with the Adler Graduate School. Psychology Today consumer level explanation of Solution Focused Brief Therapy The Psychology Today Provider Database has a search feature that can find therapists that have training or practice Solutions Focused Brief Therapy. Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always

I am getting all kinds of reminders to go to a spa, buy water at CVS, take a shot of serum or a shot of something fermented. If we step around the commercial appropriation of self care we might find something really important. You can get might hungry on the anxiety road. One strong panic attack and you might be looking for that choco-chunk of pleasure. A moment of pleasure then comes the crash. Do you have to give up all the things you love? Nope and I think I can make my case by a trip the imaginary Anxiety Road Diner and pursing the menu. 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:  DJ Magazine article about mental health issues for DJ and music professionals. Voices of San Diego news article about building a facility to treat mental health patients. Harvard Health Health Beat - Brain Foods Link to Better Brain Power. US News and World Report doctor approved Best Foods

Being on the anxiety road to recovery is understanding how and what we eat and drink can affect the brain. In order to feel better, sleep better and possibly reduce your symptoms you have to eat better. 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 music this week is Troposphere from Purple Planet Music.com   Resources Mentioned:  From Psychology Today a blog post for those of you that have Social Anxiety - don't give up. From ADAA.org some tips about understanding that Thoughts Are Just Thoughts: How to Stop Worshiping Your Anxious Mind Harvard Health Nutritional Psychiatry: Your Brain on Food by Dr. Eva Selhub, M.D. Cleveland Clinic Chief Wellness Office Michael Roizen, M.D. has a five page report PDF on Food for Brain Health. Mental Health American page on Healthy Diet: Eating with Mental Health in Mind HealthyBrains.org from the Cleveland Clinic seems to be designed for older Americans

According to the Medline Plus, “nutrition is about eating a healthy and balanced diet. Food and drink provide the energy and nutrients you need to be healthy.” And that is what I want to spend some time talking about in the next couple of episodes. But I have a feeling thinking about food as a treatment option it is gonna be a hard sell for some of 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:  Medline Plus definition of nutrition and other nutrition terms. From the Harvard Health Blog - Nutritional Strategies to Ease Anxiety. Everyday Health article on 9 Foods that Help or Hurt Anxiety. Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for infor

I'm in transit from one coast to the other. There is turbulence and not just in the skies. I forgot that my Chromebook can't edit audio so this is gonna be a bone naked episode. I found a way to record but it is a little weird things going on in the background. I'll do better, I promise. I have two meditation apps that might or might not be of interest to you. If it works for you fine, if not pass it on down the line. In the meantime, take care and I'll catch you next time on the Anxiety Road. 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:  Information page at Care.com about the Free for School Teachers subscription to the meditation app. Liberate Meditation app that has specific meditations for Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities. Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the ad

I tried not to do this episode. But I want to help. I want to stand with those of us that do mental health outreach and advocacy to say that we know you are going through it and we can see and feel your pain. So I thought about it. Hard. And I'm going to keep it simple. In the podcast I'm going to share what Traumatic stress is and a few coping skills and resources for people that know somebody that is in a world of hurt. You might not want to listen now and that is ok. Just a few reminders for all of us; Take care of yourself and your loved ones. Keep working on that breathing practice; especially if you want to cuss out the idiot spewing hate and is proud of it.  You might want to avoid social media for a few more days.  This one is hard but try to dial back on the sweets and the booze. Hug up on the veggies and natural fruit. 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: 

Medication is often promoted or given as a treatment option. Yet within that option, there are choices and decisions to make. It is ok to decide if medication is right for you. It is equally ok that you don't want to take medications. In this episode a look at some of the reasons why a person might decide to medicate or not and some resources to learn about anxiety medications. 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 Institute of Mental Health page about Mental Health Medications. U.S. National Library of  Medicine pages about Lorazepam, Alprazolam and Clonazepam. For the non-readers among us there is a 2013 ADAA webinar video about Medication for Anxiety: Benefits and Side Effects by Dr. Beth Salcedo. Consumer Version of Merck Manual on Anxiety Medication. Know that Merck is in the business of selling medication. Doesn't mean that the information isn't correc

One of the thing you might experience with an anxiety condition is the bloat. Specifically abdominal bloating. And one of the ways that you get the bloat is by sucking in too much air or your have a combination of air, fermented food or gas in your stomach. How did that air get in there? There are some possible reasons: For some of us, it is that choking sensation and you are trying to get in enough air and you are taking it in via your nose and mouth. Another possible cause is emotional eating. For some of us, it is woofing down our food to feel better at a high rate of speed. So in this episode, what you can do about the bloat? 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:  Abdominal Bloating Medical Encyclopedia page at Medline Plus, gives definition and a list of causes for the bloat. Harvard Health page on Gas and Flatulence, the foods that can cause it and what to do

Many people are turning to mental health apps to help with their symptoms or as a way of accessing some form of treatment. In this episode, a look at the definition of mental health care apps, PsyberGuide to check it out and some examples of  anxiety apps. 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:  Wired article about how a company, Hims and Hers, are trying to bypass current FDA regulations concerning advertising and off-market use of medications. US News and World Report article on What Mental Health Statistics Can Tell Us. PsyberGuide a resource to help you find and evaluate mental health apps. The project looks at on-line, Android and iOS apps. Some of the mental health apps have an evaluation of their performance. Food and Drug Administration instructions about Mobile Medical Applications. Federal Trade Commission Interactive Mobile Health Apps Interactive Tool. This wi

In this episode, a look at the website Intrusive Thoughts for OCD folks, lots of good information at the site that those of us with anxiety disorders should check out. Then a quick drive by on anxiety symptoms. It is summertime where I live and I am going to be posting a wee bit less, probably once or twice a month during the summer. I need a break and I do want to work on some new ideas and refinements for the podcast. Not sure if it will be once a month or short episodes every other week. Don't know yet. 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 American Psychiatric Association page on Anxiety Disorders Intrusive Thought.org is a non-profit website that provides information about the spectrum of OCD conditions. The International OCD Foundation has an information page about Obsessive Compulsive Disorders and has page to help you find qualified professionals experience

In this episode, a look at catastrophizing, which is a part of a little pack of demons known as Cognitive Distortions. These SOBs will  have you doing a time warp and not the good one. I gotta fess up. I am not perfect. Nope. As human as they come. And sometimes that means that I get caught in a time trap of catastrophizing a very small thing into the end of the world. Only thing is, the world doesn't end. The thing gets handled and I feel like warmed over ice cream. There is a better way. Takes work and practice but we, you and I can learn not to do this. Before we can do better, we have to study the opponent. 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 the publication known as High Times, there take on mental health and cannabis for anxiety and depression. From CNBC, CVS is planning on opening HealthHubs as their transition from retail to a health provider continues.

A quick pebble in the road on using grounding techniques, this time how to ground yourself using your feet or in a chair. 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:  Naturopathic doctor Stephanie Cotes has a short list of grounding techniques on her blog. The Anxiety Relief Project also has tips on grounding yourself, including the 54321 sensory exercise. The Mighty has 15 grounding techniques that might suit you better. Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder. This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or tr

In this episode, do you have an issue about cleaning yourself? Is it because you don't have time, energy or is it because you are depressed or do you have a water phobia? 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:  Essay on the New York Times website about a woman being in treatment for hording and OCD having to handle her condition and a relationship that developed during her treatment. Colorado voters are considering decriminalizing certain types of drugs that might have an effect on people with severe depression or PTSD. The Colorado Sun has a write up about the topic. Mental Health.gov quick definition of phobia. Also there is a short page about depression which is a definite road dog to anxiety conditions. Anxiety and Depression Association of America page on depression because that is also a part of folks having an anxiety condition. Also at ADAA.org there is a chart

It is still Mental Health Awareness Month 2019 and I would like to have a cuddle toy. I can't quite afford the one that is mentioned in the podcast but I'm certainly interested.  This time out, five things to be aware of before you commit to the couch. 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:  Thrive Global about how one person uses breathing and meditation to deal with social anxiety. Article on BillyPenn.com about how some substance abuse treatment centers are using gardens and farming to provide additional treatment to the patients. The Somnox Sleep Pillow is designed to help you get to sleep. It is a robot that will coach you on breathing patterns, simulate heartbeats or provide soothing sounds to guide you into the sleep zone. Digital Trends Contributing Editor Andy Boxall spent a night with the Somnox and you can get a sense of how it works by watching the video on

It is one of those days when you can't churn a whiff of air let alone a thought. I've tried for five hours. And then the anxiety kicks in, and then the symptoms. So, I'll finish up the therapy episode next week but in the meantime, here are three things you can try to help with symptom control. 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:  An audio meditation on How to feel Safe, Content and Connected by Rick Hanson at Mindful Exercises. From the Fort Refuge Survivors Community are even more grounding tips.  If your anxiety is caused by trauma or assault this might be a place of interest to you. From Jocelyn St.Cyr, LICSW, Grounding Techniques: Individualized Coping Skills That Really Work Disclaimer:  Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you m

One of the treatments for an anxiety condition is therapy. Specifically, mental health therapy. And people will yack on about getting help. What they don't tell you is how to do that. In this episode I am going to try to talk about actionable things you can do to tap into the treatment flow. I will be truthful; it isn't always easy. Or affordable. But let's see if we can crack this nut. 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:  May is Mental Health There is an ad campaign in partnership with Burger King about having a certain kind of meal, a Feel Your Way kind of meal. If you would like more background you can visit the Mental Health America page about the partnership. The Good Man Project has a post about modern man and anxiety. The American Depression and Anxiety Association has a Find A Therapist page on their website that allows you to enter your location and pick the

There are all kinds of therapists out there and it isn’t easy to find a good fit. Because therapists are still people, even the ones in the app. It could happen that you start with person A but it isn’t working out. You take a break and try again with person B. So in this episode, at look at some of the questions to ask yourself about what you want in therapy and how to pre-screen therapists. 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:  Minnesota Public Radio report on how insurance company UnitedHealth withdrew funding for mental health services from patients in need. You can listen to the report or read the transcript on the website. The Verge article on mental health apps sharing information about users to third parties. NBC News posted an interesting piece by performer Lizzo about self-care. Healthguide.org has a very extensive page about Finding a Therapist Who Can He

Very few people talk about therapy options. Or about access to options. Or how to decide on what kind of treatment you might need and that you do have choices. Some treatments are real world human based and some are delivered via technology. The goal is to find the right help for you. It might take a bit of effort but you are worth it. 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:  Wyoming Public Media story about transportation access to mental health care in the state. There is a transcript of the radio story on the website. Latina women who actually live in Cochella have a storytelling project that addresses the needs of their community. KQED has a post on their website where you can listen to the interview or read the transcript. There is a story from KWY Newsradio about a New Jersey law requiring insurance companies to have equal levels of service for mental health conditio

Having a paper and projects due will not deter me from making with the goods. In this week's show there is a quick look at Vitamin B-12, what it can do for you and why it is important to make sure you have enough. If you don't, there could be symptoms that simulate depression or anxiety like conditions. Or possibly make your depression and anxiety symptoms worse. As always you want to be evaluated by your heath care provider to make sure your body has what it needs. 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 Mighty article on Big Sean decision to go to a therapist. New York Times article on Can What We Eat Affect How We Feel? Duh, yeah! Dr. Drew Ramsey About Us page with his credentials and who he is and why his is on this path. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements Fact Sheet on Vitamin B-12 There is also a 212 page list of natural and processed foods with the amount of B-