18/08/2023
🎙️ Exploring Mental Health, Longevity and Health Span: A Resource Recommendation
📚 This week, I'm excited to share a podcast episode and a book that caught my attention. The book "Outlive" by Peter Attia, titled "The Science & Art & Longevity," has piqued my interest. While I haven't delved into its pages yet, it's on my list. I stumbled upon Peter Attia on a podcast, and there's a particularly impactful segment where he delves into his personal journey with mental health challenges. https://uk-podcasts.co.uk/podcast/steven-bartlett-the-diary-of-a-ceo/the-life-extension-doctor-the-one-thing-that-s-inc
🤝 What intrigues me about Attia's approach is his focus on not just longevity but also on 'health span' – living well within the years we have. His insights go beyond the expected health advice encompassing diet, exercise, and sleep. He allocates a significant section to mental well-being, a topic that resonates with many, including myself and the majority of my clients.
📱 During the podcast, Attia shared a therapeutic technique he used: recording himself speaking kindly to himself, as he would to a friend, into his mobile phone. This exercise was a daily ritual for him recommended by his therapist at the time. He described replacing harsh self-criticism with compassionate self-talk. Instead of his usual anger outbursts during archery practice he would stop and talk kindly to himself "Hey, I see you're having a tough day with your shooting. It's alright, we all have off days. The wind isn't helping either. Let's take a break and try again tomorrow." Through consistent practice, the nurturing voice overpowered the critical one, and in merely four months, the relentless critic had disappeared.
🧠 This story underscores the plasticity of our minds and their capacity for change. As a therapist, I cherish those initial sessions with clients, knowing the potential for transforming self-criticism into constructive energy.
🤗 Attia's sentiment of wishing he'd encountered this wisdom at 25 echoes a sentiment many share. It's never too late, though, to embark on a journey of self-improvement and emotional well-being. Regardless of your age, consider investing in your mental health. And remember, a healthier mindset isn't just for you; it ripples through the lives of those around you.
💡 If this resonates, take a step towards personal transformation through therapy. If you're curious or ready to embark, don't hesitate to get in touch.
Dr. Attia graduated from the Stanford University School of Medicine in 2001, and until 2006 he was a surgical resident at Johns Hopkins Hospital.