Mental Note

From Chaos to Creativity:

Storyteller and artist Landon Bryant explores his journey from struggling with life's basic challenges to finding success and support after an adult ADHD diagnosis. Landon shares how he navigated the difficulties of his condition, including years of trial and error with medications and strategies, and how he ultimately embraced the creative potential of ADHD. This conversation sheds light on the importance of self-awareness, support systems, and the unique strengths that can arise from challenges. His journey is a source of hope for anyone on a similar path.

Resources:

Get to Know Landon:

• Instagram @landontalks
• TikTok: @landontalks

Mental Note Links:

• Mental Note Podcast: www.mentalnotepodcast.com
• Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com
• Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com
• Free Group Support: https://www.pathlightbh.com/support-groups
• Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199

GLP-1 weight loss drugs, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, have exploded in popularity due to their weight-loss potential. But what do they actually do? How do they function? And why are they the subject of so much controversy?

With insight from Dr. Elizabeth Wassenaar, Regional Medical Director for the Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center, this episode will empower you to make an educated decision when it comes to your body and these medications.

Crucially, we will also focus on how GLP-1s may affect individuals with eating disorders - even if they are being taken as diabetes medication rather than to lose weight.

If you'd like to learn more about GLp-1s from Dr. Wassenaar — and earn CE credits along the way — join Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight's virtual annual conference August 21-23 . Dr. Wassenaar will lead a special discussion on GLP-1s and their relationship to Binge Eating Disorder treatment. Sign up here.

Resources:

Mental Note Podcast: www.mentalnotepodcast.com 16th Annual Conference: Register Here Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com Free Group Support: Register Here Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199

Growing up, Vik Chopra was not the kid most people assumed would end up serving a sentence in Federal prison. A student leader with straight A's and numerous volunteer hours, Vik secretly hid pain and shame beneath a shiny outward persona - with disastrous consequences.

Now a filmmaker, actor, and writer who has embraced his queer and South Asian identities, Vik takes us on a transformational journey through addiction, incarceration, and rebirth. His story is a testament to the powers of embracing community, fostering daily practices, and forgiving ourselves.

We encourage you to check out the podcasts and films he is making with justice-impacted individuals. Find them at his website linked below.

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Resources:

• Website - www.unincarcerated.com
• Instagram - @vikchopra
• Mental Note Podcast: www.mentalnotepodcast.com
• Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com
• Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com
• Free Group Support: https://www.pathlightbh.com/support-groups
• Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199

Welcome to part two of our Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Discussion with Leah Young where we focus on the proactive steps you can take to find recovery from a SUD.

Today's episode is all about what to do once you realize you have a problem with substances or addictive behaviors. We'll discuss topics like:

• Different strategies for ending destructive behaviors spanning from abstinence to harm reduction
• How to develop boundaries to enable healthier behaviors
• Easy ways to measure the success of your approach

If you missed our last episode, you can easily find it in your podcast feed or by clicking the link in the show notes below. You don't necessarily need to listen to Part 1 to understand Part 2. However, you may want to pull it up if you are trying to figure out whether or not you have a substance use issue.

Resources:

• Brief video overview about Substance Use Disorders from the Center for Disease Control: Click Here
• Infographic: 2022 Survey on Drug Use and Health - Click Here
• Book: Sober Curious by Ruby Warrington - Click Here
• Podcast: Sober Curious with Ruby Warrington - Click Here
• Mental Note Podcast: www.mentalnotepodcast.com
• Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com
• Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com
• Free Group Support: https://www.pathlightbh.com/support-groups
• Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199
• Nearly all substances and many addictive behaviors have 12-step meetings. Below are some examples, but you can search online for the national and local chapters nearest you.
  • www.aa.org
  • www.marijuana-anonymous.org
  • www.thesira.org - Self Harm
  • www.slaafws.org & www.slaa4poc.neocities.org - Sex and Love Addicts
  • www.recoverydharma.org
  • www.smartrecovery.org
  • www.celebraterecovery.com
  • www.lifering.org
  • www.moderation.org
  • Plus many others that may not be as well known, available, and/or regional

In our next two episodes, we will explore a disorder affecting nearly one in five Americans - Substance Use Disorder (SUD). From knowing when your patterns are problematic, to building new neural pathways, to measuring success - we want to dig deep. And we've got the incredible expertise of Leah Young to show us why there's so much reason for hope when dealing with addictive behaviors and substances.

You can think of today's podcast as Substance Use Disorder 101. It answers the questions, "How do you know if your use of alcohol or drugs is a problem?" and "Are you exhibiting problematic addictive behaviors?" We will cover topics like

• Early warning signs
• Denial
• Sober curiosity
• Next steps for getting support.

Our second episode will examine recovery models for SUD - abstinence, moderation, and harm reduction - and how to know what works for you.

Resources:

• Brief video overview about Substance Use Disorders from the Center for Disease Control: Click Here
• Infographic: 2022 Survey on Drug Use and Health - Click Here
• Book: Sober Curious by Ruby Warrington - Click Here
• Podcast: Sober Curious with Ruby Warrington - Click Here
• Mental Note Podcast: www.mentalnotepodcast.com
• Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com
• Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com
• Free Group Support: https://www.pathlightbh.com/support-groups
• Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199
• Nearly all substances and many addictive behaviors have 12-step meetings. Below are some examples, but you can search online for the national and local chapters nearest you.
  • www.aa.org
  • www.marijuana-anonymous.org
  • www.thesira.org - Self Harm
  • www.slaafws.org & www.slaa4poc.neocities.org - Sex and Love Addicts
  • www.recoverydharma.org
  • www.smartrecovery.org
  • www.celebraterecovery.com
  • www.lifering.org
  • www.moderation.org
  • Plus many others that may not be as well known, available, and/or regional

Close relationships set the tone for how we experience love and security. Yet, keeping those relationships healthy is rarely easy. Fortunately, Attachment Theory researchers have spent decades scrutinizing why we connect the way we do and what actions help make friendships, partnerships, and family bonds flourish.

For therapist, mama, and author Eli Harwood - aka Attachment Nerd - her journey into understanding attachment patterns was deeply personal. Her early life programmed her to believe that she could not consistently rely on her needs being met. As an adult, this belief severely impacted her ability to connect with others, prompting Eli to find the best tools for healing and growing new attachment patterns. She benefited from that growth so much that she spent the past 17 years inviting others to discover how fun and stress-free this transformation can be.

Today's show is all about understanding basic Attachment Patterns, how they affect our relationships, and how we can enjoy becoming more secure parents, friends, and humans.

Resources:

• Website - Click Here
• Instagram - @attachmentnerd
• Podcast - Click Here
• Book - Securely Attached - Click Here
• Free webinar - Click Here
• 2 Minute Attachment Quiz - Click Here
• Collection of coaching tips - Click Here
• Mental Note Podcast: www.mentalnotepodcast.com
• Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com
• Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com
• Free Group Support: https://www.pathlightbh.com/support-groups
• Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199

Today, we investigate Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) - a diagnosis that can be as confusing as its name suggests…

But fear not! We are lucky to have Dr. Michelle Jones as our guide. As a clinical psychologist who studied ARFID since it first became a diagnosis, she's uniquely qualified to distill years of research into succinct explanations. Together, we unpack all the fascinating ways ARFID affects our relationship with food, plus what to do if you or someone you love is diagnosed with it.

Resources:

• Book - Guide for Parents and Carers by Rachel Bryant-Waugh
• ARFID information: videos, resources, and treatment options - Click Here
• Quiz if you think you or a loved one have ARFID - Click Here
• Mental Note Podcast: www.mentalnotepodcast.com
• Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com
• Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com
• Free Group Support: eatingrecoverycenter.com/support-groups
• Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199

One chilly Maine morning, enveloped in a snowed-in cabin, musician DW sat at a piano recording a melody that had just popped into his brain. As he played, the phrase "I deserve to be well" tumbled out of his mouth in song.

He immediately broke down in tears asking, "Wow, do I really believe this?"

That question, and the ensuing album he created with his band The Collection, fueled an artistic journey to make sense of depression, the stigma of psychiatric medication, and asserting self-worth.

We sit down with David to hear his mental health story, why he chose to share it publicly, and enjoy a special performance of two new singles from The Collection's upcoming album.

_________________________________________________________________________________ Resources:

David's Links

• The Collection's Website: www.thecollectionband.com
• TikTok: @thecollectionband
• Instagram: @collectionband
• Link Tree: linktr.ee

Mental Note Podcast & Mental Health

• Mental Note Podcast: www.mentalnotepodcast.com
• Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com
• Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com
• Free Group Support: eatingrecoverycenter.com/support-groups
• Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199

The end of the calendar year packs a lot into a short amount of time and it can be easy to deprioritize your mental health in all that noise. One of the best ways to refocus on your values is to remember the ways you've grown this past year.

So to honor the journey of 2023, we created an audio mural using six short stories from listeners and past guests. Storytellers focus not only on specific challenges but also on how they have built resilience, fostered mental health, leaned on therapy, and tapped into community. Ultimately, these collective vignettes whisper a comforting reminder that we are not alone and that hope is stronger than defeat.

Storytellers

• Alex
• Carrie Zhang
• Eric Dorsa
• Gloria
• Jen Ponton
• Shay

Resources:

Mental Note Podcast: www.mentalnotepodcast.com

Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com

Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com

Free Group Support: eatingrecoverycenter.com/support-groups

Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199

Today's episode is all about giving you an incredibly practical tool for navigating emotion-focused conversations anywhere and with anyone. To do that, we've invited Dr. Allison Chase to walk us through Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT for short). Mostly, we will focus on Emotion Coaching - a skill that creates shortcuts between two very different parts of the brain. The results are powerful and can help you and your loved one feel connected and empowered rather than confused and upset. It's important to note that Dr. Chase discusses EFFT skills in the context of a caregiver's relationship with someone battling an eating disorder, but you can take EFFT skills into any relationship that gets sidetracked by intense emotional outbursts - be they at work, home, or out in the world. Resources:

• Dr. LaFrance's book: What to Say to Kids When Nothing Seems to Work: A Practical Guide for Parents and Caregivers
• Free Self-guided EFFT Learning Series
• EFFT Basics: Video
• Mental Note Podcast
• Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center
• Eating Recovery Center
• Navigating the Holiday Season with Resilience & Community Support Group
• Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199