2. Navigating Mental Health with a Metabolic Condition – with Dr Kendra Bjoraker

This month on Metabolically Speaking, we’re joined by pediatric neuropsychologist Dr. Kendra Bjoraker. With specialized expertise in rare genetic and metabolic conditions, Kendra has dedicated her career to supporting individuals and families as they navigate challenges, celebrate strengths, and hold onto hope.Kendra, and host Maridith Baker, dive into the realities of living with both a mental health condition and a metabolic condition, and how persistence, adaptation, and cognitive flexibility are essential parts of the journey. From formal definitions of depression and anxiety to stark statistics and practical coping strategies, Kendra sheds light on what it means to care for our mental health, just as we do our physical health, and how this can look different at every stage of life. She talks about the emotional, psychological, physical, and spiritual processes involved following lifelong and life changing diagnoses.At the heart of this conversation is connection and hope. Kendra leads us through her simple 5-4-3-2-1 activity to reset and recenter and shares with us her own quote on hope and the powerful story behind it; “When all you need is a drop of hope; and many times, a drop is all you have... For without hope there is nothing.”   Whether you are living with a lifelong condition or supporting a loved one, this episode offers validation, encouragement, and tools you can carry with you forever. If you'd like to know more after listening to this episode, you'll find resources and links in the show notes below. Thank you for joining our conversation.Show Notes • Find out more about Cambrooke:o Cambrooke About Page o Cambrooke LinkedIn o Cambrooke Instagram o Cambrooke Facebook • Get in touch with Cambrooke: o   [email protected] • Dr. Kendra Bjoraker: o   Bjoraker Neuropsychology Consultants, PLLC | neurological care• Maridith Baker:o      www.instagram.com/phenylketonuriaandmeo      www.linkedin.com/in/maridithbakero      www.facebook.com/maridith.bakerOrganizations that Educate and Offer HelpNational Alliance on Mental Illness 1-800-950-NAMI (1-800-950-6264)Anxiety and Depression Association of America 1-240-485-1001National Institute of Mental Health 1-866-615-6464Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Mental Health 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)American Psychological Association 1-800-374-2721American Psychiatric Association 1-703-907-7300https://www.anxiety.orghttp://www.childanxiety.nethttps://locator.apa.orgNational Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255