Hello, friends! I hope you are all doing well. Special shout out to the moms out there this week! In this episode, I two awesome listener questions. 

Our first question comes from a listener who has been enjoying the podcast and requests an episode focused on "daddy issues." They express curiosity about the causes and potential solutions surrounding this concept. In response to this inquiry, we will delve into the complexities of "daddy issues," examining various contributing factors and discussing potential strategies for healing and personal development.

Moving on to our second question, a long-time listener writes in for the first time, sharing their ongoing struggle with severe social anxiety. They describe how their anxiety often leads to dissociation during conversations, causing them to make impulsive decisions to end interactions prematurely. Despite trying conventional treatments such as CBT, exposure therapy, medication, and group therapy, the listener feels disheartened by the lack of progress and wonders if there are other options available. We'll explore alternative approaches and offer insights on how to navigate social anxiety in a more empowering way.

As always, you can send me questions to [email protected] and find the show notes for this episode at http://duffthepsych.com/episode350

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Today's episode is brought to you by Mindbloom, the leader in at-home ketamine therapy for depression and anxiety. You can get $100 off your first treatment at http://mindbloom.com/duff with the code "duff". 

Hello, friends! In this episode, I answer two listener questions.   The first question is from a listener who has been with her boyfriend for over 10 years, but suspects he is a narcissist and compulsive liar. She believes that a car accident at 17, which resulted in physical injuries as well as a TBI, may have stunted his development. The listener is struggling with her boyfriend's lying behavior and wonders if he's lying about their relationship too. She asks how to deal with the lying and gaslighting, and how to tell if her boyfriend's love for her is genuine.   In the second question, a listener shares her concerns about her younger sister's emotional development, given their mother's unpredictable and intense reactions to normal child behavior. The listener worries about her sister's mental health and emotional growth, and wants her mother to be more gentle and understanding towards her. However, the listener is struggling with confronting her mother due to past fear of her reactions. She asks for advice on how to approach the situation.   As always, you can send your questions to [email protected], and find the show notes for this episode at http://duffthepsych.com/episode349.   -----   This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Don't lose yourself in the shuffle. Get linked up with a licensed therapist completely online and get 10% off your first month at http://betterhelp.com/duff

Like most of the world, I have been obsessed with AI tools such as ChatGPT. However, I think they are more than a gimmick. I have been using them every single day to help improve my work and personal life. In this episode, I walk you through the ways that I use ChatGPT and other AI models and I also provide you with some ideas about how you can use them to improve your own life and mental health.   As always, you can send me questions to [email protected] and find the show notes for this episode at http://duffthepsych.com/episode348   This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp - if you are in a position where you put yourself last and other first, you may be at risk of burnout. Get the help and perspective that you need from a licensed professional at betterhelp.com/duff for 10% off.

Hello, friends! This one is a bit of a doozy. Please be aware that the subject matter is somewhat more intense than other episodes recently. In this one, I tackle the following listener questions:

• Should I get treatment for my excessive concerns about germs and contamination? How can I re-engage socially with the continuing concerns about COVID-19?
• My partner violated my consent and sexual boundaries repeatedly, but they seem sorry and I still love them. What can I do?

As always, you can send me questions to [email protected] and find the show notes for this episode at http://duffthepsych.com/episode347

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Sponsors:

This episode is brought to you by Mindbloom - try at-home Ketamine therapy on your terms and get $100 off your first treatment at mindbloom.com/duff with the promo code duff.

This episode is also brought to you by Air Doctor. If you are in the market for an amazing air purifier, check out airdoctorpro.com and use the promo code duff for a whopping 40% off!

Hello, friends! In this episode, I tackle one awesome question from a listener. This person has treatment resistant depression and bipolar. Their mania is well-controlled, but they need a higher level of treatment for the depression. Their psychiatrist suggested either ketamine of electroconvulsive therapy, so in this episode, I break down everything you need to know about these treatments.   As always, you can send me questions to [email protected].

Hello, friends! I hope that you are taking good care of yourselves. We are back to the Q&A format this week with the following amazing listener questions:

• I am stable on bipolar medications, but I hate the side effects. What can I do?
• My CBT therapy just seems to worsen my mood. How can I make it more helpful?

As always, you can send me questions to [email protected]

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This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get affordable counseling from a licensed therapist completely online at http://betterhelp.com/duff 

Hey, friends! This episode is a little different. Rather than taking listener questions, I decided to share something that is working really well for me. I take you through a five-step process for doing what I like to call "self-therapy." This is usually done while I am in the car or walking the dog. I highly suggest you also talk out loud to yourself like a weirdo.

FYI: The website is still under construction. It broke badly and we need to rebuild it. It should be up and runing again soon. In the meantime, if you'd like to send me a question for an upcoming episode of the show, please shoot an email to [email protected]

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This episode is brought to you by AirDoctor. AirDoctor is an amazing air purifier that works quickly enough to circulate the air in an average room four times per hour. It also traps particles as small as 0.003 microns in size. Head over to http://airdoctorpro.com and use the promo code DUFF for up to 40% off (A value of up to $300).

Hello, friends! Huge apologies - the website is currently down. I hope that it is up again soon! In this episode, I answer the following questions:

• I dissociate whenever I try to talk about my feelings. How can I overcome this?
• Bad things seem to happen after I masturbate. Am I causing bad things to happen?

As always, you can send me questions to [email protected] and find the show notes for this episode at http://duffthepsych.com/episode343 (once the website is back up).

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Sponsor for this episode is Betterhelp. If you are like the individuals in this episode and could use some help with personal exploration, try professional therapy done completely online. Head over to betterhelp.com/duff for 10% off your first month.

I mention a resource for looking at spurious correlations in the episode. You can find that at https://www.tylervigen.com/spurious-correlations

 

Hello, everyone. I hope you are treating yourselves well. Q&A episode this week featuring the following great listener questions:

• I have had severe depression and suicidal ideation for the past 25 years and nothing is working. Aside from going into the hospital or an IOP program, what can I do?
• Can you talk about how the thyroid is related to mood and mental health?

As always, you can send me questions to [email protected] and find the show notes for this episode at http://duffthepsych.com/episode342

No sponsors this week, so be sure to go check out my author page to find more resources!

Hello, friends! Short and sweet Q&A episode here. Before jumping into the questions, I share a couple strategies that are working well for me right now. Then, I cover the following questions:

• As a teenager, will my therapist have to report if I tell them about my parents abusing me?
• I am a therapist and found a new position that will allow me to make a better living, but it means my fees will increase. How can I deal with this?

As always, you can send me questions to [email protected] and find the show notes for this episode at http://duffthepsych.com/episode341

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This episode of Hardcore Self Help is sponsored by BetterHelp.

If you are in a mental health slump, consider reaching out to a licensed professional to help. BetterHelp has a large counselor network and you can begin chatting with someone very quickly. Check out betterhelp.com/duff to get 10% off your first month.