Mentally Stronger with Therapist Amy Morin

Breathing exercises that slow the breath down to 10 breaths per minute are effective in calming the nervous system. But many breathing exercises are complicated, and they're tough to remember when you're stressed out. This breathing exercise, however, is simple but effective. And I guarantee you'll remember it. The best news is you'll start to feel the effects instantly. You can boost your mood, r...

Shame can lead to a negative spiral that keeps us trapped in a painful place. Whether you experienced childhood trauma or you feel shame about a mistake you made, shame often leads to secrecy, social isolation, and self-sabotage. Fortunately, there are steps we can take to heal from shame so we can live our best lives. Sheila Rubin is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the author of Embraci...

Catastrophic thoughts involve imagining worst-case scenarios and predicting doom and gloom. If you're not careful, those thoughts can keep you stuck in a dark place. And the more often you entertain them, the more likely they are to happen again. Catastrophic thoughts are a common issue we tackle in therapy, and they often go hand-in-hand with issues like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and stress. The...

Healthy relationships are key to good mental health and building more mental strength. But sometimes it's tough to form deeper connections with people. We want to be authentic but also don't want to be an oversharer. Dr. Nick Morgan outlines some strategies for forming genuine connections without crossing the line into TMI. Dr. Morgan is an expert in communication, body language and authenticity....

Your brain and your body respond to your words. When you introduce positive affirmations into your day, you can rewire the neural pathways in your brain to change the way you think. But don't just take my word for it. Test out the quick experiment I share in this episode. Within 5 minutes, you'll see how it works for yourself. Some of the things I share are how positive affirmations can change you...

What gets in your way of living a good life? Too often we think things like money, achievement, or popularity will lead to happiness. But those things often leave us feeling empty. Jonathan Fields, a speaker, author, and host of the podcast Good Life Project, is known for his work on living a meaningful and fulfilling life. Some of the things he talks about are: The three core components of living...

Negative people should get the least of our energy. But we often think about them, complain about them, and invest a lot of energy in them. Whether it's a difficult colleague or a family member who tries to drag you down, cutting these people out of your life isn't always an option. Fortunately, once you recognize you're giving someone more mental real estate than you'd like, you can create change...

Do you give up when an obstacle seems too big to overcome? Have you abandoned a dream because you thought it was impossible? If so, Mike Massimino has some strategies for perseverance that you might like. Mike is a former NASA astronaut who flew on two space shuttle missions to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. But his life as an astronaut almost didn't happen. Fortunately, he figured out how to...

The holidays are stressful. Many people report worsening mental health. This time of year is far from the happiest time of year for many people. In fact, many people report they feel sad, lonely, and stressed during the holidays. If you're struggling, you're not alone. Here are five things you can do to manage your mental health during the holidays this year. Mentally Stronger Premium - Subscribe...

Welcome to the preview of the first Ask Me Anything (AMA), which is part of Mentally Stronger Premium. A listener says an affair with a co-worker made her depression better. But she never considered herself someone who would "cheat." Now, she wants to know how it's possible that cheating made her feel better and how she should move forward. If you're not a member, join Mentally Stronger Premium to...

It's tough to talk to kids about things like sex, drugs, money, death, friends, and social media. It feels awkward and we often don't know what to say. Fortunately, Dr. Robyn Silverman knows how to talk to kids about anything. Some of the things she talks about today are: The important conversations most parents ignore The crucial conversations you should start having today How to help kids make b...

Gratitude has the power to transform your mental health, physical health, and relationships. But saying what you feel thankful for shouldn't be a chore. There are ways to cultivate genuine gratitude. And when you do, you'll improve your life. Some of the things I talk about today are: What gratitude really is What research reveals about gratitude The specific benefits of writing in a gratitude jou...

Your brain health is affected by everything from how much sleep you get to how much time you spend on your digital devices. However, most people don't spend much time thinking about improving their memory or accelerating learning. Instead, we attribute trouble learning to not being smart enough or blame memory gaps on the fact that we're aging. Jim Kwik, brain coach and author of Limitless: Upgrad...

The way you talk to yourself greatly affects your mental health and your mental strength. If you call yourself names, put yourself down, or beat yourself up, you'll create a lot of extra hardship for yourself. Fortunately, you can learn to change your inner dialogue. When you do, you'll discover that self-compassion is a superpower that can help you in many areas of your life. Some of the things I...

Scott Tatum is a survivor of a chaotic and abusive childhood. He describes himself as a "high-functioning victim" who worked hard to suppress his emotions. But a transformative experience while hiking led him to embark on a journey of healing and self-discovery. Scott now shares his story and insights on social media to inspire others to find their self-worth and overcome their own challenges. Key...

Your brain plays psychological tricks on you when you try to change your habits. It will try to talk you into indulging in a bad habit and convince you to abandon your good habits. Fortunately, there's a powerful strategy we use in the therapy office that can boost your willpower right when you need it most. Here are some things I share: Why our brains try to talk us out of doing things we should...

Burnout has become more prevalent than ever. But many people feel hopeless about addressing it. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce your stress, energize yourself, and renew your passion for work. When Dr. Neha Sangwan experienced burnout, she realized there's a great lack of understanding about what it is and how to treat it. Some of the things she talks about today are: the three...

Boundaries are essential for healthy relationships. Without them, you may feel resentment, or you may lose sight of your values. However, setting boundaries can be uncomfortable and confusing if you're not used to doing it. And you might make some mistakes that actually damage the relationship and create more stress for you. If you struggle with boundaries, you're not alone. Today, I'm sharing the...

Grief is something we'll all experience. But almost no one talks about it. That's one of the reasons why Luke Russert is sharing his story. Luke is a journalist, author, and former correspondent for NBC News. He is known for his work covering Capitol Hill and the 2008 presidential election. He's also the son of the late Tim Russert, a renowned journalist and former moderator of NBC's "Meet the Pre...

Toxic positivity is bad for your mental health. It could even cause depression. Toxic positivity can also cloud judgment, worsen mental health issues, and zap your motivation. Some of the things I share are how to recognize when you're being toxically positive, what the research says about the harm it can cause your mental health, and how you can still be positive without crossing the line into to...

Juicy J is a renowned rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He rose to fame as a member of the hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia and has since achieved success as a solo artist. Juicy J also has recently written a book called Chronicles of the Juice Man where he opens up about his struggles with mental health, his experiences in the music industry, and his mission to help others facing similar challe...

Radical acceptance is a skill that can benefit everyone. As Marsha Linnehan, the therapist who popularized the concept of radical suffering once said, " Rejecting reality turns pain into suffering." It's tough to accept painful situations that are unfair or circumstances that are beyond our control. But acknowledging reality is the key to healing and moving forward. That doesn't mean you have to c...

We live in a world that creates anxiety. The pursuit of the American dream can lead to lives that our bodies cannot handle. From constant phone notifications to around-the-clock news stories, the stress of daily life can take a toll on your brain and your body. But best-selling author Dr. John Delony says we don't have to live in a constant state of anxiety. Some of the things he talks about are h...

Visualization is a powerful tool for success, but only if you use it correctly. Many people make the mistake of visualizing themselves celebrating a victory or enjoying a reward because they think it will motivate them. However, research shows imagining a successful outcome actually decreases the chances that you'll achieve your goals. Fortunately, there are ways to use visualization to enhance yo...

Most of us go to great lengths to avoid uncomfortable emotions like anxiety or fear. But when we learn to question our fears and understand their origins, we can learn to use them to our advantage. On today's episode, we discuss facing fears head-on with a specific focus on how to cope with the fear of missing out. Farnoosh Torabi is a financial expert, best-selling author, and host of the popular...