Mental Health Moments_GPF: Recent Episodes
Georgia Psychological Foundation
Mental Health Moments, coordinated and produced by Georgia Psychological Foundation, are 3-minute podcasts exploring topics related to psychological issues and challenges, and provides recommendations for resiliency and coping.
Technology is becoming more ingrained in our everyday lives and serves a relevant purpose, but too much of a good thing can influence impressionable minds. Dr. Betsy Gard discusses ways to monitor screen time with children.
It has been estimated that 1 in 3 children are bullied every month and is often a leading cause in the decline of a child’s mental well-being. Dr. Betsy Gard offers valuable tips to assist parents and schools with children affected by bullying.
Finding a therapist can be a challenge on the journey to improving one’s mental health. Dr. Betsy Gard provides a helpful guide to ensure you find the best therapist for you or your loved ones.
Feeling alone and lonely is tied to mental health. At times there may be people in our lives who care about us, but we do not recognize their caring because we are focused on the attentions of a specific person who may not be emotionally available to us.
How can parents support their anxious child?. Dr. Coleman gives advice to parents on how to support a child who has symptoms of anxiety.
Dr. Coleman discusses the early warning sign of anxiety in children, and provides guidance on when to reach out to mental health professionals.
Anxiety can be of concern when it takes over you child's life. There are ways that a parent can support your child if your child is showing a pattern of distress.
Sleep is essential to mental stability and sustainability. Dr. Fagan shares three tips for improving sleep, thus improving mental health.
How can couples circumvent a "grumpy mood" in themselves, or their partner before it leads to a negative interaction? Growl therapy is a useful technique to lighten a conversation before it goes badly.
The attempt to understand dreams has elicited many theories, both psychological and philosophical, about the meaning and purpose of dreams. The therapeutic analysis of dreams includes the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in which a script is written by the dreamer, and may be re-written as part of the therapy process with the intention of alleviating under-lying anxiety.
Ambivalence occurs when you think/feel two different things about the same topic and you feel stuck in reconciling these conflicting aspects. Dr. Buchanan describes strategies for working with ambivalence, such as understanding the origins of the ambivalence, in order to reach a reconciliation.
Studies have shown that having the values of meaning and purpose in one's life lends to over-all psychological well being, and to increased self esteem. Dr. Hirt describes steps which can help an individual develop a personal sense of meaning and of purpose.
Certain patterns of communication can predictably lead to discord between couples. Easy to learn strategies such as the use of "I" statements can make the difference between an unpleasant encounter and a productive conversation.
Studies have shown that chronic pain impacts mental health as well as physical health. Conversely the feelings of depression and anxiety which may arise as a response to chronic pain can also affect physiology and can intensify the experience of pain. Getting mental health support is an important step in alleviating this cycle.
While positive thinking is well established as a mental health tool, there is such a thing as the tyranny of positive thinking. This is when a person believes that they should never had a negative feeling or thought, and this belief adds to their sense of guilt and increased their negative feelings rather than lessening these feelings.
We have experiences increasing polarization and find ourselves avoiding to try to maintain our connections. There are ways to reduce the negativity of these interactions.
Understanding the differences between criticism and constructive feedback and ways to provide constructive feedback.
Helping others helps you and your health and well being; where you can reach out to help/volunteer.
There are coping skills available to assist in haling from trauma. These include finding an experienced therapist, building trust and using specific techniques such as breathwork to minimize the effects of trauma.
We feel bad because use unrealistic expectations to judge ourselves. Accepting ourselves and others can result in a more fulfilling and happier life.
Forgiveness is a process, it is the release of resentment, anger and bitterness. Forgiveness frees you from these negative emotions which hurt you both physically and mentally.
Understanding the triggers for anger, its impact on our bodies and minds, and ways to cope with this powerful emotion.
There are many thoughts one may have when diagnosed with a chronic medical illness. Some of these thoughts can contribute to increased stress, which can negatively affect us physically. There are ways of thinking which are more adaptive, and can decrease stress when dealing with a medical illness.
Social support is an important factor in helping people who are diagnosed with a mental illness. Social support has been shown to improve symptoms of mental illness and to decrease the need for hospitalization. There are a number of ways that support can be given to those individuals struggling with a mental illness.
Our quality of sleep effects our daily functioning. Sleep hygiene is a term for changing habits or adapting new behaviors which can improve sleep quality.
The complexities of how we perceive and experience time on a biological, psychological, and cultural and how to “bind” time in positive ways.
There is a direct relationship between physical and mental health. There is increasing evidence that inflammation in the body can be related to depression. Sleep, diet, hydration, and exercise are important considerations to improve mental health.
Resilience is the key for coping in difficult times. Resilience can be developed and strengthened. Everyone has the ability to improve their resilience.
Feeling over-whelmed, stressed, panicked or anxious can be a universal experience. A good way to deal with these feelings is through selfcare. Selfcare is about paying attention to those behaviors which increase your physical, emotional or mental wellbeing. Selfcare includes taking care of your future self as well as your present self.
Understanding loneliness, the physical and psychological impact of loneliness, and how to increase our connections with others.
Learning to have compassion for yourself improves mental health and the quality of a person’s life.
Hope and optimism help us through physical challenges, ways to increase hope and optimism.
When you encounter an unexpected situation which triggers you emotionally, having a few memorized phrases can help you regain your composure.
The relationship with food for many people is both a struggle and a battleground. It is possible to heal this relationship, even a damaged relationship of long standing. Eating mindfully is one way of changing this relationship from a battle to an experience of peace.
Routine vaccinations are a part of taking care of your children’s health. There are ways that parents can help reduce the fear of needles and injections in their children.
Understanding the triggers for anger, its impact on our bodies and minds, and ways to cope with this powerful emotion.
Learning boundaries and knowing how to say “no” to situations or to people is an important aspect of mental health.
An important element in mental health is distinguishing the difference between what you can and what you cannot control. This is particularly true in our attempts to control the behavior of other people. Surrender is not giving up. Surrender is understanding the difference between what is, and what is not in your control.