Mental Health Today Show | Mental Wellness & Overthinking

How Stress Is Making Your Anxiety Worse Stress is the number one factor of many mental illness including anxiety and depression. Most leading experts agree that if we reduce our stress levels, we'll reduce anxiety and depression as well.  The Problem:We are all stressed, but some are over-stressed. Most of us are more concerned about taking care of others, that we neglect ourselves to the poin...

Hot, Healthy & Happily Ever After with Hilary Silver For many marriages, the mundane daily routine creates a stale and passionless marriage. It's anything but hot, healthy and happily ever after! Hilary is making a difference in the lives of many men and women who want to have the relationship they desire. If your marriage lacks passion, desire and connection you'll want to listen and...

"I’m going crazy. I can’t stop. I’m the only one with this problem. I hate myself. I’ll never be normal again. I can’t even look at myself in the mirror. I’m too embarrassed to go outside. There’s no hope. I can’t let anyone know. What’s wrong with me?" These repetitive thought patterns plague someone who suffers from this condition. This compulsive behavior transcends age, gender, culture...

No Longer A Victim! Healing From Sexual Abuse with Paula Mosher Wallace Sexual abuse can be so devastating and can be a deep secret for many years. So often people who have been sexually abused are living a life full of shame and self-loathing. In this episode you'll hear from Paula Wallace, who was sexually abused as a child, and now uses her story to help others who are healing from sexual a...

When I was a kid I loved Sesame Street. My favorite character was Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie, and Big Bird, okay they were all my favorites.  But, the one character that stood out the most to me, was a character that didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the characters of Season Street.    He lived in a trash can. You guessed it, Oscar the Grouch.   Oscar was a professional complainer. He...

I am trying something new here, I am recording my podcast episode while I am scoping a live periscope. So, this podcast episode was recorded in front of a live audience.    I am so glad that you have joined me today. Let me ask you a question. Do you get angry?   If you're a funny person, you may answer my question like my father-in-law would, "Does a bear poop in the woods?"   If you&...

Have you ever been driving and then got stuck in the mud or sand?  You get upset and press on the accelerator harder only to find your tire speeding faster and faster and deeper and deeper into the hole – then finally you’re so far down that you get really stuck.  Then feelings of hopelessness and loneliness set in making your day miserable. Have you been there?  Maybe you have never had your car...

You have heard me say before, we all have a story of hurt and brokenness. In this episode, I am talking with Nichola Brown, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Nichola shares her story of abuse and pain and how she is using that to help others in their hurt and pain. Nichola Brown is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Washington, DC.    Born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Nichola has lived in t...

Sometimes Nike's slogan 'Just Do It' isn't enough. Slogans and catchphrases are good, but sometimes they're not very motivating. They can sometimes have the opposite effect.   Fear, self-doubt, and emotional baggage often de-motivate us. Keeping us from doing things we really need to be doing.   Do you say things to yourself like:   1. What's the use? 2. No one really cares...

Do you have self-doubt? I'm sure you do - we all do at some point in our lives.  Does this describe you?  You have an idea for a business, but you give up before you even try, because you convince yourself that no one will like your idea.   You want to ask your boss for a promotion, but you don't because you just know that he'll laugh in your face.   You have, what you think, is helpfu...

 Do you know what this feels like?   You have an important event coming up (presentation, interview, business meeting, going out to lunch) and it's a week away or a few days away, and that's the only thing you can think about.  You toss and turn and you just can't fall asleep because you're thinking about all of the things that will go wrong.   You think about how the "Spotligh...

Perhaps one of the most recognized church songs, besides the song Amazing Grace, is the song It Is Well With My Soul.  Written by Horatio Spafford, 1873  Here is the first stanza of the song: When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul. Back Story: Horatio lived with his family of 5...

Nashville, TN is truly a wonderful place. It's the music capital of the world after all. But, I learned something deeper, more inspiring than music, something that will change my life forever in Nashville. This episode is my personal journey or discovery (nothing really new), but something inspiring happened to me at the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) World Conference.  Th...

One of the most lonely and isolating things someone can do is to keep their mental health disorder to themselves. The stigma and shame that are often associated with a disorder are often the reason for the silence. Psychologists, doctors, and counselors use a mental health disorder manual called the DSM 5 to diagnose and treat patients with mental health disorders. At the same time, longing to &#3...

As a therapist, I often see and hear stories that would break anyone’s heart. Parent’s weeping over the condition of their child or the state of their family.  A mom sobbing over the fact that her child is depressed and miserable after suffering years of abuse. A dad riddled with guilt for failing to foresee that his own son would attempt suicide. A little seven-year-old boy saying that his life i...

There comes a time when we sit back and reflect on who we really are. Where we came from, how we got to this point in our lives, and where we're heading.  Thinking and reflecting about life happens a lot at funerals, weddings, and high school reunions.   A High School Reunion and 5 Reflections About Life What were you like in high school? I was reminded of this very question when I went to my...

What goes on in the mind of a successful entrepreneur? What makes one entrepreneur successful and another not? Find out in this episode.  Ahh, the life of an entrepreneur...  The sweet life of making lots of money without working very hard. Sit back and relax, and take 10 vacations this year.   Umm, maybe, maybe not.   Are you an entrepreneur?   Here's my definition of an entrepreneur.   Someo...

What do you truly want in life?   We all have dreams and aspirations. We all want to be successful. We all want to be happy. But not everyone has their dreams come true. Not everyone is successful. Not everyone is happy.  What is it that you want in life? What one thing comes to your mind?  Better health/ mental health Family Better marriage Relationships Finances to pay your bills Own your own bu...

Whether you have experienced depression yourself, or you know someone who is struggling with it, we are all affected by depression. Amazingly, according to NAMI ( National Alliance on Mental Illness ), as many as 8% of American adults have experienced major depression at some point in their lives, and women are twice as likely to be depressed. That's a lot of people affected by depression. Sad...

Note: This episode is from an article that I wrote and was originally published in the Huffington Post on May 12, 2015. Superheroes have a special place in my heart. I grew up fascinated by Stan Lee @TheRealStanLee and his creations in the Marvel comic world. There’s just something about the message of hope and goodwill that superheroes convey that’s so appealing to me. We all have superheroes. I’...

So, your marriage isn't doing that great. Is the fighting getting worse? Can't seem to talk to each other without throwing word "daggers" at each other? Have you asked yourself a thousand times how your marriage got to be like this? Well, you're not alone. In fact, according to research, there are more couples in your situation than you may realize. As a marriage therapist, I h...

Learning this one simple parenting tip could help you reach your child. Listen as John walks parents through what they need to stop doing and what they need to start doing.  There's no such thing as a perfect parent, but if you can start parenting with this one simple "tweak" in your parenting you'll start noticing a difference in your child. Parents, stop bickering with your kids....

Bickering, yelling, screaming, defending, hurting, blaming, criticizing, belittling, one-upping, put-downs, the silent treatment, fleeing, slamming doors, throwing things, breaking things, crying, threatening, giving ultimatums, blackmailing, deceiving, manipulating...  All of these ways of communicating in the midst of a conflict will destroy or at least will damage a relationship.  The clients I...

Men, you have a hard time admitting you need help, right? Even when it comes to asking for directions.  I get it. I have a hard time asking for directions too, but as a man and a therapist, I want to encourage you to at least consider talking to a therapist. In this episode, I talk about the 10 reasons why men refuse to seek help. Ten Reasons Why Men Refuse to Seek Therapy: Shame. He might appear...

We all have had secrets at some point in our lives, but some of you are holding onto a BIG secret that has been weighing you down. Is that you? Are you holding onto a deep secret, perhaps for years? If so, this episode is just for you. Learn why keeping secrets is not a good idea and how it can actually make you a prisoner of your own thoughts. Negative feelings such as guilt, shame, and embarrass...