In Episode 26, author and psychologist Sheva Rajaee helps us understand a theme of OCD known as Relationship OCD, which characterizes bouts of anxiety and stickiness around, you guessed it, relationships! We discuss the "Myth of the One", ERP and CBT for ROCD, the author's own personal history, and more. Please enjoy!

Things mentioned in today's episode:

Esther Perel

Egosyntonic

David Schnarch

Rajaee's clinical practice

The book!

In episode 25, I talk with Adam Chekroud about the mental health tech company he co-founded in 2016, Spring Health. They offer behavioral health treatment to clients through their employers. Spring Health is harnessing the power of data science and statistics to give mental health providers more information about how to treat incoming clients to maximize a successful outcome. We talk about the state of mental health in the US, what companies like Adam's are doing to improve it, and what the future holds. It's an optimistic picture, so please tune in!

https://www.springhealth.com/

Research paper: exercise and mental health

Is managing our anxiety all about meditating on a cushion? Exercising? Sleeping well? Having our needs met? Hanging out with loved ones? Being supported by our community? Living a life of purpose and meaning? According to this month's author, Hala Khouri, it involves bits and pieces of all those things. Listen here for a discussion about the many elements that can help us heal from anxiety and emotional disregulation, and about the mythology of trying to heal all on our own.

Resources mentioned in the show:

Hala's Website

Peace From Anxiety

Lost Connections

The upside of stress

The Book of Joy

In Episode 23, we explore the practice of non violent communication -- a way of speaking that can help foster understanding, reduce confusion and help us get our needs met. Plus, mindfulness. Our guest, Oren Jay Sofer, is a veteran meditator and instructor, author and creator of mindfulness content for popular apps such as 10% Happier.

https://www.orenjaysofer.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Say-What-You-Mean-Communication/dp/161180583X

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Dennis Tirch, a compassion focused clinical therapist and all around mensch, who has managed to bring an enormous amount of kindness and caring attention to the world of anxiety treatment and exposure and response prevention. Through years of clinical practice, he manages to marry eastern and western psychology to treat patients in a way that focuses on helping them activate their in-born compassion systems. This episode is an absolute gem; please listen and share! 

Song at the end, "Mushroom Princess Dance Master", credit to Dr. Tirch.

Tirch Keynote on Compassion at IOCDF

Compassion for Voices Video

Tirch Home

The book! Compassionate Mind Guide

Welcome to Episode 21! In this episode, we explore three different acronyms and practices, DARE, DEAF, and RAIN, which can really help upset minds during a difficult experience. Warning: this is a very practical episode!

• RAIN PDF

In this episode, my guest Dr. John Shook helps us get acquainted with one of the leading figures in psychology and philosophy in the 20th century, William James. We talk about emotions, the brain and pragmatism. 

You can find Dr. Shook on Youtube by searching for "John Shook Humanism" or contact him via email at [email protected]. The book can be found on Amazon, here.

Apparently, compassion and self-compassion are important parts of a mindful way of living. It's not just your attention that counts, but the quality of that attention. Is your focus like a deadly sniper? Or a loving teddy bear? Some strange combination of both?

In this episode, Shauna Shapiro, PhD helps us understand how the two are connected, and how she was able to cultivate both in her own life. We discuss the effects of mindfulness on physical and emotional pain, what it means to be "intentional", and how to get started with mindfulness and self-compassion with a very simple, morning practice.

Find the book here, or more about Shauna at her website or Instragram.

Do you have a sticky mind? Like the floor of a movie theatre? Like your sourdough ball before it has time to rise? In this episode of the Anxiety Book Club, we have a conversation with Dr. Sally Winston, where we dive deeply into issues of reassurance seeking and compulsive checking, both difficult symptoms of an anxious or obsessive mind.

Specifically, we talk about the treatment of OCD -- specifically in those who seek reassurance in unproductive ways, and who suffer as a result of not being certain about life's challenges and opportunities.

Dr. Winston has been working with sticky minds for over 40 years, and REALLY knows what she is talking about. The book is great, and so was our conversation. Enjoy!

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-sticky-mind

https://adaa.org/webinar/consumer/overcoming-intrusive-thoughts

https://drmartinseif.com/

https://www.anxietyandstress.com/

Are our feelings true? Are they reliable? Does honoring them lead us to pleasure or pain? Or is it more complicated than that? In this episode of the Anxiety Book Club, I am joined by fan of the podcast and longtime friend Nigel Tu, to discuss Robert Wright's incredible Why Buddhism is True, a candid and scientifically compelling account of the psychological mechanisms and benefits of following the mindful path. I REALLY like this book, and I'm not sure the episode truly does it justice, so I encourage you to go out and read it yourself!

Check out the book here