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About Dr. Susan Masterson:

Dr. Susan Masterson is a Licensed Psychologist with over 30 years combined training and experience with behavior modification, mental health treatment, lifestyle improvement, teaching, mentoring, and writing.

She is the author of website (Autoimmune Self-Care) geared toward educating/helping people improve lifestyle behaviors while living with a chronic illness (Sjogren’s Disease/Autoimmunity).

Dr. Susan is also the creator/author of books, videos and educational content, all with a focus on strengthening the mind and body.

What We Discuss In This Episode:

Dr. Susan Masterson shares how she lived with an undiagnosed autoimmune disease for decades. It was a real mix of emotions for her on this journey, especially in light of how the healthcare professionals say lab work is fine – not such not good news when you’re feeling terrible.

Susan points out that we can’t necessarily do anything about the things that are going to happen to us – we know we can’t control everything – but we can have control over how we react to things.

She is finding ways to help people tap into those moments of, “I feel good.” (Not positive thinking. ) She hones in on things that make you smile, what makes you laugh, what makes you do that makes you feel good. For example, Susan talks about what you liked to do when you were a little kid? What made you laugh when you were little? Susan encourages us to find what lights us up.


She also shares some mindfulness exercises – especially when it comes to feeling judged by others as to how they think you should or shouldn’t react to your illness, pain or situation. You need to find those pockets of time and just fill your mental space with that as often as possible. Susan strongly encourages coloring for a good mindful state and shares her own experience in this regard. She shares her experiences with mindfulness guided drawing or coloring activities which have been shown to be better at reducing anxiety.

Dr. Susan talks about a field of psychology called positive psychology. It’s not the old psychology where they used to try to remove negative mood states, but this is a way to strengthen the positive and grow that positivity. Gratitude is a way to keep you there. Mindfulness, gratitude, the journaling can help keep you there.

She emphasizes practicing the mindful journaling, mindful coloring, reiterating that that the whole point of what she shares is to fill the space rather than try to pull negative stuff out of the mental space.

Susan shares about the Anxiety Relief Coloring Pages & Journal Prompts Book she published. This book is different to regular coloring books as it’s anchors you to the present moment.

Key Takeaways

    • How to generate your own positive emotions to benefit your well-being and physical health.
    • How to elicit a positive emotional state.
    • How present moment awareness/mindfulness can reduce chronic pain and facilitate healing.
    • Mood traits and immune function.
    • Positive Affect Journaling.
    • Coloring and anxiety relief.

    Resource from Dr. Susan Masterson:

    Anxiety Relief Coloring Pages & Journal Prompts Book. https://a.co/d/7tuezXw

    Connect with Dr. Susan Masterson:

    Website: https://healthpsychforliving.com
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanmastersonphd
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/DoctorStrive


    Connect With Lynne:

    If you’re looking for a community of like-minded women on a journey – just like you are – to improved health and wellness, overall balance, increased energy and confidence, and to enjoy living through perimenopause and menopause, check out Lynne’s private community in The Energized & Healthy Women’s Club. It’s a supportive and collaborative community where the women in this group share tips and solutions for a healthy and holistic lifestyle. (Discussions include things like weight management, eliminating belly bloat, wrangling sugar gremlins, and overcoming fatigue, menopause, recipes, strategies, and much more so women can feel energized, healthy, confident, and joyful each day.

    Website: https://holistic-healthandwellness.com
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    Free Resources from Lynne:

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