110. How to Escape the Darkness: Why Exercise is Powerful Medicine For the Mind with Dr. J.M. Thompson
Fit Mess: A Men's Mental Health Podcast
Release Date: 02/08/2022
How To Truly Be Grateful For All That You Have Without Facing A Near Death Experience, With Tony Berardo
Fit Mess: A Men's Mental Health Podcast
What if you could live in a constant state of gratitude and present awareness, instead of being stuck in the worries and regrets of the past or future? In this episode, Tony Berardo discusses his journey of personal growth and self-improvement. He emphasizes the importance of being self-aware and constantly striving to be better every day. He shares examples of how he identifies his weaknesses and works on them, both in his personal life and relationships. Tony also reflects on the unpredictability of life and the need to let go of control and embrace the present moment. In this conversation,...
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How To Start Drinking Alcohol Again After Years Of Sobriety And Abstinence
Fit Mess: A Men's Mental Health Podcast
Have you ever felt like your beliefs and habits around health and wellness were holding you back from truly enjoying life? Many of us struggle to find the right balance between discipline and indulgence when it comes to our well-being. This episode explores how questioning long-held beliefs can open up new possibilities for a happier, more fulfilling lifestyle. Gain insights into how different cultures approach food, alcohol, and overall well-being Learn strategies for challenging limiting beliefs and finding a healthier balance Discover the power of being present and embracing new...
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How Blue Light Impacts Your Sleep, Health, and Mood, With Dr. Martin Moore-Ede
Fit Mess: A Men's Mental Health Podcast
Summary Have you ever wondered why you feel so groggy and tired after spending hours scrolling on your phone or laptop at night? The blue light emitted from our electronic devices and LED lights is disrupting our natural circadian rhythms, leading to sleep issues, increased disease risks, and other adverse health effects. This episode explores practical solutions to reduce blue light exposure and improve overall well-being. Listen now to this eye-opening conversation with The Light Doctor, Dr. Martin Moore-Ede and take the first step towards reclaiming your natural sleep-wake cycle and overall...
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How to Find Purpose Through Surrender, with Kute Blackson
Fit Mess: A Men's Mental Health Podcast
Summary: Have you ever felt trapped, struggling to break free from the patterns and beliefs that hold you back? In this insightful conversation, transformational teacher Kute Blackson offers a fresh perspective on the power of surrender – a practice that can unlock your true potential and help you live a more purposeful life. You'll gain a deeper understanding of your ego's conditioning, learn how to embrace the truth within yourself, and discover practical strategies to cultivate self-compassion, integrity, and alignment with your authentic self. Listen today to embark on a journey of...
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How To Get Back On Track When Your Routine Gets Screwed Up
Fit Mess: A Men's Mental Health Podcast
Have you ever struggled to stick to your health and fitness goals when life gets chaotic? We all face times when our normal healthy routines get disrupted – by vacations, holidays, work demands or other life events. Often this leads to frustration, guilt and even depression when we “fall off the wagon”. In this episode you’ll learn tangible strategies to minimize the negative impacts of breaking routine, exactly how to prepare for planned downtime like vacations, and the incredible power of self-compassion when you inevitably veer off track. Listen to this episode today to pick up...
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Not Feeling Motivated? That's Because Your Purpose Sucks (But We Can Fix That)
Fit Mess: A Men's Mental Health Podcast
Feeling stuck and unmotivated to make positive changes in your life? Learn how to build sustainable momentum instead of relying on fleeting motivation. Without the right mindset and approach, it’s easy to get derailed when trying to form new habits and achieve your goals. Our guest host, Joe Villegas shares simple frameworks for establishing routines, unlocking your purpose, and incrementally improving each day. Listen today to pick up practical strategies that you can start applying right away to make progress. Takeaways Motivation is fleeting, while inspiration and purpose are more...
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How to Conquer Chronic Illness Without Shitting Your Pants
Fit Mess: A Men's Mental Health Podcast
Summary: In this episode, Jeremy and Zach discuss Zach's prolonged illness and his decision to finally take antibiotics. Zach explains his reservations about antibiotics, including the potential for antibiotic resistance and the negative impact on the gut microbiome. He also shares his struggles with being unable to pursue his usual activities and the importance of gratitude and self-compassion during this time. The conversation touches on the use of medication for various conditions and the need for caution and informed decision-making. The episode concludes with a humorous...
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How to Stop Feeling Anxious, Overwhelmed, and Burned Out
Fit Mess: A Men's Mental Health Podcast
Summary Do you feel overwhelmed and extremely stressed at your job, desperately gasping for air at the end of each chaotic workday? If so, you can benefit from learning research-backed tools to establish healthier work habits, take back control of your schedule, and give your mind and body the breaks they desperately need. In this episode, we share our best practices for managing work stress, including re-prioritizing your to-do list, scheduling necessary breathers, and establishing reasonable communication expectations. Listen now to discover simple yet highly effective ways to tame work...
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How To Overcome Past Conditioning and Believe In Your Potential, with Jared Ganem
Fit Mess: A Men's Mental Health Podcast
Summary Many men struggle with finding their true purpose and living up to their full potential due to past trauma, limiting beliefs, and unhealthy conditioning. Jared Ganem hit rock bottom after his dream of becoming a pro wrestler was crushed, sending him into a downward spiral of unhealthy relationships, and deep debt. Jared shares his incredible comeback story and the personal development work he did to rewire his mindset, heal from past trauma, and regain his sense of purpose. He mapped out the 7 levels of self-mastery to help men unleash their true potential. If you want to stop just...
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How to Change Your Entire Life by Changing 5% of Your Day
Fit Mess: A Men's Mental Health Podcast
Summary In this episode, Jeremy and Zach discuss the importance of taking care of yourself and how making small changes can have a significant impact on one's life. They emphasize the power of changing just 5% of your day and how it can lead to positive transformations. They also highlight the value of finding one hour each day to dedicate to self-care and personal development. The conversation explores the snowball effect of habits and the need to find a balance between pushing oneself and being compassionate. They stress the importance of being present in the moment and letting go of...
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Untreated child traumas in life, depression, and alike usually either form from deep-rooted causes or spark from very early experiences that start during childhood. For that reason, these issues aren't the type one can take a break from nor run away from. Yes, you can't run away from it. But you can still try running! How? In this episode of The Fit Mess, Dr. J.M. Thompson talks about why exercise is a powerful medicine for the mind, how one can train tolerance and endurance through running, and what he tells about in his book Running Is a Kind of Dreaming: A Memoir.
Find out how you can adopt new practices in life in this episode of The Fit Mess with Dr. J.M. Thompson!
How Running Works Against Mental Issues
When the mind struggles with mental disorders, it becomes challenging to stay in the here and now of life. For individuals who experience these and other mental conditions, the mind tends to preoccupy feelings and emotions of the past. It weighs it down. And as the mind gets busy with before issues, this is when you tend to lose a sense of where you are in the world. For the individuals that become victims of this, the predictability of things gets lost.
For Dr. J.M. Thompson, author of Running is a Kind of Dreaming, endurance activities is a proven counter for these types of issue. From experience, Dr. Thompson speaks of running as a form of grounding. It becomes one's coming into the right now of the moment. Like any other physical activity, it helps create predictability and presence of mind. It also creates a strong connection between your brain and body and denies you the option of isolation.
Listen more to how Dr. J.M. Thompson explains the benefits of endurance activities to mental health in this episode of The Fit Mess!
About Dr. J.M. Thompson:
J.M. Thompson was born in England. He holds a BA in English literature from Oxford University and a doctorate in clinical psychology. He completed his psychology training at the University of California, San Francisco, where he conducted research on the brain mechanisms of meditation and the physiology of trauma.
He is also an ordained Zen practitioner and certified yoga teacher. He has finished over 40 ultramarathons, and multiple solo adventures runs in the Sierra Nevada, the Grand Canyon, and Death Valley. Thompson currently serves as a staff psychologist at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. He lives in San Francisco with his wife and two children.
Outline of the Episode:
[01:22] Zach – on running for an early-out from work
[02:27] Moving your body can move so many things in your life
[05:18] Athletic Greens for more energy, better gut health, and an optimized immune system!
[07:06] Dr. J.M. Thompson – on running before it's too late
[10:53] What is it about endurance activities that work so well on our mentality?
[12:12] An unhealthy mental state can result in a loss of predictability
[16:02] The difference between accessing your flow state in a gym and outdoors
[19:25] Your experience is your experience, and it's worthy of care
[22:13] How does one simply pick up a new practice?
[24:05] Dr. J.M. Thompson – on recovery, healing, and the experience of his book Running is a Kind of Dreaming: A Memoir
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