In The Doctor's Chair

Nowadays, anxiety is an epidemic. It’s one of the most common conditions around, and many people who suffer from it suffer in silence. Today, I talk about why you should take it seriously.

In this episode, I talk about the science behind anxiety. I offer guidance on how to distinguish between a healthy level of anxiety and an anxiety disorder by looking out for specific symptoms. I note that you should seek guidance from your doctor if you think you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder, and I talk about the importance of self-care. I talk about different types of anxiety and I note the importance of good sleep and of seeking support. I talk about the value of mindfulness and my PAUSE technique. Finally, I note that you are not your anxious feelings

This week on In the Doctor’s Chair

• What is anxiety, and what are its symptoms?

In the Doctor’s Chair

Thanks for listening to In the Doctor’s Chair, the show where you’ll hear conversations that share life lessons, health habits, and leadership practices that focus on positive psychology, lifestyle medicine, and ways for you to live with more vitality.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a comment wherever you listen to your podcasts.

For more resources to help you to live with more vitality, please visit my website.

Apple Podcasts I TuneIn I Google Play I Stitcher I Spotify

The post Positive Lifestyle Changes To Address Anxiety appeared first on Mark Rowe.

Tom Brennan co-founded EirGen Pharma in 2005. The company has since successfully completed the development and commercialization of many drugs in the oncology area from its US FDA-approved facility in Waterford. The company was acquired in May 2015 by Miami-based NASDAQ listed OPKO Health Inc. for $135 Million. Tom has been nominated for, and won, numerous awards.

Today, Tom joins me to talk about how he lives with a glass-half-full attitude. He talks about how changes in perspective have led to changes in his motivations and interests. We discuss the importance of health and the value of small steps. We talk about why, to build grit, you need to become comfortable being uncomfortable. Tom shares how he copes with negative thoughts and offers the strategy of becoming the observer of your thoughts instead of letting them envelop you as feelings. We talk about habits, and why they can be more powerful even than your DNA in determining your health. Tom discusses his ongoing research on the benefits of intermittent fasting, and we talk about the value of pets. Finally, Tom shares his three main takeaways from our conversation.

“I take time to stand back and label thoughts, especially negative ones, and try and compartmentalize them and stand back from them.  And it works well because I find then, more times than not, the glass is certainly half full.”– Tom Brennan

This week on In the Doctor’s Chair

• Adding life to your years, not years to your life

In the Doctor’s Chair 

Thanks for listening to In the Doctor’s Chair, the show where you’ll hear conversations that share life lessons, health habits, and leadership practices that focus on positive psychology, lifestyle medicine, and ways for you to live with more vitality.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a comment wherever you listen to your podcasts.

For more resources to help you to live with more vitality, please visit my website.

Apple Podcasts I TuneIn I Google Play I Stitcher I Spotify

The post Rule Your Mind or It Will Rule You with Tom Brennan appeared first on Mark Rowe.

Men’s lifespans are, on average, shorter than women’s. While there are many potential reasons for this, one is undoubtedly men’s tendency to neglect their health.

I note the importance of trusting your doctor and give tips on how to get the best from him or her. I explain why you need to stay informed about your body. I give a list of the aspects of your health you should be keeping track of, and I offer guidelines of when to be concerned. I note the basic lifestyle practices you should keep to stay healthy. Finally, I note that men’s health affects everyone, not just men.

• The importance of looking after your health

The post Men’s Health Podcast: In the Doctor’s Chair by Irish Doc Mark Rowe appeared first on Dr. Mark Rowe: Lifestyle Medicine.

Roy F. Baumeister is one of the world’s most prolific and influential psychologists. He has published well over 500 scientific articles and more than 30 books. In 2013, he received the highest award given by the Association for Psychological Science, the William James Fellow Award, in recognition of his lifetime achievements.  He is currently the Eppes Eminent Scholar and a professor of psychology at Florida State University, and he holds distinguished visiting professorships at King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia and VU University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. His 2011 book Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength (with John Tierney) was a New York Times bestseller, and he has appeared on several television shows.

In Part 2 of this episode, Roy and I discuss overcoming the power of Bad, negativity bias, and negative impact on wellbeing. We talk about why, while we live better today than ever before in history, we’re full of more anxiety and worry than ever. To respond to the power of Bad, Roy suggests that we look for the positive things in life. He shares the power of living a low-Bad diet, not trying to be perfect, and focusing instead on being good enough. We also discuss the importance of focusing on the big picture.

“Don’t try to be perfect. Perfection is associated with all sorts of mental illnesses and anxieties and problems. Focus on being good enough.”– Roy F. Baumeister

This week on In the Doctor’s Chair

• The power of Bad

In the Doctor’s Chair 

Thanks for listening to In the Doctor’s Chair, the show where you’ll hear conversations that share life lessons, health habits, and leadership practices that focus on positive psychology, lifestyle medicine, and ways for you to live with more vitality.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a comment wherever you listen to your podcasts.

For more resources to help you to live with more vitality, please visit my website.

Apple Podcasts I TuneIn I Google Play I Stitcher I Spotify

The post The Power of Bad: How the Negativity Effect Rules Us – and How We Can Rule It with Roy Baumeister Pt 2 appeared first on Mark Rowe.

Roy F. Baumeister is one of the world’s most prolific and influential psychologists. He has published well over 500 scientific articles and more than 30 books. In 2013, he received the highest award given by the Association for Psychological Science, the William James Fellow Award, in recognition of his lifetime achievements.  He is currently the Eppes Eminent Scholar and a professor of psychology at Florida State University, and he holds distinguished visiting professorships at King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia and VU University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. His 2011 book Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength (with John Tierney) was a New York Times bestseller, and he has appeared on several television shows.

Today, Roy joins me to talk about willpower. We explore willpower, what it is, and why it matters. We discuss how we can strengthen our self-control, and we note the impact of stress on decision-making. We discuss how when we use self-control to establish good habits and routines, our lives can run smoothly on autopilot, which manages the depletion of energy. We note the importance of sleep for the body, mind, and self-control. We also talk about how to live in the present while respecting the future.

“The people who go through life just trying to improve a little bit, they often do the best.”– Roy F. Baumeister

This week on In the Doctor’s Chair

• What is willpower

In the Doctor’s Chair 

Thanks for listening to In the Doctor’s Chair, the show where you’ll hear conversations that share life lessons, health habits, and leadership practices that focus on positive psychology, lifestyle medicine, and ways for you to live with more vitality.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a comment wherever you listen to your podcasts.

For more resources to help you to live with more vitality, please visit my website.

Apple Podcasts I TuneIn I Google Play I Stitcher I Spotify

The post Willpower: What it Is and Why it Matters with Roy Baumeister Pt 1 appeared first on Mark Rowe.

We live in a culture that promotes a pill for every ill. Increasingly, we’ve been made to become passive consumers of healthcare instead of taking an empowered, active role in our health. Today, I look at the role of lifestyle medicine in increasing your agency when it comes to your health and improving your wellbeing.

In this episode, I share why well-being is concrete as opposed to abstract. I talk about the needed change in our health culture and I discuss the importance of looking back before you look forward. I talk about what wellbeing really is and note its five aspects. I discuss the cruciality of relationships and the concept of eudaimonia, or human flourishing. I also note that our health is our greatest asset and that our environments play a huge role in our well-being.

“Wellbeing isn’t just something that exists in your head; it’s an objective, measurable construct.”– Dr. Mark Rowe

This week on In the Doctor’s Chair

• The meaning of wellbeing

In the Doctor’s ChairThanks for listening to In the Doctor’s Chair, the show where you’ll hear conversations that share life lessons, health habits, and leadership practices that focus on positive psychology, lifestyle medicine, and ways for you to live with more vitality.

Apple Podcasts I TuneIn I Google Play I Stitcher I Spotify

The post What is Wellbeing? appeared first on Mark Rowe.

Traditional psychology is incredibly important and helpful, but it’s focused on turning negative mindsets into better mindsets. Positive psychology, on the other hand, is focused primarily on the positive. Instead of asking how you can move away from a negative mindset, it asks how you can move towards a positive one.

Today, I share insights from patients and research on the power of positive psychology. I discuss why, even when you can’t change your experience, you can change the explanation. I note that positive psychology takes a strength-based approach instead of a weakness-based one. I share the five aspects of positive psychology. I talk about the benefits of journaling and the power of gratitude. I discuss the importance of focusing less on having more and focusing more on being more. I talk about the ripple effect of happiness and the effect of feelings and thoughts on behavior and action. Finally, I note the physical benefits of a positive mindset.

“Gratitude is all about wanting what you have, as opposed to having what you want.”

– Dr. Mark Rowe

This week on In the Doctor’s Chair

• Positive psychology vs traditional psychology

In the Doctor’s Chair 

Thanks for listening to In the Doctor’s Chair, the show where you’ll hear conversations that share life lessons, health habits, and leadership practices that focus on positive psychology, lifestyle medicine, and ways for you to live with more vitality.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a comment wherever you listen to your podcasts.

For more resources to help you to live with more vitality, please visit my website.

Apple Podcasts I TuneIn I Google Play I Stitcher I Spotify

The post Positive Psychology Principles: ‘Your Positive Vibe Can Influence Your Tribe’ appeared first on Mark Rowe.