What keeps us happy and healthy in life? What's the secret to feeling satisfied despite changes in circumstance? How can we age whilst maintaining the best possible physical and mental health?  Well, we're going to draw upon and abundance of research that points to one answer: good relationships. This episode is endlessly important for our generation- a generation suffering from a loneliness epidemic, mental illness epidemic, and an epidemic of smartphone and materialistic 'addiction.' I hope you listen with an open-mind and open heart. As promised, the research is all below:

My instagram for updates on episode release: @_raniaasalah

In this episode, Rand H. joins me to discuss the book: The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Treatment of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk. He is a psychiatrist, author, researcher and educator who delved deep into the physical responses, symptoms, and treatment of childhood trauma. Himself and a group of scientists came together, with their patients, to integrate neuroscience, attachment, and body awareness into treatment for people who have suffered trauma. Some of the overarching messages in part 1 of this book are how our physical bodies are a “scoresheet” for traumatic stress. Most trauma victims experience a wide range of physical ailments ranging from digestive issues and asthma to arthritis and cardiovascular illnesses. These illnesses should be viewed as symptoms rather than a root issue. Van der Kolk also suggests that instead of exposure therapy being the predominant method for treating traumatic stress, we should treat it by reintroducing patients to feeling safe in their body, feeling attuned to the subtle feelings and re-attuned with their intrinsic signals. 

This book has changed countless lives, including my own. Whether it has helped us us forgive ourselves and one another for over-or under-reactions, begin understanding and recognizing our own traumas, or move towards true healing. This collection of research is one that everyone would benefit from, especially in a world where trauma is extremely common.

This is only one of a two-part review of this book, as we wasn’t to first focus on how trauma has impacted us and how learning about it has helped us heal. Stay tuned for part 2, where we will discuss how we went about healing, and how we are currently addressing symptoms of our past traumas.

Find Rand on instagram @oldboyohboy

Helpful articles:

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Treatment of Trauma (Book Summary)

Book Review: The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

Resources: 

24/7 Crisis Hotline: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Network www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Crisis Text Line: Text TALK to 741-741 to text with a trained crisis counselor from the Crisis Text Line for free, 24/7

SAMHSA Treatment Referral Hotline (Substance Abuse): 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline: 1-866-331-9474

The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386

Some of you suggested I post some of my poetry on this podcast channel from time to time. I wanted to interrupt season 2, which is all about self-love and growth with a piece that serves as a reminder of reality. It's not always linear growth, and it's not always motivated, inspired, or determined. Sometimes there are days, weeks, months even, that merely survived. These times are just as important as those of active growth, as they are often necessary reminders and motivators to recover, heal, and strive for your vision of 'better.' 

Still Here is a poem about fighting depression- a battle I have fought, and continuously fight everyday for a long time now. Some days and weeks pass where I am able to ignore the loud shrieks of depression, and some days and weeks pass where they're all I hear. I found that the only difference between making it through and giving in is whether I have support during these times. With that, I believe it’s time to start talking about what it really means, looks like, feels like. It’s not just another term thrown around when we feel down, it can be a silent torturous struggle. So hear us, ask us, understand us. It can save our lives.

24/7 Crisis Hotline: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Network www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Crisis Text Line: Text TALK to 741-741 to text with a trained crisis counselor from the Crisis Text Line for free, 24/7

SAMHSA Treatment Referral Hotline (Substance Abuse): 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline: 1-866-331-9474

The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386

Do you ever feel so in your head that you can't distinguish objective reality from the stories you tell yourself? Do you ever feel so consumed by your attempts at self-growth/self-love that you end up getting stuck where you are? Do you wait with doubt? Fear? An anticipation of negative outcomes? Are you too hopeful? Do you tend to self-sabotage out of a need for control? 

This is an episode I have been waiting to record for a very long time, as I continued to find my conversations with my dearest friend Rand to be growing more fruitful to my self-love journey. In this very unrehearsed and raw conversation, we touch on the similarities between our journeys, the dangers of getting stuck in the self-development 'vortex,' neutrality, and the idea that how you wait matters. Stay tuned till the end to hear about the idea of triangulation: a great tip for when things in your life are too chaotic to discern objective reality. 

Welcome to season 2 of Ish Matters! Happy you're here, and hope you stay. Here's to a season of self-development and growth- cheers! 

Our memories are fallible, our story-telling skills are questionable, and we are all non-credible sources in some way. This is not because we are consciously trying to mislead or manipulate reality, but because we are simply human- prone to human error. But what can we do to mitigate the consequences of false narratives? How can we break free from the imprisonment of comfortable, old narratives? And why is it important to compare stories from every characters' point of view? 

This is a short episode about the power of personal narratives: the stories we tell, hold onto, AND have the power to change. 

Lori Gottlieb's TedTalk: https://www.ted.com/talks/lori_gottlieb_how_changing_your_story_can_change_your_life

An article with tangible tips: Rewrite your story, change your life

I am joined by Isabella Brooke to discuss everything ranging from fatphobia to the evolution of the body positivity/neutrality movements. Isabella is the president of REbeL at American University, and is all about creating a safe space to talk about these issues. She is a huge proponent of body neutrality and attention to language, as they have played a pivotal role in her own recovery. 

In this episode, we explore how the concepts of intuitive eating and body positivity have been misconstrued and misrepresented, and how language and social media play a role in defining these movements. We also discuss how weight stigma contributes to negative health outcomes and perpetuates health disparities, as it has long been intertwined with systematic racism and sexism. We ask ourselves how we can start talking about these issues sensitively and productively- without risking the hyper-normalizing disordered eating. If you're interested in finding out, stay tuned till the end!   

REbeL at American University: american.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/Rebel

Their instagram: @rebelatamerican

Eating Disorder Resources:

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn

Hopeline Network: 1-800-442-4673

Crisis Textline: Text CONNECT to 741741

In this episode, my research partner, Callen Wallace, and I discuss explore the issue of medical mistrust— the roots, implications, and impact on BIPOC women's health outcomes. We argue that medical mistrust plays a pivotal role in perpetuating disparate negative health outcomes, and is a result of both historical mistreatment and implicit bias in medicine that has long plagued those who have the  intersectional identities of women belonging to a minority race/ethnicity. 

Some of the key concepts we discuss are intersectionality and biopower, and how these factors interplay to maintain the subordination and suffering of BIPOC women. Specifically, we take a look at the death of Dr. Susan Moore, Indigenous women's sterilization, and a physician-perspective on it all.. 

And as promised, the links are attached below:

Kimberle Crenshaw’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/intersectionality-matters/id1441348908

Dorothy Robert's Ted Talk: https://www.ted.com/speakers/dorothy_roberts

More on Biopower: https://globalsocialtheory.org/concepts/biopower/

We hope you enjoy this very important discussion, stay tuned for the passionate conclusion. If you're interested in our research, please contact me for our references and additional materials at [email protected]

In this episode, we discuss, the impact of fitness-related media consumption, eating disorders, the responsibilities of fitness influencers, and more. If you've ever found yourself comparing your body to images on instagram, you're not alone. If you've ever found yourself struggling with food, body image, and shame, you're not alone. My guests are here to to openly discuss some of these stigmatized topics, as they believe there needs to be more conversation surrounding the reality of people who body-build. They offer a unique male and female perspective on it all, so make sure to listen to the full episode! 

Conor's Instagram: @emmamoconor

Donato's Instagram: @donato_dibari

Eating Disorder Resources:

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn

Hopeline Network: 1-800-442-4673

Crisis Textline: Text CONNECT to 741741

Research suggests that when a child is raised in a home with a parent who exhibits narcissistic tendencies, or has narcissistic personality disorder, they are likely to experience a range of detrimental psychological effects that often carry on into adulthood. This can also be applied to long-term relationships with a narcissist such as marriages, sibling relations, and even close family members. That being said, parents may have the greatest impact given our dependence on them as children, and our exposure to unhealthy attachment before full development. In this episode, I explore some of the consequences and ways to heal from this trauma. If this does not apply to you, send it to someone you think it may help- as knowledge is power, comfort, and the first step to healing. 

References: 

Dr. Daniel Fox: https://www.drdfox.com

Psychologist Katie Morton and her many resources: https://www.youtube.com/c/Katimorton/about

"Parental Personality Disorder and Its Effects on Children: A Review of Current Literature" - Metanalysis authored by Donald G. Dutton: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15379418.2011.620928