Health Discovered

In this week’s episode, the WebMD Health Discovered producers recap three of the year’s top mental health episodes. From people-pleasing and the concept of “fawning,” to finding hope and rebuilding connections after trauma, to understanding why ADHD is often overlooked in women and girls, these conversations explore a common theme: the ways we protect ourselves often have a deeper story behind them.

Revisit these episodes:
Why Saying “No” Feels So Hard: People Pleasing, Fawning, and BoundariesFrom Hypervigilance to Hope: Rewriting Connection After TraumaADHD in Women and Girls: Why It’s Often Overlooked

Tune in for conversations that bring together evidence-based mental health information and lived experience to help us better understand ourselves and the ways we navigate the world.

Credits

• Host/Producer/Editors: Lauren Summers and Casey
• Guests Featured: Lia Love Avellino, LCSW; Thema Bryant, PhD; Monica Johnson, PsyD

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With the rise of AI, more people are turning to chatbots for mental health support. And for many, it makes sense: a chatbot is available around the clock, accessible from your phone in the middle of the night, and offers an easy, private way to vent about your day, explore coping strategies, or better understand what you’re going through. But what are the potential dangers of relying on AI for mental health support? We spoke with Gail Saltz, MD, a psychoanalyst with the New York Psychoanalytic Institute, about the risks of using AI chatbots for mental health, particularly during a crisis, when experiencing severe symptoms, or when making decisions about diagnoses and medications. While AI can be a useful tool for information and explanations, convenience isn’t always best for our health and wellness – especially when it comes to our mental health.

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Guest: Gail Saltz, MD

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For years, conversations about ADHD have largely focused on children, often centered on the image of a child who can’t sit still or is disrupting the classroom. But ADHD can look very different in girls and women – and those differences can make it easier to overlook or diagnose later in life. We spoke with Monica Johnson, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Kind Mind Psychology, about why ADHD may be missed in girls and women, including disparities in diagnosis among Black girls and women. She explained how symptoms can shift across the lifespan, the hidden cost of masking, and how an accurate evaluation can help connect people with the right support.

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Guest: Monica Johnson, PsyD

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Many people have left a medical appointment with more questions than answers. A rushed visit, a provider focused on a computer screen, or confusing medical information can make it harder to feel heard and confident in your care. We spoke with Neil J. Farber, MD, author of Treating a Broken System: A Physician’s Cure for the Healthcare Crisis, about creating stronger partnerships between patients and healthcare providers. He shares how better communication, thoughtful questions, and open conversations about options can help people feel more informed and empowered in their care. He also shares practical ways to prepare for appointments to make sure your priorities are part of the conversation. You deserve to be heard, understand your options, and have a voice in decisions about your health.

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Guest: Neil J. Farber, MD

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Setting limits around screen time can feel complicated and overwhelming for parents. How do you move beyond simple rules and consider how different kinds of digital media may affect a child’s attention, sleep, creativity, learning, mood, and relationships? We sat down with Jane Tavyev Asher, MD, director of the Division of Child Neurology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, to discuss why endless feeds can be so hard to stop, how to set boundaries without making screens feel like a forbidden reward, and why it’s never too late to reset your family’s habits. Families can shift their digital habits. Start with one intentional change – and replace screen time with a shared activity.

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Guest: Jane Tavyev Asher, MD

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“Neurodivergent” describes someone whose brain processes, learns, or behaves differently from what society considers typical. Common forms of neurodivergence include ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and dyslexia. We spoke with Megan Anna Neff, PsyD, clinical psychologist and host of the Divergent Conversations podcast, about how neurodivergent people may process information, experience the world, communicate, and navigate everyday environments differently. We also explored why social media can be a meaningful starting point for people who have felt overlooked or misunderstood – and why it should be a doorway to learning, not the final word on diagnosis.

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Guest: Megan Anna Neff, PsyD

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Previously on Health Discovered, we learned how indolent systemic mastocytosis (ISM), a condition caused by an abnormal buildup of mast cells throughout the body, is diagnosed. Now, we’re looking at how ISM is treated and how symptoms can be managed. We speak with Tracy I. George, MD, a hematopathologist, and Jonathan A. Bernstein, MD, an allergist and immunologist, about what ISM treatments do, how to know if they’re working, what’s at risk when ISM goes unmonitored, and which symptoms should never be ignored. We also discuss the care team involved in treating ISM. Plus, ISM patient and Mast Cast Pod co-host Rachael Rose shares her experience managing symptoms and finding the right care team.

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Producer/Editor: Matt Stillo
• Show Notes: Lauren Summers
• Guest: Tracy I George, MD; Jonathan A. Bernstein, MD; Rachael Rose

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Health wearables can provide valuable insights into sleep, heart rate, steps, and blood oxygen levels – but how many of us bring that data to our healthcare appointments? What can these numbers tell us about our baseline and important changes in our health? We spoke with Calum MacRae, MD, PhD, a cardiologist at Mass General Brigham, about how to use wearable data to better understand your body, identify patterns, and potentially spot changes before a health crisis. We discussed why wearables are more than vanity metrics or tools for tracking activity, and how they can help us pay attention to the factors influencing our health. But context matters: Wearables are a tool, not a replacement for medical care or treatment.

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Guest: Calum MacRae, MD, PhD

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Whether you’ve been fired abruptly, terminated after a performance improvement plan, or affected by a mass layoff, losing your job can feel like the floor just dropped beneath your feet. One moment, you’re working with colleagues and basing life decisions on a regular paycheck and health insurance. The next, your income, self-worth, community, routine, and imagined future can feel drastically changed. You’re left asking: Who am I without this title, this income, this future – and what’s next? We spoke with Monica Johnson, PsyD, licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Kind Mind Psychology, about caring for your mental health after job loss, why you don’t need to rush into your next role, how to make space for difficult emotions, and practical steps to regain a sense of control and direction.

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Guest: Monica Johnson, PsyD

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Constantly being “on” doesn’t just drain our energy – it can rewire our brains, blur the lines between what’s urgent and what’s not, and leave us feeling overwhelmed and disconnected. In this episode, we explore why our brains and bodies need regular digital detoxes. We sit down with Romila “Romie” Mushtaq, MD, ABIHM, a board-certified physician and author of The Busy Brain Cure, to discuss how modern digital life fuels burnout, why it’s a culture problem – not a willpower problem – and how small, structured resets can help calm an overstimulated brain. Dr. Mushtaq also shares her 3-30-3 method for taking brief, regular breaks from devices to reconnect with people, movement, nature, and meaningful routines.

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Show Notes: Lauren Summers
• Guest: Romila Mushtaq, MD, ABIHM

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Tens of millions of Americans live with chronic pain, often after years of tests, treatments, and specialist visits without finding relief. Chronic pain can also be misunderstood, whether it takes the form of migraines, IBS, fatigue, or other symptoms, and can significantly affect quality of life and emotional health. We spoke with Howard Schubiner, MD, author of Unlearn Your Pain: The Science of Recovering from Chronic Pain, Fatigue, Anxiety, and Depression, about “neuroplastic” pain, how to distinguish structural injury from brain-driven symptoms, practical steps to take alongside pain treatment, and his five-step approach to unlearning pain. We also emphasized how trauma, stress, life pressures, and experiences of medical dismissal can shape and amplify chronic pain. For those suffering from chronic pain, having their experience validated and understood – not minimized – can be an important part of healing.

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Show Notes: Lauren Summers
• Guest: Howard Schubiner, MD

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For many parents, dropping their child off at school comes with the expectation that they will be safe. Yet for children across the United States, safety concerns– from lockdown drills to real threats – have become an increasingly common part of childhood. How do we talk to our children about these experiences, and how can parents cope in ways that support their children? We spoke with Adjoa Smalls-Mantey, MD, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, about school safety concerns, how they can affect children’s mental and emotional health, and how parents can help. We also discuss warning signs, opportunities for intervention, opening communication, and grounding techniques for moments of crisis.

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Show Notes: Lauren Summers
• Guest: Adjoa Smalls-Mantey, MD

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s episode, the WebMD Health Discovered producers are recapping all things women’s health from July. From trauma-informed care in the exam room to reactivity and attachment wounds in relationships to egg freezing, we covered topics designed to help you better understand your health and advocate for yourself. At the heart of many of these conversations was one of the most important powers a patient has: choice. We revisit three of our favorite July episodes:
Thinking About Egg Freezing? Fertility, Facts, and Your FutureTriggered? Understanding Your Brain, Body, and Emotional ReactionsAdvocating for Yourself During Medical Exams and Accessing Trauma Informed CareTune in for the key takeaways, empowering insights, and practical advice you can carry with you long after the conversation ends.

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Protein is everywhere these days – from protein pasta to protein cereal – but do these foods actually deliver the benefits they promise? And how much protein do we really need? We spoke with Marily Oppezzo, PhD, MS, RDN, an instructor of medicine at the Stanford Prevention Research Center and head of the nutrition pillar at Stanford Lifestyle Medicine, about how much protein the average adult needs for overall health and muscle maintenance, whether high-protein diets offer meaningful benefits, and how protein needs change with age and activity level. She also explains the differences between animal and plant proteins and what the latest research says about protein and long-term health.

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Show Notes: Lauren Summers
• Guest: Marily Oppezzo, PhD, MS, RDN

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For millions of people, walking into a doctor's office can be incredibly difficult. If you've experienced physical abuse, sexual assault, or medical trauma, the exam room may feel like one of the most vulnerable and triggering places to be. The fear of being harmed, dismissed, misunderstood, or not believed can be powerful enough to keep you from seeking care. But avoiding appointments can lead to missed screenings, undiagnosed conditions, and health problems that worsen over time. We spoke with Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD, MS, nationally recognized health advocate and founder of Clinicians Who Care, about practical, empowering ways to advocate for yourself during medical visits. Learn why you're always allowed to ask questions before an exam, request that your provider explain each step, pause or stop an exam at any time, and seek a second opinion. Plus, discover how preparing a few notes before your appointment can help you become an active partner in your care.

This episode includes discussion of medical trauma and sexual assault. Some listeners may find this content difficult or triggering. Please take care while listening, and consider reaching out for support if needed.

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Show Notes: Lauren Summers
• Guest: Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD, MS

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While we often hear about triggers in everyday conversation, what does it really mean to be "triggered"? Why do certain people or situations spark such intense emotional reactions? And what's actually happening in your brain and body in those moments? We sat down again with Lia Love Avellino, LCSW, modern love therapist and community organizer, to unpack what triggers are, why they happen, and how to reframe them with curiosity instead of judgment. She shares practical techniques to regulate your nervous system, shift from asking "What's wrong with me?" to "What's happening for me right now?," and strengthen your relationships through deeper self-awareness and genuine human connection. Learn how to respond with intention – even when every instinct tells you to react.

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Show Notes: Lauren Summers
• Guest: Lia Love Avellino, LCSW

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Indolent systemic mastocytosis (ISM) is a rare form of systemic mastocytosis (SM) caused by an abnormal buildup of mast cells throughout the body. What causes ISM, and how is it diagnosed? In this episode, we speak with Aaron Gerds, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine in Hematology and Medical Oncology at the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Institute, about the signs and symptoms of ISM, the diagnostic process, and how ISM differs from other forms of systemic mastocytosis. We also hear from Candice Pauley, an ISM patient and co-host of theMast Cast Pod, who shares her journey to diagnosis, her experience living with the disease, and the challenges of navigating a rare condition.

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Producer/Editor: Matt Stillo
• Show Notes: Lauren Summers
• Guests: Aaron Gerds, MD; Candice Pauley

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Egg freezing is often talked about, but what does the process actually involve? What can fertility tests really tell you? And should you be thinking about it in your 20s or 30s? We spoke with Temeka Zore, MD, a double board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and OB-GYN, about what egg freezing is, who may benefit, what the two-week process looks like, the costs involved, and common myths that keep people from exploring their options. Whether you're simply curious or feeling pressure about your biological clock, this judgment-free conversation will help you better understand your fertility and make informed decisions on your own timeline.

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Show Notes: Lauren Summers
• Guest: Temeka Zore, MD

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For many people, their 40s bring subtle but significant health shifts. The habits that once worked may no longer deliver the same results, and between careers, caregiving, and family responsibilities, personal wellness often takes a back seat. In this episode, we cut through the noise of social media health hacks and wellness trends to focus on what truly matters: nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management. We spoke with Susan Hardwick-Smith, MD, founder of the Complete Midlife Wellness Center in Houston, about building a strong foundation for long-term health, creating wellness goals with your future self in mind, and why prioritizing your own well-being is one of the most important investments you can make.

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Show Notes: Lauren Summers
• Guest: Susan Hardwick-Smith, MD

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Epidemiology is the study of how and why diseases affect different groups of people, and what the science increasingly shows is that preventing disease and preserving health are deeply connected. In this episode, we focus on endometrial cancer, a disease where many risk factors are within our control. We speak with Immaculata De Vivo, PhD, professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, about how lifestyle factors like movement, nutrition, stress management, and social connection can influence our biology and long-term health. We also explore the biological impact of chronic stress in cancers like endometrial cancer and discuss how listeners can feel more informed, empowered, and proactive during healthcare visits.

Credits

• Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
• Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
• Show Notes: Lauren Summers
• Guest: Immaculata De Vivo, PhD

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.