Dr. K unpacks the growing debate around acetaminophen (Tylenol) and its possible link to autism while cutting through the noise of headlines, political statements, and online panic. He explains what the data actually shows, why correlation doesn’t equal causation, and how confounding variables like maternal illness, age, and chronic conditions can completely change how we interpret these studies. Using his background as both a psychiatrist and medical researcher, Dr. K breaks down what autism really is—a neurodevelopmental spectrum shaped by thousands of subtle genetic and environmental factors. He dives into how modern healthcare has unintentionally increased autism diagnoses through both better detection and the survival of high-risk births. The episode also examines the role of SSRIs, infections, and chronic illness in influencing risk, and why oversimplifying the problem could lead to worse outcomes. Topics include: What autism actually is and why it’s a spectrum, not a single disorder Why autism rates are rising with better diagnosis vs. real risk factors The Tylenol connection: what studies really say about acetaminophen use in pregnancy Confounding variables: how illness and infection skew the data The role of maternal/paternal age, chronic illness, and environmental exposure SSRIs, pregnancy, and how risk statistics are often misunderstood Why demonizing one factor (like Tylenol) can cause more harm than good This episode offers a calm, science-based perspective on a heated topic reminding us that complex conditions like autism rarely have a single cause, and that real understanding requires nuance, not fear. HG Coaching : https://bit.ly/46bIkdo Dr. K's Guide to Mental Health: https://bit.ly/44z3Szt HG Memberships : https://bit.ly/3TNoMVf Products & Services : https://bit.ly/44kz7x0 HealthyGamer.GG: https://bit.ly/3ZOopgQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this clip Ludwig asks Sadhguru a question about his motorcycle hobby. HG Coaching : https://bit.ly/46bIkdo Dr. K's Guide to Mental Health: https://bit.ly/44z3Szt HG Memberships : https://bit.ly/3TNoMVf Products & Services : https://bit.ly/44kz7x0 HealthyGamer.GG: https://bit.ly/3ZOopgQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. K breaks down the science of dreams and why they may be one of the brain’s most powerful ways of communicating hidden information. While dream interpretation often sounds mystical or unscientific, Dr. K shows how even from a clinical perspective dreams can reveal suppressed emotions, defense mechanisms, and subconscious knowledge that you miss in day-to-day life. Through real patient stories, he illustrates how dreams connect to relationships, addiction, and major life decisions. He explains why logical, data-driven people often benefit the most from dream work, since their intuition and emotions get pushed aside. The episode also covers practical steps like keeping a dream journal, mapping emotions onto real-world experiences, and interpreting symbols through your own personal associations. Topics include: Why evolution conserved dreaming and REM sleep across mammals How suppressed emotions resurface through dreams PTSD nightmares as evidence of dreams’ real-life connection Defense mechanisms and why the brain hides information from you Real cases: dreams about planes, snakes, and addiction recovery Practical tools for dream journaling and emotional interpretation Why the “symbols” in dreams matter less than what they mean to you This episode bridges hard science and human experience, offering a framework for using your dreams as a guide to understand yourself better and make clearer choices. HG Coaching : https://bit.ly/46bIkdo Dr. K's Guide to Mental Health: https://bit.ly/44z3Szt HG Memberships : https://bit.ly/3TNoMVf Products & Services : https://bit.ly/44kz7x0 HealthyGamer.GG: https://bit.ly/3ZOopgQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. K explores why more people today are struggling with depression that doesn’t respond to the usual fixes. He explains the difference between “classic” depression caused by things like chemical imbalances or cognitive distortions and existential depression, which arises when the future feels objectively bleak. Drawing from philosophy, psychiatry, and Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy, Dr. K shows how existential depression can freeze your sense of possibility, leading to hopelessness, burnout, and lateral behaviors like doom-scrolling, gaming, or numbing out. He argues that standard treatments like SSRIs or CBT fall short here, and what’s needed is a deeper re-engagement with meaning, balance, and forward momentum. Topics include: Why the serotonin imbalance model doesn’t explain most depression The rise of existential depression in a world of uncertainty, debt, AI, and climate anxiety Depressive realism: why some depressed people see reality more accurately than others The “frozen future” and why it leads to lateral movement (scrolling, gaming, numbing) How imbalance between thinking, feeling, and doing worsens existential depression Three sources of fulfillment: self, service to others, and the transcendent/spiritual Practical tools: restoring life’s natural rhythm, paradoxical intention, and dereflection This episode blends clinical insight with existential philosophy, offering both big-picture frameworks and concrete techniques for anyone feeling stuck in the meaninglessness of modern life. HG Coaching : https://bit.ly/46bIkdo Dr. K's Guide to Mental Health: https://bit.ly/44z3Szt HG Memberships : https://bit.ly/3TNoMVf Products & Services : https://bit.ly/44kz7x0 HealthyGamer.GG: https://bit.ly/3ZOopgQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. K unpacks the intense, destabilizing experience of limerance—the obsessive, all consuming “crush” that can hijack your thoughts, emotions, and even your sense of self. He explains how limerance isn’t just infatuation, but a powerful mental state fueled by unmet needs, anxious attachment, fantasy coping, and even traits that overlap with OCD and ADHD. Drawing on Dorothy Tennov’s classic work and his own clinical insights, Dr. K explores how limerance forms, why it can last for years, and how it alters your motivational hierarchy pushing careers, relationships, and identity into the background. He also walks through the neuroscience, attachment roots, and even the spiritual lens that frames limerance as a karmic echo. Most importantly, he offers practical strategies to ground yourself, recognize mental distortions, and re-calibrate your nervous system. Topics include: What limerance really is and how it differs from normal attraction The “limer beast” that hijacks thought patterns and emotions How childhood attachment injuries create fertile ground for limerance Links to OCD, ADHD, and maladaptive daydreaming\ Why limerance thrives on uncertainty and fantasy, not reality The role of the sympathetic nervous system in fueling obsession Practical steps: reality-based thinking, therapy, nervous system regulation, and acceptance This episode blends psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy to help you understand why limerance happens—and how to take back control from it. HG Coaching : https://bit.ly/46bIkdo Dr. K's Guide to Mental Health: https://bit.ly/44z3Szt HG Memberships : https://bit.ly/3TNoMVf Products & Services : https://bit.ly/44kz7x0 HealthyGamer.GG: https://bit.ly/3ZOopgQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. K explains time blindness in ADHD and how it is the hidden deficit that makes planning, punctuality, and follow-through so hard. He breaks down how an impaired internal clock and poor retrospective time perception (not tracking how long things actually take) lead to procrastination, chronic lateness, and undervaluing an hour. Then he offers clear, workable fixes that rebuild your sense of time. Topics include: Why ADHD brains misjudge how long tasks take (and why that wrecks planning) Over/under-estimating time: how it stalls motivation and starts the procrastination loop The “value of an hour” problem and why wasting time feels cheap Practical tools: timers, alarms, calendars, and logging real task durations Sensory-based learning to retrain time estimation (use a visible clock, write it down) Dr. Micaela’s tips: break routines into minute-by-minute steps and add distraction cushions This episode reframes lateness and “laziness” as solvable timing issues and gives you a simple system to start showing up on time. HG Coaching : https://bit.ly/46bIkdo Dr. K's Guide to Mental Health: https://bit.ly/44z3Szt HG Memberships : https://bit.ly/3TNoMVf Products & Services : https://bit.ly/44kz7x0 HealthyGamer.GG: https://bit.ly/3ZOopgQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Dr. K talks with creator and former product manager Chloe Shih about her journey through the tech industry, from big names like Google and TikTok to startups that turned toxic. Chloe shares stories of office politics, burnout, cultural clashes, and what it’s like to feel both indispensable and invisible at the same time. They dive into: What “toxic” work cultures really look like on the inside How identity and self-worth can get tied to career success The challenges women face navigating male-dominated tech spaces Why leaving a prestigious job can be the healthiest choice Tools for rebuilding confidence and finding purpose after burnout This conversation unpacks the hidden costs of toxic jobs and what it takes to reclaim your mental health while navigating high-pressure industries. Dr. K's Guide to Mental Health: https://bit.ly/44z3Szt HG Memberships : https://bit.ly/3TNoMVf Products & Services : https://bit.ly/44kz7x0 HealthyGamer.GG: https://bit.ly/3ZOopgQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Dr. K takes a hard look at why so many people get addicted to self-improvement content but never actually change. From endless motivational videos to checklists of goals, he explains how improvement can become just another way of soothing emotional pain without addressing the deeper wounds underneath. Using examples from Reddit posts, Dr. K breaks down: Why self-improvement often starts as a response to rejection or insecurity How quick hits of “inspiration” online reinforce the cycle without progress The neuroscience behind distress tolerance and why it’s the real skill you need What “putting yourself out there” actually means (and why most advice about it falls flat) Practical ways to stop chasing constant improvement and start building peace, contentment, and real change This talk challenges the endless treadmill of “leveling up” and offers a roadmap for those ready to step off and live with intention. HG Coaching : https://bit.ly/46bIkdo Dr. K's Guide to Mental Health: https://bit.ly/44z3Szt HG Memberships : https://bit.ly/3TNoMVf Products & Services : https://bit.ly/44kz7x0 HealthyGamer.GG: https://bit.ly/3ZOopgQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. K and Dr. Micaela dive into the side of ADHD most people don’t hear about. The everyday quirks, emotional struggles, and hidden habits that go far beyond “not paying attention.” They explore how ADHD shows up in piles of clutter (“doom piles”), impulse-driven conversations, and difficulty filtering what really matters. The discussion digs into: Why focus often collapses before big deadlines or events The link between ADHD and social anxiety, rejection sensitivity, and “ADHD guilt” How emotional regulation and chronic boredom fuel cycles of shame Why masking drains energy and damages relationships Practical coping strategies from timers and structured breaks to unmasking safely with trusted people This episode reframes ADHD as more than distraction—it’s about emotions, identity, and the way your brain interacts with the world. Dr. Micaela's ADHD Adulting Workshop: https://bit.ly/4mI2bGG HG Coaching : ⁠https://bit.ly/46bIkdo⁠ Dr. K's Guide to Mental Health: ⁠https://bit.ly/44z3Szt⁠ HG Memberships : ⁠https://bit.ly/3TNoMVf⁠ Products & Services : ⁠https://bit.ly/44kz7x0⁠ HealthyGamer.GG: ⁠https://bit.ly/3ZOopgQ⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. K takes a break while Dr. Micaela steps in to dive deep into ADHD, what it really is, how it’s misunderstood, and why it shows up in ways you may not expect. She breaks down the brain science behind executive function, emotion regulation, and social anxiety, showing how ADHD overlaps with everyday struggles people chalk up to laziness or personality flaws. Topics include: Why sleep issues often mimic or worsen ADHD symptoms The link between ADHD and social anxiety (fear of negative evaluation) How emotional reactivity and “ADHD guilt” show up after social interactions Practical strategies for self-acceptance, self-regulation, and breaking the spiral of shame This episode blends clinical insight with real talk about living with ADHD and offers encouragement for anyone learning to work with their brain, not against it. HG Coaching : https://bit.ly/46bIkdo Dr. K's Guide to Mental Health: https://bit.ly/44z3Szt HG Memberships : https://bit.ly/3TNoMVf Products & Services : https://bit.ly/44kz7x0 HealthyGamer.GG: https://bit.ly/3ZOopgQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices