Advice to My Younger Self | SELF

By SELF & Condé NastEducation Self-Improvement

Advice to My Younger Self | SELF episodes

December 07, 2020 Shame Exorcism
In this episode of Checking In we hear from June, a woman who uses a CPAP machine to treat her sleep apnea. June tells us that she experiences a lot of shame and embarrassment about her CPAP machine when sleeping next to her partner, and she wants advice about how to deal. Carolyn chats with Morgan Greene, a chronic illness advocate and writer, and Sari Cooper, a sex therapist. In these conversations, our guests share advice about communicating effectively with your partner, asking for help when you need it, and adjusting to life with a chronic illness—one that absolutely can, and should, include love, joy, and deeply meaningful relationships.
Morgan Greene writes about her life with chronic illness, and also offers advice and resources on her blog. You can also follow her @iswaswillbeblog or subscribe to her YouTube channel.
For more about Sari Cooper, follow her @saricoopersexesteem, or learn more about her work at the Center for Love and Sex.
If you’re interested in learning more about the spoonie community or would like to connect with others who live with a chronic illness, start here with the original 2003 blog post that kicked off the movement. At the time of publication, there are over two million posts on Instagram that use the hashtag #spoonie. You can also follow the hashtag on Twitter. If you’re looking for a community of others living with a chronic illness, check out Patients Rising.

Don’t miss out on new episodes of Checking In on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Apple Podcasts: http://listen.self.com/self-apple
Spotify: http://listen.self.com/self-spotify
Google Podcasts: http://listen.self.com/self-google

Don't forget to sign up for the Checking In newsletter here: https://www.self.com/newsletter/checking-in

If you have a health or wellness question of your own and want a chance to be featured on the podcast, you can submit it here: https://forms.gle/jipYq22EGdtErQQq8

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30 min
November 30, 2020Finding the One (Therapist Who Gets You)
In this episode we hear from Ecaroh, a young Black woman who needs help finding a therapist who understands what she's going through. Carolyn consults with SELF’s Executive Editor Zahra Barnes, who has reported extensively on mental health in general, as well as mental health for Black people in particular. Zahra then speaks with psychologist Jennifer Mullan (@DecolonizingTherapy on Instagram) about the beauty of finding a therapist who understands your lived experience, what it means to decolonize therapy, as well as resources for those having trouble finding a therapist who can best serve their needs.
For more information on Dr. Mullan, check out her website https://www.drjennifermullan.com/who-am-i and instagram @decolonizingtherapy
Here are some apps for self-care to try at home, made for and by Black people:
Liberate is a subscription-based meditation app that includes practices and talks designed for the Black community. According to their website, they have curated content from 40+ BIPOC teachers with a diverse background in lineage, perspective and approach, so that everyone can find a practice in their voice.
For self care tips, and great articles like, “How to talk to Black family members who may not want to understand mental illness” check out the app The Safe Place.
You can also try the Shine app, Started by a Black woman and half-Japanese woman, Shine makes caring for your mental and emotional health a habit. You can learn self-care strategies and access an audio library of 800+ original meditations, bedtime stories, and calming sounds to help you shift your mindset or mood.
And for directories, community building, and words of encouragement, Zahra’s article: 44 Mental Health Resources for Black People Trying to Survive in This Country.
If you’re thinking about teletherapy, here are some helpful tips from Zahra’s reporting:
Try to create an environment at home that helps you focus on your session. When you go to therapy in person, your session is held in a therapeutic environment—this means no distractions, no loud noises in the background, no talking to other people.
Don’t let your virtual therapy sessions sneak up on you! Make the most of your session and carve out some time beforehand to think about what you’d like to talk about.
For more tips on how to make teletherapy work for you, check out SELF’s How to Actually Have a Successful Teletherapy Appointment.

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34 min
November 23, 2020 End the Doom Scroll
In this episode, we meet Alexa, a social media editor who is looking for help disconnecting from the internet and creating a healthier work-life balance. Carolyn speaks with author Rachel Wilkerson Miller and psychologist Dr. Neda Gould to get their advice on practicing self-care and mindfulness.
Though it might seem tough to unplug these days, there are ways to make it happen. Check out SELF’s guide to cutting back on social media (without actually having to quit), plus some of the potential mental health benefits of deleting social media apps.
Dr. Neda Gould is a clinical psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She also serves as the associate director of the Anxiety Disorders Clinic at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. You can read more about Dr. Gould’s work at Johns Hopkins right here.
Rachel Wilkerson Miller is the Deputy Editor, Life, at VICE, and the author of two books: The Art of Showing Up, and Dot Journaling: A Practical Guide. You can follow Rachel on Instagram @the_rewm, subscribe to her newsletter, and check out her latest work for VICE.

Don’t miss out on new episodes of Checking In on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Apple Podcasts: http://listen.self.com/self-apple
Spotify: http://listen.self.com/self-spotify
Google Podcasts: http://listen.self.com/self-google

Don't forget to sign up for the Checking In newsletter here: https://www.self.com/newsletter/checking-in

If you have a health or wellness question of your own and want a chance to be featured on the podcast, you can submit it here: https://forms.gle/jipYq22EGdtErQQq8

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
25 min
November 16, 2020 When Stress Gets Physical
In our first episode, we hear from a listener, Sarah, who has been grinding her teeth at night. Carolyn consults with Dr. Andrea Bonior, a psychologist who provides insight into how and why stress can manifest in the body, as well as some techniques to help reduce it.
You can learn more about TMJ disorders here.
Dr. Antonia Teruel works at the Head Pain Institute where she regularly treats patients who are dealing with orofacial pain, neuropathic pain, sleep apnea, and more. Read more about her work here.
Dr. Andrea Bonior, a licensed psychologist, is on the faculty at Georgetown University and is the author of several books, including her most recent title, Detox Your Thoughts. You can follow her on Twitter here.

Don’t miss out on new episodes of Checking In on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Apple Podcasts: http://listen.self.com/self-apple
Spotify: http://listen.self.com/self-spotify
Google Podcasts: http://listen.self.com/self-google

Don't forget to sign up for the Checking In newsletter here: https://www.self.com/newsletter/checking-in

If you have a health or wellness question of your own and want a chance to be featured on the podcast, you can submit it here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
27 min
November 09, 2020Introducing Checking In
Introducing Checking In, the advice podcast where we answer real health and wellness questions from real people like you. Hosted by SELF’s Editor in Chief, Carolyn Kylstra, and featuring trusted experts, doctors, therapists, thought leaders, and even a few celebrities, we’re diving deep into what it really means to be healthy. Checking In launches on Monday, November 16th, with new episodes releasing weekly. Subscribe to get episodes right when they drop at 6:00 am EST.
Listen to Checking In here:
Apple Podcasts: http://listen.self.com/self-apple
Spotify: http://listen.self.com/self-spotify
Stitcher: http://listen.self.com/self-stitcher

Or wherever you get your podcasts.

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4 min

About Advice to My Younger Self | SELF

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to Advice to My Younger SELF! Join SELF’s editor-in-chief, Rachel Miller, as she interviews SELF’s cover stars about the life lessons they wish they’d learned earlier.