84 - Season 3, Episode 32: Self-Diagnosis
This is a snow day episode (meaning I was able to record it since school was cancelled due to inclement weather). In this episode, I discuss pros and cons of diagnosing yourself with a mental health condition (while also introspectively exploring whether I should self-diagnose with autism). Please let me know your thoughts!
Wed, 17 Jan 2024
83 - Season 3, Episode 31: Electroconvulsive Therapy (and a mailbag follow-up on Borderline Personality Disorder)
In this shocking episode, I discuss the history and treatment applications of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). I also respond to a mailbag email about borderline personality disorder.
Thu, 28 Dec 2023
82 - Season 3, Episode 30: Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals
Special from Washington, D.C., in this episode, we delve into the difference between service animals and emotional support animals (while addressing some common questions related to both)
Mon, 06 Nov 2023
81 - Season 3, Episode 29: Sensory Processing Disorder
Let's get controversial in this episode and discuss Sensory Processing Disorder (also known as Sensory Modulation Disorder-- and a host of other names)
Mon, 16 Oct 2023
80 - Season 3, Episode 28: The Reading Wars
This episode revisits reading and dyslexia and discusses controversial topics-- like the Reading Wars and Visual Processing Disorder-- along the way
Thu, 21 Sep 2023
79 - Season 3, Episode 27: The Back to School Blues and the Sunday Scaries
It's back to school time, and many people are feeling anxious, stressed, and a bit depressed. I decided to dedicate this episode to the "back to school blues" and their close cousin, the "Sunday scaries."
Fri, 18 Aug 2023
78 - Season 3, Episode 26: Animal Encounters
This episode is comprised of stories documenting my encounters with animals as a psychologist. Critters encountered clinically include dogs, geckos, spiders, and all sorts of fauna that graduate student definitely didn't prepare me for.
Thu, 27 Jul 2023
77 - Season 3, Episode 25: Executive Functioning and Executive Dysfunction
In this episode, I discuss the somewhat ill-defined topic of executive functioning and how it can be assessed. We then talk about executive dysfunction and how it can be tied to ADHD. My own executive dysfunction is on display throughout the episode.
Wed, 12 Jul 2023
76 - Season 3, Episode 24: Grit
This episode covers the concept of grit. It is loosely a book review of Angela Duckworth's Grit: The Power of Perseverance. Resilience, perseverance, and learned helplessness are also discussed.
Fri, 09 Jun 2023
75 - Season 3, Episode 23: LGBTQ+ Mental Health
This episode comes as a mailbag request following the Nashville Covenant School shootings which caused confusion and even persecution against sexual minorities. This episode explores common mental health concerns among individuals in LGBTQ+ communities and also highlights the availability of resources and the importance of future research.
Tue, 16 May 2023
74 - Season 3, Episode 22: Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
This episode will introduce ABA, its applications, and its history. We'll walk through why ABA isn't rocket science and why it's sometimes controversial. We'll also try to wade through the alphabet soup associated with ABA.
Thu, 06 Apr 2023
73 - Season 3, Episode 21: Parenting Styles
This episode discusses parenting styles. We'll see if I can weave in psychologist Diana Baumrind with Frank Gallagher from Shameless. We'll also discuss grandparenting styles.
Thu, 09 Mar 2023
72 - Season 3, Episode 20: Causes of Autism
This episode is bound to cause some controversy as it discusses what does and does not cause autism (spoiler: the MMR vaccine is not a cause). We'll explore whether Tylenol usage in pregnancy, high-fructose corn syrup, living near a highway, and advanced parental age are linked to ASD. We'll also talk about possible neuroanatomical causes of autism.
Sat, 11 Feb 2023
71 - Season 3, Episode 19: Sleep
I can't believe I haven't published an episode on sleep so far. This episode will cover sleep related disorders-- and over the course of 30 minutes, I'll discuss a wide variety of topics including sexsomnia and sleep walking. I'll also work in references to the movies Water Boy and Stepbrothers.
Wed, 01 Feb 2023
70 - Season 3, Episode 18: New Year's Resolutions
Happy 2023! This episode discusses the psychology of New Year's Resolutions and how to make them SMART
Mon, 02 Jan 2023
69 - Season 3, Episode 17: Kleptomania
This episode discusses another impulse control disorder, kleptomania, which involves compulsive stealing. I'll discuss kleptomania-- and also my daughter's own stealing tendencies.
Thu, 01 Dec 2022
68 - Season 3, Episode 16: Pyromania
This episode discusses pyromania and arson. It also touches upon psychogenic vomiting and features a cameo from my dogs.
Thu, 10 Nov 2022
67 - Season 3, Episode 15: Halloween
Happy Halloween! This is a special spooky season episode that discusses a wide-range of psychologically relevant Halloween topics-- including fall fetishism, clinical lycanthropy, trick-or-treating, the Salem Witch Trials, and beliefs in ghosts and demons.
Mon, 10 Oct 2022
66 - Season 3, Episode 14: Dr. John Fryer
This episode discusses how, Dr. John Fryer, under the pseudonym of Dr. H. Anonymous and with the help of a Halloween mask and a voice modulator, was able to convince the American Psychiatric Association to depathologize homosexuality.
Tue, 27 Sep 2022
65 - Season 3, Episode 13: Misophonia
This episode discusses misophonia-- or when people experience emotions like anxiety, disgust, or rage that is triggered by certain sounds.
Mon, 05 Sep 2022
64 - Season 3, Episode 12: Insanity
Ever wonder what the definition of insanity is? No, it's not doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. This episode discusses insanity and some legal history behind the term.
Fri, 12 Aug 2022
63 - Season 3, Episode 11 Morbid Jealousy
This episode discusses morbid jealousy-- or the preoccupation that your significant other is unfaithful to you.
Tue, 19 Jul 2022
62 - Season 3, Episode 10: Parentification
This episode discusses parentification (when children are put into caretaking roles) and its negative and positive associations. I also introduce a new piece to the podcast-- a trivia segment! Finally, I discuss 2 books I would recommend to any aspiring psychologist.
Tue, 05 Jul 2022
61 - Season 3, Episode 9: The National Mental Health Hotline
This episode discusses the roll-out of the 988 National Mental Health Hotline in July 2022-- and why I foresee challenges with the debut of the hotline.
Sat, 11 Jun 2022
60 - Season 3, Episode 8: Dueling Diagnoses
Ever encountered different diagnoses from different mental health providers and wondered which, if any, is correct? This episode discusses dueling diagnoses and diagnostic uncertainty
Wed, 18 May 2022
59 - Season 3, Episode 7: Talking to Children about Death and Dying
This episode shares best practices and resources in talking to children about death and dying.
Wed, 27 Apr 2022
58 - Season 3, Episode 6: Birth Order
This episode looks into the relationship (or lack thereof) between birth order and psychology. How birth order relates to intelligence, personality, and psychopathology is discussed.
Thu, 21 Apr 2022
57 - Season 3, Episode 5 The DSM-5-TR (Text Revision)
This episode discusses changes between the DSM-5 and the DSM-5-TR (text revision) -- including the introduction of a new disorder (Prolonged Grief Disorder)-- and various disorder name changes
Tue, 05 Apr 2022
56 - Season 3, Episode 4: Regression as a Defense Mechanism and Peter Pan Syndrome
Ever act like a kid when you're stressed out? This episode discusses the Freudian defense mechanism of regression. We also touch on Peter Pan Syndrome-- when fully grown adults don't act their age
Tue, 29 Mar 2022
55 - Season 3, Episode 3: Infantile Amnesia
Why can't you remember your first birthday party? This episode will attempt to answer that question by exploring the topic of early childhood amnesia (also called infantile amnesia)
Thu, 17 Mar 2022
54 - Season 3, Episode 2: School Shootings
This episode, which comes by listener request, explores school shootings and introduces the field of threat/risk assessment.
Tue, 01 Mar 2022
53 - Season 3, Episode 1: The Mental Status Examination
This episode covers one of the oldest and most commonly administered mental health assessments-- the Mental Status Exam (MSE).
Tue, 15 Feb 2022
52 - Season 2 Wrap-Up
This episode wraps up Season 2 of the podcast with me reading mailbag questions. In doing so, we brush on arithmomania, sanity, and Joe Goldberg from the Netflix series You.
See you in 2022!
https://www.patreon.com/theabnormalpsychologist
Tue, 14 Dec 2021
51 - Season 2, Episode 25: Involuntary Commitment
This episode explores involuntary commitment (also known as civil commitment or sectioning)-- and how (and when) you can be admitted to psychiatric care against your will.
Wed, 24 Nov 2021
50 - Season 2, Episode 24: School Psychology
Happy 50th episode! This episode is a celebration episode and discusses the field of school psychology (in honor of National School Psychology Awareness Week).
https://www.patreon.com/theabnormalpsychologist
Sun, 07 Nov 2021
49 - Season 2, Episode 23: Conspiracy Theories
This episode delves into the psychology of conspiracy theories.
Tue, 26 Oct 2021
48 - Season 2, Episode 22: Positive Psychology and Toxic Positivity
This episode focuses on positive psychology-- on what makes us happy-- and also explores the concept of toxic positivity. Along the way, I talk about Ted Lasso a little.
Thu, 07 Oct 2021
47 - Season 2, Episode 21: The Body Keeps the Score
This episode contains my ramblings and musings after reading Bessel Van der Kolk's The Body Keeps the Score: Brain Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
Thu, 23 Sep 2021
46 - Season 2, Episode 20: Homicidal Ideation
This episode is in response to a mailbag request and discusses homicidal ideation-- and whether it should be a standalone psychological diagnosis.
Tue, 14 Sep 2021
45 - Season 2, Episode 19: How to Make the Most out of Being a Psych Undergrad
This is a listener request episode that discusses what you can do as a psych undergrad to make yourself a stronger candidate for post-grad employment or for grad school.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theabnormalpsychologist
Wed, 01 Sep 2021
44 - Season 2, Episode 18: Divorce
This episode discusses divorce and its relevance to psychology.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theabnormalpsychologist
Fri, 20 Aug 2021
43 - Season 2, Episode 17: The Olympics, Sports Psychology, and V-Codes
This episode is pretty wide-ranging-- it discusses mental health and the Olympics and touches on the field of sports psychology.
This episode also discusses Other Conditions that May be the Focus of Clinical Attention (or V-codes), which many clinicians sadly often overlook
Fri, 06 Aug 2021
42 - Season 2, Episode 16: Borderline Personality Disorder
This episode discusses Borderline Personality Disorder and Dialectical Behavior Therapy.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theabnormalpsychologist
Mon, 26 Jul 2021
41 - Season 2, Episode 15: Teletherapy
In this episode, we talk about issues related to telehealth/teletherapy-- including concerns about encryption, licensure, and privacy. Teletherapy, for better or worse, is not going away (but I also don't see it as replacing in-person therapy).
Thu, 08 Jul 2021
40 - Season 2, Episode 14: Cave Syndrome and Summer Seasonal Affective Disorder
This is a wide-ranging episode. We talk about Cave Syndrome-- or the cutesy name that's been given to anxiety in returning to the real, post-pandemic world. We also discuss depression due to summer time heat-- which is an often overlooked aspect of depression with seasonal pattern.
Fri, 25 Jun 2021
39 - Season 2, Episode 13 Paraphilias
This episode discusses paraphilias, or deviant sexual behaviors, and the paraphilic disorders of the DSM-5.
Sun, 13 Jun 2021
38 - Season 2, Episode 12 Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism
I'm back-- my wife and I recently had a second child so I went MIA for about a month. In this episode, which is a listener request, we discuss High-Functioning Autism-- or Asperger Syndrome.
Sat, 05 Jun 2021
37 - Season 2, Episode 11: Imposter Syndrome
Ever feel like you're a fraud-- or question your accomplishments? Then this episode on Imposter Syndrome is for you!
Fri, 30 Apr 2021
36 - Season 2, Episode 10: Bullying
This episode explores all things bullying-- we talk about bullies, victims, bully-victims, and cyberbullying.
Fri, 23 Apr 2021
35 - Season 2, Episode 9: Suicide
This episode discusses suicide, suicidal ideation, and warning signs and risk factors of suicide.
Fri, 09 Apr 2021
34 - Season 2, Episode 8: Self-Injury, Self-Harm, and Self-Mutilation
This episode explores self-injurious behaviors, including cutting behaviors. In it, we'll explore who is most likely to harm themselves, why people harm themselves, and why we consider some forms of self-harm to be socially acceptable.
Thu, 25 Mar 2021
33 - Season 2, Episode 7: Couvade
This episode explores Couvade, a condition in which men experience pregnancy symptoms.
Fri, 12 Mar 2021
32 - Season 2, Episode 6: Violent Video Games
This episode explores the misconception that violent video games lead to school shootings. It also touches on Pikachu and my possible addiction to Pokemon Go.
Fri, 05 Mar 2021
31 - Season 2, Episode 5: Imaginary Friends
This episode discusses imaginary friends, or imaginary companions, in early childhood. Are they a normal part of development or do they indicate an underlying emotional disturbance?
Fri, 26 Feb 2021
30 - Season 2, Episode 4: COVID-19 and Mental Health
This episode will explore the proverbial elephant in the room-- how COVID-19 is affecting mental health across the lifespan. Rates of anxiety, depression, disordered eating behaviors, opioid overdoses, and suicide attempts have skyrocketed over the past year.
Fri, 19 Feb 2021
29 - Season 2, Episode 3: What is a Psychologist?
The seemingly simple question of "what is a psychologist?" has a surprisingly complicated answer that this episode will attempt to wade through.
Tue, 09 Feb 2021
28 - Season 2, Episode 2: A Brief History of Childhood
This episode explores conceptualizations of childhood through human history (or at least up until the 20th century). It explores what an infant is, how the word "family" is related to slavery, and why you might find baby Jesus with male-pattern-baldness in medieval art .
Wed, 03 Feb 2021
27 - Season 2, Episode 1: Encopresis
What better way to kick off Season 2 than by talking about number 2? This episode explores encopresis and feces smearing (scatolia).
Mon, 25 Jan 2021
26 - Episode 26: Gender, Culture, and Tearing it All Down
This episode is the season finale for Season One of the Abnormal Psychologist. In this episode, I discuss shortcomings of the DSM-5, especially as they relate to gender and cultural issues.
Wed, 18 Nov 2020
25 - Episode 25: Autism
This episode discusses Autism Spectrum Disorder. I'm super excited about this one, as Autism is one of my passions.
Mon, 16 Nov 2020
24 - Episode 24: Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
This episode covers what we colloquially call "addiction"-- including substance-related addictions, like alcohol use disorder, and non-substance related addictions, like gambling disorder. Internet gaming disorder is also discussed.
Wed, 11 Nov 2020
23 - Episode 23: Schizophrenia
This episode discusses schizophrenia, and in doing so, explores the life of Dr. W.C. Minor, which involved murder, the branding of someone's face, and a penis amputation.
Fri, 06 Nov 2020
22 - Episode 22: Personality Disorders
This episode discusses the personality disorders of the DSM-5 and touches on Borderline Personality Disorder, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, and Dependent Personality Disorder.
Wed, 04 Nov 2020
21 - Episode 21: Eating Disorders
This episode covers feeding and eating disorders in the DSM-5, including Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa.
Sun, 01 Nov 2020
20 - Episode 20: Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders
This episode discusses Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders, including Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Intermittent Explosive Disorder, Pyromania, and Kleptomania.
Wed, 28 Oct 2020
19 - Episode 19: ADHD
This episode explores ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and its subtypes or presentations and treatment. It also explores whether psychostimulant medications stunt growth and whether eating too much sugar causes ADHD.
Sun, 25 Oct 2020
18 - Episode 18: Dyslexia
This episode discusses dyslexia in-depth. What is involved in assessing dyslexia? What is the neuroanatomy of dyslexia? Does dyslexia look different in English than in other languages? And do people with dyslexia really reverse letters? These questions and more are explored in this episode.
Thu, 22 Oct 2020
17 - Episode 17: Specific Learning Disorders
This episode covers Specific Learning Disorders/Disabilities, how they used to be diagnosed (the discrepancy model) and how they are diagnosed now (using RTI). The next episode will cover dyslexia specifically.
Mon, 19 Oct 2020
16 - Episode 16: Developmental Disorders
This episode explores developmental disorders and disabilities, and dives more specifically into the diagnosis of Intellectual Disability.
Tue, 13 Oct 2020
15 - Episode 15: Dissociative Disorders
This episode explores dissociative disorders, including the highly controversial and popularized Dissociative Identity Disorder, formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder.
Fri, 09 Oct 2020
14 - Episode 14: Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
This episode explores somatization, including conversion disorder, hypochondriasis, and Munchausen Syndrome.
Mon, 05 Oct 2020
13 - Episode 13: Psychedelic Treatment of Depression
This episode discusses psychedelics, their history, and their effectiveness in treating depression.
Wed, 30 Sep 2020
12 - Episode 12: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
This episode discusses Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and its treatment
Sun, 27 Sep 2020
11 - Episode 11: Bipolar Disorders
This episode explores bipolar disorders and their treatments, as well as the definitions of manic episodes and hypomanic episodes.
Wed, 23 Sep 2020
10 - Episode 10: Depression Part II
In this episode, we discuss treatment for depression-- including psychopharmaceutical treatment and talk therapies.
Mon, 21 Sep 2020
9 - Episode 9: Depressive Disorders Part I
This episode gives a broad description of depressive disorders in the DSM-5 with more focused discussion of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).
Thu, 17 Sep 2020
8 - Episode 8: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
This episode explores a commonly misunderstood diagnosis, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
Wed, 09 Sep 2020
7 - Episode 7: Anxiety Disorders, Part II
This episode covers Social Anxiety Disorder, Selective Mutism, Separation Anxiety Disorder, and Specific Phobia. It also covers common treatments for anxiety disorders.
Sun, 06 Sep 2020
6 - Episode 6: Anxiety Disorders Part 1
In this episode, we will discuss anxiety disorders in general and also Generalized Anxiety Disorder. This is the first of a two-episode series on Anxiety Disorders.
Wed, 02 Sep 2020
5 - The DSM-5
In this episode, we'll discuss the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, which mental health experts affectionately call the DSM-5. In doing so, we'll talk about nosology, which, counter-intuitively, is not the study of noses.
Sun, 30 Aug 2020
4 - Episode 4: Let's Talk Therapy
In this episode, we'll discuss different therapeutic paradigms. In doing so, we'll touch upon COVID-19 dreams, breathing throw straws to treat anxiety, and snakes.
Wed, 26 Aug 2020
3 - Episode 3: What Exactly is Abnormal, Anyway?
In this episode, we discuss different models of abnormality. Should being left-handed-- or being a genius-- be a diagnosable condition?
Sun, 23 Aug 2020
2 - Episode 2: The History of Psychopathology
In this episode, we'll discuss the history of psychopathology from ancient times to the present.
Wed, 19 Aug 2020
1 - Episode 1: Media (Mis)Portrayals of Psychopathology
This episode explores media misportrayals of psychopathology. Spoiler alert: Most of what you think you know about psychopathology is probably wrong.
Tue, 18 Aug 2020