Beyond Well With Sheila Hamilton

Margo Fowkes turned her enormous grief over the death of her son into a global force for healing. An extraordinary interview with a mother, entrepreneur and activist about the communal nature of grieving. 

Loneliness is now a major health crisis, as lethal as smoking fifteen cigarettes per day. Let us sing, paint, walk, read and connect our way out of loneliness and relearn the art of being alone. Dr. Jim Polo offers tips for combatting loneliness during quarantine. 

It is a time of great suffering for many people. Self-reported surveys suggest 2/3 of Americans are experiencing severe depression and anxiety. But, if you are a family member of someone who is suffering, talking about mental health issues is extraordinarily charged and potentially dangerous. Dr. Jim Polo walks us through best practices for helping someone who is hurting emotionally.

Cristina and Jamaal Lane founded three barbershops for black clients living in Portland, Oregon. Their conversations with thousands of people about what they needed to cultivate greatness led to the creation of Be Great University, a virtual community and learning platform for professionals who want to pivot professionally or increase their core business skills. Be Great University provides a step by step process for finding your inner purpose. 

More than half of all Americans are coping with quarantine stress, depression and anxiety.  Substance abuse and drug use has also increased and access to residential treatment centers is limited due to the spread of the pandemic. Dr. Jim Polo walks us through treatment options available during this time.

Researchers are scrambling to understand just how COVID-19 impacts the brain and what scientists can do to prevent long-term damage. Anxiety, depression, brain-fog, hallucinations, stroke and olfactory damage are all neurological symptoms now associated with Covid19. Dr. Jim Polo talks about potential treatment and outcomes available for people with neurological symptoms.

Steven Wolt is a recovered addict and entrepreneur who has studied what works in behavioral healthcare. As CEO of Veritus Solutions, Steven understands better than most the shame and stigma of seeking help for addiction. Wolt launched Veritus Solutions to provide recovery options for healthcare workers who are dealing with alcoholism, substance abuse, depression, or anxiety during Covid19.

If you've ever wished for a successful, empathetic human to describe anxiety accurately, meet Harris Goldberg. Harris is a writer, producer and director (Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo: The Master of Disguise), and his own film Numb, inspired by his experiences dealing with depersonalization disorder and ocd. Goldberg talks with Beyond Well about the origins of his anxiety and how Covid quarantine has forced him to stress test his coping mechanisms. 

Dr. Jim Polo talks about the disturbing increase in reported incidents of psychosis, a severe mental disorder in which though and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality. "In those who face a high risk for somebody developing a psychotic disorder, cannabis can act like a trigger." 

Dr. Marissa Alert shepherds her clients through the ups and downs of wellness. Among the most tricky months--from Thanksgiving until New Year. Add in a global pandemic, with economic stress and fewer opportunities for socializing, and your wellness routine can be easily sabotaged. Dr. Alert has some key advice for people hoping to keep it realistic this holiday season. 

Dr. Rhonda Wells-Wilbon offers a reflection on the healing power of faith during times of social unrest. She encourages her clients and students to develop an intellectual curiosity about their spiritual being (whether they believe in a God or not), and to sit in meditation or prayer. In the days leading up to the election, we could all use a little more hopefulness and positivity. Dr Rhonda delivers. 

An “internal locus of control” is the belief that our actions have a direct effect on the outcomes in our life. Dr. Jim Polo explains the theory behind the locus of control and why it's important to our self-development, safety, and well-being when we focus on the things in our lives that are within our control. Please share this episode with anyone who feels overwhelmed by the recent election.

The majority of people who are threatening suicide either present at an emergency room or they see their primary care provider in the weeks before an attempt. For too long, health officials have not known how to properly evaluate for suicidal ideation and intent. Now, Jaspr Health is saving lives. The interactive tool empowers evidence-based suicide care at scale, and improves patient outcomes and experiences. Topher Jerome, a suicide attempt survivor, takes us through this revolutionary new platform. 

Csaba Mera is a former pediatric oncologist and a physician who has often wished he could provide more comfort to his suffering patients. As a screenwriter, his newest film Here Awhile, examines the Oregon Death with Dignity Act through the lens of a young woman who has made the personal decision to avail herself of the law. Mera’s film is winning international acclaim for its candor, humanity and intimacy. How does a physician come to the place in life where art communicates his deepest questions? And how does an award-winning screenwriter balance the demanding career as a physician? Mera’s immigrant story is one not to miss. Here Awhile is now available on Amazon.

Childhood is fraught with mood changes and behavioral adjustments. So, what separates a normal child struggling with anger, relationships and learning with someone who is exhibiting symptoms of BiPolar disorder? Dr. Jim Polo discusses the specifics of bipolar disorder in children here and why he is particularly conservative when medicating young people. 

Willa Goodfellow is one of the most insightful, optimistic and hopeful interviews we’ve ever done with someone living with bipolar disorder. Misdiagnosed, overmedicated and left distraught by her mental illness, Willa’s remarkable story of recovery will leave you cheering and sharing the episode with others. 

With a high degree of emotional intelligence, also known as emotional quotient (EQ), in the workplace, a person uses social skills, self-awareness, motivation and self-regulation to acknowledge, comprehend, regulate and reason using the emotions. Robin Hills is an emotional intelligence coach. He is Director of EI4Change, a company specializing in people development and the practical application of emotional intelligence in improving performance.   

Dr. Jim Polo talks about the potential and pitfalls associated with treating people with Bipolar disorder.

Dr. Alert received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Miami and her bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College. She has experience working with adults to help them better manage stress, improve their health habits, and live a life that is in line with their values. In this episode, Dr. Alert focuses on the stress of Covid19 on black Americans and the increase in emotional eating.

Dr. Rhonda Wells-Wilbon joins the Beyond Well team to provide the perspective of a social worker in the overall picture of mental wellness. Dr. Rhonda has been a social work educator for 25 years teaching at the undergraduate, masters, and Ph.D. level. She is an author, psychotherapist, trainer, and holistic wellness coach. She has expertise working with adult survivors of sexual abuse and assault and financial planning. As an African American woman, Doctor Rhonda will also help provide insight into racial trauma, and resistance to counseling and therapy in the black community. She is the mother of two young adult sons who are both in graduate school.