The Broken Brain

This is a re-broadcast-podcast of an episode in 2015 in which Dr. Mel Pohl joined the show to discuss the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for patients with Chronic Pain Problems. Dr Pohl is the Chief Medical Officer of the Las Vegas Recovery Center, Author of multiple books on living with chronic pain, and is internationally known for his work in the treatment of chronic pain and addiction. Also joining this episode are Andrew Frost, DPT, Physical Therapist with the The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital (TOSH) in Salt Lake City Utah, Psycho therapist Lee Messersmith.

Dr. Shari Corbitt is the founder and director of Awakenings Treatment Center, and an expert in Eating Disorders, Chronic Pain, and Complex Trauma. In our discussion she shared information about the frustrations, misunderstandings, and lack of compassion that many run into when dealing with chronic pain. She also taught me a lot about the hope, thriving, and support that can (and should) be there for those working with pain, and how important an understanding of PTSD and trauma is to understanding and experiencing treatment.

This is a rerun episode from several years ago. I am re-releasing it due to the outbreak of Opioid and Fentanyl overdoses that is currently happening within the drug-using population. More to come on that. NOTE: this episode focuses on a Harm-Reduction approach, including positive statements regarding the use of opiate-blockers and Suboxone. Jamilia is a specialist in that area. Jamelia Hand returns to the Broken Brain to discuss the dynamic of drug overdose and how this plays a role in recovery, especially for Opiate and Heroin addiction. We discuss things like Harm Reduction, Treatment beyond quitting, dangers of overdose, and the use of the label of "addict," amongst other things.

Tim Pickett is a Physician's Assistant (PA-C) in the State of Utah. He is a member of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians, a founding team member of utahmarijuana.org and one of the hosts of the Utah in the Weeds Podcast. He is an advocate and educator for safe, research based Medical Marijuana use. He writes and speaks in order to de-stigmatize prescription of Cannabis. We discuss pros, cons, risks and benefits of Marijuana prescription.

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder is a diagnosis that was created to help treatment of children in order to differentiate between non-cycling mood instability (especially anger) and Bipolar Disoder. This is another Quadruple D episode, Deep Dives Delving into Diagnosis. I'll review the diagnostic criteria and talk a little about this diagnosis, added for the first time to the DSM 5, the current version of the Diagnostic manual for mental health disorders.

This is a rerun of a classic episode and partnership episode of the Broken Brain. Right before the release of the MonkeyTraps book and podcast, Steve Hauptman appeared on the Broken Brain to talk about the desire for Control, and how it plays into our own addictive processes. Check out the book Monkeytraps, and listen to the first several chapters for no charge on the MonkeyTraps Podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts.

About 10 minutes of updates and stuff. I haven't talked about the goals of the program or who I even am for quite a while. A few minutes talking about: What are the goals of this show? Why is it called The Broken Brain? What's coming up? I'd love to hear from you. Check in with me @breakabrain on the Twitter. Join the new mental health, trauma and addiction group I started on Facebook: IIOP https://www.facebook.com/groups/innovateintensive/

New recurring feature for the podcast: Quintuple D! D's Deep Dive into Dope Diagnoses or DDDDD Today we dive into Major Depressive Disorder, starting a series of deep dives into Depressive Disorders. Although there is no such diagnosis of simple depression, there are many disorders representing the different types of depression. This episode focuses on the most commonly diagnosed, Major Depressive Disorder.

This is a rerun episode of the Podcast from 2015, when I spoke to addiction specialists Rev-Kev Coughlin and Ron Siegel about addictive gambling. There is a fascinating dynamic behind non-substance addictions, also known as "process addiction," one that can often be downplayed to our own detriment.

The animated film Song of the Sea is super cool. That's good enough reason to talk about it, but it also effectively showcases the effects of complicated grief and loss. And who better to have this conversation with than Podcaster, Pop Culture Expert, and founder of the Core Temp Arts Podcast Network, Karly Beaumont. Focusing on a dual story that intertwines real life and a fairy tale, this story demonstrates the options of lashing out at others, shutting down, or embracing feelings of loss and beginning the difficult path to healing. While we'd suggest watching the film, this episode starts out with a quick synopsis of the movie by friend of the show Bri Poe.