What If It's NOT Depression? Podcast Achina Stein

When people think of a sex therapist, sometimes they conjure up erotic scenarios in their minds bringing feelings of embarrassment and even feelings of guilt or shame. It has become a taboo subject. However, having sex is a normal and healthy part of life, and having difficulties in this area can be a source of distress leading to depression and anxiety. I wanted to bring to light this area of frustration for people to discuss in a normal and healthy fashion. At the same time, I hope my YouTube Channel doesn’t get shut down because of it! Please subscribe so you can continue to get the episodes. I interviewed Shannon Oliver-O’Neil on the subject. She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and AASECT Certified Sex Therapist. She works at the intersection of mind and body to help clients struggling with sexual function issues including low desire, anorgasmia, genito-pelvic pain, erectile dysfunction, dysphoria and dissociation during sex, and more. A proud Rhode Islander, Shannon can be found at The Center for Growths RI office in Providence. We discussed:


relationship between depression and sexual desire/pleasure
common causes of low sexual desire
general conceptualization of how desire functions/overview of dual control model
common causes of vulvo-vaginal pain and their tx
impact of mindfulness and mind-body connection on desire and pleasure
role of sex and sexual relationships in building a meaningful life, especially in the context of chronic physical or emotional illness



You can find Shannon’s contact information at her website: www.thecenterforgrowth.com

Many might not realize that I am a DO, not an MD. We have the same prescribing privileges in the US as our MD companions, but osteopaths have different training and in other countries, they do not prescribe medications. We are holistically trained with an emphasis on the philosophy that everything is connected. There is a history that Dr. Van Deven can tell you about in this episode.  Osteopathy is far more than musculoskeletal dysfunction. We have access to diagnose and treat every tissue, fluid, and organ of the body. The clinical applications are endless when it comes to improving detox, digestion, immune function, energy, mood, sleep, etc.Dr. T. Carmine Van Deven is an osteopathic physician with expertise in identifying and treating the underlying cause of complex illness from a place of health. He is a graduate of the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine where he taught and conducted research as an OMM Scholar.Dr. Van Deven completed a Family Medicine Residency in Mount Vernon, Washington, and NMM Fellowship in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Cranial and Biodynamic Osteopathy are a continual focus of study. He is dual board-certified in Family Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (FM/OMT) and Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine/Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (NMM/OMM).Dr. Van Deven has a private practice in Scottsdale, AZ, where he provides a synergistic blend of Traditional Osteopathy and Functional Medicine. His holistic and heartfelt approach embraces the spiritual nature of each patient as a vital component of the healing process. Evaluation and treatment are applied in cooperation with natural law, to resolve disease and to assist in the embodiment of The True Self.Besides discussing the philosophy and practice of Osteopathy in general, including the historical treatment of depression, we discussed:


applying osteopathy to treat depression  
emotions/spirituality and healing  
finding a DO who provides OMM





https://traditionalosteopathyedu.com
https://cranialacademy.org




You may find Dr. Van Deven at www.drvandeven.com

Our lifestyles are soooo busy and stressful which ultimately leads to burnout of a sort. Sometimes that can be confused with depression. Burnout is caused by a multitude of factors that might not even be in your control. Sometimes there are demanding jobs that ask too much of us and are unreasonable. Sometimes it's being sandwiched between kids and parents and taking care of everyone but yourself.If you're the type of person who is Type A, always raising your hand, and don't know where or how to draw the line or  know how to take time for yourself despite demands without feeling guilty, take a listen to this episodeDr. Romie Mushtaq is a board-certified physician who brings together more than two decades of leadership in neurology, integrative medicine, and mindfulness. She is an award-winning speaker working with Fortune 500 companies, professional athletes, & global associations.Her brainSHIFT programs improve mental well-being and help to build a culture of wellness. Dr. Romie serves as Chief Wellness Officer for Evolution Hospitality, where she scaled a mindfulness & wellness program to over 7,000 employees. Her expertise is featured in the national media, such as NPR, NBC, TED talks, and Forbes. Her first book, "The Busy Brain Cure" was published by Harper Collins in January 2024. We discussed:


What inspired her transition from traditional medicine to stress management
Why the trend of glorifying stress and burnout is so dangerous
How the "Busy Brain" impacts productivity
What sets the brainSHIFT Protocol apart
A quick tip for immediate relief from a "Busy Brain"

She has a FREE Busy Brain Test here: https://drromie.com/busy-brain-test-oa/You can learn more and join the brainSHIFT movement at:


⁠https://drromie.com/⁠ 
⁠https://www.instagram.com/drromie/⁠ 
⁠https://www.facebook.com/DrRomie⁠

Have you ever wondered about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)? I know I have and thought I would explore this topic out of curiosity. I reached out to someone who’s willing to discuss the topic. Diana Lane, LAc is an Integrative Medicine Practitioner, Acupuncturist, Herbalist, and Reiki Master, with over 20 years of experience. She specializes in women's wellness, (specifically adrenal dysfunction, hormonal imbalances balances, and digestive imbalances) and has a private practice in an integrative clinic in Austin, Texas.We discussed:


As an acupuncturist and integrative medicine specialist, how to differentiate between symptoms of depression and those of other mental health conditions or physical health issues
Some commonly misdiagnosed conditions that may present with symptoms similar to depression, and how to approach them with TCM
How the holistic approach of acupuncture and integrative medicine allows for a more nuanced understanding and treatment of conditions that may mimic depression
What alternative approaches she recommend exploring for individuals who have been diagnosed with depression but find that conventional treatments are ineffective

She is offering a Sacred Self Love Masterclass for your enjoyment:https://youtu.be/eE6MSE6ItUE?si=zVeyzFTjr4nKsCJnIf you’re interested in learning more, you may find her at www.moonmedicinemagic.com.I hope you learn something!

Often, people come to find me because they have been on the medication merry-go-round and haven’t gotten better or don’t tolerate medication side effects. From time to time, I do include amino acids in my treatment plans, but I don’t specifically call it that.Amino acid therapy is not appropriate to use if you are taking psychotropics unless you are working with a trained professional. However if you have mild to moderate mood or anxiety symptoms, amino acids are very helpful to take in the interim to buy you time to find root causes of your symptoms especially if you have trouble digesting protein. I’ve asked Laurie Hammer to talk about these “nutrients” specifically as a form of therapy. Laurie is a Functional Nutritional Therapist and Neuro-Nutrient Specialist who has a passion for helping clients with brain toxicity, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and related auto-immune conditions.

She’s had her own health journey and discovered that one didn't have to live with "depression and anxiety.”

We discussed: 


The top five amino acids for your brain
Which amino acids most people are deficient
How to find out which amino acids you are deficient


When your brain is physically balanced, the emotional and spiritual aspects of life fall into place. Then you can live in a place of joy!



Here is how to find her:


website: lauriehammer.com 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecalmmomcommunity/, 
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2yYNVnRQtakHbIjTK8nQVJ?si=YGzmZJrdRMiyOy7genv90Q&nd=1&dlsi=767b359cbd974ff9

Dr. Barrett is back for a second episode about Migraines!  She did an interview with me about two years ago AND NOW has new information to share!Did you know that migraine is the #1 cause of disability in women under 50? New science and technology is allowing us to find and fix the hidden causes of headaches rather than simply masking the pain with headache pills.Dr. Barrett’s work has been featured in publications like Womens World and Business Insider. She did a TEDx Talk in 2023 about the limitations of prescription medications and what we have learned about the hidden causes of headaches. She envisions a world where people actually recover from headaches, rather than just cover them up with a pill.Dr. Barrett trained at Stanford, is a Board certified neurologist, a functional medicine practitioner, and a yoga and meditation teacher.She is the founder of Migraine Relief Code, which offers online courses to teach headache sufferers how to use new tools like genetic testing and wearable health devices to help them relieve pain and get back to the lives they love. We discussed: 


What the turning point was for her to find other tools to resolve headaches
Wearable health devices can give you priceless information about what's going on in your body
How chronic illness causes chronic stress on the body, and that has to be treated along with the illness



She offers a FREE migraine class at migraineclass.com and a FREE quiz at theheadachequiz.com. You can find her at:



Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/migrainereliefcode⁠ 
Instagram: ⁠@ameliascottbarrettmd⁠ 
Website: ⁠ameliascottbarrettmd.com⁠