A Voice and Beyond

A Voice and Beyond

#218 You’re Not Stuck — Your Brain Just Needs Rewiring with Dr Erika Horwitz

Jul 19, 2026 · 1 hr 5 min · 16 segments

What if the reason you feel overwhelmed isn't because you're failing, but because your brain is overloaded? We are living in an era where stress has become the norm, with over 75% of people reporting…

What if the reason you feel overwhelmed isn't because you're failing, but because your brain is overloaded? We are living in an era where stress has become the norm, with over 75% of people reporting feeling overwhelmed. And yet, the human brain was never designed for this constant level of stimulation and pressure. In this powerful episode, psychologist Dr. Erika Horwitz shares insights from over 30 years of experience, along with cutting-edge neuroscience on neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to change, adapt, and rewire itself. In this episode we explore: ✔ Why we are living in an "era of overwhelm" ✔ What chronic stress does to the brain ✔ The science of neuroplasticity and how change is possible ✔ How to rewire your brain for calm and resilience ✔ The “5 Things Exercise” and how it works ✔ Why mental health stigma still exists — and how to shift it ✔ The rise of anxiety in children and why early intervention matters ✔ Practical tools you can use immediately This conversation is not just informative. It's practical, empowering, and filled with tools you can apply immediately. If you’re ready for a calmer mind, greater resilience, and a new way of understanding your mental health, this episode is for you. **Find Erika Here:** - mindfulnessyvr.com/ - facebook.com/erika.horwitz - instagram.com/dr.erika\_h **Book:** Improbable and Extraordinary: A Transformation of Mental Illness and Addiction by Saul Horwitz and Erika Horwitz, PHD https://improbableandextraordinary.com/ **Find Marisa online:** - Website: https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmarisaleenaismith/ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmarisaleenaismith/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marisa.lee.12 - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avoiceandbeyond3519/videos **Resources:** - MLN Coaching Program: https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/mentoring/ - Schedule a Free Clarity Call: https://calendly.com/info-56015/discovery - Gratitude Journal: https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/product/in-gratitude-my-daily-self-journal/ - Download your eBook: Thriving in a Creative Industry: https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/product/ebook-thriving-in-a-creative-industry-dr-marisa-lee-naismith/ Like this episode? Please leave a review here - even one sentence helps! ...

What if the reason you feel overwhelmed isn't because you're failing, but because your brain is overloaded? We are living in an era where stress has become the norm, with over 75% of people reporting…

Global Crisis Snapshot1:41 – 4:44

Erica HorwitzGuest

1:41

Well, that mental health is all of our experience, not just those people with a diagnosable mental illness, that all of us will experience struggles of mental health, like grief or trauma or high stress, overwhelm, all that is mental health, even if it's not a diagnosable mental illness, right? That we all have that.

Erica HorwitzGuest

2:06

And secondly, that It doesn't matter the degree to which you have struggles.

Erica HorwitzGuest

2:12

Transformation is possible, that there are things you can do to feel better, to feel more at peace, to find some sort of quieter mind.

2:25

I think one of the biggest problems around mental health is that people quite often feel alone and they feel isolated and they do feel that shame.

2:37

of reaching out.

2:39

And you've spent over 30 years as a psychologist working at the forefront of mental health.

2:46

And I'd like to start here with we're now hearing that mental health has become the biggest global health crisis.

2:55

at present.

2:55

So how serious is

Erica HorwitzGuest

2:57

this? Oh, it's very serious.

Erica HorwitzGuest

3:00

The number of youth, for example, that is experiencing anxiety increased in the last five or seven years.

Erica HorwitzGuest

3:09

Likely the pandemic didn't help, but it is pretty rampant in youth and in adults.

Erica HorwitzGuest

3:17

Anxiety often feeds depression as well.

Erica HorwitzGuest

3:20

So the World Health Organization is predicting that by 2030, depressive disorders will be at the top of the health burden, they call it globally.

Erica HorwitzGuest

3:32

Yes.

Erica HorwitzGuest

3:33

So it is very serious because it's really debilitating a lot of people.

Erica HorwitzGuest

3:38

Yeah.

3:39

Is it more common in some countries than in other countries, or is this a total global impact that's happening?

Erica HorwitzGuest

3:49

Well, yeah, it is global.

Erica HorwitzGuest

3:52

But some countries have a harder time than others.

Erica HorwitzGuest

3:55

I just learned the numbers on people that become extremely depressed and consider suicide is pretty high in countries like Korea.

Erica HorwitzGuest

4:06

Canada, I think, is the 13th.

Erica HorwitzGuest

4:08

The U.S. is like, you know, seven or so.

Erica HorwitzGuest

4:11

So it is pretty global, but it does vary.

Erica HorwitzGuest

4:14

The countries that are more communal, where there's more connection, that are not as connected to capitalism, you know, people that live in smaller towns that are not so connected to the rat race of modern times, they seem to fare better.

Global Crisis Snapshot1:41 – 4:44

Erica HorwitzGuest

1:41

Well, that mental health is all of our experience, not just those people with a diagnosable mental illness, that all of us will experience struggles of mental health, like grief or trauma or high stress, overwhelm, all that is mental health, even if it's not a diagnosable mental illness, right? That we all have that.

Erica HorwitzGuest

2:06

And secondly, that It doesn't matter the degree to which you have struggles.

Erica HorwitzGuest

2:12

Transformation is possible, that there are things you can do to feel better, to feel more at peace, to find some sort of quieter mind.

2:25

I think one of the biggest problems around mental health is that people quite often feel alone and they feel isolated and they do feel that shame.

2:37

of reaching out.

2:39

And you've spent over 30 years as a psychologist working at the forefront of mental health.

2:46

And I'd like to start here with we're now hearing that mental health has become the biggest global health crisis.

2:55

at present.

2:55

So how serious is

Erica HorwitzGuest

2:57

this? Oh, it's very serious.

Erica HorwitzGuest

3:00

The number of youth, for example, that is experiencing anxiety increased in the last five or seven years.

Erica HorwitzGuest

3:09

Likely the pandemic didn't help, but it is pretty rampant in youth and in adults.

Erica HorwitzGuest

3:17

Anxiety often feeds depression as well.

Erica HorwitzGuest

3:20

So the World Health Organization is predicting that by 2030, depressive disorders will be at the top of the health burden, they call it globally.

Erica HorwitzGuest

3:32

Yes.

Erica HorwitzGuest

3:33

So it is very serious because it's really debilitating a lot of people.

Erica HorwitzGuest

3:38

Yeah.

3:39

Is it more common in some countries than in other countries, or is this a total global impact that's happening?

Erica HorwitzGuest

3:49

Well, yeah, it is global.

Erica HorwitzGuest

3:52

But some countries have a harder time than others.

Erica HorwitzGuest

3:55

I just learned the numbers on people that become extremely depressed and consider suicide is pretty high in countries like Korea.

Erica HorwitzGuest

4:06

Canada, I think, is the 13th.

Erica HorwitzGuest

4:08

The U.S. is like, you know, seven or so.

Erica HorwitzGuest

4:11

So it is pretty global, but it does vary.

Erica HorwitzGuest

4:14

The countries that are more communal, where there's more connection, that are not as connected to capitalism, you know, people that live in smaller towns that are not so connected to the rat race of modern times, they seem to fare better.