This week we continue the topic of PTSD from last weeks episode, but from a new perspective. We dive into what it's like first hand growing up and living in America as a Black American. Ronnie shares his heart and experiences with us in this eye opening episode.

This weeks exercise can be found on our website www.covid19andmi.com . You can also check out my daily gratitude posts on our Instagram page @Covid19andmi as well as our YouTube channel Covid19andmi. Let’s be givers of smiles as we share our isolated goodness. Thank you for listening and I hope this helps you in some way!

In light of recent events, I get Dr. Alexandra Laifer back on Zoom to discuss PTSD and how it affects Black Communities. We want to be sure to talk about something that we consider important to us, especially in America, because everything that is happening is affecting all of us. 

I also open up an exercise for anyone listening to speak up! Make your voice heard. Whether you are an artist or a writer use your talents and skills to speak out against racism. You can also check out my daily gratitude posts on our Instagram page @Covid19andmi as well as our YouTube channel Covid19andmi. Let’s be givers of smiles as we share our isolated goodness. Thank you for listening and I hope this helps you in some way!

This week we sit down with Cherie, a mother of 5 children who have all grown up and started families of their own. Our conversation jumps directly into what it's like living alone without much help from her family. Cherie spent 18 years of her life in law enforcement and had to suddenly retire due to certain medical conditions such as; Bulging Disk, Ruptured Achilles, and Lupus. All of which puts her at high risk for the virus. Between her illness' and children not allowing her access to her grandchildren, Cherie's mental struggles have multiplied all within the span of a couple months. We really get into her mindset and how all of covid 19 has affected her.

As always we open up and exercise for all of our listeners. This week I ask that you stay connected! For more information on this please head over to our resources page on our website @ https://covid19andmi.com/my-resources/post/60432/10-ways-to-stay-connected-during-your-covid-19-journey There you will find some fun and unique ways to stay connected with friends and family so they can help you out during this tough time. You can also check out my daily gratitude posts on our Instagram page @Covid19andmi as well as our YouTube channel Covid19andmi. Let’s be givers of smiles as we share our isolated goodness. Thank you for listening and I hope this helps you in some way!

This week we sit down with Dr. Sage Schuitevoerder, who has extensive training in empirically supported therapies ( “gold standard” of treatments) for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder such as; Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR). Dr. Sage dives into the male perspective and seeing another outlook of this virus that "shut down" this world along with Individuals who live in solidarity through this time. In the discussion he helps us understand a new way of creating meaningful interactions considering we can no longer just walk outside and give our friends and even family a hug when we need. We ask for different ways to cope with this new life transition for people who live on their own. Please join us in this meaningful conversation as we seek acceptedness during Covid.

For more information about Dr. Sage feel free to head over to his website http://www.sagephd.com/

As always we open up and exercise for all of our listeners. This week I give you some ways to get out of the monotony of Covid! For the list I give in this episode please head over to our resources page on our website @https://covid19andmi.com/my-resources/post/70541/15-things-to-do-to-get-out-of-the-monotony-of-covid . You can also check out my daily gratitude posts on our Instagram page @Covid19andmi as well as our YouTube channel Covid19andmi. Let’s be givers of smiles as we share our isolated goodness. Thank you for listening and I hope this helps you in some way!

Today we sit down with Alejandro, who shares his long and painstaking mental health journey. From Sexual Abuse to growing up as a part of a Religious Cult, he paints us a picture of what it was like going through it all and coming out a strong individual. With years of effort and help from college professors to non-profit organizations he has come out of it all stronger. This month we celebrate Mental Health Awareness, approximately one in five adults in the United States, 43.8 million, or 18.5%, experiences a mental illness in a given year and approximately one in five youth aged 13–18 (21.4%) experiences a severe mental health disorder at some point during their lifetime. Many national organizations such as NAMI, Mental Health America, and other affiliates spotlight Mental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and to stop the stigma associated with mental health disorders.

You can also check out my daily gratitude posts on our Instagram page @Covid19andmi as well as our YouTube channel Covid19andmi. Let’s be givers of smiles as we share our isolated goodness. Thank you for listening and I hope this helps you in some way!

Today we talk to Jennifer on zoom and discuss what it's like living with O.C.D., Anxiety as well as Depression during and before the stay at home order. We define the differences between Anxiety and Anxiety Disorder. We also talk about the importance of being kind to ourselves during this scary, unknown, situation. I reached out and asked Jen for her perspective on a few questions, such as; "How has dealing with work life and home life changed since the start of Covid?", "What was living with Anxiety Disorder like before all of this?" and many more.

We also open up an exercise for anyone listening to look into Exposure Therapy (with the help and supervision of your therapist). It has been working well for Jennifer and it could possibly help you too. You can also check out my daily gratitude posts on our Instagram page @Covid19andmi as well as our YouTube channel Covid19andmi. Let’s be givers of smiles as we share our isolated goodness. Thank you for listening and I hope this helps you in some way!

Today we sit down with Dr. Alexandra Laifer, who gives a professional perspective on how to deal with the new reality that Covid-19 has created. Thanks to her 10 years of experience in the psychology field, Dr. Laifer goes into great detail how to develop coping mechanisms by providing a variety of techniques, insight and mindset. 

I also open up an exercise for anyone listening to sit down, take a pen and paper, and write down names of people close to you who you can call in the event of needing advice, someone to talk to, or just a good laugh. Once you've finished making a list of names, place the list around your house for safekeeping. If you need more help with this exercise please head over to https://covid19andmi.com/my-resources/post/60435/phone-a-friend , there you can find a free downloadable template to make this more easy and fun! You can also check out my daily gratitude posts on our Instagram page @Covid19andmi as well as our YouTube channel Covid19andmi. Let’s be givers of smiles as we share our isolated goodness. Thank you for listening and I hope this helps you in some way!

COVID-19 brings rise to new challenges for 18 year old Evelyn to overcome in her day to day life as a college student. Proper communication among faculty, peers and overall college community comes to a halt as the Stay at Home order takes place which starts to spread complications into other areas of her life. I sat down and spoke with Evelyn to ask questions such as; How exactly has transitioning from in-person to online classes caused issues with continuing your education? What are some effects that forced isolation can have on the college community for someone who struggles with mental illness? Can you recommend any exercises or activities for college students who struggle with similar issues? 

I also open up an exercise for anyone listening to do something nice for someone no matter how big or small the act. You can do something for your spouse, parents, neighbor or even the employee who delivers your food. Share with others your act of kindness, you can post a video, a picture, or a comment on a social media platform. If you do post on a social media platform, use our hashtag (#isolatedgoodness) I would love to share with you in our moments of doing an act of kindness for others. You can also check out my daily gratitude posts on our Instagram page @Covid19andmi as well as our YouTube channel Covid19andmi. Let’s be givers of smiles as we share our isolated goodness. Thank you for listening and I hope this helps you in some way!

I Googled Covid 19 and depression and could only find articles on how Isolation can cause depression but I couldn’t find any resources or even anyone discussing the community that already has mental illnesses and how they are affected by covid-19 and forced isolation. Today I sit down on zoom and talk with Dr. Lisa Romain, a Marriage & Family Therapist, and ask serious questions such as; Why do you think that there hasn’t been a larger public discussion on mental health and covid-19? What are some effects that forced isolation can have on people who struggle with mental illness? Can you recommend any exercises or activities for people who struggle with being isolated? 

I also open up an exercise for anyone listening to Intentionally be grateful for something no matter how small on a daily basis. You can verbalize what you are grateful for or write it down or if you want to share with others, you can post a video, a picture, or a comment on a social media platform. If you do post on a social media platform, use our hashtag (#isolatedgoodness) I would love to share with you in our moments of gratitude. You can also check out my daily gratitude posts on our Instagram page @Covid19andmi as well as our Youtube with the same name. Let’s be givers of smiles as we share our isolated goodness. Thank you for listening and I hope this helps you in some way!