Over 30 impressive photographs of bone specimens are captured and their possible meanings pondered by Richard Jacobs in today’s episode. Tune in to follow him through the Museum of Osteology in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the world’s largest privately-held collection of osteological pieces. It’s a place where science and art intersect, where beauty is in the eye of the inquisitive beholder. Listen in to explore: How the museum came to be what it is today 7 observations that’ll make you stop and think The function of the skeleton, and the amazing things it allows creatures to accomplish A possible explanation for why so many skeletal commonalities exist among thousands of vertebrate species Interested in learning more? Just press play.

Generalized anxiety can feel like it’s about anything and everything, almost all the time. Whether it's mild but constant, or intense to the point that some days you can hardly function, it can feel like a nebulous dark cloud that’s impossible to overcome because it’s impossible to truly understand. But what if you could figure out the events that set it off or made it worse? Better yet, what if you could identify the commonalities among those events? It wouldn’t “cure” you of it, but it might take the edge off. Once you make some sense of what you're feeling, you may be able to more easily think it through, reflect on your emotions, and move forward instead of letting it hold you down. Tune in to learn some simple strategies for getting to the root causes and commonalities of your generalized anxiety, and learn more about our ongoing project on anxiety and depression at https://www.findinggeniusfoundation.org/.

The brain uses an incredible amount of glucose — about 30% of all of it in the body. So, it would stand to reason that when the brain is extra active, it consumes even more glucose. And most of us would agree that when we’re extra anxious or depressed, our mind tends to run a hundred miles a minute – it’s working hard to keep us in that state. Could this mean that a highly anxious or depressed person’s brain consumes more glucose than normal, leading to a low blood glucose level, also known as hypoglycemia? Many medical professionals say yes. Hypoglycemia can lead to a long list of symptoms, including fatigue, memory loss, heightened anxiety, and irritability. Sound familiar? Could there be a meaningful link or even a positive feedback loop between anxiety/depression and hypoglycemia? Press play to explore this idea (and what to do about it) in today’s short episode.

Sight, sound, smell, taste, touch. We can use our senses—even if we don’t have all five—to take ourselves out of the emotional mind when all it’s doing is hurting us. The five senses exercise isn’t meant as a cure for anxiety or depression or anything else, but it can be a powerful tool that we can all use at almost any time. Tune in for a quick and easy tutorial of how it works. Give it a try, and once you have, give us your feedback. How did you feel afterward compared to before?  Let us know via email at [email protected].   

Meet Samwise: An AI-powered guide designed to bring nearly all possible treatments for anxiety and depression into one place. It’s a mix between a massive literature review and an in-depth survey of 100+ people who personally experience anxiety or depression, and who are willing to share their story. Gone are the days of being prescribed medication and crossing your fingers in hopes it’ll work, because you’ve been led to believe it’s pretty much the only option. In today’s short episode, Richard Jacobs gives listeners an update on this ambitious project, and as always, shares his latest insights. If you’re interested in sharing your story or you know someone who might be, email Richard at [email protected], and become a part of this process. In the meantime, tune in to learn more.

Even when it's the last thing she wants to do, Nita Sweeney has taught herself to exercise every day. She might not exercise for long before calling it quits, but no matter what, she makes herself move. And the benefits to her mental health have been more than worth it. In the book Depression Hates a Moving Target, Sweeney explores her personal experience with depression and anxiety and the ways in which exercise has helped. It's not a cure for anxiety or depression, but it’s definitely a treatment—one that’s helped Sweeney forgo several prescription medications that she was dependent on for years. Richard Jacobs shares insights from Sweeney’s book and his discussions with her, reminding listeners that even a few minutes of exercise each day can pull us out of our heads, and force us to focus on the physical sensations in our bodies. Learn more about CODEX for Anxiety and Depression, and contribute to the cause at https://www.findinggeniusfoundation.org/. 

Even a really bad TV series will probably have some good episodes sprinkled in with the really bad ones. In a similar way, depression, anxiety, and PTSD often come in episodes; between the bad might be some okay or even good ones, but the bad ones always feel inevitable. And with each new episode of anxiety, depression, or PTSD, most people feel a little bit weaker. Over time, episode after episode, feelings of hopelessness and debility take over, casting their shadow even on the good days. With the loss of hope and motivation often comes the loss of friendships, relationships, and accomplishments. Richard Jacobs shares this important insight with listeners and asks, "What if these episodes occurred less frequently, with a little less severity?" It will take a multi-pronged approach, one that CODEX for Anxiety and Depression can make much more accessible. Learn how to help with this effort by visiting https://www.findinggeniusfoundation.org/.

Anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Some people might suffer from a lot of depression and just a little anxiety and PTSD. Others might suffer primarily from PTSD and just some depression and anxiety. And still others might suffer from high levels of all three. The permutations are many. If you or someone close to you has one or more of these conditions, understanding the relative levels and intensities of anxiety, depression, and PTSD can help shape your understanding of their (or your own) experience. Richard Jacobs continues his work on the world’s first ever CODEX for Anxiety and Depression, a massive literature review and anecdotal look at anxiety and depression, and hundreds of treatment options. Interested in helping out or just learning more? Visit https://www.findinggeniusfoundation.org/. 

Whether acute or chronic, anxiety and depression have a way of magnifying our emotions, making them feel more raw and real than they otherwise would. Richard Jacobs shares a personal experience with this, and reminds listeners how valuable it can be to understand that whether it’s you or someone you love, anxiety and depression can bring wounds to the surface, making them more intense and painful, like an “exposed nerve.” Download the CODEX for Anxiety and Depression summary and learn how you can contribute to the effort by visiting https://www.findinggeniusfoundation.org/. 

What happens when a person is forced to do something that goes against their morals and ethics? They suffer a moral injury, which over time can chip away at their sense of humanity, empathy, and even their ability to function in society. It can also heighten and magnify their anxiety and depression.  Richard Jacobs explores this concept in detail, providing examples of how and why people sustain a moral injury on a long-term basis, how it is affecting society as a whole, and how damaging it can be.  He also discusses the importance of remaining aware of the impact moral injury can have on others.  Want to learn more about CODEX for Anxiety and Depression, and how to help? Visit https://www.findinggeniusfoundation.org/.