Do you ever catch yourself in the act of judging yourself much more harshly for your faults and failings than you ever do others? This self-destructive tendency is all too common in people dealing with mental health issues.

If that chimes with you, and you know you’re constantly way too tough on yourself, it’s time to learn your own worth and practice a little self-kindness. Here are some tools and apps that can help you develop self-compassion.

Self-Compassion Website Resources

1. Positive Psychology

The Positive Psychology website is a great place to start, with resources galore for therapists, teachers, and counselors. Although designed for welfare professionals, anyone can download the free Positive Psychology Self-Compassion Exercises Pack.

This 20-page guide includes three sets of exercises that will help you identify your strengths, look at your core values, and give self-compassion strategies to help you deal with that inner critical voice. It’s a great starting point if you want an expert-led guide to treating yourself more compassionately.

2. Self-Compassion

The Self-Compassion website is the work of Dr. Kristen Neff, a leading psychologist who has researched self-care extensively. On the website, you’ll find articles, links, and courses. Head to the Self-Compassion exercises where there are both guided practices as downloadable audio files and a series of self-guided exercises you can do independently.

3. CCI Health

Although an Australian government website seems an unlikely source, the Centre for Clinical Interventions has a series of information sheets and a terrific workbook called Building Self-Compassion. In this section, you’ll also find plenty of mental health guidance for looking after yourself and others.

4. Mindfulness Exercises

Mindfulness Exercises provides a series of free self-compassion exercises curated by international mindfulness trainer Sean Fargo. You can also get valuable help from the Mindfulness Exercises YouTube channel.

Apps for Self-Compassion

5. The Self-Compassion App

The Self-Compassion App was developed by two leading doctors in the field, Chris Irons and Elaine Beaumont, as a complete source of help with self-compassion for anyone who struggles with stress and anxiety.

The app offers more than 50 evidence-based ideas and exercises to work through, including breathing exercises, meditations, journaling tools, audio guides, and physical activities. Plenty of the content is free, or subscribe to unlock all the resources.

Download: The Self-Compassion App for iOS (Free, subscription available)

6. My Possible Self

Award-winning free app My Possible Self takes a holistic, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approach to mental health. It helps you examine all the issues that might be causing you to criticize and doubt yourself.

The self-help toolkit includes mood trackers, motivational messages, audio exercises, and journaling tools. Head to the Self-Love section on the Explore tab for articles, podcasts, and affirmations. A red Crisis button is at the top of the page if you need instant professional help.

My Possible Self is trusted by healthcare providers such as the Priory and Great Britain’s NHS.

Download: My Possible Self for iOS | Android (Free)

7. Feeling Good: Mental Fitness

The Feeling Good app is another source of excellent audio tracks to help develop your mental resilience, with help for overcoming challenges such as sleep problems and quitting smoking.

The cornerstone of Feeling Good is its 12-track Positive Mental Training program that uses the same visualization skills employed by Olympic athletes to teach you how to relax, become calmer, and develop self-confidence and self-esteem.

Although the app is free, access to all the content is available via subscription or referral code. Your health provider may be able to provide a code, but check the Feeling Good website as well. At the time of writing, a free code was available here to everyone.

Download: Feeling Good: Mental Fitness for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

Using any of these apps or websites will soon reveal similar strategies to practice self-compassion. Affirmations, journaling, mindfulness, and exercise will all contribute towards improving your sense of self-worth. These apps will help.

8. Use Affirmations as a Self-Compassion Tool: Motivation App

Self-affirmations, short positive phrases, are brilliant for a little burst of positivity and self-love. You can use a range of powerful self-affirmation tools, but one of the most fully featured is Motivation, which provides plenty of beautiful images and phrases to boost you each day. Make sure you use the app’s lock screen widget to get a little reminder of your self-worth each time you pick up your phone.

Download: Motivation for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

9. Use Journaling as a Self-Compassion Tool: Worry Tree Anxiety Journal App

There are plenty of guided self-care journaling apps, but try the Worry Tree Anxiety Journal app to address your need for self-compassion.

This cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) tool helps you catch and challenge negative thoughts. Instead, the app prompts you to examine any unhelpful thinking styles that might be underpinning your worries. You can even schedule “worry time” into your calendar, allowing you to get on with the rest of your day.

Download: Worry Tree Anxiety Journal for iOS | WorryTree: Anxiety Relief CBT for Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

10. Use Mindfulness Apps to Help You Cultivate Self-Compassion

Mindful meditation is one of the most potent tools you can employ to help you manage your mind. Pausing each day to remember and celebrate the positives in your life can really help you manage your mindset. It then becomes easier to eliminate those unnecessary worries that you’re not enough.

You can use many great tools and resources to help make meditation easy. Apps such as the Insight Timer app, the meditation app Calm, or the personalized meditation approach of the Balance app can all help you learn to practice the discipline with their introductory programs. Rather than dwelling on your negative thoughts, use one of these meditation apps for a mindful moment on the go instead.

11. Use Exercise as a Self-Compassion Tool: Gentler Streak App

There’s nothing better for self-care than getting up and moving around. Be kind to yourself by doing whatever exercise you enjoy and makes you feel good. Those endorphins will help boost your mood and raise your self-esteem.

The compassionate Gentler Streak iOS app is ideal, as it celebrates even small wins in your fitness routine and allows you to build in rest days and active recovery periods. That way, you won’t feel bad if you have a day off from the routine.

Exercise is good for both mind and body, and you can also practice walking meditation with these apps.

Download: Gentler Streak for iOS (Free, subscription available)

Practice Self-Compassion for a Happier, Healthier Life

You won’t gain any real benefit from constantly talking yourself down. However, practicing self-compassion will lead you towards a happier, less stressed, more resilient way of living. These tools will help you find plenty of practical strategies to counter those negative inner voices.

Everyone makes mistakes and has bad days, and you must remember that you have that privilege, too!

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An Unprecedented Collaboration of Global Experts in Mental Health and Technology Will Develop Safer Standards for Tech Platforms for Teens and Young Adults

NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The Mental Health Coalition (MHC), in partnership with the nation’s most prominent global authorities in mental health will develop the first-of-its-kind social media standards and rating for youth ages 13-24 and their caregivers. This effort will provide much needed support and resources while ensuring safer and more responsible online engagement (including media platforms, gaming, social media, search and others) for youth.

“Our aim is to leverage the considerable vision and insight of this impressive group of dedicated cross functional professionals to help reverse the alarming shift in behavior,” said Kenneth Cole, social activist and founder of The Mental Health Coalition.

Earlier this year, the Surgeon General called on policy makers to collaborate with many stakeholders including technology and NGOs to ensure the health and safety of the next generation.

“Today we are answering this call to build a safer future for today’s youth,” Cole added. “We believe their problem can be solved together and only together.”

The Coalition has engaged many of the world’s leading professionals connected to mental health, including the leadership and expertise of Dr. Dan Reidenberg, an internationally recognized expert in suicide prevention, mental health and online safety, to lead this initiative.

“As the CDC reports, this is a critical moment. We urgently need to address the mental health and well-being crises being imposed upon our youth,” said Dr. Reidenberg, who noted that other factors also affect the well-being of teens. “We hope that the S.O.S. initiative can also serve as a standard for other accessible technology initiatives.”

“Youth mental health is a priority for Google and we are pleased to support this cross-industry effort led by the Mental Health Coalition.” – Megan Jones Bell, Clinical Director Consumer and Mental Health, Google.

Key Data Points Related to Teens and Young Adults

• 90% of teens 13-17 use or have used social media (AACAP)
• Nearly 1 in 3 young teen girls admitted to seriously considering suicide in 2021 – up nearly 60% from a decade ago (SAMSHA)
• 86% of young people said that social media negatively impacted their happiness, with 83% saying it contributed to their anxiety (Express VPN)
• A majority of parents of adolescents say they are somewhat, very, or extremely worried that their child’s use of social media could lead to problems with anxiety or depression (53%), lower self-esteem (54%), being harassed or bullied by others (54%), feeling pressured to act a certain way (59%), and exposure to explicit content (71%), according to Gelles-Watnick, R. (2022)

The Initiative: S.O.S. – The Answer to A Safer Online Experience for Kids 
The Mental Health Coalition (MHC) is on a multi-year journey to positively transform youth mental health in the digital space. The standards will be developed, tested and reviewed by a steering committee and expert advisors across the mental health field with input from many diverse groups of users including youth, parents, people with lived experience and mental health organizations.

“We have had a rating system for films for over 50 years. Similar guidance for social media is long overdue,” said Tom Insel, MD, former Director of the National Institute of Mental Health.

S.O.S standards will provide guidance via an easy to understand and recognize rating system.  The system will provide the public with credible information on platform safety, align technology companies with standards that provide for a healthier, safer user experience and help teens and young adults develop and enhance digital literacy skills.

Learn more about S.O.S, including an initial list of top mental health experts who are involved and taking action towards a safer online experience for kids today and how you can get involved at https://www.thementalhealthcoalition.org/sos.

About The Mental Health Coalition
The Mental Health Coalition (www.thementalhealthcoalition.org), is a coalition of the Nation’s leading mental health organizations, brands, and individuals who have joined forces to end the debilitating stigma surrounding mental health and to change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness. Our mission is to catalyze like-minded communities to work together to destigmatize mental health and empower access to vital resources and necessary support for all.

The Mental Health Coalition was formed with the understanding that the mental health crisis is fueled by a pervasive and devastating stigma, preventing millions of individuals from being able to seek the critical treatment they need. We will not relent until mental health is no longer associated with stigma, shame or judgment and all people feel empowered to openly discuss and address their individual mental health needs.

Contact: The Mental Health Coalition, (212) 713-6661.

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SOURCE The Mental Health Coalition

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Raising Good Humans Online Summit July 11-14 will be hosted by Mindful Mama Mentor Hunter Clarke-Fields to Help Parents and Kids Thrive

We invite you to participate in our Raising Good Humans Summit that is 100% online with 16 positive parenting expert guest discussions that can help moms and dads build even stronger relationships with their children using mindfulness. – Host Hunter Clarke-Fields

PHILADELPHIA, Penn. (PRWEB)
July 05, 2023

Bestselling Author, Mindful Mama Podcast Host, and CEO of Mindful Mama Mentor Hunter Clarke-Fields announces the Raising Good Humans Summit will be held online this July 11-14, 2023, for free with a Pre-Order receipt for Hunter’s upcoming book, “Raising Good Humans Every Day – 50 Simple Ways to Press Pause, Stay Present and Connect with Your Kids” (New Harbinger Publications Inc., August 1, 2023).

Hunter explains, “We invite you to participate in our Raising Good Humans Summit that is 100% online with 16 positive parenting expert guest discussions that can help moms and dads build even stronger relationships with their children using mindfulness.”

Based on 20 years of meditation and yoga experience, Hunter teaches mindfulness to thousands of parents worldwide, including a recent talk in Egypt. Hunter’s first book “Raising Good Humans” was a mega bestseller that sold 200k+ copies and has 4,300+ Amazon reviews. The highly anticipated sequel is “Raising Good Humans Every Day”.

Anyone can register for this Raising Good Humans Summit to learn from 16 top parenting expert sessions. Participants can gain mindful parenting tips by watching these 30-minute video discussions with Hunter Clarke-Fields and guests.

HOW TO REGISTER for the Raising Good Humans Online Summit: Registration is free for anyone who Pre-Orders Hunter’s new book. To register, follow this 3-step easy process:

• 1. Pre-Order a copy of “Raising Good Humans Every Day” from your favorite bookseller
• 2. Email your receipt to info AT NewHarbinger DOT com
• 3. Learn from the experts on July 11-14!

During this 4-day Raising Good Humans Summit, guests can learn how to:

• Cultivate self-compassion in the face of everyday stress
• Transform generational patterns of reactivity
• Handle mental health challenges
• Discover their own pathway to mindful, conscious parenting
• Navigate an increasingly uncertain world

HOW TO PARTICIPATE ONLINE: Participants can watch these mindfulness parenting videos any time between July 11-14, as they are released. The summit registration also includes on-demand access to all videos in the series for 30 days afterwards. Registration is easily accessed here:

https://mindfulmamamentor.com/summit

Each session will be a fascinating discussion between Hunter and the summit’s Expert Guests to help participants:

• Develop greater self-awareness and embrace imperfection
• Teach your kids about mindfulness and emotional literacy
• Deal with challenges related to ADHD diagnosis
• Parent with compassion, validation, acceptance, and vulnerability
• Meet your child where they are developmentally
• And much, much more!

TOP MINDFUL PARENTING EXPERT GUESTS: The 16 Raising Good Humans Summit Expert sessions will include discussions with these positive parenting experts: 1. Dzung X. Vo, MD, 2. Carla Naumburg, PhD, LICSW, 3. Shefali Tsabary, PsyD, 4. Gabor Maté, MD, 5. Diana Hill, PhD, 6. Christopher Willard, PsyD, 7. Shelly Tygielski & Liam Asayag, 8. Shauna Shapiro, PhD, 9. Chazz Lewis, 10. Alyssa Blask Campbell, 11. Cathy Cassani Adams & Toni Adams, 12. Lynyetta Willis, PhD, 13. Rhonda V. Magee, MA, JD, 14. Mark Bertin, MD, 15. Erlanger Turner, PhD, and 16. Kara Hoppe, MA, MFT & Stan Tatkin, PsyD, MFT.

This mindful parenting summit is being sponsored by Sound True Kids, Spirituality Health, The Awake Network, Greater Good Magazine, and Praxis.

LIVE BOOK LAUNCH EVENT – Aug 1, 2023, 6:00pm – NY, NY: In addition to this online summit, Hunter Clarke-Fields will host a LIVE Book Launch Event for “Raising Good Humans Every Day” in New York City on August 1, 2023, at Cocoon. Space is limited to 70 people, and a RSVP is required for this free event that will include special door prizes and book t-shirts for attendees. RSVP via Eventbrite here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/book-launch-party-raising-good-humans-every-day-by-hunter-clarke-fields-tickets-665673345897

The new “Raising Good Humans Every Day” book is different from Hunter’s first parenting guide “Raising Good Humans.” It is a much smaller size book that fits in a purse or small bag with bitesize chapters averaging 3-5 pages. Readers will also find short exercises / action items at the end of each of the 50 chapters. And the new book is even more practical for busy parents to read because it can provide a sense of accomplishment and peace-of-mind faster.

WHERE TO PRE-ORDER – “Raising Good Humans Every Day”

AMAZON

https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Good-Humans-Every-Day/dp/1648481426

Follow Hunter Clarke-Fields and the book news here:

Instagram @MindfulMamaMentor

https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmamamentor

MEDIA CONTACT:

Liz Kelly, 310-987-7207

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Hunter Clarke-Fields MSAE, E-RYT (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a Mindfulness Mentor, Mindful Mama Podcast Host, Global Speaker, Number 1 Bestselling Author of “Raising Good Humans”, Mindfulness Meditation Teacher and creator of the Mindful Parenting Course and Teacher Training. Hunter has over 20 years of experience in meditation and yoga practices and has taught mindfulness to thousands worldwide. She presents talks on parenting, and helps parents worldwide bring more calm and family cooperation into their daily lives. In addition, Hunter coaches smart, accomplished, over-stressed individuals on how to cultivate mindfulness. Hunter is the mother of two active daughters, who challenge her every day to hone her craft! Her work has appeared in CNBC Make It, Parade, Motherhood Moment, The Hollywood Digest, along with on ABC Portland, NBC Milwaukee, and CBS South Bend, Kansas Public Radio, and many podcasts. And as part of her self-care, Hunter likes to do Scottish country dancing. Learn more about Hunter at https://MindfulMamaMentor.com

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Norm Jones didn’t know where to turn.

What he thought was a whirlwind romance had fallen apart. The woman he had been talking with almost every day for five months wasn’t who she said she was. The $250,000 he had invested at her encouragement, his life savings and retirement, was gone. He would have to sell the house.

This wasn’t supposed to happen to him. Jones, 54, spent his career working in telecommunications and cybersecurity in the Silicon Valley area. Yet, he had fallen for an internet scam that experts say has grown more potent — and appears increasingly connected to self-harm.

In March, emergency personnel found Jones unconscious in his bathroom after he attempted suicide.

“My dad thought I was dead,” he told NBC News. “So did my brother and everyone.”

Jones is doing better. He’s recovering and said he wanted to share his story about what cybersecurity experts and suicide prevention advocates say is an underreported and pernicious issue: romance scams. 

“I’d be happy to help just one person in the world never go through what I went through,” he said.

Romance scams trace back centuries and have been a mainstay of internet tricksters. But some scammers have devised methods so personally brutal and financially devastating that self-harm is a growing concern for victims.

Scams that once bilked victims out of hundreds or maybe thousands of dollars through gift cards are now increasingly convincing them to move their investment and retirement accounts into phony investment schemes. Those schemes have been boosted by the rise of cryptocurrency as both a tempting way to get rich quick and also as a mechanism for scammers to move large amounts of cash in ways that are almost impossible to retrieve.

“To me, it’s a public health crisis that I don’t think we’re talking about,” said Amy Nofziger, director of victim support for AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

While the organization doesn’t log suicidal threats or deaths as a specific statistic, it has become “pretty much a daily occurrence” to refer a victim to a suicide hotline, she said.

The scam has two phases: Gain a victim’s trust by cultivating a fake romantic relationship for weeks or months, then convince them to pour money into a scheme that makes it appear they’re getting richer. In reality, their money’s already gone.

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center categorizes these rackets as investment scams, also sometimes called “pig butchering” scams. An FBI report found that victims reported losing a total of $3.3 billion in 2022, more than double the reported losses in 2021.

The Federal Trade Commission tallied a record $496 million from romance scam victims last year, a spokesperson said. The FTC and the FBI reports rely entirely on what victims report to them, meaning they’re likely undercounted. There’s little other authoritative figures on the scam including information on victims’ demographics.

In April, the Justice Department announced a rare victory: It had seized virtual currency worth about $112 million linked to romance investment scams.

Erin West, a deputy district attorney who heads the high technology crimes unit in Santa Clara County, California, said that romance scammers are becoming “more and more masterful” at bilking victims out of every possible dollar.

“We describe it as a spell being cast over these victims. Despite hours on end with their banker or their children or a law enforcement official, they can’t be talked out of this,” she said.

The effects on victims are also becoming more severe, West said.

“The desperation is incredible. And we are seeing more and more victims threatening suicide, experiencing suicide attempts, checking themselves into psychiatric facilities because they’re feeling suicidal,” she said. 

Jones’ scammer, who used the name Aranya, first messaged him on Facebook in November. He let his guard down when he saw that she was already friends with several of his Facebook friends.

Though he preferred Signal, the messaging app of choice for much of the cybersecurity industry, he agreed with Aranya to mostly chat through text chats on Telegram, a messaging app known to be popular with scammers. They also occasionally talked on the phone. 

Aranya quickly became his online girlfriend and a major part of his life. He found her beautiful and brilliant. She seemed to live a high-rolling, jet-setting life that she said she funded with crypto investments. He would take his phone and text with her as he hiked in Los Gatos and write songs for her they would sing together. All the while, she would push him to invest money through a crypto website, eventually convincing him to try to take out a loan against his house for more funds.

Jones finally became suspicious in February. They had made plans to meet in New York City: he had friends there and she said she had planned to stay in her uncle’s luxury apartment in Manhattan. But after he arrived, she changed her story, saying she was in Seattle, and he suspected something was very wrong.

By March, Jones was spiraling. His credit had tanked. He couldn’t get his money out of the crypto site. He filed a report with the FBI but received no response. He estimated he had lost more than $250,000 and owed penalty taxes for cashing out his 401(k)s and feared he wouldn’t be able to keep his house. On top of that, he felt humiliated and hurt that he could no longer trust Aranya.

Norm Jones adjusts tape that helps him recover from his injuries. Clara Mokri for NBC News

Heidi Kar, a senior mental health and trauma advisor for the Education Development Center, a nonprofit group that oversees several suicide prevention programs, said that while it’s impossible to get nuanced data on the topic — suicides are already underreported, and most families don’t publicly reveal specifics of a victim’s motivation — romance investment scams combine two major causes for suicide.

“Two of the most common reasons people will go from just thinking about it to acting on it are romantic relationship dissolution — whether it was real or not — and threat of financial ruin,” she said. “And so, as these these types of scams increase, we have to expect that more people will die by suicide who have been impacted.”

The concerns about self-harm and romance scams come during what U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has called an “epidemic of loneliness and isolation.” 

Ashley, 36, said she had no idea her father, Joe Bleibtrey, was ensnared in a romance investment scam until after he died. She pieced much of it together by looking through his phone after he died by suicide in January. As with Jones, Bleibtrey’s scammer introduced herself on Facebook and convinced him to move their conversation to Telegram.

For four months, a person whom Bleibtrey considered an online romantic partner convinced him to dump practically everything he had — his savings and both of his retirement accounts totaling around $500,000 — into a fake scheme that made it appear that he was making a fortune by investing in cryptocurrencies. He died by suicide soon after realizing the woman’s story wasn’t real and his savings were stolen.

“This person was fulfilling something for my dad in that romantic way that he wasn’t getting perhaps fulfilled in other ways and unfortunately, built enough trust for him to take this risk,” said Ashley, who requested that her last name not be used for professional reasons.

She said the fallout has been difficult to deal with as she tries to juggle her life, grieving for her father and her father’s debts.

“It’s not like a typical grief process when you have collectors calling you or coming after the estate or you’re dealing with court or trying to figure out taxes because, I mean, he owes a significant amount of taxes due to withdrawing from his IRA or Roth accounts,” she said. “You can’t just grieve.”

Jones is now focused on recovery. After months in a crisis center, he’s moved in with one of his best friends who lives in Gilroy. He’s selling his house to cover his debts and is working on healing, both mentally and physically, and spending time with his brother and father.

In April, Jones sent Aranya a graphic photo of his recovery and told her that’s where desperation from her scam drove him. The message is marked on Telegram as read and her account is still active, but Aranya didn’t respond.

“I’m accepting what happened a little better now,” he said. “All we can do is move forward.”

“My family knows and I know I’m going to survive. And I’m grateful to just be here.”

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.

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In the world of psychiatry, it is unfortunately common for some patients to express discontent. There are multiple legitimate reasons for this dissatisfaction – mistreatment, abuse of power, misdiagnosis, lack of proper consent, and coerced treatments, to name a few.

A recent study by Canadian researchers Matthew S. Johnston, Matthew D. Sanscartier, and Rhys Steckle shifts focus to the patients’ voices, capturing their candid experiences with psychiatrists via online reviews.

“Those whom society pits as ‘mad’ can get taken up as a separate class of ‘deviants’ because of how others view their behavior. Mental illness is still not often understood well in society but rather can be perceived and stigmatized as a dire weakness and difference, which creates a negative connotation associated with some types of behavior. For instance, racial discrimination can lead to more negative mental health outcomes,” the researchers write. 

“Other people with more ‘invisible’ mental illnesses, meaning sicknesses that they can conceal from others because their behavioral differences are less obvious, become obligated to perform sanity and conform to institutional behaviors so they can adequately manage the stigma, professional expectations, and vulnerabilities some may perceive as a fault.”

The researchers analyzed 5,090 English-language reviews of 468 practicing psychiatrists in Canada, posted on www.ratemds.com between 2007 and 2018. They sought to understand how patients talked about and potentially challenged their treatment. The study was confined to psychiatrists, with a suggestion for future research to include psychologists and other mental health professionals.

The researchers used a “post-anarchist” lens for their study, aiming to disrupt traditional power dynamics and uncover knowledge within the patient reviews that challenge conventional psychiatric narratives. Their work is rooted in an ethnographic or “netnographic” research methodology, which searches for themes in both cognition and emotion.

The study’s uniqueness lies in its focus on individual voices rather than macro criticisms of the psychiatric system. That said, they do state, “the targeted and individualist nature of our data still makes remarkable and clear links to the more macro critiques.” They further explain:

“This article is more concerned with the fact psychiatric experts have a tendency to construct service users as passive recipients of psychiatric care, perpetuating the assumption that people who suffer from serious mental illnesses are unable to comprehend their own sickness, recovery, and behavior and therefore engage psychiatric experts about their care.”

The authors identified four primary themes from their qualitative analysis, excluding assessing the quantitative 5-star rating system.

The View from the Couch: Counter-Analyses of the Doctor

First, unsurprisingly, some reviewers felt they were not given enough time or attention in their psychiatric consultations. Anecdotally, this is a common phenomenon, spawning its own jokes about psychiatrists rarely even looking at service users as they ask a series of prescribed questions from a survey.

One service user explains:

“As head of psychiatry… you’d think he’d give at least 10 minutes for a conversation to really gauge a person’s frame of mind…I stupidly agreed to electroconvulsive therapy. I say stupidly because he gave me no explanation about the risks or possible side effects…He never recommended talk therapy or stress management, nothing other than pills and ECT.”

As the authors note, in cases like these, there can be a de-emphasis on “learning from the service user’s expressed words and feelings.”

The same reviewer was dissatisfied with the psychiatrist’s arrival at a diagnosis with no explanation of the meaning of the diagnosis, much less the thought process that led to such a diagnosis.

A different reviewer, though likely in a similarly recognizable situation, felt that if they disagreed or ‘fought back’ with the psychiatrist’s recommendation, they risked jeopardizing their treatment or facing reprisal, given the inherent power imbalance and reliance on the psychiatrist for continued medication.

Asking the Wrong Questions: Tensions with Sexuality

A second theme concerned invasive questioning about sexuality. Although it is not unreasonable for psychiatrists to ask basic questions about sex when certain medications can affect libido, several reviewers found the conversation uncomfortable and beyond the scope of necessity.

One reviewer stated:

“He was overly fixated about my sex life and would ask me about it and want details, which really creeped me out…I was beaten and physically abused as a child, but not sexually, so his questions about my sex life were unwarranted….”

This accusation of being “overly fixated” on sexual history and the service user’s sex life—when seemingly irrelevant—appeared across multiple reviews.

Disturbingly, one psychiatrist refused to call a trans service user by their chosen name, claiming they were “not really transgender, just having an identity crisis as a result of BPD [Bipolar Disorder]… He diagnosed me with a ton of disorders I don’t have.”

Stigmatizing Doctors in the Face of Tension

The most emotionally charged reviews came from service users who felt that the psychiatrist’s over-reliance on medication was doing them harm and being too hasty to prescribe:

“Absolute lunatic. No idea where she got her psychiatry degree, but the fact that she’s a doctor and can prescribe medicine is very scary and worrisome. She prescribed me Zoloft after BARELY getting to know me or the core of my issues. Pill pushing psychopath with no empathy whatsoever. After being raped she told me I was dumb and shouldn’t have put myself in that situation. Please never bring your child to her.”

As the authors point out, this quick assessment and revolving-door mentality is common in mental health services. That is one point worth examining at a systemic level, as some well-meaning providers may struggle to keep up with the demand. However, as the authors rightly point out, victim-blaming is inexcusable and points to serious ethical issues.

There are Still Good Doctors Out There

Not all of the psychiatrist reviews were negative. Several reviewers praised their psychiatrist for “helping them overcome their mental health issues, heal their suffering, and in some cases, save their lives.”

A key issue here was a mutual willingness on the part of the service user and psychiatrist to cultivate a relationship of honest dialogue and compromise, as explained by one reviewer:

“As his patient, we have had some disagreements. I believe that people still view physicians of any discipline as infallible and not to be questioned. I do not…I was always honest with [Doctor] if I was uncomfortable or disagreed. We were able to discuss and compromise. For my therapy to be successful, I had to be willing to the work. It is not just meds. There are no ‘magic’ cures. I hold [Doctor] in the highest regard. He is one of the great ones!”

Another reviewer noted that “psychiatry is such an inexact science” and didn’t blame their psychiatrist for their imperfections, concluding with “but, as I say, he seems to be trying hard.”

A constantly recurring theme in this article, as the authors write, is that of autonomy. When people feel that their voice and perspective matter, they are more likely to rate the care highly. On the other side of things: “Yet when they feel powerless, betrayed, or abused, they tend to criticize their care.”

Although these statements may seem obvious, it is also evident that psychiatry continues to suffer from many of the problems discussed by reviewers throughout this analysis.

On a concluding note, the authors valorize this “digital space” where service users can engage in a form of politics that allows them to recoup some of their voice and to offer counter-narratives and resistance to the psychiatric establishment:

“By counter-analyzing doctors to feel like they have a say over their treatment/conditions, insisting doctors are asking the wrong questions to better control their identities, and attempting to informally expose their doctors’ ties to the pharmaceutical industries, service users refuse to simply accept the labels, diagnoses, and pathologies imposed on them.

A post-anarchist framework, a view in which ‘essential identities and fixed normative categories are destabilised’ allows us to view these textual gestures as subverting medical subject-positions via discourse external to the psychiatric apparatus.”

Addressing study limitations, the authors admit that “overt psychiatric resistance has only been preliminarily explored.” They are interested in how individuals “refuse to become subjectivized by psychiatric discourse and power.” More research is needed into these forms of resistance and pushing for counter-narratives against the establishment.

There is a plethora of research, both academic and personal, into the issues this paper addresses. From the harm of coercive, involuntary confinement/treatment and over-prescription of pharmacological drugs to the ongoing power imbalances in psychiatry recognized by the United Nations, the fight for equal treatment and, indeed, autonomy for service users is a long and arduous one.

****

Johnston, M. S., Sanscartier, M. D., & Steckle, R. (2023). Patient resistance to psychiatric discourse and power. Disability Studies Quarterly, 42(3-4). (Link)

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Working in collaborating with the Science & Wisdom LIVE initiative, Jamyang Buddhist Centre London has announced a new online learning seminar titled “How Meditation Changes the Brain: Neuroscience in Buddhism.” 

To be held on 8 July, the event will be led by the esteemed scholars Geshe Tenzin Namdak, resident Dharma teacher at Jamyang Buddhist Centre London, and Mexico-based writer, editor, and Zen teacher Vanessa Zuisei Goddard, along with contemplative neuroscientists Dr. Juan Santoyo and Dr. Ekaterina Denkova. 

“Scientific research on meditation has often focused on mindfulness-based interventions, but there are many other techniques to support the cultivation of meaning and happiness in our lives,” Jamyang Buddhist Centre London explained. “In this event, we will move beyond mindfulness and explore how applying contemplative practices in the field of neuroscience can increase our resilience, growth, harmony, well-being, and neuroplasticity.

“These teachers will guide you through the various ways that meditation influences the brain, enhances our focus, allows us to release ingrained patterns, and promotes collective well-being.” (Jamyang Buddhist Centre London)

The e-learning seminar will explore various themes related to Buddhist meditation from a scientific perspective, including: the impact of stress on the brain’s ability to grow and learn; mind-training techniques to promote health, resilience, and well-being; attitudes and emotions affecting the development of our brains and minds; using contemplative practices and science to foster collective healing, equality, and justice; reconnecting with nature and exploring indigenous practices; and developments in neuroscience and its applications to Buddhist practice.

Full online program, 8 July (UK local time):

Session 1

4–4:40 p.m. – Vanessa Zuisei Goddard – Talk & Guided Meditation
4:40–5:20 p.m. – Dr. Juan Santoyo – Talk
5:20-6 p.m. – Joint Q&A with Zuisei Goddard and Dr. Santoyo

6–7 p.m. – Break

Session 2

7–7:40 p.m. – Dr. Ekaterina Denkova – Talk
7:40–8:20 p.m. – Geshe Tenzin Namdak – Talk
8:20–9 p.m. – Joint Q&A with Dr. Ekaterina Denkova and Geshe tenzin Namdak

Geshe Tenzin Namdak. Image courtesy of Jamyang Buddhist Centre London

“Neuroplasticity is the adaptive process whereby the brain rewires itself in response to thoughts, behaviors, and experiences. Due to this phenomenon, destructive emotions and negative experiences—like trauma, bias and addiction—can become deeply embedded in our neural circuits, adversely affecting our well-being and daily life. The negative emotions and stress that we hold onto can stunt the growth of our brains, impacting our ability to learn and evolve,” Jamyang Buddhist Centre London noted. “This is where meditation and mind-training techniques come in. There are many practices and tools—beyond mindfulness—that we can use to break free of old patterns, create virtuous new habits, and increase neuroplasticity. By leveraging scientific research and contemplative practices, we can promote collective healing, equality and justice in our world, as well as improve our own health, resilience and wellness.”

Click here for full details and to register

Jamyang London Buddhist Centre was established in 1978 to facilitate the study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism following the lineage of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The center is also affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) under the spiritual direction of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and offers a structured curriculum of courses and classes on Buddhist philosophy and practice.

“Science & Wisdom LIVE brings meditation practitioners in conversation with scientists to address the problems of contemporary society and come to new possible solutions,” said Science & Wisdom LIVE. “The dialogue between science and contemplative traditions can inspire positive action and inform an ethical response to the challenges of our times, grounded in the human values of cooperation, compassion and equality.” (Science & Wisdom Live)

See more

How Meditation Changes the Brain: Neuroscience in Buddhism (Jamyang Buddhist Centre London)
Jamyang London Buddhist Centre
Science & Wisdom LIVE
Mind & Life Europe

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Living in a society that celebrates unhealthy eating habits can sadly have a detrimental effect on our relationship with food and eating.

If you have a complicated relationship with eating or with food and want to work towards a more balanced mindset, then these apps and online resources might help.

1. Nourishly – Nutrition & Diet

Nourishly is an app designed to help you build a healthy and balanced relationship with food and your body through a non-diet approach.

MAKEUSEOF VIDEO OF THE DAYSCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT

You can set up Nourishly to support you in various areas of well-being, from eating disorder recovery to general wellness. You can also use the app in conjunction with a professional treatment team if appropriate.

If you want to repair your relationship with food and eating, these features can support your journey:

• Meal Planning. Nourishly offers preset meal plans as well as the opportunity to create your own. Choosing a template meal plan could help take the pressure off deciding how and what to eat each day of the week as you repair your relationship with food.
• Logs. This displays information from recording your meals, feelings, and more to create a log that can uncover important patterns and insights into your well-being.
• Meals and snacks tracking. Recording how you felt when you ate, whether you ate alone or with others, if you followed your meal plan, and logging your hunger levels before and after meals can provide a full picture of your relationship with food and eating.
• Track thoughts and feelings. You can jot down your concerns, thoughts, and feeling independent of meal times to create a log of your general well-being to help pinpoint any triggers or issues.
• Clinician connect. If you’re receiving treatment from a registered dietitian or other healthcare provider, you can link your records to your treatment team for additional support.

Overall, Nourishly is a great app to focus on rebuilding a healthy relationship with food and eating while supporting your overall well-being. Alternatively, if you like the format of Nourishly but want a more concentrated focus on eating disorder recovery, take a look at Recovery Record, created by the same developers.

Download: Nourishly – Nutrition & Diet for Android | iOS (Free)

2. Way

The Way app was created to help you find peace in your relationship with food and concentrate on what makes you feel good in and about your body.

Grounded in mindfulness and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), the Way app can help you repair your relationship with food in several ways:

• Self-reflection. Way asks you questions to help you uncover the thoughts, feelings, and emotions that rule your relationship with food. (For example, the first question asks what the first “food rule” you ever heard was, who said it to you, and how prominent it still is in your life today.)
• Identify your “Peace Point”. The aim of Way is to reach a “Peace Point”—a central goal personalized to you in finding peace with food and your body. You can watch the explanation videos and view examples of Peace Points if you’re unsure of how to approach this.
• Reflect on your progress. Use the Reflections tab to look back over the steps and progress you’ve made when you feel lost.
• Refresh your experience. The Sessions tab allows you to revisit a session any time you want to consolidate your learning.

Using Way is not an experience to rush through, but rather a daily practice of working through each session as and when you’re ready. Your progression is marked through earning leaf points and growing your own tree, which is a symbolic and illustrative way of representing your growing healthy relationship with food.

Download: Way for iOS (Free, subscription available)

3. Feel Better by Deliciously Ella

For some, focusing too much on food and eating can be counter-intuitive to disordered eating recovery. If you find hyper-focusing on food overwhelming, then approaching your health holistically may be a better solution.

Enter Feel Better by Deliciously Ella—a wellness app that provides nutritious recipes without restrictions or diet rules, supported by other wellness tools. There isn’t an explicit focus on repairing food and eating relationships here, but rather on understanding that eating and well-being don’t occur in isolation. Instead, mindfulness, movement, and sleep quality are equally prioritized.

The features of Feel Better by Deliciously Ella that can gently help you repair your relationship with food and eating include:

• Healthy plant-based recipes. Delicious, nutrient-packed recipes made from whole ingredients and without a calorie focus can help you focus on health without restrictions or rules.
• At-home workouts. We’re not talking weight-loss workouts, but rather mindful movements, including yoga, barre, and pilates classes, to support your well-being.
• Meditation tools. Mindfulness is at the core of this app, and there’s no shortage of meditation, breathwork, and other mindfulness tools to encourage self-awareness and compassion.
• Sleep tools. With a whole section dedicated to sleep, Feel Better offers tools to help you sleep better, including sleep sounds, articles, and relaxation programs.

While Feel Better by Deliciously Ella isn’t designed explicitly for improving your relationship with food, it certainly can be used to promote a healthy and balanced approach to eating and your mental well-being.

Download: Feel Better by Deliciously Ella for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)

4. The Full Helping Blog

Created by registered dietitian Gena Hamshaw, The Full Helping is a blog that provides nourishing vegan recipes, reflections on mindfulness and self-care, and resources to help you have a more informed and compassionate relationship with food.

Aside from a robust recipe index, you’ll find resources on nutrition, well-being, food and healing, and more to encourage a balanced relationship with food. Check out the weekly “Weekend Reading” section for insights and health articles for reminders that your well-being goes beyond what’s on your plate.

If you need professional support for your relationship with food, you can find Gena’s dietetic and counseling services under the Services tab.

5. Registered Dietitians and Health Care Professionals on Instagram

Despite social media getting a bad rap for our mental health, it can be a useful source of well-being support when used correctly. The following Instagram profiles are created and run by registered health and medical professionals who debunk diet claims, clear up confusing diet messages, and encourage you to forget the rules and eat healthily:

• Dr Joshua Wolrich MBBS MRCS. NHS doctor HAES®️ (Health at Every Size), and nutritionist (MSc ANutr) Dr. Joshua Wolrich, uses his platform to debunk diet myths and encourages his followers to eat a healthy and balanced diet without restrictive diet rules.
• Pixie Turner (RNutr)(MBACP). Nutrition counselor and psychotherapist, Pixie Turner, aims to help people repair their relationship with food through her Instagram posts.
• Laura IU • RD, CDN, CNSC, RYT. Laura is an Anti-Diet Registered Dietitian who spends the majority of her social media time debunking diet myths and claims, sharing no-fuss advice, and generally promoting a balanced relationship with food and eating.
• The Full Helping. Registered dietitian, Gena Hamshaw, from the blog of the same name shares plant-based recipes, mindful eating, and self-care tips, along with promoting body positivity and mental health awareness.

Using social media mindfully can help you repair your relationship with eating and food. Try reviewing the accounts and content you’re exposed to and remove any that cause you to feel anxious, especially when it comes to food and eating.

You Can Repair Your Relationship With Food Using Online Help

Despite society pressuring us to eat and look a certain way, there is a growing support network of registered health professionals, official apps, and social media accounts that are creating a backlash. If you’ve been struggling with your relationship with food, then hopefully, the above resources can help you start to recover.

If you or a loved one need further or professional help with eating disorder recovery, however, check out Project HEAL—a nonprofit organization offering equitable access to eating disorder treatment.

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PRESS RELEASE

Published April 21, 2023

Mindfully Healing is a trusted online platform for mental health and wellness services that is now offering therapist and counselor services in Minnetonka, MN. The platform is proud to provide access to licensed and qualified therapists and counselors who specialize in anxiety therapy.

Mindfully Healing is a trusted online platform for mental health and wellness services that is now offering therapist and counselor services in Minnetonka, MN. The platform is proud to provide access to licensed and qualified therapists and counselors who specialize in anxiety therapy.

Individuals seeking a therapist, counselor, anxiety therapist, or counselor for anxiety in Minnetonka, MN, can find the help they need with Mindfully Healing. The team is dedicated to supporting individuals on their journey to improved mental health and overall well-being. For those interested in starting their journey, Mindfully Healing is ready to help.

More information can be found at https://mindfullyhealing.com/locations/minnetonka. 

About Mindfully Healing

Mindfully Healing is a leading online platform that provides mental health and wellness services to individuals throughout Minnesota. The platform offers virtual therapy and counseling services through a secure online platform with licensed and qualified therapists and counselors specializing in anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns. 

The platform provides individuals with convenient access to high-quality care, allowing them to work towards their mental health goals regardless of their location.

The service offers virtual counseling sessions through a secure online platform. Clients can access therapy sessions through computers or smartphones, receiving vital mental health services regardless of location.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders affect approximately 40 million adults in the United States. Anxiety can interfere with daily activities and quality of life, making it vital for individuals to seek treatment from qualified therapists and counselors.

Mindfully Healing’s online services provide a safe and confidential space for clients to work with experienced therapists and counselors to reduce anxiety and improve their overall well-being.

“Our primary mission is to improve access to mental health services, and we are thrilled to bring our online therapy and counseling services to Minnetonka,” said a Mindfully Healing spokesperson. “We are committed to providing our clients with high-quality care and support, and our team is dedicated to helping individuals achieve their mental health goals.”

The licensed therapists and counselors at Mindfully Healing have extensive experience treating anxiety and related disorders. They use a variety of evidence-based approaches, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, to help clients manage their symptoms and improve their overall quality of life.

With Mindfully Healing’s online platform, clients can access therapy services from the comfort and privacy of their own homes. In addition, the platform is secure and easy to use, with all sessions conducted through HIPAA-compliant video conferencing.

The service is available to individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Mindfully Healing’s therapists and counselors work with clients to create personalized treatment plans that address their unique needs and goals.

Clients can schedule appointments online or by phone, and Mindfully Healing offers flexible scheduling options to accommodate busy lifestyles.

“We understand that seeking therapy can be a significant step for individuals, and we want to make the process as easy and stress-free as possible,” said a Mindfully Healing spokesperson. “Our online platform provides individuals with a convenient and confidential way to access the care they need.”

Final Thought

In addition to its anxiety therapy services, Mindfully Healing also offers counseling for depression, stress, and other mental health concerns. The online platform provides comprehensive services to support individuals in achieving their mental health goals.

For more information about Mindfully Healing’s online therapy and counseling services in Minnetonka, MN, visit http://mindfullyhealing.com/minnetonka.

For more information, visit https://mindfullyhealing.com/locations/minnetonka.

Media Contact
Company Name: Mindfully Healing
Email: Send Email
Address:10400 Yellow Circle Drive, Suite 103
City: Minnetonka
State: Minnesota
Country: United States
Website: https://mindfullyhealing.com/locations/minnetonka/

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Michael Jann and Michele Jourdan of Citronella Stories announced today that their award-winning animated short Bug Therapy will have a special limited release in North America across online platforms and select theaters, at no cost, for the entire month of May, to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month.

The short, which highlights the importance of therapy and mental health and boasts a buzzworthy celebrity voice cast, will begin a wider release in June, with plans for a global release this fall. The filmmakers are currently developing a feature-length Bug Therapy movie, as well as an animated series extension.

“Right now, more people than ever are struggling with mental-health. We just wanted to make people laugh, and say ‘everyone struggles with something, and there’s no shame in asking for help’,” said Jann and Jourdan. “We’re blown away by the amazing stars who instantly jumped on board to make this film as funny and entertaining as it is. Their hilarious performances show, ‘it’s okay to not be okay!’”

Bug Therapy

Synopsis: Citronella (voiced by Meghan Trainor), a mosquito who faints at the sight of blood, tries to muster the courage to attend group therapy, led by Dr. Pill (Dr. Phil McGraw), to overcome her phobia. She learns that everyone faces mental health struggles – Stick Bug (Sterling K. Brown) battles depression over never feeling seen, Fly (Jay Leno) is OCD and germaphobic and can’t stop washing his hands, Grasshopper (Tom Green) suffers from addiction to coffee, Praying Mantis (Emily Goglia) is narcissistic/delusional and believes she’s God, Dragonfly couple (Michael Jann and Michele Jourdan) are co-dependent, and Spider (Jason Reisig) tries to overcome his phobia of spiders.

The film is directed by Jason Reisig (Smallfoot) and written/created by Jann ( Emmy-nominated former Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon writer) and Jourdan of Citronella Stories, and animated by 88 Pictures. Randy Mills is producer, Eric Bergman co-produces, Jann and Jourdan are executive producers, along with Reisig, Mills and 88 Pictures’ Milind D. Shinde.

This special limited release of Bug Therapy across online platforms will begin on May 1, May Day — an appropriate date as the origin of “Mayday” comes from the French phrase “M’aidez,” which means “Help me,” and fits with the main messages of the film.

Bug Therapy

Bug Therapy is also set to screen at NAMICon 2023, the National Alliance on Mental Illness Conference which takes place in Minneapolis from May 24-27, 2023 with encore screenings online June 6-8 during the NAMICon virtual conference. Jann and Jourdan will be screening the film and sharing their personal story at the event.

NAMICon CA CEO Jessica Cruz noted, “[Bug Therapy] is literally our mission statement! To fight the stigma, and to change the conversation about mental health. This could help so many people.”

NAMICon features more than 50 sessions and a networking environment that engage, challenge and include guests in dynamic discussions and inspiring moments in the name of mental health awareness, education and advocacy.

Bug Therapy

Jann and Jourdan are represented by Mitchel Stein of The Stein Agency, Angie Lucania and Sean Dubravac of Entertainment Lab, and Lon Haber & Co | Mugsy PR. McGraw is repped by UTA. Trainor is repped by CAA. Leno is repped by ICM. Brown is repped by CAA and JWS Entertainment. Green is repped by Gersh and The Conversation Company. Goglia is repped by Firestarter Entertainment. Reisig is repped by Hummel Entertainment.

bugtherapy.film

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