Omicron, Depression, Imposter Syndrome, Benzos, Insomnia (w/Dr. Rachel Zoffness)

Episode 2 of our Pain Points series with the OTHER Dr. Z! In this episode we dive deep into what "mild" Omicron infection means, why depression is biopsychosocial ALWAYS, how to manage imposter syndrome & insomnia, and why benzodiazepine medications are often a disaster. Video, transcript and more: https://zdoggmd.com/pain-points-2/ See all our episodes with Dr. Rachel Z here. Grab her outstanding Pain Management Workbook here. Find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Topics & Timecodes: 00:00 Intro 03:51 Rachel got the Big O (Omicron) & post-infection immunity 08:31 Why a mild case still sucks, the anxiety contagion, public health communication 14:20 Placebo vs nocebo, why words make a difference in suffering 22:25 Long COVID vs long tail symptoms, cognitive distortions 27:15 "Bug chasing" & why it's a bad idea 31:07 Depression, reductionism & the biomedical model of health 38:15 The psych bubble, role of thoughts, emotions & coping behaviors 48:27 The social bubble, role of relationships, isolation, & other factors 51:47 Depression's complex nature & treatment tools 58:14 What is imposter syndrome & why it's so common 1:05:20 4 steps to overcoming imposter syndrome 1:16:31 The dark side of benzodiazepines & why they're not a magic cure 1:20:01 Alcohol, THC, medications & insomnia 1:28:09 Sunlight, stimulants & what to do if you can't sleep 1:38:42 Napping, melatonin & treatment of underlying factors 1:41:28 Final thoughts, submitting your questions for future episodes Video archive, audio podcast, music parodies, Supporter Tribe membership, merch, social media, and email: https://lnk.bio/zdoggmd Support us with a 1-time donation and get a personal email thank you from me: paypal.me/zdoggmd More about Dr. Z: zdoggmd.com/about-z   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices