Conquer Your Battlefield Podcast - Interview with Diego Valadez | Music as a Coping Mechanism

I'm JD McGibney, and today I'll be chatting with an extremely inspiring, vibrant, and courageous woman. She started off her journey in life as a radio and television host across the United States from Boston, to Los Angeles, and Miami. More recently, she has shifted gears and become an active voice in the mental health community as a certified mindfulness coach. Today I'll be chatting with the ever so wonderful Melissa Maxx! In this episode we are going to be talking about Mindfulness. For those who are not aware, mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. Mindfulness is a therapeutic technique used by mental health professionals to help individuals better handle their stress, and is commonly used to aid those struggling with anxiety and depression. A popular way people are encouraged to practice mindfulness is through meditation.

I'm JD McGibney, and today I'll be chatting with a man of many talents. He wears many metaphorical hats ( NOT literal ones because his hair is too awesome to cover up). He's an actor, writer, producer, comedian, Psychology professor, and even a magician. He's one of the members of the Award winning creative group Great Hair Productions, and is an overall great human being. Today I'll be talking with Mr. Jeffrey Thompson. Today we are going to be talking about Face Blindness, or what is clinically called "Prosopagnosia." Simply put, Prosopagnosia is a neurological disorder that leaves the brain unable to recognize faces or facial expressions. It can be caused from damage to the brain, or be present from birth. According to a Harvard University study led by Ken Nakayama and Richard Russell, roughly about 2% of people in the UK show signs of having face blindness. While there is not currently a cure, there are a myriad of ways that people can adapt in order to recognize individuals and pick up on emotional cues.

I'm JD McGibney, and today I'll be chatting with a woman who's cheerful demeanor radiates and influences anyone in her presence. She's the cofounder of the Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors Resource Center, has been featured on the A&E TV show "Obsessed," has been featured on numerous news outlets, is one of the producers behind This Is My Brave - The Show in Los Angeles, and is a licensed psychotherapist in the state of California. Today I'll be chatting with the amazing and humble Karen Pickett. Today we are going to be talking about the Life of a Therapist. For many, there is a preconceived (and often negative) idea of what a psychotherapist is, or does. This includes people thinking of therapists as being cold and almost "inhuman," or feeling that therapists will just tell them what to do. Probably one of the most negative misconceptions is that seeking therapy is for "Crazy People." The truth of the matter is that therapists are human beings just like the rest of us, complete with emotions, feelings, empathy, and a desire to help those in need. First and foremost, a good therapist must be a good listener. On top of that, a good therapist must also be self aware enough to know their own feelings, motivations, and potential biases in order to help their patients. According to Cross River Therapy, there are almost 200,000 therapists practicing in the United States, alone. All of which have expertise and experience in a multitude of mental illnesses and behaviors. Therapy is not a One-Size-fits-All, and there is someone out there that has some insight on something that you may be struggling with.

I'm JD McGibney, and today I'll be chatting with a woman that combines jazzy elegance, with the power and confidence of heavy metal. A woman that instantly becomes the life of any party, she's the singer of the Acid Doom band Old Blood, and even knows where "Ronkonkoma" is on the Long Island Railroad: Ms. Cat Braithwaite! Today we're going to be talking about Caregiver Stress. Using the definition provided by The Mayo Clinic, Caregiver Stress is simply the emotional and physical stress of caregiving. A caregiver is anyone who provides help to another person in need, such as an ill spouse or partner, a disabled child, or an aging relative. Caregiver Stress is a type of burnout that can manifest itself in many ways. Some of which include: Feeling overwhelmed or constantly worried, being tired and having irregular sleep patterns, Gaining or losing weight, becoming easily irritated or angry, losing interest in activities you used to enjoy, feeling sad, having frequent headaches or body pains, or even substance abuse.

I'm JD McGibney, and today I'll be chatting with one of the most well put together, centered, confident, and talented people I personally know. He shreds on the guitar for the band Seven Kingdoms, he is the world's best tour manager, and a man that has grinded his way through the music industry and earned every bit of success he has achieved. Today I'll be talking with the one, the ONLY Camden Cruz. Today we are going to be talking about Body Image. In western society, it isn't uncommon to hear that some people struggle with poor body image. There is a lot of focus placed upon our physical appearance in order to establish our identities, portray our confidence, show off our successes, convey our expertise, and attract romantic partners. Those who severely struggle with their body image may end up battling things like anorexia, bulimia, or Body Dysmorphic Disorder to some degree. The exact definition for BDD, according to the Mayo Clinic,is a mental health condition in which you can't stop thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in your appearance. According to the International OCD Foundation, between 5 and 10 million people in the United states have BDD, and according to the National Library of Medicine, BDD is a rising concern among adolescents.

I'm JD McGibney, and today I'll be talking with one of the most diverse musicians I have the pleasure of knowing. A man who has been composing for TV and film for over a decade with scores that range from delicate and emotional piano ballads, to epic and action packed themes that move you to the edge of your seat. A man who has recently won the Grimmfest Award for Best Score for his work on the horror film "Slapface," and is a fellow appreciator of progressive metal: Mr. Barry J. Neely. How are you doing, Barry? Today we're going to be talking about Generalized Anxiety Disorder. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by persistent and excessive worry about a number of different things. People with GAD may anticipate disaster and may be overly concerned about money, health, family, work, or other issues. Individuals with GAD find it difficult to control their worry. According to the Mayo Clinic, people with GAD may also show physical symptoms such as, Fatigue, Trouble sleeping, Muscle tension, muscle aches, Trembling, feeling twitchy, being easily startled, Sweating, Nausea, diarrhea, IBS, or general Irritability. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, GAD usually involves a persistent feeling of anxiety or dread that interferes with how you live your life. It is not the same as occasionally worrying about things or experiencing anxiety due to stressful life events. People living with GAD experience frequent anxiety for months, if not years, and it develops slowly. According to the ADAA again, roughly about 6.8 million adults in the United States are affected by Generalized Anxiety disorder, and of that, only about 43.2% of them receive treatment.

I'm JD McGibney, and today I'll be talking with one of the most diverse entertainers I've ever had the pleasure of being introduced to. Someone that started off their career on the ballet stage at the age of three, moved to theater by the time she was in high school, started acting in film by the time she was in college, started her own theater company, has been on Broadway, and has even produced several independent films. Today I'll be talking with the ever so wonderful and elegant, Elissa Piszel. Today we are going to be talking about Bulimia Nervosa, or more commonly referred to as just Bulimia. Bulimia is an emotional disorder involving distortion of body image and an obsessive desire to lose weight, in which bouts of extreme overeating are followed by depression and self-induced vomiting, purging, or fasting. According to the organization "Mirror Mirror.org" bulimia affects 1.5% of women and 0.5 percent of men in the United States. That translates to about 4.7 million women, and 1.5 million men. The age people start developing bulimia seems to be getting younger and younger, and the average age of onset is in the late teens. Those who do develop bulimia often end up having self-harm tendencies, develop depression, and often have a plethora of health problems from chemical imbalances, swelling of glands, and even heart issues.

In this episode we'll be talking about Abuse. This is a heavy topic we're going to be talking about today, so as a heads up, there might be some significant emotional triggers ahead in this discussion. To give an exact definition, abuse is to ??treat a person or an animal with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in every three women, and one in every four men experiences some form of physical violence from an intimate partner. According to the Center for Family Justice, one in every four women and one in every six men are sexually abused in their lifetime. In cases of child abuse, according to the Children's Advocacy Center of Tennessee, roughly 700,000 children are abused in the United States every year. Of which, one out of every 10 is sexually abused before they are 18. 90% of all abused children in the US know their abusers as well. Nearly 1,700 children die each year from abuse.

I'm JD McGibney, and today I'll be chatting with the lively, inspiring, talented, creative, and ever so wonderful Nadia Vaeh. Today we're going to be talking about Anxiety. According to the ADAA, Anxiety is THE most common mental disorder in the United States, affecting 40 million people (or about 18% of the population) annually. Globally, Anxiety affects about 284 million people every year, which makes it THE most common mental disorder. Also according to the ADAA, only about 36% of people in the United States with Anxiety seek treatment.

I'm JD McGibney, and today I'll be talking with an international guitar master. A modern virtuoso who has perfected the eight-finger tapping technique, has taught at numerous prestigious music schools across Italy, taught across multiple platforms and given various lectures on theory and technique, performed all over the world with pop artists, chamber orchestras, various bands, and as a solo artist. Today I am chatting with the endlessly talented, humble, and wonderful Daniele Gottardo! Today we are going to be talking about Expatriate Depression, or "Expat" Depression. Expat Depression is a type of depression specifically found in those who move to a new country. It is associated with higher feelings of anxiety, stress, sadness, and a unique sense of isolation being removed from one's culture. Pre the COVID-19 pandemic, expat depression among immigrants was a difficult enough issue with the regulations put in place by national governments, as well as the initial culture shock of LIVING in a different country. With the added element of the global lockdowns, and restricted international travel, the senses of sadness, anxiety, stress, and isolation among expatriates has increased.