ARP 256 Do You Know Your Why About Medication?

In this week's episode is a look at some of the reasons why we need to look at taking medication. What is the reason? Number one has to be symptom management and control. 

Them SOB's have made me do things I'd never thought I'd do. Pour water on my head in a parking lot? Yep. And don't think that won't get folks attention. It will. 

Being clear about taking or not taking medication is a process of education. You have to learn what the medication is, what it does for you, what effect it could have on the body?

Need to know what your options are what are the alternatives? 

So, as I mentioned last week in the podcast, I'm trying out new things and approaches. I need to up my game. Be better. 

So they say. They are probably right. 

But I can't do everything when everybody wants me to.

I'm going to try to put out an episode each week. Hopefully. One of the ways for me to do that is alternative between shorter episodes and the long ones. 

Not that I go that long. Cuz I don't.

But I think I want to make sure folks get what they need. So I want to try different things. More pebbles in the road. Maybe an audiogram for Twitter every now and again. I like doing deep dives but they take time to research and write. 

But I also have to balance the work life, the play life and the anxiety that is generated by being in this life at this time. It is a pip.

So yeah, I'm working on stuff.

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: 

On the ADAA.org website, there is a seven page brochure Treating Anxiety Disorders that discusses options, both counseling/behavioral health and medication.

Over on Very Well Mind, there is an article on The 4 Major Classes of Anxiety Medications, and a second post on What You Need to Know to Take Psychotropic Medications Safely

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 255 Sleep Resources and Six Years Running

This is the sixth year of the podcast. Nothing like I envisioned it would be. The podcast was inspired by a lot of things.

Many years ago, I went searching for a podcast to help me understand what was going on. I found one but the gentleman was ending the show because the anxiety of creating and producing was too much for him.

I found others that were created by doctors using medical language I didn’t understand. 

Or ones selling books, cassettes for treatment. Or really pushing medication as the only option.

It took a long time, but I finally got what I needed; a therapist who supported my desire for a more expansive view of treatment. That is the episode with other stuff thrown in as well.

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: 

American Sleep Association page on What is Sleep so much more information about the process.

Join Scooter at the Sleep with Me podcast; you get at least an hour of a voice that might send you into the dreamscape.

For original storytelling there is Boarders of Sleep.

And if you are musically inclined there is the Deep Energy Podcast where you can get a taste of ambient and new age type music inducing slumber.

For those that want to experience something different, there is Moving Poems, a visual approach to poetry for those that are starved for poetry, don't have the time to pick up a book and need that balm of literacy. No, it isn't anxiety related but sometimes you have to jump off the grid.

From Harvard, an old school page on how to Assets Your Sleep Needs.

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.

From ADAA - Roadmap for OCD Treatment Options Webinar

Almost ready to jump back into the saddle. Hopefully, with some changes and improvements. 

In the meantime, this is a webinar from  Anxiety and Depression Association of America about OCD treatment options. 

It about an hour or so but if you have the will to want to learn about your treatment options, you can find the time to watch it.

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 ADAA.org page that I found the webinar. The full name is A Roadmap for OCD Treatment Options: Outpatient, Intensive, and Residential.

Also hippity hop over to the International OCD Foundation, they have a bunch of resources about the various forms of OCD and help you find qualified professionals experienced in treating the 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.

Show 253 Screening and Diagnostic Test

I'm still in vacation mode until September. One of the things I hoped I’ve emphasized in the podcast is that you should have a medical evaluation and diagnosis from a health care professional.

The symptoms for anxiety are very similar to other physical health conditions. Having a medical examination would help to take some of the load off your shoulders. 

That is the topic of the show.

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: 

For those folks having trouble going to sleep, there is Snoozecast.com. Fiction, non-fiction or whatever floats your boat. 

There is also the long time champ of them all, LibriVox with hundreds of public domain audios that are free to download and listen. I recommend The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope, read by Andy Minter.

Mental Health America Screening Tool

ADAA Screening Page - contains screening for a couple of anxiety conditions

Canadian Here to Help Screening page.

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.

Why We’re Dreading a Return to ‘Normal" Video from NYT

I remember it being so quiet. No horns honking. No place to rush to. The virtual meetings weren't in full force so you had space to be. You didn't have to deal with the a-hole of the day. 

You still had to face you stuff but on your terms.

This is a video essay, they call it an opinion video of three people that talk about how going back to normal isn't all it is cracked up to be. 

I know part of the answer but why are we rushing back to the way it use to be? Not saying be a hermit. I am saying there are ways of making space and inclusion that we haven't considered.

This is an opportunity to think about it. But being dumb as cluck Americans, probably won't.

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.

Show 252 Anxiety and Iceberg Beliefs

An iceberg belief is a self-limited thought. And one of the strange things about it is that some of those self-limiting thoughts can come from your family, broadcast and social media or your culture.

Anxiety and anxiety symptoms can amp up or bring to the surface some of those embedded thoughts.

Those thoughts can pop up as you watch a video. A car racing down the street. A song that brings up a memory. Or it is 1:57pm and you got a way to go before the end of the day.

You are whipping on yourself that working, doing, being isn't enough. You feel mediocre or less than you think you should be. Sometimes a bunch of commercials try to reinforce that statement. 

"Just buy Cranko and you will feel or live better." 

The iceberg belief can add fuel to your anxiety about a situation. That may or may not be true. 

In this episode, a definition of a self-limiting thought, some examples and a few resources to ponder.

In the News:

Washington Post article about how men ignore their mental health issues.

U.S. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Brochures and Fact Sheets page on mental health conditions. You can download a pdf or even have a copy of the brochure mailed to you.

There is also a NIMH brochure about Men and Depression, it explains what depression is, causes and treatment options. 

Resources Mentioned: 

The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are – Brené Brown. You can find the book or audiobook at almost any book vendor. On her website there is a page with a Brave and Brokenhearted manifesto. 

Mark Manson's page on What are limiting beliefs?

Meg James from Australia has a worksheet on Limiting Belief that you can work though.

On the InsightTimer website there is a course from Meg on Simple Tools for Self-Acceptance. The first section is free and gives you an idea of what to expect. 

Pickthebrain.com worksheet on self-limiting thoughts with an action step.

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.

Chipping Away at The Anxiety Rock

And it is a big one. Getting people to believe that mental health problems are health problems. That they can be treated. And there is no failing for having one. Not a scorecard kinda thing.

So it is lunch time. I'm about to rustle up some grub and then I see a video from TED. 

Talking about Anxiety? I'm surprised and wondering where is this going? 

Dr. Jen is saying all the right things. Good explanations that folks can understand. Taking the stink out of it. 

TED has 19 million subscribers. Some of those folks have anxiety disorders. If the video helps folks to understand what they have and seek treatment that would be a very good thing. 

The bad thing is that about 2% of that 19 million will click on the video and maybe .01% will be inspired to seek treatment.

I'm greedy. I want everybody to know. But that isn't going to happen. 

But after the video is over, what do the .01% folks do?

This is partly why this podcast and the resource list exist. To give people on-going options and resources about how to find help, resources and options on treatment.

Resources Mentioned: 

There is a lot of information about the various forms of anxiety and depression on the ADAA.org website. 

National Alliance of Mental Health (NAMI) description page on some of the various types of anxiety disorders, symptoms and treatment options. 

Nationals Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has downloadable booklets about specific anxiety conditions.

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.