This is a pebble in the road about the ADAA On-line Support Group.    Sometimes you need to connect to an actual human being. Or a group of people that share your problem or have similar questions.    Behind the vail, lots of things happening and I'm trying to adjust to them. In future episodes, probably starting with this one, there will be a transcript available. It will be 90% accurate. If your podcast player supports transcripts, it should be visible   Meaning, that most of what I mention in the episode is present but after I do a bit of editing, tweaking and fin ..read more

 For some of us, imposter syndrome is an anxiety generator.  It goes to the heart of feeling worthy, being competent or having the right to be in a particular space. Doing this episode made me feel like an imposter. I can hear slurred words, tangents and howlers of editing.  But here is the thing.  I don't allow it to keep me from trying and doing. Sure, I could not do the show. Or hire and editor. Or let a freaking non-human try to emulate my speech patterns.  I need to do this in order to get better. And it might take another eight years for that to happen. I ..read more

There is a spectrum of decisions between I can and I can't. Part of our healing journey is to understand the concept of acceptance.  A video popped up called "A Panic Attack Ended My Winter Backpacking Trip" from the Miranda Goes Outside!! YouTube channel.  I absolutely wanted to view that video. Spent a chunk of it nodding in agreement. Not to mention that I learned a little bit about not sleeping under a tree if there is snow. I felt validated in that there is actual video proof of the experience in real life. Sometimes you can move past it. Sometimes you can't. So I wanted to ..read more

Treatment options are evolving and this one is a pip. An expensive one, but it might be just what is needed in the middle of  a cold dark night of the soul. Xaia aka eXtended reality Artificially Intelligent Ally is designed to work with the Apple Vision Pro.VR device. You can talk with it. Share your concerns and get feedback about your issues. That is the topic for a quick look at the mental health support VR app. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Re ..read more

In 2024, of the things we have to change is the active cultural block against men seeking mental health treatment. We don't have time for it.  All hands on deck or at least pull the ropes trying to point the ship in the right direction.  This episode is a little different because it is resource focus. Go to Helpguide.org to learn about therapy or to Heads Up Guys to learn about stress. Or use the Mettle app from Bear Grylls. What I don't want you to do is suffer, grit your teeth and take it. Because that is causing some good people to reconsider their time on the planet.  ..read more

There are a lot of decisions that you have to make when you are seeking treatment. Hopefully you find a good doctor or a mental health professional to guide you though the process. Those are aspirational goals by the way. You might run into a doc that just wants to give you medication and then report back in four weeks.  Or you can't find or afford a provider in your area. I would suggest that you take some time and work on a decision guide as to what you want and don't want concerning your treatment.  This can mean getting a physical and diagnostic test to rule out another cause ..read more

In January, you often hear about the aspirational pledges. No shopping. No drinking alcohol.  Go vegan or as close to it as you can get. My year round goal is to get folks at a basic level to take time to breath. Slow it down. Chill as in being quiet. Not as in ice baths.  Me in a former incarnation; "Nuts to you, I breath all of the time. I still have symptoms." Future me: "Yeah, you dope. You also drink six cans of Coke or Dr. Pepper a day. Your diet is atrocious (but very tasty) and your rocking at best five hours of sleep a night. Fortunately, former me studied at the sc ..read more

With all of the book banning in the United States, a person could make a case that some sections of the country has ideophobia or the fear of ideas.  Might also be bibliophobia.  In this episode, a quick look at the definition of Ideophobia. If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741. Resources Mentioned:  Mind.org.uk Causes of Phobias self-help guide. https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/phobias/causes-of-phobias/&nbs ..read more

If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and anxiety or depression, you have to deal with both conditions at the same time. It is a challenge but not impossible. There are resources and options to help you deal with treatment.  This is just a quick mention of some of those resources that could be of assistance to you or someone you know. P.S. I had some kind of glitchy thing happen and I slapped some music to try to cover it up. I need to go to remedial audio school.  If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project ..read more

In this episode, a look at adult people that grew up in an addictive or dysfunctional family. Because if you did, there is a good chance you might have an anxiety condition or a related mental health problem. How do you get to be an adult child of a dysfunctional family. There are many pathways.  Many are raised in an abusive or addictive family. Others are raised in a generational trauma system.  Some people are raised by adults who do not have a clue about how to be a parent because they were never taught or exposed to a healthy, stable or loving environment. It isn't about p ..read more