Mental Health Today

How To Manage Back To School Anxiety How do you look forward to a new school year? A new school year offers a lot of possibilities, but there are certain factors that can cause stress and anxiety. Bullying intimidates students. Conflicts among colleagues discourage teachers. With recent cases of gun violence causing tragedy, vigilance is a much-needed defense.   Worry and fear are normal reactions in challenging times, but always assuming the worst possibilities threatens your mental health. In this episode, John shares his experience in helping students as a mental health professional in school districts. He also cites simple techniques in addressing and coping with anxiety by breathing and sensory exercises.  As the new school year starts, a memorable one begins with the right mindset and a positive outlook. [Timecodes] [1:40] John has first-hand experience counseling students in schools.   [3:30] What are some responsibilities of the teachers and faculty? [4:40] Bullying causes anxiety. [6:30] John and

Why Saying "What If" Can Be Harmful To Your Mental Health Thinking outside the box is only beneficial when you focus on your positive thoughts. Overthinking the negative is harmful to your mental health. John shares the detrimental effects of assuming the worst-case scenarios. While it’s normal to sometimes look ahead - especially when you’re making tough decisions or when you are welcoming significant changes in your life – it’s best to acknowledge that the future has not happened yet and it’s not worth stressing over. Your thoughts influence your feelings and they also have an impact on your behavior. When you find yourself in stressful situations, assessing your thoughts can help you overcome negative prospects and possibilities. Your thoughts need to be rooted in truth and not assumptions. Focus on the positive outcomes and be open to people who are willing to help you. [Timecodes] [0:00] Why is saying “What if?” bad for your mental health? [2:03] So many people bear the “What if” mindset.

Life Coaching With Jenny Toh When you’re in a good place, do you sometimes find yourself in situations when you still need help? A Life coach can support you. This episode features Jenny Toh, a life coach, and lawyer based in Singapore. Her career in legal practice in the UK, Malaysia, and Singapore has led her to work with clients from all walks of life, with some of them based in the United States. Jenny is an International Coaching Federation (ICF), and a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) who runs her own coaching practice, River Life Coaching Pte. Ltd. Jenny is also a qualified lawyer in the U.K., Singapore, and Malaysia. She is passionate about coaching individuals to align their lives with their core values and purpose, enabling them to live fully and joyfully. Her passion for life coaching has earned her prestigious credentials from the International Coaching Federation, solidifying her expertise in the industry. Jenny talks about the difference between a life coach and a therapist. While the

How can you help a loved one who is struggling with their mental health when you’re struggling too? John shares helpful advice in providing comfort, reassurance, and compassion to your friends or family during bad days.  Checking in on them is a great start and a good conversation can be encouraging. Feelings are always valid, but coming up with a solution shouldn’t be your top priority. The best way to address grieving or anxious moments in life is to listen, to share what’s bothering you if you’re comfortable doing so, and seek to understand and be there for each other. [Timestamps] [0:24] How do you help your family and friends when you’re also struggling? [1:57] It’s okay to deal with our emotions because we are humans. [2:35] Empathizing is the first step. [5:01] Don’t come up with solutions. [6:15] Be quick to listen. [7:49] The goal is to offer support. [8:30] Our feelings are valid. [10:13] How do you listen actively? [13:00] Ask them about how they’re doing. [15:05] Reassure them of your presence. [

Mental health breaks are very important when you need to focus on yourself. You have probably heard that Olympic star Simone Biles dropped out of the vault and uneven bars during the 2021 Olympics for mental health reasons. And she did so without knowing what the world would think. Knowing when to take a mental health break can be a very important part of your mental health, but many people feel like they can't take a break. In this episode, I talk about why you should take a mental health break and the importance of being proactive during your break. Thanks for listening and be sure to visit www.mentalhealthtodayshow.com I appreciate you, John Cordray (board-certified counselor and host of the Mental Health Today Show) www.johncordray.com     Smells Like Humans Like listening to funny friends discuss curious human behavior. Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Support the showRate the show: If you enjoyed this episode, please consider providing an honest rating of the show here www.mentalhealthtodayshow.c

Going back to school creates a lot of anxiety for students. From PreK to college, hundreds of students are experiencing back to school anxiety.  In this episode, I talk about what you can do to help ease back to school anxiety and how parents can help their children, and college students can help themselves.  Be sure to visit mentalhealthtodayshow.com to listen to past episodes and to sign up for updates of the show.    Thanks for listening and keep working on your mental health, John Cordray (board-certified counselor) johncordray.com Support the showRate the show: If you enjoyed this episode, please consider providing an honest rating of the show here www.mentalhealthtodayshow.com/reviews/new . Disclaimer: The Mental Health Today Show is for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as therapy. If you are seeking therapy, please contact a licensed therapist for help. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dr. Heim Ph.D. is an award-winning Psychiatrist, Music Professor, and Churchill fellow. During his 20 years as a doctor and 13 as a psychiatrist he has heard the stories of 1000s of people, so he listens a lot. He gets lots of joy out of working as a consultant psychiatrist in psychotherapy.  He specializes in adult trauma. He speaks from a place of deep compassion and authority on Mental Health issues that are affecting us all in this new normal: anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma, suicide, personality issues, and relationship breakdown.  His latest book "The 7 Types of Love: Navigating love in a fractured world" has just been released. He lives in Australia on the beautiful Sunshine Coast with his wife Caroline and loves taking long walks on deserted Australian beaches and eating celery. Dr. Heim's Social Channels: Website: https://www.drchristianheim.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-christian-heim-572777203/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtd-b5NpPAiPDzsNj41G78g Ins

If you have ever thought you were bad for struggling with a mental health issue this episode is for you. I talk about four action steps that you can take right now to help you realize that your mental health does not define who you are. LET YOUR MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLE BE YOUR TEACHER, NOT YOUR MASTER LEAN ON OTHERS IN YOUR TIME OF NEED MAKE A PLAN STAY THE COURSE Write these action steps down and remember them the next time you start to give in to the temptation of believing you are less of a person because you struggle with a mental health issue. Be sure to visit www.mentalhealthtodayshow.com to listen to more episodes and to subscribe to the show. Take care my friends, John Cordray www.johncordray.com     Smells Like Humans Like listening to funny friends discuss curious human behavior. Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Support the showRate the show: If you enjoyed this episode, please consider providing an honest rating of the show here www.mentalhealthtodayshow.com/reviews/new . Disclaimer:

Is your marriage going through a difficult stage right now? Are you feeling hopeless and alone as you struggle with your mental health? In this episode, I talk with Tiffany Lee, (AKA Plumb). Plumb gets very personal and talks about her hurt and pain, and God’s redeeming story.  Plumb is a Christan artist and she graciously took time to talk with me before her next tour. Plum has sold more than 500,000 albums and singles worldwide, co-authored songs with Michelle Branch, Mandisa, Mandy Moore, Jaci Velasquez, Natalie Grant, and many more. Plumb’s music has been on numerous TV and Films.    Bellow are Plumb’s links to her book and song that I mention in this episode.  Book Need You Now https://www.amazon.com/Need-You-Now-Story-Hope/dp/0990617203 Need You Now Song https://youtu.be/Y9CjYvQDDIo Facebook https://www.facebook.com/plumbmusic -- Visit www.mentalhealthtodayshow.com   Thanks for listening, John Cordray www.johncordray.com     Smells Like Humans Like listening to funny friends discuss cur

Do you have some anxiety, but you've wondered if you have an anxiety disorder? In this episode, I talk about the seven most common anxiety disorders. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) categorizes anxiety disorders into 7 types: Separation anxiety disorder Selective mutism Specific phobia Social phobia Panic disorder Agoraphobia Generalized anxiety disorder Be sure to visit www.mentalhealthtodayshow.com and sign up for the newsletter and to listen to past episodes. Please subscribe, and leave a review and rating of the show too! Keep working on your mental health, John Cordray, board-certified counselor and host of the Mental Health Today Show. www.johncordray.com   Smells Like Humans Like listening to funny friends discuss curious human behavior. Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Support the showRate the show: If you enjoyed this episode, please consider providing an honest rating of the show here www.mentalhealthtodayshow.com/reviews/new . Disclaimer: Th

Anxiety can be a difficult condition to deal with, especially when it takes control of our lives. We can feel like our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are out of our control. But understanding the negative thought cycle is an important step to taking back control of our anxiety. The negative thought cycle is a cycle of events, thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and outcomes that can lead to increased anxiety or depressive symptoms in individuals. It starts with an event that can be either internal or external, such as a challenging situation or a negative thought. The emotion then leads to a certain behavior, which can be either helpful or unhelpful. Unhelpful behaviors can be, for example, procrastination, avoidance, using alcohol, or self-harm. On the other hand, helpful behaviors can be things like problem-solving, self-care, and seeking professional help. Therefore, it is important to understand the negative thought cycle so that we can be in control of our anxiety, instead of the other way around. He

How is conflict handled in your family? We're not taught how to handle conflict, and oftentimes, conflict is not dealt with at all in families. In this episode, I talk about what you can do to help rebuild conflict in your family.  Please rate and subscribe to the Mental Health Today Show at www.mentalhealthtodayshow.com. Thanks for listening! John Cordray, board-certified counselor and host of the Mental Health Today Show. johncordray.com Support the showRate the show: If you enjoyed this episode, please consider providing an honest rating of the show here www.mentalhealthtodayshow.com/reviews/new . Disclaimer: The Mental Health Today Show is for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as therapy. If you are seeking therapy, please contact a licensed therapist for help. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Have you ever experienced emotional pain? Pain that's so intense that you don't know what to do. Pain from a loss or a life-altering event can cause emotional pain and suffering. In this episode, I talk about the five signs of emotional pain. Five Signs of Emotional Pain Behavior Change Agitated Withdrawal Poor Hygiene Hopelessness I hope this episode is helpful for you! Check out the website www.mentalhealthtodayshow.com and sign up for the newsletter and updates about the show. I appreciate you always, John Cordray www.johncordray.com Smells Like Humans Like listening to funny friends discuss curious human behavior. Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Support the showRate the show: If you enjoyed this episode, please consider providing an honest rating of the show here www.mentalhealthtodayshow.com/reviews/new . Disclaimer: The Mental Health Today Show is for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as therapy. If you are seeking therapy, please contact a licensed therapis

Have you experienced more anxiety and stress this past year? Did you know that prolonged anxiety can have negative effects on your body? In this episode, I talk about the effects of anxiety on your body and what you can do to feel better.  Anxiety can affect your central nervous system, your cardiovascular system, your digestive system, your respiratory system, and even your immune system.  Learn the effects of anxiety on your body and what you can do to start feeling better.  Subscribe to the Mental Health Today show at mentalhealthtodayshow.com Please rate and review the show! Thank you, John Cordray johncordray.com John Cordray is a board-certified counselor and the host of the Mental Health Today Show. Smells Like Humans Like listening to funny friends discuss curious human behavior. Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Support the showRate the show: If you enjoyed this episode, please consider providing an honest rating of the show here www.mentalhealthtodayshow.com/reviews/new . Disclaimer: The

I worked in a school district as a mental health therapist for the last three years, and have learned a lot about the struggles schools face every single day. In this episode, I talk about a hidden problem in our school system that many people don't realize. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) affect every school in America, yet so many schools are not equipped to help the kids who need help the most.  Read more about the ACEs study here.  Many times, students who get into trouble at school are often students who have an ACEs score. Students with an ACEs score of 3 or more are not likely to succeed in school.  Please subscribe to the Mental Health Today Show and provide a rating and a review.  Visit mentalhealthtodayshow.com and johncordray.com  Smells Like Humans Like listening to funny friends discuss curious human behavior. Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Support the showRate the show: If you enjoyed this episode, please consider providing an honest rating of the show here www.mentalhealthtod

Do you know someone who has a hard time forgiving others? Maybe it's you that is having a difficult time forgiving. In this episode, I talk about forgiveness and your mental health, and why it's so important to forgive others.  Forgiveness does not mean you will forget the offense. It does not mean that you're letting the other person off the hook. And it does not mean you are somehow weak or giving into forgiveness. Forgiveness means choosing to let go of the bitterness and grudge and allowing peace and restoration to help you grow stronger in your mental health. --- Please subscribe to the Mental Health Today Show and visit mentlhealthtodayshow.com to learn more. I appreciate you, John Cordray johncordray.com Smells Like Humans Like listening to funny friends discuss curious human behavior. Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Support the showRate the show: If you enjoyed this episode, please consider providing an honest rating of the show here www.mentalhealthtodayshow.com/reviews/new .

Have you ever noticed someone who looks sad all the time? You can see it on their face, you can see it in how they respond to others, and you can just tell when a person has been living in grief for a long time.  Prolonged grief can have negative effects in every area of your life.  That’s what I’m going to talk about in this episode of the Mental Health Today Show, Consequences of Unresolved Grief. The Mental Health Today Show is all about encouraging and inspiring you to work on your mental health. If you desire to work on your mental health you are a champion, and I’m glad you are a part of this community.  Working on your mental health is hard work, and you have to work at it every single day - so you are a champion of your mental health. That’s why I like to call you champions.  Today I’m talking about a very difficult topic, but one that needs to be talked about - the Consequences of Unresolved Grief. Grief comes from all sorts of places, the death of a loved one, an accident that leaves you paral

Stress in the workplace is at an all-time high, thanks to COVID-19. From budget cuts to adjusting to being remote, to going back to the office after being remote, more and more people are stressed out, and it affects their mental health. In episode 93 of the Mental Health Today Show, I talk about Managing Workplace Stress. Managing deadlines, dealing with a difficult boss, juggling between working from home and helping your kids who are also remote, job layoffs, and worrying how to pay this month's rent or mortgage takes a toll on your mental health. Stress affects sleep, mood, energy levels, and relationships, and can be harmful to your body. A tiny place in our brains called the Amygdala activates our limbic system and creates a stress hormone called cortisol. But, when the cortisol levels are too high for too long, our body will feel the negative effects of stress. Negative effects of stress = rapid heart rate, blood pressure increase, blood sugar rises, muscles tense up, pupils dilate, and perspi

Millions of people experience anxiety nausea and it often becomes so bad that they can't go to work or school. In episode 92, I talk about what causes anxiety nausea and what you can do about it. Have you ever felt sick to your stomach while you have anxiety? It's one of the worse feelings in the world.  Have you ever wondered if it was nausea that caused the anxiety, or the anxiety that caused nausea? Many times anxiety is an emotional reaction to fear, and it can be triggered by a person's perception (thinking something bad is going to happen), or it can be triggered by an actual event, such as getting into a car wreck, or abuse.  When your mind is in overdrive with fear and anxious thoughts it releases an excess amount of the stress hormone called Cortisol and causes neurotransmitters to be released. Neurotransmitters are natural chemical substances that our brain produces at the end of nerve fibers to many areas of our bodies to keep us healthy. When a neurotransmitter is released it cau

26% of Americans 18 or older have a mental disorder diagnosis, that's 1 in 4 adults that suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder in a given year. That's a lot of people! A diagnosable mental disorder is a mental illness that has been diagnosed by a doctor or a licensed therapist. Example diagnosable mental disorders: Generalized Anxiety Disorder Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Borderline Personality Disorder Major Depressive Disorder Bipolar Disorder Phobias Many people who have a mental disorder also have co-existing disorders, such as anxiety and depression. And this can lead to a downward spiral of despair and loneliness. Here are the 5 Mental Disorder Early Warning Signs to Watch Out For: Isolation and withdrawal for others for a long period of time. An increase in the use of drugs and/or alochol. Frequent running away and staying away for long periods of time. Feelings of hopelessness for many days in a row. Letting fear keep you from doing things you want or need to do. I