Beyond Well With Sheila Hamilton

Many people who are deep in the throes of depression or anxiety can't recognize how sick they've become, and they resist help. Here's a simple guide for broaching the subject of well-being, when and how to get professional help, and the language of love that should be used again and again in dealing with someone's mental health disorder.

Long before Sheila started the podcast Beyond Well she found herself feeling depressed, lethargic and sluggish during the winter months. Seasonal affective disorder in the Pacific Northwest is a serious challenge. Here, she talks to the host of City Cast about the evidence-based strategies she used to recover.

Dr. James Polo talks about the science behind seasonal affective disorder and why we need to attend to our diets, light exposure, and willingness to socialize during the winter months.

Technology has opened a new frontier in mental health support and data collection. Mobile devices like cell phones, smartphones, and tablets are giving the public, doctors, and researchers new ways to access help, monitor progress, and increase understanding of mental well-being. Mobile mental health support, apps that can help people create changes in their personal behaviors, and telehealth are just a few of the many digital breakthroughs that have come to the aid of people who are suffering from mental health distress. However, the new technology frontier includes a lot of uncertainty regarding effectiveness, data collection worries, and lasting impacts.

Payton Nyquvest had a history of trauma that resulted in deep depression. He tried every form of therapy and meds, and was considering ending his life when he tried Ayahuasca. The experience was guided, reassuring, and transformative. Payton devoted his life to understanding psychedelics and empowering people to heal and be well through the development and delivery of psychedelic medicine and integration. Payton is the Co-founder and CEO of Numinus, a company that engages in both the research for psychedelics and the commercialized expansion of the sector. Payton has deep business leadership experience, particularly in the finance sector, and is a recognized innovator and visionary in mental health care.

Dr. Jim Polo has been watching the rise and fall of psychedelics in the treatment of mental health since the 1960’s when many physicians were duscredited for supporting alternative treatments. Through the lens of a practicing psychiatrist, Dr. Polo talks about the potential of psychedelics at a time when the development of other psycho pharmaceuticals has stalled. 

Nearly eighty percent of people who make New Year's resolutions abandon their goals within three weeks.  Dr. James Polo talks about how to hack your resolution into more manageable, actionable goals that will help you achieve success. Whether you are considering a weight-loss regimen, dry-January, or changing your relationship to work, these tips are helpful and doable. 

Being laid off from work is one of the major traumas an individual can suffer. Our jobs have a profound impact on our financial well-being and sense of security, as well as providing a necessary social support and daily purpose. So, how do we cope when we are suddenly laid off from work? Dr. Jim Polo provides a framework for making sure your mindset remains strong and optimistic, including:  Taking time to reassess what went right and what you'd do differently at work. Finding a support group who can help you decompress and begin a job search. Avoiding catastrophic thinking. Focusing on what you can control.  Eliminating the stigma of unemployment and using available resources. Taking the opportunity to reassess your life's goals. Networking the right way to find the next meaningful role.

Trish Walker turned a pivotal birthday into an opportunity for spiritual growth and self-development. Her bucket list of fifty mind expanding and heart thumping experiences taught Trish the value of reaching beyond our comfort zones at mid-life. Now a certified coach, energy healer, author and part time actor, Trish inspires all of us to just get started. 

  Part two of our conversation with Dr. Brian Pilecki on the potential promise of psychedelics in a therapeutic setting. Dr. Brian Pilecki combs the findings of science with compassion and curiosity. He is research the efficacy of psychedelics and studying harm reduction for people who want to use psychedelics to help with trauma, ptsd, anxiety disorders, and depression. In recent years, psychedelics have drawn interest for their unique ability to create a mind shift and lasting relief for clients who have otherwise battled intractable suffering. 

Oregon has approved the use of psyilocybin in a clinical setting. Within the year, some practitioners will be licensed to guide people through a pcilosybin experience. Dr. Brian Pilecki is one of the psychologists who has studied the efficacy of psychedelics and studying harm reduction for people who want to use psychedelics to help with trauma, ptsd, anxiety disorders, and depression. In recent years, psychedelics have drawn interest for their unique ability to create a mind shift and lasting relief for clients who have otherwise battled intractable suffering. 

Recorded Pre-Covid Lockdown in January of 2020. First released on Mar 23, 2020 Shame is the most painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior. But, as Dr. Goff and Dr. LeJeune discuss, shame roots at the very being of what we care about most. With an increase in public shaming, the potential of depression, isolation, and self-harm increases. The point, as Dr. LeJeune says, is to always offer a fellow human the path to retribution.

Michelle DeCourcy is one of tens of thousands of women who are choosing to have their breast implants removed. After battling leukemia in her thirties, and learning about a type of cancer that is related to breast implants, the designer and performer investigated the pros and cons of replacement. BII (breast implant illness) is not well understood, but the impacts can be debilitating. Women suffer joint pain, brain fog, and other immune system irregularities. Immediately following the procedure, Michelle noted less inflammation in her body, and her frequent bouts with anxiety and depression disappeared. (This is one woman's story about a profound change that had a positive impact on her life and is not meant to be interpreted as medical advice. For more information, see resources below and talk to your doctor.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAprdn6bt9I     https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/08/health/breast-implants-cancer.html NYTImes Article https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/breast-reconstructio

Dr. Jenna LeJeune and Dr. Brian Goff talk about navigating the holiday season, and dealing with internal and external stress.

Farzana Nayani (she/hers), is a recognized DEI specialist, international keynote speaker, and business coach. Of multiethnic Filipina-Pakistani background, Farzana is a passionate advocate for the multiracial community, and through her coaching practice, she supports individuals to move towards healing, transformation and achieving their full potential in a culturally sensitive and grounded way.  Nayani talks about:  Taking care of your employees and giving them a sense of well-being with ERGs Supporting marginalized groups who have faced tragedy and also have to carry on with work: How can we support them effectively as leaders and colleagues, or, if we are these professionals ourselves – how do we best address these issues? Will women and other marginalized groups suffer the highest consequences of “quiet quitting” and "labor hoarding"

Jennifer Cassetta witnessed the attack on the twin towers and, months later, endured a personal attack. Jennifer turned to the wisdom of the dojo and the training and discipline of martial arts to strengthen her body, steel her mind, and expand her compassion for herself and others. The Art of Badassery is Jennifer's program for helping women feel safe and powerful from the streets to the boardroom. A third-degree black belt in Hapkido and a master's degree in nutrition, Jennifer teaches women how to fuel themselves to rise above fear and reclaim their power.

Dr. Pritham Raj joins Sheila to discuss the newest FDA-approved treatments for depression, including Spravato, ketamine, and a fast-acting anti-depressant. For many people suffering from treatment-resistant depression, these new modalities combined with transcranial magnetic resolution may offer the best hope yet for remission.

Domi Shoemaker identifies most strongly as a "Superfat gender flexing kinky queer writer and seeker of justice." Domi has always known they are different and did not try to "fit in" with the conservative, rigid norms of Idaho. Instead, Domi played little league with the boys, came out to their mother, and moved to Portland, Oregon, to find community and purpose. Domi explored their gender fluidity long before it was acceptable, paving the way for mid-life joy and meaning. Domi's courageous insistence on authenticity has proven critical to their ability to survive and even thrive, "I am so glad I stayed alive," Domi says. "I didn't always believe it was possible." To work with Domi, go to https://www.corporealwriting.com/corporeal-community

Carolyn Donohoe Marieb already had a busy career and one child when she learned she was pregnant with triplets. The overwhelm she felt led Marieb to lean on alcohol to cope, a familiar crutch for many overstressed mothers. Carolyn finally realized that she could no longer lead a life controlled by alcohol, and when she sought help, she discovered a community of smart, capable women who had also put their wildest hopes and dreams on hold to serve an addiction. Anyone who is struggling with substance abuse will relate to Carolyn's candor, her humor in dealing with her previous mistakes, and her newly expanded joyous life as she nears some of the biggest opportunities offered by sobriety and mid-life.

Julia Stoops is an accomplished visual artist who took an extended break to write and publish her first novel.  While the writing fulfilled her, the marketing and publicity experience was not what she imagined, and the pressure left her feeling empty and alienated. "We don't talk enough about what happens when the dream doesn't work out," Julia observes.  Through a deliberate process of evaluation and acceptance, Julia returned to the work that sustains her with a clear-eyed view of what success really means.