The Mind Deconstructed: Mental Health and Wellness

With the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, racial injustice, winter upon us, and a highly contentious election, are you experiencing a sense of 'impending doom'? Many people are describing intense, ongoing stress and exhaustion related to their circumstances. Individuals can experience a sense of 'impending doom' related to an anxiety or panic disorder, but of course can also experience this sensation when faced with a threatening situation. 

Dr. Kaz and George discuss our shared sense of 'impending doom', including our natural tendency to 'doomscroll'. What are the consequences of this type of stress? Make your voice heard through voting and remember, Mental Health is on the ballot!

Dr. Kaz and George discuss a painful truth facing our society. Racism and discrimination persist. As witnessed through the death of George Floyd and many others, racism has deadly consequences. In what other ways are individuals and communities impacted by  discrimination, marginalization and racism?  Dr. Kaz and George explore mental health outcomes. How can we work together to be part of the solution?

In this episode of The Mind Deconstructed Podcast, Dr. Kaz and George check in with the listeners. Are you OK? We have been isolating for nearly 8 weeks to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. People are experiencing varying degrees of stress. We are bracing for a wave of mental health symptoms as a result of this crisis. Alcohol use for people isolated at home is increasing. How many "quarantinis" are too many? Enter the "judgement free zone" and hear the facts.

Dr. Kaz takes a moment to connect with the podcast audience in this special edition of The Mind Deconstructed Podcast during this time of stress and upheaval related to our collective efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus known as COVID-19. Dr. Kaz describes four key ways in which this global pandemic may be impacting individuals' mental health, along with specific steps to take to mitigate the impact of stress, grief, isolation and panic. Recorded on March 13th, 2020.

Dr. Kaz and George acknowledge the current hot topic in mental health: the widespread fear and concern regarding COVID-19, the novel coronavirus which has impacted people in several areas across the globe. How much concern is too much?

On this episode, Dr. Kaz takes this opportunity to demystify a therapy which has been misportrayed in film and television and misunderstood by the general public for decades. What exactly is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)? What happens during this procedure? For what type of conditions is ECT recommended? Learn the facts!

Dr. Kaz and George and back at the microphone and explore the impact of sunlight and screen light exposure on our brains. Are our moods sensitive to the season? Does screen exposure impact our sleep quality? How does the brain respond to various kinds of light exposure? Learn about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)! 

What is Impostor Syndrome? In this case, we are not discussing a diagnosable mental illness. Impostor Syndrome a common feeling people describe in the course of their work or social life. Automatic thoughts experienced by people with Impostor Syndrome include, "I don't belong here", "I'm not qualified to do this", "I was let in to this program or team by mistake", and "Everyone else is feeling secure and I am the only one struggling in this situation". What is the cause of Impostor Syndrome and what are some first steps in pushing back against these automatic assumptions when these assumptions are not supported by facts or evidence? Dr. Kaz and George share the basics of this commonly experienced phenomenon!

Public figures, such as Carrie Fisher, have shared about their lived experience with bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is common and easily mistaken for other types of mood disorders. What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder and how is bipolar disorder different from other types of mental illness? What are common treatments? What are some of the barriers to helping someone who may be experiencing a manic episode?

Meet Dr. Kaz at the Minnesota State Fair as part of Mental Health Awareness Day on Monday August 26, 2019 at Dan Patch Park.

In this episode we describe some of the support services provided by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). To learn more about this organization or to contribute, please visit www.nami.org or www.namimn.org for the Minnesota Chapter.

The importance of mental health is constantly in the headlines, as prominent public figures such as Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Britney Spears share about their mental health challenges on social media and other platforms. 

Healthy sleep is critical for physical and mental health. For many people, nightmares and dream-related content can severely impact sleep. What makes a dream a nightmare and why do nightmares happen? Dr. Kaz and George share their reoccurring nightmares and discuss practical information on how health professionals have worked to develop medication and other strategies to effectively reduce the frequency and intensity of nightmares. 

Will the medication class of benzodiazepines follow in the footsteps of opioids as the next harmful medication epidemic? In this first episode of Season 2 of The Mind Deconstructed Podcast, Dr. Kaz and George confront this controversial subject. Twelve percent of the United States population is prescribed a medication in this class every year. We explore the risks and benefits. You decide!