ARP 373 - A Look at Jaw Clenching aka Bruxism

The medical term for this is called bruxism. It is when a person grinds, gnash or clench your teeth and jaw bone. We are going to have a lot more people doing this in the year to come. 

This is a pebble in the road on the condition and resources you can use to help you make decision about your health.

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 Johns Hopkins Medicine site has an explainer about Bruxism that talks about who is at risk, the causes and treatment options. 

American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has a page on Understanding the relationship between bruxism and stress. 

Open Path Psychotherapy Collective helps folks locate therapists that agree to a sliding fee payments for services. You can filter for those things that you would want in a therapist.

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 372 - Agoraphobia Definition and Resources

Agoraphobia is the fear of being away from a safe place. People with agoraphobia have trouble being in certain types of public places. They also have problems with enclosed areas that don't seem to have an escape path.

There are people that do just fine traveling only to a home, the store, work and maybe the church. Anything more than that causes them distress. 

There are people that cannot ride a bus or the subway. It is the fear of being trapped without an escape.

Then you have people that cannot leave their homes or they can only do so with someone accompany them. 

In this episode a quick look at the condition, some of the symptoms and resources to get you started on your recovery journey.


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: 

National Library of Health MedlinePlus page on Agoraphobia

National Institute of Mental Health booklet on Panic Disorders

HelpGuide.org page on Agoraphobia, this will be a long and detailed account of the condition.

Psychology Today has a directory of mental health providers. You can search by city or zip code.

ADAA.org has an online Peer to Peer support portal. It is a meeting place for people with a variety of anxiety conditions, including people that have agoraphobia. You do have to join the group and abide by the group guidelines.  

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 371 Quick Look at Zenora App

We have to be a lot more careful about the apps we put on our phones and tablets.

In the entrepreneurial app space, there are a lot of apps that claim to be mental health or wellness apps. Many now have AI slapped on their covers. 

At this time, AI is a collection of words, stolen data and snatched public domain text to make it seem like it can answer a question.

It can't. The response you get is a gussied up form of pattern matching. There is no intelligence or thinking from the app. That doesn't mean that the contraption can or can't help you.

It does mean that you need to be aware of your needs. You should start to have a baseline of what a mental health the app can do for you.  

There are going to be a lot more apps being released in 2025. We need to build an understanding of what is and is not acceptable in a so-called mental health or wellness app.

In case you are new here, I do not accept advertising, affiliate links or other forms of compensation. This is my subjective opinion of what I perceived from the experience.

In this episode a quick look at the Zenora app.

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: 

Per the website, the Zenora app provides mental health wellness support via a a mood and emotion tracker, a journal function and cognitive behavioral health information.

The Knock Off Therapy Blog has a free PDF/paper based tracker and the information on how to use it to track your what is going on with you. Please be aware that you have to subscribe to AJ's newsletter to get the tracker. But you could also read the post to see if it is a good match for you.

The Rootd for Panic Attacks and Anxiety app has many of the same things that Zenora has but there is a specific focus on anxiety and panic attacks. There are short and long term lessons, breathing practices, nature sound and other items. This is a subscription service.

Unstuck CBT Therapy Journal has tracking features, a thought journal, examples of thinking traps and other doo-dads that you can use to track your feelings and thinking patterns.

Disclaimer: 

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 370 Quick Look Anna Barnes The Anxiety Workbook

Once upon a time I had this guy call me on Thanksgiving day to sell his carpet cleaning service. He probably thought is was a good idea, everybody would be home. Probably had that 100 calls mentality. 

I was not joyful or merry when I got that call. I did not curse him out. I reminded him that it was Thanksgiving day. The call ended shortly after that statement.

For some of us, this is the start of enforced joy and merriment. The imperative to buy, buy and buy some more. 

I want for you a different imperative. To take care of yourself as best you can. Watch what you eat and drink. And if you are prone to having alcoholic drinks, make sure you also gulp down plain water for brain hydration. 

Or you could, embrace the mocktail life. Just a thought.

Balance your sweets with actual veggies and fruits.  Don't indulge in toxicity from media or other sources. Say "Thank you" if it helps you to get out of the store faster. 

Our goal is to get to January 2, 2025. And then we get ready to meet the next challenge. 

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

Resources Mentioned: 

Online Vendors U.S. 

Certainly can find it via Amazon, Kobo, Abe's for used books and the Barnes and Noble website

Online Vendor UK 

I found it on the Waterstones Books website.

Online Vendor 

Australia Hachette Australian book site.

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 369 - A Look At Emotional Freedom Techniques

EFT Tapping, that takes me back a couple of years. Back when there was limited 240x 120 size video on websites. My symptoms were really bad that that time. I tried to make sense of it. I couldn't. Not with a 56k modem. I quickly moved on to other possible help sources.

About a year ago, I saw a EFT Tapping video. I tried it out. It did work for me if I was on the edge of an attack. Not so much if I have a big hella whopper of one, but that might be just me. 

This time, I went looking for answers.

I did find some. Not enough to satisfy folks on the medical evidence-based  side of the fence. 

But in-between the hooey and the functional components is a way of feeling better without risk to the body or the wallet.

This technique has been infused with cognitive therapy, meditation and affirmations. Those things do work. It might not work for everyone. But there are folks that have found relief practicing FTF Tapping.

You couldn't get some of those same people go to a meditation class but they are doing a meditative practice and not know it. That is ok.

So here is the thing. Check out the videos. Read the views at Skeptic's Dictionary & Quackwatch. Read a couple of pages from the EFT manual. 

You might decide that the technique works for you. Or you decide it is a bunch of junk pseudoscience.
Both things can be true. 

It is up to you to decide if you want to add it to your anxiety tool kit.

If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255.

Or for LGBTQ+ folks, The Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned: 

Contrary Views of Emotional Freedom Techniques

Skeptic's Dictionary gives a very detailed page about the creators, the practice and the site owners thoughts about the technique. There is also a comments page where folks go deep.

Quackwatch is a website that since 1996 takes a very critical look at claims made regarding questionable health treatments. There is a page on the website that has a few thoughts about EFT. The section on EFT is toward the bottom of the site.

Positive Views of Emotional Freedom Techniques:

The BBC did a video story about the technique, How Tapping Therapy Can Help Calm Your Mind.

The non-profit Kaiser Permanete page on Emotional Freedom Technique

Gary Craig original site was www.emofree.com now re-directs to Palace of Possibilities. 

The EFT International Free Tapping Manual This is a 66-page PDF explaining the concepts of the practice and how to go about it. 

Videos:

Nick Ortner Tapping Techniques on YouTube - please be aware that you will see the tapping techniques but the Ortner family does have goods and services for sale.

EFT Tapping for Anxiety

Ten Minute Tapping Meditation for Anxiety, Stress and Worry

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 368 - Don't Be Grist for the Mill

It has been a few days and some of us are struggling hard. I want to give just a few ideas on how to deal with Class A, what the heck is this kind of pain is this? 

For this space in time, find a moment to just be. For some of us, disassociation is not a bad thing. I don't recommend it for a day-to-day experience but if it gets you to the store and back, score.

For others, you might have a crying jag or two. It is okay. I understand. 

When you are ready, we will start again and work our way to better health. In the meantime, don't be ground down. 

Don't give your time and attention it to the assholes. Keep it moving in a positive direction.

Monitor your news flow. I'd suggest you go cold turkey on it, but that is just me.

Stay with the basics, eat, bathe and find your internal safe place.

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.

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 367 Postpartum Support for Moms and Parents

Seems like everybody is catching a little hell. We need to do something about that. Chip at that rock. For folks that are going through Postpartum Depression, there are resources that can help you get through the challenges of having this disorder.

This is a short episode that list two or three resources, depending on how you count them on contacting assistance. If I find more, I'll add them to the resource lists or create another episode.

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: 

Postpartum Support International has a helpline, a provider directory and community to assist folks with the condition.

PSI also has a page for Queer/Trans parents experiencing postpartum depression.  

The site also has an app that provides access to information, the helplines and the a community that truly understands the problems of folks that experience PPD or miscarriage.

PSI App via the Apple Store

PSI App via the Google Play Store

National Maternal Mental Health Hotline. Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262). This is a  24/7, free, confidential hotline is for pregnant women and new moms. Counselors speak both English and Spanish. TTY users can use a preferred relay service or dial 711 and then 1-833-852-6262.

The U.S. Office of Women's Health has a PDF Guide to Identifying Support for Postpartum Depression.

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.