Tag: resieliency

Adolescents, Adults, and ADHD

Trevor talks to Roberto Olivardia, PhD. Dr. Olivardia specializes in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and challenges facing students with learning differences.

Dr. Olivardia discusses what ADHD is, myths around the diagnosis, and strategies for managing ADHD. He also shares his own experience of living with ADHD and raising a son with the same condition.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

– Dr. Olivardia discusses that the concept of adult ADHD didn’t exist until the mid-90s (03:52)
– According to Dr. Olivardia, ADHD isn’t a mental illness but a “condition of neuro-diversity” (37:25)
– Dr. Olivardia shares some strategies for managing ADHD (01:03:47)

RELEVANT CONTENT:

– Roberto Olivardia profile: mclean.link/3hx
– Stop Worrying and Start Living With ACT Therapy: mclean.link/iop
– ADHD and Eating Disorders: What You Should Know: mclean.link/yk7
– Asking the Hard Questions About ADHD: mclean.link/wab

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The McLean Hospital podcast Mindful Things is intended to provide general information and to help listeners learn about mental health, educational opportunities and research initiatives. This podcast is not an attempt to practice medicine or to provide specific medical advice.

Let’s Talk About Steroids

Trevor talks to Harrison Pope, MD, director of McLean’s Biological Psychiatry Laboratory. Dr. Pope talks about men’s abuse of anabolic steroids – drugs which have been used by millions to gain muscle or lose body fat – with potential long-term dangers.

Arguably the leading researcher in the world on the abuse of anabolic steroids, Dr. Pope discusses some of the reasons men use steroids, the dangers of using these drugs, and how it relates to men’s body image.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

– The growth in popularity of the muscular body form among males in the 1970s is discussed (07:09)
– Dr. Pope shares a basic definition of what an anabolic steroid is (10:22)
– The ease with which one can acquire anabolic steroids (without a prescription) is described (28:29)

RELEVANT CONTENT:

– Harrison Pope Profile: mclean.link/tid
– Why Men Have More Body Image Issues Than Ever: mclean.link/hs3
– Doping: More Than 30% of Athletes at 2011 Worlds Admit to Doping: mclean.link/tau
– A Monster Among Us?: The Dark Descent of War Machine: mclean.link/qti

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Lessons Learned – One Family’s Experience With Depression, a Suicide Attempt, and Recovery

Trevor talks to Ana about how hiding her intense depression, social anxiety, and eating disorder led to fear and despair, ultimately resulting in a suicide attempt during her first semester at college.

Ana is joined by her parents Rafael and Patty, who candidly discuss the warning signs they missed, what they wish they had done differently, and how their family has used their own experience to help other families better understand adolescent mental health.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

– Rafael, Ana’s dad, talks about how mental illness is viewed in Venezuela, his native country (13:30)
– Ana’s mother Patty explains how she missed the signs of her daughter’s illness (01:06:18)
– Ana describes the immense pressure she was under while in high school (01:15:30)

RELEVANT CONTENT:

– Ana’s story: mclean.link/oik
– Running Against Stigma, Not Away From It: mclean.link/bju
– Ana Febres-Cordero of Concord ‘Made it out Alive,’ Wants to Inspire Others: mclean.link/a50
– ‘Outrunning the Demons’ Profiles Deconstructing Stigma Participant Ana Febres-Cordero: mclean.link/vnj

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Why Is India the Most Depressed Country in the World

Trevor is joined by Dr. Vihang Vahia, a psychiatrist in Mumbai, India, and founder of the of the N.S Vahia Foundation. Vihang discusses mental health and psychiatry in India and the stigma that exists in the country.

Vihang also discusses the collaboration between McLean and the N.S Vahia Foundation as well as his future hopes for the partnership.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

– Vihang discusses his mother’s recent passing (01:52)
– According to Vihang, work is the best way to combat grief (03:18)
– Vihang shares that moving around and meeting new people makes him happy (05:07)

RELEVANT CONTENT:

– McLean Hospital and the N.S. Vahia Foundation: mclean.link/wl3
– Dr. N.S. Vahia Foundation: mclean.link/37b
– Deconstructing Stigma in Mumbai: mclean.link/yw2

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Being Me With OCD With Nathaniel Van Virk

Trevor is joined by Nathaniel Van Kirk, PhD, coordinator of clinical assessment at McLean’s OCD Institute. He talks about his personal journey with obsessive compulsive disorder and how he has used his own experience and recovery path to become one of the top clinicians/advocates in the United States.

Dr. Van Kirk also talks about why he volunteered for the Deconstructing Stigma campaign and why he thinks it’s valuable for clinicians to be open about their own mental health challenges.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

– Nathaniel recalls his first experience with OCD (02:00)
– Nathaniel discusses how OCD can create a disconnect with reality (36:53)
– Nathaniel describes “the sandwich” and how it’s an effective form of exposure therapy (47:13)

RELEVANT CONTENT:

– Nathaniel Van Kirk profile: mclean.link/3bu
– Nathaniel’s story: mclean.link/p18
– Deconstructing Stigma: Nathaniel: mclean.link/jbv

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Getting Back to Brain Basics with Rick Wolthusen

In this episode, Trevor is joined by Rick Wolthusen, MD, founder and co-director of On the Move e.V. This non-governmental organization is focused on building mental health infrastructure in communities where it often does not exist.

Rick shares with us how mental health is misunderstood in Africa. Misconceptions surrounding mental health in Sub-Saharan Africa include that witchcraft is thought, more commonly than most would anticipate, to be the cause of brain-based illnesses.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

– Rick explains how he got involved in mental health in Africa, specifically in Ghana and Kenya (17:08)
– Rick talks about the effects of Western television on international audiences (33:05)
– Rick discusses his motivation to study public policy and mental health at Harvard Kennedy School (41:12)

RELEVANT CONTENT:

– On The Move e.V.: mclean.link/f5g
– Home of Brains Ghana: mclean.link/tkw
– Home of Brains Kenya: mclean.link/2fk
– Obuongo Edhano, a documentary about Rick’s work: mclean.link/fq2

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Living A Life Of Empathy And Experience

On today’s episode, Trevor discusses his perception of self and feeling that he is useless. He is joined by Sophia Maurasse, medical director of McLean’s 3East Girls Intensive and Step Down Programs. Sophia discusses her difficult childhood experience fleeing from war-torn Liberia and how she uses her past experiences to help girls with borderline personality disorder.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

– Sophia details her role at the 3East program (14:09)
– Sophia describes the specific skills needed to tolerate emotional distress (25:46)
– Sophia talks about growing up in Liberia during a civil war (47:07)

RELEVANT CONTENT:

– A Life of Empathy and Experience: mclean.link/2a130
– Sophia Maurasse, MD: mclean.link/dge

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The Sum of Her Parts With Olga Trujillo

In this episode, Trevor talks with internationally renowned speaker and author Olga Trujillo. Olga bravely shares her story, including the physical, sexual, and emotional abuse she endured as a child, significant events which led to the development of dissociative identity disorder.

Olga explains how she retreated within her own mind each time she experienced trauma and discusses her dedication to helping others who are struggling.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

– Olga shares the way she retreated within her own mind every time she experienced trauma (29:57)
– As her book was about to be published, Olga experienced extreme panic over what people would think about her story (37:41)
– It was Olga’s panic attacks that led her to see a psychiatrist (41:55)

RELEVANT CONTENT:

– The Sum of My Parts: mclean.link/3nb
– OlgaTrujillo.com: mclean.link/rj7
– A Survivor’s Story: mclean.link/yub

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Beyond a Troubled Child – One Family’s Experience With Adolescent Mental Health

Trevor discusses bullying and abuse and how both can often be swept under the rug in families. Then we hear from Kate M. and Ralph Buonopane, PhD, program director of the McLean-Franciscan Child and Adolescent Inpatient Program.

Kate details her experience raising two children with mental health issues and discusses her struggle to find the right help and fight the isolation she and her children experienced in their community.

Ralph, having treated Kate’s son, offers his perspective and also shares tips for parents with children who are struggling.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
– Kate describes the reality of having children with mental illness (14:31)
– Ralph discusses the condition of most children when they arrive at an inpatient mental health program (20:18)
– Kate explains that the public school system isn’t equipped to handle children with complex emotional issues (23:29)

RELEVANT CONTENT:
– Owen’s Struggles With Mental Health Didn’t Hold Him Back—They Propelled Him Forward: mclean.link/8s4
– Staff Profile – Ralph J. Buonopane, PhD: mclean.link/j8l
– McLean-Franciscan Child and Adolescent Inpatient Program: mclean.link/6rg

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Riding to Remember with Mac Dorris

Trevor discusses the negative ways in which mental illness is portrayed by the media before he is joined by Mac Dorris, founder of the Ride for Mental Health. Mac started this charity bike ride in honor of his son, Eric, who struggled with borderline personality disorder and depression. Eric passed away in 2016 and Mac raises funds to end mental health stigma and keep his son’s memory alive.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
– Mac discusses how and when the idea for the Ride for Mental Health came to him (14:15)
– Mac shares the moments when he started to suspect Eric was living with mental health issues (31:45)
– Before he passed, Eric was working on a local mayoral campaign in Waltham, MA (47:04)

RELEVANT CONTENT:
– Rideformentalhealth.org
– Cycling for Mental Health: https://www.mcleanhospital.org/news/cycling-mental-health
– A Researcher’s Journey From Tinkerer to Innovator to Mentor: https://www.mcleanhospital.org/news/ride-mental-health-founder-mac-dorris-wants-expand-conversation-around-mental-health

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