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The Hardcore Self Help Podcast with Duff the Psych

This is a podcast dedicated to answering your questions about mental health, anxiety, depression, relationships, sex, and life WITHOUT psychobabble BS. I am Dr. Robert Duff, a psychologist from Southern California, but I'm also a regular dude who legitimately wants to help out. I wrote the best selling books Hardcore Self Help: F**k Depression and Hardcore Self Help: F**K Anxiety. Those are available at http://hardcoreselfhelp.com
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The Hardcore Self Help Podcast with Duff the Psych
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Now displaying: 2017
Dec 21, 2017

I know I already did a holiday themed episode, but I figured you guys could use a little more love as you continue through the holiday season. Rather than answering your questions today, I'm going to lead you through a guided relaxation designed to help you de-stress and relieve some of the stress that often accompanies the holidays. Give yourself the gift of relaxation. Put in some headphones. Chill with me. I got you. 

No episode next week. Back at it the week after. Keep sending me your questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com

 

Background music credit: https://cctrax.com/cousin-silas/landscapes

Dec 14, 2017

Today is a question and answer episode. I'm doing two questions instead of three today, just because I've gotta get up early for a talk I'm giving tomorrow. I think these are two really great questions though.

In one of the questions, I reference a video with Kristen Bell, which you can check out at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYUQ_nlZgWE

In the other, I reference the cycle of abuse image, which you can see here: http://teaminfocus.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Cycle-of-Abuse.png

Here are the questions:

  • How can I help my children, who are starting to show signs of depression and anxiety, when I can't even help myself?
  • How can I recognize and move past abuse when I'm unsure about whether I have been abused?

As always you can send your questions in to duffthepsych@gmail.com

Dec 7, 2017

Hey, friends. I'm not sure if you saw the news, but southern California is on fire. I'm safe, but a lot of friends and acquaintances are not. I'm in this eerie spot where we are very close to the fires, but at very low risk, so "normal" life continues on. Decided to do an episode with some of my tips for getting through disasters like this including:

  • Understanding stress vs anxiety
  • Prepping to avoid freezing
  • Mental rehearsal
  • Importance of rest
  • Focusing on what you DO have control over
  • Mindfulness in disaster situations
  • Finding comfort in the small moments
  • Keeping routine where you can
  • Talking about event without re-traumatizing
  • Processing your feelings
  • Getting help
  • Managing social media consumption

Not sure what format next week's episode will be, but please feel free to keep sending your questions over to duffthepsych@gmail.com and be sure to check out the info for my upcoming course at duffthepsych.com/course

Nov 30, 2017

Hello, my friends! This episode is just a straight forward question and answer episode with some really awesome questions. This week I am also working on a book proposal for a traditional publisher, which means that you would be able to buy this potential book in stores. That's a bucket list item of mine and I'm excited to keep you updated in the coming weeks/months. 

Here are the questions for this episode:

  • How can I get help when I'm too anxious to call a therapist?
  • How can I get over my fear of vomiting?
  • How can I get through high school when I have been depressed for years?

As always you can send me your questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com

Nov 21, 2017

The holidays are crazy for everybody and they can be particularly stressful if you deal with any mental health issues. In this episode of the podcast, I share a few tips that can help you stay afloat during the Holiday season. 

If you have other tips that work well for you, please share them with my on twitter at http://twitter.com/duffthepsych and I will RT them for my audience! 

Nov 9, 2017

This is a deep dive episode where I spend the entire time talking about one topic of interest rather than taking questions from the audience. In this episode, I cover something that I've been meaning to talk about for a while, which is the word "trigger" and the term 'trigger warning".

I cover what the term "actually" means, where it came from, and my mixed feelings about the way that trigger warnings or content warnings are used these days. A the end, I also give some practical tips for when social media becomes too triggering.

Next episode will be either an interview with Brent Williams, who wrote the Out of the Woods graphic novel that I review here or just a regular Q&A. Please keep sending me your awesome questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com

Nov 2, 2017

Thanks for having some fun with me for the Halloween episode last week. This one will be a regular Q&A episode. I wanted to give a quick shout out to my buddy Speeks Geak for hooking me up with the new intro and outro beat. Check him out over at: https://twitter.com/SpeeksGeak909

In this episode, I cover some great questions on a variety of topics. Here is what I cover:

  • What is bipolar depression? How is it different than "regular" depression?
  • How should I tell my therapist that I don't want to work with them anymore? How do I get my files from them?
  • What can I do about my grandparent with dementia not remembering their spouse?

As always you can send me your questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com and follow me on twitter at http://twitter.com/duffthepsych

Oct 26, 2017

This week we are doing something a little different. I wanted to get into the Halloween spirit, so today on the podcast, I tell you the story of 4 spooky psychology experiments that reveal the darker side of the human condition. 

Oct 19, 2017

Today we have another question and answer episode featuring some super interesting questions. Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter to get the free resources mentioned in the episode. Here are the questions...

  • What happens when you have feelings for your therapist?
  • How can journaling help anxiety?
  • How can I help a friend with major depression?

As always you can send me your questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com

Oct 12, 2017

Hello, friends! This is a deep dive episode all about your phone. I share some apps and general principles that you can use with your phone to improve your mental health and overall life progress. Unfortunately there is one abrupt cut toward the end of the episode because my recording program crashed and I had to re-record some. Oh well! 

Here are some of the apps that I mentioned:

Pacifica: https://www.thinkpacifica.com/

Headspace: https://www.headspace.com/

Calm: https://www.calm.com/

7 Cups: http://7cups.com/

Forest: https://www.forestapp.cc/en/

The next episode will likely be a Q & A episode, so please continue sending me your questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com

 

Oct 5, 2017

Hello, friends! Apologies for the unexpected lapse in episodes last week. Had some family stuff come up on my normal recording night and I was slammed with clinical work for the rest of the week. I'm back with a great Q&A episode this week though! Here are the questions covered:

  • How can I regulate my depression and self-criticism while gaming competitively?
  • Do I need to get additional testing to switch my ADHD medications?
  • Is it bad that I'm obsessed with suicide-related content?

As always you can send me your questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com

Sep 21, 2017

Hello, everyone! Thanks so much for joining me again. This is another question and answer episode featuring the following questions:

  • How can I set boundaries and communicate better with my introverted partner?
  • I've been doing well until recent changes. Now all of my symptoms are back. What can I do?
  • Is it normal to have a spike in anxiety when I have my period?

As always you can send me your questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com and don't forget to sign up for the mailing list (launch group list closing next week) at http://duffthepsych.com/course

 

Sep 14, 2017

Hello, friends! Thanks for joining me again for another Q&A episode. I was recently interviewed about anxiety on the Sexy Fit Podcast, which you can check out here: http://sexyfit.com/mindset/ep-180-fk-anxiety-practical-strategies-help/

I also wanted to mention that I will be switching my release day from Wednesday to Thursday each week, just to fit better with my life and keep myself sane. Here are the questions for this week:

  • Are fidget spinners helpful in coping with skin picking disorder?
  • I think about my psych hospitalization everyday. Is that normal?
  • What is avoidant personality disorder?

As always you can send me your questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com

Sep 7, 2017

Hello, friends! This episode is coming at you a little late today, which I explain at the beginning. It's important to be honest with yourself and exercise control over your situation to avoid burnout. Here are the awesome questions in this episode:

  • Why am I starting to struggle with my mental health at age 46?
  • Can you have fleeting suicidal tendencies?
  • Do flotation tanks help with anxiety and ADHD?

As always you can send me your questions for the podcast to duffthepsych@gmail.com 

You can also sign up to be part of the launch team of my upcoming course, Kick Anxiety's Ass, at http://duffthepsych.com/course

Aug 30, 2017

Another Q&A episode today! Some really great questions and I get pretty detailed about a few diagnoses. Before that, be sure to check out the private facebook group for the HCSH community at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/484559841901855/

Look out for more info on my upcoming Kick Anxiety's Ass course and be a part of the beta group here: http://eepurl.com/c06Uzn

Here are the questions covered in this episode:

  • Why do I have violent thoughts and why do I need everything to be even in number?
  • How can I work on my relationships with other people, given my estrangement from my mother?
  • Do my symptoms fit with bipolar disorder?

As always you can send me your questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com

 

Aug 23, 2017

Today we are doing a deep dive episode all about ways that you can maximize your progress in therapy. Whether you are a seasoned therapy veteran or barely thinking about getting started, this will be good information for you to keep in the back of your mind. 

Before I share the 10 tips for getting the most out of therapy, I wanted to let you know that I started a new closed facebook group for the Hardcore Self Help Community. You can find that at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/484559841901855/

Here are the tips:

1. You don't need to impress your therapist

2. Don't lie to your therapist

3. Don't be afraid to get emotional and let it out

4. Challenge your therapist and correct them

5. If it's not working, say something

6. Find someone you are comfortable with

7. Get therapy sooner

8. Take notes and journal

9. Do the homework and practice the skills

10. Talk about the relationship between you and your therapist during session

Next week should be another Q&A episode, so keep sending me your awesome questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com

Aug 16, 2017

Hello, everyone! Just off the top, given the BS going on in the world at the moment, I need to reaffirm that everyone is welcome here regardless of race, ethnicity, cultural background, gender identity, sexual orientation etc. Just needs to be said. 

Today's episode is another Q&A with some really awesome questions including:

  • How can I help my mom who has multiple personalities?
  • Why do I procrastinate sleep and what can I do about it?
  • What can I do when I am the codependent friend?

As always you can send me your questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com and don't forget to follow me on social @duffthepsych for cute baby stuff!

Aug 9, 2017

This is a deep dive episode all about common thinking traps and pitfalls that we encounter as human beings. In the field, we refer to these as "cognitive distortions". In this episode, I break down ten of them for you and talk a bit about how to use your knowledge of them to your advantage. Here are the cognitive distortions that I cover in this episode:

  1. Mind Reading
  2. Personalizing
  3. Just World Fallacy
  4. Emotional Reasoning
  5. Shoulds and Musts
  6. Black and White Thinking
  7. Overgeneralization
  8. Filtering
  9. Catastrophizing
  10. Overestimating Power of Thoughts

Next week should be another Q & A episode, so please keep sending me your questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com 

Aug 2, 2017

Hello, friends! Just another awesome question and answer episode for you. Two short questions and one more complicated question:

  • How can I overcome my self-criticism and low self-esteem?
  • What does my family member mean when she says that she has "functional anxiety"?
  • Do I need to forgive my abuser? 

As always you can send me your questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com and follow my on facebook at http://facebook.com/duffthepsych

Jul 26, 2017

Hey, friends! Before I get into the questions for this episode, I wanted to let you know that I recently posted a video and blogpost in which I share an entire chapter from my book about suicide. You can check that out and share it at http://duffthepsych.com/suicide. Here are this week's questions:

  • How do I tell me mom that I don't need more therapy?
  • Am I a fraud for improving my depression symptoms on my own?
  • How can I talk about self-harm with my therapist without ruining things?

That's it for this week! As always you can send me your questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com

Jul 19, 2017

Wide variety of questions this time! I love it. Please continue sending me your questions and look forward to some "guest hosts" in the future! Also thanks so much for the reviews on iTunes. It's greatly appreciated! Here are the questions covered in this episode:

  • What if I don't remember what I enjoyed before depression because it's been so many years?
  • Can my dad recover from his aneurysm?
  • How can I make my boyfriend stop masturbating when he knows that I don't want him to? 

As always you can send me your questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com! 

Jul 12, 2017

Packed episode this week! I didn't realize it when I constructed the episode, but I included two double questions for a total of 5 questions answered this episode, haha! Really interesting stuff though. If you have a minute, please head over to itunes and leave a review for this podcast and consider sharing with a friend. Thanks so much! Here are the questions covered:

  • Why do I get panic attacks when I'm hot?
  • What is EMDR and does it actually work?
  • What should I do about my brother's worrying social media posts?
  • Do therapists worry about their clients?
  • How do you keep good boundaries as a therapist?

As always you can send me your questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com

Jul 5, 2017

Hello, friends! Sorry for the lapse in shows. I did that re-posting of my interview on the Cognitive Rampage podcast a couple weeks ago and this past week I got super sick and completely lost my voice! No bueno. I'm feeling a lot better now and I'm back with another great question and answer session for you. Here are the questions covered:

  • Are anxiety and perfectionism related?
  • How do you find passions and interests? Everything feels like a chore.
  • What can I do about being in the same location as my abuser?

Keep sending me in your questions. I will be back again next week as long as I don't get the plague again! Send them in to duffthepsych@gmail.com

Jun 21, 2017

Hey, friends. This episode is a little different. I didn't have time to record a full Q & A episode this week due to life and work. However, I think I found a nice alternative here. Recently I was on Adam Lowery's podcast called Cognitive Rampage. He's a cool dude and has a book by the same name. This turned out to be a wide ranging conversation and I think probably one of the best interviews that I've ever given. So have a listen and head over to Adam's site to see more content. Next week will be back to the Q&A, so send me your questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com

Here's the full podcast on Adam's page: http://adamlowery.com/

Jun 14, 2017

Hello, friends! This is another question and answer episode for you. Hey, I'd appreciate it so much if you'd send me some honest open-ended feedback about the podcast to duffthepsych@gmail.com with the subject line "podcast feedback". As long or short as you'd like. You can give me any feedback that you would like.

Anyways, here are the three questions that are covered:

  • What are some ways to avoid vicarious trauma or burnout when working in an intense job?
  • If I have had panic attacks since I was 5 years old, will I always have them? Am I just wired this way?
  • Do you think mental health disorders are actually on the rise or is it just more awareness and the influence of the internet?

As always you can send me your questions to duffthepsych@gmail.com and you can also see a video bonus question on facebook or youtube. 

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