It’s late, you’re scrolling, and there’s a low hum under everything — the headlines, the economy, the things you can’t fix. You’re not upset about one thing; you’re just heavy, tired, and small. Episode 38 is about that feeling, and about finding where your power actually lives.

Greg, Rich, Derek, and Sarah define agency (the felt belief that what you do shapes what happens next), name the difference between agency and controlling everything, and talk honestly about reclaiming the small, controllable corners of a life — because the brain that can learn helplessness can also learn controllability.

In this episode:

• Why “nothing I do matters” is so common right now — and what it actually is

• The science: an internal sense of control, less depression and anxiety

• Why “control” isn’t a dirty word — a noun and a verb

• Where agency really lives: body, attention, time, relationships, the next small action

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

02:00 Defining agency & locus of control

03:30 The numbers & the science

07:00 Roundtable: staying grounded

12:23 Is “control” a dirty word?

17:58 Common questions

41:20 Free-form sharing

44:42 What’s on your heart

47:32 Closing & weekly challenge

50:04 Support groups & resources

This episode featured Greg with Rich, Derek, and Sarah.

💜 Free weekly peer support groups: Brain Injury (Mon 1PM ET), Chronic Pain (Tue 12PM ET), Mental Health (Wed 7:30PM ET).

Details: https://kindnessrx.org

Help keep the groups free: https://buymeacoffee.com/kindnessrx

Connect: kindnessrx.org · YouTube @KindnessRX · Newsletter: https://kindnessrx.beehiiv.com/

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 (US Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).

Welcome back to the Support and Kindness Podcast, I'm your host, Greg Shaw, and I just wanted to let you know that we're not going to actually air a podcast this week. We've got some people who are sick this week, some people who are on vacation, and some people are just playing hooky.

Rich and I did record an episode for you, but unfortunately, yours truly had the audio settings wrong, and the audio just did not turn out, and I didn't want to bring it to you with all distortion and everything else like that.

You deserve better than that. So, take a break this week. Put your feet up and rest. But I did want to let you know about some really exciting things which are coming your way. The next podcast that we're doing is episode 38, and it's what you can actually control. We're going to talk about things that are within your control and things that are not within your control, what you can control, what you can't.

So that's something to look forward to. We're looking forward to that. And then after that, the next week is going to be adult ADHD, what you need to know. And followed by that, we're going to talk about kindness at work or kindness with a theme of work, and how much is kindness actually worth, and we'll spell out the cost of being kind at work and not being kind at work.

How much does it cost businesses in turnover, retention, and all of that good stuff. So we've got some really cool stuff coming your way. So, take it easy this week and be kind to somebody, and we'll see you soon on the Support and Kindness podcast. Have a great week.

Content note: This episode discusses mental health crisis, panic attacks, and suicidal thinking. If you're struggling, call or text 988 (US Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). International listeners: please use your local crisis line.When you cut your finger, you reach for the first aid kit. But what do you reach for when your heart is breaking, when anxiety floods you at 3 a.m., or when grief makes it impossible to get out of bed? Most of us were never taught.In Episode 37, Greg, Rich, Derek, Liam, and Sarah unpack what actually goes in an emotional first aid kit — and why you have to build it before the crisis, not during it.

Liam reframes the whole thing as an emotional utility belt.

Sarah shares how counting pulled her out of panic attacks.

Rich realizes he's been using tools he never named.

Derek leans on music as a full emotional journey.

And Greg gets honest about the fact that he doesn't have a kit yet either.What you'll take away:The difference between an emotional first aid kit and therapyReal, specific tools — grounding, frozen water bottles, stuffed animals, music, counting, naps, beading

• Why your kit needs to be quick to reach for, not just well-stocked
• How to adapt your kit for pain, brain injury, or any chronic condition
• The one thing Greg challenges you to build this weekChapters00:00 Introduction03:11 Surprising tools that helped07:31 Kit vs. therapy09:13 Where to start12:23 What actually goes in the kit18:42 Can the kit replace professional care?23:02 Using the kit when you can't think straight25:59 Adapting for pain and brain injury29:34 Freeform sharing34:27 What's on your heart43:29 Listener challenge & closingThis episode featured: Greg, Rich, Derek, Liam, Sarah

💜 Free weekly peer support groups:

• Brain Injury (Mon 1PM ET)

• Chronic Pain (Tue 12PM ET)

• Mental Health (Wed 7:30PM ET).

Details: https://kindnessrx.org

Help keep the support groups free: https://buymeacoffee.com/kindnessrx

Monthly newsletter: https://substack.com/@supportandkindness

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@kindnessRX