Your home environment and mood are connected. So, take a moment and look at your home surroundings. How does your home make you feel? Anxious? Sad? Cagey? Whatever emotion just popped up for you likely has something to do with the interior of your home. Even if some negative feelings come up for you—fear not!—because we can use interior design as a therapy tool. In fact, therapist-turned-interior-design Anita Yokota swears by it! In this episode, Yokota teaches us how to identify the emotional climate of our homes and the interior design changes we can make to our homes look—and feel better. 

For more info visit: verywellmind.com/podcast

The Verywell Mind Podcast is produced by:

Minaa B., LMSW - Host

Kristen Altmeyer - GM/VP, Verywell Mind

Ayana Underwood - Associate Editor, Verywell Mind

Jeremiah McVay - Podcast Producer/Editor

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Conditions that last for a year or more and impair daily functioning are called chronic illnesses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some of the most common include heart disease, depression, and arthritis. Living with a chronic illness can be isolating and painful, however, treatment options are available.

In this episode, Nitika Chopra, founder and CEO of the chronic illness community Chronicon, details her debilitating psoriasis journey. Hear her discuss how she got through her most awful days and how cultivating community and self-love can help people with chronic illnesses live their best lives.

For more info visit: verywellmind.com/podcast

The Verywell Mind Podcast is produced by:

Minaa B., LMSW - Host

Kristen Altmeyer - GM/VP, Verywell Mind

Ayana Underwood - Associate Editor, Verywell Mind

Jeremiah McVay - Podcast Producer/Editor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When living with certain mental health conditions like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or substance use disorder, a common symptom is anhedonia—the inability to experience pleasure from the things that used to bring you joy.

In this episode, Dr. Judith Joseph aka "social media's favorite psychiatrist" talks about what anhedonia really looks like and how people experiencing it can ask for and get the help they need—and deserve.

For more info visit: verywellmind.com/podcast

The Verywell Mind Podcast is produced by:

Minaa B., LMSW - Host

Kristen Altmeyer - GM/VP, Verywell Mind

Ayana Underwood - Associate Editor, Verywell Mind

Jeremiah McVay - Podcast Producer/Editor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 We're excited to introduce Minaa B., who will be hosting a new season of the Verywell Mind podcast starting September 1st. This season, we will be focusing on the power of community and discussing topics such as friendships, navigating difficult relationships, and how to seek support for your mental health.

Minaa B. is a licensed social worker, mental health educator, and author of Owning Our Struggles: A Path to Healing and Finding Community in a Broken World. She's also a community care expert who helps people build healthy relationships and form connections.

Every Friday, she will be speaking with experts, wellness advocates, and individuals with lived experiences about community care and its impact on mental health. She'll also be answering listener questions to provide tools for building healthy connections.

Be sure to tune in every Friday for a new episode. You can find us wherever you listen to podcasts or online at verywellmind.com/podcast.

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Do you struggle to find healthy ways to deal with family dysfunction? If so, you're not alone. Therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab has some ideas on how to manage issues with friends and family without all the drama.

Some of the things she talks about today are recognizing when you're getting pulled into dysfunction, setting time boundaries, and dealing with privacy issues.

To learn more about Nedra, visit her website or check out her new best-selling book, Drama Free.

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Panic attacks involve an intense fear that comes out of the blue. It creates physical symptoms within the body, such as a rapid heart rate, dizziness, and sweating. Many people live in great fear of when they'll have another panic attack and often worry that it will happen in public.

Fortunately, there are some strategies that can help you get through a panic attack while also making the fear another one a lot less scary. The 5-4-3-2-1 strategy can help ground you when your body and your mind are in a state of sheer panic.

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Have you ever wondered why you keep dreaming that you're falling? Or have you ever dreamed that you showed up somewhere without your clothes on? If so, you're not alone.

And while you might try to brush off your dreams by telling yourself that they are just your brain telling stories while you're sleeping, there's evidence that suggests your dreams can have deeper meanings.

Jesse Lyon is a therapist and dream scientist. And on today's episode, he explains what some common dreams mean, how we can interpret our own dreams, and what insights we can gain from our dreams.

Check out DreamApp

Check out Jesse's website

Follow him on Instagram - @lyonmentalhealth

Follow him on TikTok - @lyonmentalhealth

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While it may come as no surprise that reading could be good for your cognitive health, a lot of research shows it can be good for your mental health. In fact, reading might even be good for your social life.

The good news is that you don't have to read for long to reap the benefits. There's some research that shows reading for just six minutes a day might make you a happier person.

Follow Amy on Instagram - @AmyMorinAuthor

Check out Amy's books on mental strength

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