Omicron, Depression, Imposter Syndrome, Benzos, Insomnia (w/Dr. Rachel Zoffness)

In this episode we dive deep into what “mild” Omicron infection means, why depression is biopsychosocial ALWAYS, how to manage imposter syndrome & insomnia, and why benzodiazepine medications are often a disaster. See all our episodes with Dr. Rachel Z here. Grab her outstanding Pain Management Workbook here. Find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Topics and Timecodes:

00:00 Intro

03:51 Rachel got the Big O (Omicron) & post-infection immunity

08:31 Why a mild case still sucks, the anxiety contagion, public health communication

14:20 Placebo vs nocebo, why words make a difference in suffering

22:25 Long COVID vs long tail symptoms, cognitive distortions

27:15 “Bug chasing” & why it’s a bad idea

31:07 Depression, reductionism & the biomedical model of health

38:15 The psych bubble, role of thoughts, emotions & coping behaviors

48:27 The social bubble, role of relationships, isolation, & other factors

51:47 Depression’s complex nature & treatment tools

58:14 What is imposter syndrome & why it’s so common

1:05:20 4 steps to overcoming imposter syndrome

1:16:31 The dark side of benzodiazepines & why they’re not a magic cure

1:20:01 Alcohol, THC, medications & insomnia

1:28:09 Sunlight, stimulants & what to do if you can’t sleep

1:38:42 Napping, melatonin & treatment of underlying factors

1:41:28 Final thoughts, submitting your questions for future episodes

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