How to Be Patient

Margaret is back and today our episode pulls themes from Carol Dweck’s work and book Growth Mindset, as well as a favorite sophisticated film: Kung Fu Panda. In this episode, Margaret and Preston discuss a frame to make sense of the obstacles we meet as we change levels of training, weather you’re starting med school, doing a post doc, or changing jobs. We walk through phases of growing, including failing, flailing, and flourishing, and give examples along the way from our growth-minded Panda friend.  Check out some info on Dr. Dweck’s work: https://ctl.stanford.edu/students/growth-mindset Check out a paper as well from a few years ago on limitations/evolving learning on growth mindset as a frame (we love nuance here):  Yeager DS, Dweck CS. What can be learned from growth mindset controversies? Am Psychol. 2020 Dec;75(9):1269-1284. doi: 10.1037/amp0000794. PMID: 33382294; PMCID: PMC8299535. Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Episode 15, Preston and Margaret open a bottle—of questions, stories, and science—about alcohol use disorder. What do we get wrong about “moderate” drinking? Why is detox more dangerous than most people realize? And how does alcohol quietly reshape identity, relationships, and the brain itself? With their signature blend of honesty and humor, they explore the unexpected ways drinking shows up in medicine, the myths that keep us stuck, and the messy, meaningful path to redefining recovery. Takeaways: What if “just a drink” isn’t so simple? Preston and Margaret explore how subtle patterns can blur the line between social drinking and something more. Could quitting be more dangerous than drinking? There’s a reason detox needs to be taken seriously—and it’s not what you think. What does alcohol really do to your brain? Let’s just say it’s a little more complicated than relaxation and red wine. Why don’t we talk about medication for alcohol use disorder? The answers are as cultural as they are clinical. Is recovery a destination—or something else entirely? Margaret and Preston unpack a version of success that doesn’t always fit the script. Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠howtobepatientpod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode we bring on Dr. Campbell Sullivan, PsyD to discuss the interesting field of neuropsychology, a complicated niche that focuses on eliciting deficits in cognition across patters of disease. We discuss the triumphs of her field as they collaborate with both psychiatry and neurology and then get into the places she sees room for improvement, particularly in how we assess and treat cognition in the aging female brain. Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this preston-led episode, we take a deep dive into the history of lithium and its use in psychiatry. But because Preston is very literal, we are starting at the very beginning, inside of stars where lithium was formed at the beginning of the universe. Then we will follow this wonderful atom through history and past its FDA approval in 1970 to where we are today.  Takeaways: Lithium was once sold in Seven Up as a mood-lifting ingredient—but the consequences were messy. A forgotten Australian psychiatrist helped launch lithium into psychiatry with groundbreaking trials. Despite its toxicity risks, lithium remains the gold standard for reducing relapse and suicidality. U.S. psychiatrists resisted lithium for decades—even as Europe embraced it. Preston and Margaret debate lithium’s place today: miracle stabilizer or underused relic? Citations: ⁠https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0025556484901160⁠ Shorter E. The history of lithium therapy. Bipolar Disord. 2009 Jun;11 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):4-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-5618.2009.00706.x. PMID: 19538681; PMCID: PMC3712976.⁠https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3712976/⁠ Fowler, Gene. Crazy Water: The Story of Mineral Wells and Other Texas Health Resorts. No. 10. TCU Press, 1991. -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of historical psychiatric diagnoses we continue the “arc” (get it) with the story of a young girl with vivid hallucinations who galvanized the French army and a wise king who lost his sanity late in life. The interesting thing about these cases, however, is that they may have more underlying medical issues and in fact, the psychospiritual and somatic issues of the past are just as intertwined as they are today. Even to the point where we have to correct ourselves and realize that we may have been calling these incorrectly for a while. Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're pulling a throwback from season two for this one, and it's the episode I will go to the mat for as one of the most clinically useful hours of psychiatry content we've ever put out. Margaret literally calculates QTc off this episode every time she's on call and her CL attending called her out for it the other day, like, "Look at her recalculating." So when she said we should bring this one back, I didn't argue. If you're a resident, an attending who consults psych in the hospital, or a patient or family member trying to understand what it means to live after a cardiac event, start here. Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we'll talk through this one study from 2010 out of the Oxford Department of Experimental Psychology, "Task-related default mode network modulation and inhibitory control in ADHD: effects of motivation and methylphenidate", that I want to walk you through, because the way it reframed ADHD for me as a resident is one of the more useful brain-flips I've had this year. References: Liddle, E.B., Hollis, C., Batty, M.J., Groom, M.J., Totman, J.J., Liotti, M., Scerif, G. and Liddle, P.F. (2011), Task-related default mode network modulation and inhibitory control in ADHD: effects of motivation and methylphenidate. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 52: 761-771. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2010.02333.x https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/GTA8CCG95X9ZJTK7H6XA?target=10.1111/j.1469-7610.2010.02333.x Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're going back to one of our oldies but besties. This is our motivational interviewing episode from season one, which Margaret and I both agree is probably the best episode we made that whole first run. And it holds up, maybe even better now that we're further along in training and have actually used a lot of these tools in real clinical work. If you're a trainee, an educator, or just someone who's ever tried to gently move a person you love toward a change they keep half-saying they want, start here. Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I figured we'd do something I've been wanting to do for a while: story time. Specifically, the kind where I take some of history's most famous figures, walk you through what actually happened to them, and then put on my psychiatry resident hat and try to figure out what we'd actually diagnose them with today. We will be analyzing King of France, Charles VI and Mary Todd Lincoln. Get ready to hear me yap about psychiatric history! Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're doing a throwback! This was our second episode ever, way back when I was at the beginning of fourth year of med school and Margaret and I were still figuring out the rhythm of this whole podcast thing. I'm now at the end of my first year of child fellowship, and somehow attachment theory keeps coming back around no matter what lens I try to look through, existential therapy, child psych, even our death anxiety episode. Pretty much every road leads back to it. So we wanted to bring it back, dust it off, and let y'all hear where we started. Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we are joined by my coresident, @undercoverdoc who has a special interested in fitness culture and bodybuilding. With the protein intake, food weighing and gym discipline also comes “extracurriculars,” or anabolic steroids. Rob describes his observationss being in the fitness space as both an athlete and a physician and we discuss the impact of steroid use, its prevalence and what it can actually look like.  Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Code ORANGE. We had to break the between-seasons hiatus for this one. If you've been on healthcare TikTok in the last month and you haven't seen the burnt-out fruit basket emerging, you have some catching up to do. And it all started with Dr. Orange. Margaret and I sat down with the anonymous primary care doctor behind the orange filter that's been unleashing the truest, funniest, most honest takes on what it's actually like to practice medicine in 2026. We get into all of it. Why she finally hit record. How she picked an orange. What she actually wishes she could change about her day-to-day if she had a magic wand. Her thoughts on direct pay, PSLF golden handcuffs, and the unhinged loyalty arc she's developing toward Tropicana. Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we wrap up Season 3, Margaret and I are looking back at the long journey from our first late-night recording sessions in 2025 to where we are now: mid-fellowship for Margaret and fourth year for me. This season wasn't just about "yapping"; it was a masterclass in learning how to podcast and excavating the narratives hidden inside clinical papers. Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod Go to Cozy Earth now for a Buy One Get One Free Pajama Offer from 1/25-2/8! Yes, go to ⁠⁠cozyearth.com⁠⁠ they are doing a BOGO pajama promo. Just use my Code: PATIENTBOGO -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the final episode of a four part series on existential psychotherapy, Margaret and I take on the problem of meaning. This one is a little different that the other problems of man but they all intertwine like a single cable when it comes to living your life. Join us for discussion of philosophy, purpose and how to talk to your patients about your questions of meaninglessness.  chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.carepatron.com/files/purpose-in-life-test.pdf Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod Go to Cozy Earth now for a Buy One Get One Free Pajama Offer from 1/25-2/8! Yes, go to ⁠⁠cozyearth.com⁠⁠ they are doing a BOGO pajama promo. Just use my Code: PATIENTBOGO -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Margaret and I decided to tackle the questions that have been circling our DMs, including the controversial continuum of harm reduction, where does "good enough" care end and "enabling" begin? We also touch on the complexities of diagnosing autism across genders, the "stolen valor" of internet neuroscientists, and why I’m convinced that oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) might sometimes just be a side effect of adults who’ve forgotten how to listen. Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod Go to Cozy Earth now for a Buy One Get One Free Pajama Offer from 1/25-2/8! Yes, go to ⁠⁠cozyearth.com⁠⁠ they are doing a BOGO pajama promo. Just use my Code: PATIENTBOGO -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m flying solo for most of this one while Margaret is off saving dolphins (or just finishing a hospital admission ), but I’ve brought in a heavy hitter to help me tackle one of the most awkward parts of medical training: feedback. Paul Tran, the creative force behind Alimentary School, joins me to discuss why the feedback we give and receive in the clinic usually, to put it bluntly, sucks. We dive into the "Politeness Concept," where supervisors give a quick "good job" just to save face and get out of the room, leaving learners with zero actionable data. Paul introduces the concept of "Wise Feedback", 19 words that can completely change how a student engages with their work, and we break down the "Four T’s" of delivery: Tact, Timing, Intent, and Tone. From the trauma of childhood soccer critiques about our noses to the "glass-shattering" realizations of a former competitive figure skater, this episode is about turning subjective observations into meaningful coaching. Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod Go to Cozy Earth now for a Buy One Get One Free Pajama Offer from 1/25-2/8! Yes, go to ⁠⁠cozyearth.com⁠⁠ they are doing a BOGO pajama promo. Just use my Code: PATIENTBOGO -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this journal club episode, we break down the recent findings from a landmark (in my opinion) study on the associated risks between caffeine consumption and dementia risk. Spoiler alert! More coffee might actually be protective against dementia; however, we need to take these findings with a grain of salt (or creamer) and understand how the nuance of this information can help both our lives and our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases.  Zhang Y, Liu Y, Li Y, et al. Coffee and Tea Intake, Dementia Risk, and Cognitive Function. JAMA. 2026;335(11):961–974. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.27259 Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod Go to Cozy Earth now for a Buy One Get One Free Pajama Offer from 1/25-2/8! Yes, go to ⁠⁠cozyearth.com⁠⁠ they are doing a BOGO pajama promo. Just use my Code: PATIENTBOGO -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A topic that we were silent on during our Aphasia episode was the importance of Speech-Language Pathologists in the care of patients with Aphasia and, more broadly, throughout different types of care for patients in the hospital, in rehab, and outpatient. Today, we are joined by SLPs and co-hosts of Speech Talk Eva Johnson and Emily Brady to ask all our questions about how SLPs approach cognition, dysphasia, and values in care. Check out their podcast (which is also part of the Human Content family!) at Speech Talk!  Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod If you’re ready to simplify the business side of your practice, now the perfect time to try SimplePractice. Do it with me! Start with a 7-day free trial, then get 50% off your first three months. Just go to http://www.SimplePractice.com to claim the offer. -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spoiler Alert! The key to not feeling isolated is to (wait for it) be around other people! Humans are naturally driven social creatures, but the ways in which we attempt to run from isolation become the problem. In this episode, we discuss how isolation is an ever-present fear, how existential isolation differs from interpersonal and intrapersonal isolation, and how meaningful, balanced relationships can form to fill the void. In our Patreon section, Margaret and I review some of Carl Rogers ' therapy film (play by play) in his humanistic approach to therapy with a central emphasis on relationship Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod Go to Cozy Earth now for a Buy One Get One Free Pajama Offer from 1/25-2/8! Yes, go to ⁠⁠cozyearth.com⁠⁠ they are doing a BOGO pajama promo. Just use my Code: PATIENTBOGO If you’re ready to simplify the business side of your practice, now the perfect time to try SimplePractice. Do it with me! Start with a 7-day free trial, then get 50% off your first three months. Just go to http://www.SimplePractice.com to claim the offer. -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the second part of our intro to DBT episodes, we welcome expert education and DBT clinician, Dr. Kiki Fehling. We talk about how Dr. Fehling found DBT, how her teaching made it to TikTok, and then get into cases about how to talk about DBT with patients and what an introductory session might sound like. In our Patreon section, we go further into some favorite exercises in DBT with Dr. Fehling. Oh, Margaret also has to walk back an error she made on the previous DBT episode, and Preston gets to enjoy seeing Margaret be wrong.  Check out the full uninterrupted episode and bonus segments every week at our Patreon, ⁠https://www.patreon.com/howtobepatientpod⁠. Check out Dr. Fehling’s book and work at ⁠https://www.kikifehling.com/books⁠. -- If you’re ready to simplify the business side of your practice, now the perfect time to try SimplePractice. Do it with me! Start with a 7-day free trial, then get 50% off your first three months. Just go to http://www.SimplePractice.com to claim the offer. - Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I sit down with Amine (whyamino) a med student and content creator who recently went viral for his skits about engaging with patients from different cultural backgrounds. Due to pressure and complaints of “promoting stereotypes,” the content was eventually taken down. The audience feels some ambivalence about this, and it raises questions about portrayal and stereotypes, is their portrayal uniformly bad or can demonstrating a knowledge and nuance of a subgroup through humor be a way to demonstrate cultural and, by extension, clinical competency? Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod Go to Cozy Earth now for a Buy One Get One Free Pajama Offer from 1/25-2/8! Yes, go to ⁠⁠cozyearth.com⁠⁠ they are doing a BOGO pajama promo. Just use my Code: PATIENTBOGO -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today Margaret and I take on our own freedom in today’s episode, which is part 2 of a 4-part series on Existential Psychotherapy. The existential postulate that we are all ultimately free to make our own decisions (and therefore must live with those decisions) can be a source of distress but also a path to the pursuit of a meaningful life - it all comes down to how you go about it. And we will chat about it all, freely. Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In preparation for a more thorough DBT episode with experts in the field, Margaret leads us through a “DBT 101” covering the essentially axioms of dialectical behavioral therapy along with the pillars of mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness. Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod Go to Cozy Earth now for a Buy One Get One Free Pajama Offer from 1/25-2/8! Yes, go to ⁠⁠cozyearth.com⁠⁠ they are doing a BOGO pajama promo. Just use my Code: PATIENTBOGO -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we explore the current political climate and the possibility of the return of institutionalized mental health care. Though this is not a political podcast (I think Preston says that 5 times) , all of medicine is political,and it’s important to discuss the overlap.  Tune in to the Patreon section to directly support the creators and for more discussion about how institutionalization is handled in other countries! Citations: Japanese Psych Care https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7607734/#:~:text=other%20OECD%20countries-,The%20mean%20length%20of%20stay%20in%20psychiatric%20care%20beds%20in,highest%20percentage%20ever%20%5B11%5D OECD Stats https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/a-new-benchmark-for-mental-health-systems_4ed890f6-en/full-report/component-4.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168851023002300?utm_source=chatgpt.com https://www.scribd.com/document/632946247/WikerTS-2019-Supportedaccomodationforpeoplewithschizophrenia Ruud T, Friis S. Community-based Mental Health Services in Norway. Consort Psychiatr. 2021 Mar 20;2(1):47-54. doi: 10.17816/CP43. PMID: 38601095; PMCID: PMC11003347. Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Margaret and Preston cover one of their most-requested clinical topics: diagnosing and treating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD. Along the way, we review popular TikToks about OCD, including one Margaret made, and offer evidence-based approaches to treating OCD, along with a message of hope for anyone struggling with it.  Clinical guidelines Mentioned by Margaret International OCD Foundation Treatment Guidelines (APA has an older one, not recently updated) https://iocdf.org/ocd-treatment-guide/ AACAP Practice Parameter https://www.jaacap.org/article/S0890-8567(11)00882-3/fulltext AACAP Recommended Guideline https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/products/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/protocol Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod If you’re ready to simplify the business side of your practice, now the perfect time to try SimplePractice. Do it with me! Start with a 7-day free trial, then get 50% off your first three months. Just go to http://www.SimplePractice.com to claim the offer. Go to Cozy Earth now for a Buy One Get One Free Pajama Offer from 1/25-2/8! Yes, go to ⁠⁠cozyearth.com⁠⁠ they are doing a BOGO pajama promo. Just use my Code: PATIENTBOGO -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we try to tackle the easy and simple topic of death. Inspired by the writings of Irvin Yalom in Existential Psychotherapy, Preston attempts to describe the four maxims of existentialist theory in therapy and how they may apply to patients. Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod If you’re ready to simplify the business side of your practice, now the perfect time to try SimplePractice. Do it with me! Start with a 7-day free trial, then get 50% off your first three months. Just go to http://www.SimplePractice.com to claim the offer. -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Margaret and I are joined by the legendary host of the podcast Psychiatry Bootcamp, Dr. Mark Mullen. As a clerkship director of the psychiatry rotation himself, Dr. Mullen adds his insights as we discuss the “high yield” (if you will) tips to learning and transitioning into residency. We share our triumphs and failures as interns and indulge you with our new segment called “5-minute chalk talks!”  Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod If you’re ready to simplify the business side of your practice, now the perfect time to try SimplePractice. Do it with me! Start with a 7-day free trial, then get 50% off your first three months. Just go to http://www.SimplePractice.com to claim the offer. Go to Cozy Earth now for a Buy One Get One Free Pajama Offer from 1/25-2/8! Yes, go to ⁠cozyearth.com⁠ they are doing a BOGO pajama promo. Just use my Code: PATIENTBOGO -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, which could be titled “Neurocognitive Assessments for Silly, Cool, Fun People” (that’s us—we are the silly, cool, fun people), Margaret and I describe five neurocognitive domains often used in psychometric testing. We also cover the associated simple yet elegant tests you can do at the bedside. These tests help provide better insight into the functioning of certain regions of the brain and the underlying processes of cognition. Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod If you’re ready to simplify the business side of your practice, now the perfect time to try SimplePractice. Do it with me! Start with a 7-day free trial, then get 50% off your first three months. Just go to http://www.SimplePractice.com to claim the offer. -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of HBP, we interview Brooke Resche (CookwithDrBrooke on TikTok and Instagram) and answer some of your questions of how to feed yourself to help your brain, even when struggling with ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, or stress. We get into concrete strategies for each difficulty one might have with getting meals together and eating, and talk with Dr. Brooke about tips she uses with patients and how to talk about food and food habits.  Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod Go to Cozy Earth now for a Buy One Get One Free Pajama Offer from 1/25-2/8! Yes, go to cozyearth.com they are doing a BOGO pajama promo. Just use my Code: PATIENTBOGO -- Want more Amanda Stuckey Dodson All socials: @nestingyourlife  -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Margaret and I do our best to define the elusive diagnosis of dementia. We describe what the actual clinical definition of the cognitive disability is, explore the most common types of diseases that can cause dementia, and how to pick up on them clinically, especially when they start to look like other illnesses.  Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod -- Want more Amanda Stuckey Dodson All socials: @nestingyourlife  -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s one thing to think about optimal routines, and the internet is often very fixated on the “best”, but what about when you’re stressed, burnt out, or struggling with your mental health? On this episode, we have a conversation with clinical social worker and life skills specialist Amanda Stuckey Dodson to discuss how to care for yourself or someone you love when motivation, health, or just general stress have taken over. This episode centers on all the skills, tools, and mindsets she writes about in her new book, out now, Tidying the Abyss, and on her TikTok and Instagram @nestingyour life. Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod -- Want more Amanda Stuckey Dodson All socials: @nestingyourlife  -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we present to you our first Journal Club episode, in which we feature a primary author of an important piece of research. Online, content supercedes context, and when it comes to emerging hypothesis around big topics–like AI–this loss of context can lead to polarizing views. Today, we are excited to share a longer form interview with one of the leads of the MIT Media Lab’s study that was published as a pre-print this summer: Your Brain on ChatGPT.  Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod Citations: Primary Paper and FAQ’s from MIT team : https://www.brainonllm.com/ Unesco 2025 ethics of neurotechnology draft: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000394866/PDF/394866eng.pdf.multi -- Want more Nataliya Kosmyna: https://x.com/nataliyakosmyna ; https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliekosmina/ ; https://www.instagram.com/nataliyakosmyna/ ; https://mastodon.social/@nataliyakosmyna and @nataliyakosmyna.bsky.social‬ . -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back for season 3! For our first episode, we have on a food scientist to discuss from the industry side food myths, which we combine with our own readings from the psychiatry literature. We touch on red dye 40, the minerals in the soil, and how to slow down information from social media grocery store aisle walkers.  For our bonus section with Hydroxide, check our Patreon, where this season we will have bonus segments for each episode! Funding through patreon lets us make this podcast sustainable.  Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod -- Want more Hydroxide: All socials: @hydroxide.foodscience -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Margaret and I pivot into mentor mode a little in this episode, it’s targeted towards medical students and the vicissitudes of the match. We know these are tough times and we wanted to share some advice about what to look for in a psych program and how to pick a  place to train that is right for you. We also debrief the end of season 2 and take a wrap on 40 episodes! As always, thank you for listening! -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

By popular demand, Margaret and Preston are back with another therapy episode. The topic this week? Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a third wave behavioral therapy that Margaret happens to be trained in and love for her patients and her own life. In this episode we talk about the founder of ACT and its roots in behaviorism, what an ACT therapist “sounds like”, and the 6 core processes of psychological flexibility that encompass what this type of therapy does. Finally, Margaret and Preston go through their own values, and try to apply the ACT principles to two particular problems in their own lives.  Resources: Book for clinicians: ACT in Steps by Clarissa W. Ong, Michael E. Levin, and Michael P. Twohig Book for all: The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris, ACT Made Simple by Russ Harris Quick explanations from the ACT official website: https://contextualscience.org/the_six_core_processes_of_act Citations: Chapter cited for history/explanation of theory for ACT: Hayes, S.C., Strosahl, K.D., Bunting, K., Twohig, M., Wilson, K.G. (2004). What Is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?. In: Hayes, S.C., Strosahl, K.D. (eds) A Practical Guide to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-23369-7_1 Process Based Therapy: Hofmann SG, Hayes SC. The Future of Intervention Science: Process-Based Therapy. Clin Psychol Sci. 2019 Jan;7(1):37-50. doi: 10.1177/2167702618772296. Epub 2018 May 29. PMID: 30713811; PMCID: PMC6350520.Encyclopedia of Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Editors: Arthur Freeman, Stephanie H. Felgoise, Christine M. Nezu, Arthur M. Nezu, Mark A. Reinecke. -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we bring on Kristin Flanary, who is currently doing her own investigation into dissociations associated with trauma from both her own experience as a survivor and as an academic. We discuss the current media landscape of trauma and dissociation, the neurological mechanisms of dissociation, and therapeutic approaches clinicians can use with a patient who is experiencing dissociation. Citations: Modesti MN, Rapisarda L, Capriotti G, Del Casale A. Functional Neuroimaging in Dissociative Disorders: A Systematic Review. J Pers Med. 2022;12(9):1405. Published 2022 Aug 29. doi:10.3390/jpm12091405 Tisserand A, Philippi N, Botzung A, Blanc F. Me, Myself and My Insula: An Oasis in the Forefront of Self-Consciousness. Biology (Basel). 2023;12(4):599. Published 2023 Apr 14. doi:10.3390/biology12040599 McIntyre CK, McGaugh JL, Williams CL. Interacting brain systems modulate memory consolidation. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2012;36(7):1750-1762. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2011.11.001 -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we are joined by the host of the “calling in sick” a pod run by our good friend Alex (familiarly) to discuss the rigamoroll that is navigating the healthcare system through the eyes of a patient with debilitatig conditions. Alex shares her story from Investment banker, to patient to podcaster all the while coloring things with her own levity and resilience. -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is a slight excursion from our regularly scheduled program. Today we are chatting with Will Flannery, who is in many ways our content “dad” if you will. We will talk about the art of including humor into our daily practive, when it goes right, when it goes left, and where we go from here. Dr. Glaucomflecken also has some fun and new projects he’d like to share with you at the end.  -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Margaret and I are back with part two of our conversation with Dr. Drew Ramsey and this time, things get personal. I volunteered my real-life food log for a full nutritional psychiatry breakdown… and let’s just say my “ultra-processed protein” lifestyle did not escape unscathed. What started as a casual diet review turned into something deeper. A mentoring session about joy, creativity, and what it actually means to feed your brain. Margaret brings her psychodynamic insight, Dr. Ramsey brings the science, and I bring… a whole lot of protein powder and self-reflection. If you’ve ever tried to optimize your health but ended up missing the soul in your routine, this episode is for you. Takeaways: Why your “perfect” diet might still leave you mentally drained and what to do about it. The hidden emotional layers behind our food choices (yes, even that afternoon candy craving). How protein obsession became a modern wellness trap and what real balance looks like. The role of creativity, cooking, and joy in building true mental fitness. Why self-care means more than nutrients, it’s about structure, connection, and staying alive in this work. -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We sat down with Dr. Drew Ramsey to talk about something we all think we understand and don’t: how food shapes mood. In Part 1, we get practical and personal: what to reach for when you’re anxious, what to cook when you’re depressed, and how to think about nutrition when you’re busy, broke, or just not in the headspace to sauté anything. We talk simple swaps, what actually belongs on a “brain food” plate, and why perfection is the enemy of getting fed. Takeaways: Start small, eat real: One or two consistent food changes beat any “perfect diet” you’ll abandon by Thursday. Plates, not rules: Build a simple “brain-food plate” you can repeat—color, protein, fiber, healthy fat, then stop obsessing. Shop for mood, not vibes: A short grocery list can be more stabilizing than another self-help book. Cook your baseline: Have 2–3 “low-spoon” meals you can make when motivation is gone. Progress over purity: The goal isn’t clean eating; it’s consistent nourishment your future self can rely on. -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this preston-led episode, we take a deep dive into the history of lithium and its use in psychiatry. But because Preston is very literal, we are starting at the very beginning, inside of stars where lithium was formed at the beginning of the universe. Then we will follow this wonderful atom through history and past its FDA approval in 1970 to where we are today.  Takeaways: Lithium was once sold in Seven Up as a mood-lifting ingredient—but the consequences were messy. A forgotten Australian psychiatrist helped launch lithium into psychiatry with groundbreaking trials. Despite its toxicity risks, lithium remains the gold standard for reducing relapse and suicidality. U.S. psychiatrists resisted lithium for decades—even as Europe embraced it. Preston and Margaret debate lithium’s place today: miracle stabilizer or underused relic? Citations: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0025556484901160 Shorter E. The history of lithium therapy. Bipolar Disord. 2009 Jun;11 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):4-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-5618.2009.00706.x. PMID: 19538681; PMCID: PMC3712976.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3712976/ Fowler, Gene. Crazy Water: The Story of Mineral Wells and Other Texas Health Resorts. No. 10. TCU Press, 1991. -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Margaret and I sat down with Dr. Jhilam Biswas, psychiatrist and expert on the intersection of law and mental health, for one of the hardest—and most important conversations we’ve had on the show. Together, we take a close look at how our justice system responds to mental illness: what happens when people in crisis are incarcerated instead of cared for, and how the prison system has become a stand-in for mental health treatment in the U.S. Dr. Biswas helps us unpack the reality of solitary confinement, forced treatment, and the impossible choices clinicians face when caring for patients inside a system built for punishment, not healing. Alongside Margaret, I reflect on the human cost—on families, on providers, and on the people trapped in cycles of crisis and incarceration. This isn’t just a policy issue—it’s a deeply personal one. And it’s urgent. Takeaways: The prison system has become the de facto mental health provider—and it’s failing people in crisis. Solitary confinement and punishment often substitute for care, especially when individuals are suicidal. Clinicians face impossible ethical dilemmas, forced to provide care within systems that perpetuate harm. Alternatives to incarceration exist, but remain underfunded and underutilized. Reimagining justice requires reimagining care—building systems that prioritize treatment, not punishment. Citations: Biswas J, Drogin EY, Gutheil TG. Treatment Delayed is Treatment Denied. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2018 Dec;46(4):447-453. doi: 10.29158/JAAPL.003786-18. PMID: 30593474. Biswas J. Dignity restored: the power of treatment first. CNS Spectr. 2024 Dec 23;30(1):e11. doi: 10.1017/S109285292400052X. PMID: 39714025. Advocacy:  ⁠https://www.psychiatry-mps.org/⁠ Jhilam Biswas: Dr. Biswas Website: https://psychexpertise.com/ https://www.neuroethicscollege.org/ -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is aphasia, really and what happens when your brain no longer cooperates with your ability to speak or understand language? In this episode, Preston and Margaret tackle the messy, frustrating, and often isolating world of language disorders, focusing on the real-life implications of aphasia. They walk through the clinical causes, what it looks like day-to-day, and how aphasia differs from other speech and cognitive issues. Along the way, they share stories of miscommunication, explore the frustrations of being misunderstood, and dig into how patients and clinicians can better work together when words are hard to find. Takeaways: Aphasia isn’t about intelligence—it’s about access. There’s more than one kind of aphasia—and none of them are simple. Communication breakdowns aren’t just frustrating—they’re isolating. Not all “word-finding problems” are created equal.. Listening might be the most important clinical skill we overlook. Citations: Main paper discussed during episode: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2854959/pdf/jcn-2-149.pdf Aphasia and the Diagram Makers Revisited: an Update of Information Processing Models Kenneth M. Heilman, M.D. The James E. Rooks Jr. Distinguished Professor, Department of Neurology, University of Florida College of Medicine, and VAMC, Gainesville, Florida -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it all in your head or is pain more complex than we’ve been led to believe? In this episode, Margaret and I dig into the psychological and biological factors that shape our experience of pain, including how the brain processes physical discomfort, the emotional toll it takes, and what role medications actually play. We also share stories from our own lives and clinical work that highlight how pain shows up in complicated, often misunderstood ways. If you've ever wondered why your body hurts when your heart is breaking, or why painkillers don’t always work, this one’s for you. Takeaways: Is pain really all in your head—or is that just part of the story? How much of pain is physical, and how much is psychological? Can we rewire the way we experience pain? Why don’t medications always work the way we expect for pain relief? What does it mean to treat pain with both compassion and science? Citations: Stanford and ACPA Chronic Pain guide 2024: https://www.acpanow.com/uploads/9/9/8/3/99838302/acpa_stanford_resource_guide_2024.pdf -- Ready to take your exam prep to the next level? Go to http://www.NowYouKnowPsych.com and enter the code BEPATIENT at checkout for 20% off. -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Margaret took the captain’s chair for this one, and I was just along for the ride—straight into the deep waters of psychodynamic and psychoanalytic therapy. We start with the basics: what do these words actually mean, and why do they still make some clinicians roll their eyes while others swear by them? From Freud’s infamous couch to modern relational therapy, we unpack the myths, the methods, and the mysteries that still define this approach. Along the way, we wrestle with big questions: What’s really happening in the therapeutic relationship? Why does transference matter? And is there value in a therapy that sometimes feels more like philosophy than science? And because talking about it wasn’t enough, we try it on for size—running a live role-play where I attempt a psychodynamic formulation in real time. (Spoiler: it’s as messy and awkward as you’d imagine, but also revealing in ways I didn’t expect.) This isn’t a lecture or a history lesson. It’s us exploring why psychodynamic therapy still sparks curiosity, skepticism, and maybe even wonder—and asking what it means for the future of how we help people heal. Takeaways: Therapy on the Couch: Why psychoanalysis still matters, even if we roll our eyes at Freud.The Mirror Effect: How transference and countertransference shape every session more than we realize. Cracks in the Foundation: Why psychodynamic work digs into the “basement” instead of just fixing surface problems.Between Science and Story: The tension between falsifiability and the lived experience of patients. Practice Makes Awkward: A live role-play that shows just how messy (and revealing) this approach can be. Citations: Kassaw K, Gabbard GO. Creating a psychodynamic formulation from a clinical evaluation. Am J Psychiatry. 2002 May;159(5):721-6. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.159.5.721. PMID: 11986123. Summers, R. F., Barber, J. P., & Zilcha-Mano, S. (2024). Psychodynamic therapy: A guide to evidence-based practice (2nd ed.). The Guilford Press. Chapter 1 cited -- Ready to take your exam prep to the next level? Go to http://www.NowYouKnowPsych.com and enter the code BEPATIENT at checkout for 20% off. -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode might feel like a gut punch, in the most important way. Margaret and I sat down with Alyson Stoner to talk about what it means to be raised in the spotlight, what happens when systems prioritize performance over people, and how we reckon with that legacy in healthcare. There’s a vulnerability here that caught me off guard and I think that’s the point. If you’ve ever wondered what lies beneath the polished performances we all grew up watching, this one’s for you. Takeaways: The Performance Trap: We unpack how young performers are trained to suppress needs for the sake of applause—and what that does long term. Behind the Curtain: Alyson shares a raw, unfiltered look at what fame masked, and what it demanded. Trauma in the Body: We explore how unresolved pain shows up in physical health—and how the body never really forgets. Reclaiming Identity: From child star to advocate, Alyson walks us through the messy, powerful work of redefinition. What Healing Can Look Like: It's not about fixing—it’s about reconnecting. And sometimes the most honest therapy isn’t clinical at all. Want more Alyson Stoner: IG: @alysonstoner TikTok: @alysonstoner YouTube: @TheRealAlysonStoner Citations: Orenstein GA, Lewis L. Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development. [Updated 2022 Nov 7]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556096/ -- Ready to take your exam prep to the next level? Go to http://www.NowYouKnowPsych.com and enter the code BEPATIENT at checkout for 20% off. -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Margaret and I sat down to speak on a topic we rarely hear spoken plainly: suicide. We didn’t plan to tidy anything up or wrap it in easy language. Instead, we tried to sit with it—the fear, the responsibility, the human ache behind it all. We talk about how suicide shows up in our clinical work, how it’s shaped us personally, and why we both believe silence helps no one. This isn’t a “how-to” or a lecture. It’s a real conversation between two people trying to hold space for pain, and maybe offer a little hope in the process. Takeaways: Let’s Start with the Silence – We unpack why suicide feels unspeakable in both professional and personal spaces. The Weight of the Question – Margaret and I talk about what it’s like when someone asks, “Are you thinking about hurting yourself?” Clinician Meets Human – We explore the blurry line between being the helper and being the one in crisis. Words That Don’t Fix But Still Matter – Sometimes just saying “I’ll sit with you” carries more power than advice. Not a Lesson—A Lived Experience – This episode isn’t scripted or solved. It’s honest, messy, and real. Citations: Margaret’s Discussion portion and most referenced informed by review ch: Kaplan and Sadock’s Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry, Volume 11, 2025 Published. Chapter 31.1: Psychiatric Emergencies: Suicide Overview, Risk and Protective Factors, Treatment, and Prevention Suicide Crisis Syndrome Reference: Melzer, L., Forkmann, T., & Teismann, T. (2024). Suicide Crisis Syndrome: A systematic review. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 54, 556–574. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.13065 -- Ready to take your exam prep to the next level? Go to http://www.NowYouKnowPsych.com and enter the code BEPATIENT at checkout for 20% off. -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode felt like a deep exhale. Margaret runs solo today, as she sat down with Dr. Hillary McBride—psychologist, author, and researcher—to talk about embodiment, trauma, and the radical act of tuning back into ourselves. We talked about what it means to feel your feelings in your body, why disconnection often begins as protection, and how pleasure, presence, and play can be part of the healing process. It’s about more than coping. It’s about coming home. This one surprised me, and stayed with me. I think it might do the same for you. Takeaways: Embodiment isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence. Disconnection from the body is often a trauma response we learned for survival. Reconnecting with your body can feel foreign, even frightening—and still be worth it. Healing doesn’t always mean “feeling better”—sometimes it just means feeling. Your body can be a place of safety, wisdom, and even joy—but you don’t have to rush to get there. -- Ready to take your exam prep to the next level? Go to http://www.NowYouKnowPsych.com and enter the code BEPATIENT at checkout for 20% off. -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While in psychiatry we avoid using declarative or certain language about mechanisms, it can be helpful to think about the narratives that drive people to behavior that will ultimately end their life. In this episode Margaret and I review the Durkheim principles of suicidality following the four categories: anomic, fatalistic, egoistic and altruistic. We talk about how each has a distinct flavor in the clinical setting and which ones are better handled by safety planning or solution based interventions. -- Ready to take your exam prep to the next level? Go to http://www.NowYouKnowPsych.com and enter the code BEPATIENT at checkout for 20% off. -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr and Lady Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s Part 2 of our deep dive into eating disorders—and this time, we’re going even deeper. We kick off by unpacking our mock therapy session with Dr. Helen Liljenwall, which unexpectedly hit close to home for all of us. Then we take a sharp turn into the medical realities of starvation, including refeeding syndrome, the female athlete triad, and why your heart is always in the equation (literally). But what happens when patients refuse to eat—and we have to decide whether they need a psychiatric hold? Who gets to say when a person with an eating disorder has lost capacity? And is “terminal anorexia” a compassionate truth—or a dangerous excuse? If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to treat eating disorders, this is the episode to hear. It's raw, real, and it doesn’t flinch. Takeaways: Refeeding syndrome isn’t just a med school concept—it’s a real, life-threatening danger in eating disorder treatment. Psychiatric holds for anorexia raise tough ethical questions about autonomy, capacity, and what it means to save a life. That fake therapy session? It’s not so fake when the emotional stakes are this high. The eating disorder voice can sound like discipline—but it’s often masking deep distress. Terminal anorexia is a controversial idea… and we don’t shy away from the controversy. -- Ready to take your exam prep to the next level? Go to http://www.NowYouKnowPsych.com and enter the code BEPATIENT at checkout for 20% off. -- Watch on YouTube: @itspresro Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc. — Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices