Experts Connect with HelpMeSara

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Sandee Sharpe. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about:

• What the word "retire" conjures up for most people
• Whether retirement is different now to what it was like decades ago
• What most people typically look forward to
• Some of the more typical concerns that people have as they move closer to retirement
• How we can begin to navigate changes successfully
• The impact on others such as when a couple retires together or one retires while the other continues doing what they’ve been doing for years
• Some dos and don'ts to consider in one's retirement phase of life

Sara Dimerman in conversation with psychologist Sarah Chana Radcliffe. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about:

• What a tic disorder means
• The connection between a tic disorder and Tourette Syndrome
• Whether there is a typical age at which tics present themselves
• Whether or not gender is a factor
• Why tics occur
• Typical treatment approaches for tics and by whom
• Sarah Chana's latest book, No More Tics and how to use it
• Some dos and don'ts when you're around someone with a tic disorder

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Registered Social Worker Clarissa Kennedy. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about:

• What a food addiction means
• Whether or not it differs from other addictions, such as to alcohol or gambling, for example
• Whether or not it is recognized as an addiction in diagnostic manuals that mental health professionals refer to
• If food addiction falls under the same category as an eating disorder and how it differs from other eating disorders such as binge eating
• Whether or not some people might be more vulnerable when it comes to developing an addiction to food and why
• Some signs that one might be grappling with a food addiction
• How to manage a food addiction
• Some of the ways in which food addiction is treated
• What special training someone with an eating addiction should look for in a therapist when they are seeking help

Resources:

• The Hunger-Satiety Scale
• Food Addiction Institute
• Sugar-Free For Life Support: I'm Sweet Enough
• Sugarbomb in your Brain
• Sugar and Carbs Anonymous (SCAA)
• (Molly) Sugar Sober Support Group Fridays at 1pm EST
• Hunger Scale
• Hunger Gauge

Sara Dimerman in conversation with author Ailsa Keppie. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about:

• How Ailsa's journey into another culture and customs helped her to become more aware and sensitive towards cultural differences
• How her experiences helped her when working with others as a healer
• What Ailsa believes are the most compelling messages throughout her book
• Why she chose to leave the culture she adopted and return home

Sara Dimerman in conversation with author Julie Starr. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about:

• Julie's personal story with the intention of helping other women feel less alone, to know that what they are feeling is normal and to prepare them for what lies ahead.
• Practical advice for women who are also parents, how to break the news of a separation to kids and how to manage one's feelings towards an ex when you're around them.
• How to live your better life after divorce
• Tools for transitioning from being in a marriage to living without your partner.

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Dr. Riina Bray. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about:

• What Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) means
• The difference between an allergy and a sensitivity
• Some of the signs and symptoms of MCS
• How to go about getting this confirmed and the benefits of knowing that you have MCS
• Whether most people who are sensitive to one chemical are likely sensitive to more or all
• Some of the more common chemical sensitivities
• The impact that having MCS has on one's physical, social, emotional and psychological well being
• The impact that MCS has on one's relationship with a partner or children
• Whether there are any known causes or triggers for MCS
• Where people with MCS may go to get help or treatment
• Options available to help people with MCS
• Whether most people with MCS eventually live so called "normal" lives

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Dr. Alex Korb. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about:

• The difference between being sad versus depressed
• The varying degrees of depression
• Some of the most typical symptoms of depression
• How to go about figuring out if you are clinically depressed or not
• What causes one to be depressed
• The connection between depression and anxiety
• The connection between depression and sleep
• Whether or not someone can experience periods of depression even if they are typically not prone to being depressed
• Best treatment approaches
• How family members can help someone living with depression
• Hope after depression

Sara Dimerman in conversation with author, Lynda Faye Schmidt, on healing: from the inside out. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about:

• Lyndas' book, The Healing, and how closely her life resembles that of Cate's - the main character who leaves an abusive marriage after 26 years.
• What Lynda experienced in her first marriage and how she found the strength and courage to leave.
• The mixture of emotion that Lynda felt when leaving her home and city, especially since her youngest child, then 18, was remaining behind with his father.
• How Lynda's children were able to show compassion and kindness towards their father, despite being exposed to their parent's dysfunctional relationship.
• How Lynda's exposure to living with loved ones with mental illness has impacted her personally.
• How writing, along with other factors such as building close relationships and travel have contributed to her healing.

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Psychologist, Dr. Jemma Helfman, on what we know about selective mutism and how to help children overcome it. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about:

• What selective mutism means
• How it differs from mutism
• Some of the reasons that children become selectively mute
• Whether there's a typical age at which selective mutism occurs
• Whether selective mutism is something that most educators and parents are familiar with and if not, what they might think is happening with their child or student when they don’t talk
• Whether children with selective mutism typically don't talk both at home and school
• The best approach to treating selective mutism
• The availability of therapists who treat selective mutism across Canada
• What parents can do to help
• Whether it's advisable for a child to be told about his/her diagnosis

Dr. Jemma Helfman recommends:

• The Feelings Place
• Confident Kids Camp Toronto
• Selective Mutism Association
• Dr. Steven Kurtz in New York is one of the leaders in the field and there are lots of videos for parents on his website.
• Confident Kids Camp Michigan

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Lisa Tabachnick, about the impact that being a Highly Sensitive parent has on you and your kids. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about:

• What being a Highly Sensitive Person or parent means
• Some of the characteristics of being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)
• The difference between being sensitive and highly sensitive
• How identifying and owning this trait helps you help yourself
• How it helps you understand how it impacts your kids
• Whether or not it's a good idea to share being an HSP with your kids

Additional resources:

• Dr. Aron's web site. All her books and other resources are listed on the site.
• Workbook for highly sensitive people
• Lisa's private Facebook group for HSP Parents
• Lisa's Facebook page, KidsAndMentalHealth