Mentally Stronger with Therapist Amy Morin

Whether you're worried about what other people think of you or you worry a lot about all the bad things that could happen, worrying isn't good for you. It can take a serious toll on your health and your relationships.But knowing that worrying is bad for you won't stop it from happening. In fact, it may make you worry even more.Fortunately, you can learn to take stop worrying so much. When you do, you'll have a lot more time and energy to devote to the things that matter most.Here's a science-backed strategy that can help you contain your worrying to just a few minutes every day. I'll explain the science behind it and the step-by-step process for making it effective.Sign up for Mentally Stronger Premium - Ask Amy questions, get exclusive bonus episodes, and access to the Mentally Stronger private community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you get stood up by a date or turned down for a job, rejection hurts. And while you might be tempted to pretend you don't care or to hide your rejection from others, minimizing your pain prevents you from healing. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to cope with rejection so you can work through the pain — and even heal some old emotional wounds in the process.Dr. Ronald Siegel is a professor at Harvard University and the author of many books including The Extraordinary Gift of Being Ordinary. Some of the things he talks about today are why rejection hurts so much, the common responses to rejection that don't actually help, and the steps we can take to heal the pain.Check out Dr. Siegel's website - DrRonSiegel.comSign up for Mentally Stronger Premium - Ask Amy questions, get exclusive bonus episodes, and access to the Mentally Stronger private community.Follow Amy Morin on Instagram - @AmyMorinAuthorSend us an email at Podcast@AmyMorinLCSW.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a lot of information about the mind/body connection and the ways exercise, in general, is good for mental health. But there's a lot less information about the specific exercises that can target certain aspects of emotional well-being.For example, running is just as effective in combating depression as antidepressants. And one of the best ways to reduce anxiety involves lifting weights. Swimming can even reduce the brain damage caused by stress.Some of the things I discuss today are the best exercises to combat seven specific mental health concerns, the science behind them, and the ways you can use movement to build mental strength.Sign up for Mentally Stronger Premium - Ask Amy questions, get exclusive bonus episodes, and access to the Mentally Stronger private community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Traumatic events can leave lasting emotional wounds. And our natural reaction is to try and pretend like those wounds don't hurt because we don't want to talk about the pain.But according to psychotherapist Duygu Balan, you don't necessarily need to talk about your traumatic experiences to heal. Instead, a creative outlet like writing might be the therapeutic exercise you need to work through the pain and heal your wounds.Some of the things Duygu talks about are how trauma affects us, why creative writing heals us, and how to know when to seek professional help.Sign up for Mentally Stronger Premium - Ask Amy questions, get exclusive bonus episodes, and access to the Mentally Stronger private community.Check out Duygu's book - RewriteFollow Amy on Instagram - @AmyMorinAuthorCheck out Amy's website - AmyMorinLCSW.comPick up a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't DoLeave us a rating or review, and send the screenshot to podcast@amymorinlcsw.com. We'll reply with your free all-access pass to my course, "10 Mental Strength Exercises That Will Help You Reach Your Greatest Potential." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you struggle to speak up in meetings or feel anxious whenever you meet new people, social anxiety is common.For some people, it's a minor inconvenience. But for others, social anxiety can interfere with daily life. Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum, you don't have to live with social anxiety forever.If you struggle with anxiety in social situations, try these three science-backed strategies to gain confidence and decrease fear. 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 - @AmyMorinAuthorCheck out Amy's website - AmyMorinLCSW.comPick up a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't DoLeave us a rating or review, and send the screenshot to podcast@amymorinlcsw.com. We'll reply with your free all-access pass to my course, "10 Mental Strength Exercises That Will Help You Reach Your Greatest Potential." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People struggling with addiction are often hiding in plain sight. They're your neighbors, co-workers, friends, and maybe even family members. Daniel Patterson used to be one of those people. He was a high school teacher and assistant principal who had a serious, secret drinking problem. He sometimes tried to make changes — and even saw a therapist — but he minimized the impact alcohol had on his life until he finally couldn't ignore it anymore.Some of the things he shares are the tricks his addiction played on him to convince him to keep drinking, the things he tried to reduce his drinking that didn't work, and the short-term experiment that eventually led to recovery.Sign up for Mentally Stronger Premium - Ask Amy questions, get exclusive bonus episodes, and access to the Mentally Stronger private community.Check out Daniel's website — PattersonPerspective.comListen to his podcast — Sobriety UncensoredListen to the other podcasts he suggests — Sober Motivation, Recovery Elevator, Sober VibesOther resources to check out — SAMHSA and NAMIFollow Amy on Instagram - @AmyMorinAuthorCheck out Amy's website - AmyMorinLCSW.comPick up a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't DoLeave us a rating or review, and send the screenshot to podcast@amymorinlcsw.com. We'll reply with your free all-access pass to my course, "10 Mental Strength Exercises That Will Help You Reach Your Greatest Potential." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes, building confidence and overcoming anxiety is complex. There are strategies that take months to learn and years to practice.But there are also some strategies that you can apply right away, and they work instantly. Some of the most successful entrepreneurs, performers, and athletes know how to apply these little tricks to become the best in the world.Here's a trick that is used by Beyoncé, Adele, and LeBron James as well as the psychology behind why this strategy is so effective. I teach you how to begin applying it to your life today. 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 - @AmyMorinAuthorCheck out Amy's website - AmyMorinLCSW.comPick up a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't DoLeave us a rating or review, and send the screenshot to podcast@amymorinlcsw.com. We'll reply with your free all-access pass to my course, "10 Mental Strength Exercises That Will Help You Reach Your Greatest Potential." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Karen Allen's husband was murdered 10 years ago when their son was just two years old. Over the last decade, Karen has learned to work through her grief despite the murder remaining unsolved. She transformed her life, took on a new career, moved to a new city, and wrote a book called Stop and Shift. Now, she's talking about her experience and how she learned the small shifts that can make a big difference in life.Some of the things she talks about are the strategies she used to deal with unhelpful thoughts, how she manages uncomfortable feelings, and the steps she took to work through her grief so she could heal.Sign up for Mentally Stronger Premium - Ask Amy questions, get exclusive bonus episodes, and access to the Mentally Stronger private community.Visit Karen's website - karenallen.coWatch Karen's TEDx talk - Use Your Tragedy to Change the WorldCheck out Karen's book - Stop & ShiftFollow Amy on Instagram - @AmyMorinAuthorCheck out Amy's website - AmyMorinLCSW.comPick up a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't DoLeave us a rating or review, and send the screenshot to podcast@amymorinlcsw.com. We'll reply with your free all-access pass to my course, "10 Mental Strength Exercises That Will Help You Reach Your Greatest Potential." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone has a superpower that helps them get through difficult times — and everyone's superpower is a little different. You probably don't know what your superpower is though.By the end of this episode, you'll be able to identify your own unique superpower that will get you through any challenge you face. From a financial crisis to a mental health issue, this strategy will help you draw upon the mental strength you need to work through it. 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 - @AmyMorinAuthorCheck out Amy's website - AmyMorinLCSW.comPick up a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't DoLeave us a rating or review, and send the screenshot to podcast@amymorinlcsw.com. We'll reply with your free all-access pass to my course, "10 Mental Strength Exercises That Will Help You Reach Your Greatest Potential." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most pet owners know that spending time with their pets helps them feel good. But did you know that watching animal videos could make you more productive? Or that owning a dog might help you combat an addiction?No one understands the animal-human bond and all the mental health benefits of owning an animal better than Dr. Doug Mader. Dr. Mader has a long history of caring for everything from household pets to zoo animals.He's also the author of The Vet at Noah's Ark. Some of the things he talks about are the science behind how animals help us grow mentally stronger, how to find the best pet for your lifestyle, and how to deal with the grief surrounding the loss of a pet.Sign up for Mentally Stronger Premium - Ask Amy questions, get exclusive bonus episodes, and access to the Mentally Stronger private community.Visit Dr. Mader's website - DougMader.comBuy a copy of The Vet at Noah's ArkFollow Amy on Instagram - @AmyMorinAuthorCheck out Amy's website - AmyMorinLCSW.comPick up a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't DoLeave us a rating or review, and send the screenshot to podcast@amymorinlcsw.com. We'll reply with your free all-access pass to my course, "10 Mental Strength Exercises That Will Help You Reach Your Greatest Potential." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices