"Be ready for that golden moment." Defining The Problem In today's show, special guest, Tamara Randall and I start our discussion by reviewing the current experience of those suffering from addiction in Vancouver British Columbia, and where services fall short. There is no doubt that the recovery journey … Continue Reading about FMP 031 • Tamara Randall On Recovery – Excavating Your Authentic Self
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Health Psychology & Behavioural Medicine
5 Profound Impacts of Financial Insecurity on Mental Health
“Tough decisions about essentials leads to hopelessness” Defining Financial Insecurity Financial insecurity is the perception that your lifestyle has or will change dramatically as a result of sharp decreases in income and/or increased indebtedness. This strong sense of insecurity has a significant impact on self-worth, oftentimes resulting in poor mental health outcomes. Financial Problems and […]
Two Meditation Techniques Targeting Generalized Anxiety Disorder
“Observe your thoughts as if you are not you.” What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder? A moderate degree of anxiety is a normal part of the human experience. In fact, when experienced at the right level, it promotes motivation. However, when your sense of anxiety and worry increases significantly, becoming a persistent part of your day-to-day, […]
How To Stay Married While Working From Home During the COVID-19 Crisis
“Marriage is like a bank account…” COVID-19 Anxiety at Home We are living in uncertain times. There is no doubt that the anxiety caused by the current pandemic crisis spills over into our personal relationships. If you are coupled and living together, or married, you absolutely have noticed our mutual frustration tolerance running low. You […]
Fight Procrastination Anxiety with the Premack Principle
“Start with the item you like the least.” Procrastination and Anxiety Procrastination is the irrational tendency to delay tasks that require completion (Clarry H. Lay, 1986). A strong propensity towards procrastination often leads to a strong sense of negative self-evaluation, anxiety, and depression. This is especially the case when required tasks are associated high performance […]
Exercise & Fitness
How Running a Marathon Radically Changed My Thinking (Six Lessons)
“Shoot for the moon and never come home!“ Running a marathon changes you in ways that you never could have imagined. After the excitement has passed and you hobble back to work a few days after completing 42.2 kilometres in one setting, the impact of your achievement quickly becomes apparent – You see and experience […]
5 Distorted Messages We Tell Ourselves about Running (With Rebuttal)
“Self-doubt is normal. Don’t let it be a trap!” So, You Think You Are Can’t Become a Runner? Your internal voice is your worst enemy. If you are just getting started running, then you are more than aware of the mental pitfalls along the way, especially as it affects motivation. Let’s face it! Running is […]
Nutrition Science
Does Intermittent Fasting Have An Impact On Mood? We Give It a Test!
“Intermittent fasting allows my body and mind time to reset.” What is Intermittent Fasting? The act of fasting between meals (not eating food for a dedicated amount of time), has been widely practice around the world for centuries for both health and spiritual reasons. In popular culture, it is widely seen as a practice for […]
When Diet Becomes Disorder (10 Warning Signs)
“Dieting for weight loss alone, destroys our relationship with food.” Why Diet is a Difficult Topic Discussions in Health Psychology involve accounting for the bio-psycho-social and spiritual nature of problems we face. The practice of dieting is the most challenging category to discuss, especially when diet becomes disorder. Our relationship with food is deeply tied […]
Navigating Addiction
Getting Off Drugs and Alcohol Without Rehab – A Beginner’s Guide
“Rehab should be the last tool you turn to for getting off substances.” We provide ten (10) options individuals should consider before committing to a drug and alcohol residential treatment program. This goes directly against the popular understanding of the standard course of care promoted by the media and governmental agencies. While residential treatment is […]
Controlled Drinking Checklist (The Moderate Consumption Guide)
“Abstinence for some is an impossible venture.” What Is Controlled Drinking? Controlled drinking is a harm reduction approach for problematic alcohol use. The method significantly deviates from Alcoholics Anonymous, a traditional model focusing on abstinence. Evidence indicates that controlled drinking is an effective approach that reduces the physical harms associated with regular alcohol use. While […]
Canadian Alcoholism – The Forgotten Crisis
“One crisis is manageable. A concurrent second feels impossible.” While the country is increasing financial resources focused on deaths related to opioid overdose, examination of alcohol caused fatalities secondary to medical conditions caused by alcoholism, reveals increased harm and morbidity. We examine the challenges facing health authorities as they grapple with this often under resourced […]
What Runners and Substance Users Have In Common (Altered State)
“The problem with illicit substances is their efficiency.” The goals of the substance user and athlete battling depression is the same – Both seek a shift in mood and/or mental state. The goal to, ‘feel better,’ is universal, regardless of the tool used. In fact, substance misuse is considered superior in that it is absolutely efficient at achieving its […]
The Finding My Psych Podcast
FMP 030 • COVID19 Pandemic: Emotionally Surviving A Psychological Inflection Point
“I hit my wall, spoke to it, and then knuckled down.” Understanding My Psychological Crisis In today’s episode, I share the details of my experience going through a psychological crisis as I reach a personal inflection point regarding COVID19. In short, I hit the, ‘positivity wall.’ I no longer am able to put on a […]
FMP 029 • Running Series #4: Prepping For Your First Race (A Guide For Race Day)
“Forget about your time! It’s about the friends you made.” Your First Race Overview In today’s fourth installment in a four part series on running, we focus on considerations as you prepare for your final goal, race day! We review various ‘buckets’ of preparation, followed by a brief statement about our new normal and virtual […]
FMP 028 • Running Series #3: Types of Runs and Training Methods (MAF Overview)
“Focus on intensity and consistency.” Today’s Episode (028) In the third of this four part podcast series on running, we dive into the various types of runs to put into your training plans. We also provide a brief overview of the, “Maximum Aerobic Function” method by Dr. Phil Maffetone. Training Types We cover five types […]
FMP 027 • Running Series #2: Preparing For Your First Run (Plan Like a Turtle)
“The turtle always wins the race!” Preparing For Your First Effort In the first running series episode last week, we discussed the benefits of running, gear, and goal setting. In the second instalment of our four part series, we walk you through what is needed for your first run. In order for you to be […]
