Episode 84: Individual Problems are Systemic

WE HAVE SOME NEWS! After a couple of years things are changing at Viva and that means that we're switching it up. Tune in as we say our goodbyes...for now.

Are you dealing with the natural variances in mood during the winter months or Seasonal Affective Disorder?  Listen and find out! Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects about 10 million US adults. That’s a lot of people! Learn what the signs of SAD are and what steps you can take to make life better if you’re dealing with symptoms.

Do you make New Year’s Resolutions? Many people do, but many people also struggle with making progress on their goals. Whether you set goals, or intentions (or not!) we’re here to offer some feedback and suggestions on how to move forward with intention.  Please share your own challenges so we can normalize this. Share this episode with a friend who also may need to hear it. Thanks for your support!

This time of year, in particular, comes with a lot more financial stress. And this is on top of inflation, and as some would argue, a looming recession. It’s time to normalize the stress that comes with money. We're all feeling it in different ways! Tune in as we explore how to navigate some of these challenges for the sake of your mental health.

How do you navigate relationships with family members?  Family can be complicated. As the holiday season approaches, you might need some help reframing your relationship to family, and we’re here for you! Listen to our latest episode on managing time and energy with family, however you feel about them.

Have you ever heard of a parasocial relationship? Are you a fanatic of your favorite celebrity or influencer? Does this get in the way of your relationships our daily life? Listen to Jor-El and Rachel as they dig into stan culture and navigating relationships with celebrities or influencers (and the complications of it all). We hope this one resonates with you and helps you reflect on what makes these relationships so powerful for you. And if you like what you hear (or not) please leave a podcast review and share this episode with a friend!

How good are you at accepting criticism? Challenging feedback can be tough for anyone so there’s no need to feel any shame if it’s hard for you. We're here to support you! Tune in as licensed therapists Rachel Gersten and Jor-El Caraballo as they talk about navigating criticism and dealing with "haters." Editor’s Note: You’re not imagining the unfortunate beeping sound. Just chalk it up to NYC living. Sorry!

Do you choose your relationships over friends? Or friends over your relationship? On this episode Rachel and Jor-El explore the idea of prioritizing friendships, or how little we actually do that in practice. Press play to hear their thoughts and join in on the conversation on social media. Do you treat your friends as equal to your relationship, or less than? Do you prioritize your partner over all other people in your life? We want to know!

As companies require more employees to return to in-person office work and discuss hybrid options, there’s a lot of tension about the work from home debate. Where do you fall in the discussion? Tune in as licensed therapists Rachel Gersten and Jor-El Caraballo share their thoughts on the intersection of work from home, justice and accessibility.  Let us know your thoughts by joining the conversation. Share your thoughts on Instagram @vivamentalhealth.

In today's episode we're taking it back to a one of our favorite episodes on the difference between intention versus impact. Tune in and join the conversation with us!