Exploring the Brain: Understanding Emotion Regulation and Our Mental Health
Mental Health Minutes with Melissa
Release Date: 08/11/2023
Navigating Grief and Finding Joy: A Discussion with Mike Nappa
Mental Health Minutes with Melissa
We journey alongside grief survivor Mike Nappa, who graciously opens his heart, sharing his profoundly moving journey of loss and healing after the death of his wife, Amy. His personal revelations on the terrain of grief and his granddaughter's own journey awaken a broader understanding of the grieving process and the importance of allowing ourselves the space to grieve. Our conversation is intimate as Mike recounts the cherished moments of helping his wife fulfill her bucket list. His account underscores the significance of living fully even when faced with loss, a testament to the...
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Discovering Deep Purpose through Divine Connection with Kelly Needham
Mental Health Minutes with Melissa
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Finding Joy Amidst Life's Challenges with Nick Nilson
Mental Health Minutes with Melissa
Get ready to transform your perspective on life's challenges as we engage in an insightful conversation with the ever-inspiring Nick Nilson. Ever wondered how to hold onto joy amidst hardships? Nick guides us through his life's journey, sharing wisdom on shaping our feelings through our thoughts and harnessing the power of the present moment to experience peace, joy, and contentment. In this chat, we dive deeper into techniques to overcome self-doubt and focus on the possibilities, not the problems. With Nick's guidance, we learn how to utilize the grace given by God to...
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Finding Confidence: Breaking Free from Past Trauma
Mental Health Minutes with Melissa
Are you craving self-improvement, a fresh perspective, or simply an honest and heartfelt conversation? That's precisely what you'll find in my latest podcast episode featuring Jason VanRuler. Drawing from a hard upbringing, Jason bravely confronts his past and the trials of running from unresolved traumas. He lays bare the turning point that led him to face his reflections in the mirror without external support, sparking a profound journey of self-awareness and transformation. Jason's insights don't stop at personal history. We also delve into the intricate realm of emotions and...
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The Journey from Addiction to Hope with Travis Thompson
Mental Health Minutes with Melissa
Could you imagine the power of the right language and tools in transforming life struggles into blessings? That's what we're unpacking with our guest today, Travis Thompson, as he shares his captivating journey through the thorny path of addiction. Drawing from his battle, Travis sheds light on addiction in the United States. He underscores the crucial need to accurately represent the addiction spectrum to ensure people get the support they need. Addiction is not just about the individual; it's also about the people and the society around them. We look closer into the role of...
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Exploring Soul Care: A Journey Towards Deeper Connection with God
Mental Health Minutes with Melissa
Ever wonder how nurturing your soul can lead to a healthier, more connected life? We're pondering this question with our returning guest, Amber Albee Swenson, as we navigate the concept of soul care versus the well-known self-care practice. Together, we explore how prioritizing our divine connection and acknowledging when the soul feels off-balance can significantly impact our overall well-being. We're traveling beyond the surface, examining how soul care profoundly impacts our relationships with ourselves and the world around us. Amber emphasizes the necessity of carving time out of our...
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Navigating Trauma, Movement, and Body Freedom with Alisa Keeton
Mental Health Minutes with Melissa
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Exploring the Brain: Understanding Emotion Regulation and Our Mental Health
Mental Health Minutes with Melissa
Get ready to unravel the intricate workings of your brain with the enlightening insights of esteemed neuroscientist and his handy hand model. Today’s episode will provide a simple yet profound understanding of how our brains regulate emotions and manage our reactions. The spotlight shines on the prefrontal cortex, our brain's master controller, and its vital roles in connecting with others, calming our fears, and creating that crucial space between impulse and action. That's not all. As we continue our exploration of the brain, we'll also touch upon the importance of online...
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From Self-Criticism to Self-Care: Navigating Body Image Issues
Mental Health Minutes with Melissa
Join me this week as I bare a part of my soul and share a deeply personal journey with body image and eating disorders. Drawn from my own experiences, I aim to provide insights and tools to help you nurture a healthier relationship with your body. We'll dive into practical strategies that can revolutionize your perception of your body - assuring you that reshaping your body image doesn't always mean reshaping your body. Tune into this episode to understand the ripple effect of social media on our mental health and body image. I’ll bust the myths society feeds...
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Mastering Body Language for a Happier, Healthier You
Mental Health Minutes with Melissa
Get ready to forge a happier, healthier you by mastering the power of body language. Today, we promise to equip you with simple yet effective research-backed life hacks that dramatically alter your mood, reduce stress, and boost confidence. As part of our continuing series, Counselor on Call – I walk you through an astounding technique called body posturing, which requires you to raise your hands straight up in the air for 2-3 minutes. You'll discover how this effortless practice can manipulate your hormones, elevate your mood, and align with your spiritual perspectives. I also...
info_outlineGet ready to unravel the intricate workings of your brain with the enlightening insights of esteemed neuroscientist Dr. Dan Siegel and his handy hand model.
Today’s episode will provide a simple yet profound understanding of how our brains regulate emotions and manage our reactions. The spotlight shines on the prefrontal cortex, our brain's master controller, and its vital roles in connecting with others, calming our fears, and creating that crucial space between impulse and action.
That's not all. As we continue our exploration of the brain, we'll also touch upon the importance of online regulation and engagement. Don't forget to stay tuned for our next insightful episode, where we continue this fascinating journey into mental health.
Resources
Here are 4 parts of the brain we discussed today, based on a model created by Dr. Dan Siegel.
The brain stem:
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It controls fundamental body functions such as breathing, eye movements, blood pressure, heartbeat, and swallowing
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Responsible for the fight, flight, freeze response
The limbic stem: the emotional part of the brain,
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When we perceive a threat, the amygdala sounds an alarm, releasing a cascade of chemicals in the body. Stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol flood our system, immediately preparing us for fight or flight
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How do we focus our attention
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How we remember things
The cortex is the higher part of the brain.
We can call this the executive region - we want this part to remain regulated to maintain a connection with each other. We’ll talk briefly about what happens when we get dysregulated and how this keeps us from connecting with ourselves and others.
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helps you to manage and mention your emotions
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It helps with thinking and planning
The prefrontal cortex - also called the “master controller”:
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regulate the body, the ability to tune into someone else, which allows compassion or empathy (what happens when we feel rejected or triggered),
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response flexibility: allows you to put a space between an impulse and an action,
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the ability to calm fears - teach your upstairs part of the brain to calm fears
Let’s connect:
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Have a great week!
Melissa