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

In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales welcome Dr. Gleb Tsipursky to look at why some people hold their opinions, despite factual evidence to the contrary. In addition to explaining the reasons why some people ignore facts, the show offers suggestions on how to go about changing the mind of someone who does this, using the EGRIP approach. He also gives examples of how we can become more evolved thinkers, ourselves. Dr. Tsipursky also encourages the hosts to sign the Pro-Truth Pledge, a commitment to truth-oriented behavior. (Spoiler: they both already had!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales discuss the potentially disastrous effects of mental illness on romantic relationships, especially those in which one individual has a mental illness and the other does not. Drawing from their own failed marriages (two each), Gabe and Vincent talk about the role mental illness played in the ending of the relationships, including when they were undiagnosed or diagnosed but with little or no treatment. Gabe also shares advice for those in such relationships on how to minimize the impact of mental illness on the relationships themselves, based on his successful third marriage.   MENTAL ILLNESS IN ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS SHOW HIGHLIGHTS [1:40]   What are the difficulties in having a relationship with a mentally ill person? [2:51]   Examining the role of mental illness in Gabe’s marriages. [9:00] Examining the role of mental illness in Vincent’s marriages. [10:41] Honesty and education about mental illness are vital for relation

In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales talk with Lisa Klein, director of the powerful documentary about suicide, The S Word. Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. Nearly everyone has lost someone to suicide, whether a family member, friend, coworker, etc. Despite this, we don’t talk about it enough. In this episode, the director speaks of why she chose to make this film and how it affected her personally. Additionally, she talks about some of the stories that didn’t make it into the movie, the diverse perspectives featured, and more. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS [1:16]   Where the concept for the film came from. [3:25]   Working with the Live Through This project. [7:12]   Some stories not featured in the film. [12:53] In recovery, there are still bad days. [15:55] The diverse perspectives featured in the film. [17:52] How making the film affected the director herself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales talk about friendship. Specifically, why we find it so much more difficult to make friends as adults than when we were young. Among the points covered was the fact that not everyone has the same definition of “friend.” Also discussed are the various pools of people available to us as friends and the ways in which we meet them. Most pertinent, though, is the major difference in how children and adults tend to determine who is worthy of being a friend. (Hint: kids might have a better grasp on it.)   SHOW HIGHLIGHTS [1:25]   What do we really mean by “friends”? [5:15]   Do adults focus on different things when seeking friends? [7:05]   How do we change how we disqualify others as friends? [9:52]   Do we fragment our friendships in our personal lives? [10:51] Friends vs. friendly acquaintances. [12:57] The difference in how adults and kids find “groups.” [16:49] The (unrealistic?) expectations of adults. Learn more about yo

In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales welcome Psych Central CEO and founder Dr. John Grohol to discuss marijuana and its potential benefits for treating various types of mental illnesses, from major depression to bipolar disorder. Dr. Grohol explains why there has been so little research in this field and why it will be quite some time before a significant body of data is accumulated. Also discussed is the question of why many people seem to believe cannabis is a “miracle drug,” and which age group should be most careful about the use of marijuana (or any mind-altering substance).   SHOW HIGHLIGHTS   [2:40]   Will marijuana help someone with major depression? [6:12]   Why is there so little research on the effects of medical marijuana? [8:26]   What are the detrimental effects of marijuana? [11:18] Why do people believe it to be a miracle drug? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales tackle Christmas. Specifically, how to survive it. For all the wonderful aspects of holidays, they are not without stressful aspects, especially for people who live with anxiety or depression. In this podcast, you’ll learn about some specific triggers that can make the holidays stressful, and how to mitigate or even avoid them. Such triggers include being alone over the holiday, false expectations we seem to have, toxic people, and the stress that comes along with our bank statements. Listen in to hear some helpful suggestions, and have a safe and happy holiday season.   SURVIVING CHRISTMAS SHOW HIGHLIGHTS [3:00]   Gabe’s plan for surviving Christmas [3:55]   Being alone on Christmas [5:24]   The false expectations of Christmas [7:42]   Is it okay to not care about Christmas? [10:02] The stress of overspending [13:34] Avoiding toxic people [16:58] The reason for the season Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho

In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales discuss online counseling. Joining them is Haesue Jo of BetterHelp.com, which offers online counseling and is also the sponsor of The Psych Central Show. In addition to answering specific questions about Better Help, the conversation discusses how online counseling differs from in-person therapy, what types of issues are (and are not) good fits for this type of counseling, and what someone can expect from this kind of service. Also discussed is why some people are still skeptical of online therapy (or other types of virtual medical services) and why they shouldn’t be.   ONLINE COUNSELING SHOW HIGHLIGHTS [1:32]   What exactly is online therapy? [5:53]   Why are some people so skeptical of online therapy? [10:37] What is online therapy NOT good for? [11:57] What about insurance and how much does it cost? [15:38] How many counselors and patients does BetterHelp have? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho

In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales welcome Jessie Close, sister of acclaimed actress Glenn Close. Jessie shares the story of her son’s diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, followed by her own diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Spurred by a desire to make people more aware of the stigma surrounding mental illness, Jessie reached out to Glenn for help. The result of this was the founding of Bring Change to Mind, a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging dialogue about mental health, and to raising awareness, understanding, and empathy. Jessie tells of the making of the incredible public service announcement, directed by Ron Howard, and featuring Glenn, Jessie, and Jessie’s son, Calen.   JESSIE CLOSE SHOW HIGHLIGHTS [1:55]   Jessie tells of her diagnosis, late in life [4:58]  How her son’s diagnosis affected her own recovery [9:25]   Jessie talks about Bring Change to Mind and the PSA featuring Glenn Close and directed by Ron Howard [17:23]  How worried

In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales welcome as their guest, Rachel Star, a stunt girl and YouTube sensation who lives with schizophrenia. Rachel had schizophrenia as a child, but was not diagnosed until her early twenties. She describes what it was like as a child and the moment she realize that the things she saw weren’t seen by others. Later in life, as an early adopter of online media, she began posting videos of herself doing outlandish things. The videos became quite popular, even being studied in classes at universities! And yes, she talks about being set on fire.   RACHEL STAR SHOW HIGHLIGHTS [3:29]   Rachel realized no one else actually sees monsters under the bed. [4:49]   Finally, the diagnosis. [6:00]   Telling the parents… on a trampoline. [7:35]   How her father finally “got it.” [10:10] Rachel Star: Human Torch [13:55] How Rachel became a stuntwoman. [14:10] From YouTube star to college study subject. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales discuss the pros and cons on “retail therapy,” the practice of shopping solely for the purpose of making ourselves feel better. They discuss the many benefits of such purchases, while also warning of the dangers of “comfort purchases.” Gabe warns especially of such purchases when in the manic phase of disorder, leading to hyperspending. Each of them share personal stories of their own purchases, both large and (comparatively) small. Other items discussed are oniomania, why we feel a “need” for retail therapy, window shopping, and some unexpected fringe benefits of retail therapy.   RETAIL THERAPY SHOW HIGHLIGHTS [1:43]   What triggers the need for retail therapy? [5:00]   What’s the difference between “good” retail therapy and “bad”? [7:40]   Retail Therapy + Bipolar Disorders = Hyperspending [10:26] What is oniomania? [12:09] My therapist made me buy a Rolex [15:21] Buying nostalgia on eBay [19:02] The fringe benefits

In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales, inspired by the TV show, Kevin Probably Saves the World, discuss how exactly one would go about choosing a small number of people to help them rule the world. They discuss many of the different factors that should be considered when choosing the composition of a group, including the balance between the sexes, races, ideology, skill sets, and more. It also touches on nepotism, cronyism, and other personal biases, and examines the ways in which we come to agreements and reach decisions as a group.    RULING THE WORLD SHOW HIGHLIGHTS   [1:14]   How would Gabe choose others to help him rule the world?  [3:10]   Should you pick others who would agree with you?  [4:01]   Should you choose those who share your political views?  [5:09]   Should you have an equal number of men and women?  [6:18]   What about group balance and decision-making?  [6:46]   A few words about consensus decision-making and elections. 

In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales welcome back Dr. Ramani Durvasula to discuss narcissism… this time, in the workplace. Everyone believes they’ve got a narcissist as a coworker and, often, they’re correct. In this episode, you’ll learn how to tell if your coworker is a narcissist, how common this is (especially among executives), and how to handle them, even if it’s your boss. You’ll learn about gaslighting and the link between narcissism and low self-esteem. Dr. Ramani also warns what can happen to a person who remains in the sort of toxic workplace environment created by narcissists.   WORKPLACE NARCISSISM SHOW HIGHLIGHTS   [2:02]               What exactly is narcissism? [3:48]               How common is narcissism among business executives? [4:35]               What if your boss is a narcissist? [6:19]               What is “gaslighting”? [8:33]               What sort of behavior do narcissists exhibit in the workplace? [11:57]             W

In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales welcome Dr. Lori Russell-Chapin, who shares her experiences working in the field of neurofeedback. Specifically, she speaks on how technology – especially the intense use of handheld technology such as texting on smartphones – is affecting our brains. Dr. Russell-Chapin describes the differences that can be seen in the brain waves of a heavy texter as opposed to a “normal” baseline brain, how we seem to be losing our paralinguistic abilities, and offers insight to ways in which we can achieve a better balance in our lives by changing the way in which we use such technology.   TEXTING SHOW HIGHLIGHTS   [1:13]               How texting is changing the structure and function of our brains. [6:41]               Are we losing our paralinguistic abilities because of texting? [11:30]             How does one get into the field of studying brain function? [12:51]             What do we mean by “dysregulation” of the brain?

In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales welcome guest Brent Williams, author of Out of the Woods, a graphic novel that tells the story of his battle with depression. Williams, a human rights attorney in New Zealand, “hit a wall” that derailed his life. It took years for him to understand that depression was the cause and what he needed to do about it. He speaks of how journaling was a great help to him in the recovery process and how it led to the idea of doing a graphic novel. He also speaks of how his battle with cancer was “a breeze” compared to fighting depression.   SHOW HIGHLIGHTS [3:25]               Hitting the wall. [4:02]               Why it took years to understand that it was depression that was ruining his life. [9:01]               How journaling helped in his recovery from depression. [13:43]             Brent talks about the graphic novel process. [16:27]             Cancer was “a breeze” compared to depression. Learn more about your ad choices

In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales discuss conspiracy theories with guest Dr. John Grohol, founder of Psych Central. Dr. Grohol explains what exactly is meant by “conspiracy theory” and where they come from. Discussion includes questions of whether they are ways for people to rationalize why horrific tragedies occur, if they are based on distrust of authority figures, and if those who believe them are just attention seekers. Ultimately, the question is raised of how to address them. Can we convince believers that they’re wrong and, if so, how do we do so?   SHOW HIGHLIGHTS   [1:05]               What is a conspiracy theory and where do they come from? [2:19]               Are conspiracy theories just a way to “make sense” of horrific tragedies? [6:50]               What’s the connection between conspiracy theories and distrust of authority? [8:44]               Are believers really just attention seekers? [12:12]             The role of cognitive bias in

In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales discuss the myths and realities of being admitted to an inpatient psychiatric hospital. Gabe shares his personal experience of voluntarily entering a psychiatric hospital when he was suicidal. He tells of how his expectations of the situation differed from what he actually experienced. He shares what he found to be the most frightening aspects of his stay, as well as how he passed the time while there. He shares how his family reacted to his admission to the psychiatric hospital, and the aspect to the stay that he describes as “life-altering.”   BEING IN A PSYCH HOSPITAL SHOW HIGHLIGHTS   [3:43]               The scariest part of being in a psych ward. [7:48]               Gabe’s shocking discovery about psych hospitals. [10:57]             Is it like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest? [13:05]             How do you pass the time in a psych hospital? [14:49]             Gabe’s expectations vs. reality. [16:53]       

In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales discuss the challenges of returning to the workplace after being out for an extended amount of time, such as while recovering from mental illness. Gabe shares his first-hand experience of returning to work after four years, including the difficulties he faced, the resources he relied on, and what he wished he’d done differently. Also discussed are workplace discrimination, advocating for yourself, and the question of whether or not you should disclose your mental illness to your coworkers (and if so, to whom and when).   RETURNING TO WORK AFTER MENTAL ILLNESS SHOW HIGHLIGHTS   [0:59]               Gabe shares the story of returning to work after four years. [4:55]               How your therapist can help with your return to work. [6:37]               Skills and resources to make your return easier. [8:07]               Gabe tells of his experience with workplace discrimination. [9:14]               Should you disclose y

In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales welcome Andy Behrman, veteran mental health speaker, writer, and advocate who is the author of Electroboy: A Memoir of Mania. Andy shares his views on how mental health advocacy has changed over the past fifteen years and the ways in which our views of stigma have evolved. He also shares the story of his interview with noted actor and bipolar advocate Stephen Fry, his ideas on how to help fund advocacy groups, and his experiences with electroconvulsive therapy and memory loss. And, yes, he tells us how he got the nickname of "Electroboy."   MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY SHOW HIGHLIGHTS [1:48]  How has mental health advocacy changed? [3:15]  Is mental illness less stigmatized now? [9:10]  Electroboy talks about ECT and memory loss. [11:22] Andy Berhman's Stephen Fry experience. [13:39] Andy shares his plans to help fund smaller advocacy groups.         Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales discuss mental illness and violence. More specifically, they address the real culprit behind the vast majority of violence: anger. Their discussion dispels the myth that anger is an unhealthy emotion, teaches ways to express anger in a healthy fashion, and addresses the widely held belief that most mentally ill people are violent (and why people hold this belief). The discussion also covers the real factor in predicting whether someone might become violent and ends with suggestions on ways anyone can learn how to get control of anger in their lives.   Show Highlights:   [1:58]               Is it okay to get angry? [2:38]               How can we express anger in a healthy way? [3:57]               Anger and the mentally ill. [10:23]             Why are the mentally ill responsible for so much violence? [12:52]             What is the real predictor of violent behavior? [14:39]             Why do we associate violence w

In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales speak with guest Christine Hammond, a licensed mental health counselor who has also suffered from postpartum depression in two of her three pregnancies. She shares her story of why neither she nor her husband recognize postpartum depression in the first pregnancy, how it appeared rapidly during the second pregnancy, and the fears they both had that it would occur in the third pregnancy. Christine also speaks of the shame carried by and stigma against mothers dealing with it, as well as postpartum depression’s biggest lie.   SHOW HIGHLIGHTS [3:15]  Christine speaks about her two instances of postpartum depression. [6:40]  How postpartum took her by surprise and the shame that came with it. [8:12]  The stigma of postpartum depression is profound. [10:06]  Christine tells of the fear of postpartum depression during her third pregnancy. [13:55]  What postpartum depression was like for Christine’s husband. [15:28]  The bigges