The Hardcore Self-Help Podcast with Duff the Psych

Hello, friends! In this episode, I tackle one awesome question from a listener. This person has treatment resistant depression and bipolar. Their mania is well-controlled, but they need a higher level of treatment for the depression. Their psychiatrist suggested either ketamine of electroconvulsive therapy, so in this episode, I break down everything you need to know about these treatments.   As a...

Hello, friends! I hope that you are taking good care of yourselves. We are back to the Q&A format this week with the following amazing listener questions: I am stable on bipolar medications, but I hate the side effects. What can I do? My CBT therapy just seems to worsen my mood. How can I make it more helpful? As always, you can send me questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com ---- This episode is spon...

Hey, friends! This episode is a little different. Rather than taking listener questions, I decided to share something that is working really well for me. I take you through a five-step process for doing what I like to call "self-therapy." This is usually done while I am in the car or walking the dog. I highly suggest you also talk out loud to yourself like a weirdo. FYI: The website is still under...

Hello, friends! Huge apologies - the website is currently down. I hope that it is up again soon! In this episode, I answer the following questions: I dissociate whenever I try to talk about my feelings. How can I overcome this? Bad things seem to happen after I masturbate. Am I causing bad things to happen? As always, you can send me questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com  and find the show notes for...

Hello, everyone. I hope you are treating yourselves well. Q&A episode this week featuring the following great listener questions: I have had severe depression and suicidal ideation for the past 25 years and nothing is working. Aside from going into the hospital or an IOP program, what can I do? Can you talk about how the thyroid is related to mood and mental health? As always, you can send me ques...

Hello, friends! Short and sweet Q&A episode here. Before jumping into the questions, I share a couple strategies that are working well for me right now. Then, I cover the following questions: As a teenager, will my therapist have to report if I tell them about my parents abusing me? I am a therapist and found a new position that will allow me to make a better living, but it means my fees will incr...

Hello, friends! I hope you enjoy this awesome Q&A episode featuring the following listener questions: Why do my intrusive thoughts from OCD seem to impact the environment, such as the television? How can I find a therapist that is awesome like you? I am on my fourth try with no luck. As always, you can send me questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com  and find the show notes for this episode at http://...

Hello, everyone! I hope that you are staying safe out there if you are in an area with wild weather conditions. I am having a very cozy weekend. This week, we have a Q&A episoed with the following: I spent years obtaining my degree, but I can't find a job that utilizes it. What can I do? I want to feel more in therapy, but I can't access the emotion. How can I move forward? As always, you can send...

Hi, friends! In this episode, I do a deep dive into postpartum mental illness including baby blues, postpartum depression, and postpartum psychosis. This was requested by a number of listeners due to the Lindsay Clancy case, which I discuss briefly in the episode.  Please be aware that I do discuss topics such as infanticide, suicide, and the specific case of Lindsay Clancy. However, I do not go i...

Hello, everyone. Short and sweet Q&A episode here featuring the following: I made a mistake and lost my friend of 20 years. What can I do about the loneliness and hopelessness I feel now? My husband had a brain injury when out daughter was young and now she does not want to be around him because of his behavior. What can I do? As always, you can send me questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com and find...

Hey, friends! I hope that you are doing well. For this episode, we are back to the usual Q&A format with a ltitle less intensity than last episode. Here is what I cover: What can I do about my adult children that have completely ghosted me? How can I tell me partner that I'm still grieving my ex that died? As always, you can send me questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com and find the show notes for t...

Hello, friends. Something a little different today. No intro or sponsors. Just a frank response from me to someone that feels that their best option is to stop living. Someone wrote in who is imminently suicidal. Therefore, the contents of this episode might not be appropriate for everyone. Please keep that in mind. You are not alone. http://duffthepsych.com/emergency http://duffthepsych.com/suici...

Hey, everyone! Another Q&A episode for you here featuring the following questions: How can I let go of control when I don't like the way other people do things? Is it dangerous to take more medications for my depression while I am drinking alcohol? What other options do I have? As always, you can send me questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com and find the show notes for this episode at http://duffthe...

aHello, everyone! I hope you are staying safe and dry(ish) out there. In this episode, I address the following: How can I find better partners when I tend to find people with the same personality types? How can I work on me eating disorder while working from home? As always, you can send me questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com and find the show notes for this episode at http://duffthepsych.com/epis...

Hello, everyone! Happy new year! In this episode, I review my personal progress and challenges over the past year, reveal my word for the year of 2023, and talk about my approach/focus for the upcoming year. Enjoy! As always, you can send me questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com and find the show notes for this episode at http://duffthepsych.com/episode332 This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp . I...

Hello, all! In this episode, I answer the following questions from awesome listeners like yourself: How can I recover my memory following a trumatic brain injury? How can I stop making myself anxious and depressed by comparing myself to other people? Don't forget to take a look at my new book of questions including the following one that I include in the episode: What things were and were not talk...

Hello, friends! Hope you are well. Back with another Q&A episode this week featuring the following questions submitted by listeners like you: What steps can I add to my exposure ladder for agoraphobia to stop having so many panic attacks in public? How can I work on the lack of sex in my marriage? As always, you can send me questions for the show to duffthepsych@gmail.com and find the show notes f...

Hello, everyone! Exciting news. My new book, 500 Questions for Dating, Relationships, Romance, and More is out! I talk more about it at the beginning of the epidode, but I really think that it will serve as a useful resource to many of you. Orders are shipping quickly right now, so there is plenty of time to get it before the holidays if you're into that kind of thing. Anyways, I have an awesome Q...

Hello, friends! Hope you are enjoying some time off with loved ones or some quiet time on your own. Here are the question I cover in this episode: I think antidepressants are causing me to self-injure due to being numb. What should I do? I have hit a rock bottom in my mid 50s including divorce, losing my job, and a DUI. How do I survive? As always, you can send me your questions to duffthepsych@gm...

Hello, everyone! In this episode, I tack the following listener questions: How can I stop myself from cheating like I have in my past two marriages? What can I do about feeling bad when people comment on my weight loss? As always, you can send me your questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com and find the show notes at http://duffthepsych.com/episode327 Make sure you're on the email list for freebies, i...

Hello, beautiful people. This is another Q&A episode of the podcast featuring the following questions: How do I know when I enjoy alcohol too much? Why did I push so hard to keep a relationship that wasn't good for me? As always, you can send me your questions for the show to duffthepsych@gmail.com and find the show notes for this episode at http://duffthepsych.com/episode326   This episode of Har...

Hello, friends! This is a short and sweet episode. Just over 20 minutes. No sponsors. Just some Q&A goodness featuring the following questions: Why don't I feel sad that my abusive father is in the hospital? How do I stop crying when I have arguments? As always, you can send me your questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com and find the show notes for this episode at http://duffthepsych.com/episode325 I...

Hello, all! This week, since it's my birthday week, I am taking it easy and having some fun with the show. As a lot of you know, I've been working on a collection of questions and prompts for dating, relationships, sexuality etc. So, today I am answering some of those questions from my own perspective. Enjoy! This episode of Hardcore Self Help is sponsored by Roman Swipes and BetterHelp . Roman Sw...

Hey, everyone! Thanks for your patience in waiting an extra day for the show this week. Seems like everyone is having a weird week, myself included. Mercury must be in reverse cowgirl again or something. ANYWAYS! Here are the questions covered in this episode: How can I help my parents heal and set boundaries without ruining my own mental health? I am losing energy and motivation to search for job...

Hello, all! This is a really interesting episode, in my opinion. That's due to your awesome questions! Here's what I cover: When I get angry, I headbutt things, which has given me black eyes. How can I get help? What is trichotillomania and how can you work on it? As always, you can send me your questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com and find the show notes at http://duffthepsych.com/episode322 This...