Beyond Well with Sheila Hamilton

There is no shortage of evidence that the political divide in America stresses out Americans. From workplaces to families to the Thanksgiving table, there is internalized stress about how to talk about politics without alienating one another.Dr. Greg Chasson takes on the elephant in the living room: should we even try to bridge the divide?

Dr. Greg Chassen is an expert on perfectionism and OCD at the University of Chicago.In this episode, Dr. Chasson discusses the inherent pressure families feel to help their children succeed. The pressure begins as early as infancy, when mothers feel compelled to train their babies in utero, and continues through college, where many mothers and fathers demand their teens attempt to get into an Ivy League school. The CDC says the level of stress on families is in part due to this toxic achievement culture. Dr. Chassen offers strategies for breaking the stress cycle and reclaiming our families' lives and happiness. 

A No Stone Unturned episode.Originally Released in June 2019.Nyna Giles exposes the good and bad news about psychological suffering. Psychological suffering doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care who you are, how wealthy your friends are, how beautiful you are, or what circles you run it. Psychological suffering can and will affect us all. Of course, privileges give certain people access to resources that may help those people cope more effectively with the suffering life deals them, but the suffering will happen all the same. Nyna’s mother had all the trappings of the “perfect” life: she transcended her humble beginnings to become one of the “beautiful people,” hobnobbing with the rich and famous, including Grace Kelly, who she counted as her closest friend. And yet, psychological suffering, this time in the form of psychosis, came crashing down on that beautiful picture. As her mother’s world shrank, Nyna did what any child would do; she tried her very best to “save” her mom. But, of course, even our best attempts to save our loved ones often fail. But here’s the good news… Being able to live a life of meaning and purpose also does not discriminate. It doesn’t matter who we are, where we live, what forms of suffering life has given us, what we have done or what has been done to us, living whatever life we have been given in a way that is personally meaningful and has integrity for us is possible for every one of us. 

A No Stone Unturned Re-Visit.From September 2019.Lyme Disease is the fastest growing infectious disease in the world, eclipsing the HIV/Aids crisis by over 10X. It is now reported in all 50 states and 79 countries. The CDC estimates 400,000 new cases per year, but even that number is thought to be on the low end of the problem. Lyme has been reported to be associated with various psychiatric presentations because Borreliaburgdorferi can present with symptoms similar to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Because Lyme patients are so often misdiagnosed and mistreated, a higher level of risk to self and others is associated with multiple symptoms developing after acquiring LAD. 

Dr. Greg Chasson provides practical tools for young adults who are entering college. The ages of 18-25 are when a majority of mental illnesses are detected. What can you do to support your mental health now and when you are under intense pressure? 

Along with the information genetic testing can provide, it also delivers more questions and confusion. Alesia Weiss's own experience with an over-the-counter DNA kit in 2014 resulted in severe shock when she discovered that the man who’d raised her was not her genetic father. Learning the identity of her biological father took four long years of research and the news that he’d passed away years before her discovery will always be a profound source of sorrow for her. Because of this experience, Alesia has worked hard to support NPEs, the donor-conceived community, and adoptees in their fight to know their genetic history. Her service on behalf of this community includes genealogical research, education, networking and the provision of informed emotional support.1.  www.nursingfornpes.com  , or NPEN, is a website for anyone who needs assistance with deciphering their DNA , finding a therapist, looking for a mentor,  or just needing resources. 2.  www.facebook.com/groups/thisnpelife is a private FB community that is an incredible group of almost 4000 members that understand the pain personally and truly get it. 1.  www.nursingfornpes.com  or NPEN is my website for anyone who needs assistance with deciphering their DNA , finding a therapist, looking for a mentor,  or just needing resources. We also have the FB group that offers an incredibly supportive community-- 2.  www.facebook.com/groups/thisnpelife is our private FB community that is an incredible group of almost 4000 members that understand the pain personally and truly get it. 1.  www.nursingfornpes.com  or NPEN is my website for anyone who needs assistance with deciphering their DNA , finding a therapist, looking for a mentor,  or just needing resources. We also have the FB group that offers an incredibly supportive community-- 2.  www.facebook.com/groups/thisnpelife is a private FB community that is an incredible group of almost 4000 members that understand the pain personally and truly get it. 

A No Stone Unturned Episode.A re-visit from 2020.What's it like to be a Psychiatrist?Dr. Jim Polo has worked as a general physician, a child psychiatrist, an adult psychiatrist, and in a state hospital setting. He's now the Director of Behavioral Health for Cambia Health Solutions. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Polo about why he chose this specialty and what his biggest breakthroughs/disappointments have been.

How do you find a therapist once you’ve decided to seek help? And how do you assist young adults who need care when they are away at college? Dr. Greg Chasson provides a critical roadmap for accessing mental health services. 

No Stone Unturned.This is a revisit Beyond Well. It's one of our earliest shows from 2019. Edan Armas is an award-winning Spoken Word Artist and Poet and graduate of Stanford University. Armas was the 2019 Baccalaureate student speaker, and an outspoken voice on the topic of student mental Health. Edan’s undergraduate career focused on how emotion manifests in the body, mind and the  collective consciousness.  Edan encourages students to embrace both the tribulations and triumphs of the college experience, noting that the process of adulting is difficult—even painful, and how vulnerability became his superpower.

A No Stone Unturned episode from 2019.Ken Cervera's openness, his honesty and his path to wellness have all been informed by an immensely isolating period in his late twenties when he attempted to end his life. Ken drove his motorcycle through a Los Angeles intersection straight into an oncoming vehicle. Miraculously, both drivers escaped harm.  We believe suicide attempt survivors can be extremely helpful in understanding the suicide epidemic, the mindset of suicidal ideation, and why relationship-centered and evidence-based treatment is essential to recovery.  Ken Cervera is the host of Own Your Truth Podcast, a personal coach, and the Director of Wellness for Mind Health Institute, Pasadena.