Show 315 A Look at The Anxiety First Aid Kit Book

I freely admit that I mentioned can soda too many times in this episode. But it had a profound effect on my body and parts of my brain. 

There are folks that use other substances in excess to deal with their symptoms or whatever else is going on with them. For me, it was sugar drinks and pastries. 

Almost never met a donut I didn't like.

I no longer beat myself up on wanting to scarf up a sweet treat. 

I do get pissed at myself when I do eat a problem food. There are repercussions.  

Messed myself up on a piece of pie. 

There are always repercussions when you do something you should not do. 

It is important to understand that we as human beings tend to look for relief when we are in discomfort. 

It is what we do.

In this episode, a look at a book from New Harbinger Publications on just in time help for anxiety.

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 Anxiety First Aid Kit, Quick Tools for Extreme, Uncertain Times by Rick Hansen, et al. 

New Harbinger Publications search results for Anxiety Books.

Dr. Ali Mattu has a YouTube video on 10 quick anxiety relief techniques. Dr. Mattu has a bunch of videos on a variety of mental health and psychology topics on his channel.

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 Pebble in the Road Health Definitions

Some providers of services use the term behavioral health. Some use mental health.  I have spent hours trying to get a concise meaning of both terms. 

It ain't easy.

The American Psychological Association defines behavioral as:

...an interdisciplinary subspecialty of behavioral medicine that promotes a philosophy emphasizing individual responsibility in the maintenance of one’s own health and in the prevention of illness and dysfunction by means of self-initiated activities (jogging, exercising, healthy eating, not smoking, etc.). [proposed by U.S. psychologist Joseph D. Matarazzo (1925–  )]

Mental Health.gov defines it as:

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

Here is the thing. There are jerk face doctors and corporations that employ doctors that sometimes hurt people with mental health conditions and disorders.

Or provide a gut punch when a doctor states that all you need is a bit of rest. 

Or insist that medication is the only way to treat your problem (they mean anxiety problems, can't speak for the other stuff.)

Or are told buck the hell up this is life, deal with it. 

There are some of us that do buck the hell up, give the presentation, go back to the hotel room and have a major meltdown of symptoms. 

Dude, we vomit hard and steady and then go back to do it again and again.

Screw you doc, we are doing the best we can and then some. (Directed to the asshole docs, not the good ones.)

This is a pebble in the road on a functional but not perfect definition of health, physical health and behavioral health. With a side order of mental health.

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: 

APA Dictionary of Psychology definition of Behavioral Health.

Mental Health.gov definition of the term Mental Health

World Health Organization definition of Health.

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.

Show 314 What Is Ro Mind?

Update 2024 - Although the mental health only therapy explainer page is still listed on the website, it seems that there has been a downsizing of the medical services offered. 

Per the main page of the website, they no longer list anxiety, depression and seasonal affected disorder conditions. When I select the "What We Treat" menu, there are no mental health services.

I will have a separate recording about the change but the recording below is more of a historical archive of what was going on in February 2023.

Slightly Revised Text:

The virtual mental health marketplace is an ever-changing land of what was impossible is now possible. Whether or not it should be is a question for another time. 

Now might be a good time to ask those questions because there are a lot of new players that are being created outside of the traditional medical education and practice system.

This week, I'm taking what I call a window shopping view of a company called Ro.co and Ro Mind.

They provide medicine, medical education via pre-recorded video and medical management services for people that anxiety, depression and seasonal affected disorder only.

I'm still working out my thoughts on the Ro Mind telehealth service.

On the one hand, if you already have a therapist or a mental health provider that can't prescribe medication, this might be a good options.

But there are issues and concerns I have about self diagnosing without a medical checkup. Anyway, this is a quick look based on what I found when I visited the website.

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: 

Cleveland Clinic post on what things stress can do to your body.

2024 Update - Ro.co Mental Health page that explains considering using online therapy. I don't know how long this will remain on the website.

Mental Health America has a screening test for anxiety. 

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.