Clear explanations. A little more perspective.
Explore mental health and the patterns that shape our lives.
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Page 4 of 15 · 23 videos
Play videoSeptember 29, 2025
This is my personal story of starting to run in 2018 and how I ended up running 6 marathons, 4 of which were Boston Marathon qualifying times, and how I was able to get into the 2026 Boston Marathon.
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Play videoSeptember 25, 2025
Scrupulosity is a misunderstood and often invisible form of obsessive-compulsive disorder. While it may look like religious devotion, moral clarity, or strong ethical discipline, scrupulosity is rooted in anxiety, guilt, and fear, especially the fear of being morally or spiritually wrong. It’s not just about trying to be good. It’s about feeling trapped by a compulsive drive to avoid being bad. The result is a painful cycle of intrusive thoughts and mental rituals, where people feel compelled to prove their goodness again and again. This condition can involve obsessive prayer, repeated confession, fear of lying or stealing, or checking behaviors tied to ethical or religious correctness. It can also affect those outside of organized religion, anyone who holds a deep sense of moral responsibility can be vulnerable to this form of OCD. What separates scrupulosity from healthy conscience is the relentless anxiety and compulsive behavior that hijack one’s values and sense of identity. This video explores the signs, psychological patterns, and emotional impact of scrupulosity.…
Play videoSeptember 18, 2025
If you feel overwhelmed by a problem and don’t know where to start, it’s not because you’re incapable, it’s likely because the problem feels too big, unclear, or emotionally loaded. Many people dealing with chronic worry or generalized anxiety get stuck not because they lack intelligence, but because they’ve never been taught a clear method for tackling tough, real-life problems. That’s where structured problem solving can help. This six-step approach is a practical, evidence-based process rooted in cognitive behavioral principles. It helps break down complex or recurring problems into manageable parts so you can move from uncertainty and avoidance into clarity and action. The process begins with clearly defining the problem and your goal, followed by creative brainstorming and careful evaluation of potential solutions. From there, you implement a plan and follow up to assess whether it worked, and if not, the structure helps you adjust and keep moving forward. These steps aren’t just for anxiety.…
Play videoSeptember 11, 2025
High-functioning depression is often misunderstood because it doesn’t match the typical image many people have of depression. While someone might appear confident, productive, and emotionally stable on the outside, they may be silently dealing with persistent emotional flatness, chronic fatigue, and a lack of joy behind the scenes. Unlike major depressive episodes, high-functioning depression allows people to maintain their responsibilities, showing up at work, parenting, or engaging socially, while internally struggling with self-criticism, emotional numbness, and low motivation. One of the most overlooked aspects of high-functioning depression is how well it hides. People often dismiss their own symptoms because they’re still managing the basics. But functioning doesn’t mean flourishing. The signs can include perfectionism, loss of interest in once-loved activities, persistent exhaustion, subtle changes in sleep and appetite, and quiet social withdrawal. These aren’t always dramatic shifts, which makes them easy to miss, especially when masked by outward success.…
Play videoSeptember 4, 2025
If you find yourself stuck in worry, avoiding problems, or feeling paralyzed when something goes wrong, the issue might not be your ability to solve problems, it might be how you're seeing them. People who struggle with chronic worry or generalized anxiety disorder often experience something called negative problem orientation. This mindset creates the belief that problems are dangerous, unsolvable, or a reflection of personal failure, which can quietly shut down your ability to take action. When you expect problems to be easy, or feel like you shouldn't be struggling in the first place, every new challenge can feel like a threat. This mindset feeds anxiety and reinforces the cycle of avoidance. But research shows that people who worry a lot actually have strong problem-solving abilities. The issue is they often don’t access those skills because their thinking patterns block them from engaging. This video walks through how to change your problem orientation so you can finally start using the abilities you already have.…
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Play videoAugust 28, 2025
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex condition that arises after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. The hallmark symptoms fall into four distinct clusters, each reflecting a different way the trauma can impact a person's life. The first cluster, re-experiencing, throws the individual back into the event. Flashbacks, intrusive memories, and nightmares can be vivid and terrifying, making it feel like the trauma is happening again. These symptoms can be triggered by sights, sounds, or smells reminiscent of the event, causing constant emotional distress. The second cluster, avoidance, is a self-protective response. People with PTSD may avoid places, people, or situations that remind them of the trauma. This can lead to social isolation, difficulty holding a job, and a restricted life. They may also avoid talking about the event or anything related to it, hindering healing. The third cluster, negative cognitions and mood, affects how a person thinks and feels about themselves and the world. Feelings of hopelessness, guilt, or shame are common.…
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Play videoAugust 21, 2025
Struggling to solve problems even when you know what needs to be done? For many people living with chronic worry or generalized anxiety disorder, the issue isn’t a lack of skill, it’s a mental block known as negative problem orientation. This mindset can make everyday problems feel overwhelming or dangerous, leading to avoidance, procrastination, and even crisis-level stress. Negative problem orientation is a key cognitive process that disrupts effective problem-solving in anxiety. It’s not about intelligence or ability. People with GAD often have strong problem-solving skills but feel unable to use them. That’s because they see problems as threats, believe they shouldn’t have problems in the first place, or expect solutions to come quickly and easily. These beliefs create emotional paralysis and reinforce the cycle of worry. This video breaks down how negative problem orientation develops, how it feeds generalized anxiety disorder, and why it prevents people from taking action on real-life issues.…
Play videoAugust 14, 2025
Not all parenting styles are created equal and the way you interact with your child on a daily basis has a major influence on their development, behavior, and long-term emotional health. In this video, we break down the psychology of parenting using Baumrind’s Four Parenting Styles: authoritarian, permissive, authoritative, and uninvolved. Each style is based on two key dimensions: responsiveness (how emotionally attuned and supportive a parent is) and demandingness (how much structure, guidance, and expectations they set). Combining these factors creates distinct patterns with real consequences. From the rigid discipline of authoritarian parenting to the warmth and structure of authoritative parenting, you’ll learn how each approach affects children’s self-esteem, emotional regulation, and future relationships. We’ll explore the long-term outcomes associated with each parenting style, including why authoritative parenting is consistently linked to the most positive results.…
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Play videoAugust 7, 2025
Excessive worry can feel like a constant mental loop that’s hard to break. For many people, especially those dealing with generalized anxiety disorder, worry becomes so automatic that it feels normal, even necessary. But what if you could interrupt that cycle by taking a closer look at whether your worry is actually useful? This video introduces a structured cognitive behavioral therapy method known as the “Evaluating the Usefulness of Worry Worksheet.” By walking through six guided questions, you’ll learn how to bring clarity to the thinking patterns that fuel chronic worry. This approach helps make worry awareness more concrete and gives you a powerful tool to challenge worry beliefs head-on. The video breaks down each step: identifying the worry, examining beliefs that support it, challenging those beliefs, and weighing both the advantages and costs of continuing to worry. This process not only provides insight, but also builds a compelling case for letting the worry go—based on logic and lived impact, not just willpower.
Play videoJuly 31, 2025
Constantly feeling like life presents no middle ground, where you're either excelling or completely failing? This sensation might stem from a common mental habit known as all-or-nothing thinking, a pattern that can significantly increase stress and anxiety, leaving you feeling stuck. This exploration delves into the nature of this rigid mindset, examining why it develops and its profound impact on daily life. Understanding this cognitive distortion is the first step. We'll uncover its roots, which can often be traced to perfectionism, a deep-seated fear of failure, societal pressures, or even childhood experiences where mistakes were heavily criticized. Recognizing the signs, such as using absolute terms like "always" or "never" in your inner dialogue, or feeling overwhelmed by the need for flawless performance, is crucial. The great news is that you can break free. Discover practical strategies like thought reframing to challenge absolute beliefs and introduce nuance.…
Play videoJuly 24, 2025
Excessive worry can quietly take a huge toll on your life, impacting everything from your productivity and relationships to your health and well-being. While worrying may feel like it's helping you stay prepared, in reality, it often leads to more harm than good. Constant worry can make it hard to focus, causing difficulties at work or school, and can prevent you from making clear, rational decisions. Chronic worry clouds your judgment, leaving you stuck in a loop of overthinking, which is especially problematic when faced with important choices like changing jobs or making financial decisions. Beyond the mental and emotional toll, worry can also affect you physically. It’s common for those who struggle with excessive worry to experience things like muscle tension, headaches, and even sleep problems, all of which contribute to ongoing stress. But it doesn’t stop there, worrying can hurt your relationships too.…
Play videoJuly 17, 2025
Writing a letter to your future self can be a simple yet incredibly powerful practice, especially for those who have experienced depression. If you've experienced depression, you know how difficult it can be to see a brighter future. This letter acts as a message to yourself, a reminder of your resilience, your healing journey, and how to keep moving forward. Think of it as creating a map for yourself. When you’re in a good place, having overcome a depressive episode, that's the ideal time to write. It's a message to the you who might need it most, saying, “I’ve been there, and here’s how I found my way out.” Reflect on your lowest points. Describe your feelings, intrusive thoughts, and the overall weight of depression. Acknowledge the pain without dwelling on it. Then, detail the steps you took to heal. Did therapy, medication, journaling, exercise, or support from loved ones help? Be specific. Also, be kind. Be the supportive friend you needed during your darkest days. Remind yourself that healing is possible because you’ve already done it.…
Play videoJuly 10, 2025
Many people believe that worry is a sign of care; that worrying shows you’re responsible, thoughtful, and deeply invested in the people and things that matter to you. While this belief might feel comforting, it can actually reinforce chronic anxiety and make it much harder to let go of excessive worry. If worrying becomes tied to your identity or sense of being a good parent, partner, or employee, trying to reduce worry might feel like becoming careless, selfish, or irresponsible. This video explores how the belief that worry equals caring becomes a psychological trap. From family dynamics to workplace expectations, people often internalize the idea that constant worry is a reflection of their commitment. But when you believe your worry defines your worth, letting go of it feels like letting go of your values and that keeps you stuck. You’ll learn how to challenge this belief, recognize that caring doesn’t require anxiety, and shift toward healthier forms of engagement and responsibility.…
Play videoJuly 3, 2025
Relapse is a natural part of recovery, especially when dealing with something as complex as health anxiety. Whether you're making progress through therapy or building your own coping strategies, the return of old habits like reassurance seeking, symptom checking, or Googling health conditions can feel discouraging. But setbacks don’t mean you’ve failed. This video reframes them as opportunities to recalibrate and re-engage with what works. Health anxiety relapse often begins subtly. You might notice you're scanning your body more often, avoiding certain activities, or feeling more dread around medical appointments. Recognizing these early warning signs is critical. Developing a personalized self-management plan is one of the most effective ways to handle setbacks. This involves identifying your early signs, anticipating high-risk situations, and having clear strategies for how to get back on track. Relapse prevention in health anxiety also means strengthening your overall well-being. A healthy lifestyle supports your recovery.…
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Play videoJune 26, 2025
Many people live with the quiet assumption that worrying will somehow prevent bad things from happening. The belief is that if you anticipate disaster or prepare for emotional pain in advance, you’ll be more protected, less caught off guard, and better able to cope. It feels like emotional insurance. But when we dig into this idea more closely, the evidence tells a different story. Chronic worry doesn’t prevent bad outcomes. It doesn’t reduce emotional pain. It just makes you suffer longer and harder before anything even happens. This video tackles two common worry beliefs: that worrying can control real-world events and that it can protect you emotionally from future pain. Using relatable metaphors like emotional math and superstitious thinking, it explores why these beliefs are so persistent and how they mislead you. You’ll learn to recognize patterns like selective attention and magical thinking, and start replacing them with more realistic, action-based strategies.…
Play videoJune 19, 2025
Depressive rumination is a mental trap that keeps people stuck in cycles of self-doubt, overthinking, and negativity. This pattern of replaying past mistakes or obsessing over future worries can take a serious toll on your mental health, self-esteem, and relationships. It often feels automatic and overwhelming, like you’re caught in a mental loop you can’t escape. But with the right understanding and tools, it’s possible to break the cycle of ruminative thinking and regain control. In this video, we’ll explore what rumination is, how it relates to depression, and why common strategies like distraction don’t work in the long run. You'll learn about the connection between stress, anxiety, and repetitive negative thoughts, and how rumination distorts your perspective, leading to hopelessness and self-blame. Most importantly, we’ll walk through practical techniques like the “3 Rs” (Recognize, Reframe, Replace) to challenge negative thought patterns and start rebuilding a more compassionate mindset.…
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Play videoJune 12, 2025
Many people who struggle with chronic worry believe it helps them stay productive or solve problems more effectively. Worry can feel like it gives you control or prepares you for challenges. It mimics problem-solving by rehearsing worst-case scenarios and imagining potential outcomes. But does it actually help? In reality, excessive worry often leads to mental fatigue, procrastination, and avoidance, not solutions. This piece explores how worry masquerades as productivity while draining the focus and creativity needed for real problem-solving. Instead of solving problems, worry traps you in endless "what if" thinking. It hijacks your motivation and leaves you feeling anxious and scattered. If you've ever believed that worry keeps you sharp or on-task, it's worth asking whether it's actually helping or just becoming another obstacle. This video challenges the belief that worry is necessary for success or motivation and offers a clearer path forward grounded in behavioral strategies and cognitive psychology.…
Play videoJune 11, 2025
I ran the Light at the End of the Tunnel Marathon in Washington State in June 2025 and was able to run a Boston Marathon Qualifying time that was a 6:39 BQ. The Tunnel Marathon is a terrific experience for anyone wanting to run a fast and scenic marathon.
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Play videoJune 5, 2025
When life starts to feel numb, flat, or disconnected, it might be more than just stress—it could be anhedonia. Anhedonia is the inability to feel pleasure, and it’s one of the core symptoms of depression. Whether it’s food tasting bland, music losing its spark, or relationships feeling like chores, this emotional numbness can leave people wondering what's wrong. This video explores what anhedonia really is, how it affects the brain’s reward system, and why it’s not simply about feeling sad—but about feeling nothing. We dive into common causes of anhedonia, including depression, anxiety, chronic stress, social isolation, medication side effects, and substance use. You’ll also learn five research-informed ways to begin reconnecting with life again: re-engaging in old hobbies, adding physical activity, rebuilding relationships, trying new experiences, and practicing mindfulness. These small but powerful steps can gradually help your brain remember how to feel joy again.…
Play videoMay 29, 2025
Do you ever feel like your worry serves a purpose? Maybe you believe it motivates you, solves problems, or even prevents bad things from happening. You’re not alone—many people hold these hidden beliefs about worry without realizing it. But what if these assumptions are actually keeping you stuck in a cycle of chronic anxiety? In this video, we discuss the five most common beliefs people have about the usefulness of worry, including the idea that it protects you from emotional pain, prevents bad things from happening, motivates you, helps you problem-solve or proves you’re a responsible, caring person. While these thoughts feel convincing, the truth is that worry doesn’t do any of these things. Instead, it often drains your energy, clouds your judgment, and leaves you feeling worse. Understanding these underlying beliefs is the first step to managing excessive worry. By recognizing when you’re treating worry like a safety net or a problem-solving tool, you can start to challenge these patterns and develop healthier ways to cope.…
Play videoMay 22, 2025
Do you constantly find yourself worrying about your health, Googling symptoms, or seeking reassurance? You're not alone. Health anxiety (hypochondriasis) can feel like an endless cycle, but understanding how it works is the first step to breaking free. In this video, we delve into the old and new models of health anxiety, revealing the triggers, unhelpful beliefs, and behaviors that keep this anxiety spinning. We explain how seemingly innocent actions like body checking and reassurance-seeking can actually reinforce your fears in the long run. But it's not all bad. We then explore the empowering new model, offering practical strategies to challenge those anxious thoughts, shift your focus away from symptoms, and gradually confront the things you've been avoiding. Learn how to identify your personal health anxiety cycle and actively work towards creating a new, healthier pattern of responding to your health concerns. This video provides valuable insights and actionable steps to help you regain control and live a life less dominated by worry.
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Play videoMay 15, 2025
One of the most effective ways to build tolerance for uncertainty is by using everyday moments as opportunities to practice it. Life constantly presents situations where the outcome isn't guaranteed—what we order at a restaurant, whether we answer an unknown call, or if we speak up in a meeting. Most of the time, these uncertain moments turn out just fine, but we rarely notice or give ourselves credit for managing them. A helpful strategy is to start filtering decisions through a simple question: “If I were more tolerant of uncertainty, what would I do in this situation?” This mindset shift encourages active engagement with uncertainty rather than avoidance. The goal isn’t to force yourself into discomfort all the time, but to become more aware of the chances you have to stretch your tolerance and make intentional choices. Each time you act despite uncertainty, you’re essentially making a deposit into a mental “uncertainty tolerance” account. Over time, those experiences add up. When faced with a larger, more stressful unknown, you can draw on the history of times you coped well.…
Play videoMay 8, 2025
Preventing depression relapse starts with preparation. While recovery is possible, depression often doesn’t disappear completely—it needs ongoing care. Learning how to manage stress, recognize early warning signs, and build an emergency action plan gives you the best chance to stay well. Stress is one of the most common triggers for relapse, but with proper stress planning—like setting boundaries, adjusting expectations, and maintaining your self-care routines—you can reduce its impact. Recognizing early signs of depression relapse is just as important. Subtle changes like fatigue, irritability, or withdrawing from loved ones are often the first clues. Using tools like mood journals or mental “stop signs” can help you stay alert to shifts in your emotional state before they become full-blown symptoms. And if a relapse does begin, having an emergency mental health action plan in place can make all the difference. This means knowing who to contact, which actions to take, and having professional and social support ready when you need it most.…
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