The Finding My Psych Podcast

Today I spend time talking about my own learning pre and post injury as a long distance runner.  I promote the idea that Gurus are ruining our wellness experience promoting their own financial gain.  I also talk about how easily we are taken in by contradictory content on YouTube, designed to create anxiety and purchasing.  In the end, there are no hacks to wellness - We simply must put in the work, one micro-habit at a time.

Today I share my own experience with Strava and what led me to quitting this social media platform built for athletes.  We are all learning to manage the social signals competing for our attention and compelling our behaviour.  The Strava, "kudos" and comments after each activity, promotes engagement on the platform, and in the end, is a very shallow form of motivation.  I review the difference between these extrinsic signals and the intrinsic counterpart we should strive for.

Today I celebrate my return to the Finding My Psych Podcast after more than two years away with injury and navigating major life changes.  I share what kept me away and things I have learned since I connected with you last.  Finally, I leave you with ideas for future content and a brief discussion on the, "three why's" when you are feeling stuck.

In today's episode, I share research and anecdotal evidence of my own experience in managing a perceived decline in motivation as I step into my early 50s. While there are popularized and straight forward cognitive explanations that point to a decline in motivation with age, changes in motivation and the, "get up and go" approach to activation, are caused by an array of contributing factors.

I am currently using the Watch OS 10 and iOS 17 Developer Beta. We are now able to test the new Apple Health integration, "State of Mind," intended to help you track your mood throughout the day. In today's podcast episode, I share my reaction after a month of sharing my mood with Apple.

There is no greater feeling that adhering to a goal, no matter the challenge. Today is a significant landmark in my, 'dry' journey. I am proud to be celebrating both Canada Day, 2024, and 300 days of sobriety. I choose sobriety and I am not an alcoholic.

There are some things in my 20s and 30s that I wish I knew. Hindsight might be 20/20, but surely wisdom from later in life would have helped, right? In today's episode, I provide 10 (plus a bonus) nuggets that I have gained over the years, advice that would have saved me some growing pains and heartache.

Unsure about your next step in your career development? Every path is different. In today's episode, I share my own experience working in healthcare for the past 27 years since completing graduate school. I also provide advice on the importance of going through a post-secondary program, how to navigate the realities of your first job, and core strategies for developing yourself as a professional.

What we eat has the power to contribute to chronic disease processes (i.e., autoimmune disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease) via the promotion of chronic inflammation. This is not to be confused with acute inflammatory states designed to heal localized injury via capillary dilation and leukocyte infiltration.

The three pillars for health optimization are Diet, Exercise, and Sleep. If any one element is out of alignment, the others suffer. Optimized wellness means engaging in habits that predict both longevity and wellness throughout the lifespan. Some have called this, "health span". In today's podcast episode, I share my own experience as I improve focus on what I eat, physical activity through long distance walking and running, and sleep hygiene.

We become what we do, at least according to the Behavioural Psychologists. In today's episode, I provide a brief primer covering critical need-to-know concepts from the field. This includes a discussion on Classical Conditioning, Operant Conditioning, Intentional Personal Reinforcement, and Modelling.

I discovered today that I have a great deal of shame about identifying myself as, "sober". Johnny and I have been sober since September after a serous health scare. I choose not to drink in support of Johnny who lives with an addiction to alcohol. Since, we have started giving away our alcohol paraphernalia (wine openers, glasses, etc.).

I had no idea how difficult quitting caffeine was going to be. I have been a coffee drinker since I was eighteen years old. No doubt that I started my caffeine addiction well before that drinking Coca Cola, Pepsi, and Jolt back in the day. The ubiquitous nature of caffeine addiction made my time away from the substance (albeit brief) a very interesting experiment.

In some ways, 2022 has been a year of reckoning. This was the year that denial lost her grip. Alcohol was destroying both of us in its own way and chipping away at the foundation of our marriage. Following a significant health scare, as a couple we committed to becoming a sober family.

Methamphetamine is the most destructive non-pharmaceutical substance impacting every sector of society. It results in both violent and non-violent crime in every community it impacts. This is evidenced by the work done by the Montana Meth Project. In today's episode, we discuss the anecdotal increase in use on the streets in Vancouver, BC, and the increased presentations observed in the healthcare system.

Liz recently completed the Eversource Hardford Marathon on October 8th. Liz comes back on the show to describe her training strategy and approach to completing the marathon distance. For the plant-based curious, Liz also describes her approach to nutrition while training and on race day.

Our success is defined by those who helped get us here. As we develop into better individuals, parents, and professionals, it is critical that we take the time to acknowledge those who have made that development possible. The best expression comes in the form of gratitude for the individuals who cared enough to offer a helping hand, kind word, or advice, ultimately taking us to the next level in our journey and self-discovery.

In today's episode, I reveal our commitment to recovery as a family of two. COVID provided a gift - Issues became magnified as they were impossible to conceal due to proximity. My husband has struggled over the years, a coping strategy discovered to be effective against the impacts of childhood trauma.

Orthorexia, a lesser known eating disorder not yet approved by the American Psychiatric Association, is characterized as an obsession with eating, 'clean' food. Individuals typically categorize food in terms of, 'good vs. bad' and are often concerned with putting, 'poison' in their body, going to great lengths to control the food they eat and how it is prepared by others.

Frustrated with those extra pounds that hang on no matter how hard you workout? Let's face it, exercise alone rarely results in sustainable weight loss. In fact, if you want to lose weight, a surgical approach focusing on diet just might be the key.

I love data. However, as someone who grew up as a member of the Gen-X generation, I have the advantage of remembering what it was like not to have a computer, cell phone, or wearable tracking your every move. While I obsess over the information coming at me, especially as a runner, I also recognize the darker side of data, especially as it relates to anxiety and mood.

Oh my God...where has the last 20, even 30 years gone? In today's episode, I review what turning 50 means to me, what feels different, and outline what I want the next few decades to look like. I also share my findings of what others say they have experienced entering the 5th decade of their life.

A colleague at work recently remarked that I had a talent for keeping conversations positive (and therefore productive), even when meetings turned towards the negative. I thought, "Wow, do I have everyone fooled!" In reality, what goes on in my head, just like everyone else, is often in stark contrast to what I put out to the real world.

Let's face it! From a fitness perspective, getting older, without the proper mindset and approach, is potentially disastrous. We are sore in places we never knew we could. Our energy level throughout the day is not what it was in our early adulthood. In short, maintaining fitness decade after decade, is nothing short of challenging.

Today we provide a theoretical overview of emotional self-regulation. We review a series of approaches to help with the expression of emotions through dedication to emotional self-care planning, self-monitoring of emotional reactions to triggering environmental cues, and adherence to physical and emotional wellness.

Walking is the best way to start and sustain your wellness journey. Whether you are attempting to lose weight, or improve your emotional wellbeing, walking is an accessible activity for anyone wanting to increase their level of physical activity. In today's episode we provide an overview of the benefits of walking and what you will need to get started. We also discuss tips to improve motivation, a skill set you will need to keep you going for years to come.

Are you thinking about getting the Whoop 4.0? Have you seen mixed reviews of the product and don't know where to land? I dove in and made the six month financial commitment to give the wearable a try. In today's episode, I share my experience and try to answer who the Whoop 4.0 is for. I break down what I love, and what leaves me 'almost' certain I will not renew once my commitment is finished.

Making the commitment to eliminate alcohol and THC products from your life is one you will never regret. On the first day of January this year, I made the commitment to stop drinking alcohol for 90 Days in an effort to improve anxiety and sleep. About three weeks later, I took the additional step to stop consuming THC edibles.

In the middle of last week, I started feeling sick. By Thursday, I was wrapped in a blanket, sitting in front of my computer, working from home. What I worried about, even feared a year ago, had come true - I had COVID-19.

We are so proud to have Liz Garrett, Author of, "My Best Life: Deliberately Creating the Life Of Your Dreams". In this deeply personal interview, Liz describes her discovery of the Law of Attraction and the principles that prompted a journey into self-discovery and transformation.

This was supposed to be the year we left our medical grade masks, cheap slimy hand sanitizer, and disaster of a home office behind. In the end, we reflect on the fact that COVID-19 remains a reality along with its impact on our professional and personal lives. We are officially saying, "Goodbye" to 2021.

Each of us, whether you are a frontline healthcare professional or healthcare leader, is coping with the results of the ongoing pandemic in both adaptive and maladaptive ways. COVID-19 Depression is how we are now conceptualizing what we as individuals are experiencing and what we observe in others.

It is difficult to know what to do when someone is stuck in precontemplation. While we often blame the individual using substances for their persistent denial of the impact their use has on their life, we also find ourselves trapped in their apparent lack of commitment to change.

Freud's Psychoanalytic theory and the field of Health Psychology have one thing in common - Both approaches seek to help individuals, 'feel better'. We typically associated Health Psychology and Behavioural Medicine within the context of cognition and behaviour.

Everyone is looking for a hack to wellness. In reality, the turtle wins the race when it comes to improved physical and emotional wellbeing. In today's episode, I review five dangerous health trends, many promoted on TikTok to youth.

Over the past three years, we received dozens of questions from our listeners. In this special episode, we sifted through the most relevant and interesting queries and answer each from a place of thoughtfulness and authenticity.

Living a vegan lifestyle is a journey, not an endpoint. I discuss my own circuitous path living as a vegan, the bumps along the way, and the lessons I have learned. My vegan choice started over a decade ago. Over the years, my adherence has not been perfect.

Based on listener feedback, today, I review the dark history of treatments for mental illness. In my review, I highlight the most astonishing practices - Who knows how well intentioned these actors were. Nevertheless, treatments such as blood letting, insulin shock therapy, and lobotomy were anything but humane.

A listener reached out inquiring about managing moments of acute anxiety and feeling overwhelmed at work. Today, we discuss the power of "Grounding," an approach that interrupts the mental and physiological response to anxiety.

In today's episode, I walk through a series of insights on professional and personal growth as part of my Autumn period of self-reflection. I challenge the idea that our work and home life should be considered separate. I also consider the importance of being comfortable with who you are and your accomplishments as a part of emotional wellbeing.

In a previous article on Finding My Psych, we explored the application of the Triple Column Technique on addressing perfectionism. Today, in this solo episode, I addressed my own experience with perfectionism and provide some suggestions for containment.

I review recent thoughts on the pervasive hopelessness invading our culture. After stumbling onto a recent reflection by Rich Roll, I couldn't help but be impacted by his persistent hope promoting approach found in his work as a content creator, athlete, and human being.

In this solo episode today, I talk about the influence alcohol has had on my life. I am quick to state that I am not an alcoholic. I have no tragic story about how alcohol has destroyed my family or caused cancer. However, I do have a story about my relationship with alcohol and how it is easily the most subtractive activity that I participate in.

We are honoured to have, Amy Robertson, MSc. OT, on the Finding My Psych Podcast today. Amy and I discuss her most recent decision to move back to the East Coast to be closer to family. We spend time talking about the power of hitting the reset button in life and excitement/anxiety that come along with taking strategic leaps.

The evidence is clear - A plant-based vegan diet is protective against emerging disease and in some cases can reverse symptoms associated with heart disease, diabetes, etc. The Finding My Psych team is dedicated to promoting emotional wellness, preventative dietary habits, and physical fitness.

We are all familiar with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This potentially debilitating presentation is found in individuals that have suffered traumatic experiences, typically from external forces with significant power over the individual.

In today's episode, we return to basics and provide a detailed framework for positive health outcomes through the lens of Health Psychology and Behavioural Medicine. In the past, we have barely touched on the important contribution that behaviour has on physical and emotional wellbeing.

In today's episode, we expand on work by Dr. David Burns as we explore common thinking fallacies we all, at one time or another, find ourselves using. In our previous three-part series on cognitive behavioural therapy skill building, we define frequently used distortions in every day thinking.

In today's episode, I reflect on the pitfalls of running that become more probable as we age. As we move through our 40s, new problems appear. While our cardiovascular fitness remains strong with each decade, our body's ability to maintain the speed of our 20s quickly slips by.

In today's episode, I reflect on my own physical and emotional fitness setback. The COVID19 experience has whittled away at everyones health. While we find ourselves trying to survive each horrific news cycle describing the race to vaccinate before variants shove us back towards a hopeless scenario of having no vaccine at all, emotionally and physically, we have given up.