The Broken Brain

How do we heal? Sam Led is a transformational coach & consultant who helps others to use an intuitive mindset to tap into their own ability to heal and move through emotional and mental obstacles. He joins me today as we discuss mindfulness, mental health, acceptance, and what things hold us back.  Check out samledconsulting.com and Sam's podcast, "The Fearless Now." Check out patreon.com/brokenbrain to learn about bonus materials, and listen to today's intro for more information about upcoming group classes for addiction recovery and DBT skills. 

Dan Glaze is a psychotherapist speacilizing in trauma, anxiety, and men's issues. Dan is an experienced psychotherapist and a veteran of British Special Forces, and joined me for a live broadcast where he shared the way he teaches his clients to interrupt their anxiety response and regain emotional self-regulation.  Check out Dan's website at: https://www.seaandlandtherapy.co.uk/

Today I am joined by Dr. Lajos Kemeny, Dermatologist and Lead Investigator in a recent study on the connection between Vitamin D deficiency and Opiod Dependance.  We seem to have evolved to seek the sun, even though it gives us skin cancer. Why? Dr. Kemeny's research leans heavily into this question. We also talk about the Scientific Method in general, and rules for safely applying what data is gathered.  Read the study at:  https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/vitamin-d-deficiency-increases-addiction-to-sunseeking-and-opioids-349760 Or CLICK HERE if your podcatcher allows hyperlinks in the show notes.  Remember to check out the bonus materials available on the Patreon at www.patreon.com/brokenbrain (adding more all the time). 

This episode is the audio from an episode of the YouTube show "Let's Chat Live," which I am sometimes privileged to cohost. Bri Benjamin and I interviewed Will Heacox & Gabriel O'Sullivan, creators and hosts of the podcast "Lost Boys to Found Father's." Their show discusses grief over the loss of a child, particularly from the perspective of a father. Check out their show and subscribe. 

Meg Boberg joins me for another very Special Broken Brain episode! It's Quadruple D: D's Deep Diagnostic Dives. This time we are discussing the DSM 5 Criteria of Bipolar and Bipolar II disorder. We review the diagnostic information that mental health practitioners use to identify Bipolar (and Type II), and talk about our own experiences with Bipolar Disorder. 

Sharon Blady, former Health Minister, Mental Health Advocate, and Super Duper Marvel fan joins me today to talk about the examples of grief, trauma, and recovery woven into the storytelling of the MCU show Wandavision. Spoilers for Wandavision.  This episode was originally created for our Patreon feed. Check out patreon.com/brokenbrain to learn how to gain access to more of our secret bonus episodes. 

Peter Strong is a psychologist, therapist, and mindfulness coach. He has been doing online mindfulness work for 15 years.  A mindful approach to healing differs from other forms of therapy in that clients are encouraged to focus and meditate ON their negative feelings instead of distracting away from them. Purposeful focus on disturbing thoughts, feelings, or patterns can lead to acceptance and new reactions. You can learn more about Peter's work at www.pdmstrong.wordpress.com. At the end of the episode there is a brief message about the ethics of online sessions.  Check out www.patreon.com/brokenbrain to become a patron of the show, and learn about the fun bonus materials.    

Meg Boberg is a Healthcare Writer and a Mental Health Advocate. She came on the show to discuss her experience as a patient who has undergone Ketamine Treatments for Depression and Mood Stability. Meg shares how Ketamine has affected her mental health care, what aftercare and ongoing symptoms look like following the treatment, and how she views Ketamine as a a part of her personal health management.   Follow Meg on Instagram @megboberg.

This is a re-broadcast-podcast of an episode in 2015 in which Dr. Mel Pohl joined the show to discuss the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for patients with Chronic Pain Problems. Dr Pohl is the Chief Medical Officer of the Las Vegas Recovery Center, Author of multiple books on living with chronic pain, and is internationally known for his work in the treatment of chronic pain and addiction. Also joining this episode are Andrew Frost, DPT, Physical Therapist with the The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital (TOSH) in Salt Lake City Utah, Psycho therapist Lee Messersmith. 

Dr. Shari Corbitt is the founder and director of Awakenings Treatment Center, and an expert in Eating Disorders, Chronic Pain, and Complex Trauma.  In our discussion she shared information about the frustrations, misunderstandings, and lack of compassion that many run into when dealing with chronic pain.  She also taught me a lot about the hope, thriving, and support that can (and should) be there for those working with pain, and how important an understanding of PTSD and trauma is to understanding and experiencing treatment.  

This is a rerun episode from several years ago. I am re-releasing it due to the outbreak of Opioid and Fentanyl overdoses that is currently happening within the drug-using population. More to come on that.  NOTE: this episode focuses on a Harm-Reduction approach, including positive statements regarding the use of opiate-blockers and Suboxone. Jamilia is a specialist in that area. Jamelia Hand returns to the Broken Brain to discuss the dynamic of drug overdose and how this plays a role in recovery, especially for Opiate and Heroin addiction. We discuss things like Harm Reduction, Treatment beyond quitting, dangers of overdose, and the use of the label of "addict," amongst other things.    

Tim Pickett is a Physician's Assistant (PA-C) in the State of Utah. He is a member of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians, a founding team member of utahmarijuana.org and one of the hosts of the Utah in the Weeds Podcast. He is an advocate and educator for safe, research based Medical Marijuana use. He writes and speaks in order to de-stigmatize prescription of Cannabis. We discuss pros, cons, risks and benefits of Marijuana prescription. 

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder is a diagnosis that was created to help treatment of children in order to differentiate between non-cycling mood instability (especially anger) and Bipolar Disoder.  This is another Quadruple D episode, Deep Dives Delving into Diagnosis. I'll review the diagnostic criteria and talk a little about this diagnosis, added for the first time to the DSM 5, the current version of the Diagnostic manual for mental health disorders. 

This is a rerun of a classic episode and partnership episode of the Broken Brain. Right before the release of the MonkeyTraps book and podcast, Steve Hauptman appeared on the Broken Brain to talk about the desire for Control, and how it plays into our own addictive processes.  Check out the book Monkeytraps, and listen to the first several chapters for no charge on the MonkeyTraps Podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts. 

About 10 minutes of updates and stuff. I haven't talked about the goals of the program or who I even am for quite a while. A few minutes talking about: What are the goals of this show? Why is it called The Broken Brain? What's coming up? I'd love to hear from you. Check in with me @breakabrain on the Twitter. Join the new mental health, trauma and addiction group I started on Facebook: IIOP  https://www.facebook.com/groups/innovateintensive/

New recurring feature for the podcast: Quintuple D! D's Deep Dive into Dope Diagnoses or DDDDD Today we dive into Major Depressive Disorder, starting a series of deep dives into Depressive Disorders. Although there is no such diagnosis of simple depression, there are many disorders representing the different types of depression. This episode focuses on the most commonly diagnosed, Major Depressive Disorder. 

This is a rerun episode of the Podcast from 2015, when I spoke to addiction specialists Rev-Kev Coughlin and Ron Siegel about addictive gambling. There is a fascinating dynamic behind non-substance addictions, also known as "process addiction," one that can often be downplayed to our own detriment.   

The animated film Song of the Sea is super cool. That's good enough reason to talk about it, but it also effectively showcases the effects of complicated grief and loss. And who better to have this conversation with than Podcaster, Pop Culture Expert, and founder of the Core Temp Arts Podcast Network, Karly Beaumont. Focusing on a dual story that intertwines real life and a fairy tale, this story demonstrates the options of lashing out at others, shutting down, or embracing feelings of loss and beginning the difficult path to healing.  While we'd suggest watching the film, this episode starts out with a quick synopsis of the movie by friend of the show Bri Poe. 

The history of how we diagnose psychological issues is long, interesting, and several kinds of messed up. We begin to take that apart today. I was joined for this conversation by Tehya Fencik (TK), creator & host of "For The Love Of History Podcast." As a historian, TK found incredible information about therapeutic communities in the early 1900s.  "The Statistical Manual for Use of Institutions for the Insane" is a text written in 1918 and an early attempt at categorizing mental health disorders. While it never caught on, it represents an experiment in the type of thinking that led to modern diagnostic practice.

Photographer and author Antonio Johnson is on the podcast today to talk about his book, You Next: Reflections in Black Barber Shops, a beautiful photography book profiling the culture of Black Barber Shops and the role they play in the development and identity of Black men. These shops fill the  community center, a space of belonging, a center of wellness, and more. This is a fascinating look at identity development, bonding, and individual, societal, and generational racial issues.  Learn more about Antonio's work at www.antonio-johnson.com.  The Broken Brain will be giving out 2 copies of You Next to our next 2 Patreon subscribers. Our new Patreon page at www.patreon.com/brokenbrain has rewards for supporters of the show, and the next 2 official patrons will receive a copy of Antonio's book.