#46 Physical Activity: The Best Anti-Depressant/Anti-Anxiety with Dr. Mattu

This week's podcast episode features Dr. Ali Mattu. Dr. Mattu spent a decade treating panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobias, hair-pulling disorder (trichotillomania), skin-picking disorder (excoriation), tic disorder, and Tourette syndrome using cognitive behavioral therapy. He’s created over 150 videos for his YouTube channel, The Psych Show, which have been seen over 3.5 million times. Dr. Mattu is the co-host of PBS’s Self-Evident, an expert on Netflix + Vox’s The Mind Explained: Anxiety, HBO’s Doctor Commentaries, and A&E’s The Employables.  He received his B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles where he majored in psychology and minored in Asian American studies. Dr. Mattu received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Dr. Mattu has been called a “forward thinker” in psychology, and was named one of The Mighty’s mental health heroes of 2015. His work has been described as “simple, thoughtful, and actionable.” Dr. Mattu lives in the San Francisco Bay Area   In this podcast we discuss: 00:00 - Intro 02:57 - The quickest, most effective, anti-depressant/anxiety prescription 06:34 - Gym intimidation factor 09:49 - Social psychology on exercise and support 10:54 - The physical and psychological benefits of walking 16:19 - Addressing inhibitions towards ‘the outdoors’ 20:31 - Understanding client passions, goals, and frustrations 22:24 - Motivational interviewing 27:10 - Changing your identity to change your behavior 33:37 - Stretching our environment to meet our goals 38:28 - Locking in healthy choices when its easy 40:27 - How to make changes without relational support 46:23 - Influencing others positively and effectively 47:56 - The challenges of the pandemic on mental health 55:57 - The importance of novelty in training and everyday life 59:00 - The 2-minute rule of behavioral change   More from Dr. Mattu: https://alimattu.com/ https://www.instagram.com/alimattu/ The Psych Show | YouTube