Inside Mental Health

“I’m such a loser. I can’t believe I just said that.” Sound familiar? Most of us live with a constant inner critic telling us everything we’ve done wrong. Why is this? And how can we fix it? In today’s show, author Kevin Stacey helps us reign in our brain’s natural negativity bias. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you a victim of stigma? Do you feel like you have less value in society because of your job, income, ethnicity or your mental health diagnosis? In today’s Psych Central Podcast, Gabe talks with anthropologists Alex Brewis and Amber Wutich about the negative impacts of stigma in society. For more information and a complete transcript, visit https://psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-lazy-crazy-and-disgusting-how-stigma-is-everywhere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2006, a 19-year-old woman struggling with addiction became friends with a young man who would eventually write about their friendship and post it on Myspace. As a result, the idea for the nonprofit "To Write Love on Her Arms" was born. In today’s Psych Central Podcast, Gabe interviews its founder Jamie Tworkowski, the young man in the story. For more information and a complete transcript, visit https://psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-a-national-non-profit-is-born-from-a-random-encounter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Research has shown that nature has a profound impact on our mental health and cognition: Being in nature reduces anxiety and stress and increases creativity, attention and overall well-being. Today’s guest, Richard Louv, a journalist, author and co-founder of the nonprofit Children & Nature Network, discusses the science behind nature’s healing powers. For more information and a complete transcript, visit https://psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-using-nature-and-animals-to-manage-anxiety. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some of the professionals that work most with helping people with schizophrenia are nurses. There are so many types with different skill sets. Host Rachel Star Withers and Co-host Gabe Howards learn who these often overlooked healthcare workers are. Dr. Tari Dilks, Professor and President of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, joins with insight on what goes into being a psychiatric nurse.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you in pain, or are you depressed? Does one lead to the other? In today’s show, Dr. Jack Stern, a board-certified neurosurgeon, explains how the two are linked. He also discusses why opioids don’t work for chronic pain and how past pain can affect our current pain levels. For more information and a complete transcript, visit https://psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-is-there-a-link-between-physical-and-mental-health.Inside Mental Health Podcast HostGabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author.To learn more about Gabe, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why are the police often called to handle mental health crises? And what are they trained to do once they get to the scene? In today’s show, Sergeant Matt Harris of the Columbus, Ohio Police Department sheds light on the police officers’ role in the community and explains how they can help when someone is having a mental health emergency. Sgt. Harris also shares how his team tries to de-escalate the situation and what happens when de-escalation attempts fail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Got the quarantine blues? Meet Woebot, an on-demand therapy robot who talks you through your problems! Woebot’s advice is based on cognitive-behavioral therapy and can help you identify distorted thinking. He even checks in on you to see if you’re OK. In today’s podcast, we talk with Woebot’s creator, Dr. Alison Darcy, who shares how this phone app came to be and how it works. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you know you have a magic sex number? It’s how much sex you’d prefer to have if you were with your ideal partner, says today’s guest, Marriage and Family Therapist Steven Ing. People can have vastly different numbers, of course -- from 4 times a day to once a month to never. But what happens if your partner’s number is starkly different from your own? Tune into today’s podcast to have an open discussion on how to have a sexually-healthy relationship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you suddenly found yourself working from home during the COVID-19 quarantine? How can you make the most of this situation? On today’s Psych Central Podcast, Gabe interviews Donald M. Rattner, architect and author of "My Creative Space: How to Design Your Home to Stimulate Ideas and Spark Innovation, 48 Science-based Techniques." Donald offers simple tips on setting up a mental-health friendly workspace that maximizes creativity and productivity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices