Is it stress… anxiety… or depression?

And how do you actually know the difference?

This week on Journey to Joy Live, I’m breaking down the science behind what you’re feeling — and more importantly, what actually helps.

Because being “overwhelmed” isn’t a diagnosis.

And high-functioning doesn’t always mean healthy.

In Episode 138, we’re unpacking:

• How to tell normal stress from clinical anxiety
• When sadness becomes depression
• The brain and body signs you shouldn’t ignore
• Practical, evidence-based tools to start feeling better

No guessing. No stigma. Just clarity and strategy.

The NJoyNAL mentioned can be found on Amazon or at www.DrNJoyLIFE.com

In honor of Black History Month and Valentine’s Day, this week on Journey to Joy Live we’re celebrating Black Love, Black Healing, and Black Joy.

Join me and Riana Elyse Anderson, PhD, LCP — Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Columbia University Professor, and creator of the EMBRace program — for a powerful conversation on how connection, culture, and communication can transform racial stress into wellness and resilience.

Because this month, we honor Black love as community care, Black healing as resistance, and Black joy as freedom.

Contact Dr. Riana Elyse Johnson at TheEMBRaceProgram@gmailcom if you have a child(ren) between the ages of 10-14 and are in the Harlem area and interested in being a part of the EMBRace program (Engaging, Managing, and Bonding through Race)

Find Dr. Riana Elyse Johnson on IG @rianaelyse

Visit her website: www.rianaelyse.com

What if the peace you’re searching for isn’t in doing more — but in aligning more deeply?

This week on Journey to Joy Live, we’re getting Aligned for Joy with special guest Bianca Ariel, MBA, Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Recalibrated Vision™. @BiancaArielMBA

We’re breaking down the Core Four — Calling, Purpose, Passion, and Vision — and how to uncover each so you can move from burnout to alignment, from confusion to clarity, and from survival to joy.

Tune in as we explore:

- How to recognize when you’re out of alignment

- The difference between passion and purpose

-Why your calling evolves with each new season

- Practical steps to recalibrate your life, career, and mindset

Because when your purpose meets peace, Joy becomes your strategy — not your reward.

You can fake a smile, but your body always tells the truth.

This week on Journey to Joy Live, we’re going Behind the Smile to uncover the powerful connection between dental health and mental health.

I’m joined by Ria Sahara, DDS, Dentist and CEO of Gentle Dentistry of Newnan, to explore how our emotional well-being impacts our oral health — and how what’s happening in our mouths can reflect what’s happening in our minds.

Together, we’ll discuss:

-The stress–inflammation connection and how it affects your teeth and gums

- The emotional toll of dental anxiety, shame, and avoidance

- How self-care and oral care are deeply linked to confidence and joy

- Simple ways to nurture your smile and your mental health daily

Your smile is more than what you show — it’s how you feel.

Let’s talk about healing from the inside out.

Find Dr. Sahara at www.newnandental.com and @drriasahara

Ever felt like your mind just won’t shut off — like your brain is running hot from stress, exhaustion, or emotional overload?

This week on Journey to Joy Live, I'm diving deep into the science behind that feeling in “Brain on Fire: The Link Between Stress, Inflammation, and Mental Health.”

As a psychiatrist, I’m breaking down how stress doesn’t just affect your mood — it impacts your brain chemistry, your body, and your joy.

We’ll explore:

- What happens in your brain when stress turns chronic

- How inflammation fuels anxiety, depression, and brain fog

- Practical, science-backed ways to cool the fire and reset your peace

Because your brain isn’t broken — it’s overwhelmed. And with the right tools, you can calm your mind, heal your body, and reignite your joy.

Get your copy of the NJoyNAL at www.DrNJoyLife.com or Amazon!

Your “no” is not rejection, It’s protection.

This week on Journey to Joy Live, we’re talking about the power of boundaries and the freedom that comes with protecting your peace.

Join me and my guest, Jen Fry, PhD (she/her) — social justice educator, speaker, and CEO of JenFryTalks — as we unpack:

-Why “no” is a complete sentence

-How to set boundaries without guilt

-What it means to choose yourself without apology

-And how protecting your energy can actually multiply your joy

Because saying yes to everything is often saying no to yourself — and your peace deserves protection.

Find Dr. Jen Fry at www.jenfrytalks.com and on IG @jenfrytalks

Purchase her book: "I Said No: How to Have A Backbone and Boundaries Without Being a Jerk"

Are you working hard but feeling disconnected from what once fueled you?

It might be time for a Career Reset — not to start over, but to realign your work with your joy. This week on Journey to Joy Live, I sit down with Laura E. Knights, LCSW , CEO of Knights Consulting and Founder of Black Woman Leading, to talk about what it really means to:

-Recognize when you’ve outgrown a role or routine

- Heal from professional burnout

-Realign your career with your values and vision

-Reconnect your purpose to your peace

Because success without joy isn’t alignment — it’s exhaustion.

It’s time to redefine what thriving looks like in work and in life.

Special Guest: Laura Knights, CEO Knights Consulting & Founder Black Woman Leading

@lauraeknights @blackwomanleading

www.knightsconsultinggroup.com | www.blackwomanleading.com

Download your free copy of the Career Reset Kit at https://blackwomanleading.com/career-reset-kit/

Learn about the Black Woman Leading LIVE! Conference + Retreat http://www.bwlretreat.com/

New year. Same you — but lighter, clearer, and ready to begin again without burning out.

This week on Journey to Joy Live, we’re talking about The Joy Reset — how to move into a new season with peace instead of pressure. Because you don’t need a new you — you need a renewed you.

Because joy doesn’t come from doing it all — it comes from learning when to pause, breathe, and begin again.

Get your Joy Bundle at www.drnjoylife.com which includes The NJoyNAL and the Inspire Joy for the Wife Mom Boss: Balancing It All Without Losing Yourself.