More than one BILLION of earth's humans are obese. which is important because this condition is an indicator of such a wide range of other health issues. The three discuss mindful eating; really taking into account the feelings and experience of eating food with Bernadette, a former nutritional therapist turned mindful eating therapist.

Mindful eating is the opposite of a diet; it’s about fixing your relationship with food, not losing weight. Bringing a quality of awareness to food and being aware of our stream of experience can dramatically alter our experience of eating. Bernadette welcomes the audience, and guides Nam through the ‘3 raisins experience’ as an introduction to mindfulness eating.

Resources
Bernadette's website
Bernadette's Linkedin
Bernadette's Facebook

CDC Obesity Statistics
Forbes Obesity Statistics
BMI Calculator
Top 10 Reasons Why The BMI Is Bogus

In this episode, Dr Midiri and Nam interview humor academics, Stephen and Carol about their personal and professional experiences with humor. They examine what it means to be funny, types of humor, and how it applies to the human condition.

They discuss how humor affects mental health, the comedians who suffer from mental health, and it's use in the darkest of times. They also discuss the very real impact that humor can have on your physical health.

Resources
Stephen’s website
Stress relief from laughter? It's no joke - Mayo Clinic
Laughter is the Best Medicine - HelpGuide.org
The Use of Humor in Serious Mental Illness: A Review
Humor in Psychiatry: Lessons From Neuroscience, Psychopathology, and Treatment Research
The Benefits of Humor | Psychology Today
Using Humor as a Coping Tool | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness

This episode features the heart-wrenching story of Carrie and her unimaginable experience of being prayed upon by one of the people in which she should have been able to trust the most – her therapist and psychiatrist. This stunning story goes to the heart of dysfunction in psychiatric practice and the gaps we need to close in ethical behavior.

The group then discusses art therapy, imagery, and how art and creativity can be used as an antidote to trauma. Carries guides Nam through a therapeutic visualization exercise.

Resources
Carrie's website
Carrie's book, Seduced Into Darkness: Transcending my Psychiatrists Sexual Abuse
Carrie's book trailer

PTSD Criteria

A. Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence in one (or more) of the following ways:

1. Directly experiencing the traumatic event(s).
2. Witnessing, in person, the event(s) as it occurred to others.
3. Learning that the traumatic event(s) occurred to a close family member or close friend. In cases of actual or threatened death of a family member or friend, the event(s) must have been violent or accidental.
4. Experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic event(s) (e.g., first responders collecting human remains; police officers repeatedly exposed to details of child abuse)

B. Presence of one (or more) of the following intrusion symptoms associated with the traumatic event(s), beginning after the traumatic event(s) occurred:

1. Recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories of the traumatic event(s).
2. Recurrent distressing dreams in which the content and/or affect of the dream are related to the traumatic event(s).
3. Dissociative reactions (e.g., flashbacks) in which the individual feels or acts as if the traumatic event(s) were recurring.
4. Intense or prolonged psychological distress at exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event(s).
5. Marked physiological reactions to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event(s).

C. Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumatic event(s), beginning after the traumatic event(s) occurred, as evidenced by one or both of the following:

1. Avoidance of or efforts to avoid distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about or closely associated with the traumatic event(s).
2. Avoidance of or efforts to avoid external reminders (people, places, conversations, activities, objects, situations) that arouse distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about or closely associated with the traumatic event(s).

D. Negative alterations in cognitions and mood associated with the traumatic event(s), beginning or worsening after the traumatic event(s) occurred, as evidenced by two (or more) of the following:

1. Inability to remember an important aspect of the traumatic event(s)
2. Persistent and exaggerated negative beliefs or expectations about oneself, others, or the world (e.g., “I am bad,” “No one can be trusted,” “The world is completely dangerous,” “My whole nervous system is permanently ruined”).
3. Persistent, distorted cognitions about the cause or consequences of the traumatic event(s) that lead the individual to blame himself/herself or others.
4. Persistent negative emotional state (e.g., fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame).
5. Markedly diminished interest or participation in significant activities.
6. Feelings of detachment or estrangement from others.
7. Persistent inability to experience positive emotions (e.g., inability to experience happine