Shows
Mentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyUnderstanding Inattention: Beyond ADD & ADHD Diagnosis | Dr. Cristi BundukamaraJoin Dr. B, as she delves into the complexities of inattention in her latest YouTube episode. In this insightful discussion, Dr. B addresses a concerning trend in clinical practice where individuals self-diagnose attention deficit disorder (ADD) or ADHD based on online assessments and seek stimulant medication treatment.Through personal anecdotes and professional expertise, Dr. B uncovers the multifaceted nature of inattention, exploring its various underlying causes beyond the scope of ADD or ADHD. From depression to anxiety, she sheds light on how these mood disorders can significantly impact attention and executive function.Drawing from neurobiology...2024-02-1717 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyAnticipating Grief: Owning Your Unique Story❤️FREE Choice Opportunity Worksheet Download: Controlled Griefhttps://mailchi.mp/4740a1224b89/wiqfh8h3ffJoin us in this emotional and insightful episode as Dr. B, candidly shares her journey through anticipatory grief. From decoding the complexities of grief to offering practical coping strategies, Dr. B's warm and relatable approach provides comfort and guidance for anyone facing tough times.🎙️ Episode Highlights:Understanding Anticipatory Grief:Dr. B breaks down the concept, making it accessible for everyone dealing with the impending loss of a loved one.Embracing Change and Finding Acceptance:Explo...2023-12-0915 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyHoliday Harmony: Inner Peace and Meaningful Connections | Carmina Blasko LPCDr. B welcomes Carmina Blasko LPC, a mental health counselor with over 10 years of experience, to discuss strategies for navigating the holiday season with grace, resilience, and joy.Carmina shares her insights on the importance of prioritizing self-care during the holidays, emphasizing the need to balance festive preparations with personal well-being. She highlights the benefits of mindfulness and gratitude practices in cultivating inner peace and appreciating the joys of the season.Drawing from her clinical experience, Carmina emphasizes the significance of nurturing meaningful connections with loved ones during the holidays. She encourages listeners to engage...2023-11-3017 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyYou Can Be Grateful While GrievingIn this heartfelt and empowering podcast, Cristi Bundukamara shares a deeply personal journey of grief and the pursuit of gratitude in the face of unimaginable loss. With a story marked by the passing of three beloved children, the speaker offers genuine insights into the challenges of finding gratitude amid profound sorrow.Timestamps:00:01 Introduction01:03 Personal Story02:45 Struggles and Triumphs04:51 Why Focus on the PositiveKey Insights:1. Keep it Simple: The speaker advises against overthinking and encourages simplifying the search for gratitude, focusing on the loving relationships that bring joy.2...2023-11-2707 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyGrief is Pain | Three Practical TipsJoin Dr. Cristi Bundukamara in a heartfelt discussion about the complexities of grief and the journey towards healing. Drawing from personal experiences of losing three children over 17 years, Dr. Bundukamara challenges conventional grief theories and shares her insights on transforming pain into purpose.🕰️ Timestamps:00:00 Grief is Pain01:21 Passion for Turning Pain into Purpose02:40 Personal Experiences with Grief04:30 Grief Theories Explored06:52 Addressing Spiritual Conflict08:54 Committing to the Grieving Process09:55 Learning and Planning for the Future🤔 Key Insights:- The intensity of grief is linked to the strength of attac...2023-11-1009 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyCombat Stress and Find Joy: Special Guest Suzanne FaberWelcome to an enlightening and thought-provoking podcast conversation that will take you on a journey to happiness, self-discovery, and enhanced mental fitness. In this engaging discussion, Suzanne Faber and Cristi Bundukamara share their insights into the intricacies of the human psyche, exploring how a deeper understanding of concepts like inner saboteurs and sage brains can pave the way for a more fulfilling and joyous life.During this insightful conversation, you'll gain valuable insights into the complexities of our inner worlds. Suzanne Faber, a remarkable advocate for mental strength and a passionate executive health and wellness coach, shares...2023-11-0832 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the Journey3 Things to Remember on a Death Anniversary | Reggie's StoryMy son is dead.October 30th 2016, it's been 7 years. In this deeply moving video, we hear the heartfelt and harrowing journey of a mother who lost her beloved son, Reggie, seven years ago. October 30th marks the anniversary of his passing, and the pain remains as poignant as ever.Cristi Bundukamara, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, shares her heart-wrenching experience and offers three invaluable tips for those who are navigating intense grief. Reggie was born as a healthy and happy child, but as he grew, signs of a more profound issue began to surface. T...2023-11-0307 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyDo I have hypersomnolence? Demystifying the DSMJoin Cristi Bundukamara, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, as she delves into the world of hypersomnolence, a condition where individuals experience excessive daytime sleepiness. Cristi provides valuable insights into how healthcare professionals can diagnose and differentiate hypersomnolence from other conditions. She emphasizes the importance of self-reported sleep schedules and the impact of sleep patterns on daily life.Cristi also highlights the significance of ruling out underlying medical conditions and substance use, as both can contribute to hypersomnolence. Her expert knowledge shines through as she discusses conditions such as narcolepsy, sleep apnea, and the effects of substance abuse on...2023-10-2005 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyGet Unstuck | 3 Ways to Heal | Grief and Fight or FlightIn this heartfelt and informative podcast, Cristi Bundukamara, a psychiatric nurse practitioner and grief expert, shares her profound insights on the complex emotions and challenges associated with grief. She discusses the fight or flight response, self-love, and the importance of separating grief from trauma and negative thoughts. Cristi also explores spiritual conflict and how to find meaning after loss.Timestamps:00:00:00 - Introduction to Fight or Flight Response in Grief00:01:00 - The Importance of Self-Love and Grace in Grief00:02:30 - Separating Grief from Trauma00:03:30 - Coping with Spiritual Conflict in Grief00:06:00...2023-09-2918 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyFind Your Answer to "Why Me?"In this powerful podcast, Cristi Bundukamara, a psychiatric nurse practitioner with over 20 years of clinical experience, shares her personal journey through unimaginable tragedies and how she found mental strength. If you've ever asked yourself, "Why me?" during difficult times, this video is for you.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction: Exploring the "Why me?" question02:01 - Step 1: Think it Through02:21 - Worksheet Activity03:36 - Thought mapping and finding the root causes06:24 - Step 2: Gaining control over your emotions and organizing your thoughts08:27 - Step 3: Making choices that empower you to move forward10:51...2023-09-2213 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyConfronting Injustice: Grief and Lessons from Drunk DrivingIn this compelling street interview by Cristi Bundukamara, we delve deep into the heart-wrenching consequences of drunk driving and the profound grief it leaves behind. Every 39 minutes, someone in the United States loses their life to a drunk driver, and in this video, we explore the pain, anger, and lessons that follow such a tragic event.🚨 Subscribe to Cristi Bundukamara's channel for more thought-provoking content: www.youtube.com/c/drbmentallystrongA brave woman shares a personal tragedy - the loss of the most important person in their life due to a drunk driver's reckless actions. Thi...2023-09-2207 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyAnger Holding You Back? Do THIS to Break Free | Grief Journey | Child Loss❤️ FREE Choice Opportunity Worksheet DOWNLOAD use the link below:https://mailchi.mp/6a3776b7113d/kuz20ksdw4Are you struggling with overwhelming anger during your grief journey? Join us as an expert in grief, who has personally navigated the loss of three children over 17 years, shares valuable insights on dealing with anger and its connection to the grieving process.In this video, she discusses the intense anger she encountered on her own grief journey and how it unexpectedly became a protective force field against pain. As a psychiatric nurse practitioner and specialist in c...2023-08-2507 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyExploring the Depths of Grief: Uncovering the Layers with Dr. Cristi BundukamaraCristi Bundukamara, aka Dr. B, an esteemed psychiatric nurse practitioner and an expert in grief counseling, shares a deeply personal account of her experience in the 45 Days of Grief series. Bundukamara emphasizes the complexity of grief and how it differs for each person, describing her journey through controlled grief, an anger wall, and a transformative meltdown. She likens grief to layers of an onion or the strata of an archaeological dig, each layer telling its own story. Dr. B encourages a gentle approach to remove these layers of grief to avoid hurting one's soul or identity. She acknowledges her...2023-04-2713 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyHow To Deal With Rumination Syndrome: A Comprehensive GuideIn DR. Cristi Bundukamara's video about Rumination Syndrome, you'll gain insight into a condition that affects many people, often without them even knowing it. Through her informative and interactive presentation, she explains what exactly rumination syndrome is and how it can be both managed and treated. Dr. Bundukamara explains that this condition causes people to regurgitate undigested or partially digested food from the stomach, rechew it, and then either swallow it or spit it out. She also notes that because the food hasn't been fully digested yet, it doesn't have a sour, acidic taste like vomit does. With her...2023-04-2207 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyWhy do we need to lose our children? | Coping with Grief and Depression: A Mother's StoryWhy is losing a child so painful? Do you ever get over losing a child? Is there anything worse than losing a child? How does losing a child affect a mother?Here are the questions we ask ourselves when we experience the tragic loss of our child. The pain of losing a child is unimaginable. It is said to be one of the worst possible things that can happen to a person. However, is it possible to recover from such a devastating loss? Can anything be worse than losing a child? The whys are often...2022-08-2715 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyWhen Grief Gets in the Way: Mentally STRONG with Dr. BWhat can you do when grief gets in the way of your Personal Vision?Listen to this podcast to find out how Dr. B handles it when grief gets in the way.www.mentallystrong.com/grief--Dr. Cristi Bundukamara, Ed.D, PMHNP-BC --- A Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and a Doctor of Healthcare Education has experienced unimaginable trials that have caused many feelings such as depression, anxiety, anger, & overwhelming stress. However, she has developed a new pathway to becoming Mentally Strong & Choosing to be Happy. With purpose, Dr. B has developed th...2022-06-1014 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyPHOBIAS - Demystifying the DSM: Specific Phobias - 2022 - Systematic DesensitizationDo you or someone you know have a very specific phobia that isn't related to another diagnosis such as PTSD? Watch this video!😱Dr. B here with our series on demystifying the DSM and today, we're going to be talking about specific phobias, which is one of my fun topics that I talk about. But just to clarify, specific phobias are around a specific thing, not associated with another disorder, so not associated with post-traumatic stress. If you have a specific fear and it’s related to being triggered from a traumatic event, that's more PTSD. Specific phobi...2022-06-0105 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyDemystifying the DSM: Depressive Disorders (Depressed Mood)Dr. B here with Demystifying the DSM and this video is specifically on that cluster of other depressive disorders which I'm going to include, for all of us who experience depression. What can we do about that? The next several pages in the DSM talks about substance or medication induced depression. Again, anything that crosses the blood brain barrier: illegal drugs as well as even cannabis can cause depressive symptoms because it decreases neurotransmission and then there are depressive disorders due to medical conditions. I talk about this in the bipolar series, just making sure that we're looking at...2022-05-1004 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyDemystifying the DSM: Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)Dr. B here with our series on Demystifying the DSM and today I'm talking about PMDD, and if there's men listening, this is a real disorder, and it should be treated. Oftentimes many, many women experience PMS symptoms. But PMDD is to a point of really needing treatment. And even PMS, I want to empower women that even PMS can be treated. I personally take birth control pills on a constant to stop ovulation so that I do not experience those PMS symptoms. That is one of the treatments that we use for PMDD. But oftentimes we also have...2022-05-0304 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyDemystifying the DSM: Dysthymia (Persistent Depressive Disorder)Dr. B here with our series on Demystifying the DSM. So, the next depressive disorder in the series is called persistent depressive disorder or dysthymia. In the clinic environment we often don't see people with Dysthymia. But maybe they've gotten into their late 20s, early 30s, and now they're going, “Gosh, I just, I've been depressed or down my whole life.” But don't meet criteria for major depressive disorder, have never had any severe depression where they felt like they needed treatment. But oftentimes, when we see them present, it’s in their late 20s and just Gosh I really...2022-04-2602 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyDemystifying the DSM: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)Dr. B here with our series on Demystifying the DSM. Today I'm going to talk about Major Depressive Disorder and it's kind of ironic to only be doing a 5-minute video on what is the most prevalent diagnosis that we see in our clinic. So many people are struggling with depressive symptoms, and so I want to really help our listeners differentiate the depressive symptoms in Major Depressive Disorder. We all experience symptoms of depression, of extreme sadness, and we often use depression as an adjective on how you feel, like, I feel depressed. If you follow my story...2022-04-1906 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyDemystifying the DSM: Unspecified Bipolar & Other TypesDr. B here, with our series on Demystifying the DSM. Now I'm going to sum up the other bipolar type of diagnosis. I don't personally study the DSM, and so it's kind of funny that I'm doing this Demystifying the DSM series. I personally study Dr. Stahl and his symptoms and receptors, and any professionals out there, that's who I recommend that you study from. These videos are more for our clients to understand these diagnosis, and when I'm talking to my clients, I'm very specific about “don't own this”, right? This is just a cluster of symptoms, we can...2022-04-1207 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyDemystifying the DSM: Bipolar IDr. B here with our series on demystifying the DSM. Today I'm going to be talking about Bipolar I. This is the most severe type of bipolar. Although the DSM clearly distinguishes bipolar 1, bipolar 2 and cyclothymia, I see clinically that this is more like a continuum. Bipolar diagnosis does not necessarily mean a severe mental illness, but Bipolar I - severe can be very, very debilitating and cause disability. So, it's really on this continuum. When we talk about bipolar one, this is the classic manic depressive that people think about when they think about bipolar. This is someone...2022-03-2904 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyDemystifying the DSM: SchizophreniaDr. B here Demystifying the DSM and we are in the series on psychotic disorders. I don't want to lose some of my followers. Psychotic disorders are our least common diagnosed mental health concern. However, they are the most catastrophic and life changing as far as function and that really brings me to the diagnosis of schizophrenia. When somebody is diagnosed with schizophrenia, they have had psychotic symptoms for longer than six months and actively in a 30-day period. The main criteria are that they must have at least two symptoms over that period of time, and one of...2022-02-2207 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyDemystifying the DSM: Brief Psychotic Disorder & SchizophreniformDr. B here with demystifying the DSM and we're in the series on psychotic disorders and I'm going to clump the next two together. Brief psychotic disorder and schizophreniform. So, brief psychotic disorder, say someone presents to the emergency room or a psychiatric hospital, or even in the outpatient psychiatric center and they are meeting criteria for psychosis. They have maybe delusions and hallucinations, but it's very important, and one of the criteria for having some of the other disorders is a significant impairment in function and a period of time of those symptoms. So oftentimes we'll put as...2022-02-1503 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyDemystifying the DSM: Psychotic Disorders - Delusional DisorderDr. B here with our series on demystifying the DSM. The next six videos will be specifically on psychotic disorders, so that's the second cluster in the DSM and I'm just going to go in order, not in order of how often we see them. But just in order of the DSM, so that if you are following along and trying to learn. We're just going chapter by chapter. So, in the first part of this. Psychotic disorders. It mentions schizotypal, but that's a personality disorder. And I'll cover it more when we get to the personality disorder chapter...2022-02-0803 minMentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the JourneyDemystifying the DSM: Adult ADD & ADHDDr. B here doing our demystifying the DSM of neurodevelopmental disorders and I'm ending with adult ADD ADHD. Confession, I have ADD but I also choose not to treat it with medications, so I'm going to go through why and the pros and cons and how to know if you truly have ADD or ADHD. If you were diagnosed as a child, then likely it has followed you into adulthood and that diagnosis is a little easier. With myself, I'm almost 50, and so I grew up in the age where my mom did not want to put me on...2022-02-0108 min