The Psych Central Show: Candid Chat On Mental Health & Psychology

Happy 25th anniversary, Psych Central! Today we take a trip down memory lane to when Psych Central was just a twinkle in Dr. John Grohol’s eye more than a quarter century ago. Join us for a great discussion on how Psych Central went from a hobby site to the largest independent mental health resource on the Internet -- and where it will go from here. For more information and a complete transcript, visit https://psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-psych-central-turns-25-this-year Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Motherhood is full of incredible rewards but wrought with struggles like self-doubt. Today, motherhood expert Katherine Wintsch discusses the dragon of “mom doubt.” Whether it’s comparing yourself to other moms or being hard on yourself for the weight you’ve gained, this feeling of being “less-than” can lead to sheer exhaustion. Find out how to slay this dragon. For more information and a complete transcript, visit https://psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-motherhood-and-the-dragon-of-self-doubt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s Psych Central Podcast, originally a live recording on Facebook, Gabe talks with Okpara Rice, MSW. They tackle all of the tough subjects: white privilege, systemic racism, disparities in education and Black Lives Matter. Tune in for an informative discussion that leaves no stone unturned. For more information and a complete transcript, visit https://psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-the-trauma-of-racism-an-open-dialogue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What exactly does a therapist do? Is therapy only for people with severe mental illness, like bipolar disorder? In this Psych Central Podcast, we welcome therapist Clay Cockrell, LCSW, who clears up any misunderstandings about therapy and explains why therapy can be good for anyone in mental pain or who simply needs to talk. For more information and a complete transcript, visit https://psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-talking-therapy-with-a-licensed-therapist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I’m such a loser. I can’t believe I just said that.” Sound familiar? Most of us live with a constant inner critic telling us everything we’ve done wrong. Why is this? And how can we fix it? In today’s show, author Kevin Stacey helps us reign in our brain’s natural negativity bias. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you a victim of stigma? Do you feel like you have less value in society because of your job, income, ethnicity or your mental health diagnosis? In today’s Psych Central Podcast, Gabe talks with anthropologists Alex Brewis and Amber Wutich about the negative impacts of stigma in society. For more information and a complete transcript, visit https://psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-lazy-crazy-and-disgusting-how-stigma-is-everywhere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2006, a 19-year-old woman struggling with addiction became friends with a young man who would eventually write about their friendship and post it on Myspace. As a result, the idea for the nonprofit "To Write Love on Her Arms" was born. In today’s Psych Central Podcast, Gabe interviews its founder Jamie Tworkowski, the young man in the story. For more information and a complete transcript, visit https://psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-a-national-non-profit-is-born-from-a-random-encounter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Research has shown that nature has a profound impact on our mental health and cognition: Being in nature reduces anxiety and stress and increases creativity, attention and overall well-being. Today’s guest, Richard Louv, a journalist, author and co-founder of the nonprofit Children & Nature Network, discusses the science behind nature’s healing powers. For more information and a complete transcript, visit https://psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-using-nature-and-animals-to-manage-anxiety. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some of the professionals that work most with helping people with schizophrenia are nurses. There are so many types with different skill sets. Host Rachel Star Withers and Co-host Gabe Howards learn who these often overlooked healthcare workers are. Dr. Tari Dilks, Professor and President of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, joins with insight on what goes into being a psychiatric nurse.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you in pain, or are you depressed? Does one lead to the other? In today’s show, Dr. Jack Stern, a board-certified neurosurgeon, explains how the two are linked. He also discusses why opioids don’t work for chronic pain and how past pain can affect our current pain levels. For more information and a complete transcript, visit https://psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-is-there-a-link-between-physical-and-mental-health. Inside Mental Health Podcast Host Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. To learn more about Gabe, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why are the police often called to handle mental health crises? And what are they trained to do once they get to the scene? In today’s show, Sergeant Matt Harris of the Columbus, Ohio Police Department sheds light on the police officers’ role in the community and explains how they can help when someone is having a mental health emergency. Sgt. Harris also shares how his team tries to de-escalate the situation and what happens when de-escalation attempts fail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Got the quarantine blues? Meet Woebot, an on-demand therapy robot who talks you through your problems! Woebot’s advice is based on cognitive-behavioral therapy and can help you identify distorted thinking. He even checks in on you to see if you’re OK. In today’s podcast, we talk with Woebot’s creator, Dr. Alison Darcy, who shares how this phone app came to be and how it works. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you know you have a magic sex number? It’s how much sex you’d prefer to have if you were with your ideal partner, says today’s guest, Marriage and Family Therapist Steven Ing. People can have vastly different numbers, of course -- from 4 times a day to once a month to never. But what happens if your partner’s number is starkly different from your own? Tune into today’s podcast to have an open discussion on how to have a sexually-healthy relationship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you suddenly found yourself working from home during the COVID-19 quarantine? How can you make the most of this situation? On today’s Psych Central Podcast, Gabe interviews Donald M. Rattner, architect and author of "My Creative Space: How to Design Your Home to Stimulate Ideas and Spark Innovation, 48 Science-based Techniques." Donald offers simple tips on setting up a mental-health friendly workspace that maximizes creativity and productivity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’d like to hear an insider’s perspective of psychiatric hospitals by a psychologist who’s worked there for decades -- this is your podcast. Tune in to hear Gabe interview Dr. David Susman, a licensed clinical psychologist with 25 years experience in a public psychiatric hospital. Gabe asks Dr. Susman all of the tough questions surrounding psychiatric inpatient care -- including why so many patients feel traumatized during their visit -- and he gets honest, compassionate answers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life is a limited time offer. Are you truly living each day to the fullest? Today’s guest, Kate Manser, pioneer of the movement YOU MIGHT DIE TOMORROW, believes that in order to truly live, we need to incorporate a certain level of “mortality awareness” into our lives. Only when we face our fear of death, do we gain the freedom to truly live. Tune into today’s Psych Central podcast to hear Kate’s personal journey and her recipe for a fulfilling life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s “nothing to fear but fear itself,” said the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Fear keeps us up at night, wears down our immune system and makes some people hoard obscene amounts of toilet paper. In this global COVID-19 pandemic, we’re seeing an unprecedented level of fear, and if we let it, this fear has the power to deteriorate everyone’s mental health. In today’s podcast, our guest Dr. David Batman shares how we can protect our wellbeing in the midst of the chaos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most children encounter death at some point, whether it’s the loss of a grandparent, a pet or even finding a dead bird in the yard. In today’s podcast, Gabe interviews Patrice Karst, author of the children’s book “The Invisible String,” a story that explores the concepts of separation, death and the eternal connection of love. When a child aches for a lost loved one or beloved pet, they can find comfort in knowing there is an invisible string still connecting them together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Men and women experience schizophrenia differently; from the age of onset to symptoms and how society treats those with mental disorders.  Schizophrenic, Rachel Star Withers and co-host Gabe Howard continue the discussion of the differences from the last episode but change the focus to men.  Jason Jepson, an author who has schizophrenia joins for a man’s perspective and Dr. Hayden Finch returns to explain the clinical side of the issues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when a rebellious English teacher from a dysfunctional background falls in love and runs away with a South Korean woman from a rich, controlling family? In today’s podcast, you’ll find out, as these were the true life events of author Mark Diehl who documented his experiences in the book "Stealing Cinderella: How I Became an International Fugitive for Love." From daily harassment to ultimately running for their lives, his true life story is more cliffhanging than fiction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices