ARP 375 - News Anxiety and Surviving the Infodemic

Yeah, it is a real thing and we are existing in it. From the looks of things most of us are struggling and that is never a good thing. An infodemic is a smash up between too much information and a pandemic.

I didn't invent this term. Goes back to 2001-2003ish.

There is a pandemic of bad, worse and toxic levels of disinformation. People are getting sick or at risk of ingesting poor quality information sources. 

I'm not being hyperbolic here. I stopped monitoring local and national news. All of it and cut back on social media too. And I actually turn off my phone at night. 


In my limited defense, I did not want constant notifications of dubious statements and horrifying facts. I've mention this in the podcast. It is ok to take a break from the firehouse of news.

But there is a cost.  One morning, I woke up, turned on the phone and found out about not one but two wildfires.

We need safe and viable ways to monitor the news without crushing our spirts to dust. I have an idea or two.  This are just my ideas. We can build something better than what we have. 

Doomscrolling will not get us there.


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: 

I strongly recommend a safe browser to visit websites. I'm thinking stuff like Duck Duck Go, Vivaldi or using an app that blocks tracking cookies.  

Possibly set up a limited use account for your on-line and researching needs.

APNews.com, this is a non-profit news organization. It reports the news but does not interpret the story. They don't make the news palatable. They tell you what the news story is and the known facts at the time. AP Fact Check, looks at stories that might be questionable true or false.

Reuters News is a business to business commercial news company. Similar philosophy to the AP, gives the story but generally does not embellish. Reuters news also has a fact check page to evaluate social media and visual images to provide verification on who created it and is it the truth.

FactCheck.org is a project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center. Also includes SciCheck for science claims.

The Poyter Institute has Politifact which has fact checking in English and Spanish.


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.



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WAVY News Segment on AI Chatbots

This is a story from a television station in Virginia. It covers some of the concerns I mentioned in my episode on CBT and AI Apps. Only with a lot more stock footage. Some of that AI generated.

Minor quibble.



I'm glad that it mentioned that AI chatbots cannot diagnose or pick up on social or verbal clues to trouble. This story will reach older folks who do not know about apps, or are searching for help and didn't know this was an option.

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: 


Psychology Today post on AI Chatbots for Mental Health: Opportunities and Limitations

The Conversation page on Your AI therapist is not your therapist: The dangers of relying on AI mental health chatbots.

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.
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ARP 374 - CBT and AI Apps

In this episode, a brief explanation of cognitive behavioral therapy and then an overview of the mental health apps that claim to provide treatment or support resources.

There are a lot of companies that are trying to convince insurance companies, private businesses and consumers that their app is the one to help treat mental health issues. 





Just one problem. There is only (at this time in January 2025) that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration allows the smartphone Rejoyn app to be recognized as a treatment for depression.  
And you need a prescription for it.

Everything else in the mental health market place needs to be seriously evaluated by consumers to see if what is offered is acceptable to you and supports your treatment goals..  

This is an overview of some of the things you should know if you decide to use an 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.

Resources Mentioned: 



The Conversation page on Your AI therapist is not your therapist: The dangers of relying on AI mental health chatbots

NPR Report on Rejoyn

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.



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ARP 373 - A Look at Jaw Clenching aka Bruxism

The medical term for this is called bruxism. It is when a person grinds, gnash or clench your teeth and jaw bone. We are going to have a lot more people doing this in the year to come. 

This is a pebble in the road on the condition and resources you can use to help you make decision about your health.


If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned: 

The Johns Hopkins Medicine site has an explainer about Bruxism that talks about who is at risk, the causes and treatment options. 

American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has a page on Understanding the relationship between bruxism and stress. 

Open Path Psychotherapy Collective helps folks locate therapists that agree to a sliding fee payments for services. You can filter for those things that you would want in a therapist.

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.



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ARP 372 - Agoraphobia Definition and Resources

Agoraphobia is the fear of being away from a safe place. People with agoraphobia have trouble being in certain types of public places. They also have problems with enclosed areas that don't seem to have an escape path.

There are people that do just fine traveling only to a home, the store, work and maybe the church. Anything more than that causes them distress. 



There are people that cannot ride a bus or the subway. It is the fear of being trapped without an escape.

Then you have people that cannot leave their homes or they can only do so with someone accompany them. 

In this episode a quick look at the condition, some of the symptoms and resources to get you started on your recovery journey.


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: 


National Library of Health MedlinePlus page on Agoraphobia

National Institute of Mental Health booklet on Panic Disorders

HelpGuide.org page on Agoraphobia, this will be a long and detailed account of the condition.

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

ADAA.org has an online Peer to Peer support portal. It is a meeting place for people with a variety of anxiety conditions, including people that have agoraphobia. You do have to join the group and abide by the group guidelines.  

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.



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ARP 371 Quick Look at Zenora App

We have to be a lot more careful about the apps we put on our phones and tablets.

In the entrepreneurial app space, there are a lot of apps that claim to be mental health or wellness apps. Many now have AI slapped on their covers. 

At this time, AI is a collection of words, stolen data and snatched public domain text to make it seem like it can answer a question.

It can't. The response you get is a gussied up form of pattern matching. There is no intelligence or thinking from the app. That doesn't mean that the contraption can or can't help you.



It does mean that you need to be aware of your needs. You should start to have a baseline of what a mental health the app can do for you.  

There are going to be a lot more apps being released in 2025. We need to build an understanding of what is and is not acceptable in a so-called mental health or wellness app.

In case you are new here, I do not accept advertising, affiliate links or other forms of compensation. This is my subjective opinion of what I perceived from the experience.

In this episode a quick look at the Zenora 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.

Resources Mentioned: 


Per the website, the Zenora app provides mental health wellness support via a a mood and emotion tracker, a journal function and cognitive behavioral health information.

The Knock Off Therapy Blog has a free PDF/paper based tracker and the information on how to use it to track your what is going on with you. Please be aware that you have to subscribe to AJ's newsletter to get the tracker. But you could also read the post to see if it is a good match for you.

The Rootd for Panic Attacks and Anxiety app has many of the same things that Zenora has but there is a specific focus on anxiety and panic attacks. There are short and long term lessons, breathing practices, nature sound and other items. This is a subscription service.

Unstuck CBT Therapy Journal has tracking features, a thought journal, examples of thinking traps and other doo-dads that you can use to track your feelings and thinking patterns.

Disclaimer: 


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.



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ARP 370 Quick Look Anna Barnes The Anxiety Workbook

Once upon a time I had this guy call me on Thanksgiving day to sell his carpet cleaning service. He probably thought is was a good idea, everybody would be home. Probably had that 100 calls mentality. 

I was not joyful or merry when I got that call. I did not curse him out. I reminded him that it was Thanksgiving day. The call ended shortly after that statement.

For some of us, this is the start of enforced joy and merriment. The imperative to buy, buy and buy some more. 



I want for you a different imperative. To take care of yourself as best you can. Watch what you eat and drink. And if you are prone to having alcoholic drinks, make sure you also gulp down plain water for brain hydration. 

Or you could, embrace the mocktail life. Just a thought.

Balance your sweets with actual veggies and fruits.  Don't indulge in toxicity from media or other sources. Say "Thank you" if it helps you to get out of the store faster. 

Our goal is to get to January 2, 2025. And then we get ready to meet the next challenge. 

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project for LGBTQ+ folks at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned: 


Online Vendors U.S. 

Certainly can find it via Amazon, Kobo, Abe's for used books and the Barnes and Noble website

Online Vendor UK 

I found it on the Waterstones Books website.

Online Vendor 

Australia Hachette Australian book site.

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.



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