Show 264 Quick Look at Sleep Pod

Hi folks, this is a pebble in the road about finding helpful aids for a better sleep. Being the anxious folks that we are, sleep is not always obtainable or consistent. Especially if you are living the chaotic life.

So there is this product called a Sleep Pod by a company called Hug Sleep. (I think, there may have been a name change) Oh, by the way this is not a sponsored or promotion product. Really more of my first look about product that claims to help people sleep.

How to describe this thing. To me, it looks like is a giant snuggly body sock for sleeping.

So this is a quick look at the product.

Resources Mentioned: 

First off you might want to check out the original commercial for the product to see how it works. You can find it on YouTube.

There is a Freakin Reviews of the Sleep Pod, and he didn’t like it.

Fast Company has a review of the product and loved it.

Then there is a on Gizmodo, not so much.

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.

A video about Depression via WHO and Mathew Johnstones

Repetition is important. Not just via text or someone telling you about what to do. There are many things in this video that I have mentioned as a resource or an option. I'll keep on doing it.

But when you are in deep it is hard to hear or believe it. What is true? Is it true for me? The black dog  of depression will probably lie to you and tell you no. 

I hope that this video by the World Health Organization (WHO) will help more people to understand that there can be colors again in your life besides blah and soulsucking.


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 263 - What Is Critical Thinking?

I don't know if you have experienced this but either people are telling you that you are overthinking, underthinking or not thinking in the right way. There are reams of books about how to think the "right" way.

Especially if you have an anxiety condition. And I know the depression folks catch double hell on it too.

And let's not forget that freak flag that get's waived when someone expresses and opinion as fact and then when you try to educate or provide sources they accuse you of not having critical thinking skills.

Or they really might not have a process to think critically. And they get pissed off that you do.

Critical Thinking has been used as a weapon or a savior when it comes to anxiety treatment treatment.

Most of the time by people who don't know jack about either one.  In my opinion. 

The basic process isn't hard to understand. 

The implementation depends on the person, your circumstances, education, and life experience. 

Critical thinking is a way to evaluate information and make an informed decision or find a solution. 

Resources Mentioned: 

Who You Were Before Trauma: by Luise Reddemann. English language version published by The Experiment, a division of Workman Publishing. To those of you that are hip, the ISBN is 9781615196166

  

Critical Thinking definition at Plato Standford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

On the Dummies.com website you can find the book, Critical Thinking for Dummies. 

If you don’t want to buy the book there is a cheat sheet article that will give you the headline version. 

For those of you on the academic tip that cringed in my simplification, there is Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy description for a more academic version of the process. 

The Center for Critical Thinking is a non-profit organization that wants to add a fairness, empathetic aspect to the process. The center has where to begin page that is a good entry point. 

Brianna Weist has a post on Medium called Logic Lapses Are Giving You Chronic Anxiety 

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 262 Depression Negative Talk Symptoms

There is a study reported by the medical journal The Lancet about the increase in levels of anxiety and depression during the pandemic.  The first sentence in the report got me thinking. 

Mental disorders are among the leading causes of the global health-related burden

I have to look up the meaning of burden because I've never thought of my anxiety as a burden. A thorn, a pain in the ass, or at best, this thing that I have, but not a burden.

It has two meanings. a load, typically a heavy one.

Or the main theme or gist of a speech, book, or argument.

The Lancet is a UK publication and I'm an American bringing other meaning to the words used to describe mental health issues. 

At first, I took it as the world was burdened with people who have a mental health condition. Then I thought, maybe they mean the people that have a mental health condition that have the burden?

I might be wrong about this, but I think this is the UK's English way of expressing a thesis statement. 

In this episode, a definition of depression and negative talk (or cognitive dissonance) symptoms when it comes to depression.

Negative talk symptom isn’t the opposite of so-called happy or positive thoughts. It is a pattern of thinking that is designed to invalidate the worth of a person or their value to other people.

Resources Mentioned: 

Ad Age Mental Health is the Monumental Brief that Needs the Power of Our Industry.

American Psychiatry Association explanation page What is Depression?

Downloadable booklet – What is Depression? from the National Institute of Mental Health  Also by NIMH, Signs and Symptoms of Depression. 

How Does Social Media Play a Role in Depression? a post by Very Well Mind

Social Media and Mental Health via Helpguide.org

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 261 - Tips May or May Not Help You

There are thinking people on the planet and that gives me some hope. I recently learned about turning a pot pie upside down on a plate or bowl. 

This is some genius level thinking that I aspire, to but will never have it the way I want it. 

Because the gravy part will seep down to the back of the lid or the top of the pot pie. Then, depending on how fast or slow you eat it, you got gravy and a crunchy lid. 

It is also a willingness to see something differently. 

F--k the absolutes. Ok we need a few of them but man, we need some mental lubrication that is non-toxic to the body.

In this episode, a short bit of verbiage about how tips may or may not help you and some fellow travelers on the road who really do know how you feel.

The short version is finding your form of acceptance. Adapting a tool or technique that could work for you and factor in some grace for handling what you are facing on the day to day.

It is a lot.

Resources Mentioned: 

Author and blogger Jenny Lawson knows a thing or two about having public attacks. She wrote a post about it called The world is changing and that is a good thing, I think.

The Mack Files – Its okay not to be okay part 1 and part 2

From Anxiety Canada there is Kathleen’s story about having a mile high panic attack in a plane. 

And from National Association of Mental Health aka NAMI, Never be ashamed of seeking help. 

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.