6-Step Guide to Survive Pandemic-Related Distress
Distress is a culmination of an uncomfortable storm of emotions, judgments, resistance, and physical sensations. Depending on a person’s specific triggers, coping skills, brain, and self-understanding, the reaction to distress can range from mild and controlled, to an intense experience of dysregulation and trauma.
Triggers of distress come in all shapes and sizes. It can be personal or global, such as this pandemic. Currently, the pandemic is a universal trigger poking and scratching at old wounds, especially experiences that left us feeling powerless and helpless — and it is creating new ones.
I’ve written this...
Source: World of Psychology - August 10, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Kristi A. DeName Tags: Anxiety and Panic Self-Help Stress coronavirus COVID-19 Mindfulness stress reduction Source Type: blogs
Podcast: Self-Help Cliches Have a Peculiar Value
Take the bull by the horns! Pick yourself up by your bootstraps! Are these cliches condescending for people with mental illness? Or is there a grain of truth to them? Today, Gabe and Lisa debate the pros and cons of the all too common “taking your life back” advice we all get from well-meaning people. Gabe shares his personal story of gaining back control of his life a day at a time while healing from depression.
When you struggle with mental illness, how much of your behavior, thoughts and emotions do you actually have control over? Is it helpful to feel in control of your life, even when it screws you over?
(...
Source: World of Psychology - July 28, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Not Crazy Podcast Tags: General Mental Health and Wellness Not Crazy Podcast Self-Help Source Type: blogs
Podcast: Life with Binge Eating Disorder
At one point, Gabe weighed more than 550 pounds. Today, he and Lisa remember and discuss the extreme pain and slow healing process of living with binge-eating disorder. Gabe shares his shame in being so overweight, his intense relationship with food, the story of his gastric bypass and the difficult process of learning new coping mechanisms.
How did Gabe’s bipolar and panic attacks tie in with his binge eating? And, importantly, how is he managing the illness today? Join us for an open and honest discussion on living with an eating disorder.
(Transcript Available Below)
Please Subscribe to Our Show:
And We Lov...
Source: World of Psychology - July 21, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Not Crazy Podcast Tags: Binge Eating Disorders Eating Disorders General Not Crazy Podcast Source Type: blogs
Secondary gain: really?
One of my most popular posts ever is one I wrote many years ago on malingering. Secondary gain, like malingering or symptom magnification is one of those terms used by people who don’t live with persistent pain, and commonly used when a person with pain doesn’t seem to be progressing “as expected”. The term is an old one, originating in the psychoanalytic literature, brought into compensation and insurance environments but never really examined (Fishbain, Rosomoff, Cutler & Rosomoff, 1995) until well after it had become a popular label.
Freud first identified the potential for gains from bei...
Source: HealthSkills Weblog - July 12, 2020 Category: Anesthesiology Authors: BronnieLennoxThompson Tags: Assessment Chronic pain Professional topics Research malingering secondary gain stigma Source Type: blogs
What should you do during a psychiatric medication shortage?
You have finally found a medication to treat your depression that your body tolerates well. It has taken your psychiatrist months to find the optimal dose (after two failed medication trials). The COVID-19 pandemic hit, but in spite of your new daily stressors, you seem to be doing relatively well. That is, until you hear that your antidepressant medication is now in short supply. What can you do?
Mental health treatment during COVID-19
With the increased stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, prescriptions for medications to treat mental illnesses have increased more than 20% between February and March 2020. Sertraline, or Zolo...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - July 2, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Stephanie Collier, MD, MPH Tags: Behavioral Health Mental Health Source Type: blogs
Podcast: Studying “ Resting B**ch Face ”
What is resting b**ch face? In today’s Not Crazy podcast, Gabe and Lisa discuss the resting b**ch face concept and why it’s even a thing. Lisa shares how she’s been accused of it and how she’s even been prodded by men to smile more.
What do you think? Is resting b**ch face an unconscious bias against women to always look pretty for men? Or is how you are perceived by others just a regular part of life? Join us for a nuanced discussion on the psychology of resting b**ch face.
(Transcript Available Below)
Please Subscribe to Our Show:
And We Love Written Reviews!
About The Not Crazy podcast Hosts
G...
Source: World of Psychology - June 30, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Not Crazy Podcast Tags: General Not Crazy Podcast Women's Issues Source Type: blogs
Podcast: Should I Date Someone With Bipolar Disorder?
Can a relationship work when one person has severe mental illness? In today’s Not Crazy podcast, Gabe and Lisa discuss dating with bipolar disorder. They share their own story of dating, marrying and divorcing under the umbrella of Gabe’s bipolar diagnosis, and discuss the ups and downs from both perspectives.
What are some positive signs that the relationship can last? And what are the clues that you might need to call it quits? Tune in for a heartfelt discussion on living and dating with severe mental illness.
(Transcript Available Below)
Please Subscribe to Our Show:
And We Love Written Reviews!
About ...
Source: World of Psychology - June 16, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Not Crazy Podcast Tags: Bipolar Disorders General Marriage and Divorce Not Crazy Podcast Relationships Source Type: blogs
Living in the Now while Dealing with Distress
As a chronic worrier, ongoing anxiety warrior, and general wary-of-what’s-going-to-happen-next kind of person, I know how healing it can be to practice the art of living in the present. As simple as that goal seems, though, it sometimes proves a lot harder than it sounds.
I’ve read numerous articles and books on the subject, including Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now, which offers specific practices on how to connect to the outer world and, even more importantly, to the stillness of our inner being to help anchor ourselves in the present moment. As Tolle points out, people can cope with whatever arises in the here ...
Source: World of Psychology - June 14, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tracy Shawn, MA Tags: Anxiety and Panic Books Self-Help Eckhart Tolle Living in the Now Meditation Stress The Power of Now Source Type: blogs
Podcast: Hiding Panic Attacks in the Bathroom
At the thought of losing a job or missing a mortgage payment, Gabe is an anxious discombobulated mess, while Lisa is cool as a cucumber. In today’s Not Crazy podcast, Gabe and Lisa ponder: Why do people have such vastly different ways of reacting to the world? They also discuss — with the special flare that only a divorced couple has — the good old days when Gabe would have full-blown panic attacks and Lisa had to get them through it.
How did they handle these scary moments? Is it ever OK to feel anger toward the panicky person? And what if the panicky person accidentally causes harm — should...
Source: World of Psychology - June 2, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Not Crazy Podcast Tags: Anxiety and Panic General LifeHelper Mental Health and Wellness Not Crazy Podcast Source Type: blogs
Podcast: Is There a Link Between Physical and Mental Health?
What does physical pain have to do with depression, and vice versa? On today’s Psych Central Podcast, our guest, Dr. Jack Stern, a board-certified neurosurgeon specializing in spinal surgery, explains the psychology of pain and how the two are inextricably linked. Dr. Stern describes how pain can lead to depression and how depression can intensify physical pain.
We also find out why opioids don’t work for chronic pain, and how past pain affects current pain. Join us for an in-depth discussion on physical pain and mental health.
SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
Guest information for ‘Dr. Jack Stern- Chronic Pain’ Podcast ...
Source: World of Psychology - May 14, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: The Psych Central Podcast Tags: Chronic Pain Depression Disorders General Interview Mental Health and Wellness Podcast Psychology The Psych Central Show Source Type: blogs
COVID-19: Keys to Long-term Recovery
The COVID-19 virus has impacted and will continue to impact every aspect of our lives. Fortunately, we can get a head start on successful recovery from these effects by taking lessons from people who are grieving and those who are battling substance abuse.
At first glance, this may seem an unusual comparison. Maybe losing loved ones to the pandemic ties into grief support, but how can economic and social turmoil be calmed by that? How can sobriety, long-term or not, be remotely related to any of these subjects? It turns out the three are closely related in coping strategies and systematic approaches required for our world...
Source: World of Psychology - April 23, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Jan McDaniel Tags: Anxiety and Panic General Substance Abuse coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic Source Type: blogs
Podcast: Canceling Plans Due to Anxiety
Does your anxiety take over when it’s time to leave the house — keeping you home more often than not? Do you cancel plans at the last minute due to that feeling of dread in the pit of your stomach? Or maybe you are the friend that keeps getting canceled on. In today’s podcast, Gabe and Jackie discuss why this happens and how both parties — the chronic canceler and the chronically disappointed friend — can navigate this awkward scenario.
Tune in to today’s Not Crazy podcast to get specific tips on how you can feel more in control so you can cancel less.
(Transcript Available Below)
SUBSCRIBE...
Source: World of Psychology - April 20, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Not Crazy Podcast Tags: Anxiety and Panic Disorders General Not Crazy Podcast Self-Help Source Type: blogs
Coronavirus: The War of Withdrawal
The war of withdrawal is beginning to settle in, though is not a comfortable routine with people. We are beginning to realize this invisible enemy is stronger than anticipated and unpredictable. Rules surrounding behavior and activities keep growing. If you permit yourself to read and listen to all information about COVID-19, it may cause a spike of depression and anxiety. It may force people to take a closer look at themselves and others in this unpredictable threat. This on-going crisis has no end in sight as we hear and read more cases end in death. What is important is to accept this new lifestyle and pull together tho...
Source: World of Psychology - April 2, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Jane Rosenblum, LCSW Tags: Anxiety and Panic Communication Self-Help coronavirus COVID-19 Isolation Loneliness pandemic Panic Attacks social connection socializing Source Type: blogs
How to Cope with Coronavirus Anxiety When You Already Have an Anxiety Disorder
When you already have an anxiety disorder, and a real pandemic hits, you can feel especially lost and terrified.
Clinical psychologist Regine Galanti, Ph.D, helps her clients recognize that their anxiety is a false alarm—“it’s not your house on fire, it’s a pizza burning in the toaster.” But because of Coronavirus, she said, your house is actually ablaze.
In other words, it makes sense that you’re anxious.
It makes sense that your symptoms have flared up or gotten worse, agreed Emily Bilek, Ph.D, a clinical psychologist and clinical assistant professor at University of Michigan.
Bilek noted that people understa...
Source: World of Psychology - March 31, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. Tags: Anxiety and Panic Disorders General Health-related Self-Help Stress coronavirus COVID-19 quarantine social distancing Source Type: blogs
How to Navigate Your Panic Attacks During These Turbulent Times
If you suffer from panic attacks or are prone to them, you might find that you are experiencing them more than usual. The uncertainty in these challenging times as we face a global pandemic — it’s the perfect storm for intense fear and a sense of dread that cripples those who suffer from panic attacks. It triggers physical symptoms like a pounding heart, sweating, shortness of breath, nausea, chest pain, or trembling. It can last 5 to 20 minutes but can feel like forever. Despite the scary situation you find yourself in, the “silver lining” is that once you learn to recognize when your attacks are coming on...
Source: World of Psychology - March 28, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Emily Waters Tags: Anxiety and Panic Stress Anxiety Attack coronavirus COVID-19 Panic Attack stress reduction Source Type: blogs
