ARP 381 - Smiling Mind App for Meditation and Mental Fitness

After a few minutes of an life update, I talk about the Smiling Minds app, a free resource designed to help practice meditation and also helps to build mental fitness.  

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 Simply Noise app can help you with finding the right sound for your needs, that could be a frequency noise or a sound of nature. Windows users can go to the download section of the website and select the items that will give them an audio balm.

Smiling Mind app provides mindfulness and breathing resources but has evolved into a mental health support and fitness app. There are 700+ mindfulness items that you can use. There is also a mood tracker and other resources.

You can find the app on the Apple App Store  or the Google Play Store.

On the main website you can find an explainer page on how to use the app and some of the features.

One of those features is closed captioning.

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 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: 

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

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.

ARP 354 Basic Info on A.I. and Mental Health Apps

There is a lot of turbulence in the mental health space. All kinds of mischief is going on and a portion of Americans who are trying to go back to 1862.

It is crazy but I don't think that is a strong enough word for it.  In this episode, I have a very simplistic definition of what is an AI Language Model and what is a scripted AI chatbot and a wee bit on what is or could be a generative A.I. chatbot or treatment option.

We need to understand what is happening in the entrepreneurial mental health market place.

There is a collision of problems;

• Not enough mental health providers.
• Financial access to mental health care.
• Geographical and transportation access to mental health care.
• and a whole bunch more....

There are serious, thoughtful ethically motivated research into using new technologies to provide access to anxiety and other types of mental health treatment. 

And then there is the bum rush of companies and private investors wanting to slap something up against a wall and hopes it sticks around long enough to make a profit.

Ooh, almost forgot - opportunistic low life vermin as well.

Case in point.

I recently got an email that told me that mental health is the next hot niche. And that for x amount of money, I could have oodles of videos explaining about, mental health and wellness topics.

My best and unsupported guess is that somebody somewhere has created a bunch of A.I. videos with A.I. voices that scraped content from multiple places and then have an AI video generator to create into various social media video formats.

This type of income enhancement is nothing new. And the offer of private label content is a old as the printing press. Rich guy want to show he is impressive. Hires ghost writer to enhance his reputation. 

We are being flooded with crappy content for profit.

My fellow travelers on the road, it is rough but our power and defense is being informed. 

Let's get to it.

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: 

Rose Cartwright's question everything she had been told about mental illness. This article appears in The Guardian. 

Common Craft video on Large Language Models on YouTube - This video does not have narration. It is a readable video. 

IBM definition of What is a Chatbot?

MedPage Today article on The Dark Side of AI in Mental Health High demand for AI training data may increase unethical practices in collecting patient data, by Michael DePeau-Wilson.

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 349 Quick Look at Xaia Mental Health Companion VR App

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.

Resources Mentioned: 

Marques Brownlee review of the Apple Vision Pro and his take about some of the pros and cons about this product. He brings up really good points. 

Xaia from VRx Health. You can read about the device and learn about the creators and the FAQ.

Wired article about Apple and digital privacy concerns. 

And from the Mozilla Foundation, are mental health apps better at privacy in 2023?

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 330 - A Quick Look at the Pulsetto VNS Device

I try to stay off of sites like Kickstarter and Indigogo. Too much temptation and even more disappointment. Back in the day, I use to support the up and coming companies. 

But I got tired of waiting sometimes month before the product arrived. I have been burned by companies that found out it was hard to be an innovator.

Few days ago, I got an email that I was about to toss in the trash. Looked like spam. Anyway, I found out that it is an actual company that claims to treat anxiety, sleep problems and helping to focus attention.

Supposedly, this is a device that you place on your neck, apply a gel to help you make contact with the Vagus nerve for a tingling session of calm and relaxation. 

It has possibilities for some of us that want more non-drug based symptom options.

But there are hitches in the giddy-up. 

In this episode, a quick look at the Pulsetto VNS device.

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: 

There is a post on SciTechDaily about reducing the amount of social media consumption called Can 30 Minutes a Day Save Your Mental Health? 

Excellent Crash Course explainer video on what the Autonomous, Parasympathetic and Sympathetic system is, what it does and how it relates to stress and anxiety. 

Chris Haslam at Wired.com review of the Pulsetto device, really good article.

HealthInsider post on Pulsetto Review: Can It Improve the Quality of Your Life?

The official Pulsetto website can provide more information if you are interested in this device.

Trust Pilot Reviews of the device.

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 222 Is it a Medical App?

I get a little long winded but in this episode, I needed to explain what are medical apps and what isn't. That breathing app on your phone probably isn't a medical app.

That is the topic of this weeks episode. Regulated and unregulated medical apps

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: 

U.S. Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Device Software Functions Including Mobile Medical Applications

U.S. FDA page Examples of Mobile Apps That Are NOT Medical Devices

Headspace and Talkspace, Both companies provide connections to virtual therapists via audio, text or vendor. 

Rootd – Panic Attack Relief This is an app that helps those of you with panic attacks to handle your symptoms. It provides an education module, symptom relief, a journaling module and other resources.

MoodKit This app uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as the foundation of some of the activities in the app.  It is a hybrid between providing patient information and a journal. 

PocketCoach  This app is similar to the other it uses CBT and Mindfulness-Based Stress-Reduction to provide information to users about their condition and how to handle their symptoms. 

2024 Update. One Mind PsyberGuide is closed. The non-profit could not obtain funding to continue. You can still access the archives at this time. PsyberGuide is a resource to help you find and evaluate mental health apps. The project looks at on-line, Android and iOS apps. Some of the mental health apps have an evaluation of their performance. 

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 077 - Leif Patch and Buzzies Technology Apps and Hardware

For those of you pining for a tech solution or can't get enough of a gadget fix I have two items that might get you circuits pulsing in a good way.

Resources Mentioned: 

Gothamist interview with Dr. Barbara Fisher about election anxiety and things you can do to re-center yourself in times of change. 

Lena Dunham being interviewed by various media publications about her anxiety and depression condition. She spoke with the The New Yorker, The Fix and Vogue Magazine.

Houston Chronicle article about loss of access to mental health services if the Affordable Health Act is repeals and not replaced.

There is a possibility that single payer healthcare is coming to California. SB 565 the Californians for a Healthy California Act has been introduced. 

The Los Angeles Times has a write-up about the first rumblings about the bill.
Leif Patch Breath Monitoring device. 

There are two official web sites The Touchpoint Solution and Buzzies. There is also a Buzzies YouTube Channel.

If you're having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for immediate help: 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

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 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.

Episode 016 Fail, Fail Again and M3 Mood Assessment Apps

In this episode Pema Chodron's advice to fail again and a look at the M3 Test for Mood Disorders




If you have an iOS device you can subscribe and comment via iTunes You can also download the episode onto your media device of choice.

If you have questions, comment or constructive feedback you can plop them down below - the comments are held in moderation until I can get to them because, you know, the others. Shhs. 

Resources Mentioned:

Fail, Fail Again, Fail Better post at http://www.lionsroar.com/how-to-move-forward-once-you’ve-hit-bottom

Pema Chodron’s Fail, Fail Again, Fail Better recording of graduation speech at Naropa University 

http://www.soundstrue.com/store/fail-fail-again-fail-better-1.html

Update: This company below below has changed to a paid test using AI to evaluate your responses. It has a value but it is not a diagnostic tool. 

What’s My M3? test for mood disorders http://whatsmym3.com or the FAQ page 

https://whatsmym3.com/FAQ.aspx

Microsoft Health Vault www.healthvault.com - Seems to be gone as in history.

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 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.

Episode 004 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Panic Relief App

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is also known as CBT is a psychotherapy treatment that seeks to change patterns of thinking or behavior. CBT training focuses on if you change the thought you reduce or eliminate the possibility of an attack.

Use this link to download the audio directly to your computer or device: ARP 004 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy




 Resources Mentioned:

• The American Psychological Association has a page on the website that specifically talks about anxiety disorders with cognitive behavioral therapy treatment. http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/anxiety-treatment.aspx The have a similar page for panic disorders as well. http://www.apa.org/topics/anxiety/panic-disorder.aspx
• The National Institute of Mental Health also has a page on CBT as it relates to various mental conditions http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/psychotherapies/index.shtml
• Helpguide.org on Therapy for Anxiety Disorders http://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/therapy-for-anxiety-disorders.htm
• Project 1 in 4  http://project1in4.com
• Marianne Geoffroy Panic Relief App for iOS https://itunes.apple.com/dk/app/panic-relief-free/id871363920?mt=8
• Marianne Geoffroy Panic Relief App in Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.indention.panicrelieffree
• What Is A Panic Attack from the web site http://cognitivetherapyapp.com/what-is-a-panic-attack

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

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

This 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.

Episode 003 Medical Doctors and Saagara Relaxation App

Medical doctors focus on symptoms and apply treatment. In this episode, a quick overview of what your doctor might decide to do once it is found that you have an anxiety disorder.



Use this link to download directly to your computer or device: ARP 003 Medical Doctors

Resources Mentioned:

Mayo Clinic on Preparing for Your Appointment http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/basics/preparing-for-your-appointment/con-20026282

Saagara Relaxation Stress and Anxiety Relief App for iOS https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/relax-stress-anxiety-relief/id408784780?mt=8

Saagara Relax Stress and Anxiety Relief App for Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.saagara.relax&hl=en

Saagara Relax Stress and Anxiety Relief App for Windows Phone http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/relax-stress-anxiety-relief/2b84d360-daee-467c-a408-d3e11423567b

National Institute of Mental Health page on General Anxiety Disorders http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad

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

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

This 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.