Joy Lab | navigate depression, anxiety, & stress with the science of joy

In this episode, Dr. Henry Emmons talks about emotional reactivity and its profound relationship with anxiety and depression, especially recurring episodes of depression. Henry will take you through a real-life example of how an emotional storm (aka emotional reactivity) was triggered by a seemingly simple situation. And as the example highlights, this powerful cascade from an initial hurt to a pe...

Emotions reside within us, and they manifest physically in our bodies. Discover the power of processing your emotions in this soothing meditation practice. You can use this practice whenever you need it, whether you're experiencing challenging emotions in the moment or reflecting on a past difficulty.         *If you're in our Resilient Community, find this meditation in your Workshops area. The i...

This episode is all about the normal, daily emotions we encounter each day. Listen in as Dr. Henry Emmons discusses how emotions can serve as your compass, pointing the way to what needs your attention. As you listen, you'll learn how giving your emotions the attention they seek can allow them to transform and eventually move on. Henry will also highlight the mind's inclination to seek reasons for...

In this episode, Dr. Henry Emmons highlights the power of thoughts, how they shape our reality, and how emotions are intricately connected. This trickiness of our mind and the arising of our emotions is an important understanding before we wade deeper into the world of emotions.     Sources and Notes: This episode is part of our Podcourse! To get the most of the course, you may want to follow alon...

In this meditation, you'll learn to connect with the observer within, the part of your mind that can step back and simply observe your thoughts. This is a powerful antidote for overthinking. It may seem challenging at first, but with practice, it becomes a powerful tool for mindfulness and self-awareness. And don't worry if you feel distracted during this meditation… the goal of this meditation is...

In this episode, Dr. Henry Emmons will talk about overthinking and the art of calming an unquiet mind... which is essential in today's busy, high-stimuli world. Henry will illustrate how overthinking can get us into trouble with the second arrow metaphor. When life's slings and arrows wound us (the first arrow), our unconscious reactions and overthinking can often add unnecessary suffering (the se...

We're diving deep into the science and soul of gratitude in this episode. Learn how it can positively impact your relationships, physical health, mental health, and even your 9 to 5. Of course, gratitude isn't always easy. Dr. Emmons and Dr. Prasek discuss the obstacles to gratitude, what it can look like in the face of loss or stress, and realistic strategies to put it into practice.       Source...

Stress can be relentless, negatively impacting our mental health and wellbeing. But, it's not all about the stressors. So often, it's not the actual stressor that causes us harm, but it's our thinking that takes us down. That's when stress turns into suffering. In this episode, Dr. Henry Emmons describes this relationship of stress, overthinking, and suffering. And most importantly, there are ways...

We're entering a new phase of our podcourse... We're shifting from more body-focused strategies to explore two crucial dimensions of our being: the mind and the heart. These realms hold immense power over our mood and wellbeing. Mindfulness grants us the ability to perceive reality as it truly is, free from the distortions of our thoughts and the surge of emotions that can sweep us up. Heartfulnes...

Here's an important reminder about medications and depression and anxiety: You don't have to choose between medication or a "natural" approach. A truly integrative approach makes room for it all. It's about harnessing science, skills, and the incredible capacity for healing we all possess. In this episode, Dr. Emmons will discuss a more balanced perspective on medication and its role in mental hea...

Have you wondered if supplements or vitamins might help with managing anxiety and depression? There's some good science to say that a few key supplements can offer some much needed support. In this episode, we explore five foundational supplements that we really like to not only support mental health, but overall wellbeing. And no need to take notes, find all the supplements referenced in the show...

In this episode, Dr. Emmons will talk about the connection between diet and depression and anxiety. And even though there's a powerful link there, we can still take a very holistic and empowering approach to our diet. Expect to come away with tips on how to tailor your diet to support your unique mood pattern along with some motivation and confidence to eat in a way that fully supports your entire...

What if there was a treatment that was nearly always helpful for depression and anxiety, had few to no side effects, and was accessible to everybody? You'd want that, right? Well, that magical treatment is called exercise. but let's reframe it as "movement." In this episode, Dr. Emmons explains the profound impact of movement on your wellbeing and how you can bring it back into your natural daily...

Self-compassion is the secret sauce to making positive changes in your life. It really is a primary fuel for transformation. In this episode, we're diving deep into the third aspect of self-compassion, which is all about common humanity versus isolation. In our previous episodes, we explored self-compassion from different angles. We learned how to separate ourselves from our thoughts and be kinder...

Are self-criticism, guilt, and shame holding you back? Join the club, right?! So often, we are our own worst critic and are so hard on ourselves. In this episode, we're diving deep into self-compassion, particularly focusing on self-kindness versus self-judgment. Our goal is to help you understand what it means to treat yourself with warmth and understanding, especially when you're going through t...

In this episode, we dive deep into the essential topic of self-compassion. We'll highlight the importance of self-compassion, especially in countering negative self-talk. To do that, we'll focus on mindfulness as it relates to self-compassion. We'll look at strategies to get out of our heads, ways to break the cycle of chaotic or rigid thinking, and how we can get out of our heads and into our bod...

In this episode, we explore how supplements can help with three common sleep struggles: problems falling asleep, problems staying asleep, and waking up too early (that vexing 4 a.m. hour). Tailoring supplements to these patterns of sleep problems can make your efforts more worthwhile. And no need to take notes, find all the supplements referenced in the show notes. And you can help support the Joy...

In this episode, Henry takes you on a journey to uncover the remarkable science behind sleep and its pivotal role in depression, anxiety, and overall wellbeing. Henry will also highlight simple adjustments in your daily routine to help you improve your sleep, support your mood, and enhance your resilience.   A few key questions answered in this episode: Why is sleep so vital for emotional balance?...

Are you tired of not finding answers that resonate with your unique experience of depression, anxiety, or stress? In this episode, we're breaking down the traditional barriers of understanding depression and anxiety and introducing you to an innovative approach – the three subtypes. Determining where you tend to fall with these subtypes can help you gain a more empowering perspective of depression...

If you've experienced years of depression and anxiety, it may seem like that's just your "new normal" and the way things will always be. But, that's just not the case. Change is always possible. There's a science behind getting out of that fog of depression and anxiety and building a more resilient and joyful life. In this episode, Henry will dive into this "Science of Hope" with the help of three...

Most definitions of depression make it sound like a universal, clear-cut state of "dysfunction." We don't think that's true. At Joy Lab, we believe in a holistic approach to mental health. We understand that the mind, body, and heart are interconnected, and we're here to empower you to address all aspects of your wellbeing. That means that this thing we call depression (and anxiety and stress) doe...

In this episode, we're introducing our podcourse! This course really covers the foundation of what Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are built on. Expect to learn key coping skills for depression, anxiety, and chronic stress. However, "coping skills" aren't where we'll stop. We'll blend science with soul and dive into the key practices to not only cope with depression, chronic stress, and anxiety...

What the heck is Joy Lab? And what is joy? Good questions! We talked about these things a LONG time ago and thought it timely to share this episode again. This episode is a reminder of why we do what we do here at Joy Lab and, most of all, why it works.     Key bits from this episode:   Joy is not the opposite of depression. It is different from happiness and runs deeper than any feeling. Joy can...

The theme of this episode is Love. Not the rom-com version of love, but the genuine deep connection that we all long for. And even though love is all around, it's easy to close our hearts to love, in fear of becoming vulnerable and getting hurt. So how do we open ourselves again, and how do we keep our hearts open? Tune into this episode to learn the five lessons on loving well and how we can keep...

Are you feeling the weight of loneliness or disconnection and their impact on your mental health? Join in as Henry guides you through a powerful meditation that starts within – creating a blueprint for meaningful connections and a sense of belonging. Drawing inspiration from the wisdom of the soul, you'll tap into your creative imagination and your existing connectivity to build your "House of Bel...