ARP 379 Drinking Water Temperature

The three main point I want to make are drink water, build and refine your information gathering process and for goodness sake, find ways to have fun, relax or grab a giggle. 

That last suggestion is not in the show but bears repeating. Don't let them steal your joy.

In this episode, a response to two commercials about drinking water temperature and word or two about  how to find viable, authoritative resources. This could help you confirm if the information is factual. 

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: 

Water/Dehydration Sources

Mind.org.UK has a post on food and mental health. It is a good starting point on the things you need to consider when you are trying to take care of your body and brain.

Cleveland Clinic has a dietician respond on Are There Health Benefits to Drinking Hot Water?

The Mayo Clinic has their point of view on How Much Water You Should Drink Every Day?

Some Examples of Viable Health Resources:

American Medical Association has a YouTube channel. The AMA provides information to doctors and the general public. The information will be science based through their perspective as medical doctors. 

The Dana Foundation has a section on their website where they talk about brain information. They have videos and fact sheets for children and adults.

KFF Health News reports on news stories with a health focus, U.S. government policies and interviews with those involved in this space. The site operates independently from the non-profit Kaiser Health System.

There are also the mental health non-profits like Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Helpguide.org, International OCD Foundation and similar groups.

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

ADAA Webinar on Psychiatric Medication in Pregnancy and Lactation

I get a lot of stuff via email that I can't share in the podcast. It just occurred to me that I could post items that will have eventual homes on YouTube or on the Anxiety and Depression Association (ADAA) website.

Per the press release, 

In honor of May and Maternal Mental Health Week, ADAA is delighted to present the free, live public webinar "Psychiatric Medication in Pregnancy and Lactation: What Can Women Take?" with Barbara Byers, MD, MPH. 

Dr. Byers reviews what we know about the treatment of psychiatric disorders in pregnancy and lactation from a medication standpoint. We will review our knowledge of antidepressants, mood stabilizers, atypical antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and stimulants. 

The date of the free webinar is  Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 12:00PM ET and 9:00am PT. Sometimes the webinars are ported over to the ADAA YouTube channel. 

Just a head's up. Sometimes the webinars are directed to a professional audience. Peer to Peer type communication. Other times, it is more of a general audience type of presentation.

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.

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

News Anxiety Resources - AllSides.com

Another option for those of us with the information jitters is AllSides.com.  It looks at how a news story is covered via a bias lens of left, center and right from the reporting institution.

The site also has a misinformation page that looks at how a specific story as been distorted or looks at a specific claim of a politician or corporation are being promoted in the public.

Here is an explainer video created by AllSides.com

AllSides.com is a public benefit company.  This means that it operated as a corporation but the focus is on serving the public good as the primary focus of the company. 

There are still shareholders but the focus is to be of service AND then make a profit.

This is different from a non-profit corporation. 

Allsides.com could sell cars, candy or anything else (they don't as far as I know). They don't get any special benefits and they have to follow standard corporation reporting.

A non-profit corporation must be aligned to their stated mission. 

Anyway, consider this site an option. 

You can use it to know what bias or filter the story is being reported. Or that help you understand what the other side is seeing in terms of coverage of a particular story.

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.

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

ARP 378 Gatophobia or Fear of Cats

We all have that thing that gets under our skin. The thing we can't stand and won't abide in any form. That at best is an irritation. But for some of us, it can be a problem if it impacts the quality of life.

Those four-legged poof balls called cats can be a problem for people with a phobia about cats. In this episode, what it is, the symptoms and treatment resources.

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: 

The Cleveland Clinic has a page on ailurophobia, another name for the fear of cats.

If you want to go learn about the condition, there is a HelpGuide.org page on Phobias and Irrational Fears.

Psychology Today has a directory of mental health providers. You can search by city or zip code.

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

 

News and Anxiety Resources - Courthouse News Service

There are gems in the muck of 2025 journalism access. Courthouse News Service is one of them.

Courthouse News reports stories in plain English.  It leans toward factual, non-interpretive reporting.

This is a commercial subscription service that provides court information to law firms, businesses and journalists. However, the site has a free to access public website that contains the doings in federal and state courts.

Front Page of Courthouse News Service

And if you need more that politics to fill up your news fix, there is also other areas of interest. To get the full range, you got to click on the hamburger thingy on the left side of the website.

Partial list of topics that the service covers.

Minor Con: there is opinion on the site. The editors do have opinions. 

They do express those opinions in the Op Ed pages. 

Sometimes forcefully. Many times with a touch of humor. More like a subtle smile.

Unless you don't agree them and then it is a grimace.

If you want straight news, stick with that side of the site. 

I'm balancing this as a minor con because visitors have full access to the news stories without nag screens or ads. This is very rare and I don't know how long it will last. 

One more thing. There is the Walt Girdner photo of the day. Many of the photos are lovely and take the stink out of 2025. The photo is usually toward the bottom of the main page of the site.

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: 

There is an app available via Google Play or the Apple App Store. It appears that the app is free to use on phone and tablets. 

I tried it out on my phone. There doesn't seem to be ads or nag screens. It is easy to navigate and read the news stories. 

I'm not endorsing or promoting the service. But I do use it when I need an understanding of what is happening with the conversations between the judicial and executive branches of government.

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

News and Anxiety Resources - DW News

There are international broadcast news networks that have English language reporting. DW News is a German broadcaster that reports on what is going on in the world. 

This includes the United States national news that would be of interest to a global audience.

DW News is owned by the German government. Think of it like their version of PBS but with a hell of a lot more financial support and independent from constant threats of being shut down.

Pros:

Exposure to international and Germen specific news. There is a lot of content but it will be different than the current crap we are getting here in the United States. 

Global view of events and a different perspective of what is going on in the United States and the world.

The network is paying attention to disinformation and how to deal with it. There is a portion of the website that called DW Academie where they talk about the global problems of mal-information and disinformation. 

Scroll down the whole page, there is some very good stuff here. Probably should check out the DW Academie YouTube channel. 

Cons: 

There could be cultural difference that could lead to misunderstanding what is happening in a particular American news story. 

DW News is going to report from their point of view. There are going to be biases. We all have them. U.S. folks might be disturbed about how we as a country and as people are perceived overseas. 

This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but at the moment our roses smell like poo-poo.

Lots of ways to access their content.

 

• English language version of the website is https://www.dw.com/en/top-stories/s-9097 
• DW has a 24-hour live news feed on their website.
• There is also an English audio version that gives the daily briefing of what is happening in Germany and the world.
• DW News YouTube Channel.

For those that have an interest, there is a section of the website that will help you to learn German or refresh your ancient high school skills. In case you are planning a vacation trip or thinking about, oh I don't know, relocation?

Hey, it is just a thought. 

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. 

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

ARP 377 - Stress Management Tips

There are forces that have us in a state of stress and unbalance. It is intentional. Our stress levels are way too high.  In this episode, I'm talking specifically about stress but those of us with anxiety still need to pay attention. 

We still have the ability to decide how we want to go forward. You might need a personal support system to help you deal with the days, months or however ever long we survive this moment in time.  

 

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: 

Stress definition and tips to handling it from the World Health Organization. The American Psychological Association has a dictionary style definition from their point of view.

The non-profit American Institute of Stress also provides information about stress. There is a stress questionnaire that could help you figure out your stress level and provide information on handling it. There is a fee for accessing the questionnaire and guide.

Mindful.org has A 4-Minute Practice to Clarify What’s Important Right Now.

If you would like help in getting started with a mindful practice the free app Healthy Minds provides lessons and practice session to help you learn how to do it.  https://hminnovations.org/meditation-app

The American Heart Association has an infographic that you can download to help you remember some of the techniques of stress relief and management.

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.