#165 - Lessons From the BDSM and Kink Communities

We welcome Megan Aguilera to the “Let’s Get Psyched” team by asking her to discuss one of her special interests. Terms such as “susto” and “ataque de nervios” are frequently used in Latin America to describe a variety of emotional reactions and behaviors that are often similar—but distinct from—mental health conditions commonly seen by clinicians. Megan, a fourth year medical student at the University of Colorado Denver, helps us sort through how and when these terms are used while also sharing her understanding of these terms amongst her family and community. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Al Guest: Megan Aguilera, MS4

Join us for part three of our discussion with psychiatrist, Harvard Professor, and agent of change Dr. Chris Palmer.  He lays out why it is important to distinguish between disorders of the brain and conditions with external causes when treating patients and how prescribing psychotropic medication without sufficient consideration of metabolism has led to worse outcomes. Finally, he shares his approach to prescribing and speculates on how appropriate consideration of mitochondrial functioning will change the field. Stick around for a special after show where there's a behind-the-scenes peak of the team considering the real-world implications of sharing Dr. Palmer's work. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Al Guest: Chris Palmer, MD Resources: Brain Energy by Chris Palmer, MD Kossoff, Eric, et al. Ketogenic Diet Therapies for Epilepsy and Other Conditions, 7th ed., Springer Publishing Company, 2021.

Why are there higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and early deaths amongst people diagnosed with a mental disorder? Dr. Chris Palmer joins us to advance the idea that mental disorders are actually metabolic disorders of the brain. After integrating research from several fields and sources, he claims that understanding metabolism at the cellular level is “the only way to connect the dots in the mental health field.” Please consult your doctor before applying any treatments discussed on this podcast. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Al Guest: Chris Palmer, MD Resources: Brain Energy by Chris Palmer, MD Kossoff, Eric, et al. Ketogenic Diet Therapies for Epilepsy and Other Conditions, 7th ed., Springer Publishing Company, 2021.

We talk to Harvard professor and psychiatrist Dr. Chris Palmer about how mitochondrial functioning and nutrition can open up new approaches to treatment. Dr Palmer shares a compelling personal account of mental illness, homelessness, ineffective therapy, and a quest to find treatment. This led to his exciting research on dietary changes and brain functioning. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Al Guest: Chris Palmer, MD Resources: Brain Energy by Chris Palmer, MD Kossoff, Eric, et al. Ketogenic Diet Therapies for Epilepsy and Other Conditions, 7th ed., Springer Publishing Company, 2021.

There are many biases and misconceptions associated with BDSM and non-conventional sex practices associated with the kink community. We tackle these controversial topics with therapist Nina Ruedas. We learn about these communities while also discussing boundaries and how to maintain safety in a non-conventional relationship. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Al Guest: Nina Ruedas, MS, LMFT

We asked Palm Springs-based therapist Nina Ruedas to share what she sees as common misconceptions and the most important components of sex therapy. She also discusses the most common issues addressed in sex therapy. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Al Guest: Nina Ruedas, MS, LMFT References: https://www.kapprofessionals.org/

Dr. Noshene Ranjbar joins us again. In this episode, Dr. Ranjbar draws on parallels between current events in Iran and her work with providing mental health care for Native Americans in the United States. We explore how a field, such as psychiatry, can meet a community’s needs while also providing adequate care for those that need it. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Al Guest: Noshene Ranjbar, MD, Yasmine Dakhama, MS4 References: Learn more about the Farsi-speaking Empowerment and Trauma Relief Program for Iranians: https://cmbm.org/our-work/farsi-speaking-scholarships/ Learn more about Dr. Ranjbar’s recent work: Ranjbar, MD. Noshene E., MD. Matt Erb, MD. Julie Mari Tomkins, MD. Krishna Taneja, and MD. Amelia Villagomez, Implementing a Mind-Body Skills Group in Psychiatric Residency Training, 2021. Ranjbar, N., M. Erb, O. Mohammad, and F. A. Moreno, "Trauma-Informed Care and Cultural Humility in the Mental Health Care of People From Minoritized Communities.", Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ), vol. 18, issue 1, pp. 8-15, 2020 Jan. PMCID: PMC7011220 PMID:

Born and raised in Tehran, Iran until immigrating to the US in adolescence, Dr. Noshene Ranjbar is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Arizona. As a faculty member with The Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM), she created a Farsi-speaking Empowerment and Trauma Relief Program, which mentors Farsi-speaking individuals in an evidence-based small group model of self-care and trauma/stress relief. In this episode we discuss recent events in Iran, its impact at the individual and community level and what role psychiatrists can play in helping address subsequent trauma. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Al Guest: Noshene Ranjbar, MD, Yasmine Dakhama, MS4 References: Learn more about the Farsi-speaking Empowerment and Trauma Relief Program for Iranians: https://cmbm.org/our-work/farsi-speaking-scholarships/ Learn more about Dr. Ranjbar’s recent work: Ranjbar, MD. Noshene E., MD. Matt Erb, MD. Julie Mari Tomkins, MD. Krishna Taneja, and MD. Amelia Villagomez, Implementing a Mind-Body Skills Group in Psychiatric Residency Training, 2021. Ranjbar, N., M. Erb, O. Mohammad, and F. A. Moreno, "Trauma-Informed Care and Cultural Humility in the Mental Health Care of People From Minoritized Communities.", Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ), vol. 18, issue 1, pp. 8-15, 2020 Jan. PMCID: PMC7011220 PMID:

Psychiatrist and researcher, Dr. Paul Weigle, joins us once again to share his expertise on clinical assessment of social media use and the issue of patients diagnosing themselves. He also provides suggestions for what parents can do to prevent social media use from becoming a problem and how to talk to their child if it is. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia Guest: Paul Weigle, MD Resources: Raising a Screen-Smart Kid: Embrace the Good and Avoid the Bad in the Digital Age by Julianna Miner TrevorSpace by the Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/visit-trevorspace/

The San Mateo County Office of Education in California filed a federal lawsuit against social media companies over social media's harmful effects on students. We asked psychiatrist and expert Dr. Paul Weigle to speak to us about the impact of social media on children and adolescents. He also shares his opinion on the role of parents and legislation in limiting the risks. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia Guest: Paul Weigle, MD