Mental Health Today

Don't Feed the Bully! How to Deal with External and Internal Bullies   Can you think of a bully you have had in your life? Maybe you're experiencing a bully right now.  In this episode: John tells a story of almost getting beat up in high school by the meanest, toughest bully in his school and what surprised him. What to do with the internal bully. How to stand up to your bullies. Why standing up to a bully can be the hardest and best thing you can do for yourself. Every time you give into a bully and believe their harmful lies you feed the bully. The more you feed the bully, the bigger they get. You can stand up to your bullies! Learn how to stand up to them the right way and you'll soon discover your inner strength.  *** Support the show: Visit www.patreon.com/johnpcordray to help keep the show on the air.      Visit www.thementalhealthtodayshow.com for more information. Watch this episode at www.facebook.com/thementalhealthtodayshow     Smells Like Humans Like listening to fun

How You Can Support the Show! Visit http://www.patreon.com/johnpcordray to support the show. This was recorded for John's Patreon page.    ABOUT ME I'm John Cordray, a Licensed Professional Counselor and a National Certified Therapist and I own a private practice in St. Louis, Missouri. I started podcasting and broadcasting video (Live & Edited) in 2015. I'm using Patreon to help find people who believe in the message that I am providing to help people around the world learn to cope with a mental illness. I hope to find individuals to support what I do with my podcast and videos to help me pay for equipment and to help cover other expenses that go into production. ABOUT THE SHOW Helping End the Stigma of Mental Illness One Show at a Time. The Mental Health Today Show started as a podcast helping thousands around the world with mental health topics. The show recently added live video on Facebook Live, where John interviews guests and encourages people who struggle with a mental health i

Hollywood Actress, Erin Marie Hogan, Opens Up About Her Battle with Anxiety and Depression Have you ever wondered how an actor could be in a film, yet struggle with a mental illness? Think Robin Williams, Erin Bell, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and many more.  I think we sometimes assume that movie stars have it made and live a perfect life, but as you will hear from Erin, it's not always as glamorous as it may seem.   Erin talks about when her anxiety and panic attacks began, what triggered her first panic attack, and what she is most known for as an actress. Erin is best known for her role as Samantha Finley in Paranormal Entity and has starred in Hold Your Breath (Natasha), House of Manson (Linda Kasabian) and she has played on many TV shows including,The Bold and the Beautiful.   IMDb: www.imdb.me/erinmariehogan   *** Support the Show! Please consider supporting the show by visiting my Patreon account. Every little bit helps me produce great shows like this. Visit www.patreon.com/johnpc

Is Anxiety Really a Thing? I have been asked this question many times and I wanted to address this topic today. This podcast has been also recorded on The Mental Health Today Show Facebook Live. In this episode John talks about: The difference between worry and anxiety The importance of speaking up Anxiety in kids Taking ownership of your anxiety To watch this episode on Facebook visit The Mental Health Today Show Facebook Page. Be sure to "Like" the page to be notified of updates and other live recordings. If you're interested in being a "producer" that John talked about in this episode visit John's Patreon page to learn more at www.patreon.com/johnpcordray Follow John on Twitter Visit John's website at www.johncordray.com   Thanks for listening! John 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 ra

PTSD and Firefighters with Carl Waggett Carl has been a full-time firefighter for 15 years and he is currently the acting captain of his firehouse. Carl talks about his denial that PTSD was real, to why it's so important to get the help you need. Carl recently had a dear friend end his life and now Carl wants to helps others to not feel the despair and hopeless that PTSD often inflicts. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is very common, and does not only affect first responder and military personnel.  Carl talks about the importance to not give in to being alone or to push others away when your struggling. Carl's two biggest tips are: 1. Don't do this alone. 2. Seek out help from a professional Carl's podcast (iTunes) Carl's blog *** Please consider supporting me on Patreon to help cover production cost (as little as $3 /mo)  www.patreon.com/johnpcordray   This interview can also be watched on Facebook @JohnPCordray and on Youtube @JohnPCordray Tweet John here John's we

How to Help an Anxious Person Without Being a Jerk   Most people want to help, and they mean well, but sometimes it comes out wrong. John provides helpful tips for someone who wants to help an anxious person and for the anxious person to speak up and say what would be helpful. If you are someone who is anxious a lot, you've probably have had someone in your life say things that made you feel dumb. Things like "Try to think more positive" or "Just do it and it will be fine" or better yet, "Just snap out of it". These comments are not helpful. In fact, they can make things worse. Here are a few tips for both the helper and the anxious person. For the Helper: 1. Don't offer advice. If you have never had true anxiety before you really don't understand what it's like. 2. Do say that you want to understand. It's okay to ask the person what it's like to live with anxiety and how bad it currently is. 3. Don't always try to offer a solution. Calming anxiety i

You Only Have One Life To Live How would you act if you knew if you were going to die at the end of the week? Would knowing that you did not have much time make you have a sense of urgency to change your mindset about your life? There is so much hate and hurt in our world today that I think we often take our life for granted. We assume that we have plenty of time left on this earth - but we don't really know that. How about, instead of hating and hurting people, instead of tearing them down and judging the way they look or believe, we treat all people with respect and dignity that they deserve. We only have one life to live and we should live it to it's fullest. To be helpful to our fellow man, instead of criticizing.  How will you live the only life you have? I choose to live my life by loving others and promoting respect and positivity. I hope you'll do the same. *** Follow John on Twitter at www.twitter.com/johnpcordray Learn more about John at www.johncordray.com Join John's Fac

How Self Awareness is Vital to Emotional Health Understanding who you are and what makes you tick is pivotal for developing a healthy emotional life.  John talks about how many people end up on one end of the spectrum of either self doubt or self inflation.  Having self awareness means that you know and understand what your weaknesses are and working towards becoming a better person. Many people are either living in self doubt and shame and can only focus on their weakness. This allows for low self confidence to take over which often creates anxiety and depression. Other people tend to focus on their strengths and become arrogant and haughty. This allows for judgement and entitlement to take over which often leads to putting others down in order to build themselves up. John talks about how to achieve a healthy emotional balance which is good for everyone. *** Follow John on Twitter at www.twitter.com/johnpcordray Learn more about John at www.johncordray.com Watch this episode at https://youtu.be/2x3

Recovering From Grief and Loss   Going through a loss of a loved one, or even a beloved pet can be so difficult, and almost unbearable for some. In this episode, John talks about how everyone grieve's in their own way, but it's important to know when to move forward. Moving forward from a loss does not mean forgetting. It means you realize moving on means celebrating the life that was loss. You will always have a whole in your heart, but you can, and must, recover and live. Some people talk about the 5 Stages of Grief, but John realizes that not everyone finds those particular stages helpful. If you have or are experiencing a loss, please find others who knew the person who has passed and try to share memories and even funny moments. Your loved one would want you to be happy instead of stuck deep into depression. You WILL be okay! *** Follow John on Twitter at www.twitter.com/johnpcordray Learn more about John at www.johncordray.com Watch The Mental Health Today Show here www.youtube.com/c/

Meditation May Be Just What You Need Life is full of stress, deadlines and overwhelm and you may need to do something about your life before you have a mental breakdown.  Meditation may seem weird or a bit mystical to you, but meditation has been practiced by most religions for centuries. Meditation does not have to be weird or mystical, but it will likely help you become more self-aware and confident than ever. You can practice meditation anywhere and at any time and it involves these elements: Clearing your mind Calming your heart Being in the moment (mindfulness) If you are stressed, have a hard time sleeping, or feel overwhelmed, meditation may be just what you need. Try it, you just may become a calmer person. *** Watch this episode here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9RuqQVgRHo Follow John on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/johnpcordray Learn more about John http://www.johncordray.com     Support the showRate the show: If you enjoyed this episode, please consider providing an honest ratin

Dealing with Suicidal Thoughts   Many people deal with suicidal thoughts every day. Sadly, suicide is the second leading cause of death among our young people. If you are dealing with suicidal thoughts you have options.  There are many different reasons why someone would think about ending their own life, and many of the thoughts involve some form of distorted thinking that somehow everyone would be better off. But, that's far from the truth. If you are dealing with suicidal thoughts there are people who care about you.  Find a good friend or family member to talk with, or contact a suicide lifeline to talk to someone who cares. In the US contact the Suicide Prevention Life Line (800-273-8255) or go to their website www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org For my international friends visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention at www.iasp.info There is always help when you are at your darkest hour. Please don't give up hope, tomorrow is a new day. *** Follow John on Twitter www.twit

Emotional Abuse is a Silent Killer Emotional abuse - is abuse (period)! Emotional abuse can be just as harmful as physical abuse, but emotional abuse is not that easy to identify. Emotional abuse is when someone constantly belittles another person for the purpose of building themselves up. Emotional abuse is never okay, and should never be dismissed. If you believe you are in an emotionally abusive relationship get help. Find a therapist to help you establish healthy boundaries and help you establish your next steps to be safe. *** You can watch this episode at https://youtu.be/A4t_kCntgEA Follow John on Twitter @JohnPCordray www.twitter.com/johnpcordray Learn more about John at www.johncordray.com Join John's Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/keepcalmacademy     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 p

Living with a Narcissist  Living with a narcissist or working for a narcissist can be very challenging. Many times you're made to feel inferior to them and you feel like a doormat.  A few hallmarks of a narcissist is an elevated and exaggerated sense of self worth. A narcissist believes he or she is "special" and better than the average person. A lack of empathy and therefore a lack of affection is another trademark of a narcissist. A narcissist can't relate to other people's struggle because if they're not struggling then no one else should either.  Someone who is a narcissist will always want to win and will often go to great length's to prove their ability to win. Often times, narcissistic people have high ranking positions such as CEO's, pastors, administrators, etc. and their way is the only right way. If you are living with a narcissist you first need to work on yourself and build your self-confidence and then set firm and strong boundaries that require the narcissi

Anxiety That Makes You Feel Nauseous Has anxiety ever made you feel sick? You probably skip a meal when you feel nauseous don't you? In this episode of The Mental Health Today Show, John talks about how anxiety can make you feel sick and what to do about it. It's not good to skip meals, but when you feel nauseous you don't feel like eating a big meal. What do you do? John offers some practical tips to help you stay hydrated and healthy, even if you feel anxious and sick. Listen as John give you some ideas about what to do and make a list of your own ideas. What do you do to stay healthy when you feel anxious and nauseous?  *** Watch The Mental Health Today Show here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWsVkHOliqbvJMWXfs5lL0w   Find more about John at www.johncordray.com   Follow John on Twitter at www.twitter.com/johnpcordray       Support the showRate the show: If you enjoyed this episode, please consider providing an honest rating of the show here www.mentalhealthtodayshow.com/reviews

Your Emotional Intelligence is Greater Than Your IQ  We spend too much time talking about IQ within our educational system and not enough time talking about emotional intelligence. Most employers don't ask to see your GPA, but nearly all employers ask for references. Why? Your future employer wants to make sure you'll be a good fit and will do your job. References are for learning about how you get along with people as it is with how well you do your job. The next time you get down on yourself, don't confuse your emotional struggles with your IQ. Stop calling yourself stupid when you don't understand something right away. Learn to become self-aware and start working on becoming a better human being who likes people, and spend less time comparing your IQ with others - that's not productive.  *** You can watch this episode at https://youtu.be/UrisQ_niyvE   Follow John on Twitter at www.twitter.com/johnpcordray   Learn more about John at www.johncordray.com   Support the showRate t

Overcoming Unhealthy Family Patterns   As anyone ever told you, You are just like your mom or You are just like your dad? Or, maybe you have thought those words yourself. John talks about ways you can overcome unhealthy family patterns that you may have learned as a child growing up. Some of you respond to this in one of two ways: Shame or Denial. Feelings of shame, regret, and resentment will destroy your self-confidence and effect your relationships. Feelings of denial can come across as selfish, self-centeredness and outright refusal to change. Both ways of handling unhealthy family patterns are, well... unhealthy. If you want to build your self-confidence or become more humble you must be willing to work on your stuff. John will encourage and admonish you to start working on yourself and to (once and for all) overcome the unhealthy patterns that were passed down from your family! *** Follow John on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/johnpcordray Find out more about John on his website at http://

Cynicism is Poison   Cynicism is poison and it will destroy you and everyone around you. A critical attitude will tear down people who are the closest to you. A cynical person is a negative person. Someone who always complains about something. In this episode, John talks about the cure and how you can change from a negative person to a more relaxed, fun and positive person. Learn how to change the way you look at life and start enjoying life. --- You can watch this episode of The Mental Health Show here https://youtu.be/Wdg7-wM-Zro   Find out more about John on his website www.johncordray.com   Join John's Facebook Group here www.facebook.com/groups/keepcalmacademy   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 licen

Have You Thought About Clinical Trials? If you have a diagnosis (mental illness or a chronic disease) you may want to consider participating in a clinical trial. Clinical trials help researchers discover new breakthroughs in scientific research and you might be able to help. Clinical trial sites are often looking for volunteers to help with a particular study such as BiPolar, Alzheimer's Disease, Anxiety, Schizophrenia, Diabetes, etc.  If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for a clinical study look up clinical research sites near where you live. Many times you will be compensated and travel to the research site is covered as well.    --- John Cordray is a National Certified Therapist. Follow John on Twitter @JohnPCordray and at www.johncordray.com     Music: Eternal Hope by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100238 Artist: http://inc

I Give Up! You've been there, right? You have a bad day, a bad week, a bad month, a bad year. Things don't always go the way we want them to. The temptation is to give up and give in. To withdraw from life. But, you've got to find the good and positive, even in a bad situation. You have to work at your emotional endurance and it takes work. You can also watch this at youtube.com/c/johnpcordray   Find me on Twitter & 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

If You Have Anxiety, Stop Believing This! If you have anxiety, the chances are very high that you have believed this. In this episode, John talks about what you need to stop believing and what you need to start doing. Anxiety is a horrible and debilitating illness and can make you a prisoner in your own mind. Living with anxiety is hard enough as it is, but if you believe this it will make your life much more lonely and miserable. What Do You Need To Stop Believing? Stop believing that you are worthless! Do you suffer from anxiety? Yes. Is it so hard to function during the day? Yes. Does your anxiety keep you from really enjoying life? Yes. But, your anxiety does not have to keep you a prisoner. I want you to try to start countering your negative thoughts about yourself, and start believing the truth - YOU are worthy. YOU are a good person. YOU have value.  When you start believing that you are a failure, unworthy, crazy, or not good enough, then you give in to your anxiety. And when you give in, you'll g