Episode Details

Creativity and mental health issues go together like peanut butter and jelly...or do they? According to the"Mad Genius Paradox," that may not be as true as we think. In the inaugural episode of the Optimize Yourself podcast I dive deep into the connection between creativity and mental health with Dr. Edison de Mello, the founder of the Akasha Center for Integrative Medicine in Santa Monica, CA. Dr. D is one of the foremost experts in the country in integrative medicine and is literally one of the people who wrote the book on becoming board certified in this field. He is also the reason I’m still alive today, which you’ll learn more about more in this episode. Being a self-proclaimed workaholic I’ve fought my share of depression and burnout for two decades now, and it was very important to me for Dr. de Mello to be my first guest because I’ve discovered how rampant mental health issues are in creative fields like mine, and more importantly how difficult it is for people to reach out and ask for help because of all the stigmas that come with depression and burnout. If you’ve ever felt like you’re broken, weak, or that there’s something wrong with you, I ask you to please reconsider after listening to this conversation, because you are none of those things. Not only are you not broken or weak, if you work in a creative industry, what you are experiencing is not the exception, it’s most likely the rule. Dr. D. and I are going to help you understand what you are battling both emotionally and biologically, and more importantly, the steps you can take to get better for the long term. Balancing yourself is a fundamental component of the Optimize Yourself program, and I hope this episode helps you find some balance in your own life.

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Here's What You'll Learn:

• The complex relationship between creativity and mental health
• How to become the most authentic version of yourself
• Eliminating the stigma of depression
• The life-saving work of Dr. Edison de Mello
• The cyclical nature of depression and anxiety
• Cultivating an awareness of your body’s stress language
• The danger of placing identity within work
• How you can take ownership of your wellness and rewrite your story
• The interpersonal importance of bodily care
• You can measure depression and anxiety no different than diabetes
• Depression’s physiological influences
• Fighting narratives of brokenness and weakness
• How to have a productive relationship with your practitioner
• Finding a doctor that gets to know you before he gets to know your symptoms
• Circadian rhythms and hormonal optimization

Useful Resources Mentioned:

The Akasha Center For Integrative Medicine

Akasha Naturals Supplements Store

Our Generous Sponsors:

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