Inside Mental Health

Are you anxious about the new coronavirus? Is it a real threat or mostly hype? In today’s podcast, Dr. John Grohol, founder and editor-in-chief of PsychCentral.com, explains what the disease is, how it compares to the flu and why it seems to hit the panic button in a lot of people. He offers tips to avoid getting sick in general, and importantly, gives advice on how to keep our anxiety levels in check when it comes to new disease outbreaks, especially in how we seek information from the media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As with any relationship, finding the right therapist is extremely important. But how do you know if it’s a good match? In today’s podcast, Jeff Gunther, LPC, founder of TherapyDen.com, takes us through the entire therapist-hunting process. He sheds light on what you should be looking for in a therapist, the difference between those letters after their names, and he gets us thinking about what kind of person we’d feel comfortable sharing our problems with. Tune in to hear an in-depth discussion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michelle E. Dickinson, a mental health advocate, shares her childhood memories of caring for her bipolar mother. She discusses the challenges of explaining her situation to peers and the impact of acceptance and support. The importance of hope and positivity in navigating mental health challenges is emphasized. The speaker reflects on how being diagnosed with depression helped them understand their mother's experience. Find out more about the guest and their book, and get one week of online counseling from sponsor BetterHelp.

Sex is everywhere in our digital culture. But while ads and films easily capture the lust of sex, there is very little conversation around intimacy and how sex actually works in a real relationship. In fact, many people think there is something wrong with them because their sex life doesn’t look like it does in the movies. In today’s podcast, sex therapist Laurie Watson shares what actually goes on in her office and how she helps people become more comfortable with their own sexuality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comorbidity is the presence of one or more additional conditions co-occurring with a primary condition. In this episode, host schizophrenic Rachel Star Withers with her cohost Gabe Howard will be discussing comorbidity with schizophrenia. Comorbidity is associated with worse health outcomes, more complex clinical management and increased health care costs. Occupational therapist Brock Cook will be joining us to discuss ways that he works with people with schizophrenia to manage multiple health issues.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Touch is powerful. From the time we’re born, and throughout our lives, we all need touch to thrive and develop properly. Sadly, many people experience a profound lack of affectionate, platonic touch. Today’s guest, Rev. Edie Weinstein, has a remedy for this. She is the founder of Hug Mobsters Armed With Love, which offers FREE HUGS events for the public. Tune in to discover how Edie got started in the hug “business” and how she manages to navigate our culture’s wariness of inappropriate touch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trauma is a part of life. Whether it’s acute trauma, like war or childhood abuse, or more “common” experiences like divorce or the death of elderly parents, we all face trauma at some point. Today’s guest, Dr. James Gordon, offers a more hopeful and empowering view of our traumatic experiences. He explains how trauma is the soil in which both wisdom and compassion can grow. Join us as he shares specific tips on how to alleviate the fear and pain of trauma and turn it around for our own good. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you feel stuck? Whether it’s your living situation, career or an emotional state, we all yearn for growth and change -- but sometimes moving out of a stagnant place feels like climbing Mt. Everest. We just don’t know where or how to start. Join us as today’s guest, Shira Gura, creator of the unSTUCK method, shares specific tips on how you can step out of the mud and onto solid ground toward the life you desire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you heard of dopamine fasting? It’s the trendy idea that if you restrict your enjoyable activities, like drinking, gaming, checking social media, sex, or eating cookies for a day or two, that it will reset the neurochemical makeup in your brain. But is there any truth to this? Is this practice helpful? Is it harmful? In today’s episode, Dr. John Grohol, Psych Central founder and editor-in-chief explains the real science behind dopamine and whether this practice has any effect on it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you feel stuck in life? Would you like to learn how to take back your power in a big way? According to today’s guest, best-selling author and radio host Ken D. Foster, changing your life begins with small daily habits. And these begin with courage. When we have the courage to change our thinking, it can change our lives and get us moving forward again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices