2022 ~ Anxiety Road Podcast

Show 310 - No Resolutions 2023

It is the time when a bunch of people and advertisers want to encourage you to make changes to your existence and how you currently live your life.

You might in fact want to do this because you do not feel good in your mind and body. Totally understandable. But you don't have to define you worth on promises you really don't want to do.

There is a way to achieve your goals without imposing an artificial and non-valuable deadline.

You can take small, measured steps. You decide when to start and when to start.

Does not have to be January 1, 2023.

It can be when you are ready.

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:

Virtual Bubble Wrap, pop your way into a bit of calm with this site.

Open Path Psychotherapy Collective is a non-profit directory of therapists open to a diverse range of clients.

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 309 Apps for Mindfulness & Meditation

Apps, Meditation, Mindfulness

There are lots of apps for mindfulness and meditation. The advantage is just in time training, help and support and symptom relief.

The disadvantage could be the continued separation from actual people, data harvesting by low lifers and the app not exactly meeting your needs.

I would say that it is important you develop your skills as an informed health consumer.

2024 Update. One Mind PsyberGuide is closed. The non-profit could not obtain funding to continue. You can still access the archives at this time. One way to do that is to visit the website One Mind Psyber Guide.

In this episode, some of the apps that are available for mindfulness and meditation.

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:

U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) consumer page about protecting your privacy and being aware of permissions you give an app.

Free Meditation Apps

From the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center there is the UCLA Mindful App for iOS and Android has features such as getting started in meditation, videos and access to the podcast where there are a number topics about mindfulness.

Healthy Minds Program, this is an app that has both active and sitting practices. This app helps you to build you process by introducing the concepts of awareness, staying focused and tracking the actual time spent in mindfulness and meditation.

Meditation with In-App Purchases

The Mindfulness App by the company Mind App has a tutorial on how to meditate, 400 mindfulness recordings, customization option like choosing the length of a meditation, guided or silent and other options. This app is accessible in multiple languages. Seven-day free trial. Subscription is either $4.99 a month or $59.99 a year.

Simple Habit has meditation on the go, guided mindfulness and meditation practices and experts on the topic. You can access some of the content for free or there is a subscription for $12 monthly, $90 annually, or $300 for lifetime use. iOS and Android.

Subscription Based Mindfulness and Meditation Apps

In the last episode, I mentioned Runkeeper for those that want to do running meditations. It is a subscription service for $39.99 a year. https://runkeeper.com/cms/

Buddhify designed for just in time meditation or up to 30 minutes. for meditation on the go $4.99 a month or $30 a year on iOS and $3.99 and $30 a year in the Google Play store.

And the app created by Dan Harris and his team. 10 Percent Happier. You get audio, video, tutorial guidance and if you want it, community. 7 days free trial, $100 a year. It is available for Android and iOS phones.

Disclaimer:

Show 308 Mindfulness Meditation 2022

Breathing, CBT, Exercise, Grounding, Meditation, Mindfulness

When I'm looking for viable resources, I can tell when I find a traditional approach to treatment.

Listed are two options listed, medication and therapy. Sometime they will mention others as a lifestyle choice. That is slowly changing. I am seeing more traditional sites including mindfulness and meditation.

There is increasing medical documentation that mindfulness and meditation work.

Medical scientists are still trying to quantify how it works. But they aren't kicking up a fuss about it anymore.

Another force for change is the entrepreneurial health app providers. They offer meditation as a treatment option, for users and for large corporations.

Many are targeting corporations. The pitch is "we can provide meditation as a services and it won't cost you (corporations) as much as dealing with traditional providers."

And in-between the entrepreneurs and traditionally medicine is you, me and the rest of the gang.

Truth is, there are people that will be thrilled with an app that actual helps them. They are practicing and benefiting from meditation via an app.

There are other people that need an in-person experience. Some will get that through a faith based provider. Other people will seek out secular choices from non-profits, university offerings and commercial or virtual retreats.

No matter which way you choice to go; know what you are getting into and see if the app or training course meets your expectations.

As I mention in the episode, there is no consensus about what those two words mean across disciplines, faith systems and from the medical and behavioral health professionals.

Some people use mindfulness for meditation or meditation for mindfulness.

I had to cobble out a definition that works for me but I do mention the other definitions in the show.

One definition of mindfulness is that it is a practice of paying full attention, being aware of what you are doing and grounding yourself in the moment.

The website Very Well Minds definition of meditation:

"can be defined as a set of techniques that are intended to encourage a heightened state of awareness and focused attention. Meditation is also a consciousness-changing technique shown to have many benefits on psychological well-being"

In this episode, a look at mindfulness and meditation in 2022.

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:

App and Audio Resources:

ASICS Runkeeper app for those that want to run as they meditate.

Australian podcaster Rachel Kable has an episode on How to Train Your Brain and Worry Less, might be good for the generalized anxiety folks.

NPR Life Tool Kit has an interview with Jon Kabbt-Zinn. In addition to the text interview is a recording of the conversation where he defines mindfulness as awareness.

10 Percent Happier with Dan Harris - there is also an app for accessing more content.

Text Resources:

American Psychological Association page on Mindfulness Meditation.

The Blissful Mind has a page on Mindfulness 101: Everything You Need to Know About Mindfulness.

The National Center for Integrative and Complementary Health page on Meditation and Mindfulness, What you need to know.

Update 2024 - Mindful.org Getting Started page on Mindfulness. Scroll down to see the text.

Disclaimer:

Show 307 - Quick Look at Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

Mindfulness, Stress, Treatment

In this episode, a quick look at mindfulness-based stress reduction.

The end of the year stuff is coming up early this year so quick episodes are probably going to be in the mix for the next few weeks.

If I can even get to an episode at all, it's that busy too much to do and not enough time.

However, my news feed blew up with articles, about a study about mindfulness-based stress reduction, The headlines, in many of these new stories were something like mindfulness works just as well as medicine.

In this episode, a quick look at the study and some resources so that you can do a deeper dive than most of mainstream media.

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 JAMA Network Abstract on the MBSR Clinical Trial

NPR One Minute Listen on the clinical trial.

Medline Pro page on Escitalopram/Lexapro

Mindfulness and Health Institute - Programs and Virtual Classes

Sounds True Jon Kabat-Zinn catalog page of recordings.

Google Books preview copy of the book Full Catastrophe Living Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness published by Random House Publishing Group

2024 Update: The website seems to be offline. The University of San Francisco Osher Center for Integrative Health has multiple on-line courses in MBSR for 2023.

On the east coast there is the Mindfulness and Health Institute s they also have classes in MBSR.

Mindful.org has an informative page about How to Meditate with Anxiety, with a word or two on MBSR.

Disclaimer:

ARP 306 - The End of Amazon Care

Medication, Support, Telemedicine, Therapy, Trauma, Treatment

Hi folks, I'm at high tide with work and symptoms acting like a three-year old. But I wanted to put this out to let folks know that the Amazon.Care service has closed.

It is a little embarrassing for me. I had posted the episode and three weeks later the telehealth service began the process of shutting down.

From what I can suss out, there were several reasons for the service going down, and I'm getting my information from the Washington Post newspaper, some of the industry publications, and I believe there was an actual internal memo from Amazon that was cited in some of the news reports.

So this is just a quick informational update plus a little bit about my Twitter concerns.

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:

Washington Post article about Amazon to shut down its telehealth offering and a second story Amazon Care is dead, but the tech giant’s health-care ambitions live on both by Caroline O'Donovan.

Disclaimer:

ARP Pebble in the Road on Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety, GAD, Treatment

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a pesky bugger.

It is worry on steroids. You worry about money; you worry about every ache or pain and worry about things in the past and the future.

There is nothing that you don't worry about, in excess.

And the amount of worrying you are doing can impacting your life.

Or keep you from doing things you want to do because of the fear of the unknown is going to happen.

In this short episode, the symptoms of GAD and what you can do about it.

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:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder: When Worry Gets Out of Control, a 12-page booklet that contains information about the condition from the National Institute of Mental Health.

From the ADAA.org site, a personal story, GAD Hard to Recognize by Meredith Arthur

The American Psychological Association has a podcast on mental health topics. Episode 173 Speaking of Psychology: What is anxiety and how can we treat it effectively? With Bunmi Olatunji, PhD

Disclaimer:

Show 303 - Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners

Book, Medication, Therapy, Trauma, Treatment

In the introduction to this episode, I mention the financial bum rush of companies providing mental health apps to clients, patients and customers.

Still working on that tact thing.

There is a small but growing segment of entrepreneurs that see gold in them there mental health hills.

Some of those entrepreneurs have honest intentions about making mental health accessible. They have hired psychologists and psychiatrists to help shape their product.

Others vendors are more focused on building chat bots that provide rote services that can be sold to businesses.

Probably as a checkbox for saying "Hey, we have provided this mental health gizmo, saves you money and that will allow you as business person to give us money. Win-Win."

But sometimes, you need a living licensed professional that will meet with you and your problems.

HMO doctors ain't got the time or the training for that kind of service.

Psychologists will talk to you but cannot provide medication treatment or management.

Psychiatrists are in short supply. Many are ageing out of the profession. Those that haven't are either booked solid or priced out of the range of most people.

There is another option. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners. That is the topics of this episode.

In the episode, I mentioned that I was going to post an image or maybe a video about accessing the two psychiatric nurse search engines.

I'll figure something out.

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:

Association of American Medical Colleges post about the psychiatrist shortage.

The Myth of Normal, Trauma, Illness & Healing in A Toxic Culture by Gabor Mate, M.D. with Daniel Mate. Published by Avery Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

I also recommend that you check out a video that he talks a bit more about the myth of normal.

American Psychiatric Nurse Association page About Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing

Nurse Journal page on What to Know About Seeing a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners web site has a Find a Nurse Practitioner search engine for those practitioners.

Psychology Today has a therapist search engine. It also is a little fiddly but you can use it to locate psychiatric nurse practitioners.

Disclaimer:

ARP Pebble in the Road - Medication Considerations 2022

Education, Medication, Resource, Treatment

Deciding on taking medication is a choice and a responsibility.

If you have been diagnosed with an anxiety condition or disorder, you probably have been told that one of the treatment options is medication.

As I mentioned in ARP 169, It is ok to decide if medication is right for you.

It is equally ok that you don't want to take medications. First step is to get a through checkup to make sure it isn’t a physical health problem. Many anxiety symptoms are similar to a physical illness.

Anxiety medications can help reduce your symptoms, but it's not a cure.

Your symptoms are telling you that there is a problem.

Your challenge is to figure out the underlying cause.

In the meantime, your next step is to learn about the types of medication for anxiety:

Short term medication can help you with embarrassing or symptoms that are affecting your work or personal life. They are in and out of the body quickly. It is sedative opioid level medication.

Long term non-opioid medication takes a while to build up in your system, but once there it keeps you mellow for as long as you keep taking the medication. And you have to keep on taking the medication.

Both types of meds have side effects and drawbacks.

Check out the resources below to get a dusting about medication options.

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:

U.S. National Institute of Mental Health page on Mental Health Medications. There is an overview and then a listing of the various types of medications.

Anxiety and Depression Association of America page on Treatment Help. Talks about treatment, types of mental health professionals and patient's rights.

Disclaimer:

Show 301 - Self-Medication Pro and Con

Alternative, Shame, Symptoms

Having to live with anxiety symptoms is not easy. I can't speak for you but I have sometimes been shamed, embarrassed or felt hopeless after a bad bout with those rascals.

My self-medication of choice is food. I kinda have to deal with that because it isn't an effective way to deal with the problem. I've been around this bend before so I know I can do it.

Will I? Probably.

You see my symptoms are flaring up again. Big time.

And yes, I do breathe.

Go out side and walk a bit.

Fill my head with music so I can get from point A to B.

Most times it works, sometimes it does not.

I used to think that self-medication was a bad but understandable idea. I’ve kinda moved to the center of “it depends, and what are your other options?”

So in this episode, the questions that I've asked myself and maybe you should consider is what are the benefits and liabilities of self-medication?

There are the obvious ones

Stopping or hiding symptoms
A rest period
Ability to focus
Relief

And the cons

Dosage, how much and not knowing when it is too much?
Dependency, could be adding on an additional problem.
Financial, the cost of trying to control your symptoms instead of treating the problem.
Affect on the Body, does the treatment of the symptom cause more harm than good?

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:

Post Covid Anxiety Is Real is on the Psychology Today website about how hard it seems to be to reintegrate back into the public space.

Helpguide.org is a non-profit organization and website that provides information about mental health issues. They have a post on Self-Medication and there are some questions to be considered.

You should know that they believe in investigating other options before taking medication.

There is a page on the Good Rx website that talks about self-medication and alcohol.

It is a good article, however the main purpose of the website is to connect users with coupons to use for medication from pharmacy vendors.

Disclaimer:

Show 300 Buying Hemp Seed Oil Safely

Food, Herbal, Marijuana, Symptoms

There is a lot to learn about Hemp Seed Oil (HSO). The main reason why I wanted to cover it was that there is a lot of misinformation about the product. It is not hard to find hemp in food products.

It is dang easy to find claims or promises of calm or relaxation.

People that have an anxiety condition are prime suckers for dark side entrepreneurs. Ignorance helps them to take advantage and money. Or worse, place your health at risk.

If you know the core basics, you might still be anxious but you will be an informed consumer.

To summarize:

The oil is legal on the federal level, provided the seeds and the resultant product contains less than 0.3% THC or psych-active properties.

Those states with legalized hemp and marijuana laws permit the sale of this product. Other states do not and it will be up to you to know the difference.

Hemp Seed Oil is good for a lot of things:

There is some nutritional value
Can be used for cold food recipes like salad dressings and other foods
Good for the hair, skin and nails

What it is not good for is treatment for anxiety symptoms. It does not have the properties to relax you or help you control your symptoms.

So yeah, unless you or someone you know is operating under the power of the placebo. it isn't going to do much for you.

However, in this episode, I talk about safe ways to obtain the product and pay a fair price. They are very similar to buying CBD oil.

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 U.S. Food Data Central Database has a branded search feature helps you to find products with hemp in them in the U.S. and NZ. It is one of the ways I found out about some of the U.S. oil vendors.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration wants you to understand what it means when you see something that states it is FDA approved. They have an FAQ page.

I'm not linking to these vendors. They are for example purposes only. I do want to show examples of vendors that can be found in brick and mortar stores, direct to vendor websites or at third party vendor websites.

Manitoba Harvest Organic Hemp Seed Oil, has a website for both U.S. and Canadian customers. The company has both hemp and CBD products and shipping to all states for the oil. They have recipes and information about the product.

Nutiva also has a website, but you won’t find HSO under oils but under seeds. Has a store locator which might help you find it locally and the do have shipping.

Foods Alive’s website also has a store locator and shipping.

Knwble Grwn Pure Hemp Seed Oil - this is a company or subsidiary that belong to multinational food corporation ADM aka The Archer-Daniels-Midland corporation. You cannot purchase from the site but you can see an example of when cannabis becomes legal they will be in the game.

Disclaimer:

Show 299 - Buying CBD Oil via Retail Supermarkets

Alternative, Food, Herbal, Marijuana, Symptoms

One of the things that I have learned about considering using hemp seed oil and CBD oil is that you need a lot of information.

Information about the laws in your states. Is cannabis legal where I live?

What do I want it for? Physical pain relief, a sleep aid or something to chill the anxiety symptoms down?

Where do I go for credible, factual information? This has been one of the hardest aspect of putting these episodes together.

So, being a birth frugalista, I looked at it from a shopper's perspective.

Oh, one more thing. I tend to use market, supermarket and store interchangeably.

It has a different meaning to the MBA and financial folks. In the episode, I also say retail market or market.

I mean the retail brick and mortar stores.

There is some information from a post from the National Center of Complimentary and Integrative Health page on Cannabis (Marijuana) and Cannabinoids: What You Need To Know It is factual but a lot more research has to be done and it can't happen until cannabis is federally legalized.

There are advocacy organizations but most look like sales literature as opposed to providing consumer information.

Reams of pages about the laws except that the laws are changing even as I type this script.

Flim Flam Frankies and the folks that create duplicate websites with 100s different names hope to heaven you land on them. They will promise you the world. Do not give those people your money.

The first goal for those of us that are considering buying CBD oil is buying safely and getting what you paid for.

If you haven’t already and you are new to this, please review the episodes on how it is made and the uses for hemp seed oil and CBD oil.

In this episode, going to the supermarket to get some CBD Oil.

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:

Post on Very Well Health on Procrastination: Causes, Types, and How to Overcome It

U.S. Food and Drug Administration page on Is It Really FDA Approved?

The National Council of State Legislators seems to have a current activity list of the current cannabis laws in the United States. The laws are in flux. It is crazy making.

Disclaimer:

Show 298 Uses of Hemp Seed Oil and CBD Oil

Alternative, Food, Herbal, Marijuana, Relaxation, Symptoms

As I mention in the show, it is easy to get sucker-fied when it comes to purchasing hemp seed oil or CBD oil. There is a lot of flim-flam operators in the marketplace.

We have a vulnerability to want to find anything that can help us cope.

If you are seeking for alternatives for traditional opiate medication it seems like it is an option. But if you don’t know the basics, you can lose time, money and an possible effective treatment source.

My intention is to find a way to get to the basic information needed to make an informed decision.

It is easy to find the junk and too dang hard to find viable, credible information.

Deep breath.

This is a small effort to find alternatives. Alternative does not necessarily mean safer.

Again, start with identifying the basics

For those of us that had actual critical thinking classes this means:

What is it?
What is it made of or how is it process?
Who is doing what and why?
Who is doing the opposite?
Why and what are the benefits and risk?
What is in it for them?
What is in it for you?

In this episode the actual uses of Hemp Seed Oil and CBD Oil.

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 Findlaw.com which is a web publication of Thompson/Reuters, 2019 Marijuana Possession Laws by State.

Cannabis and CBD for Health and Wellness: An Essential Guide for Using Nature's Medicine to Relieve Stress, Anxiety, Chronic Pain, Inflammation, and More by Aliza Sherman and Junella Chin M.D. The link is to the Kindle version of the book.

From Workman Press, A Woman's Guide to Cannabis: Using Marijuana to Feel Better, Look Better, Sleep Better–and Get High Like a Lady by Nikki Furrer. There is also an audiobook version for those that want to listen as they process information.

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements Fact Sheet on Omega 3 Fatty Acids. There might be better sources than hemp. But it is an option.

Very Well Mind has a page on some of the Potential Side Effects of CBD.

From the National Center of Complimentary and Integrative Health Cannabis (Marijuana) and Cannabinoids: What You Need To Know, last updated in 2019.

What is Hemp Seed Oil and CBD Oil?

What is Serotonin?

Brain Health and Nutritional Support

Disclaimer:

Show 297 What Is Hemp Seed Oil and CBD Oil?

Alternative, Food, Herbal, Marijuana, Relaxation, Symptoms

I want folks to make an informed decision. Before you can make a decision you need facts, research and resources.

There is a lot of hokum about hemp seed oil and CBD oil. Both are oils that come from the hemp plant.

They are not the same. They service different populations and purposes. In this episode, a look at what is hemp seed oil and CBD oil.

There was an interesting conversation about the original 2005 formulation of Four Loco. It was a fortified beer that had a lot of caffeine in it. It also came in fruit flavors. And wormwood, can't forget about the wormwood.

On Twitter there were people telling their stories about drinking half a can and then being tore up for the rest of the night.

Other people mentioning that not only did they drink a can of Four Loco but had a vodka chaser. The word blackout was often used.

This is when reading becomes fundamental. Not that it would have stopped any teen or college freshman from gulping it down but maybe reading that the drink had caffeine and a percentage of booze might have slowed or stopped a few of them sipping 24 ounces/709ml of trouble.

Which is my I want to talk about Hemp Seed Oil. It will not make you sick like the original Four Loko. But there are "opportunistic" people who want to exact money from you based on ignorance.

Resources Mentioned:

From CBS News This Morning, a story about Cecil Jackson who has agoraphobia.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America video about Overcoming Agoraphobia on YouTube.

PepsiCo Rockstar Unplugged Product Information page

PBS NewsHour page on Is CBD legal? Here’s what you need to know, according to science. It is a good starting point of information.

Consumer Reports.org posts on CBD Goes Mainstream and How to Shop for CBD.

Your can also check out their main guide page on all of the other articles they have written about CBD.

Alcohol and Serotonin

Brain Health and Nutritional Support

What's the Deal with Magnesium?

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:

Pebble in the Road - Magnesium Resources

Food, Nutrition

Still on my summer slowdown. This is the seventh year of the podcast.

Yeah, seven whole years of the show. The good, bad and WTF?

There are new things that are going to be happening behind the curtain, like creating shorter more focused episodes on a specific topic, concept or resource.

Which means I can take my time on the longer one and not try to jam everything into one episode.

I can tell you that in the mental health space change is coming as fast as a Japanese speed train.

Access to care is being a challenge but there are governments, entrepreneurs and other folks that are trying to help or disrupt the system.

Exciting times doesn't begin to cover it.

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:

U.S. National Library of Medicine MedlinePlus page has details about magnesium.

And for you folks in the OZ and NZ space, there is a lengthy page from Australian Government Ministry of Health page about magnesium.

Prior Episodes:

Show 215 Magnesium for Symptom Relief

Show 092 What is the Deal with Magnesium?

Disclaimer:

Show 296 What is the Deal with Amazon Care?

Medication, Telemedicine, Therapy, Trauma, Treatment

November 2022 Update: Amazon Care telehealth service will shut down on December 31, 2022. Pulled the plug on it due to large corporations not signing on and the cost of running a commercial health service is expensive. I've have more in a future episode.

I'll keep the episode posted but Amazon Care is gone as in it is history.

It is late and I typed out a long passage about how entrepreneurs and corporation looking to boost revenue are looking at the U.S. dysfunctional health system.

And that page got eaten by the spiritual gremlins of mischief. So this is the short version.

AmazonCare is a new virtual healthcare service from Amazon. It provides primary care, pharmaceuticals, some diagnostic services and, in my opinion, mental healthcare lite.

Before you hippity hop over to the site you should know that someone is squatting on the .com domain Don’t go there. The correct address is Amazon.Care

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

Resources Mentioned:

The AmazonCare web site - currently it is Amazon.Care. The .com version is domain squatted.

The Ginger website with information for consumers or businesses that would like to contract with the service.

The HBO series John Oliver's Last Week Tonight episode on Mental Health care. It is a dilly and you can watch the episode on YouTurbe.

The Body Keeps the Score, Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. published in 2015 by Penguin Random House. The book is available as a book, ebook and audiobook.

Disclaimer:

Pebble in the Road - 988 Lifeline Phone Number Goes Nationwide

Resource, Support

On July 16, 2022 the new 988 Lifeline phone number for mental health support is in effect for those of us living in the United States.

This phone number is also known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and its purpose is to provide support for those experiencing a problem, including putting themselves at risk, self harm, delusions or if there is serious emotional distress.

You can also use it if someone you know might need support or you are having a situation with someone in your home.

The service provides help in English and Spanish. however there are translation services in other languages. There is also support for veterans to address their needs.

There are a number of ways to contact the service:

By voice dialing 988 or using the traditional phone number 1-800-273-8255.
By text dialing 988
For deaf/hard of hearing you can use a relay service and 1-800-273-8255. or dial 711 then either 988 or the traditional number 1-800-273-8255.

If you need to talk with someone and it is not a crisis, there are a number of Warm Lines that you can call to talk about how you are feeling. Sometimes making contact with a person helps you to connect to yourself.

Resources Mentioned:

NAMI HelpLine for information about mental health conditions, resources and can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 am–6 pm, ET. 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or info@nami.org

Warmlines.org is a listing of many of the telephone support lines in the U.S.

California Warm Lines - When you need to talk to someone and you DON'T feel suicidal.

Project Return Peer Support Network provides both English and Spanish language support seven days a week between 5pm and 10pm Pacific Standard Time.

Amala Hopeline for Muslim youth support 1-855-95-AMALA

The Trevor Project for LGBTQ folks with phone, text, chat and other resources for people under 25 or those that want to help that population. The phone number for their telephone support is 1-866-488-7386.

Disclaimer:

Bug Therapy Trailer

Awareness, Fear, Treatment

I just saw a trailer for an CG animated film called Bug Therapy.

I am all for banging the gong for mental health awareness and encouraging folks to seek treatment.

All hands on deck, this is not a drill.

This is a story about Citronella. a mosquito who faints at the sight of blood, tries to muster the courage to attend group therapy, led by Dr. Pill, to overcome her phobia. This is the trailer for the short film.

I don't know where you can view the full short movie. I know it has been shown at various film festivals and will be shown at the National Association of Mental Health California conference on August 25, 2022.

I'll keep an eye out for when it shows up on a film channel or YouTube.

Bug Therapy website with the trailer of the film can be found at https://www.bugtherapy.film.

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:

Summer Slowdown or How Two Computers Got Me on the Ropes

Burnout, Grit

I hate giving up but sometimes a retreat is necessary. Wish I could go to a retreat but that ain't happening. I know when I'm licked and I'm licked.

Not one but two computers have me on the ropes ducking punches.

So this is just a brief update of what's going on with me.

And what's going to be happening for the next couple of weeks. So in housekeeping news, I'm on summer slowdown mode until September. Probably one or two episodes a month.

Between my old computer dying on me and my new computer not recognizing my microphone the way I needed to recognize my microphone.

And it sounds like I have a sore throat. It's only because I've recorded the same episode on hoarding 10 times and gotten really progressively bad results. I am going to take a break and give up the fight and really figure out how I'm going to make this work.

So, I plan to come back. Fairly soon to put up a proper episode, but for right now, I'm stumped.

I'm going to go do something nice for myself and get out of this chair. I'll talk to you sometime in the future. Not too far away, I do wanna put up a proper episode, but today's not going to be that day. I'll catch you next time on the anxiety road.

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:

ARP Pebble in the Road - TSA Air Traveling with Medication

Medication

I'm having some technical difficulties and having trouble getting a full episode out. So I just thought I'd do this little quick episode.

This is just a quick informational post on traveling with your medications. There is some concern that allegedly there are some agents that are confiscating medication.

Below is the link to the official TSA.gov webpage where they publicly states that you are allowed to bring your pill medication on board either in your carry-on or luggage.

There is the text of that statement and the reality of having an agent or two publicly try to take or embarrass you from your medications.

You will have to make some hard judgements on what to do to maintain your safety.

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:

Official TSA.gov webpage on traveling with your medications.

Official TSA YouTube channel. This link is to a video on traveling with a disability, medications and options for processing.

Disclaimer:

Show 293 Defining Collecting, Clutter, Hoarding and Squalor

Awareness, Hoarding, Panic

In this episode, a look at some of the words that get confused with hoarding.

I mentioned that there are U.S.and UK television programs about hoarding. Also, there are multiple Youtube channels where a young person buys a the contents or acquires a hoarders property to find hidden treasures and money.

There is also a sub-genre of professional housekeepers being paid to clean the home.

I can't forget that there is or was a person attached to their possessions.

Sure, if the person is deceased and the property has to be cleared for the next occupant, fair game.

But if it is a living person they need treatment and support. It won't work otherwise.

But as long as it is a money making freak show, I don't see that aspect of the cleaning happening in the broadcast and cable programs.

Long before the house is touched, you have to reach the actual person with a team approach to treatment. That is hard. It might not even happen because some folks are in too deep.

Not saying you need their approval to continue living in un-sanitary conditions. That is a public health situation and action has to happen.

But treatment isn't about just siting in a therapist's office. Sometimes you have to be in the room with 10 cans of baked beans from 1994. And helping that person let go one can at a time.

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 Lifetime cable movie mention is Dirty Little Secret with Melisa Joan Hart.

MHealth Intelligence article about Cerebral and a link to the WSJ article

FTC Launches Probe of Cerebrals Business Practices that is behind a paywall.

Seth J. Gillhan PhD has a list of 5 Proven Techniques to Deal with Panic Attack. The list is on Psychology Today.

The International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation has a page asking the lyrical question, "Do I Have a Hording Disorder?"

Also on the IOCDF site is a Clutter Rating Scale

And the Mayo Clinic has a couple of pages on their take on Hoarding Disorder.

Disclaimer:

Show 292 What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?

Affirmation, Mindfulness, Therapy

I think when I was starting out, I probably would not have considered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

I was really focused on stopping my symptoms and I was not the introspective person.

More bullheaded and introspective. I was much more focused on making my symptoms stop.

While doing the things that caused them in the first place.

I can tell you, that's probably not the way to go, but I had to learn from experience as opposed to from intellect. It was a rough road.

In this episode, a look at Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

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 Anatomy of Anxiety, Understanding and Overcoming the Body's Fear Response by Ellen Vora. Link leads to the publisher Harper Collin's page of the book.

Psych Hub video about ACT

Timothy Gordon aka Zen Social Worker video on What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?

Verywell Mind comprehensive post on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

From the How American Psychological Association there is a therapist locator page as well as a page on How Do I Find a Good Therapist?

Disclaimer:

Show 291 - What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

CBT, Meditation, Therapy

Before talking about Dialectical Behavior Therapy, I want to give a brief reminder of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy aka CBT.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a short term treatment that provides skills on how to transform negative thoughts and behaviors. Traditionally, CBT is offered to people with an anxiety disorder, depression and other mental health conditions.

There are a number ways to do this but the general format is to:

Assess where you are right now.
What is your view of yourself, your attitude about yourself and how you function with those beliefs.
Skills and tool building process to help you deal with your symptoms and other blocks you experience.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a variation of CBT, the goals are the same but there are some differences.

DBT was originally created as treatment for suicide treatments, Borderline Personality Disorder, then eating disorders, some types of addictions and is now used for PTSD and anxiety conditions. It is actionable focus, meaning you actively apply the skills and techniques as you learn them.

There is a connection with mindfulness. There is also a focus on acceptance and finding ways to change what you can to improve the quality of your life..

In this episode, a review of CBT and a brief dusting on the concepts of DBT.

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:

ADAA video on What is DBT? You can view it on YouTube or the ADAA website.

From Humor That Works the 5 Daily Habits app for both Android and iOS. Simple app but gets the job done. Works on older devices and it is a totally free app.

Everyday Health page on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Very Well Mind page on Dialectical Behavior Therapy

DBT-LBC.org is a website that has a listing of certified DBT therapists in the US and Canada. The site also has an information page about dialectical behavior therapy

Disclaimer:

Show 290 Hydrate Your Brain

Food, Nutrition

Sometimes we look for the thing to deal with our symptoms. The brain that is hard to get, access or to find the right kind of help can be expensive.

Or requires another person for delivery.

Not that kind of delivery, the whole structural system of good, services, materials and processing type of delivery. Not to mention that we all need another person to do something somewhere down the line.

Anyway,

We are looking for the thing that knocks some sense into our symptoms. We look but we don't always see the thing right in our homes or refrigerators.

Water. the TL:DR version is you need to water your brain.

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:

Sacramento Bee article on Kaiser Permanente and The California Department of Health

Hawaii Public Radio post on the strike action of Kaiser behavioral health workers.

From Mental Health UK, a short post on Diet and Mental Health.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control page on the amount of sugar in beverages.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health page on Energy Drinks

Cleveland Clinic webpage on What The Color of Your Pee Says About You

Australian Health Direct page on Urine Colour Chart

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Free Meditation Apps

Meditation with In-App Purchases

Subscription Based Mindfulness and Meditation Apps

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