DBSAlliance

Supporting Survivors of Suicide Loss - Young Adult Council

DBSAlliance — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 11:19:00 -0500

Nearly 46,000 Americans died by suicide in 2020. That’s one death every 11 minutes.

Coping with the loss of a loved one is challenging. It can also be difficult for people around them to know how to best support them. DBSA Young Adult Council members Olivia Eiler and Jamie Vaughn spoke with two co-facilitators from the Survivors of Suicide (SOS) bereavement support group at UMPC Western Psychiatric Hospital’s STAR-Center in Pittsburgh. They share their personal experiences with suicide loss, offer practical tips for supporting survivors, and discuss resources for survivors.

For Immediate Help:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 988

Online Resources:

American Association of Suicidology

https://suicidology.org/

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

https://afsp.org/

Survivors of Suicide bereavement support group

https://www.starcenter.pitt.edu/clinical-services/survivors-suicide

Jamey Covaleski

412-864-3346

covaleskijj@upmc.edu

The Dougy Center for Grieving Children & Families

https://www.dougy.org/

The Child Mind Institute

https://childmind.org/topics/suicide-self-harm/

Books for Adults:

After Suicide Loss: Coping with Your Grief by Bob Baugher and Jack Jordan

No Time to Say Goodbye: Surviving the Suicide of a Loved One by Carla Fine

When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold S. Kushner

Why People Die by Suicide by Thomas Joiner

History of a Suicide: My Sister’s Unfinished Life by Jill Bialosky

I’m Sorry For Your Loss: Hope and Guidance in Managing Your Grief by Lillian L. Meyers, Ph.D.

My Son…My Son: A Guide to Healing After Death, Loss, or Suicide by Iris Bolton

Voices of Healing and Hope: Conversations on Grief after Suicide by Iris Bolton

Cracked, Not Broken: Surviving and Thriving After a Suicide Attempt by Kevin Hines

It’s OK That You’re Not OK: Meeting grief and loss in a culture that doesn’t understand by Megan Devine

Grief One Day at a Time: 365 Meditations to Help You Heal After Loss by Alan Wolfelt, Ph.D.

A Time to Grieve: Meditations for Healing After the Death of a Loved One by Carol Staudacher

Shattered: Surviving the Loss of a Child by Gary Roe

Signs by Laura Lynne Jackson

Books for Children:

Suicide Loss: What Teens Need to Know by Terri Erbacher, Ph.D. & Tony Salvatore, MA

But I Didn't Get to Say Goodbye: For Parents and Professionals Helping Child Suicide Survivors by Barbara Rubel

My Uncle Keith Died by Carol Ann Loehr, Julianne Costentino & James Mojonnier

Digital Perspective: A conversation about mental health and social media with Clayton Echard

DBSAlliance — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 12:18:00 -0500

Many people know that social media can have a negative effect on mental health. Doomscrooling, negative comments, cyberbullying, and tragic news events are pervasive in the realm of social media. Living with depression or bipolar can make navigating these spaces difficult, especially when peers try to find content/resources to support their mental wellness.

DBSA sat down with Clayton Echard to discuss social media, mental health, and how to find wellness and support in the digital world. Clayton is a mental health and wellness advocate, personal trainer, athlete, and star of season 26 of The Bachelor. Clayton also talks about how he positively uses social media, the connection between body dysmorphia and mental health, and the importance of sharing your wellness journey.

You can find Clayton's work on Instagram.

Support DBSA Today.

I'm Living Proof: Coming to Terms with Bipolar Bonus Episode

DBSAlliance — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 13:11:00 -0500

Bonus Episode from our DBSA podcast, I'm Living Proof: A Letter to my Younger Self.

Make sure to subscribe to ILP on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Mik knew something was wrong when at ten years old, she experienced suicidal ideation. What started as something she couldn't understand took her on a journey which ended up with her diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Now, Mik bravely shares her experience through humor and educational videos online and discusses her journey and activism with us.

MiK B is a mental health advocate who lives with bipolar disorder, anxiety, and ADHD. Mik shares her story online with others through TikTok, Instagram, and her website. She is passionate about positively impacting the mental health world through sharing her personal experiences and providing a community for people living with Bipolar disorder. Find her on Instagram and Tiktok @mikb_itme.

Read Mik's letter

Support DBSA

Submit your letter

Addressing the Youth Mental Health Crisis with Dr. Nicole Brown MD, MPH, MHS

DBSAlliance — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 16:59:00 -0500

In December 2021, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory on the impact of Covid-19 on our growing youth mental health crisis. Today, 1 in 5 children ages 3 to 17 experience some form of mental health or behavioral challenge. Access to adequate mental health resources for parents and children is pivotal in combatting the youth mental health crisis and reducing stigma.

DBSA discusses the effects of our youth mental health crisis with Dr. Nicole Brown. Dr. Brown is the Chief Health Officer at Strong Children Wellness, a health researcher focusing on enhancing care and service coordination for children who have experienced trauma and chronic mental health needs, and a member of the DBSA Board of Directors. In this conversation, we explore the types of mental health challenges youth experience today, such as depression and ADHD, how parents can advocate for their children, work with their pediatrician to get the proper mental health care, and how this crisis affects underserved communities.

Footnotes:

You can support DBSA by making a gift today

Learn more about Dr. Nicole Brown

Discover the Balanced Mind Parent Network, an online community for parents and caregivers of a child living with a mental health condition

Meet the Mood Crew® and explore activities designed to help your child understand their moods and emotions.

How to beat Post-Holiday Blues

DBSAlliance — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 13:13:00 -0500

The holiday season -- with its expectations for socializing, gift-giving, and forced merriment -- can present significant challenges to peers living with depression and bipolar attempting to manage their moods during such a hectic period. , and, even after the holiday's end, the challenges to mental health wellness can loom even larger. In this podcast, we'll listen to John Budin, MD, a licensed psychiatrist, offer his insights and helpful advice on how to manage post-holiday depression, deal with Seasonal Affective Disorder, set effective goals for the new year, and prepare ourselves for a happy and productive 2022.

Peer Perspective: A Discussion on medication adherence, shared decision-making, and treatment options

DBSAlliance — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 14:02:00 -0500

Dr. Martha Sajatovic and DBSA Peer Kimberly Allen discuss shared decision-making and its impact on treatment plans and treatment options for peers living with depression or bipolar disorder. Learn about the importance of medication adherence, how to educate yourself about treatment options like Long-Acting Injectables, and hear Kimberly's experience with working with clinicians and mental health professionals to find the best treatment options for her.

Dr. Martha Sajatovic is a Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (CWRU) in Cleveland, Ohio, and a member of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Scientific Advisory Board. From UHHospitals.org: "Dr. Sajatovic is a researcher, educator, and clinician who has devoted herself to studying and treating traditionally, hard-to-treat populations with central nervous system disorders. Dr. Sajatovic's research interests have focused on neuropsychiatric outcomes of brain disorders across the lifespan, including epilepsy, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and other types of dementia and Parkinson's disease."

Kimberly Allen is a licensed addiction treatment professional, senior consultant at Via Positiva, and a mental health advocate. As an experienced mental health advocate, Kimberly currently serves as a Lived Experience Advisor, collaborating with leading academic institutions and advocacy organizations on patient-centered research.

Support DBSA

DBSA would like to thank Novus Medical Education for supporting this episode.

Depression and Self-Advocacy in the Workplace

DBSAlliance — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 17:43:00 -0500

DBSA’s Young Adult Council member Olivia sat down with Johnny to discuss living with depression and dealing with an unsupportive workplace. For many young adults, the first job out of college can be a challenging adjustment. For Johnny, his first work experience happened to coincide with his first severe depressive episode. Olivia and Johnny discuss what it took for Johnny to be able to advocate for himself and what companies should do to be more supportive of their employees.

Support DBSA today: https://www.dbsalliance.org/donate

Learn more about YAC: https://www.dbsalliance.org/support/young-adults/

A Conversation About Peer Support and Peer Support Specialists

DBSAlliance — Wed, 19 May 2021 12:18:00 -0500

A Peer Support Specialist is a professional with lived mental health experience who is trained and certified to provide help and encouragement for others who are also working towards wellness. Listen and learn from Douglas Hulst, DBSA’s Peer Specialist Workforce Development Program Manager, as he dives into the concept of peer support and how it benefits those living with depression or bipolar. Also hear from Jennifer, a Peer Support Specialist, who talks about her journey to become a certified specialist, where she works, and how her role impacts peers.

Learn more about Peer Support Specialists: https://www.dbsalliance.org/get-involved/training/whats-a-peer-specialist/

Learn about DBSA’s Peer Support Specialist Course:

https://www.dbsalliance.org/get-involved/training/

I'm Living Proof: Wellness Is Trending Upwards

DBSAlliance — Sat, 01 May 2021 12:02:00 -0500

This is a special preview of the first episode of our new I'm Living Proof Podcast Series.

In our first episode of I’m Living Proof: A Letter to My Younger Self, we hear from Olivia, DBSA Young Adult Council member. Olivia’s letter to her younger self describes the challenges she had in confiding in others and asking for help. Olivia describes her journey towards wellness from hospitalization to her work with DBSA support groups. Her letter reminds us the path to wellness is not always a straight line but rather one that it is trending upwards.

Resources

DBSA Support Groups

DBSA offers support groups across the United States. Find out more about DBSA support groups here.

DBSA Young Adult Council

The DBSA Young Adult Council is a group of young adults (ages 18-30) who advise DBSA and create their own content to share with other young adults living with mood disorders. Find out more about the DBSA Young Adult Council (YAC) here.

Introducing I'm Living Proof: A letter to My Younger Self

DBSAlliance — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 16:50:00 -0500

If you live with depression or bipolar, when things are at their worst it can feel like things will never get better. It may be when you are first diagnosed or during a difficult event, or for no particular reason that you can pinpoint at all.

What we do know is that these times do pass, and that you are not alone. In fact, when we take time to reflect on our experiences and circumstances, we often find, with overwhelming proof, the strength we have shown during some of our greatest challenges.

DBSA’s blog and podcast series, I’m Living Proof: A Letter to My Younger Self, shares inspiring stories of young adult peers who are living proof that they can overcome even the most difficult times.

Learn more about our new series

Download the first episode May 1, 2021

Tending to your Environmental Wellness with Dr. LaGenia Bailey

DBSAlliance — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 19:29:10 -0500

In this DBSA Wellness Wheel podcast, guest expert Dr. LaGenia Bailey shares with Programs Director Maria Margaglione and Programs Manager Hannah Zeller how to tend to our Environment Wellness in three areas: nature, our homes and workspaces, and our brain. Dr. LaGenia Bailey is the founder of East West Integrative healing. Her soul’s mission is to facilitate Holistic Wellness for her clients through the use of Eastern and Western Science. These sciences include sound, mindfulness, and traditional as well as complementary healing modalities. Dr. Bailey is a board-certified neuropharmacologist, a yogi, musician, and singer. She uses her knowledge to help guide people to wellness.

Finding the right activities for your intellectual wellness with Dr. Wendy Linderholm

DBSAlliance — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 18:24:00 -0500

In this DBSA Wellness Wheel podcast, two DBSA staff members, Maria Margaglione, Programs Director, and Hannah Zeller, Programs Manager discuss Intellectual Wellness and their journeys toward wellness. Maria and Hannah interview expert Dr. Wendy Linderholm to address the challenges individuals who live with depression and bipolar might face in terms of their intellectual wellness.

Intellectual Wellness is about finding work and leisure activities that stimulate you and help you to learn new things. Reading, writing, doing puzzles, and collecting, are all different types of hobbies that can boost our intellectual wellness. Dr. Linderholm gives Maria and Hannah insight into why intellectual wellness can help change or brain chemistry to allow for new ideas which can disrupt our experience of depression.

Dr. Wendy Linderholm is the Director of Behavioral Medicine in the Family Medicine Residency Program at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center where she focuses on full mind-body spiritual healing. She holds degrees in clinical health psychology from Alliant International University in Los Angeles, Calif., then completed a three-year post-doctoral training program in behavioral health in family medicine and oncology. Afterward, she was offered a fellowship in behavioral health and family systems education. Currently, Dr. Linderholm treats patients at the Family Medicine Center on the campus of Long Beach Medical Center. Dr. Linderholm has cared for patients across a broad spectrum of medicine, including neurology, Huntington’s Disease, HIV, oncology, disaster mental health, and works actively with the LGBTQ+ community. She also teaches physicians how to assess patients for and how to treat mental illness. Dr. Linderholm supports doctors and patients on their journey to build resiliency, also working one-on-one with physicians to create a healthy balance within their own stressful careers. Dr. Linderholm’s favorite leisure activity is racing Hawaiian outrigger canoes in the open ocean.

Hey, this is Dontae Freeman Communications Manager for DBSA and the producer of the podcast you are listening to. A few times in the intro Hannah and Maria will refer to me, and you will briefly hear from me. We decided to leave these peeks behind the curtains because they were relevant to the conversation about intellectual wellness. Enjoy the episode

What is pharmacogenetic testing and how can it help you?

DBSAlliance — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 23:44:43 -0500

Did you know that your DNA can provide insights that can help with treatment planning? In this episode of the DBSA podcast, we talk to Dr. Mark Pollack, Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Clinical Affairs of Myriad Neuroscience, about what pharmacogenetic testing is, how the testing works, and what benefits it can offer peers. We also talk to Dennis L., a peer who details his journey with Major Depression and how pharmacogenetic testing helped improve his treatment plan. What is pharmacogenetic testing? This test uses a small sample of your DNA, usually obtained by swabbing the inside of your cheek, to learn how your genetic makeup can affect your response to medication. Doctors use this information as a tool to help make prescription decisions. Along with PGx test results, your age, gender, other medical conditions, and any other drugs you take may also be factors in your doctor’s recommendations about possible treatments. Footnotes: Learn more about PGx https://www.dbsalliance.org/wellness/treatment-options/what-is-pharmacogenetic-testing/ Learn about DBSA Peer Specialist Program https://www.dbsalliance.org/get-involved/training/ DBSA would like to thank Myriad for supporting this episode.

Exploring your Social Wellness with Beth Vaccaro, LPC

DBSAlliance — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 15:55:56 -0500

In this DBSA Wellness Wheel podcast, DBSA staff Maria Margaglione, Programs Director, and Hannah Zeller, Programs Manager discuss Social Wellness and their journey towards wellness. In this episode, Maria and Hannah interview expert Beth Vaccaro, LPC, and discuss the challenges individuals who live with depression and bipolar might face in terms of their social wellness. Beth, Maria, and Hannah also discuss grief associated with changing plans due to COVID-19. Allowing ourselves to grieve social loss, and have conversations with loved ones about loss, gives us a chance to connect and create plans that support our wellness. Beth Vaccaro is a person trying to figure it out, just like you. She is a St. Louis native, attended Webster University, and earned a Master's Degree in Counseling. She did her post-graduate training at Care and Counseling and the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute. Currently, she is in private practice as a therapist in Clayton. She sees adults and adolescents with a wide variety of issues and practices from a psychodynamic perspective. DBSA Wellness Wheel: https://www.dbsalliance.org/wellness/wellness-toolbox/dbsa-wellness-wheel/

A conversation with DBSA co-founder Rose Kurland

DBSAlliance — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 20:43:03 -0500

Today, we're speaking with DBSA co-founder Rose Kurland, who takes us back to the fall of 1978, when six people gathered in her living room in Glencoe, Illinois. This small but enthusiastic group laid the foundation for the life-changing work that reaches across 35 years. Rose shares highlights from DBSA's earliest years in a conversation with communications director Betsey O'Brien, giving us a glimpse of the friends, colleagues, and medical partners who have fueled decades of hope and progress for people with mood disorders. You can learn more about DBSA's origins by checking out our timeline. https://www.dbsalliance.org/our-history/

Focusing on finances with Dr. Thomas Richardson - Wellness Wheel Podcast

DBSAlliance — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 16:11:20 -0500

Continuing our podcast series centered around the DBSA Wellness Wheel, our most recent episode focuses on finances. DBSA talks with Dr. Thomas Richardson, a Clinical Psychologist who works with a community mental health team for adults at Solent NHS Trust in Portsmouth, UK. An avid researcher, he also has lived experience with Bipolar Disorder. We discuss the financial challenges those with lived experience might face and steps that can be taken to improve financial wellness.

Recognizing the early signs of a mood disorder - Young Adult Council

DBSAlliance — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 17:56:13 -0500

DBSA's Young Adult Council members are back to discuss their early experiences with bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety, and explain how they found the right treatment. Symptoms of a mood disorder can be hard to recognize and understand, especially when they happen simultaneously. YAC members recall where they were in life when the first signs appeared, how they found self-awareness and acceptance, how friends and family reacted, and the resources that helped them most. Each member provides unique perspectives, offering suggestions for dealing with the first signs of a mood disorder and revealing how loved ones can be supportive in the early stages. Footnotes: Read the Recognizing the first sign of a mood disorder blog: https://www.dbsalliance.org/about/young-adult-council/recognizing-the-early-signs-of-a-mood-disorder/ Listen to the Navigating budgets and insurance while living with a mood disorder podcast: https://soundcloud.com/dbsalliance/young-adult-council-navigating-budgets-and-insurance-while-living-with-a-mood-disorder

Finding meaning during challenging times with Sue Phillips - Wellness Wheel Podcast

DBSAlliance — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:42:44 -0500

In our ongoing series based on the DBSA Wellness Wheel, hosts Maria Margaglione and Hannah Zeller welcome expert guests that shed light on how people with mood disorders can build resilience in 7 key areas of their lives. In this episode, Maria and Hannah talk with Sue Phillips, co-founder of Sacred Design Lab, where she helps people find new ways to flourish by deepening their spirituality. An ordained minister and former denominational executive in the Unitarian Universalist tradition, Sue uses ancient wisdom to help people find meaning and solve gnarly problems, especially in difficult times like these. She delights in seeing the transformation that happens when we get all up in life's biggest questions! Sue is part business strategist, part design geek, and part monastic. A graduate of Colgate University and the Episcopal Divinity School, she has also taught at Harvard Divinity School, where she is a Ministry Innovation Fellow. She lives in Tacoma, Washington with her wife Tandi Rogers.

A conversation on race, culture, and mental health - BIPOC Mental Health Awareness

DBSAlliance — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 16:03:00 -0500

In this DBSA podcast, host Dontae Freeman welcomes guests to an open conversation on the unique experiences and barriers that people of color face in seeking effective mental health care. We offer these perspectives as part of the wider conversation on race, culture, and mental health taking place during Black, Indigenous & People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Month 2020. In the first part of the podcast, we hear from Michele Bibby, a trained peer facilitator living in Austin, Texas, who hosts national support groups for DBSA, and Mario Lemos, a Chapter Leader with DBSA San Francisco. Both Michele and Mario identify as persons of color, and their own experiences give us a clear sense of what it's like to attend a support group where your fellow peers may not have faced the same struggles in finding care, resources and social support. In the second part of our podcast, Dontae speaks with Dr. Obari Cartman, a clinical psychologist working with Black high school students in Chicago. Dr. Cartman is program director at Real Men Charities, where he hosts a weekly men's wellness circle. In his remarks, Dr. Cartman reflects on the unique forms of stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community and suggests how mental health organizations can improve outreach to communities of color. DBSA welcomes your thoughts and feedback on this conversation. Please remember to rate and review our podcasts so we can continue to bring you the most interesting, informative guests with the most useful perspectives.

Creating health in your working life with Alexandra Kopack - Wellness Wheel Podcast

DBSAlliance — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 01:53:21 -0500

In the DBSA Wellness Wheel podcast, DBSA staff Maria Margaglione, Programs Director, and Hannah Zeller, Programs Manager discuss the areas of the Wellness Wheel and their journey towards wellness. In this episode, DBSA interviews expert Alexandra Kopack, to find out more about Occupational Wellness. The conversation covers challenges you may be experiencing at work if you live with depression and bipolar and discusses specifically the challenges that COVID-19 presents to workers. COVID-19 has greatly altered the way we work and the discussion covers how we can best navigate working from home and the anticipated changing landscape of work in a new era. Alexandra Kopack has a Masters of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She also holds professional certificates from Harvard and Berkeley in the topics of Behavioral Economics and the Science of Happiness. Currently, she is the Regional Director of ABA services in San Diego and ACE Coordinator for EBS Healthcare and was a co-owner of W3RKWELL, an employee wellbeing, an analytic and advisory firm. She has spoken at international conferences, hosted workshops, and participated in research on the topics of wellbeing, trauma, neurobiology, and behavior change. Alexandra is passionate about combining the science of behavior with the science of wellbeing to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others and pursues this daily through her clinical and consulting work as well as creating and leading trainings for other professionals. Her mission is to evoke zest and curiosity for the artistry of behavior change so that progress is inevitable, willful, and fun.

Wellness Wheel Podcast - Physical Wellness with Dr. Holly Swartz

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 19:22:26 -0500

In the DBSA Wellness Wheel podcast, DBSA staff Maria Margaglione, Programs Director, and Hannah Zeller, Programs Manager discuss areas of the Wellness Wheel and their journey towards wellness. In this inaugural episode, DBSA interviews expert Dr. Holly Swartz who is a member of DBSA’s Scientific Advisory Board and a former Klerman Award winner, to find more about the Physical realm of wellness. The conversation touches on the importance of implementing a routine for good mental health. Swartz explains to listeners we all have an internal “body clock” that works 24-hours to help us attune to our environments, and how this can be particularly important for individuals who live with depression and bipolar. Dr. Holly Swartz is a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She received her medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed her psychiatric residency training at New York Hospital / Cornell University School of Medicine. Dr. Swartz’s research focuses on understanding and optimizing psychosocial interventions for mood disorders. She is well known for her work evaluating Interpersonal Psychotherapy and Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy as treatments for depression and bipolar disorder. She is the author of over 100 publications, co-editor of the book, Bipolar 2 Disorder, Recognition, Understanding, and Treatment, and Editor of the American Journal of Psychotherapy. Dr. Swartz has held leadership positions for national and international professional organizations including President of the International Society for Interpersonal Psychotherapy and Treasurer of the International Society of Bipolar Disorders. She is actively involved in teaching the next generation of clinicians and researchers about mood disorders, disseminating information about effective treatments, and providing training in evidence-based psychotherapies.

Young Adult Council - Can routines improve your mental health?

DBSAlliance — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 23:38:57 -0500

DBSA talks to Young Adult Council members about how they use routines to help manage their mental health. Routines have been shown to reduce stress and can improve your mood. Listen and learn how to establish easy routines and build healthy habits. Also, check out DBSA's new Wellness Wheel: https://www.dbsalliance.org/wellness/wellness-toolbox/dbsa-wellness-wheel/ Learn more about YAC: www.dbsalliance.org/about/young-adult-council/

Young Adult Council - Making life adjustments during anxious times

DBSAlliance — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 22:03:34 -0500

DBSA sat down with three young adult council members to talk about the changes they are experiencing because of COVID-19. The conversation covers working from home, changing commencement plans, as well as giving and receiving therapy from home. FOOTNOTES: San Diego Zoo Stream: https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/live-cams Georgia Aquarium Stream: https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/webcam/southern-sea-otter-webcam/ Kansas City Zoo Penguins: https://www.kansascityzoo.org/ouranimals/list-of-animals/gentoo-penguin/ Learn more about YAC: https://www.dbsalliance.org/about/young-adult-council/

Mental health and wellness during a public health crisis with Dr. LaGenia Bailey

DBSAlliance — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 20:28:21 -0500

DBSA spoke with Dr. LaGenia Bailey, former DBSA board member, for tips on how to stay well during this public health crisis. In this podcast, she addresses benefits of mindfulness practice, lifestyle habits, and ways to stay connected with others to avoid isolation. LaGenia is the founder of East West Integrative healing. Her soul’s mission is to facilitate Holistic Wellness for her clients through the use of Eastern and Western Science. These sciences include sound, mindfulness, and traditional as well as complimentary healing modalities. Dr. Bailey is a board-certified neuropharmacologist, a yogi, musician, and singer. She uses her knowledge to help guide people to wellness.

Young Adult Council - Navigating budgets and insurance while living with a mood disorder

DBSAlliance — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 19:13:29 -0500

Sticking to a budget and navigating insurance can be tough for anyone, especially if they are living with a mood disorder. Members of DBSA Young Adult Council provide practical tips to stay financially healthy while living with depression or bipolar. They also break down some insurance jargon you may not be familiar with and share personal stories about using their healthcare coverage.

Faith & Mental Health: Wellness in a Faith Community

DBSAlliance — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 14:52:04 -0500

Faith and mental health can be a hot topic for discussion. Join DBSA Young Adult Council co-chairs, Danyelle and Megan, as they share their wellness experiences within the context of their faiths, dispel myths, and provide valuable suggestions for not only faith communities but the public in general.

Jill's Story

DBSAlliance — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 18:19:42 -0500

In late December, Jill, a mother of seven children, including a 15-year-old living with a mood disorder, took the time to talk with a DBSA staff member about her family’s journey with mental health. This 25-minute discussion included how Jill learned what her child needed, her personal coping skills, and her hopes for the mental health community. Throughout this discussion, Jill conveyed her wish that families have hope that things can get better. To learn more about mood disorders in children and to find parental peer support, visit DBSAlliance.org/BMPN.

Meet Renay Miller, DBSA Life Unlimited Award Winner

DBSAlliance — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 20:40:09 -0500

The DBSA Life Unlimited Award was established in 2012 to honor individuals who exemplify a life unlimited by depression or bipolar disorder and who are actively working to help others do the same. Through this award we celebrate the strengths, inspiration, and accomplishments of our peers. We invite you to listen to this candid and inspiring discussion between DBSA President Allen Doederlein and Renay about her personal journey, passions, priorities, and work.

The Connection Between Mental Health and Physical Health

DBSAlliance — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 14:15:55 -0500

Join DBSA Young Adult Council co-chair, Danyelle Hooks, as she speaks with both a clinician and peer about how your physical health impacts your mental health and vice versa.

The Child Network

DBSAlliance — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 16:47:41 -0500

Join DBSA for a chat with Dr. Robert Post about the Child Network, a study to collect data on the treatment of child mood disorders. This is an initiative between the Bipolar Collaborative Network and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Handling Mood Disorders in College

DBSAlliance — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 20:01:44 -0500

Join Nareth Phin and Lucy Ingram as they answer questions about what it was like to live with a mood disorder during college and provide helpful tips for others. DBSA would like to thank Rebecca’s Dream for their support of the DBSA Young Adult podcast series and Q&A. Both are an extension of Rebecca’s Dream’s ongoing mission to promote awareness and compassion of depression and bipolar disorder as real diseases. Visit RebeccasDream.org

Pregnancy and Mood Disorders

DBSAlliance — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 19:59:24 -0500

In this podcast DBSA’s Angie Day and Ingrid Deetz talk about the difficult decisions and unique challenges that people living with mood disorders make when deciding to have a baby. DBSA would like to thank Rebecca’s Dream for their support of the DBSA Young Adult podcast series and Q&A. Both are an extension of Rebecca’s Dream’s ongoing mission to promote awareness and compassion of depression and bipolar disorder as real diseases. Visit RebeccasDream.org

Bouncing Back: The Importance of Becoming Resilient

DBSAlliance — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 15:31:06 -0500

In this podcast we join happiness expert, Tim Bono, PhD, to learn what being resilient really means and some ways that we can help build our own resiliency. DBSA would like to thank Rebecca’s Dream for their support of the DBSA Young Adult podcast series and Q&A. Both are an extension of Rebecca’s Dream’s ongoing mission to promote awareness and compassion of depression and bipolar disorder as real diseases. Visit RebeccasDream.org

Getting Your Financial Life on Track

DBSAlliance — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 15:27:20 -0500

Listen to this podcast to learn how to start off on the right foot--or get back on track--with your finances. Join us as we discuss budgeting, obtaining credit and eliminating debt. DBSA would like to thank Rebecca’s Dream for their support of the DBSA Young Adult podcast series and Q&A. Both are an extension of Rebecca’s Dream’s ongoing mission to promote awareness and compassion of depression and bipolar disorder as real diseases. Visit RebeccasDream.org

Eli, the Bipolar Bear

DBSAlliance — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 14:58:58 -0500

Gail Cutler of Rebecca’s Dream speaks with Sharon Liddle, author of Eli, the Bipolar Bear. This beautifully-illustrated book is Liddle’s gift to her son, Eli, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of just nine. Written for children, it tells the story of a young bear struggling with drastic mood swings. With the help of his parents and a Wise Old Bear, Eli is able to find the resources he needs and understand what’s happening to him. Sharon Liddle has a B.S. in Family & Child Development and over 20 years’ experience in this field. The mother of four, she is also the executive director of The Elijah Foundation.

Blue Genes

DBSAlliance — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 14:58:58 -0500

In this very frank and straightforward podcast, Christopher Lukas, author of Blue Genes: A Memoir of Loss and Survival, discusses his family’s ravaging history of mental illness and suicide. His mother’s suicide when he was six years old left him and his Pulitzer Prize-winning brother, Tony, on a lifelong quest to understand, and overcome, a staggering sense of abandonment. Tony’s quest ended with his own suicide; Christopher’s eventually led him to experience healing and, as he says, salvation through the process of writing Blue Genes. Emmy Award-winning Christopher Lukas has worked as a writer-producer-director in public and commercial television. He has two grown daughters and continues to make films, write books, and work as a film and stage actor. Please Note: This podcast very openly discusses suicide but also the healing the author reached through his book. However, if you feel that the podcast could be a trigger for you, please speak to your mental health professional about your concerns before listening.

A Balanced Life

DBSAlliance — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 14:58:58 -0500

Gail Cutler of Rebecca’s Dream speaks with Tom Smith about his new book, A Balanced Life: Nine Strategies for Coping with the Mental Health Problems of a Loved One. The book emerged from his family’s own experience with bipolar disorder. Recognizing that, for families and their loved ones with a mental illness, recovery means finding balance, Tom shares nine clear-cut, effective strategies to strike and maintain that balance. The strategies address warning signs, self-esteem, self-care, medication and counseling. Tom is the co-founder of the Karla Smith Foundation, named for his daughter, Karla, who lived with bipolar disorder before eventually taking her own life. To learn more, visit www.KarlaSmithFoundation.org/.

Hurry Down Sunshine

DBSAlliance — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 14:58:57 -0500

Michael Greenberg shares the powerfully honest story of his teenage daughter Sally’s sudden break into mania, at the age of 15, on the streets of Greenwich Village. He discusses this first, shocking manifestation of her bipolar disorder, the impact it had on his family and Sally herself, and his desperation as a father to understand his daughter and the wrenching struggle she was facing. Best-selling author Michael Greenberg has contributed many cover stories and critical essays to the Times Literary Supplement of London. His work has also appeared in the New York Times, Oprah Magazine, The Village Voice, and more.

Handling a Quarter Life Crisis

DBSAlliance — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 17:03:43 -0500

In this podcast, Linea Johnson takes on the role of interviewer while Young Adult Council co-chair, Geralyn Dexter, shares her experiences with handling a quarter life crisis.

Coping With Feeling Behind Your Peers

DBSAlliance — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 16:56:13 -0500

Join Geralyn Dexter and Linea Johnson as they discuss the difficulties of feeling behind your peers while dealing with a mental health condition.

Struggling In Silence

DBSAlliance — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 17:08:55 -0500

All over the world many people with mood disorders struggle in silence. Often times they have fears of telling others or beliefs about themselves that make it difficult to speak up. Linea Johnson shares her experiences with struggling in silence and offers some tips for others to combat this.

Helping Friends Understand Your Mental Health Condition

DBSAlliance — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 14:27:52 -0500

Sometimes even the most well-meaning friends just can't understand what you are going through. In this podcast, Linea Johnson shares her experiences with friends who both "get-it" and don't.

Dealing with Relapse

DBSAlliance — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 14:25:26 -0500

Experiencing relapse is a very real concern for many of us living with a mood disorder. Linea Johnson shares her personal experiences with relapse and how she has come to accept this part of her life.

Finding Balance

DBSAlliance — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 14:21:29 -0500

Mental health advocate and author, Linea Johnson, shares her experiences with finding balance and why this is so important for her.

In-patient Hospitalization for Mental Health Conditions

DBSAlliance — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 18:01:37 -0500

Join mental health advocate and author, Linea Johnson, as she shares her experience with in-patient hospitalization for mental health concerns and offers helpful tips for others who may also experience hospitalization.

Dealing with Failed Expectations

DBSAlliance — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 16:39:13 -0500

DBSA is proud to announce the latest podcast in our Young Adult Series – Dealing with Failed Expectations. Often times, we have great expectations of ourselves – and this can certainly be a good thing! However, sometimes these expectations can work against us, making us feel as if we are failing in our lives. Join DBSA’s Young Adult Council co-chair, Geralyn Dexter, and young adult mental health advocate and author, Linea Johnson, as they explore the difficulties in handling failed personal expectations.

DBSA I'm here... Campaign with Cinda and Linea Johnson

DBSAlliance — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 00:20:04 -0500

Maria Margaglione, Web & Visual Communications Director for the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, speaks with Cinda and Linea Johnson about the DBSA I’m here campaign and ways in which we can connect people living with a mood disorder with their family and loved ones---so that nobody feels like they have to go through this journey alone. Please visit http://www.DBSAlliance.org/ImHere for more information about the campaign! I’m here... is a program brought to you by DBSA made possible through the support of Rebecca’s Dream® Foundation. ************************ Cinda and Linea Johnson Together Cinda and Linea wrote Perfect Chaos: A Daughter’s Journey with Bipolar, A Mother’s Struggle to Save Her. Linea currently works as a research coordinator at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. Linea was the recipient of the 2013 DBSA Life Unlimited Award. Cinda is a professor and director of the graduate special education program at Seattle University. She is a national leader in the area of transition from high school to post-high for young people with disabilities. Together, Cinda and Linea make up a mother/daughter team with a shared purpose of building hope and lessening the stigma for those struggling with mental health conditions.

DBSA I'm here... Campaign

DBSAlliance — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 00:11:06 -0500

Maria Margaglione, Web & Visual Communications Director for the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, talks to Dr. Greg Simon, Chair of the DBSA Scientific Advisory Board, about the DBSA I’m here campaign and ways in which we can connect people living with a mood disorder with their family and loved ones---so that nobody feels like they have to go through this journey alone. Visit http://www.DBSAlliance.org/ImHere to learn more about the campaign! I’m here... is a program brought to you by DBSA made possible through the support of Rebecca’s Dream® Foundation. ************* Dr. Greg Simon is a psychiatrist and researcher at Group Health Cooperative at the Center for Health Studies in Seattle. His research focuses on improving the quality and availability of mental health services for people living with mood disorders, and he has a specific interest in activating consumers to expect and demand more effective mental health care.

The DBSA Young Adult Council Partners with Campus Coalition, All for 1

DBSAlliance — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 13:58:07 -0500

All for 1 is a cross-campus coalition that strives to offer support for college students experiencing mental health concerns as well as work with universities across the nation to reevaluate their current policies with regards to mental health. DBSA’s Young Adult Council had the opportunity to speak with All for 1 co-chairs, Jenna Zhang and Kathryn Dewitt, to learn more about this unique endeavor and how other young adults can get involved.

Mariel Hemingway

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 18:22:35 -0500

Academy award nominated actress, author, and mental health and suicide awareness advocate Mariel Hemingway shared her perspective about recovery, life, and wellness in DBSA’s Real Recovery podcast. Get to know Mariel by listening to the podcast before meeting her in September at the DBSA I to We Weekend!

Living a Full Life

DBSAlliance — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 21:26:20 -0500

DBSA PSA 2015

Support Helps

DBSAlliance — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 21:21:57 -0500

DBSA PSA 2015

You are not alone.

DBSAlliance — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 21:16:54 -0500

DBSA PSA 2015

Should I or Shouldn’t I? Disclosing a Mental Health Condition

DBSAlliance — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 15:30:42 -0500

How do you decide when, and with whom, to share a mental health diagnosis? This is a question virtually anyone living with depression or bipolar disorder struggles with, but for young adults it can be particularly difficult. Many are starting new jobs and beginning serious relationships during this time. Knowing who you can trust and how to handle those who are not receptive is very important. Join DBSA’s Young Adult Council chair, Geralyn Dexter, and author and fellow mental health advocate, Linea Johnson, as they discuss their own experiences with disclosure.

Molly explains why she advocates

DBSAlliance — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 18:55:13 -0500

In this segment of DBSA’s Young Adult series, Molly Jenkins shares why she is passionate about mental health advocacy in an interview with her mother.

Molly’s thoughts on Wellness

DBSAlliance — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 18:53:36 -0500

In this segment of DBSA’s Young Adult series, Molly Jenkins shares her journey to wellness in an interview with her mother.

Molly shares her thoughts on Recovery

DBSAlliance — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 18:21:57 -0500

In this segment of DBSA’s Young Adult series, Molly Jenkins shares her experience of recovery in an interview with her mother.

Molly describes a Major Depressive Disorder episode

DBSAlliance — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 18:17:22 -0500

In this segment of DBSA’s Young Adult series, Molly Jenkins shares what it feels like to experience a major depressive disorder episode in an interview with her mother.

Collaborative and Proactive Solutions for Caregivers

DBSAlliance — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 00:55:48 -0500

In the third of a new series of parent-focused DBSA podcasts, Dr. Ross Greene, author of the highly acclaimed books The Explosive Child and Lost at School, discusses understanding and parenting easily frustrated and chronically inflexible children with DBSA Parent Volunteer Coordinator Julia Small. In the podcast, Dr. Greene explores his Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) approach, which sets forth two principles: First, challenging behavior in kids is best understood as the result of lagging cognitive skills (rather than as the result of permissive and inconsistent parenting). And second, the best way to reduce challenging episodes is to work together with the child to solve the problems that have set in motion the challenging behavior (rather than imposing adult will or using reward-and-punishment systems). “A major thrust of the CPS model is to get caregivers out of the heat of the moment,” Dr. Greene explains, “out of deciding rapidly is this willful or is this a reaction to an anxiety or a mood trigger, moving away from looking at the kid’s behavior and instead focusing on the problems that are causing those behaviors, and then proactively deciding … is this one of the ones we are just letting go right now, setting aside for now because it’s not a high priority, or is this one of the ones that we’re actually solving collaboratively. That’s the level of analysis that I find is much more helpful to caregivers than in the heat of the moment trying to decide is this behavior willful or a reaction to an anxiety or mood trigger.”

Ally Sheedy Public Service Announcement - Stigma

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 21:45:50 -0500

Ally Sheedy Public Service Announcement - Stigma by DBSAlliance

Roberta Maxwell Public Service Announcement - Meditation

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 21:34:58 -0500

Roberta Maxwell Public Service Announcement - Meditation by DBSAlliance

Michael Cerveris Public Service Announcement - Suicide

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 21:32:32 -0500

Michael Cerveris Public Service Announcement - Suicide by DBSAlliance

Brian Kerwin Public Service Announcement - Accepting Your Disorder

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 21:08:36 -0500

Brian Kerwin Public Service Announcement - Accepting Your Disorder by DBSAlliance

Lookingglass Theater Public Service Announcement

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 21:00:05 -0500

Lookingglass Theater Public Service Announcement by DBSAlliance

Jim Piddock Public Service Announcement - When Life Seems Overwhelming

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 20:48:55 -0500

Jim Piddock Public Service Announcement - When Life Seems Overwhelming by DBSAlliance

Jack Wetherall Public Service Announcement - Sleep

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 20:47:22 -0500

Jack Wetherall Public Service Announcement - Sleep by DBSAlliance

Parents of Children With Mood Disorders Suffer Too

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 20:40:49 -0500

It's not only the people afflicted that suffer with a mood disorder, the parents who love their children so much struggle as well. We hear from several parents on the things that they go through while helping their children through life.

Responses to Common Anti-psychiatry Claims

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 20:34:01 -0500

On this episode we give some common responses to some common anti-psychiatry claims. On our last episode, we went over five common claims made by the anti-psychiatry/anti-psychology movement and this time we aim to answer them.

Loneliness Part II

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 20:32:11 -0500

On this episode, we take a closer look at the experience of loneliness and go over one clear method in order to deal with it. In addition, we introduce our new co-host, Catie.

Advocacy On Campus

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 20:17:04 -0500

On this show we go over several ways to get involved fighting stigma on campus. We also interview Active Minds founder, Alison Malmon. Activeminds.org is an organization with over 200 chapters on campuses across the nation that fights stigma and gets conversations started about mental health.

Taking Control of Your Health

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 20:12:50 -0500

On this short discussion, Ryan and Chris talk about the central message of the blog and show: taking control of your health while you can.

You've Gotta Believe That You Can Get Better If You Try

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 20:07:43 -0500

Ryan and Chris discuss the fundamental concept of the week: Do you really believe that it's possible to get better? Do you really believe that if you do something, it will make a difference? The science continually says that people that take consistent and active steps in order to fight their depression have a very high rate of getting better. However, people all too often fall into the trap of giving up and getting frustrated, using negative self-talk like, "It's no use." But it is of use. Ryan and Chris get the ball rolling this week, talking about why you should take it to the bank that taking positive action against depression gets results!

Mood Disorders In the Media: Ryan On Religion Trumping Psychological State...For Once

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 19:59:18 -0500

Ryan talks about how the media's reaction to the Fort Hood tragedy is one of the few where psychological state is tossed aside as irrelevant in favor of the shooter's religious background.

Erasing Negative Thoughts: Overgeneralization

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 19:54:31 -0500

Hey guys, it’s Aime Lynn with Flipswitch’s Erasing Negative Thoughts segment. On each edition of Erasing Negative Thoughts, we identify one way of "stinkin thinkin" and show how it’s more often than not, either completely untrue or extremely exaggerated. On this edition of Erasing Negative Thoughts, we’ll cover the thinking pattern known as Overgeneralization. This one’s a biggy. It’s not, “I messed up this one time on this project. Oh no. I mess up EVERY on EVERY project.” It’s not, “I’m not going out tonight with my friends.” It’s, “I NEVER go ANYWHERE at all.” You made a bad grade on a test? Is it because you ALWAYS fail no matter what you do? These are just few examples of overgeneralization. Overgeneralization occurs when you take one single event and infer from it a pattern of life that is almost always true, regardless of how much evidence to the contrary there is. You can usually tell when overgeneralization is going on because examples often make use of words like “always” “never” or “every”: words that extend one isolated incident to every incident that has ever happened to you. But overgeneralization is pretty easy to disprove. “My Mother never lets me do anything!” HIGHLY unlikely. I mean, she lets you go to school. She lets you take bath. Etc. Maybe not always what you want, but then again, who gets to do everything they want? You always fail? You formed a sentence to convey the meaning that you always fail. That’s a success. By definition, you’ve already disproved that you always fail on tests. Assuming that you’re talking about failing one test in 8th grade math, the fact that you were passed to 8th grade likely means you didn’t fail at least what was necessary to get that far. And on and on. It’s very rare that claims that use words like “always” or “never” are true, so why are you thinking that way? Many other distorted ways of thinking are sub-forms of overgeneralization. ' And we’ll talk about those more in the coming weeks. For now, stop ALWAYS beating up on yourself. You NEVER give yourself a break. (Hey, if you can do it, so can I!) Join us next time for another way to start Erasing Negative Thinking.

Discussion: What's Wrong? Define your problem!

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 18:59:13 -0500

On this week’s theme, we talk about the very beginnings of getting a grip on your problems. When it starts, people invariably know at least one thing: they don’t like how they’re feeling. But from there, they have to figure out what’s wrong and why? Maybe it’s one specific situation that you’re not happy with. More likely, it’s a number of things that are related. If nothing else, someone can at least define the nature of how they’re doing. Are they sleeping well? Are they eating well? Are they feeling happy? Are they feeling lonely? Are they angry? and on and on. The more you can define the problem. The more you can come up with solutions to “STARVE THE BEAST” of bipolar disorder and depression. Ryan and Chris talk about how to define lousy feelings more accurately with a real world example from a special guest host (hint: Teeny Teen).

Erasing Negative Thoughts: Disqualifying the Positive

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 18:56:39 -0500

Hey guys, it’s Aime Lynn with Flipswitch’s Erasing Negative Thoughts segment. On each edition of Erasing Negative Thoughts, we identify one way of “stinkin thinkin” and show how it’s more often than not, either completely untrue or extremely exaggerated. On this edition of Erasing Negative Thoughts, we’ll cover the thinking pattern known as “Disqualifying the Positive.” We’ve all done this one, right?: “Sure I get A’s on all my tests, but I made a C on this one. I’m just a C student.” “This person said he didn’t like me. I don’t have any friends. Sure, lots of people hang out with me, but they don’t count.” “I’ve just not ever been happy. Sure there were times when I thought I was happy, but I don’t really think I was now.” And on and on. Disqualifying the positive is a particularly insidious distorted way of thinking because it allows you to gloss over literally mountains of evidence to the contrary of your other distorted ways of thinking. Why? Because, regardless of all that evidence, none of it counts. No no no. Only the negative beliefs are right because “insert excuse X here.” And if all the positive things in life no longer get to count, the bad things aren’t just bad, they’re REALLY since there are no longer any positives in your world. It would be funny if it weren’t so detrimental to you. On the one hand you’re already unhappy for various reasons. And on top of that, that already bad feeling is made worse by this false belief that positives either don’t count or, even worse, don’t exist at all. But if you stop and think for a moment, positive evidence does exist all around you. In fact, positive evidence is kind of the reason most of the other distorted ways of thinking we talk about here aren’t really true either. You’re always a failing? What about that B you got on a test 3 months ago. You say it doesn’t count because it was 3 months ago, but believe me…..it counts. If nothing else, you could at least change your thoughts to the more accurate description, I haven’t made the grades I’ve wanted for the last 3 months. I would doubt that even that would be universally true though. All those friends you have don’t count because, they’re not that close, they’re not real friends, whatever whatever what..ever. Not disqualifying the positive means basically looking around you for all that you do right, even when you’ve made a few mistakes. By not disqualifying the positive, your real problems become much more manageable because suddenly you have a mountain of successes with which to short circuit absurd claims of your universal awfulness as well as a good amount of evidence that you can learn and succeed even when your screw ups are quite real. So, the next time you say, “It’s all so bad, I always screw up” stop and think for a moment; what about that time I didn’t screw up.” Yep, it’s that easy. That’s it for this round of Erasing Negative Thinking. I’m Aime Lynn, catch you next time.

Mood Disorders In the Media: The Twilight Series

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 18:54:04 -0500

This is Ryan with another round of Flipswitch’s Mood Disorders In the Media. On Mood Disorders in the Media, we take a closer look at one instance of how the media is currently handling mood disorders. News, movies, tv, radio, the internets......if it’s somehow connected to the media, it’s fair game. Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. A show about depression and bipolar disorder and growing up..........we could only avoid it so long. Love it or hate it, here it is. We’re finally going to deal with it. Yes. Yes. Yes, that’s right. You know what I’m talking about. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, .....today we talk about.......The Twilight Series. Okay, okay! Girls, calm down, please! And if you guys over there can stop looking annoyed for just one moment, we can get through this promptly! Look, for better or worse, the Twilight series of books and movies have been hugely successful, raking gobs and gobs of money, with more sequels planned for the future. Maybe it’s the Romeo-and-Julietness of it all or the fact that we all just simply like stories about werewolves and vampires; whatever it is, fans just can’t seem to get enough. In the latest movie installment of the series, New Moon, the main character of the whole shebang, Bella, goes through a trying break up with a boyfriend, Edward, and is flung into the depths of heartbreak and sadness, eventually leading her to do some dangerous things in order to get him back. Vampires and werewolves aside, it’s an interesting take on an extremely common part of life, a part of life that many people are first introduced to in high school and sometimes, even junior high. Girl meets boy, girl falls for boy, girl and boy share romance, boy changes suddenly on girl, boy leaves girl, girl becomes distraught, spending hours, days, weeks, months, etc pining for her lost love. Sure, that’s the basic thing going on in New Moon, but I was also describing three of my friend’s from high school’s lives as well. It’s just that common. Sure, in my case, it was more like: boy meets girl, girl tells boy to leave her alone, boy comes up to girl two weeks later to profess his love for girl, girl explains that she doesn’t remember boy at all, girl introduces boy to girl’s football player boyfriend, boy runs away before he gets beat up....but.....okay let’s move on. A lot has been written about the tumultuous relationship between Bella and Edward in the media, with more than a few news segments on the dark (say quote) “depression” that Bella experiences after Edward leads. ABC news, for example, called Bella’s condition a “classic case of clinical depression.” The media has sought out shrinks and experts of all stripes to talk about Bella’s depression. But this brings up a perfect opportunity to talk about something media hasn’t adequately addressed when talking about Bella’s feelings: namely, duration of mood. Remember this mantra: sadness and depression are NOT the same thing. Oh, they’re related alright, but they are NOT the same thing. For someone to have clinical depression, they have to experience a sad (say quote) “depressed” mood for most of the day for at least two weeks. But it’s important to remember that depression as a disorder isn’t usually given unless that sadness lasts at least a couple of months. Why is that? Well, let’s go back and remember why mood disorders are disorders at all: They are incongruent with reality. That means they don’t match what’s going on in the world. If your dog dies and suddenly your all happy the next day, your mood isn’t congruent to the situation. that’s a problem. But in the Twilight Saga, Bella has lost the love of her life. And well.... she’s not happy about it. In fact, she’s not happy about it for quite a while. Here’s one question for everyone: Should Bella be happy that she’s lost the love of her life? Should she have gotten over it in a couple of days and been cheery? A week? 2 weeks? How long? The point I'm making here is that sometimes feeling sad is not only okay, it’s necessary. If Bella had been like, “I don’t care. Who needs boyfriends and love anyhow?” that would seem a lot more problematic than the fact that she’s sad. Being sad when sad things happen is okay. That’s not necessarily depression. Now if everything is by and large always sad, then you may have a deeper problem. Psychologists have other options for what Bella may have been going through. One of the most common diagnosis given by psychologists to people in Bella’s situation is called Adjustment Disorder. It’s named Adjustment Disorder because the person experiencing distress is having problems adjusting to life after some new change, say like, oh I don’t know, possibly.....getting used to living without the love of your life. Much more, this process resembles grief, very much in the same way we might lose someone in a car accident or to a dreaded disease. The person is gone and we have to learn to move on without them, which is not always easy. And grief can take a long time. And we can grieve for all sorts for losses, be they jobs, loved ones, or even possessions. But that doesn’t mean, in and of itself, that the depression is all there is. Remember, if a loved one dies, it’s absolutely normal to experience a little grief over it; that mixture of sorrow, sadness and longing for the good times to be back. The idea of the length of sadness of Bella is important to address, because if the media doesn’t address that, then everyone that’s ever been dumped at one time or another, suddenly qualifies for having a depressive disorder. So, at the end of our journey, let’s give the media credit for trying to explore depression in a meaningful way, but we’ll have to deduct points for failing to recognize that being upset over loss is okay sometimes and that life does move on. The media stories tended to look at Bella’s destructive behavior after Edward left and how she keeps letting her emotional state be thrown off by this tumultuous relationship, something that’s REALLY common in romance at virtually any age. Kudos to the media for raising our awareness on that. So, a mixed bag this week in Mood Disorders In the Media. Phew, we got through it. We got through Twilight. I feel like I’ve been released from prison. (gasping with joy) I’ll see you next time for more Mood Disorders In the Media.

Erasing Negative Thoughts Emotional Reasoning

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 18:31:22 -0500

Mood Disorders In The Media Avatar

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 18:28:10 -0500

Welcome to Flipswitch’s mood disorders in the media. On Mood Disorders in the Media, we take a closer look at one instance of how the media is currently handling mood disorders. News, movies, tv, radio, the internets......if it’s somehow connected to the media, it’s fair game. Did you know that people are getting depressed while watching blue people that live in communal setting in nature? According to the media news reports, there’s something about the peace of the land and these blue folks that has people all sad and blue because life out here in the real world just isn’t as carefree. No, we’re not talking about the smurfs. We’re talking about Avatar. In Avatar, a blue humanoid species known as the Navi live on the planet Pandora, existing in a manner that is very similar to Native Americans of centuries past. They commune with nature in a tranquil and peaceful way, going so far as to do some kind of vulcan mind meld with the roots of trees......or something......I was still getting used to the 3D glasses to tell you the truth. But my point this week isn’t to talk about the giant James Cameron 3D smurfs. No. What’s got me in a tizzy is the fact that out of all the important things the media could bring up about depression and put on the front page of newspapers, what the media settled on was something that was relatively titillating and meaningless. They could’ve focused on the very real problem of suicide and how depression eats away at so many people until they just don’t want to face life anymore. They could’ve focused on families that watch as their loved one’s suffer needlessly from the ravages of a severe depression. They could’ve focused on the fact that the rates of getting better for people that receive treatment are astoundingly good. They could’ve really focused on a million things. But no. Instead, we get the short shrift of listening to babble about people that are sad because they don’t live on another planet in a movie. Mind you, the follow up and ramifications of just what this “depression” really means to these people is never really addressed in any of these stories. Only that something so banal as being upset by a movie is occurring is “neato.” Not that people that are depressed because of the movie aren’t truly suffering. They have every right to combat their own pain. But that is NOT why the media is covering this story. I’m sure there have been people that were depressed after that dog died at the end of Marley and Me, as there probably are with virtually every movie. Instead, this is part of a giant media strategy to sell a movie; namely, Avatar. And much worse, it’s done at the expense of the very serious issue of depression and suicide. Look, if the Avatar-depression story had been part of a long line of stories, many of which addressed the more important issue of mood disorders, I would’ve been much less annoyed by the media this go round; but that’s not been the way it has gone at all. Instead, the media has stuck to the script of shock and awe, letting things that are shocking, regardless of merit, rule the airwaves and the front pages. But I say no! Depression is serious business. Suicide is not something to be taken lightly. The true pain that people in these times go through is not to be made light of, regardless of how titillating a factoid is. I know these people have to sell newspapers and adspace, but our media can do better. Let them know that it’s serious business to you too.

Erasing Negative Thoughts: Minimization

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 18:21:13 -0500

Hey there. This is Aime Lynn with Flipswitch’s Erasing Negative Thoughts. On each edition of Erasing Negative Thoughts, we identify one way of stinkin thinkin and show how it’s more often than not, either completely untrue or extremely exaggerated. It’s important to not fall prey to these outright false ways of thinking cause let me tell ya, they’re good friends with depression. On this edition of Erasing Negative Thoughts, we’ll cover the distorted way of thinking known as “Minimization”. No no no. We’re not talking about shooting a science laser at you and shrinking you to the size of a pea so that you’ll end up running away from a giant human foot and a spider trying to eat you...no, that’s miniaturization. This is something completely different. It helps to think of minimization as denial-lite. It’s not full blown pretending that something doesn’t exist or isn’t happening, but it’s not quite admitting to the full magnitude either. For example: “Who cares if i took that guy’s headphones. His parents have money, he can buy a new set. “ “I only stayed up two nights in a row. That can’t have affected me THAT much.” “I’m only smoking the pot every now and then. Once a day isn’t all that much. It can’t be why I’m broke and not doing well in school.” These are a few examples of minimization. Roughly stated, minimization is when you attempt to minimize the effect of your behavior or of an event’s impact upon your psyche. Why is that important? Basically, because it allows you to do whatever you want without taking responsibility for anything that goes wrong. That guy whose headphones you took. Yes, his parents can buy him more, but that doesn’t change the fact that you harmed him, especially since he actually spent his own money on those headphones. Yeah, it was only two days of staying awake, but I’m pretty sure you could often say it was only 2 days of staying awake, oh great knower of all that is sleep deprivation. And let’s face it, you can smoke ALL the pot you want if you ignore how broke you are or how tired you are. In fact, isn’t that what you’ve been doing? How’s that working for you? Has the problem gone away? The main ways we tend to minimize behavior is by blaming someone or something else for our circumstance, ie minimizing our own responsibility, or we justify and downplay the impact or our own behavior on others. “I had to punch that guy. He had it coming to him getting in my face like that. He looked alright afterwards anyhow.” Virtually everything in that spiel is designed to escape responsibility. “I had to punch that guy”....because I certainly have no control over my own body. I’m a robot controlled by gamma radiation. Baaaaaah!!!! “He had it coming to him getting in my face like that.” ....I mean, I can’t really be to blame because that guy actually wanted me to hit him, just like I want some robot to hit me. Baaaah! “He looked okay afterwards anyhow.” ...and I should know, I spent hours watching Grey’s Anatomy to learn the full extent of psychological and physical injuries. I can’t be to blame if the guy isn’t even really hurt. Which reminds me, I wonder why they haven’t called me to start my rotation after watching all of last season. Hmmmm. The really frustrating thing about minimization is that it comes in so many subtle variations. In fact, often large parts of therapy are devoted to getting you not to minimize your responsibility in the outcome of your behavior. So, always remember this one mantra to avoid minimization. “I’m responsible for my behavior. My behavior has consequences.” Yelled at your boyfriend? “I’m responsible for my behavior. My behavior has consequences.” So YOU may really have hurt your boyfriend’s feelings, regardless of what he did and how tough he is. Failed your math test? “I’m responsible for my behavior. My behavior has consequences.” Maybe playing Guitar Hero, 3 nights in a row instead of studying had the consequence of you failing. And on and on and on. Say it with me. “I’m responsible for my behavior. My behavior has consequences.” That’s it for this week, guys. This is Aime Lynn. Catch you next time for more Erasing Negative Thoughts.

Interview With Elizabeth

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 16:50:24 -0500

Flipswitch interviews Elizabeth, someone living with bipolar disorder that has experienced all there is and more to bipolar disorder. She talks about living with bipolar disorder and her recent hospitalization due to lithium toxicity.

Denial and When To Stop Being So Defensive or "How NOT To Ask Someone Out"

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 16:48:47 -0500

We talk about the pernicious mind-zapper that is denial. We feature two scenarios in which our love-lorn protagonist Nick pines for the affection of Anne. Anne turns him down over concerns about his behavior and his clearly sinking mood, In the first scenario, Anne expresses her concern for Nick's predicament while offering suggestions for how he could possibly turn things around. Nick remains open to ideas, even the ideas that suggest his behavior may be leading him down the wrong path. In the second scenario, Anne again expresses her concern, but this time, she gets nothing but a hard time from Nick who uses every excuse in the book to deny that his choices may be having much of an effect at all on his bad situation. It's sort of comical, but it's also very real in that these are some of the exact excuses all of the co-hosts have heard from at least one person in their lives at one time or another. The mind boggles at just how people are able to build such elaborate ways to defend against the scary prospect of change. Check out some of Aime Lynn's Erasing Negative Thoughts segments to see just some of the many ways that people lie to themselves constantly.

Discussion: Making Excuses For Bad Behavior. Don't Do It PART 2: THE AIME LYNN STRIKES BACK

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 16:34:40 -0500

Aime Lynn responds to last week's episode in which she revealed her decision to stay up very late two nights in a row. She reaffirms that while her decision to stay up that late was, in fact, unhealthy, she took responsibility for putting her sleep hygiene (and health) at risk in order to maintain a good relationship with a positive friend (also a part of wellness). It is notable that in this episode, Aime Lynn almost completely abandons the various justifications she had previously used; instead, she begin talking in terms of how her decisions affect her life.

Discussion: Making Excuses For Bad Behavior. Don't Do It.

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 16:32:41 -0500

Aime Lynn goes out on the town two nights in a row and Chris is NOT happy about it. Listen in as Chris takes Aime Lynn to task for a number of her justifications for her bad behavior. It's comical, but it's also very real. It's all too common for people trying to get and keep a good healthy lifestyle to make elaborate excuses up that seem very real, but in fact, are not. Also, a quick discussion of the rough draft of the DSM-V. You can leave your own input about the DSM at http://www.dsm5.org.

Discussion: Two High Profile Suicides Just Highlight How Horrible Suicide Really Is PART 2

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 16:02:48 -0500

Aime Lynn and Chris continue their discussion of two recent high profile suicides (Andrew Koenig and Marie Osmond's Son) and their powerful reminder on the very real threat of suicide with depression. Clips from Ohio State researcher of mood disorders and suicide Dr. Paul Granello appear at the beginning of the show.

Discussion: Two High Profile Suicides Just Highlight How Horrible Suicide Really Is PART 1

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 15:48:03 -0500

The show opens with the passionate plea of Walter Koenig, father of Andrew Koenig, a former television star that took his own life recently. In addition, Marie Osmond's 18-year-old son also committed suicide very recently, leaving a devastated family and set of friends. Aime Lynn and Chris talk about the very real impact that suicide has on everyone in this 1st part of our discussion series on suicide.

Mood Disorders In The Media Pills And Behavior

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 15:33:51 -0500

In this edition of Mood Disorders In the Media, Ryan talks about how the promises of medication commercials, though amazingly well scripted, are never the sole answer. Behavior has to be a big part of getting better as well.

How Realistic Is It To Live a Structured Life When Trying To Deal With Bipolar Disorder?

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 15:21:51 -0500

Chris and Aime Lynn debate the merits of being super firm about one's rules to living well with bipolar disorder or depression. Aime Lynn thinks one should shoot for ideals, but not be so rigid as it may set one up for failure. Chris argues that what is good for health is true regardless if you choose to do them or not and therefore should be considered hard and fast rules. Let the games begin.

2010 Teen Round Table, College Edition, Episode 1

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 15:11:25 -0500

Today, we're rolling out the first in our series of 2010 Teen Round Tables. This round table is of college students ranging in age from 18 to 20. These seven college-goers will talk about their thoughts and experiences on topics related to depression and bipolar disorder. In this episode, the round table talks about what they think depression is and where it comes from.

2010 Teen Round Table, College Edition, Episode 2

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 15:07:03 -0500

We continue our teen round table, college edition. In this episode, our round table talks about where depression comes from and who they would be likely to tell if they had a problem. Ryan and Chris stick around for analysis.

2010 Teen Round Table, College Edition, Episode 3

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 15:03:29 -0500

We continue our teen round table college edition. On this episode of the college round table, our panel talks about the reality of stigma and the pro's and con's of being open with others about living with a mood disorder.

2010 Teen Round Table, College Edition, Episode 4

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 15:01:48 -0500

We continue the 2010 College Teen Round Table. On this episode, we ask our panel about sleep. How well do they sleep? How many hours do they sleep? Are their sleep schedules normal or do they change them from day to day? Hear what these teens had to say.

2010 Teen Round Table, College Edition, Episode 5

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 14:51:31 -0500

The 2010 Teen College Round Table talks about what they know about bipolar disorder. Ryan and Chris comment.

2010 Teen Round Table, College Edition, Episode 6

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 14:44:36 -0500

Continuing the 2010 Teen Round Table, College Edition, Aime Lynn and Chris listen as the round table talks about the differences between men and women when it comes to depression and bipolar disorder.

2010 Teen Round Table, College Edition, Episode 7

DBSAlliance — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 14:31:20 -0500

The 2010 Teen College Round Table continues. In this episode, they talk about how they learned about mental health and how it was talked about in their families.

An Example of Revealing Your Disorder And Real Life

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 21:20:34 -0500

In this discussion, we talk about a real world scenario that recently happened to one of our own co-hosts that almost forced her to reveal her disorder when she did not want it to be revealed. The American's With Disabilities Act has provisions in it that specifically suggest that one's disorder does not have to be revealed without certain conditions being met. Our discussion's example is prime in a number of ways. 1. An organization randomly wanted information that it could distribute to other state agencies, 2. a doctor decided against the co-host's wishes what was best in this case. and 3. the co-host was able to bring together resources from around the city to stand up for her rights. Problem - Solution - Victory.

Learning the Terms: The Americans With Disabilities Act

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 20:21:51 -0500

Welcome to a special return edition of Flipswitch’s “Learning the Terms” segment. I’m Samreen. On Learning the Terms, we break down all that confusing jargon you hear from doctors and experts and really smart people so that you can understand what the heck these people are talking about. On this round of Learning the Terms, we’ll be learning a little bit about the Americans With Disabilities Act. More specifically, we’ll be talking about a section of the act that deals with the question of when you HAVE to disclose your disorder in some public setting. Here’s a preview of that section. NEVER! But first, let’s go over some basics of the act as a whole. The Americans With Disabilities Act (or ADA as it’s often called) was passed in 1990 under president George Herbert Walker Bush (Dubya’s dad). The act was passed after a coalition of groups that advocated for an end to discrimination against people with disabilities of different types banded together to apply pressure to congress. The law seeks to end discrimination against people with different disabilities, be they blindness, deafness, mental illness or whatever. Specifically, businesses and government offices were required to remove all barriers as much as possible that tended to keep people with disabilities out of them. This goes for general use as well as employment. So, buildings with high staircases had to be refitted with ramps and elevators for people with walking difficulties, and nowadays, you’ll notice that brail is used on many signs in buildings. All thanks to the ADA. For our purposes, we want to look at issues of confidentiality as applied by the law. On a recent episode of Flipswitch, Aime Lynn talked about her struggles with a doctor attempting to reveal her disorder on a form that was to be given to a government agency. This attempt tipped off a firestorm for Aime Lynn in attempting to keep the information off of a form. But that brings up an important question. When exactly would Aime Lynn have to tell her prospective employer or volunteer organization about any disorder she might have. Well, according to the ADA, the answer is NEVER! She would never have to tell anyone at all about her disorder unless she chose too. In section 1 of the ADA, employment and accommodations are explained to go hand in hand with revealing of any disorder. Basically, it’s like this: you don’t ever have to tell anyone about your disorder if you don’t want to. However, if you want accommodations from your job or from school or anywhere else that you may need in order to do well in any of those places, you’ll have to reveal your disorder in order to get them. Other than that, it’s all up to you. You can get hired at a job without telling anyone about your condition. You can get promoted and then decide to reveal your condition. It’s all up to you. So remember this one thing: The Americans With Disabilities Act says that YOU are in charge of revealing that you have a disorder of any kind. And by law, no public entity can reveal that information if you don’t want them to. It’s called confidentiality, and it’s serious business.

Discussion: Choosing and Using Resources

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 20:10:47 -0500

Chris and Aime Lynn talk about the finer points of choosing things like support networks and online information when one is first diagnosed with a mood disorder.

Discussion Risk Factors/ Protective Factors

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 20:08:04 -0500

Our co-hosts talk about what factors put you at risk for having a mood disorder or making a mood disorder worse when you already have one. We also talk about protective factors, those things that guard against worsening mood disorders.

Risk Factors

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 20:06:11 -0500

On this segment, we talk about 10 of the most pernicious of risk factors, those things that increase your chance of having a mood disorder or worsening an already existing mood disorder.

Protective Factors

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 19:55:42 -0500

The Flipswitch crew go over some of the more prominent things about an individual that tends to help keep mood disorders at bay. Just like risk factors, 10 are listed. They are: 1. Good Genetics 2. Cultural Beliefs/ Religiosity 3. Cohesive Family Unit 4. Easy Access To Care 5. Avoiding Substance/Alcohol Abuse 6. Good Physical Health 7. Having No Other Disorders 8. Good Interpersonal Skills 9. Pro-social After-school Activities 10. Deep and Positive Support System

Mood Disorders In the Media: Diagnosing Celebrities

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 19:53:06 -0500

Ryan talks about the negative effects of media attention to the clinical side of the mental state of a celebrity. He questions how psychologists can make sweeping assumptions about people they've never interviewed.

Interview with Dr. Paul Granello About Suicide Part 1

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 19:42:54 -0500

Our interview with Dr. Paul Granello, researcher at Ohio State University with one of the biggest studies on teens and suicide in the world (over 12,000 participants). This is part 1 of the interview. A little more about Dr. Granello. He graduated with his M.S. degree in mental health counseling from Stetson University in 1990, and his Ph.D. in counselor education was awarded in 1995 from Ohio University. He is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with supervising credentials. Paul is a founding partner with the Ohio Department of Mental Health in establishing the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation. He is currently the recipient of the 1.7 million in federal funds for suicide prevention under the Garrett Lee Smith Act. He has presented and trained on suicide over 150 workshops. Paul also conducts research on psychotherapy outcomes and the psychological and social characteristics of individual well being. He has published 25 articles in peer reviewed national journals, has authored 9 book chapters on suicide, anxiety, technology in counseling, and wellness. He has co-authored 3 books on the topic of Suicide and is currently writing a book on Wellness Counseling for Prentice Hall. Paul has presented at state, national, and international conferences on topics related to counseling, suicide, and wellness. He is also dedicated to the local community and has provided numerous workshops on health and wellness topics for both the Ohio State and Columbus communities. He currently is a member of The Ohio State University Campus Wellness Collaborative. Paul received the David Brooks award for Meritorious Service from the Ohio Counseling Association in 2002. The Ohio Association for Counselor Education award for professional service in 2006, and the Ohio University distinguished alumni award in 2007.

Dr. Paul Granello Interview Part 2

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 19:38:50 -0500

This is the 2nd part of our interview with Dr. Paul Granello on his research on suicide and teens. Suicide is a big issue with both depression and bipolar disorder. Listen in.

Discussion: Following Doctors' Orders Part 2

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 19:34:13 -0500

We continue our discussion on one central question: "Why do people not follow their doctors' advice?" It's one of the biggest complaints about patients from clinicians. This time, Chris, Krissi, and Ryan talk about the help that informing a friend of the things you need to do can be.

Discussion: Following Doctors' Orders

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 19:28:57 -0500

Chris and Samreen discuss one of the biggest complaints from both mental health professionals and medical doctors: patients failing to follow their advice. What makes people do something other than what an expert suggests they should do? General distrust? Massive inconvenience? A feeling of invincibility? Samreen reveals that she's been falling short in this area of her life as well.

Interview with Hilary Smith, Author of "Welcome to the Jungle"

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 19:20:38 -0500

We interview Hilary Smith, author of "Welcome to the Jungle : Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Bipolar But Were Too Freaked Out To Ask." Now 24, Hilary was first diagnosed with bipolar disorder in her junior year. While delving into the ins and outs of her new diagnosis, she realized that few books were down to earth and open and honest with teens and young adults about what it's like to first be diagnosed with a mood disorder. From the bungling healthcare system to hippy treatments that might actually, Hilary looks to fill that void with "Welcome To the Jungle." Check out Hilary's site at: http://www.hilarytsmith.com/p/books.html

Discussion: Anti-depressants and the Media Controversy

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 19:17:35 -0500

The crew talks about the current frenzy about medications. Do they work? Is it all a big scam? Does it cause your brain to explode? Is it all the "man" trying to keep us down? We'll get to the bottom of this. Our ultimate conclusion? Do what your doctor says. If you don't trust your doctor, get a new doctor, and then do what your doctor says.

A Quick Introduction To Popular Types of Anti-Depressants

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 19:11:05 -0500

Our quick hit guide to three big types of anti-depressants: SSRI's, SNRI's, and MAOI's. This is a very beginner segment on some of the anti-depressants you make come across when getting help for your disorder.

Discussion: Medication Practicalities

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 19:05:46 -0500

Chris, Aime Lynn and Krissi talk about some of the practical issues that continually come up with taking medication. Whether it's remembering or forgetting to take your medication, going through several different types of medication before settling on what works, continuing to comply, dealing with side effects, and much more . We talk about lots of the practical things that come up when dealing with any type of psychological medication.

Erasing Negative Thoughts: All-Or-Nothing Thinking

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 18:58:16 -0500

Hey guys. This is Aime Lynn with Flipswitch’s Erasing Negative Thoughts. On each edition of Erasing Negative Thoughts, we identify one way of stinkin' thinkin' and show how it’s more often than not, ether completely untrue or extremely exaggerated. On this edition of Erasing Negative Thoughts, we’ll cover the thinking pattern known as All-or-Nothing Thinking, otherwise known as Black and White Thinking. “I’ll die if I don’t buy that new coat” Seriously... going without a new coat is going to kill you... I highly doubt that, unless maybe you’re a bum on the street, don’t own a coat, and are living in 10 degree weather... which I seriously doubt. “If I fail this exam like I always fail in this class, I’m going to fail out of school and end up living on the streets!” Last time I checked, people take more than 1 class in school, so unless you are receiving Fs in EVERY one of your classes and don’t have the skills to work at McDonalds (which is unlikely) and you don’t have family members to help support you succeed in getting help for your classes, I don’t think you’ll end up on the side of the street. “I can’t do well on this project, so what’s the point in even trying” Have you even started the project? What do you have some secret way of knowing the future that I don’t know about? How exactly do you know you won’t do well? Well, you definitely will not do well if you don’t even try. You know... the ARE grey areas where you could be a little cold without a coat or look a little dorky in your old coat, but you’re not going to DIE. And first off, you could do well on that exam, you don’t know for sure, and even if you do fail the class, you could still take it over. You’re not automatically going to be thrown on the streets. As for the project, the only way you can secure a failing grade for sure, is by not even trying to do it. All-or-Nothing Thinking is when you don’t see the middle ground or grey areas that actually do exist. There is a possibility that things will not go horribly wrong and yet, you are right, they may not go exactly perfect, but you will survive. This is a problem for depression because often people will use these lies and tell themselves that things are always going to be that way and that they will never get out of their depression. That’s actually not true so start allowing yourself to see things as they are rather than contributing to the depression enforcing the belief that it will always be like this. Things are rarely so black and white. Find the middle ground. Well, that’s all for now. Now, go and work on telling yourself that things may change and you can succeed.

Interview With Kourosh Dini, MD On Video Game Addiction

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 18:49:37 -0500

Kourosh Dini is the author of Video Game Play and Addiction: A Guide for Parents, which helps parents navigate the benefits and potential detriments of video games and virtual spaces. Dr. Dini is a psychiatrist with a diverse array of interests, trained and practicing in the Chicago area. He maintains a blog titled Musings on Mind, Music, and Technology where he discusses his thoughts on multiple forms of media, technology and artistry and how they interweave. Dr. Dini comes at video games with a positive focus in mind, himself a gamer during much of his life. You can link directly to his book at http://videogameplayandaddiction.com.

Interview with Ryan Van Cleave, Author of Unplugged...

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 18:43:19 -0500

Lot’s of people talk or joke around about video game addiction, but Ryan Van Cleave knows about it firsthand, and it’s anything but funny. By falling down the rabbit hole of video game addiction, Ryan lost his job and came very near to losing his family and even his life once suicidal thoughts entered the picture when he realized the magnitude of his problems. He’s fought his way back to overcome those problems and has released Unplugged: My Journey Into The Dark World of Video Game Addiction; a memoir about his dark struggle with gaming. You can check out the book at http://www.ryanvancleave.com

Interview With Video Game Designer Bill Roper

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 18:22:08 -0500

Welcome, Champions Online fans! The Balanced Mind Parent Network improves the lives of families raising children and teens with bipolar disorder and related conditions such as depression and ADHD. Over 80% of our funding comes from individuals like you. Please consider a small donation in support of The Balanced Mind Parent Network families. In our continuing series on video game addiction, we talk to renowned video game designer Bill Roper. Currently, Roper is an executive at Cryptic Studios where he oversees MMORPG's like Champions Online and Star Trek Online. We get an insider's perspective on what goes into creating a successful game, including game mechanics, demographic considerations, and more. We specifically ask him his thoughts on video game addiction as well. Roper has worked on tons of the most famous MMORPG's ever created. You can sample his current work at http://crypticstudios.com/.

Interview With Therapist and Video Game and Media Addictions Specialist Shavaun Scott

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 18:18:27 -0500

Shavaun Scott is a therapist practicing in California with a specialty in addictions and technology. In 2009, along with co-author, Neils Clark, she released the book Game Addiction: The Experience and The Effects, a book which takes a neutral look at the phenomenon of video game addiction from multiple angles. Not only a therapist that has worked with gaming addictions, she also been a gamer herself logging many hours on games like Everquest. You can find her webpage at www.dreamtreader.com/shavaunscott You can find her book, Game Addiction: The Experience and The Effects, online at http://amzn.com/0786443642

Interview With Neils Clark, Co-Author of Gaming Addiction: The Experience and The Effects

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 18:11:32 -0500

We follow up with Neils Clark, co-author of Gaming Addiction: The Experience and The Effects. We recently interviewed author Shavaun Scott about her book, “Gaming Addiction: The Experience and The Effects. In this interview, we talk with her coauthor Neils Clark. Neils is a researcher, gamer, game designer, and commentator on the topic of video game addiction. Currently a professor at DigiPen Institute of Technology, a school specializing in game development and design, he comes at the topic of video games both empirically and with an more neutral tone. He has written for the Escapist and Gamasutra.

Interview with Phil Frazier, Senior Producer of Madden Football From EA Sports

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 18:02:51 -0500

We continue our interviews of various video game personalities with Phil Frazier, senior producer of the Madden Football franchise from EA Sports. Madden Football every year outsells not only the competition of other football games but virtually all video games. We discuss with Phil what goes into making a game that gets large groups of people to plunk down money each year for a new edition and we get his thoughts on video game addiction. www.easports.com

Discussion: We're All In It Together

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 17:59:00 -0500

Chris and new youngest Co-Host Phil talk about the fact that how family and friends react and help deal with a loved one's diagnosis dramatically affects how well or not so well that person does in life. Literally, the literature suggests the prognosis (how problematic the disorder will be) of a disorder can be much better if family and friends don't band together to take on a mood disorder head on. It turns out that we really are all in it together. Also, we preview our upcoming interview with Cinda and Linea Johnson, a dynamic mother-daughter team that are a living testament to the power of a unified and proactive family unit in combatting bipolar disorder.

The Diathesis-Stress Model and How It Suggest That We're All In It Together

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 17:55:16 -0500

Phil talks about the Diathesis-Stress Model, a model that clinicians and researchers use when thinking about bipolar disorder. As it turns out, the positive and proactive support of family and in friends really can be crucial in determining how a disorder progresses... for the better or the worse.

Interview With Linea and Cinda Johnson

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 17:51:44 -0500

Interview with Linea and Cinda Johnson, a dynamic mother/daughter team that speak openly and honestly about their struggles with Linea's diagnosis of bipolar disorder. They've seen the ups and downs that go along with bipolar disorder and have helped Linea bounce back. They advocate ending stigma, that treatment really does work, and the crucial aspects of family and friends coming together to battle the disorder. Check out their website at http://www.lineacinda.com

Discussion: College Reality Vs College Expectations

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 16:52:38 -0500

In the coming weeks, we'll be talking about a sneaking phenomenon in which college, that fabled "best time of your life" is a time filled with despair and hardship. A sizable portion of students in college struggle with all sorts of things like depression, substance abuse, body image issues and more...and that's all before you even consider the immense academic pressures. Phil and and Aime Lynn get the ball rolling by exploring two sides of the coin that may play into some of these issues: what people expect when they go to college, and what reality actually gives them. An ideal conversation to have between someone that will be going to college in just two years and someone that's dealt with a mood disorder while actually in college.

Some Common Reasons Why College Can Make Some People Vulnerable To Depression

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 16:50:43 -0500

The crew continues their discussion of college and how some people don't necessarily find it to be the greatest time of their lives. This time, we focus on common things that are often big issues for people making the transition into college.

Interview with David Leibow, Author of What to Do When College Is Not the Best Time of Your Life

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 16:48:24 -0500

After 30 years as a Psychiatrist working with college students in New York, Dr. David Leibow has seen a lot of the ups and downs of college mental health. Leibow is on the faculty of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in addition to being a psychiatrists at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He has a new book out called What to Do When College is Not the Best Time of Your Life, a book that looks at the typical things that befall more than just a few college students, acknowledging that for a large number of students, college is anything but grand. He joins us today.

Discussion: Support Networks

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 16:36:59 -0500

Chris and Phil talk about support networks. What they are, where to find them and some ups and downs about them. They help tons of people every year, and now with the internet, there's virtually a group for every type of problem one wants combat

Personal Improvement Project Update: Phil

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 16:35:40 -0500

We all take on a project to try to improve ourselves here on Flipswitch. Today, Phil updates us on where his personal improvement project of not being late to school is at on the progress meter.

Experiences With Support Networks

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 16:33:15 -0500

Chris and Aime Lynn talk about her dealings with a number of different types of support networks. We talk about some of her good and not so good experiences with both in person and online groups.

High School Student Hillary Finds Ways To Advocate

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 16:31:43 -0500

Most people think advocacy is hard to do and a bit scary, the whole "what kind of a difference can I make?" 17 year old Hillary shows us that little actions can mean so much.

What Goes Into An Ideal Support Network?

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 16:29:55 -0500

Aimee Lynn and Chris talk about the features of strong support networks, noting that people can value different things.

Interview With a Support Network Creator

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 16:28:17 -0500

In our continuing discussion of support networks, we revisit an interview with an anonymous listener that took matters into her own hands when she could not find a support network for people living with bipolar disorder on her campus. She didn't settle for that answer. Instead, she boldly created her own group, one that became a meeting point for others on her campus.

Interview With Online Support Network Moderator Nanci Schiman

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 16:26:03 -0500

We delve further into the topic of support networks by examining in greater depth online support networks.

Is it a good thing when wild celebrities like Charlie Sheen are labeled bipolar?

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 16:16:00 -0500

104 people voted on the Flipswitch page, Facebook, Twitter. During Charlie Sheen hysteria, I asked if it's a good thing when wild celebs like Sheen are labeled bipolar. Shortly after, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Demi Lovato revealed their bipolar diagnoses. People left some passionate responses. Check it out!

Blue Bloods Busts TV's Bipolar Boogeyman Myth!

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 16:07:03 -0500

The CBS cop drama Blue Bloods (Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg) episode "Cellar Boy," which aired on May 6, 2011 featured a suspect with bipolar disorder (Nathaniel Marston). Its sensitive portrayal of bipolar busted TV's "Bipolar Boogeyman Myth." With a look at bipolar jokes of the recent past from Monk and Glee along with viewers' comments, Flipswitch explores how this myth came to be before showing how the CBS drama blows the myth out of the window!

Does TV Prove or Disprove the "Bipolar Bum Myth"?

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 16:05:42 -0500

Over the past few years, bipolar disorder has been in the news a lot. It's also been the star of story lines on Oprah, ER, and General Hospital. This blog explores the "Bipolar Bum Myth"--what it is, how it came to be, and whether or not TV is evolving in its portrayal of bipolar. Sally Field played Maggie, a mom with bipolar disorder, on ER. Maurice Bernard plays mob boss Sonny Corinthos on General Hospital (GH); he incorporated his real-life struggle with bipolar into his GH character.

When Television and Hope Collide

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 16:02:51 -0500

From Law & Order SVU's Kathleen Stabler to David Silver on the original Beverly Hills 90210 and Erin Silver (nicknamed "Silver") on the current 90210, TV has featured characters with bipolar disorder. Do any of these characters offer hope that people with bipolar can live happy, productive, law-abiding lives? Listen to find out. Also, revealed are the results of 130 votes to the latest Flipswitch poll on Facebook, "Have you (or a loved one) ever been the victim of mental illness stigma?"

Big Bold Step Helps Broadway Fan Overcome Fears

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 15:59:38 -0500

I interviewed a young woman named Jessica who talks about the Tony-award winning Broadway musical, Next to Normal, and its impact on her. Next to Normal follows the trials of a suburban mom battling bipolar disorder. Jessica who has depression, describes her other diagnoses that include panic attacks, anxiety, and nonverbal learning disorder. She tells us the big, bold step she took to overcome her fears. She also has some encouraging words for anyone with depression and discusses her parents' role in her recovery process. Food for Thought--Ideas for Comments: Were you encouraged by Jessica's story? Can you relate to any of Jessica's obstacles? Have you seen Next to Normal? Any thoughts on parents' role in helping children with depression?

Broadway Fan Reveals a Key to Battling Depression; How one Musical Changed Her Life

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 15:58:11 -0500

I interviewed Nicole, a 19-year old college student, who saw Next to Normal 27 times! The Broadway fan gave insight into the life of a college student with depression and talked about how she has never missed a class despite her adversity. Nicole also discussed her parents' role in her diagnosis. Her interview reveals an important key to battling depression that anyone who has depression (or anyone who loves someone with depression) should know. Listen to hear her story! Food for Thought/Ideas for Comments: Can you relate to Nicole? Does depression make it hard for you to be productive? Were you encouraged by Nicole's success despite depression? Have you seen Next to Normal? Do you have your own Support Network?

In Other Words Pt 1: Teenage Girl Shows us What Bipolar Disorder Really Is

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 15:53:48 -0500

People joke around with the words "bipolar," "ADD," "OCD," or "Retard" everyday. People do get hurt--people living with these conditions and the people who love them. Language can be a powerful tool that either creates stigma or compassion. This interview with an 18-year old girl named Sara, who has bipolar disorder, is the first installment in a series called "In Other Words," which walks us through the lives of people living with the aforementioned mental health conditions. Sara describes her reaction to how bipolar is used in a Katy Perry song and an episode of Glee (with Gwyneth Paltrow as substitute teacher Holly Holiday). Food for Thought/Suggestions for Comments: Do you get offended when people toss words like Bipolar, ADD, OCD, and Retard around in everyday language? Can you relate to Sara's struggles with depression or mania? Were you encouraged by Sara's success?

In Other Words Pt2: Top 2 Most Common Misuses of "ADD"

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 15:50:34 -0500

Ellie, a college senior, didn't get an ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) diagnosis until age 19. She discusses life before and after diagnosis--how her academics, family life, friendships, & dating have all changed for the better! She unveils strategies for hurdles common to people with ADHD like 1) how to take exams or 2) pay attention in class or 3) talk to parents. She also unveils the #1 thing people with ADHD don't want to hear especially from their parents. Continuing the theme from Part 1 of In Other Words (bipolar interview), we discuss the stigma surrounding mental illness. Nobody says "Gosh, I'm so cancer today" when they wake up tired but people do say "I don't want to take my finals; I'm ADD today"! We brainstorm Other Words besides "ADD" for things that have nothing to do with ADHD and find ourselves laughing and singing Lady Gaga along the way. (Listen and you'll know how Gaga's Born This Way relates to Ellie's philosophy on ADHD.) Food for Thought/Suggestions for Comments: Were you encouraged by Ellie's story? Has her story helped you better understand what ADHD feels like? Do you ever get tired of people saying "He's so ADD" as an insult? Do you know anyone who can benefit from Ellie's strategies?

In Other Words Pt 3: Top 2 Most Common Misuses of "OCD"; Young Lawyer Shows us What OCD Feels Like

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 15:45:43 -0500

Ivan, a 29 year-old lawyer, who struggled with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) tells us what OCD feels like, and how OCD jokes affect people living with the illness. His story is refreshing for young people living with mental illnesses. As someone who never got his parents support in fighting OCD, Ivan also offers valuable insights for parents listening. Continuing the theme from Part 1 of In Other Words (bipolar interview) and Part 2 (ADHD inteview), we explore mental illness stigma. No one says "Gosh, I'm so cancer today" when they wake up tired but people do say things like "I cleaned my car this morning; I'm OCD today." We brainstorm Other Words besides "OCD" to describe people who don't have OCD. Food for Thought/Suggestions for Comments: Were you encouraged by Ivan's story? Has his story helped you better understand what OCD feels like? Do you ever hear people say things like "He's so OCD" as a joke? Need help for yourself or someone else? Check out the International OCD Foundation at www.ocfoundation.org Wanna shine a light on what OCD really is? Interested in supporting others with OCD through art, film, song? Check out Machine Man at http://www.machinemanthemovie.com/index.php

In Other Words Pt 4: Cerebral Palsy, Autism, ADHD thru Eyes of a Doctor & Special O Athlete

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 15:42:41 -0500

Wrapping up the "In Other Words" series, this podcast (Part 4) looks at the R Word, retard. We see the stigma people with disabilities face through the eyes of Jimmy, a 27-year old doctor whose 19-year old brother has Cerebral Palsy and Jerry, a 23-year old Special Olympics athlete who has both ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and Asperger's Syndrome. Jerry tells us why "retard" is hurtful and what word he prefers we use. Jimmy helps us brainstorm Other Words we can use besides the R Word to vent about frustrating people or situations. Food for Thought/Suggestions for Comments: Were you encouraged by Jimmy's selfless love for his brother? Were you encouraged by Jerry's success despite his obstacles? Do you ever get tired of hearing people use "retard" to describe all things stupid? Do you see the similar stigma people with disabilities and mental illness face?

How Finding a New Hobby Can Help You Manage Depression or Bipolar Disorder

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 15:37:57 -0500

Tired? Stressed out? Feel like you've done everything in your power to manage bipolar disorder or depression? Have you considered adding something new to the mix like a new hobby? * In this podcast, I explain 3 important reasons to find yourself a new hobby. The rarely discussed relationship between a new activity, mania, and routine is discussed. Also discussed are easy-to-follow examples of finding hobbies beginning with a story of my 3-year old nephew, Mikko, and the song "Single Ladies" from Beyoncé. *A new hobby is a supplement (not a substitute) for standard tools for managing mood disorders which include: diagnosis, therapy, and (if prescribed) medication. Food for Thought/Suggestions for Comments: Has a new hobby ever transformed your life? Is there something you haven't done yet but want to try? Could you relate to the manic desire for excitement? Could you use any of the ideas in the podcast to find a new hobby?

Hanh's Story Pt 2: Vietnamese-American Talks about Cultural Barriers to get Bipolar Diagnosis Help

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 15:35:02 -0500

Continuing Hanh's riveting story from Part 1, Hanh describes how she turned her life around in Pt 2. Hear about the conversation that changed her life--the words a loved one said that motivated her to get professional help! Hear how she persevered and overcame American and Vietnamese cultural barriers to finally get a diagnosis. Hear how Hanh is doing today; learn about the steps she took to transform her life. Also discussed: Hanh's suggestions for people trying to explain their depression or bipolar disorder to their parents. Hanh also gives advice for parents trying to support children with bipolar disorder. Your Thoughts? Were you encouraged by how Hanh turned her life around? Could you relate to any of Hanh's struggles?

Hanh's Story Pt 1: Daughter of Vietnamese-American Immigrants Talks Impact on her Bipolar Disorder

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 15:30:15 -0500

July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month! To kick off our series about minorities in mental health, we're starting with Hanh's story. Hanh, a 30-year old woman with Bipolar II, came to the U.S. when she was just 10-months old with her family through a refugee sponsorship program. She discusses turbulent times like the Fall of Saigon, concentration camps, growing up in a Vietnamese-American family, and her earliest memories of depression and mania. With refreshing insights on how being a racial minority in America affects one's ability to get help for bipolar disorder, Hanh teaches us about the crushing effects of mental illness stigma. But her story also offers hope for young people who do not yet have the support of their parents as well as insights for parents struggling to understand their children. Your Thoughts?: Do you have a difficult time making your parents understand how you feel? What cultural backgrounds would you like to see Flipswitch discuss?

Victor's Story Pt 2 : Puerto Rican Pastor talks Depression & Bipolar in His Family

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 15:24:14 -0500

Pastor Victor concludes the dramatic story that began in Part 1–when he spoke about: his Puerto Rican heritage, Hispanic culture & mental health stigma, and having both depression and bipolar disorder in his family. Now, in Part 2, He tells us what happened to his daughter. In this podcast, he also reveals specific steps he took to educate himself on depression & bipolar disorder, and how he supported his family members through these illnesses. Also revealed: Suggestions for how to talk to your parents about your bipolar disorder. Your Thoughts?: Could you use any of his suggestions to talk to your parents about depression or mania? Have you taken NAMI's 12-week Family-to-Family course like Pastor Victor did? For more on NAMI's Family-to-Family program, click this link.

Victor's Story Pt 1: Puerto Rican American Pastor talks Depression & Bipolar Disorder in His Family

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 15:21:25 -0500

In Part 1 of his interview, a Puerto Rican American Pastor named Victor discusses his experiences leading a racially diverse church. Victor shares his observations about the delicate relationship between culture, stigma, and mental health. He also tells the story of his wife's diagnosis with major depression and his 20-something daughter's uphill battle with bipolar disorder. Your Thoughts?: Could you relate to Victor–have you cared for someone with depression or bipolar? Do you think your culture makes it easier or harder to get help?

Tribute to Bebe Moore Campbell; 3 Lessons for People Fighting Bipolar or Depression

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 15:14:14 -0500

In this podcast, we honor the late great African American author and mental health advocate, Bebe Moore Campbell. Though she died in 2006, her legacy lives on today. In 2008, Congress declared July Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. In this tribute, I reenact (with the help of friends) 2 scenes from her spellbinding novel, 72 Hour Hold. We unpack 3 lessons for anyone fighting bipolar or depression or anyone who loves someone fighting this battle. 72 Hour Hold is about a mom (Keri) fighting for her daughter (18-year old Trina) who is in the trenches of bipolar disorder. Your Thoughts?: Can you relate to Keri's unconditional love for her daughter despite Trina's manic outbursts? Can you use any of the 3 lessons in either 1) fighting bipolar disorder or depression or 2) loving someonewho is fighting these illnesses?

Melody's Story Pt 2 (of 2): Iranian-American Author & Attorney Busts Bipolar Stigma & Islamophobia

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 14:46:15 -0500

In Part 1 of Melody's Story, we met Melody Moezzi, a 32-year old Iranian-American Muslim who has Bipolar I. Melody is a successful attorney, author, and advocate. She's been a commentator on NPR and CNN. She blogs for the Huffington Post, Ms. Magazine, and bp magazine (aka bipolar magazine). Her first book, War on Error: Real Stories of American Muslims, was published in 2007. (To learn more about Melody's work, visit her website at www.melodymoezzi.com.) In the previous podcast, Melody described her worst experience with anti-bipolar stigma and harmful stereotypes society has of Muslims. In this podcast, Part 2, Melody tells us how she does it all. How does she manage to be so successful despite bipolar disorder? Can a person actually use her mental illness to become successful? Your Thoughts?: Were you encouraged by Melody's success? Has having bipolar disorder actually helped you pursue goals?

Melody's Story Pt 1: Iranian-American Muslim Author & Attorney Busts Bipolar Stigma & Islamophobia

DBSAlliance — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 14:43:11 -0500

An Iranian-American Muslim, born in 1979, the year of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Melody Moezzi's life reads like a novel. She describes the displacement of her family–how the 1980 Iranian Hostage Crisis forced her family to leave the United States but the Iran-Iraq War also meant they could not stay in Iran. In this interview, Melody Moezzi, a 32-year old award-winning author and attorney with Bipolar I, describes her worst experience with anti-bipolar stigma. She also talks about Islamophobia and myths people believe about Muslims. Her ability to laugh in the face of pain is intriguing; her success despite stigma is uplifting. Interested in learning more about Moezzi? Then, check out her website, www.melodymoezzi.com, or look at her book, War on Error: Real Stories of American Muslims, published in 2007. Your Thoughts?: Have you ever experienced mental health stigma like Melody did during her hospitalization? Do you know someone who might be encouraged by hearing Melody's story?

3 Steps to Bouncing Back from Failure-In School & in Life

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 21:48:00 -0500

Society is so fond of talking about success as if the keys to success can be purchased at Ace Hardware. But rarely do we ever discuss failure and HOW to bounce back from it. Because failure causes everyone pain at some point in time, it's important to address the subject. While strategies in this podcast can be used in and outside of school, it is especially relevant for those of us starting school soon. Knowing how to bounce back from failure can be the difference between a happy school year and a miserable one! Using a story from my life–how I got a D+ on my first test at Northwestern University when I was in college and how I reacted–this podcast helps listeners form a Comeback Plan–3 Steps to boucing back from any failure or setback. Anyone with depression, bipolar disorder, or any mood disorder needs to know how to make a Comeback Plan. Resilience is also an essential lifeskill for people without mood disorders. Food for Thought/Suggestions for Comments: Were you encouraged by my story? Did you ever have a class that tested your character? Could you or someone you know use the 3 strategies?

Win the Battle Over Clutter in 3 Steps!

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 21:45:50 -0500

Have a messy bedroom? Cluttered dorm room? Ever wake up on a bad day feeling depressed and then look at your messy room and feel worse? Do you keep telling yourself I'll get to cleaning my apartment (or house) but just don't know where to start? If you feel intimidated by all the clutter, you're not alone. This podcast outlines 3 simple strategies for de-cluttering your room or house. We explore the subconscious reasons we keep things. Have you ever fallen victim to the "Some Day Mentality"? Do you ever confuse the gift with the giver? Not sure what I'm talking about? Then, listen as I unpack the faulty reasoning that keeps our rooms cluttered. This podcast also gives extra hints for people with depression, bipolar, ADHD, or OCD. Need to give away stuff? Want to give to others? Check out www.freecycle.org, a great resource for those of us purging our closets! Food for Thought/Suggestions for Comments: Could you or someone you know use any of the 3 strategies in this podcast? Has your disorder ever made it more difficult to clean up? How does the cleanliness of your room affect your mood? Think you might have a problem more serious than clutter--like hoarding? Interested in learning more about hoarding or looking for a treatment provider, check out www.ocfoundation.org/hoarding/

Friendship Series Pt 3 (of 3): How to be a Good Friend When You Have a Mood Disorder

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 21:43:40 -0500

Ellie helps us finish the Friendship Series with Part 3! Here, we explore 3 qualities people with mental illnesses & mood disorders should demonstrate in friendships. These qualities are essential to finding and keeping friends. This podcast also helps people without mental illnesses better understand how to support their friends because it outlines the relationship obstacles people with mental illness face AND the qualities of people with mental illnesses that actually make them great friends! Through a story from Ellie's life, we will learn how to harness painful experiences into a force for good and help others. (And, yes of course, we're gonna close out the series with the iconic Friends theme song, The Rembrandts' I'll Be There For You!) Food for Thought/Suggestions for Comments: Do you agree with the 3 qualities we listed for being a good friend? Do you have a secret to successfully maintaing relationships despite mental illness? Did you learn anything surprising or new in the podcast?

Friendship Series Pt 2 (of 3): Here's What to Do When Your Friend Has a Mood Disorder

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 21:41:37 -0500

Ellie's story continues. Contrasting her experiences with unsupportive friends in Part 1 of the Friendship Series, here in Part 2, Ellie shows us how good friends have helped her deal with ADHD and Depression. She also talks about a painful experience many people can relate to--a breakup. She tells us specific actions her friends took that made her feel better. Together, we outline 3 qualities of a good friend, and give tips on how to be a good friend to someone who has a mood disorder or mental illness. (And yes, in honor of friendship and Friends, we are playing The Rembrandts' I'll Be There For You!) Food for Thought/Suggestions for Comment: Could you relate to the story about Ellie's breakup? Have friends ever helped you through a difficult season in your life? What qualities do you look for in a good friend?

Friendship Series Pt 1 (of 3): What NOT To Do When Your Friend Has a Mood Disorder

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 21:40:22 -0500

Ellie's back! You may remember her from our very popular podcast, In Other Words Pt 2: Top 2 Misuses of "ADD;" College Student Unveils 4 Strategies for Fighting ADHD. Ellie will now help us kick off a series of 3 podcasts in the Friendship Series. Here, in Pt 1, Ellie describes her worst experience dealing with depression and ADHD. She tells us about surviving the difficult season of her life and specific things friends said that actually made it worse. Ellie also tells us 3 qualities of an "unsupportive friend"--it's an eye opener for anyone who wants to support someone with a mood disorder or anyone with a mood disorder who wants to find quality friends. In Pt 2, Ellie will tell us about 3 qualities of good friends. In Pt 3, we'll talk about how to be a good friend when you have a mood disorder. (And yes, in honor of friendship and Friends, we are playing The Rembrandts' I'll Be There for You!) Food for Thought/Suggestions for Comments: Can you recall a time when a friend actually made you feel worse? Did you learn anything from Ellie's interview? What are the qualities of a good friend?

3 Steps to a Smooth Transition to College Life-Essential Advice for Freshmen & Transfer Students

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 21:37:41 -0500

It's back to school season! For those of us who are college freshmen or transfer students, it can be a nerve-wrecking time. As someone who transferred schools my sophomore year of college, I've experienced many of those new student jitters. In this podcast, we outline 3 steps for a smooth transition to college life so you can do well in school and find friends. High school and junior high school students can also build strong friendships and do well in class by applying these 3 steps. Food for Thought/Suggestions for Comments: Could you (or someone you know) use any of the 3 strategies in this podcast? Have you experienced the connection between stress and frequency/intensity of depressive bouts? Where do you find community?

How to Send an Angry Email (or Make an Angry Post)

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 21:35:42 -0500

Before the Internet, when you got angry, you had time to cool down and rethink things before saying something you might regret. Now with email, gchat, forums, Facebook, & Twitter, it's easier than ever NOT to think before hitting send. Everyone is presented with an opportunity to hit "send" and spew forth all their pent up frustration. Do you hit send? This podcast presents 3 steps to sending (or not sending) an angry email/making an angry post. Your Thoughts?/Suggestions for Comments: Have you ever sent an email (or made an online post) you regret? Can you use the 3 steps in this podcast when you're feeling angry? Has online communication improved or hurt your relationships?

Tribute to Legend Patty Duke Pt 2 (of 2): Scenes and Lessons from Her Autobiography

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 21:26:58 -0500

Picking up where we left off in Part 1 of the Tribute to Legend Patty Duke, in Part 2, we learn 3 vital lessons for people fighting mental illnesses and those who love them. You'll hear dramatic reenactments of scenes from Duke's bestselling autobiography, Call Me Anna. What's more impressive than all her awards (she's won the whole trifecta--an Academy Award, Emmy, & Golden Globe), is Patty's resilience in the face of constant adversity. For anyone who's ever felt discouraged by bipolar disorder, depression, other mental illnesses, or even the daily stress of life, Duke' story is a beacon of hope! Your Thoughts?/Suggestions for Comments: Were you encouraged by Patty's resilience? What requires strength in your life? Could you (or someone you know) use the 3 tips/lessons in this podcast?

Tribute to Legend Patty Duke Pt 1 (of 2): Scenes and Lessons from Her Autobiography

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 21:25:17 -0500

This podcast is Pt 1 (of 2 parts) in a tribute to legendary actress and mental health advocate, Patty Duke. Through reenactments of scenes from her bestselling autobiography, Call Me Anna, we unpack 2 vital lessons for people fighting mental illness and those who love them! What's more impressive than her resume (Broadway star at age 12, Oscar winner at 16, her own TV show at 17, etc.) is all the adversity Duke has overcome, which may come as a surprise to many. With or without bipolar disorder, her life would be a diffcult one by any standard. When you hear the Flipswitch tribute, you have no choice but to be filled with HOPE! Check out bp magazine's article (author: Elizabeth Zavala) on Patty Duke in their current issue (Summer 2011) http://www.bphope.com/Item.aspx/845/the-one-and-only-patty-duke Your Thoughts?/Suggestions for Comments: Does Patty Duke's story give you hope? Have you read her autobiography, Call Me Anna? Can you use the 2 lessons/strategies in this podcast?

How Exercise Saved My Life: 5 Strategies that Will Keep You Motivated & Exercising

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 21:21:12 -0500

We welcome back, Hanh, a fitness coach who has bipolar disorder. She'll tell us how exercise helped her turn her life around and lose weight. She will share 5 strategies that will keep you motivated and exercising regularly. Hanh Nguyen is an Independent Team Beachbody® Coach. To learn about her services in nutrition and fitness, visit www.healthyhanh.com or email her at healthyhanh@gmail.com! [Note: Exercise is a supplement to (NOT a substitute for) prescribed medication and therapy if you have a mental illness.] Your Thoughts?/Suggestions for Comments: Has exercise changed your life? Do you find it hard to exercise every week? Could you or someone you know use any of the strategies in this podcast?

Manic Overspending Pt 2 (of 2): 3 Ways to Stop Manic Debt!

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 21:18:25 -0500

We continue the 2-part series on ending manic or hypomanic debt. In this podcast, we examine 3 solutions to temptations people with bipolar disorder face from the numerous credit card offers college students get to how to stop splurging on guilty pleasures whether its shoes or video games. Your Thoughts?/Suggestions for Comments: Do you have any "guilty pleasures"? Could you use any of the 3 strategies here to control your spending? Will you try using one of these tips?

Manic Overspending Pt 1 (of 2): Why It Happens & How to Prevent It

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 21:16:24 -0500

It's no secret that overspending can happen to people with bipolar disorder! But oftentimes overspending isn't as obvious as buying a house or car you don't need after seeing a "for sale" sign. Some activities that also lead to bankruptcy don't seem so bad at first. We examine the roles mania and hypomania can play in bankrupting persons with Bipolar I and II, respectively. In Pt 1, we examine one safeguard. In the next podcast, Pt 2, we will look at multiple safeguards to stop overspending. Your Thoughts?/Suggestions for Comments: Have you (or someone you know) ever spent too much money because of mania or hypomania? What kinds of things are you tempted to spend too much money on? Could you or someone you know find this podcast helpful?

Eating Right Pt 2 (of 2): A Young Woman's Journey From Emotional Eater to Successful Fitness Coach

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 21:11:56 -0500

Hanh is back with more weight loss secrets in Part 2 of Eating Right. She shares strategies 4, 5, and 6 for eating right. Drawn from changes in her own life--she was an emotional eater before she became the successful fitness coach she is today, she shows us how to keep the pounds off! As someone with Bipolar II, she also gives special advice for people with bipolar disorder & depression. If you missed it, Click here for Pt 1 (of 2) of Eating Right. Eating right and exercise go together! Click here for podcast, "How Exercise Saved My Life: Fitness Coach with Bipolar Shares 5 Strategies That Will Keep You Motivated & Exercising." Interested in learning more about Hanh's services? Check out www.healthyhanh.com or follow her on twitter @healthyhanh! Your Thoughts?/Suggestions for Comments: Will you use any of the strategies in this podcast? Did you learn something new? Has Flipswitch helped you become a healthier person?

Eating Right Pt 1 (of 2): Fitness Coach Shares 3 Weight Loss Tips that Work!

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 21:09:07 -0500

Are you an emotional eater? Do you eat when you're stressed or depressed? Have antidepressants caused you to gain weight? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then listen to our favorite Fitness Coach, Hanh Nguyen, as she shares 3 nutrition tips that helped her lose weight! Eating right and exercising go hand in hand--check out Hanh in her last Flipswitch podcast, How Exercise Saved My Life: Fitness Coach with Bipolar Shares 5 Strategies That Will Keep You Motivated & Exercising. Interested in learning about Hanh's coaching services? Visit www.healthyhanh.com. Your Thoughts?/Suggestions for Comments: Can you use any of the 3 tips in this podcast to eat right? Have you used Hanh's exercise tips in the past? Do you eat when you get stressed out?

Back to School with ADHD Pt 2 (of 2): Student Who Went From Academic Probation to Dean's List

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 20:59:08 -0500

Erin continues the story she began in Pt 1 (of 2) in the "Back to School with ADHD" series. She tells us about a fourth problem students with ADHD face called Working Memory Disability or Executive Functioning. Erin also explains 3 strategies students with ADHD can use to finish high school or college using her own experience as someone who went from academic probation to the Dean's List! She also shares about how the Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada helped her along with ADHD books that guided her. For more info, just visit the Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada at www.caddac.ca! Your Thoughts?/Suggestions for Comments: Could you (or someone you know) use any of the 3 tips Erin explained? Have you experienced problems with Executive Functioning? Did you learn anything new that can help you?

Back to School with ADHD Pt 1 (of 2): 3 Problems Students with ADHD Face

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 20:57:05 -0500

n this podcast, we learn how ADHD affects school by hearing Erin, a successful 29-yo with ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. She'll identify 3 common problems for students with ADHD and tell us how she went from academic probation to the Dean's List when she was in college! This is Part 1 of 2 Parts in the "Back to School with ADHD" Series. To check out the resources that helped Erin, visit the Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada at www.caddac.ca! Your Thoughts/Suggestions for Comments? Could you relate to the 3 problems Erin talked about? Did you learn something new from this podcast? Has this podcast helped you understand how people with ADHD feel?

From 10 Years of Misdiagnosis to Becoming Advocate for People with Bipolar: Journey to Hope!

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 20:38:14 -0500

Millions of people with bipolar are misdiagnosed with unipolar depression. The young woman in this podcast, Melody Moezzi, is one of those people...who was misdiagnosed for 10 years! Rather than being discouraged, Melody rallied and became an advocate for people with bipolar disorder. In addition to being a published author, Melody is an attorney. Melody explains to us how her misdiagnosis happened and what you can do to prevent this kind of misdiagnosis from happening to you or someone you love. (Hint: it involves mood charts. For a link to sample mood charts, instructions on how to use them, and blank charts, just click here at http://www.psychiatry24x7.com/bgdisplay.jhtml?itemname=mooddiary). Your Thoughts?: Have you or someone you know ever been misdiagnosed? Can mood charts help you?

3 Ways You Can Fight Winter Depression or SAD

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 20:35:22 -0500

During the winter, depression is everywhere. Do you fight lethargy, datyime fatigue, lack of motivation, feelings of hopelessness, and thoughts of suicide every winter? Might you (or someone you know) have SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder? Whether you have the winter blues or SAD, this podcast is for you. Hear 3 ways you can tackle winter depression including light therapy (the most recommended treatment for SAD in North America)! Also featured: Johnny Mathis' Winter Wonderland. ♪ ♫ Your Thoughts?: Do you struggle with winter depression? Can you use any of these 3 strategies (trying light therapy, developing snowed-in-routines, celebrating winter traditions)?

Can a Person with Bipolar or Depression be Elected President?

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 20:32:47 -0500

Can a person with bipolar or depression be elected President? Many politicians have suffered the mental health stigma, but there was a time when the U.S. elected a man who was very public about his depression. How did this happen? Abraham Lincoln was elected and would go on to be the President credited with holding the Union together during the Civil War and ending slavery. With the help of the Back to the Future theme song, we travel back to 1860 for answers. On our way to the future, we learn 3 things we can do now to end stigma! Also featured: readings from Lincoln's Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness by Joshua Wolf Shenk. Your Thoughts? Were you surprised that people didn't hold depression against Lincoln? Can you use the 3 tips for ending stigma (not juding employees by illnesses but by contributions, not confusing character with mental illness, & sharing the Flipswitch podcast)?

How My ADHD & Depression Diagnosis Helped Me Drop 40 Pounds!

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 20:30:33 -0500

Ellie's back! She told us before about how her diagnosis of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and depression helped her overcome loneliness and difficulty in school. At 21-yo, today she is a happy senior in college. Now, she tells us how her dual diagnosis helped her end a lifetime of being overweight. Ellie shares 3 weight loss secrets. She shows us how she dropped 40 pounds and kept the weight off! Your Thoughts?/Suggestions for Comments: Were you encouraged by Ellie's story? Could you use her advice (moderation, variety, accountability)?

3 Ways to Handle Cyberbullying from a Teen Target Who Fought Her Bullies and Won!

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 20:27:27 -0500

Everywhere you go, you hear about it--Bullying. Sad stories abound. But Kira's story is different. This 16-yo with bipolar describes terrible things her bullies did to her online and how she fought back...and won! In this podcast, you'll hear 3 ways to tackle cyberbullying. At the end, Kira shares a special message for teachers and parents. Also featured: Taylor Swift's song Mean, Kira's anthem.

Can't Sleep? 3 Ways to Handle Manic and/or Sleepless Nights

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 20:25:28 -0500

60 million Americans struggle with insomnia every year. Are you one of them? Do you fight manic nights--only to fall asleep at 3 am and struggle to get up at 7:30 for school or work? Thousands of people with bipolar disorder carry this burden--are you one of them? This podcast features 3 ways to handle a manic night so you can be punctual and productive the next day! Your Thoughts?/Suggestions for Comments: Do you have sleepless nights? Could you use any of these three strategies (avoid stimulating activities, get ready now, & express yourself)?

Bullied for Having Bipolar, but this 16-yo is Nobody's Victim!

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 20:14:48 -0500

Despite being bullied for having bipolar disorder, 16-yo Kira is nobody's victim! She talks about how bullying once drove her to a suicide attempt. But her story is filled with hope! She overcame adversity and got into a fine arts school and won numerous music awards including writing a song that garnered a record contract! Hear Kira's 3 tips for managing bipolar disorder and advice for anyone being bullied whatever the reason! Also featured: Taylor Swift's song Mean, Kira's anthem. Your Thoughts/Suggestions for Comments? Have you ever been bullied for having a mental illness (bipolar, ADHD, etc.)? Could you use any of Kira's 3 strategies: 1) take medication 2) build a support network and 3) find an outlet for your frustration ??

How You Can Help a Theater Company Destroy Mental Illness Stigma!

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 20:12:08 -0500

So often we complain (and rightfully so) about how the media stereotypes people with mental illnesses. In this podcast, you'll hear about lives changed by Erasing the Distance, a Chicago theater company that destroys stigma & connects people with resources. Hear how your story can become one of their plays and how you can help them win a $25,000 grant! Executive Artistic Director, Brighid O'Shaughnessy talks about how you can attend a show, volunteer, or share your story. Wanna help them win a $25,000 grant in the Chase Community Giving Contest? Contest ends 11/22/11. Vote; check out http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/. If you want to watch a show, submit your story, or learn more, visit www.erasingthedistance.org. Your Thoughts?: Were you encouraged by the stories Brighid told--the teenage boy who got help for depression or the woman who found understanding 20 yrs after her rape? Can you use your pain to help others?

3 Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 20:01:08 -0500

The holidays are supposed to be a happy, magical time. So why do so many Americans complain of holiday stress? And what can you do about it? This podcast explores 3 solutions for holiday stress with many easy-to-apply tips and different examples. Also featured: Andy Williams' It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. ♪ ♪ ♫ Your Thoughts?: Can you use any of these strategies (focus on people-not perfection, spread out greeting cards & appointments, share your workload)? Do the holidays stress you out?

Mental Health & Dating Series Pt 1: Can Young Love Tested by Bipolar Survive?

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 19:54:35 -0500

We hear Melody and Matt's story! Melody has Bipolar I. Can two friends become lovers? Can love tested by mental illness survive? You'll hear A) tips on loving someone with a mental illness and B) tips on being in a relationship when you have a mental illness. Melody Moezzi is a blogger for bp magazine (bipolar magazine). She is currently writing her second book, which is on bipolar disorder. Visit her website at www.melodymoezzi.com! Featured: Lucky by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat. ♪ ♫ Your Thoughts? Can you use these tips (listen, educate yourself & others, attend support network meetings together, etc.)? Can you share this podcast with someone else (like a partner)?

Mental Health & Dating Series Pt 4: 3 Tips for Relationship Success Despite ADHD

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 19:44:39 -0500

Erin, a successful 29-yo with ADHD who is also married to a man with ADHD, shares 3 tips for relationship success. In this series, we hear tips that are helpful for keeping simple misunderstandings from turning into arguments. Advice is also applicable to relationships where ADHD is not a factor. Recommended book: Is It You, Me, or Adult A.D.D.? by Gina Pera http://amzn.com/0981548709 Your Thoughts?: Can you use any of Erin's 3 tips (choose your battles, leave time between request and expectation of an action, learn as much as you can about your partner's disorder)? Could you relate to Erin's story?

Mental Health & Dating Series Pt 5: 3 Ways to Bridge the Communication Gap Between the Sexes

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 19:35:00 -0500

It's no secret that men and women think differently! But the situation gets more complicated when ADHD enters the picture. Erin, a successful 29-yo with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) also married to a man with ADHD, shares 3 tips for bridging the communication gap between men and women. We discuss common predicaments--woman wants to de-stress by talking about work while man wants to sit and watch the game--what do you do? Bridge the gap with these simple strategies. Your Thoughts?: Can you use any of the 3 tips (Communicate clearly, Stay organized, Express love)? Do you have a romantic success story despite mental illness?

Top 10 List: What NOT To Say & What TO Say to a Depressed Person

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 19:26:11 -0500

Feel like your family or friends don't know what to say? Share this podcast with them. OR do you love someone who's depressed but never have the right words? Listen up! Here is a top 10 list--actually two Top 5 lists. First: Top 5 Things NOT to Say to a Depressed Person. Second: Top 5 Things TO Say to a Depressed Person. Both lists include comments from Flipswitch listeners who shared their ideas via Twitter! Your Thoughts?: What is the worst thing someone said to you when you were depressed? What is the best thing someone ever said when you were depressed? If you don't have depression, can you use the tips here (be present, listen first) to help a friend in need?

Do You Have "Facebook Depression"?

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 19:24:10 -0500

800 million people use Facebook. 175 million people use Twitter. Social media is now an inescapable part of life. Could you (or someone you love) have what some doctors are calling "Facebook Depression"? What is it and how can you keep it from happening to you? Hear 3 ways. For more info on how to help a suicidal friend on FB, click here to see the Facebook Help Center. Or Visit the National Suicide Prevention LIfeline here. Phone number: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Your Thoughts? Can you use any of these 3 tips (Be: 1. Selective 2. Interactive 3. Active)? Do you find yourself comparing yourself to others while on FB?

Make Your New Year's Resolution Work in 3 Steps!

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 19:22:16 -0500

It's that time again--time to make New Year's Resolutions! While the desire to change is real, most of us give up on fulfilling our resolutions by April. But in this podcast you'll hear 3 steps to making your New Year's Resolution work! Examples are drawn from a variety of areas including: weight loss, cyring spells during depression, anger management, and shopping & manic overspending. Your Thoughts? Can you use these 3 tips (Be: 1. Realistic 2. Specific 3. Accountable)? How do you make your New Year's resolutions work?

Impact Series Pt 1: Why Your Story is Important + Fun Ways to De-Stress

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 19:19:05 -0500

Samantha, a Maryland college student, is back to tell us about her time at the 8th annual Active Minds National Conference (November 2011) and to kick off the Impact Series, which celebrates young people who are making a difference! Whether it's helping out a depressed friend or changing attitudes about mental health on your campus, the Impact Series shows you practical ways you can make a difference. In this interview, Samantha discusses three things: 1) Why our personal stories are so important in busting stigma 2) Stress-busting strategies & 3) The effects of high personal expectations. Want to learn more about Active Minds? Visit their website here! Your Thoughts?: Can you use any of these stressbusters (yoga, tea, popping bubble wrap, petting puppies, smashing TVs at a "Stress-Out" Day at school)? Are you an advocate at your junior high or high school or college/university?

Impact Series Pt 2: Stigma-Busting Tips from a Basketball Star, Singer/Songwriter, & Other Speakers

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 19:17:07 -0500

The Impact Series celebrates the ability of one person to make a difference. ♪ ♫ Featured in Part 2: Meg Hutchinson's song Gatekeeper, a song about a man who (for years) saved people from jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. How did this man do it? Listen to find out. You'll hear tips on helping a depressed friend or busting stigma from Samantha, a college student who attended the Active Minds National Conference last November. Samantha will show us what she learned from 1) WNBA (Basketball) player Chamique Holdsclaw 2) Singer/songwriter Meg Hutchinson and 3) Active Minds Speakers Maggie and Jordan Bertram. Learn more about Active Minds at www.activeminds.org! Interested in buying some of Hutchinson's music, click here! Your Thoughts? Do you lead a chapter or support network at your school? Has listening to Flipswitch given you courage to share your story?

Impact Series Pt 3: Why Size Doesn't Matter When it Comes to Breaking Stigma!

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 19:11:44 -0500

Ever feel like you're the only one where you are who cares about destroying stigma? Hear why size doesn't matter-how you can make a difference no matter where you are! In Part 3 of the Impact Series, we finish my interview with Sam, a Maryland college student who attended the Active Minds 8th Annual National Conference last November. In this podcast, she talks about Active Minds Chapters at universities across the U.S. Interested in starting an Active Minds chapter at your school, visit www.activeminds.org! Your Thoughts?: Do you lead a support network or chapter at your school? Were you able to get help for depression (or another mental illness) because of a support network at your school?

Impact Series Pt 4: How to Break Stigma Even If You Care What Others Think of You

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 19:08:41 -0500

Meet, Claire, a California student who is Co-President of a LETS Club at her college. What is LETS? LETS is a great nonfprofit that helps young people break mental health stigma at their high schools and colleges. LETS stands for Let's Erase The Stigma. Claire will tell us about her diagnoses of depression and anxiety and how she has risen above these illnesses to become a successful college student. She will tell us about the genesis of LETS at her school. Claire talks about caring what her peers think of her but still acting despite stigma! Interested in learning more about LETS? Visit www.lets.org. Your Thoughts?: Do you want to break stigma but sometimes feel ashamed of your own diagnosis? How do you choose who you will share your diagnosis with?

Impact Series Pt 5: Stigma-Busting Activities + How You Can Erase Stigma Daily

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 18:55:52 -0500

Claire, a 20-yo California student, finishes her story from Pt 4. Now, she tells us about activities she's put on as Co-President of the LETS Club at her college and how students have been impacted! Any student leading a support network can find inspriation. Claire also talks about how to break stigma even if you're not a student leader--we talk about how the little things count and how you can erase stigma everyday! L E T S stands for Let's Erase The Stigma! Interested in learning more about LETS? Visit their website at www.lets.org! Your Thoughts?: Can you use any of these ideas to erase stigma (testimonial days where people share stories, screening films, newsletters, or sm all group discussions)? Were you inspired to do something by Claire?

Impact Series Pt 6: Teen with Bipolar Talks about Being President of Largest LETS Club in U.S.

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 18:53:27 -0500

16-yo Sarah, the President of the largest LETS club in the U.S. L E T S stands for Let's Erase The Stigma; LETS is a mental health organization that empowers students at high schools and colleges to erase stigma on campus and in their communities. In the first half of my candid interview with Sarah, she discusses surviving a suicide attempt, getting a diagnosis of Bipolar I and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), and how her best friend helped save her life. Interested in learning more about LETS? Visit www.lets.org. Your Thoughts?: Has a best friend ever kept you from completing suicide? OR Have you ever saved a friend's life? Can you use these 2 lessons (1. Don't dismiss mood swings as "teenage angst." 2. Put a friend's safety first before fear of rejection when dealing with a suicidal person)?

Impact Series Pt 7: Teen Survives Suicide Attempt to Help Dozens of Youth with Depression & Bipolar

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 18:51:54 -0500

16-yo Sarah finishes her riveting story. She describes surviving a suicide attempt in 8th grade and later helping dozens of youth with depression. Sarah, a California highschooler with Bipolar I and ADHD, used her past painful experiences to found the largest LETS club in the country. She is now the President of a club with 110 students that serves as a a model to other LETS clubs. L E T S stands for Let's Erase The Stigma; LETS is a mental health organization that empowers students at high schools and colleges to erase stigma on campus and in their communities. Visit their website at www.lets.org! Your Thoughts?: Are you the president (or founder) of a support network or mental health advocacy group at your school? Can you use your pain to help others?

Impact Series Pt 8: Teen Channels Grief from Brother's Suicide into Force for Good

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 18:46:09 -0500

Are you interested in making a difference at your high school or college? Hear practical tips and ideas from Ann, an 18-yo who talks about how she overcame her brother's suicide & how she helped so many students with depression. Ann started a successful chapter of Erika's Lighthouse (EL) at her high school and is now a freshman in college. Young people, parents, and teachers can all find inspiration from Ann's courage and compassion in the face of tragedy. Visit www.erikaslighthouse.org for more information about bringing EL to your school! Your Thoughts?: Can you use some of Ann's ideas to make a difference/start a club at your school for depression awareness (start a Facebook page, get involved in Homecoming activities, put a booth up at fairs, talk to health classes, etc.)? Can you apply these 2 lessons to your life (1. persevere if you want to make a difference and 2. channel your grief into a force for good)?

Top 10 Activities List: Things NOT to do & Things TO do with a Depressed Friend

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 18:40:12 -0500

Ever wonder if the things you're doing might be unintentionally making your depression or a friend's depression worse? Listen for 5 things NOT to do and 5 Things to do with a friend who suffers from depression. If you wish your family and friends knew how to help you better (or someone else) share this short podcast on your Facebook wall, Tweet it, or email it. List includes ideas from Flipswitch fans who shared their thoughts on Twitter. Your Thoughts?: What is the best thing someone ever did with you when you were depressed? What is the worst thing someone ever did with you when you were depressed? Do you know someone else who can benefit from hearing this podcast?

Impact Series Pt 9: Words You Need to Hear if You've Lost Someone to Suicide

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 18:30:28 -0500

Have you lost a friend to suicide? OR Are you someone longing to bust mental health stigma at your school? Hear some comforting words from Reed for suicide survivors and practical tips for students who wish to make a difference in the world of mental health. Reed is the Co-President of his high school's Erika's Lighthouse (EL) chapter. Reed is the second student from EL featured in the Impact Series. You can hear the first EL interview with Ann here, Impact Series Pt 8: Teen Channels Grief from Brother's Suicide into Force for Good. Interested in bringing Erika's Lighthouse to your school? Visit www.erikaslighthouse.org for more information. Your Thoughts?: What are the most comforting words someone ever told you after losing someone to suicide? Can you use Reed's advice to make an impact at your school (get other students involved, get a teacher/faculty member involved, remember that no difference is too small)?

Impact Series Pt 10: Would you Keep Your Friend's Secret No Matter What?

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 18:26:40 -0500

How do you move on when everyone around you has seen you at your lowest? Would you keep your friend's secret no matter the cost? Helping us with these two riddles is 17-yo Kelsey and her mom. We'll hear about Kelsey's journey from survivng severe depression to becoming a successful mental health advocate. Kelsey is a student leader at Erika's Lighthouse. Interested in bringing Erika's Lighthouse to your school? Visit www.erikaslighthouse.org. Your Thoughts: Can you use Kelsey's advice on helping a suicidal friend (getting an approprite adult involved--not keeping a secret at any cost)?

Impact Series Pt 11: Active Minds Founder Discusses Tips for People with Mentally Ill Siblings

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 18:24:21 -0500

Hear from Alison Malmon, the Founder of Active Minds Inc., an organization that destroys mental health stigma on campuses. Malmon will talk about why she started Active Minds, and how it's grown from 3 students to 300 chapters. Malmon will also give tips for those of us with mentally ill siblings & advice for people who have survived the suicide of a loved one. To bring Active Minds to your campus, visit www.activeminds.org. Your Thoughts?: Can you use Alison's advice on loving a sibling (trust your instincts, trust your relationship, and get support for yourself)? Were you inspired by Alison's story?

Impact Series Pt 12: Practical Ways Teachers & Professors Can Help Mentally Ill Students

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 18:21:38 -0500

In this short podcast, I finish my interview with Alison Malmon, the Executive Director of Active Minds, a booming organization that busts sitmga on college campuses across the U.S. Alison shares 1) practical ways teachers and professors can help students that are battling mental illness and 2) how you can help a depressed family member or friend. For more information on Active Minds, visit www.activeminds.org. Your Thoughts?: Are you a teacher or professor who can use some of these ideas (1. tell students you care about more than grading their papers 2. put the school's mental health resources on the syllabus 3. listen to students/treat mental illness with the same consideration you give physical illness)? Are you a friend or family member who can use Alison's advice on also finding support for yourself?

5 Things NOT to Say + 5 Things TO SAY to Someone Who's Been Raped or Sexually Assaulted

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 18:15:15 -0500

In this podcast, we broach the difficult subject of rape--what NOT to say and what TO say to a friend who has been raped or sexually assaulted. 1 in 4 women in the U.S. have been raped or sexually assaulted. 1 in 6 men have experienced sexual abuse or rape. At the end of the podcast, I also list resources for survivors and their loved ones. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the U.S. Your Thoughts?: Can you use these two lists to help you support a friend or loved one? Can you use some of the resources in the podcast to find help for yourself or a friend?

Author Talks about Managing Bipolar Disorder and Overcoming Assault

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 18:12:59 -0500

In this Flipswitch interview, I talk to the author of children's book, Bipolar Bears, Sue Hueston. Through the story of a family of polar bears, easy to understand language, and beautiful illustrations, this book helps children with parents who have bipolar disorder make sense of the illness. Sue talks about how a manic episode following the birth of her first child in 2008 inspired her to write Bipolar Bears and helped her come to terms with a sexual assault that happened many years ago. Sue also shares her tools for being happy and successful while living with bipolar disorder. Her story is one of hope over despair! Visit her website here: www.bipolarbears.net.au. Your Thoughts?: Has lack of sleep ever triggered a manic episode for you? Can you use Sue's advice for staying stable (monitoring sleep patterns, exercising regularly, eating healthy)?

Reunion Between Childhood Friends leads to Play on Mental Illness

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 17:15:16 -0500

What happened the last time you reconnected with a friend? You'll hear the surprising thing that happened when two childhood friends found each other after 30 years on Facebook. This is my interview with talented actress, Meredith Simesen, from Chicago theater company, Erasing the Distance. Meredith is starring in the world premiere of Good Enough, a production from Erasing the Distance, which can be seen on May 14, 15, 21, or 22. Visit www.erasingthedistance.org for more info. Your Thoughts: Were you encouraged by Meredith and April's story? Do you have similar story of friendship in the face of mental illness?

Young Author Reads from New Book, Perfect Chaos

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 17:12:15 -0500

Linea Johnson talks about the book she wrote with her mom (Cinda Johnson) Perfect Chaos, which chronicles her journey through bipolar disorder. The 26-year old reads 4 passages from the book on depression, mania, ECT (electroconvulsive therapy), and how a friend helped her during a crying spell. Linea shares her message of comfort for people who are managing bipolar disorder. Your Thoughts?: Could you relate to Linea's story? Has a friend ever made you feel less alone during depression or mania?

What's Good Enough? Play on 5 Women with Depression & Bipolar

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 17:08:21 -0500

Hear from Amelia, a "story collector" at the theater company Erasing the Distance. Amelia is one of the writers of Good Enough, which has shows on May 14, 15, 21, and 22 in Chicago. Good Enough features the true stories of five remarkable women who are experiencing depression or bipolar disorder. Amelia will read a passage from the play. She will tell us why Good Enough is a great production for audience members with and without mental illnesses. For more information about watching Good Enough or submitting your own life story, you can visit www.erasingthedistance.org. Your Thoughts: Will you watch the show? Do you ever struggle with feeling good enough?

Woman Who Overcame Abuse, Homelessness, & Mental Illness to Help Thousands!; The Sharon Wise Story

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 17:06:31 -0500

Hear from a woman who has overcome it all--abuse, homelessness, addiction, and undiagnosed mental illness (bipolar disorder) to help thousands! Sharon Wise is a successful artist, author, and mental health advocate. I met her when we both won honors from the National Council--she won 1st place in Artistic Contribution. To order her artwork or read her books, email her at thehouseofsharon@msn.com. In this interview, Sharon shares the tools of her bipolar survival kit. Your Thoughts?: Does Sharon's life give you hope? Is there someone you can share this story with--someone who needs hope?

Young Man, Who Overcomes Mental Illness & Prison Sentence, Gives Hope to Many

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 17:04:53 -0500

I met Kevin Cleare when we both won awards from the National Council of Community Behavioral Healtchare. Kevin won 1st Prize in Individual Achievement. Kevin has been a tireless advocate for people with serious mental illness in the criminal justice system. Hear him discuss how he turned his life around after serving five years in prison. Kevin will also share two tools in his "mental health survival kit." Your Thoughts? Do you know someone who could derive hope from Kevin's story? Have you ever had to turn your life around?

Woman Fighting Bipolar & Lupus Shows us how Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Can Help Us

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 17:02:49 -0500

Hear from Carol as she reads her poem, In Less Than a Day, which inspired a play by the same name from Erasing the Distance, a Chicago theater company. In this interview, Carol talks about the excruciating pain she endured from a surgery prompted her to remember her father's death from a brain tumor. In facing stressful circumstances--multitasking lupus and bipolar disorder--Carol has used tools from DBT, or Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. She will discuss "opposite reaction" and "living in the moment," and how we can use these tools in our own lives. Interested in seeing In Less Than a Day on Monday, June 25, 2012? Go to erasingthedistance.org for more information! Your Turn?: Were you inspired by Carol's courage? Can you use these DBT tools: opposite reaction and living in the moment?

Flipswitch Fans Share Top 10 Bipolar Myths Pt 1 (of 2)

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 16:56:34 -0500

I asked Flipswitch fans on Twitter to finish this sentence, "My least favorite myth about people with bipolar is..." Hear people's answers here! Finish the Top 10 Bipolar Myths here in Part 2! https://soundcloud.com/dbsalliance/flipswitch-10-bipolar-myths-pt-2 Your Thoughts?: What's your least favorite myth about people with bipolar disorder?

Flipswitch Fans Share Top 10 Bipolar Myths (Pt 2 of 2)

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 16:18:59 -0500

Last week, I started to reveal people's answers in Part 1 (link). Now here is the second half of people's answers to "My least favorite myth about people with bipolar is ____________." Hear these 5 myths. Break stigma! Share truth. Listen to part 1 here: https://soundcloud.com/dbsalliance/flipswitch-top-10-bipolar-myths-pt-1 Your Thoughts?: What is your least favorite myth about bipolar disorder?

Ending Rape Culture Pt 2 (of 2): Survivor Discusses What WE Can Do & Her Thoughts on Penn State

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 16:06:05 -0500

This is the second half of my interview with popular rape advocate and blogger, 19-year old Sara. In Part One, she talked about her life--her rape, how treatment changed her life, and how she helps so many others also find hope and healing. In this installment, Sara define's society's "rape culture" and where it is on TV, the media, and pop culture. She talks about how you and I can end it. She also shares her thoughts on Penn State and the Jerry Sandusky Trial. I also share multiple resources for survivors and their loved ones. Read Sara's blog here at http://sarapenrod.tumblr.com/ (If you need immediate help, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE.) For part one go here: https://soundcloud.com/dbsalliance/ending-rape-culture-pt-1 Your Thoughts? Does Sara's story give you hope? Do you know someone that could benefit from hearing this podcast?

Ending Rape Culture Pt 1 (of 2): Help for Survivors & Their Friends

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 16:03:24 -0500

19-year old Sara will talk about how she survived the trauma of her rape and how you can help yourself if you've been raped or sexually assaulted. Sara also gives advice for people who know someone who has been raped. At the end of this podcast, I share multiple resources for survivors and their loved ones. Read Sara's blog here at http://sarapenrod.tumblr.com/ (If you need immediate help, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE.) Finish Sarah's story with Ending Rape Culture Part 2: Survivor Discusses What WE Can Do & Her Thoughts on Penn State https://soundcloud.com/dbsalliance/ending-rape-culture-pt-2 Your Thoughts? Were you inspired by Sara's story? Could you use some of these resources?

Keeping your "Bipolar Bedtime" in the Summertime: 5 Steps for Talking to Friends & Family

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 15:54:55 -0500

People with bipolar disorder know that staying up late can lead to mania or hypomania, which is often followed by depression. But sometimes it's hard for friends and family to understand. In the summertime, people with bipolar are torn between attending late-night events with friends and sleeping on time to prevent mania. This podcast discusses the relationship between sleep, mania, and depression. It outlines 5 steps for explaining the "Bipolar Bedtime" to friends and family. Your Thoughts?: Do you have friends and family who don't understand why you have to sleep earlier than they do? Can you use these strategies to help people understand?

Special Olympics Athlete Pushes Past ADHD & Autism Prejudice

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 15:47:22 -0500

One word associated with all Olympians is success. Sadly this word is not associated with mental illness. But Jerry, a Special Olympics athlete who has ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and Apserger's Syndrome (a form of Autism), is the epitome of success. He is a college graduate, Coordinator for Project UNIFY the Special Olympics, and a Special O athlete who competes in 6 different sports. You'll hear him talk about the stigma associated with mental illness and autism and how he uses it to fuel his success. Your Thoughts?: Were you encouraged by Jerry's story? Can you use stigma as motivation?

Back to School with ADHD Pt 1 (of 2): 3 Problems ADHD Students Face

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 15:36:09 -0500

In this podcast, we learn how ADHD affects school by hearing Erin, a successful 29-yo with ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. She'll identify 3 common problems for students with ADHD and tell us how she went from academic probation to the Dean's List when she was in college! This is Part 1 of 2 Parts in the "Back to School with ADHD" Series. To check out the resources that helped Erin, visit the Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada at www.caddac.ca! Finish Back to School with ADHD here in Part 2! https://soundcloud.com/dbsalliance/back-to-school-with-adhd-pt-2-of-2-3-strategies-you-need-to-survive Your Thoughts/Suggestions for Comments? Could you relate to the 3 problems Erin talked about? Did you learn something new from this podcast?

Back to School with ADHD Pt 2 (of 2): 3 Strategies You Need to Survive

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 15:30:32 -0500

Erin continues the story she began in Pt 1 (of 2) in the "Back to School with ADHD" series. She tells us about a problem students with ADHD face called Working Memory Disability or Executive Functioning. Erin also explains 3 strategies students with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) can use to finish high school or college using her own experience as someone who went from academic probation to the Dean's List! She also shares some ADHD books that guided her. For more info, just visit the Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada at www.caddac.ca! Did you miss the first half of this interview? Hear Pt 1 of Back to School with ADHD here: https://soundcloud.com/dbsalliance/back-to-school-with-adhd-pt-1-of-2-3-problems-adhd-students-face Your Thoughts: Do you have a problem with Executive Functioning? Can you use any of these strategies (using a recorder, switching classes, put a list of items on door for backpack, etc)?

Balanced Mind Volunteer Finds Family In Our Support Networks

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 15:27:39 -0500

Ever feel alone? Lacking support from your own parents as you parent a child with a mood disorder? Hear from a mom of two (a 2-year old and a 5-year old) as she tells us how The Balanced Mind Parent Network changed her life for the better. Erica is a volunteer on 'Roberta's Place' Chat Room and the Very Young Support Network. Your Thoughts? Do you need support? Do you have a story similar to Erica's?

3 Steps for a Smooth Transition to College

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 15:24:52 -0500

It's back to school season! For college freshmen or transfer students, it can be nerve-wrecking. As someone who transferred schools my sophomore year, I've experienced those new student jitters. I outline 3 steps for a smooth transition to college life so you can do well in school and find friends. High school and junior high school students can also use these 3 steps. Soundtrack featured: Saved by the Bell theme song. Your Thoughts? Do you know someone who could use this podcast? Can you use any of these 3 strategies?

5 Things NOT to Say + 5 Things TO SAY to Someone With Bipolar Disorder

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 15:21:46 -0500

Do you have bipolar disorder and wish your friends and family understood? OR Are you someone who loves someone with bipolar but doesn't know what to say? Either way, you can benefit from this short podcast. Your Thoughts? What are the worst (and best things) someone's said to you about your disorder? Do you know people who could benefit from hearing this podcast? Share it--email, Twitter, Facebook.

Back by Popular Demand: 5 Things NOT to say + 5 Things TO SAY to a Depressed Person

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 15:16:56 -0500

I'm re-releasing Flipswitch's most popular podcast ever, 5 Things NOT to say + 5 Things TO SAY to a Depressed Person. The very first month it came out Flipswitch received 7,000 visits. After receiving this heartfelt email from a listener, I decided to re-release the podcast. "The flipswitch podcast i listened to a few months ago was probably the most important one i will ever hear on how to help someone with depression...This is likely against your policy, but i wonder if you could run this podcast again or if possible, every couple of months. It is the best thing i have seen for me to send to friends, some of whom have been depressed, but have never been on that edge or attempted to take their lives. This is not to say their depression is not hell, just that when they try to "encourage" those of us in depression, it can be the very worst thing to do and even trigger episodes...This podcast succinctly tells people just what they need to know to stop putting salt in the wounds and even to start helping." Excerpt of email from Listener, "M"

My Favorite Podcast of 2012: How to Help a Friend Who's Been Raped

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 15:05:18 -0500

Last week I released the Top 12 Flipswitch podcasts and articles of 2012--the most popular items of the year. This week I toyed with the idea of sharing my thoughts on my most favorite Flipswitch podcast of 2012, which is 5 Things NOT to Say + 5 Things TO SAY to a Person Who's Been Raped or Sexually Assaulted. (This podcast was the fifth most popular Flipswitch item of 2012.) The overwhelming support I got from survivors of rape who wrote in to tell me how this podcast touched them is something I will never forget. Re-releasing this podcast is also timely in light of the stories in the media this week, surrounding the gang rapes in India and Steubenville, Ohio which highlight two things 1) rape culture is a problem that affects everyone everywhere and 2) through social media, you and I have great power to change the world! Responses from Survivors of Rape and Assault : When I put together the podcast, I was motivated by the women in my life who have been victims of rape--some of them were abused by a family friend as children while others were assaulted by acquaintances they thought were friends. The fact that I know a handful of women in my life who have been attacked highlights just how common this problem is--1 in 4 women in the US will have been raped or sexually abused in her lifetime; 1 in 6 men will also be victims. In most of these instances, the women I know have rebuilt their lives and are now happily married wives and mothers. In one case, however, a friend's rape and her family's extremely negative reaction, destroyed her. Depression and PTSD are common byproducts of rape, making this problem both a physical and mental health issue. Witnessing this injustice is what moved me when I recorded the podcast. I am thankful to the women who wrote in about the podcast--here is a sample of people's responses: --Listener 1, "I cried when I heard this podcast because all of the things you're supposed to say to someone who's been raped--nobody ever told me those things I needed to hear." --Listener 2, "All the things you're not supposed to say--what were you wearing?, etc--those are the things my parents told me after I had been raped. This podcast touched me..." You and I Can Change the World: By now, you may have heard about a 23-year old woman who was gang-raped in India. She and her male companion were attacked by a gang while riding a bus in New Delhi. The six attackers assaulted the couple, robbed them of their belongings, and dumped their badly beaten bodies along the side of the road. A few days after the brutal rape, the young woman died in a hospital in Singapore, where her body was airlifted because of the severity of her injuries. (Her male companion survived and was released from the hospital.) But ever since her death, there have been protests all over India--people demanding justice for the victim--people who want an end to rape culture. rape-cultureOver here in the US, you may have heard about the events in the town of Steubenville, Ohio–home to 18,000 people. A 16-year old girl was drugged with "Roofies" (the rape drug) and raped multiple times on August 11 and 12, 2012 during and after a party. Dozens of jokes and pictures of the girl naked and unconscious (taken on at least a dozen partygoers' phone and iPads) were shared on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media. Despite all of this, Steubenville's police department had taken almost no action until last month when a group of crafty computer hackers called Anonymous started releasing damaging information about the young men involved in the rape that includes videos of them telling graphic jokes about the rape. Because of Anonymous' determination and skilled use of social media, this injustice in Ohio is finally getting the attention it deserves. Two young men have been charged with rape and will apear in court next month. With more information imminent, there is speculation that other parties may also be charged. (Picture found at meganeking.wordpress.com) At first, social media was used to further victimize the 16-year old girl. Now social media will be the driving force behind justice. When you and I take the time to listen, learn, and share knowledge, we can change the world around us. My podcast was ultimately about people listening to each other. This is a petition I signed seeking justice for the underaged girl who was raped in Ohio. Share Knowledge, Ask Questions" Illustrating our power in the social media era, I'd like to share one of my favorite exchanges on Facebook regarding the aforementioned podcast: --K,"As a non-survivor, is it okay if I sometimes say 'I'm sorry' to survivors? Or is that condescending? Sometimes I don't know what to say. I want to help and understand but having never been 'there.' I always want to make sure that I am kind and gentle without smothering..." --A, "There's no one answer we receive depending on the stage where in...The fact is that nothing in life prepares you for this situation until you've experienced it & the best thing you can do is allow them to tell you what they need to..."

Laughing Through Bipolar Pain: Actress Victoria Maxwell

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 14:57:41 -0500

One of the most essential wellness tools, though often overlooked, is humor. In this podcast, I've interspersed scenes from comedian/playwright/actress/Psychology Today blogger Victoria Maxwell's one-woman show, That's Just Crazy Talk, with our interview. Join us as we laugh despite the heartache that is common to the bipolar experience! We talk about humor's role in breaking stigma and surviving bipolar disorder.

5 Things NOT to do + 5 Things TO DO When You're Depressed

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 14:55:34 -0500

When we get depressed, it's easy to get involved in activities that make the depression worse because we're not thinking rationally. In this short podcast, I list 5 things NOT to do and 5 Things TO DO when you're depressed. What can you do the next time you're feeling depressed?

Mental Health Superheroes Pt 1: How Defeating Depression Prepared Churchill to Defeat Hitler

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 14:48:06 -0500

Halloween is coming and nothing says Halloween quite like a superhero costume. Who's your favorite superhero? Superman, Batman, Spiderman? What can your superhero do? Fly, leap over buildings, web people? My superhero, Winston Churchill, had the power to defeat Hitler. Churchill's bravery precipitated the end of World War II and the Holocaust! Defeating depression prepared him for standing up to Hitler and rallying Britain when she had no allies. This is Pt 1 of the Mental Health Superhero Series, which celebrates people with mental illnesses who changed the world. Also featured in podcast: Superman theme song composed by John Williams, actual audio of Churchill's soaring oratory, and a reading from Anthony Storr's brilliant book, Churchll's Black Dog, Kafka's Mice, and Other Phenomena of the Human Mind. Your Thoughts?/Suggestions for Comments: Were you encouraged by Churchill's resilience? Will you dress up as Winston Churchill for Halloween? Part 2 https://soundcloud.com/dbsalliance/mental-health-superheroes-pt-2-how-fighting-depression-helped-lincoln-fight-slavery Part 3 https://soundcloud.com/dbsalliance/mental-health-superheroes-pt-3-bipolar-babe-helps-young-people

Mental Health Superheroes Pt 2: How Fighting Depression Helped Lincoln Fight Slavery

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 14:46:19 -0500

According to the World Health Organization, depression is the number one cause of disability. Indeed, depression can be debilitating. But there was a time when a man with chronic depression became America's greatest President. Abraham Lincoln is credited with both preserving the union and ending slavery in the U.S. Hear 2 lessons we can apply from Lincoln. Featured: Superman theme song composed by John Williams for the film franchise starring Christopher Reeves. Your Thoughts?: Can you develop 1) profound empathy and 2) rock-hard resilience while fighting depression or bipolar disorder? Were you encouraged by Lincoln's resilience? Part 1 here: https://soundcloud.com/dbsalliance/mental-health-superheroes-pt-1-how-defeating-depression-prepared-churchill-to-defeat-hitler Part 3 https://soundcloud.com/dbsalliance/mental-health-superheroes-pt-3-bipolar-babe-helps-young-people

Mental Health Superheroes Pt 3: Bipolar Babe Helps Young People

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 14:43:39 -0500

Hear Andrea Paquette, also known as the Bipolar Babe, as she talks about her journey including her first episode, getting a bipolar diagnosis, and helping others. Andrea is the Executive Director of the Bipolar Disorder Society of British Columbia. She talks about how hard it is to accept help--be it a diagnosis or taking prescribed medication--but why it's worth it. Even superheroes need help sometimes. Part 1 here: https://soundcloud.com/dbsalliance/mental-health-superheroes-pt-1-how-defeating-depression-prepared-churchill-to-defeat-hitler Part 2 here: https://soundcloud.com/dbsalliance/mental-health-superheroes-pt-2-how-fighting-depression-helped-lincoln-fight-slavery

Life on the Other Side: How One Young Woman Overcame Her Eating Disorder

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 14:40:07 -0500

Today we welcome back blogger, 19-yr old Sara, who talks about her journey with anorexia nervosa. She shares advice on supporting someone with an eating disorder (ED) and survival tools for people who are fighting ED. Hear about the warning signs, symptoms, and treatment.

Hope for Parents Whose Children Have Bipolar Disorder: Nadia's Story

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 14:36:46 -0500

Nadia, a 36-year old healthcare worker, describes growing up with undiagnosed bipolar disorder and being labelled a problem child. She also tells us how treatment for bipolar changed her life. Nadia reveals her 3 tools for managing bipolar before finally sharing some hopeful words for parents of children with bipolar disorder.

Inside the OCD Mind: How Hannah Manages the Illness

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 14:34:48 -0500

It's hard to imagine what goes on inside the mind of someone with OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. OCD is more than repetitive hand-washing--it's an external and internal struggle. In this podcast, 15-year old varsity swimmer Hannah recalls her childhood--symptoms of OCD and how treatment changed her life. Hannah also shares advice for people living with OCD and those who love them.

Can't Sleep? 3 Ways to Handle Hypomanic and/or Sleepless Nights

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 14:27:21 -0500

60 million Americans struggle with insomnia every year. Are you one of them? Do you fight hypomanic nights--only to fall asleep at 3 am and struggle to get up at 7:30 for school or work? Thousands of people with bipolar disorder carry this burden--are you one of them? This podcast features 3 ways to handle a hypomanic night so you can be punctual and productive the next day!

Success Despite ADHD: 4 Strategies

DBSAlliance — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 14:18:43 -0500

Ellie, a college student, didn't get an ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) diagnosis until age 19. She unveils strategies for hurdles common to people with ADHD like 1) how to take exams or 2) pay attention in class or 3) talk to parents. She also shares the one thing people with ADHD don't want to hear, especially from their parents. We brainstorm Other Words besides "ADD" for things that have nothing to do with ADHD and find ourselves laughing and singing Lady Gaga along the way. (Listen and you'll know how Gaga's Born This Way relates to Ellie's philosophy on ADHD.)

Impact of Sleep

DBSAlliance — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 17:08:27 -0500

Dr. John Grohol, founder and CEO of PsychCentral.com, shares the latest research on the impact of sleep on mood and wellness, and what you can do to get a better night's rest.

Embracing Creative Interests

DBSAlliance — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 16:37:57 -0500

DBSA Executive Vice President Cindy Specht hosts Julia Cameron, best-selling author of the groundbreaking book on creativity, The Artist's Way. Julia discusses how we can all foster creativity in our daily lives.

20 Things You Can Do at No or Low Cost to Help You Cope

DBSAlliance — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 15:53:24 -0500

Former DBSA President, Sue Bergeson, offers "20 Things You Can Do at No or Low Cost to Help You Cope with Depression, Stress, Anxiety or Bipolar Disorder."

Understanding Anxiety and Depression in Children and Adolescents

DBSAlliance — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 18:25:17 -0500

An Update with Dr. Daniel Pine, MD Chief of the Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Intramural Research Program DBSA Parent Volunteer Coordinator Julia Small discusses anxiety and depression in children and adolescents with Dr. Pine, who notes that anxiety can lead to depression and that better treatment of anxiety may have a positive impact on the prevention of depression. In this wide-ranging podcast discussion, Dr. Pine also touches on various treatments for anxiety and depression, provides an update on research he and his NIMH colleagues are conducting, and offers insight into the “black box” warning on SSRI antidepressants. Learn more about NIMH’s research here: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/labs-at-nimh/join-a-study/children/children-anxiety-disorders.shtml

Molly Jenkins - Mental Health Advocate

DBSAlliance — Tue, 06 May 2014 16:12:13 -0500

While a Junior in college, Molly Jenkins attempted suicide - twice. Her recovery began with attending and completing a six month partial hospitalization program in Chicago, IL. Upon returning to school she became a mental health advocate because she “knew there were other people who, like me, were suffering in silence.”

Target Zero to Thrive: DBSA targets raising expectations for mental health treatment.

DBSAlliance — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 13:52:11 -0500

DBSA Scientific Advisory Board members, Dr. Gregory Simon and Dr. Joseph Calabrese, discuss the limitations of current treatment options for mood disorders and the need within the clinical and patient communities to shift expectations and raise treatment goals to complete remission of symptoms and sustained wellness. Visit http://www.dbsalliance.org/TargetZero for more information on this campaign. Gregory Simon, MD, MPH Investigator, Center for Health Studies Group Health Cooperative Joseph R. Calabrese, MD Director, Mood Disorders Program, University Hospitals Case Medical Center

Patty Duke Receives Award From DBSA

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 20:16:49 -0500

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance proudly presents "DBSA's Real Recovery Podcasts;" a biweekly conversation with leading mental health advocates, well–known authors and writers, medical experts and most importantly, consumers like you who understand the challenges of living with, and successfully managing, mood disorders. Listen to our inaugural podcast, featuring Academy Award–winning actress, writer and mental health educator, Patty Duke. Ms. Duke talks openly about her own experiences as a consumer and offers advice and hope to fellow consumers and their loved ones in this brief, but inspiring podcast. New podcasts are available every couple of weeks, including upcoming segments on Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and other emergent technologies and treatments, a conversation with highly regarded author and psychiatrist Kay Redfield Jamison, and an in–depth interview with DBSA President, Sue Bergeson.

TMS Therapy: One Consumer's Experience

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 20:15:15 -0500

In this episode of DBSA's Real Recovery Podcast, Maria Heim has a conversation with consumer Garrett Aguzier about trancranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy, one of the emergent technologies being used to treat depression. While DBSA does not endorse specific treatments or medications, we will be talking to experts and consumers about the wide range of new treatments available to people living with mood disorders. The experiences and perspectives provided are solely those of our guests.

FDA Black Box Warning Labels

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 20:13:21 -0500

In this edition of DBSA's Real Recovery Podcasts, host Keith Romero and guest Gloria Pope, DBSA's director of advocacy and public policy, discuss the recommended extension of black box warnings for antidepressents for consumers between 18–25. What does the recommendation really mean and what's the likely impact on consumers?

Certified Peer Specialists

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 20:10:21 -0500

DBSA's Director of Peer Services, Lisa Goodale, speaks with Keith Romero about the innovative Certified Peer Specialists Training. A recovery–oriented concept that is entering the mental healthcare field, Certified Peer Specialists are people diagnosed with mood disorders helping their peers lead successful and happy lives. Goodale details the training process and explains who is eligible for the training as well as where the program is offered.

DBSA Interview with John McManamy

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 20:07:48 -0500

John McManamy, author of 'Living Well with Depression and Bipolar Disorder: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You, That You Need To Know', speaks with host Cindy Specht about the his book, his perspective and mood disorders. DBSA is pleased to have Mr.. McManamy as our guest for the inaugural DBSA Author Chat.

Actress Victoria Maxwell Speaks with DBSA

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 19:38:30 -0500

Actress and playwright, Victoria Maxwell speaks with DBSA's Maria Heim about her role as a mental health educator. Maxwell talks about her diagnosis and how she has learned to use humor as a wellness tool.

Interview with Chapter Leader Cheryl Naughton

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 19:36:30 -0500

DBSA's Chapter Recruitment Manager, Elizabeth Siegel, talks with Cheryl Naughton of DBSA Loganville/Snellville about how local chapters are formed.

Dr. Ellen Frank

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 19:31:34 -0500

DBSA's former Scientific Advisory Board Chair, Dr. Ellen Frank, spoke with Matt Mattson, director of training, for the newest edition of DBSA's Real Recovery Podcasts. Their conversation hit important topics such as how Making Recovery Real training impacts her practice, what recovery means to her and her own experience as a physician and researcher. Dr. Ellen Frank is professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and director of the depression and manic depression prevention program at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. She is one of the nation's leading researchers on mood disorders and her expertise is a tremendous asset to DBSA.

Generation Y Support Group for Teens

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 19:29:33 -0500

Jared Sherman, founder and president of Generation Y support group, speaks with DBSA's Kevin Siembor about his unique part support group. "Gen Y" is run by, and for, teenagers and helps them deal with mood disorders, whether members themselves are diagnosed or if they're family members. Topics discussed include: stigma, supporting family members, recovery tools and age.

The Opposite of Music

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 19:27:45 -0500

Award–winning author Janet Ruth Young speaks with DBSA's Maria Heim about her book, "The Opposite of Music." Written from the perspective of a teenage whose father is struggling with depression, Young's book is a great read for all ages.

Author Andrew Solomon speaks with DBSA

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 19:25:40 -0500

Best–selling author Andrew Solomon speaks with DBSA's Director of Programs, Cindy Specht about his book, The Noonday Demon.

Dr. Priscilla Ridgway Discusses the Recovery Movement

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 19:23:45 -0500

Dr. Priscilla Ridgway of the Yale Center for Recovery and Community Health and co–author of 'The Pathways to Recovery' workbook speaks with DBSA's Lisa Goodale about recovery and the recovery movement.

Seven Dirty Words

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 19:18:48 -0500

Certain words and phrases used by doctors and providers simply set many consumer's teeth on edge. So says DBSA's Director of Training Matt Mattson, who talks about "The Seven Dirty Words" that hinder patient/provider partnerships.

Advocacy 101

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 19:15:38 -0500

Being a mental health advocate doesn't mean you have to quit your job and rush to Washington, D.C. Gloria Pope, DBSA's director of advocacy and public policy, explains the basics of advocacy and what you can to do to help improve the lives of people living with mood disorders.

Finding Your Bipolar Muse with Lana Castle

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 19:12:17 -0500

Lana Castle, author of Finding Your Bipolar Muse, speaks with DBSA's Cindy Specht about mood disorders and creativity. Do creativity and mental illness truly go hand in hand as many people believe? Do psychotropic medications cause creative droughts? Tune in and see what Ms. Castle has to say.

Behind Happy Faces

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 19:00:38 -0500

Ross Szabo is the Director of Youth Outreach for the National Mental Health Awareness Campaign. He has a vast amount of experience in dealing with and educating others about mental health. Ross was diagnosed with bipolar disorder with anger control problems and psychotic features at age 16. He was hospitalized for wanting to take his own life in high school and had to take a leave of absence from college due to bipolar disorder. He eventually returned to American University and graduated cum laude with a degree in psychology. He is the only person in the country who has spoken to over half a million young people about mental health issues in the past 5 years and has a book titled, "Behind Happy Faces; Taking Charge of Your Mental Health," published in August of 2007.

Psychiatric Service Dogs

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 18:57:29 -0500

Joan Esnayra, Ph.D. is President and founder of the Psychiatric Service Dog Society. A recipient of the 2006 Eli Lilly 'Welcome Back Award' in Primary Care, Dr. Esnayra has spent the past ten years pioneering the 'Psychiatric Service Dog' therapeutic model. Building upon her analytical training as a scientist, and her insights as a mental health consumer, Dr. Esnayra and members of her online community identified over 30 tasks or functions that Psychiatric Service Dogs may be trained to provide to their owners who are disabled by refractory symptoms of severe mental illness.

Mood Disorders in the African–American Community

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 18:55:22 -0500

While the under—and misdiagnosis of mental illness is common in the general population, it's even more frequent in the African American community. Disparity in access to mental health care plays a significant role, but it's just one of several factors in the underdiagnosis of mental illness for African Americans. Listen to Dr. Bergeson and Dr. Lawson speak about the latest information, research and treatment of mood disorders in the African–American community.

Bipolar & Pregnant

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 18:53:15 -0500

Kristin Finn was inspired to write her first book after searching for practical information and guidance on managing her disorder ─ from preconception through postpartum. Fortunately, she kept a detailed journal, and is able to share her insights written from the unique perspective of someone who lives with a medical illness, particularly bipolar disorder.

Relationships & Mood Disorders

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 18:51:14 -0500

"Relationships & Mood Disorders" features Dr. Brenda Shoshanna—psychologist,therapist, mediator, author and speaker. Dr. Shoshanna offers counseling and relationship mediation, helping to resolve conflicts constructively and discover creative solutions.Her work integrates psychology, spirituality and everyday life. The relationship expert on iVillage.com, Dr. Shoshanna speaks on all aspects of relationships,balance, transition and living life to the fullest and is dedicated to discovering and developing the best in herself and others. She has been in private practice as well, for over 25 years in Manhattan, and also conducts sessions via telephone all over the country. Her latest book, The Anger Diet (Thirty Days to Stress–Free Living), was named best book of the year in spirituality by Spirituality and Health Magazine. Visit Dr. Shoshanna's website, www.drshoshanna.com, to learn more.

What to Do When Someone You Love is Depressed

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 18:49:04 -0500

Mitch Golant, PhD, is a licensed psychologist whose book What to Do When Someone You Love is Depressed offers guidance to friends and family on how to keep their own spirits up while at the same time doing what's best to help a loved one who's living with depression. The subjects he addresses include how to maintain intimacy and communication, what to do when someone threatens suicide, the role and limits of medication, the link between depression and chronic illness and how to handle specific challenging situations. Dr. Golant is also Senior VP of Research & Training for The Wellness Community (TWC), an international nonprofit that provides free support, education and hope to people with cancer and their loved ones at over 100 locations worldwide. Dr. Golant is widely recognized as a pioneer in the use of information technology in cancer education and support through online support groups. He has facilitated over 4,500 support groups for people with cancer and trained over 350 professionals in TWC's Patient Active Support Group model. In addition to What to Do When Someone You Love is Depressed, Dr. Golant has coauthored five books and is the contributing editor to the Essentials of Psychosocial Oncology Handbook. And in 2005, he and two colleagues were selected to train 40 psychologists and psychiatrists from Poland's National Psychosocial Oncology Society. For the past four years, he has served on the board of directors for the American Psychosocial Oncology Society.

Bipolar & Genetics

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 18:44:32 -0500

Melvin McInnis, MD, FRCPsych, is the Thomas B and Nancy Upjohn Woodworth Professor of Bipolar Disorder and Depression, Professor of Psychiatry with the Department of Psychiatry and Depression Center at the University of Michigan. Dr. McInnis is an established and internationally renowned researcher in the genetics of bipolar disorder. He has published widely in the field and is an active participant in one of the largest and longest standings collaborations in BP disorder that began as the NIMH Genetics Initiative for Bipolar Disorder. This endeavor (known colloquially as the "G11") now consists of a collaboration between 11 universities within the USA and is dedicated to the genetics of BP disorder. Dr. McInnis' involvement began as a fellow genetics in 1989, at the time the collaboration between the 4 founding sites. Dr. McInnis has a relatively rare combination of research and clinical experience. He has extensive laboratory leadership experience in a molecular genetics laboratory as well as experience in genetic analyses and bioinformatics, and a published record of these accomplishments. His professed strength and depth is in the clinical arena and is a recognized expert in assessment and management of patients with complex mood disorders. His collaborative nature is reflected in the enduring collaborations that he has within the G11 group, as well as establishing collaborations locally with Wayne State U. He has established strong relationships within the University of Michigan with experts in molecular genetics (Margit Burmeister) and within the Department of Biostatistics. There are active interactions and collaborations between the McInnis group with the Health Services Section within the Dept of Psychiatry focused on bipolar disorder.

Laughter is the Best Medicine

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 18:41:13 -0500

"Laughter is the Best Medicine" features David Granirer—counselor, stand–up comic and author of The Happy Neurotic: How Fear and Angst Can Lead To Happiness and Success. In his book, David challenges some very popular new–age thinking by proposing that negative, rather than positive thinking, is crucial for success. David is also the founder of Stand Up For Mental Health, a project teaching comedy to individuals living with mental illness as a way of building confidence and fighting public stigma. Learn how his students have found new passion and purpose on their road to recovery by learning stand–up comedy…who knows…perhaps maybe even you?! Visit www.standupformentalhealth.com to learn more about David and his work with Stand Up for Mental Health. Visit www.DBSAlliance.org/comedy2008 to learn how you might become a student and showcase your comedic talent at the DBSA 2008 National Conference this September in Norfolk.

Online Support Groups

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 18:36:40 -0500

Want to learn more about DBSA's online, real–time groups? Join us for this interactive chat! Online support groups are "a necessary part of our commitment to bring support to everyone who wants it, no matter where they are or how they need it," says Elizabeth Siegel, DBSA's Chapter Relations Manager who currently oversees the online support groups' operation. "We are the only organization offering this kind of virtual, real–time peer support to people with mental illness." One of the benefits of online support groups (OSGs) is the support it offers to all of those who don't have access to DBSA's local support groups, either because they live too far away or have limited mobility, or because they wish to remain anonymous. One of the challenges that OSG participants face in their text–only world is how to communicate the nonverbal expression that face–to–face groups might take for granted—a simple nod of support or a smile, for example, as someone tells his or her story. Find out how OSG participants and facilitators manage these challenges and reap the benefits of connecting with peers online.

Stigma

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 18:35:12 -0500

Description Stephen Propst is Chair of the DBSA Board of Directors, president of DBSA Metro Atlanta and is an active voice on radio, television and in print. His Mind Over Mood column appears regularly in bp Magazine. He is a writer, a conference speaker and a consultant to families and patients who seek to successfully confront mental illness and have meaningful lives. Stephen holds an MBA from Michigan State University and previously worked in the hotel/restaurant field.

At Home With Wellness: Families and Recovery

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 17:03:50 -0500

In this podcast, Gail Cutler of Rebecca's Dream speaks with Julie A. Fast, author of Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder and Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder: Understanding and Helping Your Partner, about why family support is crucial to recovery for those living with depression or bipolar disorder. This intimate conversation offers insight to both consumers and families, underscoring the importance of communication and understanding to create a supportive environment for loved ones with mood disorders. Rebecca's Dream is an organization founded by Gail and Norman Cutler in memory of their daughter, Rebecca Cutler. In addition to this podcast, Rebecca's Dream is the sponsor of "At Home with Wellness: Families and Recovery," a workshop scheduled for Friday, September 12, during the DBSA 2008 National Conference in Norfolk, Virginia.

The Hidden Battle: Living with PTSD

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 16:59:33 -0500

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can occur after you have been through a traumatic event. It is affecting a never–before–seen number of U.S. military who are traumatized by combat experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. In this podcast, DBSA speaks with Laura Prescott, Executive Director and Founder of Sister Witness International and Advisory Board Member of Mental Disability Rights International. Laura offers a general overview of PTSD for anyone who has endured the horrors not just of war but also of abuse or a terrible accident

Bipolar Disorder or Depression? Understanding Important Differences in Symptoms and Treatment

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 16:50:31 -0500

Dr. Joseph Calabrese speaks with DBSA's Dr. Daniels about the differences, in terms of symptoms and treatment, between depression and bipolar disorder, especially bipolar II disorder. He explains the subtle symptoms of hypomania (bipolar II disorder's "mild high"), which is often overlooked by both mental health professionals and individuals living with the illness. He also addresses the several elements of treatment, including medication (traditional antidepressants versus mood stabilizers) and the importance of mood tracking, as well as family and peer support. Dr. Calabrese has written more than 200 scientific publications focusing on bipolar disorder and has presented his research on this illness and other psychiatric conditions to medical students and physicians in 11 different countries. In 2004, he received the National Alliance for Research Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD) Lifetime Achievement Award for Psychiatric Research in mood disorders and was chosen by psychiatry residents as "Best Teacher of the Year" three different times. Dr. Calabrese has also received five NIMH federal research grants that have helped to improve clinical outcomes in underserved populations suffering from bipolar disorder.

The Lives They Left Behind: Suitcases from a State Hospital Attic

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 16:38:51 -0500

Darby Penney speaks with DBSA's Cindy Specht about "The Suitcase Project" (www.suitcaseexhibit.org) which documents the lives of a dozen patient residents at the Willard State Hospital in New York and her book, The Lives They Left Behind: Suitcases from a State Hospital Attic, profiling the individuals featured in the exhibit. She explores both the tragedy of their stories and the catharsis that comes from giving them a voice…finally.

Transitioning to Work: What the Ticket to Work Program Has to Offer

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 16:35:26 -0500

DBSA's Jim McNulty interviews SSA Ticket to Work (TTW) Program Specialist Sallie Rhodes and David Jones, an account manager for TTW Recruitment & Outreach, specializing in mental health, about this program—how it works and what it has to offer. The TTW program is free and helps those eligible for SSDI or SSI benefits to enter, or re–enter, the workforce. This podcast addresses the following: what type of employment and job search services/supports are available; what an Individualized Work Plan is; whether TTW affects disability benefits, health insurance coverage, and Medicaid or Medicare; the Social Security Administration's 2009 hiring project; and more.

Making Amends and Asking Forgiveness

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 16:27:05 -0500

DBSA's Karen Kraft speaks with freelance writer Michelle Roberts and Skip Treaster about bp Magazine's Winter 2009 cover story, "Making Amends, Asking Forgiveness." Skip was one of the people Michelle profiled in this article which explores the difficult and yet healing, transformative process that individuals go through to repair relationships wounded in the wake of a mental illness, such as bipolar disorder. Michelle discusses her experience as interviewer, and Skip shares his personal story of the ups and downs of making amends with his now–adult children. Read an excerpt from the article at www.bphope.com/Issue.aspx?id=25.

Diagnosis, Causes, and Course of Mood Disorders: Part One

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 16:24:45 -0500

This podcast is the first in a series brought to you by a partnership between the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) and the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP). The questions addressed were selected from an online survey conducted by DBSA regarding the interest and concerns of individuals living with depression or bipolar disorder about research surrounding the cause and treatment of mood disorders.

Diagnosis, Causes, and Course of Mood Disorders: Part Two

DBSAlliance — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 16:23:20 -0500

This podcast is the second in a series brought to you by a partnership between the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) and the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP). The questions addressed were selected from an online survey conducted by DBSA regarding the interest and concerns of individuals living with depression or bipolar disorder about research surrounding the cause and treatment of mood disorders.