ARP 090 Mental Health Days and Elevator Fear

ARP 351 Anxiety and Imposter Syndrome

For some of us, imposter syndrome is an anxiety generator.

It goes to the heart of feeling worthy, being competent or having the right to be in a particular space.

Doing this episode made me feel like an imposter. I can hear slurred words, tangents and howlers of editing.

But here is the thing. I don't allow it to keep me from trying and doing. Sure, I could not do the show. Or hire and editor. Or let a freaking non-human try to emulate my speech patterns.

I need to do this in order to get better. And it might take another eight years for that to happen. I have the time.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned:

There is a short TED-X explainer video called What is imposter syndrome and how can you combat it?

National Public Radio has a 2021 Life Kit piece on 5 Steps to Shake Imposter Syndrome.

Helpguide.org article on Imposter Syndrome, causes, types and coping tips.

A Guide to Impostor Syndrome—and Overcoming It from McLean Hospital Essentials page

Kim Menninger has a podcast called The Impostor Syndrome Files. You can find it on Apple podcast or almost any other podcast directory.

Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges by Amy Cuddy or any book vendor.

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 treatment.

Anxiety Road Podcast

enMarch 06, 2024

ARP 350 When An Attack Sneaks Up on You

There is a spectrum of decisions between I can and I can't. Part of our healing journey is to understand the concept of acceptance.

A video popped up called "A Panic Attack Ended My Winter Backpacking Trip" from the Miranda Goes Outside!! YouTube channel.

I absolutely wanted to view that video. Spent a chunk of it nodding in agreement.

Not to mention that I learned a little bit about not sleeping under a tree if there is snow.

I felt validated in that there is actual video proof of the experience in real life. Sometimes you can move past it. Sometimes you can't.

So I wanted to address that aspect of that experience with a few resources to help folks understand some of the concepts about acceptance and self-care.

I'm not going camping anytime soon. I need plumbing and an assurance of no bear contact.

I like bears.

I respect bears. Don't need to see one in the wild.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned:

On the Positive Psychology website there is a explainer on What is Self-Acceptance? Please be aware that the site is designed for behavioral health folks, but it is easy for most people to read. There is a lot of text on the page, I'd read it a section at a time.

Psychology Today 2018 blog post on how to practice acceptance

If you lean toward a stoic point of view, there is The Philosophy of Everything blog page on the philosophy of acceptance.

The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion, by Christopher Germer, PhD. The publisher is The Guilford Press and you can find the book at almost any off and on-line book vendor. The link is to the vendor's publisher's web site.

Dr. Germer has his own website where he has a page on meditations on self-compassion. You can download the mp3 file to your device or listen to it on the website.

Mindful.org page on self-compassion and writing a love letter to yourself.

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 treatment.

Anxiety Road Podcast

enFebruary 22, 2024

ARP 349 Quick Look at Xaia Mental Health Companion VR App

Treatment options are evolving and this one is a pip. An expensive one, but it might be just what is needed in the middle of a cold dark night of the soul.

Xaia aka eXtended reality Artificially Intelligent Ally is designed to work with the Apple Vision Pro.VR device.

You can talk with it. Share your concerns and get feedback about your issues. That is the topic for a quick look at the mental health support VR app.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned:

Marques Brownlee review of the Apple Vision Pro and his take about some of the pros and cons about this product. He brings up really good points.

Xaia from VRx Health. You can read about the device and learn about the creators and the FAQ.

Wired article about Apple and digital privacy concerns.

And from the Mozilla Foundation, are mental health apps better at privacy in 2023?

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 treatment.

Anxiety Road Podcast

enFebruary 14, 2024

ARP 348 - Bear Grylls App and Men's Mental Health Resources

In 2024, of the things we have to change is the active cultural block against men seeking mental health treatment. We don't have time for it.

All hands on deck or at least pull the ropes trying to point the ship in the right direction.

This episode is a little different because it is resource focus. Go to Helpguide.org to learn about therapy or to Heads Up Guys to learn about stress. Or use the Mettle app from Bear Grylls.

What I don't want you to do is suffer, grit your teeth and take it. Because that is causing some good people to reconsider their time on the planet.

If the assholes won't go, why should you?

Just saying.

In this episode, a look at a few men's mental health resources.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned:

U.S. National Institute of Mental Health page on Men and Mental Health and their page on What is Anxiety?

Infographic from Mental Health America about Mental Health for Men

The Canadian website called Heads Up Guys have self-guided courses on anxiety, mindfulness and depression topics. It is a project of the University of British Columbia. The site has a lot of information dealing with depression, with roadmaps, stress management tips and more.

The Anxiety and Depression Association has a dedicated page on anxiety that includes statistics, symptoms and links to other pages about treatment options.

Adventure Bear Grylls is the co-founder of a new mental health app for men. It is called Mettle. You can find more information at the app website https://bemettle.com/

Australian Beyond Blue gateway page about men and mental health topics.

UK Mental Health Foundation page on Why Men Don't Talk About Mental Health

ARP Episode 161 Finding a Therapist, contains a list of therapists directories.

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 treatment.

Anxiety Road Podcast

enJanuary 31, 2024

ARP 347 - Ottawa Personal Decision Guide

There are a lot of decisions that you have to make when you are seeking treatment.

Hopefully you find a good doctor or a mental health professional to guide you though the process. Those are aspirational goals by the way. You might run into a doc that just wants to give you medication and then report back in four weeks.

Or you can't find or afford a provider in your area. I would suggest that you take some time and work on a decision guide as to what you want and don't want concerning your treatment.

This can mean getting a physical and diagnostic test to rule out another cause for your symptoms.

Or reviewing therapists to figure out the behavioral treatment options. Do you want short term or an extended treatment process? In person or virtual care?

A decision guide can help you plan out what you want and need to navigate the process.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resource Mentioned:

The Ottawa Personal Decision Guide can help you organize your thoughts about a decision you need to make about your treatment options.

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 treatment.

Anxiety Road Podcast

enJanuary 24, 2024

ARP 346 - Breathing Practice Using Fidget Spinners

In January, you often hear about the aspirational pledges. No shopping. No drinking alcohol.

Go vegan or as close to it as you can get. My year round goal is to get folks at a basic level to take time to breath. Slow it down. Chill as in being quiet. Not as in ice baths.

Me in a former incarnation; "Nuts to you, I breath all of the time. I still have symptoms."

Future me: "Yeah, you dope. You also drink six cans of Coke or Dr. Pepper a day. Your diet is atrocious (but very tasty) and your rocking at best five hours of sleep a night.

Fortunately, former me studied at the school of hard knocks that the body need clean fuel, time to regenerate and making time on the daily to slow it down and practice breathing. And yes, give up the carbonation with the caffeine chaser.

So in this episode, if you happen to have a fidget spinner or fidget ring then dig it out and try this breathing practice. If you don't have one, no worries you can do it with a pebble, pen or pencil or small palm sized object.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned:

SAMSHA Disaster Distress Hotline is 1–800–985–5990 for voice or text calls. You can also access the Incidents of Mass Violence page to learn more about it, the symptoms and other resources.

Mindful.org has a beginners guide to understanding and using meditation. For some people, meditation is a vital part of the treatment process. Please understand there are multiple ways to meditate. There is a text and audio version on the site.

Hands on Meditation YouTube channel with a beginners practice cycle.

If you are truly pressed for time, there is Dr. All Mattu 40 seconds of a breathing practice.

There is a short 2:30-ish beginners practice from Hand’s On Meditation.

Cleveland Clinic page on How to do the 4-7-8 Breathing exercise. It goes into more detail on the why it works and some variations to improve the effects of the practice.

National Institute of Mental Health PDF on I'm So Stressed Out Fact Sheet.

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 treatment.

enJanuary 17, 2024

ARP 345 Ideophobia or Fear of Ideas

With all of the book banning in the United States, a person could make a case that some sections of the country has ideophobia or the fear of ideas.

Might also be bibliophobia. In this episode, a quick look at the definition of Ideophobia.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned:

Mind.org.uk Causes of Phobias self-help guide.

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/phobias/causes-of-phobias/

Mental Health America has an information page about phobias, the types of phobias and the treatment option of cognitive behavioral therapy.

From the UK National Health Service, a self-help guide to phobias, what they are and what you can do about them.

ADAA has on-line communities where you can communicate with other people that have your experience share their stories, experiences and there are mental health professionals that post helpful resources.

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 treatment.

enJanuary 03, 2024

ARP 344 Diabetes and Anxiety

If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and anxiety or depression, you have to deal with both conditions at the same time.

It is a challenge but not impossible. There are resources and options to help you deal with treatment.

This is just a quick mention of some of those resources that could be of assistance to you or someone you know.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned:

American Diabetes Association Behavioral Health Toolkits for folks with Diabetes who might be experiencing anxiety.

American Diabetes Association Mental Health Directory

U.S. Centers for Disease Control page on 10 Tips for Coping with Diabetes Distress and Diabetes and Mental Health

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 treatment.

Anxiety Road Podcast

enDecember 27, 2023

ARP 343 Adult Children of Dysfunctional Families

In this episode, a look at adult people that grew up in an addictive or dysfunctional family. Because if you did, there is a good chance you might have an anxiety condition or a related mental health problem.

How do you get to be an adult child of a dysfunctional family. There are many pathways.

Many are raised in an abusive or addictive family. Others are raised in a generational trauma system.

Some people are raised by adults who do not have a clue about how to be a parent because they were never taught or exposed to a healthy, stable or loving environment.

It isn't about poverty or wealth. Education is not a guarantee of being a good parent. Nor religion or faith. Or the lack of it.

It helps, but if you have taking a glance at the news, a Utah woman with a social media following pled guilty to committed serious crimes against two of her children.

In 2034 they will become members of Adult Children of Dysfunctional Families.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned:

Maria Shriver's Sunday Paper conversation with Dr. Uma Naidoo about her new book on the gut, brain food connection and nutritional psychiatry On that page you can find a link to the book at Bookshop.org or by visiting the doctor's website.

U.S. Center for Disease Control page about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) with definitions and additional resources.

Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation post on Adult Children of Alcoholics information page.

Adult Children of Dysfunctional Families World Service where you can get more information about how it works, resources and virtual and real world meeting community fellowship experiences.

Therapy Dave has a article about ACDFs and an information sheet that list some of the core beliefs dysfunctional behavior that can happen in adulthood.

Kati Morton is a licensed therapist that has a YouTube channel. She has an episode about 10 Effects of Growing Up with an Alcoholic or Addict Parent

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 treatment.

Anxiety Road Podcast

enDecember 25, 2023

ARP 342 Adverse Childhood Experiences aka ACEs

I did an episode about ACEs a long time ago. It was okay but I know a bit more now.

At the time I said something to the effect, "Childhood isn't easy even in the best of families, but what if your family of origin contributed to your current condition? I'm not saying that it has, but what if it did?"

That part was ok but listening to it now I did not fully define it or give examples.

When you know better, you do better. This is probably a three part series about childhood events that might have contributed to an anxiety condition.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned:

The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) has Fast Facts: Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences

ACEs Awareness is a California project to screen children for indicators of ACE events. There is a Healthy Way to Manage Stress pdf handout that offers suggestions on how to manage stress, such as be kind to yourself, set goals and start small.

Therapist Erik Bohlin handout list of Symptoms from Dysfunctional Families.

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 treatment.

Anxiety Road Podcast

enDecember 13, 2023

On this page

ARP 090 Mental Health Days and Elevator Fear

Anxiety Road Podcast

About this Episode

Resources Mentioned:

Disclaimer:

Recent Episodes from Anxiety Road Podcast

ARP 351 Anxiety and Imposter Syndrome

Resources Mentioned:

Disclaimer:

ARP 350 When An Attack Sneaks Up on You

Resources Mentioned:

Disclaimer:

ARP 349 Quick Look at Xaia Mental Health Companion VR App

Resources Mentioned:

Disclaimer:

ARP 348 - Bear Grylls App and Men's Mental Health Resources

Resources Mentioned:

Disclaimer:

ARP 347 - Ottawa Personal Decision Guide

Resource Mentioned:

Disclaimer:

ARP 346 - Breathing Practice Using Fidget Spinners

Resources Mentioned:

Disclaimer:

ARP 345 Ideophobia or Fear of Ideas

Resources Mentioned:

Disclaimer:

ARP 344 Diabetes and Anxiety

Resources Mentioned:

Disclaimer:

ARP 343 Adult Children of Dysfunctional Families

Resources Mentioned:

Disclaimer:

ARP 342 Adverse Childhood Experiences aka ACEs

Resources Mentioned:

Disclaimer: