It's been going on for more than a few... | Georgia Telehealth Therapy

You know that feeling when you are um just staring at a computer screen? >> Oh yeah. The blinking cursor. >> Exactly. The cursor is just blinking at you and you know exactly what you're are supposed to be doing. Like you have the time, you have the tools, the deadline is right there, right? >> But instead of actually doing the task, you're just sitting there mentally beating yourself up, >> caught in that loop of, you know, if I could just try a little harder, I could get this done. Like why can't I just do it? It is uh such a profoundly universal internal monologue. I mean we have all sat across from that blinking cursor. >> Definitely. >> And yet you know as common as that feeling of frustration is it is often just completely misdirected. That moment of intense self-lame where you just label yourself as lazy. That is exactly where we need to pause. >> We need to reframe it. >> Exactly. Reframe the situation entirely >> which is really the whole mission for today's deep dive. So welcome in. >> Glad to be here. Today we are tearing down this myth of just you know pushing through focus problems. We are looking at some really fascinating source material today specifically a piece called beyond the fog knowing when focus needs professional care. >> It's a great piece. >> It really is and we are going to combine those insights with the specific service details of a teleaalth practice down in Georgia called coping and healing counseling or CHC. >> Right. Because we want to see how this works in the real world. Exactly. Our goal today is to explore a really crucial turning point, like knowing when to finally stop trying to DIY your attention span and when it is actually time to seek professional care, >> which is such a vital conversation right now. I mean, so many people carry this really heavy silent assumption that their inability to focus is just a personal failing, >> like it's a character flaw or something, >> right? They think it is purely a willpower issue. But validating that frustration for you, the listener, that is really the best starting point. >> Yeah. If you have ever blamed yourself for, you know, just not trying hard enough, you need to know that you might be fighting the completely wrong battle. >> So, let's dismantle what the source material calls the DIY trap >> because I think we all do this. >> Oh, absolutely. >> When we notice our focus is slipping, we run to the exact same cultural toolbox. >> We tell ourselves, um, I just need to sleep better. >> No, I need to aggressively cut back on my caffeine. >> Yes. or we start setting up those incredibly strict color-coded time blocks on our digital calendars >> which last about a day >> if that. And then uh my absolute personal favorite buying planners. >> Oh, the planner. >> You know the ones the really nice expensive leatherbound ones. They give you that brief hit of dopamine and you convince yourself that like this time I am magically going to fix my life. >> Well, I mean the entire productivity industry is basically built on that exact hope. >> It really is. >> And to be fair, those are all fine tools. Better sleep is good. But when there is an underlying focus issue like a structural neurological issue, those surface level behavioral fixes, they just bounce off. >> They don't do anything for the root cause, >> right? Because you are trying to address an internal processing issue with an external cosmetic upgrade. >> It's honestly um it's like buying more planners for a real focus issue is like trying to fix a broken car engine by buying a prettier steering wheel. >> That is a perfect analogy. Like sure, the steering wheel looks fantastic. You feel like you have upgraded the car, but it doesn't solve what is actually happening under the hood. When you turn the key, the engine still won't start. >> Exactly. And when the engine still doesn't start or, you know, when your focus still isn't there despite the new planner, you end up feeling even worse about yourself >> because you tried all the obvious stuff, >> right? You invested the effort and you still failed. So the critical question becomes how do we know when it is actually a broken engine and not just um a temporary glitch? >> When do we get help? >> Exactly. And the clinical data points to six specific signals that it is time to investigate. The first one is just about the timeline. >> Right. The first signal is that it's lasted for more than a few weeks. >> Yeah. Because we all have a bad week, right? Maybe you are fighting off a cold >> or you just didn't sleep well. >> Sure. That is just being human. But when you are looking at a sustained unbroken pattern stretching over multiple weeks, that is a clear indicator that we have moved past a temporary slump. >> And it isn't just about how long it lasts. It is about the collateral damage. The second signal is that it is actively disrupting your work, your school or your relationships. >> It's spilling over. >> Yeah. It has breached the containment of your own head. >> Right. you are missing critical deadlines or you know forgetting important promises you made to your partner. The impact is measurable to the outside world. >> Okay. So the third signal stretches that idea of time all the way out. A major red flag is if it feels like this has been with you for your entire life. >> This is a big one. >> As long as you can remember managing your attention has felt like wrestling a bear. >> If you look back at your childhood report cards and the teachers all wrote um smart but needs to apply themselves. >> Oh man, that classic line, >> right? And if that exact same dynamic is playing out in your adult life, that points heavily towards something baseline, not just a temporary reaction, >> that makes a lot of sense. So, let's talk about the fourth signal, which the source calls the passengers, because this completely changed how I view this whole topic. >> The passengers are crucial. >> The research notes that focus issues rarely travel alone. They bring along tagalong symptoms, right? Like worry, low mood, or sleep changes. >> Exactly. And it comes down to the body's stress response. If your brain is constantly failing to keep you on task, you are perpetually behind. >> You're always scrambling, >> right? And your brain perceives that not just as an annoyance, but as an actual threat. So, it generates a stress response. It pumps out cortisol, >> which totally wrecks your sleep. >> Yes. It keeps you from getting deep rest. And chronically high stress eventually depletes your dopamine, which tanks your mood. >> So, they basically feeding off each other. >> Exactly. Which brings us to the fifth signal. DIY methods have completely failed. >> Right? Because if you were dealing with a cortisol drenched nervous system, cutting out coffee isn't going to touch the sides of the problem. >> The failure of those DIY tools is simply data. It is a clear signal that behavioral tools are insufficient for what is actually a biological task. >> Okay, that brings us to the sixth and final signal. And I have to push back on this one a bit. >> Okay, let's hear it. The signal is that you are actively avoiding tasks because focusing feels impossible. But wait, isn't task avoidance just like a fancy word for procrastination? >> That is exactly the cultural baggage we carry, >> right? Like how do we know it's a signal to get help and not just garden variety laziness? >> Because the distinction here is neurological, not moral. When a neurode divergent brain or a severely burned out brain looks at a massive project, it doesn't just see a boring task. >> What does it see? >> It sees a threat. The amydala literally flares up. It calculates that the energetic cost of forcing focus on that task is going to be catastrophic to the system. >> Wait, really? It treats a boring task like a physical threat. >> Yes. So, it triggers an avoidance protocol to protect you. Laziness is doing nothing because you don't care. But in this context, task avoidance is usually accompanied by extreme stress and debilitating guilt. >> Oh wow. So you do care. You just literally feel like you can't do it. >> Exactly. It's a natural coping mechanism, not a character flaw. >> That's completely flips the script. I mean, recognizing that avoidance is a protective mechanism is a massive paradigm shift. >> It really is. >> But it leaves us with a huge question. If our avoidance is subconscious and our planners are just cosmetic, what is actually misfiring under the hood? >> Which is exactly why the clinical evaluation exists, >> right? To untangle the knots. Because when people hear evaluation, they imagine getting hooked up to electrodes in a cold sterile lab. >> Oh, totally. With someone holding a clipboard. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> But the source material highlights this incredibly comforting detail. A real evaluation is simply a conversation with a clinician. That's all it is to start, just a structured conversation. But >> what are they looking for in that conversation? The source says focus issues aren't a monolith. Right. >> Right. A clinician helps sort out between three primary culprits. It could be ADHD. >> Okay. >> Or it could actually be an anxiety disorder or it could be severe burnout or sometimes a combination of them. But if anxiety and burnout can basically mimic ADHD focused issues, how does simply talking to someone untangle that web? >> Well, the clinician looks at the holistic picture. They look at those passengers. We talked about the worry, the sleep changes. >> Ah, I see. >> Right. So, if you trace the focus issue back, does it only happen when you are overwhelmed with fear of failure? That points toward anxiety. >> And if it started after 3 years of working 80our weeks, >> then that points heavily toward burnout. You have to trace the smoke back to the right fire. >> That is such a powerful way to look at it. And the source has this really powerful takeaway about the evaluation itself. It says, "The relief of finally knowing is its own kind of healing." >> It is profound. >> Just having an answer. You aren't lazy. You have a specific highly treatable challenge. >> Exactly. It allows you to finally stop attacking your own character. >> But here is the thing. The realization that an evaluation brings relief is great, but if it's just a conversation, why don't more people do it? >> Friction. It almost always comes down to the friction of finding access, >> right? The logistics of it, >> finding a provider, the weight lists, the commute. It's an executive function tax on someone who is already struggling with executive function. >> It's a paradox. Which brings us perfectly to how modern teleaalth practices and specifically coping and healing counseling or CHC are built to completely remove that friction. >> Yes, the tellahalth model has fundamentally changed how we access care. >> Let's break down CHC's reach because it's genuinely impressive. First, they serve all 159 counties in Georgia. >> That is massive, >> right? And they are 100% telealth. It is all on a secure IPIPA compliant platform. So the geographic barrier is just gone. >> Completely gone. I mean, it's basically like having a clinic in your living room. You completely remove the I don't have time to sit in traffic excuse that keeps people stuck in the fog. >> And by going fully virtual, they can assemble a much more diverse clinical team, too, >> which they have. The source notes they have 15 plus licensed therapists. That includes LCSWs, LPC's, and LMFTs. >> That is a really strong mix of credentials. >> And they are a diverse and culturally competent team. They offer individual, couples, family, and teen therapy for anyone 13 and up, plus life coaching. >> You know, that cultural competence is huge. When you are trying to untangle root causes, you need to feel understood by your clinician without having to explain your entire background first. >> Exactly. And when you look at their specialties, it aligns perfectly with everything we just talked about. They address anxiety, depression, trauma, and PTSD, grief, relationships, and stress. See, that is exactly the matrix of specialties you need to figure out those three culprits we mentioned, ADHD, anxiety, and burnout >> because they specialize in the exact things that cause the smoke. >> Exactly. >> Okay. So, the logistical friction is gone. But what about the financial friction? Because therapy is notoriously expensive. >> The financial barrier is usually the last hurdle for people. >> Well, CH's model proves that an evaluation doesn't have to break the bank. We have the exact costs from the source. For Medicaid, it carries a $0 co-pay. >> Z. That is incredible. >> And they take major commercial insuranceances, too. Etna, Sigma, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Humanana. For those, it ranges from just a $30 to $40 co-pay per session. >> So, they have basically removed the commute, the weight list, and the financial terror all at once. >> They really have. So, if you are listening this right now and you are recognizing those six signals in yourself, taking action is the next step. >> The infrastructure is right there for you. >> Exactly. You can reach CHC by phone at 404-8320102 or you can visit cheatshake theapy.com or email them at support at teachcapy.com. >> It's that simple to start the conversation. >> So let's just recap the journey of this deep dive. >> Yeah, >> we started by recognizing the six signals that our DIY fixes the planners, the sleep, the caffeine just aren't working >> right acknowledging the DIY trap. >> And then we learned that an evaluation isn't this scary lab test. It is a simple conversation to separate ADHD from anxiety or burnout. >> Untangling the knots. >> Exactly. And finally, we saw how incredibly accessible that conversation can be with teleaalth practices like CHC, removing the friction. >> And I really want to remind you, the listener, of the core message here. Knowing what is going on isn't just about labeling a problem. >> No, not at all. >> It is the very first step in the healing process itself. Just knowing is healing. >> It is the ultimate relief. And that actually leaves me with one final thought for you to ponder today building on this source material. >> Okay, let's hear it. >> If the relief of knowing is its own kind of healing, you have to wonder how much of your daily exhaustion comes from the actual focus issue and how much comes simply from the exhausting mental weight of pretending you don't have one.