Metabolically Speaking Ep2: Navigating Mental Health with a Metabolic Condition – with Dr Bjoraker
This month on Metabolically Speaking, we’re joined by pediatric neuropsychologist Dr. Kendra Bjoraker. With specialized expertise in rare genetic and metabolic conditions, Kendra has dedicated her career to supporting individuals and families as they navigate challenges, celebrate strengths, and hold onto hope.
Kendra, and host Maridith Baker, dive into the realities of living with both a mental health condition and a metabolic condition, and how persistence, adaptation, and cognitive flexibility are essential parts of the journey. From formal definitions of depression and anxiety to stark statistics and practical coping strategies, Kendra sheds light on what it means to care for our mental health, just as we do our physical health, and how this can look different at every stage of life. She talks about the emotional, psychological, physical, and spiritual processes involved following lifelong and life changing diagnoses.
At the heart of this conversation is connection and hope. Kendra leads us through her simple 5-4-3-2-1 activity to reset and recenter and shares with us her own quote on hope and the powerful story behind it; “When all you need is a drop of hope; and many times, a drop is all you have… For without hope there is nothing.”
Whether you are living with a lifelong condition or supporting a loved one, this episode offers validation, encouragement, and tools you can carry with you forever.
If you’d like to know more after listening to this episode, you’ll find resources and links in the show notes below. Thank you for joining our conversation.
Show Notes
• Find out more about Cambrooke:
• Cambrooke About Page (https://rebrand.ly/ajinomoto-cambrooke-8b6ce7)
• Cambrooke LinkedIn (https://rebrand.ly/aef83e)
• Cambrooke Instagram (https://rebrand.ly/login-x2022-9ab3c7)
• Cambrooke Facebook (https://rebrand.ly/4f4b5d)
• Get in touch with Cambrooke:
• metabolicallyspeaking@cambrooke.com
• Dr. Kendra Bjoraker:
• Bjoraker Neuropsychology Consultants, PLLC | neurological care
• Maridith Baker:
• www.instagram.com/phenylketonuriaandme
• www.linkedin.com/in/maridithbaker
• www.facebook.com/maridith.baker
Organizations that Educate and Offer Help
• National Alliance on Mental Illness 1-800-950-NAMI (1-800-950-6264). NAMI is the largest organization devoted to improving the lives of those affected by mental disorders.
• Anxiety and Depression Association of America 1-240-485-1001. The ADAA works to improve the quality of life of those affected by anxiety and depression related disorders.
• National Institute of Mental Health 1-866-615-6464. The NIMH is the largest research organization in the world committed to understanding the treatment and prevention of mental disorders.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Mental Health 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636). The mental health arm of the CDC is a good source of public health information on mental health.
• American Psychological Association 1-800-374-2721. The APA is a professional organization of psychologists. Its site explains how psychologists work with you to alleviate symptoms and offers information on how to manage health and well-being while coping with depression and anxiety.
• American Psychiatric Association 1-703-907-7300. The APA is a medical society whose members work to ensure that persons with mental disorders. Educational material is available on their site, as well as help finding a psychiatrist.
• https://www.anxiety.org Individuals can learn about different types of anxiety, how to deal with anxiety issues, and search for an anxiety specialist in a directory of health care providers.
• http://www.childanxiety.net The Child Anxiety Network is dedicated to anxiety issues in children and youth. Child-specific information about symptoms, coping strategies, and resources for finding a professional health care provider are offered.
• https://locator.apa.org the American Psychological Association therapist locator website.
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255. 988 is new Lifeline that provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.