Mentally Stronger with Therapist Amy Morin

Your problem-solving skills can directly affect mental health. Research shows people who learn better problem-solving skills reduce anxiety, depression, and insomnia while also improving their relationships. Yet, most of us weren't taught a strategy for solving problems even though we face problems every single day.Fortunately, there's a formula you can use to solve problems and improve your problem-solving skills. Whether you're faced with financial problems, relationship issues, work-related stress, or family problems, this strategy can help you become more efficient and effective at solving the problems.Some of the things you'll learn: Problem-solving skills have a strong correlation to mental health and the health of relationships. Defining the problem is crucial before attempting to solve it. Everyone has the ability to get better at solving problems. You can learn to become more creative while also solving problems in less time. There's no evidence that thinking longer or harder about a problem is the key to reaching the best solution. The five-step process therapist use to help clients resolve any problem they're facing. Sign up for Mentally Stronger Premium - Ask Amy questions, get exclusive bonus episodes, and access to the Mentally Stronger private community.Email the show = Podcast@AmyMorinLCSW.comCheck out my books on mental strengthFollow Amy on Instagram - @AmyMorinAuthorPre-order 13 Things Mentally Strong Couples Don't Do and get a free month of therapy at BetterHelp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Major mental illnesses, like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and borderline personality disorder can make it hard to function. But Gabe Howard says it doesn't have to ruin your life.Gabe learned he had bipolar disorder when he was hospitalized in a mental health hospital at the age of 26. He thought his life was over. He has since learned that with the help of medication, therapy, and ongoing treatment, he can manage his symptoms.Gabe emphasizes the need for accurate representation in pop culture and challenges the stereotypes associated with mental illness. He also encourages open and honest conversations about mental health even if it means asking uncomfortable questions.Some of the things Gabe discusses: Why mental health issues are often misunderstood and stigmatized due to inaccurate portrayals in pop culture. The surprising ways language surrounding mental health should be carefully considered. Why the statistic of one in four people having a mental health condition can be misleading. How to navigate the mental health care system. How family members and friends can play a crucial role in supporting someone with a mental illness. Sign up for Mentally Stronger Premium - Ask Amy questions, get exclusive bonus episodes, and access to the Mentally Stronger private community.Visit Gabe's website - GabeHoward.comListen to Gabe's podcast - Inside BipolarSponsored by:HelloFresh - Go to HelloFresh.com/50stronger, and use code 50stronger at checkout to get 50% off plus free shippingCheck out Amy's website - https://AmyMorinLCSW.com/Email the show - Podcast@AmyMorinLCSW.comFollow Amy on Instagram - @AmyMorinAuthor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mental health advice is everywhere. But not all of it is good advice. In fact, some common tips about how to improve your emotional well-being that get widely shared on social media are downright unhealthy. Following those strategies might actually increase your depression, worsen your anxiety, increase your stress, or damage your psychological well-being.Fortunately, there are some simple but effective ways to improve your mental health. Today, I'm sharing 10 things you can do today to build mental strength right now. Some of the things I talk about are: How to reduce your stress by 60% in 6 minutes The best relaxation strategies The myths about gratitude And the truth about mental health days Stay tuned until the end of the episode for the question of the week where I help someone figure out how to find the best therapist.Sign up for Mentally Stronger Premium - Ask Amy questions, get exclusive bonus episodes, and access to the Mentally Stronger private community.Check out my book 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't DoFollow me on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthorVisit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.comEmail the show — podcast@amymorinlcsw.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The way you talk to yourself matters. You probably know it's important to talk to yourself with self-compassion and to try and reframe some of your negative thoughts. But what about the questions you ask yourself? You might be just one question away from a different life.Marc Champagne is a mental fitness strategist and the author of Personal Socrates. He's examined the questions successful people from Maya Angelou to Kobe Bryant ask themselves. Some of the things he discusses are the question that can make decisions easier, the one question you should ask yourself every day, and the question that could help you manage your feelings better.Sign up for Mentally Stronger Premium - Ask Amy questions, get exclusive bonus episodes, and access to the Mentally Stronger private community.Check out Marc's website — BehindTheHuman.comCheck out Amy's website — AmyMorinLCSW.comBuy Amy's booksFollow Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthorEmail the show — Podcast@AmyMorinLCSW.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all procrastinate sometimes. But procrastination, by definition, has negative consequences. Sometimes those consequences are emotional — like dread and anxiety. At other times, consequences mean we don't perform well or miss out on great opportunities.While there are many reasons we procrastinate, the solutions are the same. These five science-backed strategies can get you moving toward your goal so you don't put off doing something any longer.Make sure to stick around until the end of the episode for the question of the week. This week's question is from a mother who worries she hasn't given her teenage daughter the skills she needs to be resilient.Sign up for Mentally Stronger Premium - Ask Amy questions, get exclusive bonus episodes, and access to the Mentally Stronger private community.Email Amy - Podcast@AmyMorinLCSW.comFollow Amy on Instagram - @AmyMorinAuthorVisit Amy's Website - AmyMorinLCSW.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's tough to know what emotional skills you should be teaching your kids these days. And you've probably heard that today's kids are struggling with their mental health more than ever.That's why I'm talking to Phyllis Fagell. She's a school counselor, licensed therapist, and author. Her new best-selling book, Middle School Superpowers, provides step-by-step strategies for teaching kids the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral strategies they need to thrive in today's world.Phyllis discusses the struggles that middle schoolers face today, including social media and increased anxiety. She emphasizes the importance of teaching kids how to be vulnerable, take healthy risks, and manage their emotions. Phyllis also provides practical strategies for parents to support their children's mental health and help them develop the skills they need to thrive.Sign up for Mentally Stronger Premium - Ask Amy questions, get exclusive bonus episodes, and access to the Mentally Stronger private community.Check out Middle School SuperpowersVisit Phyllis' website - PhyllisFagell.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Intense emotions can cause you to become irrational and do things you wouldn't normally do. For example, anxiety will cause you to play it safe, and excitement will cause you to overestimate yourself.But it's tough to recognize how your emotions cause you to become irrational in the moment.Fortunately, you can take steps to balance out intense emotions to make better decisions. Here are four common ways emotions can screw up your decisions and the steps you can take to regain control over how you're feeling.Sign up for Mentally Stronger Premium - Ask Amy questions, get exclusive bonus episodes, and access to the Mentally Stronger private community.Follow Amy on Instagram - @AmyMorinAuthorAsk Amy a question - Podcast@AmyMorinLCSW.comCheck out Amy's books on mental strength Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Almost everyone knows someone who is battling a drug or alcohol problem. But most people have no idea what to do about it. Should you step in or step back?Support groups, like Al-Anon, encouraged people to detach from a loved one with a substance use disorder. But detachment doesn't help. Connection does.That's what Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) is about. It's a set of skills family members learn and practice. Within 12 weeks, about 75% of loved ones with a drug or alcohol problem get into recovery.Laurie MacDougall is a CRAFT trainer who has a personal reason for helping families — her adult son battled drug addiction. Some of the things Laurie shares are the skills that can improve communication, the misconceptions about substance abuse, and the truth about how to increase the chances that a loved one will accept help.Sign up for Mentally Stronger Premium - Ask Amy questions, get exclusive bonus episodes, and access to the Mentally Stronger private community.Learn more about Allies in RecoveryListen to Laurie's Podcast- Coming Up for AirCheck out the book Beyond AddictionSend Amy an email - Podcast@AmyMorinLCSW.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've ever felt frustrated by people who treat you poorly, you're not alone. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to empower yourself.But first, it's important to recognize why you allow yourself to be mistreated. You might be surprised by what the research says about the link between low self-esteem and mistreatment from others. Once you develop a better understanding of why mistreatment occurs in the first place, you can decide if you're ready to establish boundaries and prioritize self-respect.Make sure to listen to the end of the episode for the question of the week. And if you have a question you'd like answered by a therapist, email me at podcast@amymorinlcsw.com and I'll consider featuring it on a future Friday Fix episode.Sign up for Mentally Stronger Premium - Ask Amy questions, get exclusive bonus episodes, and access to the Mentally Stronger private community.Check out my books on mental strengthFollow Amy on Instagram - @AmyMorinAuthor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anxiety is meant to keep you safe. It alerts you to danger and helps you respond to life-threatening situations. But most of us have some faulty anxiety alarm bells that go off when we're not in life-or-death situations.You already have some strategies that help you cope with anxiety, like scrolling through your phone. Short-term solutions, however, aren't addressing the underlying cause of your anxiety. And they won't heal your symptoms.According to Dr. Russell Kennedy, a physician and neuroscientist, there are some simple steps that uncover the root of your anxiety so you can heal your old emotional wounds. Some of the things he shares are how to recognize your anxiety alarms, identify the root cause of your pain, and heal from it once and for all.Sign up for Mentally Stronger Premium - Ask Amy questions, get exclusive bonus episodes, and access to the Mentally Stronger private community.Check out Dr. Kennedy's book - AnxietyRXSponsored by - Go to HelloFresh.com/stronger50 to get 50% off plus free shipping Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices