Pebble in the Road - Magnesium Resources

Still on my summer slowdown. This is the seventh year of the podcast. 

Yeah, seven whole years of the show. The good, bad and WTF?

There are new things that are going to be happening behind the curtain, like creating shorter more focused episodes on a specific topic, concept or resource. 

Which means I can take my time on the longer one and not try to jam everything into one episode.

I can tell you that in the mental health space change is coming as fast as a Japanese speed train. 

Access to care is being a challenge but there are governments, entrepreneurs and other folks that are trying to help or disrupt the system.

 

Exciting times doesn't begin to cover 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: 

U.S. National Library of Medicine MedlinePlus page has details about magnesium.

And for you folks in the OZ and NZ space, there is a lengthy page from Australian Government Ministry of Health page about magnesium. 

Prior Episodes:

Show 215 Magnesium for Symptom Relief

Show 092 What is the Deal with Magnesium?

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 296 What is the Deal with Amazon Care?

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: 

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.

Pebble in the Road - 988 Lifeline Phone Number Goes Nationwide

On July 16, 2022 the new 988 Lifeline phone number for mental health support is in effect for those of us living in the United States. 

This phone number is also known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and its purpose is to provide support for those experiencing a problem, including putting themselves at risk, self harm, delusions or if there is serious emotional distress.

You can also use it if someone you know might need support or you are having a situation with someone in your home.

The service provides help in English and Spanish. however there are translation services in other languages. There is also support for veterans to address their needs. 

There are a number of ways to contact the service:

• By voice dialing 988 or using the traditional phone number 1-800-273-8255.
• By text dialing 988
• For deaf/hard of hearing you can use a relay service and  1-800-273-8255. or dial 711 then either 988 or the traditional number 1-800-273-8255.

If you need to talk with someone and it is not a crisis, there are a number of Warm Lines that you can call to talk about how you are feeling. Sometimes making contact with a person helps you to connect to yourself. 

Resources Mentioned: 

NAMI HelpLine for information about mental health conditions, resources and can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 am–6 pm, ET. 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or info@nami.org

Warmlines.org is a listing of many of the telephone support lines in the U.S.

California Warm Lines - When you need to talk to someone and you DON'T feel suicidal.

Project Return Peer Support Network provides both English and Spanish language support seven days a week between 5pm and 10pm Pacific Standard Time.

Amala Hopeline for Muslim youth support 1-855-95-AMALA

The Trevor Project for LGBTQ folks with phone, text, chat and other resources for people under 25 or those that want to help that population. The phone number for their telephone support is 1-866-488-7386.

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.

Bug Therapy Trailer

I just saw a  trailer for an CG animated film called Bug Therapy. 

I am all for banging the gong for mental health awareness and encouraging folks to seek treatment. 

All hands on deck, this is not a drill.

This is a story about Citronella.  a mosquito who faints at the sight of blood, tries to muster the courage to attend group therapy, led by Dr. Pill, to overcome her phobia. This is the trailer for the short film.

I don't know where you can view the full short movie. I know it has been shown at various film festivals and will be shown at the National Association of Mental Health California conference on August 25, 2022.

I'll keep an eye out for when it shows up on a film channel or YouTube.

Bug Therapy website with the trailer of the film can be found at https://www.bugtherapy.film.

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.

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.

Summer Slowdown or How Two Computers Got Me on the Ropes

I hate giving up but sometimes a retreat is necessary. Wish I could go to a retreat but that ain't happening. I know when I'm licked and I'm licked. 

Not one but two computers have me on the ropes ducking punches.

So this is just a brief update of what's going on with me. 

And what's going to be happening for the next couple of weeks. So in housekeeping news, I'm on summer slowdown mode until September.  Probably one or two episodes a month.

Between my old computer dying on me and my new computer not recognizing my microphone the way I needed to recognize my microphone. 

And it sounds like I have a sore throat. It's only because I've recorded the same episode on hoarding 10 times and gotten really progressively bad results. I am going to take a break and give up the fight and really figure out how I'm going to make this work. 

So, I plan to come back. Fairly soon to put up a proper episode, but for right now, I'm stumped. 

 I'm going to go do something nice for myself and get out of this chair. I'll talk to you sometime in the future. Not too far away, I do wanna put up a proper episode, but today's not going to be that day. I'll catch you next time on the anxiety road.

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.

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 - TSA Air Traveling with Medication

I'm having some technical difficulties and having trouble getting a full episode out. So I just thought I'd do this little quick episode.

This is just a quick informational post on traveling with your medications. There is some concern that allegedly there are some agents that are confiscating medication.

Below is the link to the official TSA.gov webpage where they publicly states that you are allowed to bring your pill medication on board either in your carry-on or luggage.

There is the text of that statement and the reality of having an agent or two publicly try to take or embarrass you from your medications.

You will have to make some hard judgements on what to do to maintain your safety.

 

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: 

Official TSA.gov webpage on traveling with your medications.

Official TSA YouTube channel. This link is to a video on traveling with a disability, medications and options for processing.

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 293 Defining Collecting, Clutter, Hoarding and Squalor

In this episode, a look at some of the words that get confused with hoarding. 

I mentioned that there are U.S.and UK television programs about hoarding. Also, there are multiple Youtube channels where a young person buys a the contents or acquires a hoarders property to find hidden treasures and money. 

There is also a sub-genre of professional housekeepers being paid to clean the home.

I can't forget that there is or was a person attached to their possessions. 

Sure, if the person is deceased and the property has to be cleared for the next occupant, fair game.

But if it is a living person they need treatment and support. It won't work otherwise. 

But as long as it is a money making freak show, I don't see that aspect of the cleaning happening in the broadcast and cable programs.  

Long before the house is touched, you have to reach the actual person with a team approach to treatment. That is hard. It might not even happen because some folks are in too deep. 

Not saying you need their approval to continue living in un-sanitary conditions. That is a public health situation and action has to happen.

But treatment isn't about just siting in a therapist's office. Sometimes you have to be in the room with 10 cans of baked beans from 1994. And helping that person let go one can at a time.

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 Lifetime cable movie mention is Dirty Little Secret with Melisa Joan Hart.

MHealth Intelligence article about Cerebral and a link to the WSJ article 

FTC Launches Probe of Cerebrals Business Practices that is behind a paywall.

Seth J. Gillhan PhD has a list of 5 Proven Techniques to Deal with Panic Attack. The list is on Psychology Today. 

The International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation has a page asking the lyrical question, "Do I Have a Hording Disorder?"

Also on the IOCDF site is a Clutter Rating Scale

And the Mayo Clinic has a couple of pages on their take on Hoarding Disorder.

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.