Anxiety Road Podcast: Therapy

Showing posts with label Therapy. Show all posts

ARP 418 What is Mysophobia AKA Germophobia?

This brief episode is about mysophobia or germophobia. When I went to do my research, a lot of search engines wanted me to learn about misophonia.

The AI didn't believe that I wanted to learn about the fear of germs. It insisted that I wanted to know about the sensory brain problem where certain noise patterns are painful to hear or be exposed to for a person.

It is a very interesting condition but it is not an anxiety condition.

For those about to roast me for not spelling germophobia correctly, per the dictionary, both germophobia and germaphobia are correct.

It is getting rough on these internet streets. It was like, hey little girl, let me tell you something you didn't ask for but I'm going to give it to you anyway.

This is why you need a brick in your purse. But I digress. This is a short look at this particular type of phobia.

Resources Mentioned:

WonderMind is a website that writes about mental health and fitness issues for adults of a certain age, not boomers. They have a post called How to Do Life When You’re Scared of Germs.

The Cleveland Clinic has an explainer page about mysophobia aka germophobia.

The International OCD Foundation has an abundance of resources about OCD information.

Emergency Resources:

The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text (START to 678-678), and online chat. Available 24/7. They also provide peer support and community.

Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. There are phone lines for those serving overseas. Visit the website to find the current status of the Veteran line and international calling options.

National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.

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 415 Facts about Mental Health Licenses

Doctors, Resource, Therapy, Treatment

In this episode, I want to give an overview of what a mental health license is, why it is necessary and some of the types of providers that have a specific type of license.

Part of the reason the podcast exist is to provide accurate, verifiable information.

So when I hear a statement like, "a license is only for insurance purposes," I have flashbacks of being that girl in class with her arms waving as the rest of the class groans.

Resources Mentioned:

There is a simple version from Mental Health Foundation on the types of mental health professionals.

From NAMI, that is the National Alliance of Mental Illness is a PDF fact sheet on the types of mental health professionals, the titles and what they do.

Mental Health America also has a page on the various types of mental healthcare providers.

Emergency Resources

National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.

Disclaimer:

ARP 411 To CBT or Not to CBT

CBT, Therapy

The way it is presented you'd think that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the only therapy treatment for anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions. No, it isn't. It does work, but not for every person or every mental health condition.

In this episode, a quick review of what CBT is and some of the pros and cons. This isn't an attempt to praise or condemn the therapy. I just want to point out that it might not be right for you at this time or you might needs to get your symptoms in control before you can consider this type of treatment.

Episode Transcript:

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a psychotherapy treatment that seeks to help people change patterns of thinking or behavior. You can't shake a stick on an anxiety or mental health site that doesn't at some point have a mention of CBT.

The basic concept is that you identify your goals, and then learn a process of how to re-set your brain to control your thinking and symptoms. You also monitor your thoughts and experiences and learn techniques like patterned breathing meditation.

More in a bit, but first, if you are new here, this is the podcast that looks at medical, behavioral health, meditation, relaxation and x=the unknown resources for those of us that have an anxiety disorder or mental health condition.

The Pros:

CBT focuses on the concept that if you change the thought, you reduce or eliminate the possibility of an attack. CBT is used to treat mental health conditions, like depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders.

There are many ways to access CBT therapy:

There are apps that provide CBT education and have journaling and progress trackers. More advanced and sometimes more costly options include videos, meditation recordings and other features including AI chat bots.

Group therapy sessions are also an option in some areas where you might meet with six to ten people to go over the CBT process, introduced to the skills and have weekly check-in to track your progress.

And there is one to one therapy CBT sessions. Both online and in person. Some session can be short term to help you learn the skills and techniques or as part of a long term therapy session.

You are basically re-wiring your brain's though processes. There are specific things you have to do in order for this to work. If you are willing and motivated to go through this process, it might work for you. Or not. You can be motivated and it still doesn't work for you.

In terms of financial accessibility, an app might be the way to go. This could also work for people that are not ready for a traditional therapy session or do not have geographic access to a therapist.

If you have insurance, some plans have access to commercial mental health apps as part of the features of the plan.

All of the previously mentions treatment options gives you the opportunity to learn new coping skills and relaxation techniques. If it works, you can get on with your life.

The Cons:

If your symptoms are off the chain crazy, meaning that the are external presenting or they embarrass you then this might not be the time to try CBT.

It is a lot of work, there is a specific way that CBT is practiced and a lot of it requires you to be honest with yourself and do the required tasks and homework.

Now there are a lot of variations of CBT to handle different mental health populations and conditions.

For example, If you have a dual diagnosis, like substance abuse and depression you might need another type of treatment plain. If you have underlining trauma issues, it might not be the best thing to start with CBT but you could gain help from the breathing and meditation practices.

The therapy doesn't resonate with you. Or you have a bad therapist, app or it doesn't make sense to you. You might require a different approach or you might need to get your symptom in control before you can even think about sitting in a room with another person talking about personal stuff.

I hope this gives you some understanding about CBT and some of the pros and cons about this type of therapy.

Resources Mentioned:

American Psychological Association on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Book publisher Wiley has the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Dummies book. On the website you can read sample chapters and there is a cheat sheet you can review to see if the book is a good match for you.

MindDoc is an app that is a CBT type education that you can access via your phone. You can read or listen to a variety of topics, monitoring and self-management your mental health and check in on you daily. There is a free and paid version of the app that is available to Android and iOS users.

What's Up app for iPhone/iPad users provides a basic grounding in CBT topics and skills. it has a journaling and notes section, breathing exercises and grounding tools. It is free but there are in-app purchases.

Emergency Resources:

National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.

Disclaimer:

ARP 410 What is Anhedonia?

Brain, Depression, Medication, Therapy

Anhedonia is the inability to experience pleasure or enjoyment from activities that normally bring satisfaction. You can do things but you can't feel things. Your brain cannot process or have access to pleasure, reward or satisfaction.

This is a quick episode on what the condition is, some of the symptoms and a few learning and treatment options.

Resources Mentioned:

Anxiety and Depression Association of America has a video about Anhedonia ADAA also has a support group for people with Major Depression Disorder.

Psych Hub video is also a good starting place to learn about Anhedonia

UC Irvine has an informational blog page about Anhedonia called There is help if it all seems too much

From Helpguide.org Anhedonia Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Emergency Resources:

National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.

Disclaimer:

ARP 409 - Four Things About Ibogaine

Alternative, Botanical, Herbal, Medication, Therapy

This is a short explainer on Ibogaine. This is the psychedelic that was mentioned in Executive Order 14401. There isn't much outside of scientific papers and even then it is much more observational studies than reporting on actual trials or practices.

Item 1

There is a west African shrub called Tabernanthe ibogda. ibogaine is extracted from the bark of that plant. The traditional use of the drug is spiritual ceremonies in central and western Africa by the Bwiti people.

The alkaloid extraction is a psychoactive drug that in small doses can act as a stimulant and in large doses that can last in the body for hours or even days.

Ibogaine attaches itself to dopamine, opioid, NMDA and serotonin neurotransmitters for a brain altering experience.

Item 2 Possible Uses

Outside of religious or spiritual use, it is being used in some countries for:

Substance abuse treatment - making it easier to wean a person off of opiate and alcohol addictions
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Severe depression or Major Depression Disorder

According to the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies aka MAPS website, The treatment can take one to three hours to kick in and can last up to 36 hours.

Once completed, it is claimed that for substance abuse treatment the cravings are diminished or gone.

Item 3 Areas of Concern

There isn't enough clinical trials to know the details about this drug. It is banned in many countries. A lot of what is being communicated about ibogaine is from people that used the drug and advocates/promoters of the drug.

There are countries that have done some research. However they are limited in size or random controlled trials. There is a lot we don't know about this substance.

This stuff is no joke. Ibogaine can put a tremendous strain on your cardiovascular system. It can cause heart arrhythmias, seizures and it can be lethal for some people.

It isn't like LSD. You might experience and be locked in to the dark side for hours with no escape. Again, you might have to under go therapeutic preparation before using this drug.

You have to be monitored. You cannot be alone while experiencing this drug.

Item 4 Accessibility

There are some countries that have legalized it, these include:

Australia and New Zealand allows for legal ownership, sale and cultivation of plants that contain ibogaine Brazil allows for prescription use in a hospital setting.

Canada allows use of ibogaine under strict guidelines. Uruguay use is legal.

Mexico does not regulate ibogaine, making it a popular destination for Americans seeking ibogaine treatment. Costa Rica is also unregulated.

If you are planning to pack up and head to Mexico or Costa Rica, please know that the cost, experience and lack of safety can be expensive. There are always profiteers.

You might not get the medical attention and services that you need and I have deep questions about after care and support.

My Thoughts:

I think what can happen in the future is that actual scientists study the drug and are able to synthesize what works from the toxic aspects of the drug.

We are no where near that point in research. This is a high risk substance. But that is me. My opinion. Your life experience might be different.

I am not a pharmacologists or a scientist.

Still, I have real concerns about the toxicity levels that can affect the heart and the cardiovascular system.

Is this drug going to require or make space for therapy and support treatment? What kind of pre, post and aftercare would a person need to insure safety and effectiveness?

I honestly don't know. Seems like there is a hunt for a pill to be the magic cure. For a price.

At the moment, I wouldn't touch it with a 39 and haft foot pole.

My two cents that ain't worth a plug nickle.

Resources Mentioned:

World Population Review Map of Legality by Country

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies aka MAPS is a non-profit organization that promotes the use of psychedelic drugs. There is a brief information page about ibogaine with links to the two observational studies and a section of the FAQ that talks about the drug.

Psychedelic Drugs in Mental Disorders: Current Clinical Scope and Deep Learning-Based Advanced Perspectives

Emergency Resources

National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.

Disclaimer:

ARP 408 Psychedelic Executive Order 14401

Alternative, Medication, Therapy

Psychedelics are knocking on the door again. It is the generational visit of psychedelics with some people seeing the potential and others seeing the danger and consequences. In this episode, a look at Executive Order 14401 and what is proposed for the treatment of serious mental health conditions.

Let me be clear about this. I take no position pro or con in the upcoming debates or discussions about psychedelics. I am learning as I move through this unexpected (for me) treatment option.

I have concerns. Big whomping concerns. I also have distrust and I'm noticing that certain stock markets and pharmaceutical companies are taking interest in this topic.

What I'm trying to say I have biases, both conscious and unconscious. This episode is what I've discovered learning about the topic. My first steps. Psychedelically, you might be further down the road.

One more thing. Dear public relations people. I have never had a guest on the show. I do not plan to in the future. Please peddle your guests to a more appropriate forum.

Resources Mentioned:

Psychedelic Information Resources

From Psychology Today What the New Executive Order Means for Psychedelics, A federal policy shift puts psychedelics in the spotlight for mental health.

PBS.org story about the executive order and some of the pros and cons. Like insurance? Nope.

One of the things the Petrie-Flom Center looks at is Health Law Policy. This is a Q&A on the Executive Order on Psychedelics with I. Glenn Cohen and Mason Marks.

FDA Right to Try Fact Sheet and Congress.gov page on Expanded Access and Right to Try: Access to Investigational Drugs

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency Drug Scheduling with a list of the drug schedules.

Information about executive orders, their history and how to obtain them.

National Constitution Center information page on What is an Executive Order?

The American Bar Association's website has an explainer from a legal perspective on what an executive or is, the format of the document and how to retrieve the official version.

National Archives and Records Administration Archive of all things related to the U.S. government. Maintains a digital index of executive orders that is searchable by date, number, or topic. The orders may be viewed as PDFs or text, in the Federal Register, or within Title 3 of the U.S. Code.

American Presidency Project is an archive maintained by the University of California Santa Barbara includes text of almost all executive orders, searchable by year of issue back to the early nineteenth century.

Emergency Resources

National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.

Disclaimer:

ARP 394 Creator Care for Digital Content Creators

Support, Therapy, Treatment

Creator Care is a therapy option set up for digital content creators. If you produce gamer videos, TicTok tips or are deep in the YouTube algorithm whiplash then this could be of interest to you.

There have been a few notable YouTubers who have decided to take extended breaks, leave the platform or have made the ultimate deep six six dive. Many others are going through burnout or feel that there anxiety levels are a bit too high.

Per the vendor's website:

Many creators experience anxiety, burnout, depression, and isolation, yet often face barriers to accessing care.

Currently the service is available only to California digital creators living in CA but they do have plans to expand the service across the U.S.

Resources Mentioned:

If you are a digital creator that lives in California, you can access the Revive Health Therapy portal for Creator Care. There are virtual visits as well as an option for actual offices visits if you live near Oakland or Walnut Creek.

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America website have a directory of providers that focus on these topics. You can search by location, your condition or by your population type, for example, you are a veteran, a senior or a person with disabilities.

The Open Counseling website allows you to put in your zip code or the name of your state and then find a provider. Some of these providers do have a virtual therapy option.

On the main page of the website, there is information on some of the non-profits that might have free or reduced payment options to access therapy treatment. Please note that Open Counseling has an affiliate relationship with the BetterHelp.com group of companies, such as Regain.us, TeenCounseling.com and TalkSpace.com.

Open Path Collective. This is a non-profit membership site that can help you reduce the cost of your therapy sessions. This is open to all, not just digital creators. You get the opportunity to read the profile of the therapist and hopefully have an appropriate and supportive match for your needs.

Emergency Resources

National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.

Disclaimer:

Rosemead Official Movie Trailer

Culture, Therapy, Treatment

No group of people, no culture is exempt from having a member of that culture having a mental health condition. Depending on how you were raised, you might have trouble accessing or receiving help.

This is a trailer for the movie Rosemead. Per National Public Radio (NPR) it is based on a true story of a woman who has cancer and is dealing with her teenage son's schizophrenia. Dealing with cancer and

schizophrenia is a challenge.

Now put a cultural overlay of what your society accepts and denies about mental health treatment.

I want this film to be a blockbuster. It won't be but if you can find a way to see it, it would be a good thing. Make the effort.

I want accessible and affordable mental health treatment in the United States.

Maybe someday. It is worth fighting for but it might take a while.

Resources:

NPR Morning Edition interview with Lucy Liu on her role in the film and cultural taboos about talking about hard topics.

Asian Mental Health Directory, a listing of therapists in the U.S. and Canada. You can filter by language, type of condition and other options.

South Asian Sexual and Mental Health Alliance (SASMHA) via their website "offer virtual and in-person community workshops, a resource hub, a podcast, and share community voices through our blog."

The website Asian Do Therapy is trying to break the stigma of talking about a problem and seeking treatment. There is a podcast, how to find a therapist and you probably should check out the About Us page. It touches on some of the concerns folks have about getting treatment.

Emergency Resources

National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of the 988 service. Users can use text, chat or WhatsApp as a means of contact.

Disclaimer:

ARP 360 - Mental Health Treatment Options for 2024

Education, Therapy, Treatment

This is the second part of a look at some of the mental health treatment options in 2024. There have been changes since the creation of the podcast in 2015.

For example, in 2015 there were limited telehealth options, no entrepreneurial mental health apps and service providers. No A.I enhanced apps. And mental health services was primarily provided face to face or in a group setting.

There have been changes in technology and access to care.

For my overseas listeners, I'm sorry but this one is going to be U.S. centric. There are cultural, governmental and way too many differences in access to treatment. Please continue to listen and glean from it what you can.

Before I get to that, it helps if you know the terms, vocabulary and some of the science based options for your anxiety.

One of the resources that is accessible is located at the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health - Booklets and Fact Sheets. Consider this a starting point in your treatment, so that you have a understanding of what is going on and some, but not all of your treatment options.

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:

U.S. National Institute of Mental Health - Booklets and Fact Sheets The documents can be viewed on the website or downloaded as a PDF. There are also Spanish language versions.

Mental Health America page on Screening Tools for Anxiety

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors. This therapy is suggested for people that have anxiety, some forms of depression.

In the Anxiety Disorders booklet, there is a section on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. There is a much longer definition I found at the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

If you prefer your information in an audio format, the National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists has a self-help section that has recordings about various CBT topics, including dealing with anxiety.

Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) therapy the focus is that it routes you into the present tense, along with providing skills to handle problems.

There is a lot of treatment definitions on the Psychology Today website:

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is for folks that need help in regulating emotions, developing mindfulness skills and help with challenging situations. Harvard Health has a page about DBT,

And Everyday Health has an extensive guide about DBT,

Disclaimer:

Show 325 - Minding the Line Fly Fishing Movie and PTSD Resources

Alternative, Depression, PTSD, Therapy

After missing last week, I was determined to get an episode up. I recording and edited it.

The SOS software decided to garble my speech.

And then it stopped working.

So I turned to my phone and made something happen.

This is a quick look at the new movie called Minding the LIne, which is a fictional movie about fly fishing, PTSD and coping as best you can.

I'll get the rest of the episode re-jiggered and try again.

I might have to miss an episode or two, it is getting hectic at Amalgamated Salt and Brimstone and some times you have to yield to the sulfur.

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:

Mending the Line

Blue Sky Entertainment official movie trailer on YouTube.

Field and Stream interview with director Joshua Caldwell about the movie and the challenges in bring it to the screen.

Variety.com review of the Mending the Line film.

RogerEbert.com review of the film.

PTSD Resources

National Institute of Mental Health information page about PTSD and you can download the PDF booklet

Department of Veterans Affairs National Center on PTSD The Center also has podcast called

PTSD Bytes where you can get small audio chunks of information about the condition and tips for handling it.

Helpguide.org page on what is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and your treatment options. This site also has veteran specific information and has info on the various types of PTSD.

Psychology Today post on Conquer Anxiety, One Small Step at a Time, A solution-focused approach to overcoming fear, worry, and stress.

Disclaimer:

Show 313 Mental Telehealth Services

Telemedicine, Therapy, Treatment

In this episode, a look at some of the mental tele-health options that are in or will be introduced to the healthcare marketplace.

Next time, and throughout the year I'll show examples of a virtual mental health service, what it does, the pros & cons and other items of interest.

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:

SAMSHA Disaster Distress helpline is 1-800-985-5990 for voice and text communication in English and Spanish. There are also other languages available and ASL video access is accessible via a smartphone. The SAMSHA website has a lot of information about disaster related mental health issues.

Telehealth.gov page Behavioral Health Care for Individual Care, this does a good job of describing the options in the the virtual mental health space at this time.

National Institute of Mental Health has a downloadable PDF that gives a basic description virtual mental health option.

If you don't know where to start but you have to talk to somebody, there is the NAMI HelpLine that offer support Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. eastern standard time in the U.S. Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email at helpline@nami.org

Disclaimer:

ARP 306 - The End of Amazon Care

Medication, Support, Telemedicine, Therapy, Trauma, Treatment

Hi folks, I'm at high tide with work and symptoms acting like a three-year old. But I wanted to put this out to let folks know that the Amazon.Care service has closed.

It is a little embarrassing for me. I had posted the episode and three weeks later the telehealth service began the process of shutting down.

From what I can suss out, there were several reasons for the service going down, and I'm getting my information from the Washington Post newspaper, some of the industry publications, and I believe there was an actual internal memo from Amazon that was cited in some of the news reports.

So this is just a quick informational update plus a little bit about my Twitter concerns.

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:

Washington Post article about Amazon to shut down its telehealth offering and a second story Amazon Care is dead, but the tech giant’s health-care ambitions live on both by Caroline O'Donovan.

Disclaimer:

Show 303 - Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners

Book, Medication, Therapy, Trauma, Treatment

In the introduction to this episode, I mention the financial bum rush of companies providing mental health apps to clients, patients and customers.

Still working on that tact thing.

There is a small but growing segment of entrepreneurs that see gold in them there mental health hills.

Some of those entrepreneurs have honest intentions about making mental health accessible. They have hired psychologists and psychiatrists to help shape their product.

Others vendors are more focused on building chat bots that provide rote services that can be sold to businesses.

Probably as a checkbox for saying "Hey, we have provided this mental health gizmo, saves you money and that will allow you as business person to give us money. Win-Win."

But sometimes, you need a living licensed professional that will meet with you and your problems.

HMO doctors ain't got the time or the training for that kind of service.

Psychologists will talk to you but cannot provide medication treatment or management.

Psychiatrists are in short supply. Many are ageing out of the profession. Those that haven't are either booked solid or priced out of the range of most people.

There is another option. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners. That is the topics of this episode.

In the episode, I mentioned that I was going to post an image or maybe a video about accessing the two psychiatric nurse search engines.

I'll figure something out.

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:

Association of American Medical Colleges post about the psychiatrist shortage.

The Myth of Normal, Trauma, Illness & Healing in A Toxic Culture by Gabor Mate, M.D. with Daniel Mate. Published by Avery Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

I also recommend that you check out a video that he talks a bit more about the myth of normal.

American Psychiatric Nurse Association page About Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing

Nurse Journal page on What to Know About Seeing a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners web site has a Find a Nurse Practitioner search engine for those practitioners.

Psychology Today has a therapist search engine. It also is a little fiddly but you can use it to locate psychiatric nurse practitioners.

Disclaimer:

Show 296 What is the Deal with Amazon Care?

Medication, Telemedicine, Therapy, Trauma, Treatment

November 2022 Update: Amazon Care telehealth service will shut down on December 31, 2022. Pulled the plug on it due to large corporations not signing on and the cost of running a commercial health service is expensive. I've have more in a future episode.

I'll keep the episode posted but Amazon Care is gone as in it is history.

It is late and I typed out a long passage about how entrepreneurs and corporation looking to boost revenue are looking at the U.S. dysfunctional health system.

And that page got eaten by the spiritual gremlins of mischief. So this is the short version.

AmazonCare is a new virtual healthcare service from Amazon. It provides primary care, pharmaceuticals, some diagnostic services and, in my opinion, mental healthcare lite.

Before you hippity hop over to the site you should know that someone is squatting on the .com domain Don’t go there. The correct address is Amazon.Care

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

Resources Mentioned:

The AmazonCare web site - currently it is Amazon.Care. The .com version is domain squatted.

The Ginger website with information for consumers or businesses that would like to contract with the service.

The HBO series John Oliver's Last Week Tonight episode on Mental Health care. It is a dilly and you can watch the episode on YouTurbe.

The Body Keeps the Score, Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. published in 2015 by Penguin Random House. The book is available as a book, ebook and audiobook.

Disclaimer:

Show 292 What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?

Affirmation, Mindfulness, Therapy

I think when I was starting out, I probably would not have considered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

I was really focused on stopping my symptoms and I was not the introspective person.

More bullheaded and introspective. I was much more focused on making my symptoms stop.

While doing the things that caused them in the first place.

I can tell you, that's probably not the way to go, but I had to learn from experience as opposed to from intellect. It was a rough road.

In this episode, a look at Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

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 Anatomy of Anxiety, Understanding and Overcoming the Body's Fear Response by Ellen Vora. Link leads to the publisher Harper Collin's page of the book.

Psych Hub video about ACT

Timothy Gordon aka Zen Social Worker video on What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?

Verywell Mind comprehensive post on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

From the How American Psychological Association there is a therapist locator page as well as a page on How Do I Find a Good Therapist?

Disclaimer:

Show 291 - What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

CBT, Meditation, Therapy

Before talking about Dialectical Behavior Therapy, I want to give a brief reminder of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy aka CBT.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a short term treatment that provides skills on how to transform negative thoughts and behaviors. Traditionally, CBT is offered to people with an anxiety disorder, depression and other mental health conditions.

There are a number ways to do this but the general format is to:

Assess where you are right now.
What is your view of yourself, your attitude about yourself and how you function with those beliefs.
Skills and tool building process to help you deal with your symptoms and other blocks you experience.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a variation of CBT, the goals are the same but there are some differences.

DBT was originally created as treatment for suicide treatments, Borderline Personality Disorder, then eating disorders, some types of addictions and is now used for PTSD and anxiety conditions. It is actionable focus, meaning you actively apply the skills and techniques as you learn them.

There is a connection with mindfulness. There is also a focus on acceptance and finding ways to change what you can to improve the quality of your life..

In this episode, a review of CBT and a brief dusting on the concepts of DBT.

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:

ADAA video on What is DBT? You can view it on YouTube or the ADAA website.

From Humor That Works the 5 Daily Habits app for both Android and iOS. Simple app but gets the job done. Works on older devices and it is a totally free app.

Everyday Health page on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Very Well Mind page on Dialectical Behavior Therapy

DBT-LBC.org is a website that has a listing of certified DBT therapists in the US and Canada. The site also has an information page about dialectical behavior therapy

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Show 279 - License Search A Bumpy Road

Therapy, Treatment

It happens that I start in on an idea and think I've done my research. Only to get whacked in the head about a question I did not ask. Like how to find a license search for a provider at a state website.

For example, I start to think about the episode and then a thought came into my head.

"How are they supposed to do that?"

And because I'm hardheaded and I don't listen to the spirits from up on high, I respond that they should go to their mental health or behavioral health board in their state.

Then the spirits from up on high say, "you better double check that."

I'm hardheaded, but I'm not stupid.

I got humbled right quick. There are some states to provide mental health services and resources to the public. Every nook and cranny of their website has resources and plain English explanations. There are other states that work as a conduit between public and private resources.

But when it comes to seeking licensing info, it may not be a state mental health site you need to be.

Some of the states have their licensing information in an entirely different site. But there are ways to find and obtain the information.

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:

From the U.S. White House, Fact Sheet President Biden to Announce Strategy to Address Our National Mental Health Crisis, As Part of Unity Agenda in his First State of the Union

Open Counseling is a non-profit website that provides a page to find out how to locate a behavioral health or therapist license search page. the Look Up A Therapist's License - A State by State Guide contains a list of the various board names and licensing departments.

Anxiety and Depression Association of American Find a Therapist page. Also on the ADAA site is an infographic on what to ask a potential therapist.

Open Path Psychotherapy Collective has a listing of providers from across the country

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Show 278 - Therapy - What Can I Do?

Therapy, Treatment

There is a lot of craptastical thinking about therapy. Everything from religion is therapy to “put this device on your wrist and use our app and bingo-bango, you are cured.

Fear and confusion running amuck, and that is mainly from the people who don’t have the medical form of an anxiety condition or disorder giving advice.

An episode or so ago I wrote about the treatment option of medication. The choice and responsibility of using it or not using medication.

Resources Mentioned:

Mental Health America article on What is Therapy? Description of the process, list some of the types of therapy and things to consider when seeking a therapist.

U.S. National Institute of Mental Health page on Psychotherapy, brief description of therapy process and listing of type of therapy options.

National Alliance of Mental Health (NAMI) also has a post on therapy options.

Helpguide.org on Finding a Therapist Who Can Help You Heal with sound advice about selecting a therapist.

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.

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Pebble in the Road Acknowledging Burnout is Ok

Awareness, Depression, Therapy

Burnout is when it is really hard to put two sentences together and have them make sense.

Burnout is you want to do is stay in bed under the covers. Because it is safe. They can't get to you there.

Except that you can't. You have to go to work, do that thing. Complete the task. Make nice to people who may or may not deserve it.

Dr. Candance Good in a post on Psychology Today states:

"Burnout was common before the pandemic. But now pile on two years of uncertainty, civil unrest, irritability in the political climate, disruptions in work and childcare, and fear.

These circumstances can trigger a stress reaction in our bodies; burnout is the physical reaction to that stress."

In this short episode, a word or two about burnout.

Resources Mentioned:

Helpguide.org page on Burnout, Prevention and Treatment.

Candace Good MD, M.D. post on Psychology Today on Why Self-Care Is Not Enough to Beat Burnout

Burnout is real. Here’s how to spot it—and recover. article on PopSci by Isobel Whitcomb

The Conversation - How to recover from burnout and chronic work stress – according to a psychologist

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.

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Show 270 Bad News But We Can Deal With It

Anxiety, Resource, Therapy

This podcast has always talked about treatment options and resources. I always will.

And sometimes that includes talking about uncomfortable things. Or boring things, things so boring they make your eyes glaze over.

This is definitely true cuz I have been known to go long winded. But if this helps you in your treatment process or understand possible resources process, I'll do it.

Because that episode that you cut off after four minutes might be the one you come back to a year from now. It happens.

My intent is to be respectful. I might slip up on that. If I don't catch it in the editing process then I will have to own up to it. I have my own opinions and biases.

My intent is to be informative with viable, and authoritative sources. You can agree with them or disagree. That is your choice.

I need to do this because someone I don't know needs to know this information. If you don't need it or think it is a waste of time, then tune out.

In this episode, some news items about accessing treatment. It isn't good news but you do need to know why trying to find help is even harder than before the pandemic.

Resources Mentioned:

Column from the Washington Post called The pandemic could drive another national health crisis, GAO warns: Anxiety. For our oversees folks, the GAO is the Government Accountability Office.

The actual report from GAO Highlights GAO-22-104437 goes deep into who and what populations are affected.

The New Your Times Well section "We Surveyed 1,320 Therapists, and the News Isn’t Good" The story is behind a paywall.

From California Take Action 4 Mental Health site, downloadable Understanding the Spectrum of Mental Health PDF about how to have a better idea if you are in trouble or in the danger zone.

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.

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Mending the Line

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