Category: Depression & Mood

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Moods and How They Shape Us June 17, 2008

Host: Armand DiMele
Category: Depression & Mood, Emotions & Inner Life

What exactly is a mood, and why do people sometimes cling to their worst ones? Armand DiMele breaks down the anatomy of mood, from Robert Thayer’s energy-tension model to the full spectrum of human emotional states, and explains why exercise, food, alcohol, and sex all serve as mood regulators. Caller stories about a bipolar spouse and a man who refused to give up his depression add vivid texture.

The Science of Being Awake March 20, 2008

Host: Armand DiMele
Category: Depression & Mood, The Mind & Neuroscience

Wakefulness is not the opposite of sleep but a spectrum of its own. Armand DiMele surveys the science of staying alert, from circadian rhythms and brain waves to caffeine and cortisol, then connects it all to how people like the chronically sleepy, the manic, and the depressed actually move through the world.

Depression in the Elderly with Dr. Kent Robertshaw January 30, 2008

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Kent Robertshaw
Category: Aging & Mortality, Depression & Mood

Depression in older adults is chronically misdiagnosed because its symptoms show up as physical complaints, and society writes off low mood as a natural part of aging. Armand DiMele and Dr. Kent Robertshaw, MD, Psychiatrist, discuss suicide risk in the elderly, the concept of pseudodementia, medication sensitivity, and the power of empathic listening in treatment.

Psychiatric Medication with Dr. Alan Lanz June 27, 2007

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Dr. Alan Lanz, Kent Robertshaw
Category: Depression & Mood, The Mind & Neuroscience

Drug company payments to psychiatrists are surging, and Armand DiMele connects that corruption to broader questions about antidepressants, teen prescription drug abuse, and suicidal ideation. The day after a live debate with Dr. Kent Robertshaw, MD and Dr. Alan Lanz, Psychiatrist, a New York Times report lands confirming Armand’s concerns almost word for word.

Treating Depression Without Medication June 13, 2007

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Roberta Maria Atin
Category: Depression & Mood, The Mind & Neuroscience

Can depression be treated without drugs? Armand DiMele and co-host Roberta Maria Atti work through the neuroscience of depression, explaining why natural supplements like 5-HTP, SAMe, and St. John’s Wort fall short for severe cases, and make a pragmatic case for short-term medication combined with a knowledgeable therapist.

Serotonin and the Danger of Too Much with Kent Robichaud February 27, 2007

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Kent Robichaud, Stephanie D'Ambra
Category: Depression & Mood, The Mind & Neuroscience

Too little serotonin causes depression and PMS symptoms, but too much can kill you. Armand and Dr. Kent Robichaud, joined by Stephanie D’Ambra, LCSW, trace serotonin’s role in mood, the menstrual cycle, and the deadly drug combinations, including SSRIs, triptans, Demerol, and ecstasy, that can trigger serotonin syndrome.

The Burden of Manhood with Neil Chetnik January 17, 2007

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Neil Chetnik, Terry Jones
Category: Depression & Mood, Identity & The Self

Men are trained as warriors from birth, and that mission is killing them. Armand DiMele argues that male burnout, emotional numbness, and early death trace back to a broken model of manhood. Author Neil Chetnik joins to discuss his research on father loss and how absent fathers leave sons hungry for male validation throughout their lives.

The Science and Soul of Crying December 21, 2006

Host: Armand DiMele
Category: Depression & Mood, Emotions & Inner Life

Crying is not the cause of being upset but the sign of having already been upset, a release of accumulated stress hormones and toxins. Armand DiMele walks through the biochemistry of emotional tears, the handicap syndrome in animals, why suppressing tears feeds depression, and how to actually be present with someone who is crying.

The Bipolar II Advantage with Dr. Ronald Fieve November 22, 2006

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Dr. Ronald Fieve
Category: Depression & Mood, Identity & The Self

High energy, little sleep, relentless drive: Dr. Ronald Fieve, Psychiatrist and Author, argues that bipolar II is often a hidden asset rather than a pure liability. Armand DiMele and Fieve trace the spectrum from bipolar I to hypomania, exploring creativity, relationships, psychopathy, and why so many high achievers carry this diagnosis.

Feeling Helpless and Powerless November 8, 2006

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Kent Robertshaw
Category: Anxiety & Fear, Depression & Mood

Helplessness and powerlessness are not the same thing, and the difference matters. Armand DiMele and Dr. Kent Robertshaw, MD, Psychiatrist, trace how powerlessness drives anxiety, social phobia, OCD, and addiction, while helplessness underlies depression, then offer practical steps for reclaiming a sense of agency.