Beyond Well with Sheila Hamilton

This is a Re-Visit episode.Ivan Maisel is well-known as one of the country's experts on college football. But the terrain of grief was something he'd never explored in-depth until the suicide of his son, Max. Maisel's memoir, 'I Keep Trying to Catch His Eye', gives voice to the hundreds and thousands of families who have lost someone to suicide and explores in intimate detail the journey one takes in order to accept grieving as an act of love. 

A revisit with Dr. James Polo. He talks about the science behind seasonal affective disorder and why we need to attend to our diets, light exposure, and willingness to socialize during the winter months.

Nearly seventy-five percent of all Americans say they are experiencing election related stress. Dr. Greg Chasson is here to help us get through the coming weeks with evidence-based tools for stress reduction. 

No Stone Unturned. Ron Artis II, Radical Honesty.This episode features live musical performances and was recorded in September of 2019.At the time we noted that Ron Artis II was growing into a newly accessible and emotionally acute period of his life. His new album, Love is Love, was a departure from the funk and soul fans were accustomed to from his wildly popular band, Ron Artis II and the Truth, but its stunning lyrics and melodic sound reveal a growth Ron himself says he nearly missed, “From the age of thirteen to eighteen, while I was concentrating on becoming the best guitar player I could be, I thought emotions were something to be dispensed with, a distraction. I didn’t realize how much potential for creativity I was missing.”

This is a "No Stone Unturned Re-Visit episode.It is from 2019.This is a fun episode as it starts with a conversation with one of our Doctors about a "Silent Retreat" she had just experienced.It also has a bit of a political vibe because we talk to Mike Schmidt who at the time was running for Multnomah county district attorney with one of the most multi-dimensional views toward the criminalization of the mentally ill we’ve ever heard. Mike’s experience as an inner city school teacher informs his sense of justice and rehabilitation.Enjoy!

There is no shortage of evidence that the political divide in America stresses out Americans. From workplaces to families to the Thanksgiving table, there is internalized stress about how to talk about politics without alienating one another.Dr. Greg Chasson takes on the elephant in the living room: should we even try to bridge the divide?

Dr. Greg Chassen is an expert on perfectionism and OCD at the University of Chicago.In this episode, Dr. Chasson discusses the inherent pressure families feel to help their children succeed. The pressure begins as early as infancy, when mothers feel compelled to train their babies in utero, and continues through college, where many mothers and fathers demand their teens attempt to get into an Ivy League school. The CDC says the level of stress on families is in part due to this toxic achievement culture. Dr. Chassen offers strategies for breaking the stress cycle and reclaiming our families' lives and happiness. 

A No Stone Unturned episode.Originally Released in June 2019.Nyna Giles exposes the good and bad news about psychological suffering. Psychological suffering doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care who you are, how wealthy your friends are, how beautiful you are, or what circles you run it. Psychological suffering can and will affect us all. Of course, privileges give certain people access to resources that may help those people cope more effectively with the suffering life deals them, but the suffering will happen all the same. Nyna’s mother had all the trappings of the “perfect” life: she transcended her humble beginnings to become one of the “beautiful people,” hobnobbing with the rich and famous, including Grace Kelly, who she counted as her closest friend. And yet, psychological suffering, this time in the form of psychosis, came crashing down on that beautiful picture. As her mother’s world shrank, Nyna did what any child would do; she tried her very best to “save” her mom. But, of course, even our best attempts to save our loved ones often fail. But here’s the good news… Being able to live a life of meaning and purpose also does not discriminate. It doesn’t matter who we are, where we live, what forms of suffering life has given us, what we have done or what has been done to us, living whatever life we have been given in a way that is personally meaningful and has integrity for us is possible for every one of us. 

A No Stone Unturned Re-Visit.From September 2019.Lyme Disease is the fastest growing infectious disease in the world, eclipsing the HIV/Aids crisis by over 10X. It is now reported in all 50 states and 79 countries. The CDC estimates 400,000 new cases per year, but even that number is thought to be on the low end of the problem. Lyme has been reported to be associated with various psychiatric presentations because Borreliaburgdorferi can present with symptoms similar to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Because Lyme patients are so often misdiagnosed and mistreated, a higher level of risk to self and others is associated with multiple symptoms developing after acquiring LAD. 

Dr. Greg Chasson provides practical tools for young adults who are entering college. The ages of 18-25 are when a majority of mental illnesses are detected. What can you do to support your mental health now and when you are under intense pressure? 

Along with the information genetic testing can provide, it also delivers more questions and confusion. Alesia Weiss's own experience with an over-the-counter DNA kit in 2014 resulted in severe shock when she discovered that the man who’d raised her was not her genetic father. Learning the identity of her biological father took four long years of research and the news that he’d passed away years before her discovery will always be a profound source of sorrow for her. Because of this experience, Alesia has worked hard to support NPEs, the donor-conceived community, and adoptees in their fight to know their genetic history. Her service on behalf of this community includes genealogical research, education, networking and the provision of informed emotional support.1.  www.nursingfornpes.com  , or NPEN, is a website for anyone who needs assistance with deciphering their DNA , finding a therapist, looking for a mentor,  or just needing resources. 2.  www.facebook.com/groups/thisnpelife is a private FB community that is an incredible group of almost 4000 members that understand the pain personally and truly get it. 1.  www.nursingfornpes.com  or NPEN is my website for anyone who needs assistance with deciphering their DNA , finding a therapist, looking for a mentor,  or just needing resources. We also have the FB group that offers an incredibly supportive community-- 2.  www.facebook.com/groups/thisnpelife is our private FB community that is an incredible group of almost 4000 members that understand the pain personally and truly get it. 1.  www.nursingfornpes.com  or NPEN is my website for anyone who needs assistance with deciphering their DNA , finding a therapist, looking for a mentor,  or just needing resources. We also have the FB group that offers an incredibly supportive community-- 2.  www.facebook.com/groups/thisnpelife is a private FB community that is an incredible group of almost 4000 members that understand the pain personally and truly get it. 

A No Stone Unturned Episode.A re-visit from 2020.What's it like to be a Psychiatrist?Dr. Jim Polo has worked as a general physician, a child psychiatrist, an adult psychiatrist, and in a state hospital setting. He's now the Director of Behavioral Health for Cambia Health Solutions. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Polo about why he chose this specialty and what his biggest breakthroughs/disappointments have been.

How do you find a therapist once you’ve decided to seek help? And how do you assist young adults who need care when they are away at college? Dr. Greg Chasson provides a critical roadmap for accessing mental health services. 

No Stone Unturned.This is a revisit Beyond Well. It's one of our earliest shows from 2019. Edan Armas is an award-winning Spoken Word Artist and Poet and graduate of Stanford University. Armas was the 2019 Baccalaureate student speaker, and an outspoken voice on the topic of student mental Health. Edan’s undergraduate career focused on how emotion manifests in the body, mind and the  collective consciousness.  Edan encourages students to embrace both the tribulations and triumphs of the college experience, noting that the process of adulting is difficult—even painful, and how vulnerability became his superpower.

A No Stone Unturned episode from 2019.Ken Cervera's openness, his honesty and his path to wellness have all been informed by an immensely isolating period in his late twenties when he attempted to end his life. Ken drove his motorcycle through a Los Angeles intersection straight into an oncoming vehicle. Miraculously, both drivers escaped harm.  We believe suicide attempt survivors can be extremely helpful in understanding the suicide epidemic, the mindset of suicidal ideation, and why relationship-centered and evidence-based treatment is essential to recovery.  Ken Cervera is the host of Own Your Truth Podcast, a personal coach, and the Director of Wellness for Mind Health Institute, Pasadena.

A No Stone Unturned episode from 2019."A talk with Doctors, Do I need therapy?"We hire personal trainers to help us get in shape, tutors for difficult subjects, and music instructors to learn to master musical instruments.  So, why are people reluctant to hire a therapist, a person trained to help people better manage their minds? In this episode, Jenna, Sheila and Brian talk about how therapy works and what really goes on in therapeutic sessions.

Beyond Well No Stone Unturned.A re-visit episode from 2019.People are increasingly unsure about kids, and the US and European fertility rate is at an all time low. According to Pew Research, 1 in 5 people will remain childless. This week, the Beyond Well Team talk about the growing number of people who are intentionally childless. If you are attempting to decide whether to have children, this episode is for you. As a farm girl raised in eastern Oregon, Jackie ShannonHollis expected to become another someday. But, after several failed relationships, Jackie met the love of her life, a man who did not want children. In direct and intimate language, Hollis talks about her consideration of what to keep and what to abandon to make space for love. Her debut memoir, This Particular Happiness is receiving critical acclaim for its honesty, its poetry, and one woman’s ability to tell the truth about our most intimate desires.

Dr. Greg Chasson talks about Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, or DBT. DBT is a type of talk therapy (psychotherapy). It’s based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), but it’s specially adapted for people who experience emotions very intensely.“Dialectical” means combining opposite ideas. DBT focuses on helping people accept the reality of their lives and their behaviors, as well as helping them learn to change their lives, including their unhelpful behaviors.Dialectical behavior therapy was developed in the 1970s by Marsha Linehan, an American psychologist.

Doctors Jenna LeJune and Brian Goff.This show aired more than four years ago. We originally titled it “Why Therapy”. But in hindsight we easily could have called it “Why therapy could work for you and what to expect when you get there...Oh, and by the way there are different kinds of therapist approaches so, here’s what you could be looking for” It’s a Doctors only discussion and an interesting insider view from a couple of mental health care professionals. We hope you enjoy the episode. 

Doctors Jenna LeJune and Brian Goff. This show originally aired four years ago. We could easily refer to it as the more time moves on the more things stay the same. :)The subject matter: The political season is winding up into overdrive The noise machine on the Left is facing off with the noise Machine on the Right and the 24 hour News cycle is pummeling everyone with what we should be thinking about who, what and why you should be tuned in for the next big political story! We talked with the Doctors about how it’s ok to feel overwhelmed, It’s ok to have your own political feelings and ...perhaps most importantly... it’s ok to turn off the noise machine. Enjoy the episode. 

Logan Gore is a professional who lives with anxiety and panic attacks. She tried medicine, therapy, and many other forms of assistance. It wasn’t until Logan trained a mental health service animal that her symptoms subsided. Why dogs can be beneficial partners in bringing distressing episodes under control. 

Dr. Greg Chasson is an expert in cognitive behavioral therapy. Why has CBT become the gold standard for therapy? How does it work and what can you expect when you try it? Here’s your guide! 

Cathleen Beerkens is the founder of A Wellness Revolution and the author of Your Creator Matrix, where she shares new research and techniques to achieve optimal wellness. Your Creator Matrix is the interconnected framework that links your mind, body, and spirit on all levels (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual) with the Unified Field. When we master our stories—the deeply-held narratives and beliefs that influence all of our choices and creations—and learn how to digest our life experiences in new ways, we gain the power to choose new future timelines and manifest the wellness, abundance, and love we truly desire.In this thought-provoking book, researcher and integrative health coach Cathleen Beerkens shows us how quantum physics and the new sciences of epigenetics, glycobiology, and nutrigenetics can support us to create optimal cellular health, digest and assimilate our old storylines, nourish ourselves at all levels for optimal wellness, and begin to operate fully as the Creator in our lives for the good of all.

Dr. Greg Chasson is an expert in compulsive hoarding, or a persistent difficulty in parting with objects or belongings. Dr. Chasson explores the disorder in relation to ocd and offers advice to family members of people with hoarding behaviors. 

Hypnotherapy is now recognized as a credible alternative treatment for many mental health related disorders including addiction, anxiety, and depression. Sheila Webber, a skilled hypnotherapist, talks with Beyond Well about how hypnotherapy works, the therapeutic benefits of a hypnotic state, and how to find a skilled practitioner. You can learn more about Sheila’s practice at https://shifthypnosis.org/

Dr. Greg Chasson is a renowned psychologist and expert in cognitive-behavioral therapy. In his new book, Flawed: Why Perfectionism Is a Challenge for Management, he dissects perfectionism's double-edged nature and its often detrimental effects on productivity. As an Associate Professor and Director of Behavioral Interventions at the University of Chicago's Obsessive-Compulsive & Related Disorders Clinic, Dr. Chasson draws on extensive research and practical experience. 

Google compiles the most frequently asked questions regarding mental health, and the #1 question is: What is Anxiety?  Everyone has a different experience of anxiety but Dr. Leslie Dobson explains the most common symptoms of anxiety and the most effective, evidence-based treatments. 

We've uncovered a few of our favorite episodes that are hidden gems. Cheryl Strayed, a Beyond Well favorite, was kind enough to bring in her husband, Brian Lindstrom, aka Mr. Sugar.This conversation around relationships, marriage, and honoring your partner while maintaining some degree of independence has everything you want in a podcast; wisdom, humor, and really good advice. 

Leigh Brandon is a functional doctor who studies the connection between mental health and the microbiome. 

Dr. Leslie Dobson noticed a marked improvement in her patients during Covid when they were physically unable to spend time with people outside of their bubble. Then, as patients began socializing and working in person again, the same old anxiety, depression, and toxic stress reappeared. Dr. Dobson created "The Friend Cleanse" to help people decide who is giving you energy and who is sucking it away? Her deliberate decision-making rubric regarding how you spend your energy and with whom you spend it resulted in the book The Friend Cleanse. 

Physician, heal thyself is another way of saying, "We won't believe a word you say until you take care of what ails you." Dr. Elliot Trotter recognized the enormous problem of physician burnout and toxic stress decades ago and developed one solution to help; medical scribes who reduced the bureaucratic chronicling of patient/doctor meetings.Dr. Trotter talks about how physicians can reduce stigma, confront their own emotional and behavioral challenges, and support one another when so many in the medical profession say they are hurting. 

The New York Times recently investigated the proliferation of pedophiles who stalk minor’s instagram pages, accounts that are managed by the minor child’s parents. Reporters found high numbers of registered pedophiles who were not only liking and commenting on children's photos and videos, but saving them to their own personal profiles. What is a safe approach to social media for kids? Dr. Leslie Dobson weighs in. 

Stanford Medicine has announced results from the first U.S.-based clinical trial of the ketogenic diet for serious mental illness since 1965. The study showed dramatic improvements in both metabolic and mental health. Dr. Bret Scher is a cardiologist and the clinical director of Metabolic Mind. In this interview, Dr. Scher discusses the research into metabolism and mental health as well as the new scientific studies validating keto as a beneficial diet for people with brain disorders. 

Is your child exhibiting significant behavioral changes? Dr. Steven Whiteside joins us to talk about withdrawn kids and teens, and the steps parents can take if a teenager appears at risk of hurting themselves.

Dov Baron has quickly become one of my favorite podcast hosts. With his searing intellect and wide-ranging knowledge, his program allows the curious listener to learn from neuroscientists, philosophers, physicists, and not-so-regular people.Dov is the preeminent expert on Emotional Source Code: the beliefs that give people meaning, drive their actions, and determine results. He is a sought-after speaker and consultant and offers one-on-one coaching for some of the world's greatest business leaders.In this interview, Sheila talks with Dov about his daily practices for well-being, how early trauma formed his bounce-forward mentality and the habits we can all use to improve our performance and durability.  

Dr. Leslie Dobson talks about one of the most dangerous personality disorders; narcissistic abusers. Her advice for singles who believe they may be in relationship with an abuser ranges from how to detect lies to when and how to leave safely. It's a must listen episode with one of the nation’s foremost authorities on dangerous personality types.

Dr. Leslie Dobson talks about the methods she uses to determine whether someone is a psychopath, and she shares survival tactics for people who are involved with a psychopath in relationships or at work.

Dr. Stephen Whiteside specializes in anxiety disorders at the Mayo clinic. Bullying is so common in kids with anxiety disorders, Whiteside outlines a process for identifying the problem, enlisting help, and keeping your child safe.

As the founder and President of the Mindful Consulting Group, Dr. David Sitt specializes in the assessment and treatment of adults with ADHD, anxiety, and mood disorders through validated treatment modalities such as CBT and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).Dr. Sitt also advises corporate clients and educational institutions on the varied impacts of technology on productivity, brain functioning, and interpersonal communication. The Mindful Consulting team provides cognitive, psychoeducational, and neuropsychological evaluations for children and adults

Dr David Sitt talks with Sheila about adult onset Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and how adults can learn to work with their brains while minimizing stimulant medication. Dr. Sitt is a licensed clinical psychologist in New York City with extensive experience as a therapist, evaluator, and educator.As the founder and President of the Mindful Consulting Group, Dr. Sitt specializes in the assessment and treatment of adults with ADHD, anxiety, and mood disorders through validated treatment modalities such as CBT and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).Dr. Sitt also advises corporate clients and educational institutions on the varied impacts of technology on productivity, brain functioning, and interpersonal communication. The Mindful Consulting team provides cognitive, psychoeducational, and neuropsychological evaluations for children and adults

This is a ReVisit we recorded for Dry January in 2022.Many people are curious about what would happen if they stopped their drinking habit. Whether it's one glass of wine, or several cocktails a night, Dry January is gaining in popularity as people test the limits of their personal sobriety. What if you made the one biggest mistake of your life while under the influence? How do you rebuild a life without alcohol in a culture built around drinking? Angela Teuscher's story of drinking while parenting is riveting and serves as a cautionary tale for other parents.

Explosive behavior can be aggressive, defiant, or even violent. In this episode, Dr. Stephen Whiteside talks about the three-step process for bringing explosive behavior under control, including using warm attention, a structured reward system, and immediate consequences for bad behavior.To find out more about Dr. Whiteside's work at the Mayo Clinic, follow the Anxiety Coach at the Mayo Clinic. Here is his newest book: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-anxiety-coach-stephen-ph-whiteside-phd-lp/1142868466#:~:text=at%20Mayo%20Clinic.-,Dr.,with%20his%20wife%20and%20daughter.

Paul Anderson is the CEO and founder of Workhouse Media and a successful philanthropist, lawyer, and real estate investor. Paul’s remarkable story of surviving childhood trauma impacted his many coping mechanisms, including a strive-and-drive mentality, hyper-awareness and sensitivity, and a tenacious work ethic.How do we acknowledge the pain of past trauma while marshaling its undeniable gifts? Listen in:

This is a revisit Beyond Well. It's one of our earliest shows from 2019. Edan Armas is an award-winning Spoken Word Artist and Poet and graduate of Stanford University. Armas was the 2019 Baccalaureate student speaker, and an outspoken voice on the topic of student mental Health. Edan’s undergraduate career focused on how emotion manifests in the body, mind and the  collective consciousness.  Edan encourages students to embrace both the tribulations and triumphs of the college experience, noting that the process of adulting is difficult—even painful, and how vulnerability became his superpower.

Dr. Stephen Whiteside provides critical information and treatment alternatives for children suffering with anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder. 

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Stephen Whiteside, a child psychiatrist from the Mayo Clinic, to our program. Dr. Whiteside specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders for children and adolescents. In this episode, Dr. Whiteside addresses intrusive thoughts, related eating disorders, and the benefits of exposure therapy. 

This show is a revisit from 2021. But, it applies today.What if 2024 is the year you could really make the changes in your life? Dr. Jim Polo talks about the steps that are  necessary to make resolutions effective, and whether  psychology behind procrastination.  

Happy Holiday! There is nothing better than hearing old friends.In the fall of 2019 we had the opportunity to talk to Pop Superstar Lauv. He was just kicking off his How I’m Feeling Tour, and was using his global platform to promote mental health. In every show, Lauv took a few minutes to describe his descent into depression and severe OCD, and how he credits therapy and medication with allowing him to regain his creativity and confidence.  Lauv had partnered with Microsoft to create a worldwide mental health platform that connects people all over the globe. “No Matter where people are in the world, they can see that someone else is experiencing something really similar.”     Check out MyBlueThoughts.World and our blog of the concert at TheAnthem in D.C. @BeyondWellWithSheilaHamilton.com

Dr. Christine Gibson is a trauma specialist and is skilled in helping her patients navigate the most difficult experiences, including the triggering events from Thanksgiving to New Year. Why are the holidays so stressful for survivors of trauma? And what can you do to turn down the drama related to the holiday period? A beneficial episode for anyone who has been traumatized by abuse, violence, divorce, or family dysfunction. 

Chronic pain affects tens of millions of Americans and leaves many who are suffering without clinical or psychopharmaceutical support. Dr. Afton Hassett, author of Chronic Pain Reset, offers brilliant insight into the origins of pain, the different types of pain, and how we might all benefit from evidence-based methods for thinking about our pain differently. Please pass this episode along to anyone you know who has been suffering from Long Covid, Chronic Fatigue, Rheumatoid Arthritis, or Osteoarthritic pain.