Relative Insights' Podcast

Send a textIn this episode, Relative Insights explore the emerging role of AI in mental health support. They delve into the pressing issue of barriers to traditional therapy and explore how systemic factors, such as limited access to mental health services and therapists, are driving individuals to seek AI-based alternatives. They demo a chat session with chat gpt to understand the pull of some clients to access it. Join them as they unpack the complexities of these barriers and consider the implications of turning to AI for mental health support.Support the show

Send a textIn this episode, the hosts delve into the concept of the 'mother wound,' a term that describes the emotional trauma that can arise from a mother's lack of emotional support. They discuss the signs and symptoms of this wound, its impact on relationships, and the intergenerational trauma that can perpetuate it. Personal experiences of our guests are shared, highlighting the complexities of navigating emotional needs in parenting and the societal pressures that influence these dynamics. The conversation emphasizes the importance of emotional awareness and healing in breaking the cycle of trauma. This conversation delves into the complexities of the mother wound, exploring how familial relationships, cultural influences, and personal experiences shape adult lives. The guests share their struggles with anxiety, self-esteem, and codependency stemming from their relationships with their mothers. They discuss the importance of setting boundaries, the fear of repeating past mistakes in parenting, and the journey towards forgiveness and understanding. Ultimately, the dialogue emphasizes the need for empathy and communication in healing the mother wound and fostering healthier relationships.Links for healing mother wound:https://psychcentral.com/health/how-to-heal-your-inner-childhttps://www.attachmentproject.com/psychology/mother-wound/https://www.attachmentproject.com/ (attachment quiz)Support the show

Send a textThis episode brings closure to the series on infidelity. This conversation delves into the often overlooked effects of infidelity, exploring themes such as the psychological trauma, physical health effects, and the ripple effects on relationships, parenting, and community dynamics. The discussion highlights the concept of 'cheater karma,' the guilt experienced by those who cheat, and the challenges of navigating family and community reactions. It also touches on the complexities of sharing infidelity with others and the emotional rollercoaster that follows such events. This conversation delves into the psychological and health impacts of infidelity, exploring how being cheated on can lead to chronic health issues and emotional distress. The discussion transitions into reflections on midlife, personal growth, and the complexities of love and respect in relationships. The hosts emphasize the importance of understanding the multifaceted nature of love and the need for support in the aftermath of infidelity.Key takeaways:Support the show

Send a textIn this episode, we delve into the complex topic of emotional affairs, defining what they are and how they differ from physical infidelity. They explore various signs of emotional infidelity, reasons why individuals may engage in such behavior, and the stages that emotional affairs typically progress through. The conversation emphasizes the importance of communication and connection in relationships, highlighting how emotional needs can lead to infidelity when unmet. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the complexities of emotional affairs, exploring how emotional connections can lead to infidelity. They discuss the dynamics of relationships, the impact of social media on cheating behaviors, and the importance of communication and trust rebuilding after an affair. The conversation also touches on societal perceptions of infidelity and the consequences that arise from these actions, emphasizing the need for self-reflection and emotional processing in healing.Support the show

Send a textIn this conversation, the hosts delve into the concept of micro cheating, exploring its definition, implications, and the role of social media in modern relationships. They discuss how seemingly trivial actions can erode trust and lead to emotional infidelity. The importance of communication and setting boundaries is emphasized, along with recognizing signs of micro cheating and evaluating relationship commitment. The conversation highlights the subjective nature of micro cheating and the need for open dialogue between partners to navigate these complex dynamics.**please note: there were some studio issues contributing to an echo that was unable to be removed in post production, however if this is listened to via phone you may not hear it. Thank you for your understandingTakeaways* Micro cheating refers to seemingly harmless inappropriate behaviors outside a        committed relationship.* Micro cheating can lead to emotional affairs if not addressed.* Social media plays a significant role in modern micro cheating dynamics.* It's essential to set clear boundaries in relationships to avoid misunderstandings.* Micro cheating can hurt your partner and damage the relationship.* Open and honest communication is vital for navigating relationship challenges.Support the show

Send a textIn this engaging conversation, Relative Insights delve into the complex topic of cheating and infidelity, exploring the reasons behind such behaviors, the evolving definitions of cheating in modern relationships, and the impact of emotional support and communication. They share statistics on infidelity, discuss the dynamics of open relationships, and reflect on how age and family background influence cheating behaviors. The conversation is rich with personal anecdotes and insights, making it a thought-provoking exploration of trust and relationships. Support the show

Send a textThis is the 2nd part in a 2 part series about pornography (porn). In this episode we turn things over to the public and get the views of men and women on porn and how it affects them, their relationships and their view on sex. Support the show

Send a textThis is part 1 of a 2 part series on pornography (porn). In this episode we discuss some stats on porn use, the differences btw porn use and porn addiction, etc. And we also have 2 female guests who discuss their personal views on porn. Without giving too much away, give it a listen!Every Second:28,258 users are watching pornography on the internet.$3,075.64 is being spent on pornography on the internet.372 people are typing the word "adult" into a search engine.Every Day:37 pornographic videos are created in the United States.2.5 billion emails containing porn are sent or received.68 million search queries related to pornography- 25% of total searches- are generated. 116,000 queries related to child pornography are received.How Online Pornography Affects AmericansAbout 200,000 Americans are classified as “porn addicts.”40 million American people regularly visit porn sites.35% of all internet downloads are related to pornography.34% of internet users have experienced unwanted exposure to pornographic content through ads, pop up ads, misdirected links or emails.One-third of porn viewers are women.(https://www.webroot.com/us/en/resources/tips-articles/internet-pornography-by-the-numbers#:~:text=40%20million%20American%20people%20regularly,of%20porn%20viewers%20are%20women.)Support the show

Send a textIt’s suicide prevention month… we explore the importance of discussing this topic in your own household and reiterate as well as expound on what we discussed last year in our suicide episode. Resources:https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Suicide-Prevention-Monthhttps://www.projectsemicolon.com/Support the show

Send a textIn this episode we talk about the necessity for self care among mental health professionals and why it is important for us to take care of ourselves. We also discuss the stigma behind mental health professionals seeking therapy and sharing their own mental health issues, while also touching on compassion fatigue and burnout.Here are some of the most common signs of compassion fatigue:Diminished feelings of empathyInability to stop thinking about workDreading going to workDifficulty sleepingLow mood, anger, or irritabilitySocial isolationLack of motivationSelf-Care Strategies and Techniques (from positivepsychology.com)PhysicalMaintain a healthy and nutritious diet. Ideally with the help of a nutritionist, planning your diet can be vital.Drink plenty of water. Therapists often forget how much energy is being spent listening and talking to patients. Therapists have water set aside for patients; why not for themselves as well?Get enough sleep. Without proper sleep, fatigue may make therapists less able to exert the needed concentration in sessions with patients.CognitiveRead for leisure. Taking thoughts away from sessions and redirecting them toward things to relax with and enjoy, such as books, can help.Being aware of self-talk, inner thoughts, judgments, and feelings can reduce stress and burnout (Lomas et al., 2019).Participate in personal therapy. It is important to have a separate space for therapists to discuss stressful thoughts and behaviors brought on by delivering therapy.EmotionalFind things that oppose the negative emotions experienced during a session. For example, if a session was particularly sad, watch a funny movie.Practice using positive affirmations, such as praising yourself. As a therapist, you may not feel as if positive praise is warranted for your work, but what you do is important. Positive affirmations can benefit emotional wellbeing, lowering stress and rumination (Koole et al., 1999; Wiesenfeld et al., 2001).Allow yourself to cry. All therapists can feel overwhelmed by emotions; a need to cry can be prevalent. Crying in personal therapy, as well as on your own time and in your own home, can be appropriate.SpiritualMake time for self-reflection at home, in nature, in a journal, or with a therapist.Be open to not knowing. Therapists ground themselves in research and evidence-based work, but that does not mean therapists always have the answer. Not knowing can be stressful, but accepting that you don’t know everything and releasing yourself from this pressure are important parts of self-care.Spend time in nature. The commute to the office, interactions with many people, and day-to-day administrative tasks can feel like too much at times. Escaping to nature is a key aspect of a self-care break.Support the show

Send a textFamily estrangement is a separation within a family, often involving one or more members of the family choosing to withdraw from one another. In this episode, we explore this topic, while hearing from our guests own heartbreaking traumatic experience. As you will hear, estrangement is one of the most painful and complex challenges that a family can face. When one family member says, “I’m done,” to another, they might feel distraught, relieved, or a combination of the two. And for the person who is cut off, the relationship can feel all but hopeless. In a large survey of undergraduates, 39% reported estrangement happening between immediate family members, and 61% in their extended family. Fault Lines (a book on family estrangement) sociologist Karl Pillemer and his research team surveyed over 1,300 Americans, 27% of whom reported being currently estranged from someone in their family. The causes of estrangement can include abuse, neglect, betrayal, bullying, unaddressed mental illness, not being supportive, destructive behavior, substance abuse. Oftentimes, parents do not square with a child’s sexual orientation, choice of spouse, gender identity, religion, and or political views. Whatever the cause, family estrangement is not as much of an anomaly as some may think, and it is time to stop holding this secret inside and open up the communication on this topic. Support the show

Send a textWhat Is Ghosting? Ghosting is abruptly ending communication with someone without explanation. The concept most often refers to romantic relationships but can also describe disappearances from friendships and the workplace. As humans we go through so many different experiences in our lives, and depending on our experiences or being a highly sensitive person (HSP) we can experience ghosting as a very traumatic event. This does NOT mean that you are broken! There is nothing wrong with you! Here are some common signs that you may be experiencing trauma after being ghosted:·      A belief being ghosted confirms you aren’t “good enough,”·      You can’t stop trying to figure out why the other person ghosted you and even potentially trying to diagnosis their mental health or attachment issues,·      Feeling anxious because you believe that being ghosted means you will be single forever,·      Non-stop talking (or thinking) about the person who ghosted you,·      Fantasizing about confronting them or revenge,·      You believe that you can change their mind,·      Waiting for them to return because, deep down, you believe if you’re patient you are destined to end up together, and,·      Criticizing, or attacking, yourself for doing something “wrong” which led to the ghostingAs mentioned in the podcast - how to manage the traumatic effects of being ghosted: ·      Please stop blaming yourself·         Allow yourself the space to experience your grief·         Do not wait for closure from the ghoster·         Focus on your own wellness – self care, self love, etc·         Remain open and receptive to healthy connections·         Don’t be afraid to see a therapist As mentioned in the podcast here is the link to learn your attachment style: https://attachment.personaldevelopmentschool.com/quizSupport the show

Send a textVideo games seem to be blamed for many different negative effects on mental health. Some studies indicate that gaming results in people becoming anxious, depressed, angry, or even violent. However, there is more to the story. Playing video games has numerous benefits for your mental health. Video games can help you relieve stress and get your mind going. Some benefits include: Mental stimulation; Feeling accomplished; Social interaction; Emotional resilience; Mental health recovery : Playing games can help with trauma recovery, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Despite what people may think, playing video games boosts your mood and has lasting effects. Whether you’re using gaming to spend time with your friends or to release some stress, it's a great option. Playing video games has been linked to improved moods and mental health benefits. It might seem natural to think that violent video games like first-person shooters aren’t good for your mental health. However, all video games can be beneficial for different reasons.Try strategic video games. Role-playing and other strategic games can help strengthen problem-solving skills. There’s little research that says violent video games are bad for your mental health. Almost any game that encourages decision-making and critical thinking is beneficial for your mental health. Set limits. Though video games themselves aren’t bad for your mental health, becoming addicted to them can be. Spending too much time gaming can lead to isolation. You may also not want to be around people in the real world. When you start to feel yourself using video games as an escape, you might need to slow down.Play with friends. Make game time fun by playing with friends. There are online communities you can join for your favorite games. Moderate gaming time with friends can help with socialization, relaxation, and managing stress. Limits of Video Games as a Mood BoosterVideo games stop being good for you when you play an excessive amount. In these cases, you may:Have anxious feelingsBe unable to sleepNot want to be in social settingsAnother troubling sign is using video games to escape real life. This type of behavior can lead to video game addiction, which then leads to other negative behaviors. Too much gaming can become a problem, but in moderation, it can do great things for your mental health.If you can’t stop playing video games on your own, you can contact a mental health professional.  SOURCES:‌‌American Addiction Centers: “Video Game Addiction Symptoms and Treatment.”‌AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION: “Video game play may provide learning, health, social benefits, review finds.”‌Frontiers in Psychiatry: “Commercial Video Games As Therapy: A New Research Agenda to Unlock the Potential of a Global Pastime.”‌Frontiers in Psychology: “Gaming well: links between video games and flourishing mental health.”‌Support the show

Send a textRelative Insights sits down with a special guest to discuss the trauma experienced in a same sex marriage with a person who exhibits narcissistic traits and subsequent trauma experienced when trying to separate yourself. It's unfortunate, but many victims come to the understanding that divorce/separation doesn’t stop the narcissistic abuse; in fact, it often escalates when a victim finds the courage to separate. Many are under the misconception that females cannot have narcissistic traits, but this is untrue. Men are diagnosed with NPD at much higher rates, but female narcissists do exist. As Hack discussed, her wife exhibited those traits and caused tremendous narcissistic trauma towards her. She shares her empowering story and raw truths about her marriage and divorce from her wife. We also discuss ways in which to heal and navigate through the trauma of divorce from a narcissist. What Can I Do To Prepare?Understanding the realities of divorcing a narcissist can be overwhelming and terrifying. Here are some things to keep in mind:They lie about anything. Be prepared to prove reality, but only if you have to.They will paint a picture of you that is unrecognizable.Get an extremely effective attorneyGather irrefutable evidenceBuild your support tribe and lean on them!Develop good coping skills and engage in self-care.Boundaries, boundaries, boundaries - set them and maintain them, especially communication boundariesDocument everything.This is not an exhaustive list of tactics that abusers may use against victims, but below are some common ways that narcissistic abusers during and after divorce:Blaming you solely for breaking up the familyGaslighting the childrenCalling CPS on the victim for made up concernsHiring a nanny to spy on you and make false allegations against youFighting for full custody by making false allegations about the victim’s parenting skills or mental healthTurning the victim’s family, friends, clergy, and community against herStalking the victimCalling, emailing, texting, and visiting the victim under the guise of parentingIgnoring the children’s needsEmotionally, verbally, and psychologically abusing childrenKeeping the victim’s property hostageReleasing private information, photographs, or other private material about the victim to humiliate themCheck these sites out:https://www.survivedivorce.com/divorcing-narcissisthttps://narcissistabusesupport.com/https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-find-a-narcissistic-abuse-support-group-5271477https://medium.com/the-virago/6-powerful-books-helped-me-recover-from-narcissistic-abuse-da1d17e1f512Support the show

Send a textAn unfiltered, yet thoughtful discussion of post infidelity stress disorder (PISD) from two mental heath professionals who just happen to be cousins. In this episode, we discuss infidelity, define post infidelity stress disorder, various ways to receive help, etc. With PISD relationship partners of both genders may experience similar classical symptoms of PTSD:·         Repeated intrusive thoughts (constant thoughts of the infidelity, the who/why/what/when/where).·         Unstable emotional regulation (this feeling of going out of your mind, intense anger, intense sadness, etc.).·         Out of body experiences (dissociating from things to get through your day, feeling not present and day dreaming, etc).·         Alternating between feeling numb and striking out in retaliation.·         Inability to stop scanning for any new data that might cause more distress.·         Feeling overwhelmingly powerless and broken.·         Needing to regain self-worth by assigning blame (whether it is your partner, the other person(s) involved, etc).·         Confusion and disorientation (just a feeling of not understanding how it could happen, how you could not know, etc,.For more information check out this article and please as always continue to learn and grow through your own research: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/stress/what-is-post-infidelity-stress-disorderIf you have any questions, concerns, or you're looking for further information please feel free to email us at: [email protected] episode may contain explicit content that may not be appropriate for children.Support the show

Send a textAn unfiltered, yet thoughtful discussion of racial trauma from two mental heath professionals who just happen to be cousins. In this episode, we discuss racial trauma, what is looks like, our own personal experiences, giving examples of discriminations, microaggressions, and the ultimate toll it takes on us. Racialized Trauma is a topic that is not widely discussed and with new bills being passed prohibiting teachers from discussing racism etc. in schools, it is as if the experience of racism is being invalidated on a wider spectrum. When people are subjected to racism, discrimination, microaggressions, or other forms of mistreatment or violence because of their racial background, it can lead to trauma. "Moreover, over 60% of Black Americans endorse at least one experience of racial discrimination in their lifetime, and findings suggest that the links between experiences of racial discrimination and negative health outcomes are stronger for Black Americans than for any other group. Carter (2007) posits that some Black Americans who experience racial discrimination can develop racial trauma, a psychological trauma with symptoms comparable to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition: DSM-5 criteria for PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), which include negative alterations to cognition and mood, intrusive symptoms, avoidance, and physical reactions." (https://psychology.uga.edu/coping-racial-trauma)  The book mentioned in this podcast: My Grandmother's Hands Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies By: Resmaa Menakem MSW LICSW If you have any questions, concerns, or you're looking for further information please feel free to email us at: [email protected] episode may contain explicit content that may not be appropriate for children.Support the show

Send a textAn unfiltered, yet thoughtful discussion of suicide from two mental heath professionals who just happen to be cousins. In this episode, we discuss the changes in suicide rates, the alarming rise in suicide among youth and young adults, including the most recent suicides of some celebrity young adults. Suicide is one of those taboo topics that’s begging for a frank and open discussion, and this episode is just the beginning of our discussions. Research shows that prioritizing and having open, honest conversations about mental health on the individual and national levels, implementing practices that reduce suicide risk in clinical and community settings, reducing access to lethal means, and seeking help early and when indicated, can reduce suicide deaths. If you or someone you know is thinking about harming themselves or having suicidal thoughts please reach out for help! Do not take this lightly. There is a National Suicide Prevention Lifeline that is available 24 hours, and you can reach someone at 800-273-8255. If you don't feel comfortable reaching out to the lifeline then reach out to someone in your life for support. It is ok to ask for help, we ALL need help and support in our lives. If you have any questions, concerns, or you're looking for further information please feel free to email us at: [email protected] episode may contain explicit content that may not be appropriate for children.Support the show