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.

Show 313 Mental Telehealth Services

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: 

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 312 - What is Telehealth?

This is the start to a mini-series about telehealth and telemedicine options. Starting out with a definition of what telehealth is, types of provider services including a taste of virtual mental health care and recourses.

The short version is, per the U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services, 

“Telehealth — sometimes called telemedicine — lets your health care provider care for you without an in-person office visit. Telehealth is done primarily online with internet access on your computer, tablet, or smartphone.”

I think I have that song by David Bowie on repeat in my head. So many changes are occurring and I don't know if it is good sense to try to keep up with all of them.

Some changes there isn't a choice about. We have to be aware that entrepreneurs are providing medical  and mental health services via software, apps and treatment options.

Not all of the entrepreneurs are coming from a traditional medical orientation. There is a for profit slicing and dicing about providing access to care is taking place.

This is nothing new. There has always been stratified healthcare in the United States. 

• You have concierge medicine for the very rich and wealthy.
• Metered insurance access for those people that are in a rapidly compressed middle income space.
• And governmental and charity access if you are broke and your dollar has to stretch around the block.

The growth of telehealth/telemedicine providers is something we have to pay attention and understand what the impact will be on our physical and mental health 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: 

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, What Is Telehealth?  There is also a downloadable PDF on The Basics of Telehealth Care.

Medline Plus page on Telehealth also provides a bounty of information about what telehealth is and some of the pros and cons of it.

The National Institute of Mental Health has a two page brochure with basic description of what is tele-mental care and some of the pros and cons.

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 Pebble in the Road - One More Thing About CBD Oil

Trying to finish up on my science literacy class. It is a pip. It is very good and provides a lot information about how scientists evaluate questions and data. 

It is thumping my poor brain with all kinds of concepts. Once I finish the class, I should be back on a regular schedule. 

Going through my stuff and seeing if I forgot anything. Seems like I did forget a thing or two. 

I might have included this in an episode but just in case, I want to make sure that you know about buying CBD oil on Amazon.com.

If you have been following the mini series about hemp seed oil and CBD oil you know:

The sale of hemp products with less than 0.3 THC or any psychoactive properties is permitted in the U.S. on the federal level.

However, depending on where you live in the United States, hemp products can either legal conditionally legal or totally illegal to purchase depending on the state or territory you happen to live in. 

Fifty states, the District of Columbia and the territories. All with different laws , regulations and Attorney Generals.

Not to mention interstate commerce rules and the TSA at the airports.

And then there is American version of Amazon.com. The site really wants to help you find what you want. 

Amazon site does not want to disappoint you. Neither do the flim flam artists who will make it seem that there product does what you hope it would do but it does not.

This is a quick episode on why you can't buy CBD oil with 0.3% TCH via the U.S. version of Amazon.com.  It isn't complicated.

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 National Council of State Legislators current activity list of the current cannabis laws in the United States.

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 311 Kindness Grounding Practice

In this episode, a pebble in the road. A look at a kindness inspired grounding practice you could do when you need to tame your internal little hater.

Sometimes people come to the podcast intentionally. They see the album cover or up on a social media site and check it out.

Or they might see a post on a social media place and happen to see the name of the show.

Some entrepreneurial site owners will post a link to their blog or podcast, having nothing to do with anxiety or mental health.

And then there are the entrepreneurial vendors that offer alternative forms of self-gratification, aficionados of the anal canal of prostate joy or climatically cliffs of everlasting delight. 

I am under no illusion that providers who have goods, services and products for sale have honorable or dishonorable intentions. Most of it is just juicing for keyword or putting on that wolf coat.

Many times it is probably a quick get off the site link or trying to look legit. I have no control over that and Google is doing what they can, when they can.

That being said, I welcome all who find themselves on the road and decide to check out some of the information. Because lack of nookie can make you anxious. 

I might mention it at least once a year.

Really, the focus of the podcast and blog is to provide information about handling the life interfering type of anxiety conditions and disorders.

99.94% of you are welcomed. 

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: 

From 2022 Psychology Today article on Grounding Techniques. An opportunity to learn about what grounding is and some of the different types of re-centering yourself to the present time.

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.