Renegade Ape - Psychology, Philosophy, and the Overton Wasteland

What is sleep and why does it matter? In today's episode Prof. Jason Ellis helps us to explore insomnia and how it relates directly to mood and mental health. How do a couple of sleepless nights turns into chronic insomnia for some people, and nothing more than a few groggy shifts at work for others? We discover how the quality of our sleep can predict your likelihood of developing depression, why seasonal affective disorder is more of a sleep problem than a mood disorder, how daytime napping could be a sign of underlying health concerns, and the limits of medication. We also discuss some of the more curious aspects of sleep, such as why we sometimes start body popping just as we're about to nod off, why couples shouldn't share a duvet, why none of us should be shy when trying out a mattress in the bed shop, why playing Candy Crush at bedtime could be messing up your circadian rhythms, and also how having sex in the kitchen could potentially help you sleep more soundly. For show notes and to join the conversation visit: http://myownworstenemy.org/podcast Email: danny@myownworstenemy.org Follow Danny on Twitter: http://twitter.com/dannydwhittaker

So what is bipolar disorder, and how does it differ from plain old depression? In this episode Prof. Steven Jones helps us to untangle the various manifestations of bipolar including bipolar types 1 and 2, and cyclothymia. We discuss the nature and duration of mood swings and what triggers them, and we examine the concept of mania and manic episodes and how these affect people's thoughts and behaviours. We also explore mixed affective states, where the person experiences depression and mania simultaneously, and why this can increase the risk of suicide in people with bipolar. We discover why both adolescence and middle age are times when people are particularly susceptible to the onset of bipolar, the causal link between sleep deprivation and mania, the controversial topic of bipolar in children and whether or not it actually exists, treatment options, personality variables, issues of cultural context, and loads more in between. For show notes and to join the conversation visit: http://myownworstenemy.org/podcast Email: danny@myownworstenemy.org Follow Danny on Twitter: twitter.com/dannydwhittaker

Prof. Matt Field is here to discuss the topic of alcohol abuse and addiction, and it's relationship to mental health. So, what exactly is the difference between alcohol abuse and addiction? Does alcohol addiction run in families, and who is most susceptible? We discuss the alcohol paradox; that is, why people in deprived communities have higher levels of alcohol-related ill health than people in non-deprived communities, despite drinking the same amounts of alcohol. We discover why stopping drinking is only half the battle in overcoming alcohol addiction. What you can do, as a friend or relative, to help somebody with a drinking problem. What the government could - but seemingly won't - do to help reduce the amount of alcohol related harm. We also tackle the most controversial question of all: whether or not is alcohol addiction a brain disease or a disorder of choice? For show notes and to join the conversation visit: http://myownworstenemy.org/podcast Email: danny@myownworstenemy.org Follow Danny on Twitter: http://twitter.com/dannydwhittaker

Prof. Greg Eghigian helps us trace the history of mental illness from ancient Palestine, and the Greek physician Hippocrates, right the way up to Prozac and self-help gurus. On the way we encounter exorcisms, bloodletting, witch doctors, magic spells, Islamic hospitals, mental asylums, country house retreats, Sigmund Freud, the advent of pharmacology, deinstitutionalization and the rise of psychotherapy. For show notes and to join the conversation visit: http://myownworstenemy.org/podcast Email: danny@myownworstenemy.org Follow Danny on Twitter: http://twitter.com/dannydwhittaker

Prof. Ulrike Schmidt joins us to discuss the three main eating disorders, anorexia, bulimia and binge eating. Are eating disorders a illness peculiar to young white women, or is anybody susceptible? What causes somebody to develop an eating disorder? Is it all about looking good, or are there deeper issues at play? We discuss the stigma and misconceptions surrounding eating disorders, the long term physical consequences, and we even delve into the bizarre world of Pro-Ana and “Thinspiration” websites where eating disorders are both promoted and celebrated. *** BOOKS MENTIONED *** "Getting Better Bite by Bite" https://amzn.to/33i35RB DISCLAIMER: My Own Worst Enemy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and affiliated sites.

Steven C. Hayes joins us to discuss the foundations ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and the limits of CBT. What exactly is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and how does it differ from, and improve upon traditional CBT? We discuss the concept of psychological flexibility and its role in either preventing or provoking the development of mental health issues, whether or not there is value in addressing issues from your past, the importance of self-compassion during periods of psychological distress, how to discover your own personal values, and putting it all together, in Steve’s own words: "How to back out of the war within, come into the present moment, focus on what we care about, and get on with the business of living". *** BOOKS MENTIONED *** Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life: http://amzn.to/2jRZFPy The Happiness Trap: http://amzn.to/2jxJPbZ The Mindful Way Through Depression: http://amzn.to/2jxG0mQ Radical Acceptance: http://amzn.to/2jpWWOK DISCLAIMER: My Own Worst Enemy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and affiliated sites.

How does procrastination relate to things like depression and anxiety? Today Dr. Tim Pychyl helps us explore the emotional factors that initiate and drive procrastination, how procrastination can affect not only our mental, but our physical health and wellbeing, and increase our chances of things like coronary heart disease. We discover why we’re terrible at forecasting our future moods and why you’ll never “feel like doing it tomorrow”, how to grease the wheels of productivity and boost your willpower, and why Homer Simpson might have something very profound to teach us about how we treat our future selves. *** BOOKS MENTIONED *** Solving the Procrastination Puzzle: http://amzn.to/2je6FWi Backsliding, Understanding Weakness of Will: http://amzn.to/2jdTvZf The Courage to Be: http://amzn.to/2ieyiQh The Courage to Teach: http://amzn.to/2jyXzqr Man's Search for Meaning: http://amzn.to/2iexESY The Slow Professor: http://amzn.to/2ic3Cw3 The Art of Procrastination: http://amzn.to/2iXUih7 Getting Things Done: http://amzn.to/2ieAQyc DISCLAIMER: My Own Worst Enemy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and affiliated sites.

What are panic attacks and why do they happen? Can panic attacks kill you? Can they make you lose your mind? Or are they just a completely harmless, albeit horrendous natural bodily function? In today's episode Prof. Vijaya Manicavasagar joins me to discuss the twin topic of panic disorder and agoraphobia. We discuss how panic disorder and agoraphobia are related, how and why the one develops into the other, and most importantly the various treatments options available, including a couple of self-help suggestions. *** BOOKS MENTIONED *** "Overcoming Panic" https://amzn.to/2N86n4a DISCLAIMER: My Own Worst Enemy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and affiliated sites.

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is the third largest mental health care problem in the world today. So, what's the difference between social anxiety disorder and plain old shyness? Are people really judging us, and staring at us, or is it just all in our heads? More to the point, why do we even care? What are the irrational thoughts that drive social anxiety? How does it come to affect people's lives, and most importantly, what can we do to overcome it? All this and more in today's episode. For show notes and to join the conversation visit: http://myownworstenemy.org/podcast Email: danny@myownworstenemy.org Follow Danny on Twitter: http://twitter.com/dannydwhittaker

Professor Elyn Saks is an award winning academic, best selling author, and lives with chronic schizophrenia. In today's episode we explore what it like to have schizophrenia, the nature and content of delusions and hallucinations, Elyn's experience as a patient in psychiatric hospitals in both the US and UK and how they differ, the stigma associated with the illness and whether the name of schizophrenia should be changed to something less stigmatized. We also talk about Elyn's study of high-functioning people with schizophrenia, such as PhD candidates, teachers, and CEOs, and how a parrot played a pivotal role in Elyn eventually finding love. *** BOOKS MENTIONED *** "The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness" https://amzn.to/2K1cQfw DISCLAIMER: My Own Worst Enemy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and affiliated sites.

Thought depression and anxiety were afflictions of the adult mind? Think again. In today's episode we talk about depression and anxiety in preadolescent children, whether nurture or nature plays the biggest role in the development of childhood mental health, how you may be inadvertently teaching your child to be fearful of the world and how to stop doing so, why it’s more important to praise effort over ability, the seven confident thoughts that children need to grow up happy and confident, and why Sam is in favour of installing a communist dictatorship. *** BOOKS MENTIONED *** "From Timid To Tiger: A Treatment Manual for Parenting the Anxious Child" https://amzn.to/2K2iCNZ DISCLAIMER: My Own Worst Enemy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and affiliated sites.

What does it really mean to have OCD? In today's episode Professor Paul Salkovskis explains the various manifestations of OCD and their corresponding behaviours, we discover why OCD is an “affliction of the nice”, why the average sufferer waits 11 years before seeking treatment, why the media and general public think it’s okay to mock the condition, and why ultimately OCD is "an unnecessary illness". *** BOOKS MENTIONED *** "Break Free from OCD" https://amzn.to/2MsKooz DISCLAIMER: My Own Worst Enemy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and affiliated sites.

Today I speak to best-selling author of "Feeling Good" and pioneer of the cognitive therapy movement David D. Burns M.D. We discuss the origins and trajectory of his career, the chemical imbalance "myth", his phenomenally successful self-help book "Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy", the 10 cognitive distortions, his development of a new approach to cognitive therapy known as T.E.A.M therapy, and much more. *** BOOKS MENTIONED *** "Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy" http://amzn.to/2gezmC0 DISCLAIMER: My Own Worst Enemy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and affiliated sites.

In today's episode I talk with Professor Alison Yung from the University of Manchester about psychosis, susceptibility and early intervention. What is psychosis? How real are hallucinations and delusions? Are the likes of Fight Club and Mr Robot accurate depictions of psychotic episodes, or just Hollywood hyperbole? Who is most susceptible to this illness, and what can we do to intervene?

In this episode I talk to Professor Chris Dowrick from the University of Liverpool about the topic of depression and the problems of diagnosis. How do we define depression? Is depression the result of a "chemical imbalance"? Can you be genetically predisposed to it? Why are doctors so quick to prescribe medication? And is your GP even trained to spot depression?