The Bama Balance S02.E11: Questions from the Hat

[00:00:01] Speaker A: At the University of Alabama, we're committed to helping you be the best version of yourself in all aspects of your well being. The Alabama model of health and well being offers a holistic approach to wellness, connecting you with resources that support every aspect of your life, providing a roadmap to thriving in college and beyond. Learn [email protected] A message from Student Health. [00:00:23] Speaker B: And well Being and wvuafm the capso. [00:00:29] Speaker C: This show is not a substitute for professional counseling and no relationship is created between the show hosts or guests and any listener. If you feel you are in need of professional mental health and are a UA student, we encourage you to contact the UA Counseling center at 348-3863. If you are not a UA student, please contact your respective counties crisis service hotline or their local mental health agency or insurance company. If it is an emergency situation, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. [00:01:13] Speaker D: Welcome, everybody. This is the Bama Balance. Real stories about college men's mental health. Brooks, Edward. How are we feeling after fall break? [00:01:23] Speaker A: It was good. A little rejuvenation period. [00:01:26] Speaker B: Good. [00:01:27] Speaker A: Relax. [00:01:27] Speaker D: Caught. [00:01:28] Speaker A: Caught up on some sleep. So we've got a busy two weeks coming up. [00:01:32] Speaker D: Yeah. Yeah. I guess by the time this airs, we will have played lsu. Right. [00:01:38] Speaker B: And Oakland. Well, no. [00:01:41] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:01:41] Speaker D: Right. So we're winding down the football season. You know, we. We were talking earlier and I think our chances are still looking pretty good. [00:01:52] Speaker A: I like them. [00:01:53] Speaker D: Yeah. We're also still recovering from fall breaks. We're on our fall break. [00:02:01] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:02:01] Speaker B: My fall break was less restful. Yeah. Still great. [00:02:04] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:02:05] Speaker B: But I was on a. I was on a trip just to some rural communities. Learned a lot, but didn't sleep a lot. [00:02:13] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:02:13] Speaker B: And didn't do any school. [00:02:15] Speaker D: So just learning on different stuff. [00:02:17] Speaker A: Hey, that's a positive. [00:02:19] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:02:20] Speaker B: Well, I mean, positive in the sense of, yeah, it was cool over the weekend, but it means, you know, yesterday and then it's next week or gonna be catch up time. [00:02:31] Speaker D: How do you recover from. I mean, not recover, but. But how do you catch up on. Just rest. Because that, that trip wasn't. It wasn't for. I mean, it was busy trip. [00:02:42] Speaker B: Yes. [00:02:43] Speaker D: Right. Say a little bit about it. [00:02:44] Speaker B: I started by going to the late service on Sunday. [00:02:46] Speaker D: Okay. [00:02:47] Speaker B: Instead of the early one. [00:02:48] Speaker D: That's okay. [00:02:50] Speaker B: And I took some, you know, some NyQuil, which I usually don't do. [00:02:56] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:02:56] Speaker B: Unless I'm sick. [00:02:57] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:02:57] Speaker B: Because I don't want to, like, build a tolerance to that. [00:02:59] Speaker D: Right. [00:03:00] Speaker B: I want to save it for occasions like Last night where I was like, I want to sleep a lot. So I probably went to bed at 10, which is something I usually don't do either to try to get more sleep. But I mean, I'm. I'm like a second day person. Like the second day after I'm done with something is when it. Like the wave of exhaustion hits me. So today has been. [00:03:22] Speaker D: Kind of one of the dreads. [00:03:23] Speaker B: I've had to have a lot more coffee than I usually do. [00:03:25] Speaker D: This was the Blackburn trip? [00:03:27] Speaker B: Yes. [00:03:28] Speaker D: Say a little bit about that. [00:03:30] Speaker B: Well, I'm. So I'm a new student in the Blackburn Institute. And that's a. Like a civic engagement, civic leadership oriented organization where it's trying to just kind of have people develop their perspectives and encounter like new perspectives, specifically about Alabama and trying to see, like, how the state can be improved, like what issues the state faces. Excuse me. And the trip we went on was the rural travel experience for all the new students. And it was great. I learned a lot and I think, you know, I would. I wouldn't change a thing except for maybe do a little more school before, but it was amazing. But the nature of it is that you're on the road a lot and a lot of sessions and your mind is always occupied. So great trip, but mentally and physically taxing. So, you know, we're just. The motto is get through this week and I'll be fine. Once I'm back on track. It's just figuring out the recovery. [00:04:35] Speaker D: Yeah, yeah. Get through this week. Saving up for game day coming up. [00:04:41] Speaker A: Sleep good on Friday night. [00:04:42] Speaker B: Oh, yeah, yeah. And I'll be sleeping in on Saturday. [00:04:46] Speaker D: Morning too, because we don't gotta. [00:04:48] Speaker B: We don't gotta be there till later. [00:04:49] Speaker D: So it'll be a night game. It'll be a night game. We were talking earlier. Brooks and the Cheeseburgers had a great gig. [00:04:56] Speaker A: Yeah, it was a lot of fun, you know, just seeing. Especially when your uncle's up there. [00:05:03] Speaker D: Yeah, because. [00:05:04] Speaker A: Because as a kid, like. Yeah. You know, we'd see the drum set in his house and I'd kind of just laugh about it being like. [00:05:12] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:05:13] Speaker A: I mean, he still got it though. My dad testified. All growing up, like, I mean, they were pretty good, especially around here. Because, you know, bands, Bands around here serve a different purpose than Kings of Leon and stuff. These bands are just up there to get some noise. [00:05:29] Speaker D: Right. [00:05:30] Speaker A: But I mean, they, they, they had a great show and dressed up in fun Halloween costumes. It was, it was a good time. [00:05:36] Speaker D: I love that they do that. I love that they do that. [00:05:39] Speaker A: It was a lot of fun. [00:05:40] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:05:41] Speaker A: So. [00:05:41] Speaker D: No, I love that they do. [00:05:42] Speaker A: And they raise money for a good. [00:05:44] Speaker D: Cause, so that's fantastic. [00:05:46] Speaker B: I'd love. [00:05:46] Speaker D: I'd love to see him play out. [00:05:48] Speaker A: I've got some videos I'll show you. [00:05:50] Speaker D: Yeah, okay. Okay, Good, good, good. Brooks, is that your local hero, I hear, and. And quite the musician. So maybe if you all cut a CD or an album, we'll be able to air some of the clips here on the podcast. So it's one of those episodes today that's been a bit. Not Helter Skelter, but more like open ended. Last couple episodes have been pretty engaged, and so I think. I know for me, I was pretty not. Not tapped out, but just. It's okay not to engage all the time at that level. Yeah. So we've got something planned for you today. What are we calling. We're calling it sort of out of the Hat. And out of the Hat. [00:06:44] Speaker B: I wrote down random questions. [00:06:46] Speaker D: Random questions? [00:06:46] Speaker A: Yeah, from the hat. [00:06:48] Speaker B: Questions from the Hat. [00:06:50] Speaker D: I love it. Questions from the Hat. So each of us have written a couple questions that none of us have seen. And the idea is that we'll pick a question out of Brooks's hat, which he's kindly donated for this episode. So we'll pull out a random question and see what comes up and see what comes to mind. But we thought it'd be kind of a nice, fun way to still talk about the issues related to college men's mental health, but not necessarily have a formatted episode or preconceived topic that we'll talk about today. We'll see how it goes and we'll have fun with it. So if you are intrigued by that, stay with us. We'll be right back. This is the BAMA Balance. [00:08:01] Speaker B: Wvuafm Tuscaloosa. [00:08:04] Speaker C: This show is not a substitute for professional counseling and no relationship is created between the show host or guests and any listener. If you feel you are in need of professional mental health and are a UA student, we encourage you to contact the UA Counseling center at 348-3863. If you are not a UA student, please contact your respective counselor, crisis service, hotline or their local mental health agency or insurance company. If it is an emergency situation, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. [00:08:48] Speaker A: What's up, guys? We're back with segment one, questions from the Hat. Baby, this is gonna be awesome. We've kind of been joking around with it, but I think this will. Honestly, I was telling Dr. Perez, when we do stuff like this, is. Tends to get great answers, especially when we talk about the most random things. Bring out some of the. Some of the best advice and stuff, so. But as I'm sitting here looking, Edward has number one on his microphone stand, so I think I'm gonna let him pull the first question. [00:09:19] Speaker D: All right, let's go. Pick a good one. [00:09:21] Speaker B: If I pick my own, do I put it back? [00:09:23] Speaker D: Yes. Yeah, if you pick your own pick, put it back. [00:09:27] Speaker A: All right. [00:09:27] Speaker B: In your daily routines, how do you make time for your own mental health, and what do you do during that time? [00:09:37] Speaker D: Oh, that's a good question. [00:09:38] Speaker B: Was that you? [00:09:39] Speaker A: That was mine. [00:09:39] Speaker D: That was your question. That's a great question. Kind of daily routine. [00:09:45] Speaker A: I. [00:09:45] Speaker D: Don't you want to take this one first or do you know? [00:09:47] Speaker B: Oh, Lord. Okay. [00:09:48] Speaker D: I mean. [00:09:51] Speaker B: As I read that question and I was thinking about it, I was like, I don't even know if I have. [00:09:56] Speaker A: If you do. [00:09:56] Speaker B: If I do. [00:09:57] Speaker A: I mean. I mean, it may be like, once a week, because even I get. I'm not sure if I do it every single day. [00:10:04] Speaker D: But, yeah, I mean, I. I try to, so I usually will. I have my 12 o' clock hour blocked off, and if it's. If it's a working lunch, like it was today, it's just a working lunch. But if not, I'm usually like to take a walk to lunch out to the student center, but that gets me out and about. And, you know, particularly on a day like this, I'll just go walk in the quad, you know, for. For at least half an hour, and then pick up something, grab some lunch and come back. But I try. I try to do that, you know, each week. That's why I've got that 12 o' clock hour blocked on. If anything, it just gets me out. [00:10:42] Speaker B: Of the office, I think, for, like, it's so weird because I think the more I've, like, done this, like, the podcast I've started, I've started to become more aware of when I'm like, oh, maybe I need to, like, take a break. Or maybe I need to, you know, maybe I. I'm starting to recognize when, like. Okay, I'm feeling little more overwhelmed at the moment. Um, so it has got me. I think I'm more aware of, like, when I need a break. But still, that is something that I probably should do more of. [00:11:21] Speaker D: In terms. [00:11:22] Speaker B: Of, like, make having, like, like, distinct time for it. [00:11:25] Speaker D: Right. [00:11:28] Speaker B: As you know, I think the. The schedule of a college student is oftentimes not super conducive to, you know, it's just so busy. That is one thing that I definitely will be looking more into for sure. [00:11:44] Speaker D: So, you know, one thing I'm remembering now is even before I get to work, one of the things I do is on. On the drive here, I just listen to some meditative music, which is great. It just kind of puts me in a. In a pretty good mindset where I'm not focusing on what I have to do when I get to work. I figured I'll remember when I get here, but puts me in a pretty good mindset. At least, you know, something that eases me into the day and, you know, gets me off. Gets me started off on a pretty positive note. Yeah, I've got. [00:12:20] Speaker A: I've kind of got two that I was thinking about, and it kind of depends on the type of week I'm having. If I have a lot of tests or something like that. I find myself in my room a ton of. And that's where I kind of try to switch it up. So I'll take, like, you know, I guess multiple smaller breaks, especially around dinner time. [00:12:40] Speaker D: Right. [00:12:40] Speaker A: And I'll just kind of walk around the house, like pop in different people's rooms. [00:12:44] Speaker D: Yeah, yeah. [00:12:44] Speaker A: Talk to people. But if I'm not busy, I'm. I'm a big. I'm like a grandpa, honestly. It's like nine o'. Clock. I'm in my room, lights are off. [00:12:54] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:12:55] Speaker A: And I watch a movie. I've already told y' all numerous times, I'm huge movie guy. So that's. That tends to be. Just put my phone up, watch a movie, and, you know, the thoughts flow sometimes. [00:13:07] Speaker D: What's your favorite movie? Ooh. [00:13:14] Speaker A: So I can't. I can't. I can go, like, favorite trilogy or favorite series. I see Star wars is up there. Top three are Star Wars, Jurassic World. [00:13:24] Speaker D: Who? [00:13:24] Speaker A: Jurassic Park. [00:13:25] Speaker D: Right. [00:13:26] Speaker A: And Rocky. [00:13:28] Speaker D: Oh, those are all different, but really good. Yeah, yours is. Wait, don't tell me. Lord of the Rings. [00:13:35] Speaker B: I do love Lord of the Rings. Also love Star Wars. [00:13:38] Speaker D: Star wars is good. [00:13:40] Speaker B: I really like movies. I guess this doesn't really have to do with. I like movies that, like, make you think. [00:13:46] Speaker D: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. [00:13:47] Speaker B: And like, historical stuff. [00:13:49] Speaker D: Yeah, yeah. [00:13:53] Speaker B: Those are when I'm trying to, like, really dive into something. [00:13:57] Speaker D: So those are fun. I think those are great movies because they. They tend to settle you in and. And like you said, just let the. Just lose yourself in the movie and not have to think about anything else. [00:14:08] Speaker A: I think about Interstellar. Definitely one of those. [00:14:12] Speaker D: You know what? I, I probably need to watch that again somehow. I just didn't. [00:14:17] Speaker A: Every time I watch it, I pick up it seems like more and more. [00:14:20] Speaker D: Really? [00:14:21] Speaker A: That's just a question filled movie. [00:14:23] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:14:24] Speaker A: If you're a viewer. [00:14:25] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:14:25] Speaker A: I feel like there's just a ton of unanswered stuff, so. [00:14:28] Speaker D: Hi. Last weekend was Halloween. One of my favorite Halloween movies is Young Frankenstein. Have you ever seen that movie? [00:14:38] Speaker A: I don't think so. [00:14:39] Speaker D: You've not seen that movie, Edward? [00:14:43] Speaker B: No. [00:14:43] Speaker D: Oh, that was. Now I see this generational divide. [00:14:47] Speaker A: I will say though, Disney Channel has a Halloween town and I, I found myself watching that and I mean I've watched that since I was like 6, but it was just very super light hearted, like not scary at all. I used to be scared of it when I was a kid, but I'm watching it now, I'm thinking like, is I really scared of the skeleton Uber. [00:15:07] Speaker B: Driver that's driving him around town? [00:15:09] Speaker D: Like holiday skeleton? I love that. And those movies are great, you know, just, you're kind of relieving any stress. Makes you realize that sometimes it's okay to not take things too seriously. [00:15:23] Speaker A: Yeah, no doubt. [00:15:24] Speaker D: We are today. [00:15:25] Speaker A: Yeah, this is good. [00:15:27] Speaker D: Good question. [00:15:27] Speaker A: You want me to pull the next one? [00:15:29] Speaker B: Yeah, you're number two on the mic, so go ahead. [00:15:36] Speaker A: How do you know when you're feeling overwhelmed with stress and anxiety? [00:15:42] Speaker B: I wrote that one, so. [00:15:43] Speaker A: Yeah, that's a really good question. [00:15:45] Speaker D: Good question. [00:15:47] Speaker A: I think my mood kind of changes. [00:15:49] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:15:50] Speaker A: And I think I can almost see that with, with my interactions with other people. Maybe not me being like completely where they could notice it, but maybe I notice it more in myself. Like I have a short tension. Like, you know, I don't want to sit there and talk for a while. In my mind sometimes I constantly like think of how, you know, like I disagree with something they're saying, like. And I get stuck on that part of it when I'm biting my fingernails. [00:16:26] Speaker D: Oh, that's sort of physically. [00:16:28] Speaker A: Yeah, physically, that's a big one. And that comes at random Georgia game this year. I mean, I got back and I had absolutely no fingernails. [00:16:37] Speaker D: Oh yeah? Yeah. [00:16:39] Speaker B: Oh, man, that was really a nail biter. [00:16:42] Speaker A: Yeah, I was, I was up there biting. Um, but yeah, I mean, I'd say I'm constantly thinking about stuff too. [00:16:52] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:16:53] Speaker A: That I wouldn't normally necessarily think about throughout a normal day. [00:16:57] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:16:57] Speaker A: So there's all sorts of like different for me. Different little things that I can notice. Dr. Perez. [00:17:05] Speaker D: Yeah, I, I develop this eye twitch When I'm really stressed. Yeah, interesting. So I develop an eye twitch. And when I can feel it, I know that it's. My body's saying, you're stressed. Although sometimes I'm. I'm not always aware of what I'm stressed out about, but it gives me pause to think about, you know, one, my body's saying I'm stressed. And so it gives me some time to think about what is it that I'm actually stressed about. And either not acknowledging or not recognizing at the time. And inevitably it's, you know, it's. It's about, you know, some stressor at work or something like that. I think the other thing I'm aware of is like, internally I get. So I consider myself a pretty patient person, but when I start to feel impatient, which I think is. Well, I shouldn't say that it's. When I feel stressed or overly stressed, I can feel myself becoming impatient. And then I'm. When I'm aware of that, then I started becoming patient with myself, and that's not. And then my eye starts to twitch and. And all that. So it's really. It's really. I get my body's way of saying, hey, you're dealing with something. You need to kind of acknowledge it. [00:18:31] Speaker A: I think that's the crazy thing of it is everybody's so different in that aspect of like. [00:18:36] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:18:36] Speaker A: You know, you can pick up on different things because, I mean, you are yourself. Nobody knows you better than yourself. [00:18:43] Speaker D: Yeah, that's right. You know, listen to music or watch a good movie or two. [00:18:47] Speaker A: Yeah, absolutely. [00:18:49] Speaker D: Which. Yours up. [00:18:50] Speaker B: I think I. What I recently, recently came to this, like, discovery is that sometimes I feel nauseous. [00:18:56] Speaker D: Oh, yeah. [00:18:57] Speaker B: In a moment in which, like, it comes quick, I think that's when I feel a little nauseous. And then I don't know how to do. I'm like, I'll, you know, I'm like, I'm not about to throw. I don't think I'm about to throw up. I don't have a fever. I'm like, why do I feel nauseous? And I'm like, wait, I'm just thinking about things. Very anxious. But I think when it's like more gradual or when it builds up over time, it's probably like. I think my, My sleep is affected by it. [00:19:30] Speaker D: Right. [00:19:30] Speaker B: I don't think I sleep as well, which is probably pretty common. [00:19:33] Speaker D: That's a good telltale sign. [00:19:35] Speaker B: But I think I typically, like, sleep decently well. But when I'm, you know, when I Think I'm. When I'm stressed out, I'm either have like worse sleep habits in terms of like when I'm going to bed and getting up or just physically like I keep waking up because that's happened before. Right. I'll just like wake up at three o' clock in the morning and can't go back to bed. [00:19:57] Speaker D: Oh, I've had the same thing. [00:19:58] Speaker B: Was one of the, is one of the worst things because it's like I'm not even doing this to myself or I'm not even like making a decision to like be responsible. I just can't go back to sleep. [00:20:07] Speaker D: Can't go back to sleep. Right. [00:20:09] Speaker B: It's in those moments. That's how I throw on a movie at like okay, 3:30 in the morning. What else? I can't sleep. [00:20:18] Speaker D: Gotta do something. I remember feeling last time I felt nausea when I was anxious was watching that South Carolina game on tv. [00:20:27] Speaker A: Oh yeah, that was bad. [00:20:29] Speaker D: I was, Yeah. I was texting my brother. He said, how are you feeling? I said, I said I feel sick to my stomach right about now. [00:20:36] Speaker A: That's about it. [00:20:37] Speaker B: Yeah. Every football game. [00:20:38] Speaker D: Yeah, it was that game. It was that game. My stomach was tightened all the way. But Roll Tide, that was a great game. [00:20:49] Speaker A: Yeah, no doubt. [00:20:51] Speaker D: Oh man. But yeah, that's, that's, that's all. What did you do for. Oh, you suddenly watched the movie. [00:20:57] Speaker B: Yeah, in that one. That one time. But I mean, it's different things. Sometimes it's just kind of trying to clear my mind. [00:21:05] Speaker D: Right. [00:21:06] Speaker B: Meditate or. Sometimes I think reading will put me to sleep if I'm. [00:21:10] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:21:10] Speaker B: If I can't sleep. So I'll do that. And that's like a. I'll either read a lot or I'll just fall asleep into five minutes. Either way it's a win. [00:21:18] Speaker D: So. [00:21:20] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:21:23] Speaker D: What's the best thing you've done, Brooks, to sort of manage those stressful times other than watching a movie? [00:21:32] Speaker A: Like I said earlier, hanging out with. Hanging out with people. Friends especially. [00:21:40] Speaker D: There's something about shooting basketball. [00:21:43] Speaker A: We have a basketball goal right in our courtyard. So we'll just A lot of us out there, you'll see. Especially late at night when a bunch of us are at the house studying. [00:21:52] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:21:52] Speaker A: We'll just get like a game of horse or something going out there. [00:21:55] Speaker D: I found a lot of times just something physical. [00:21:59] Speaker A: Physical activity going to work out. [00:22:03] Speaker D: Right. Is enough to at least for me get me tired out, but also just take my mind off of it. The one thing that, that I Missed. I haven't been able to in a while. Hope to get back to it in the spring, is play golf. I found that that, I mean, oddly enough, as well as riding my motorcycle, helps relieve stress, because when I do that, I'm focused on one singular thing. However badly I play golf. [00:22:33] Speaker B: I was about to say golf makes me angry. [00:22:35] Speaker D: Does it really? Oh, see? Well, all right. So that's another level which I still enjoyed it. [00:22:39] Speaker B: It's a great game, but it's just like, oh, sometimes it makes me so mad. [00:22:43] Speaker D: Well, so, you know, I. The one thing that's. When I started playing golf, I used to really get pretty angry at myself. And I realized that there's nobody else out there to blame my performance on except me. It's just me and the horse. And there's nothing like being faced with accepting your shortcomings and not being able to blame it on anything else except your performance or your swing. [00:23:11] Speaker A: Golf is a good one. [00:23:12] Speaker D: It's a pretty. It's a pretty humbling game, pretty much so, you know, But I love it. I love it. No doubt. [00:23:19] Speaker A: Well, we're gonna wrap this. This segment up, and we'll be back with more questions from the hat in segment two. This is the Bama Balance. [00:23:46] Speaker B: Wvuafm Tuscaloosa. [00:23:48] Speaker C: This show is not a substitute for professional counseling, and no relationship is created between the show host or guests and any listener. If you feel you are in need of professional mental health and are a UA student, we encourage you to contact the UA Counseling center at 348-3863. If you are not a UA student, please contact your respective counties crisis service hotline or their local mental health agency or insurance company. If it is an emergency situation, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. [00:24:33] Speaker D: Hey, y'. All. [00:24:34] Speaker B: Welcome back to the final segment. Well, not the final segment, but the second segment. Second big one of Bama Balance today. It's been a fun episode so far. We've been. We've been very on the fly, but I've loved it so much on the fly. So Brooks and I have already answered a question out of the hat, so I think. Dr. Perez, it's your turn to grab one and. All right, get a reading. [00:25:01] Speaker D: So let's see here. All right, so this one is. What are some of the best ways you found to give yourself a mental break? [00:25:13] Speaker B: We kind of touched on this almost. Yeah, a lot of. A lot of. [00:25:17] Speaker D: Like, how do you relieve stress and all that? Do you have a quick answer to that? I can draw another one. But some of the best ways I've found. [00:25:26] Speaker B: I mean, this is my question. [00:25:28] Speaker D: Okay. [00:25:30] Speaker A: I said a little bit earlier. Movies, hanging out with friends. I'll throw one that you put in there. Golf. I love to play golf. And fishing, especially hunting. [00:25:40] Speaker D: Fishing, yeah. [00:25:41] Speaker A: Because, you know. [00:25:43] Speaker D: Huh. [00:25:43] Speaker A: That's just a. Plenty of alone time and. [00:25:45] Speaker D: Yep. [00:25:46] Speaker A: You get to think about some stuff. Deer, ducks. [00:25:51] Speaker D: Okay. [00:25:51] Speaker A: Dove. [00:25:52] Speaker D: Yep. Yep. [00:25:53] Speaker A: Stuff you can hunt down here without going out north or something like that. [00:25:58] Speaker D: Got it. All right, so I'll pick another one. Oh, gosh. This is a really good one, too. What's the one moment in your life that you can look back and see resilience? How has that changed you? How has that changed how you handle things today? Is this yours? [00:26:20] Speaker A: That was my question. [00:26:21] Speaker D: Great question. What's the one moment in your life that you can look back on and see resilience? How has that changed you? How has that changed how you handle things today? Gosh. Huh. I mean, I've got like 65 years to draw. It's hard to decide. One moment of resilience. [00:26:46] Speaker A: Or maybe if you have one in college that strikes you. [00:26:49] Speaker D: Yeah, I'm trying to. Gosh, I'm trying to think. Because when I think of resilience, I think of, you know, having faced some adversity. [00:26:59] Speaker B: Right. [00:26:59] Speaker D: Or going through some sort of trial or tribulation, that kind of thing. And withstanding it. Let me try and think. Edward, do you have one? [00:27:16] Speaker B: I mean, I feel like I could talk about any semester school and give a somewhat valid answer, but I think the, The. The one that, like, it comes to mind, at least if it's in the context of just college. [00:27:29] Speaker D: Right. [00:27:29] Speaker B: Last fall was weirdly challenging academically and I. So interesting because, I mean, I think I've had objectively harder classes both last spring and now, and I'm doing much better in all of them than I. For some reason, last fall, I just. Things were not clicking. [00:27:46] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:27:47] Speaker B: But I mean, I think it was towards the end, I. One, I. I went to get some. Some help from the capstone center of student success in terms of, like, how to, like, plan and manage, like, time for, like, studying and just get, like, do, like, better about keeping a schedule. And I think it was, you know, I think I just. I think that's the time where I started to develop a lot of, like, better habits when it came to approaching school and studying and some of those things. So I was just able to kind of adapt to the. The new reality of. Okay, you know, some. [00:28:31] Speaker D: You won't. [00:28:31] Speaker B: You won't be able to just half try and do great in classes. You know, it requires a lot of effort, which is a good thing. But I think that was. That's one moment where I was definitely, like, dang. [00:28:45] Speaker D: That was. [00:28:46] Speaker B: I was tough. [00:28:48] Speaker D: Right. [00:28:49] Speaker B: But also, out of college, my Eagle Scout was tough as well. Yeah. That was high school. [00:28:54] Speaker A: So I don't. [00:28:55] Speaker B: I mean, it's not, like, super applicable, but I mean, still. I mean, that's one moment where I think, like, that was years of. Of work. [00:29:03] Speaker D: Sure. [00:29:04] Speaker B: That culminated into one thing. So. And I forget about that a lot. [00:29:10] Speaker D: I mean, it's. I mean, it's not. Becoming an Eagle Scout's not meant to be easy. No. [00:29:14] Speaker B: No. [00:29:15] Speaker D: Right. [00:29:15] Speaker B: Not even a little bit. [00:29:16] Speaker D: Yeah. Yeah. [00:29:17] Speaker A: I'd want to be with you if I got stranded somewhere. [00:29:20] Speaker D: For sure. That's right. [00:29:21] Speaker A: I've got a few friends that I keep. Like, if I feel like something may happen, like, I'm. I'm keeping an eye on where they're at that's ready to stay close to them. [00:29:28] Speaker D: Oh, yeah, for sure. [00:29:29] Speaker A: Get the location. [00:29:31] Speaker D: How did that build your resilience, then? [00:29:34] Speaker B: I mean, it was. I think I truly learned what perseverance meant in that moment. I mean, getting those. Getting those last. First few, like, merit badges, especially when, you know, you're in high. Like, it's, like, later in high school, like, you're able to drive. You're able to just kind of do whatever you want. Especially me being the youngest kid of four. I mean, it was like, I had a lot of freedom. So just having to, like, get it done, because I'm. I just. I knew it was gonna be very beneficial, but it was. [00:30:06] Speaker A: Right. [00:30:06] Speaker B: There's times where I'm like, there's. Literally, I'd rather be doing anything else in this work. But, I mean, perseverance and a lot of. I think it taught me perseverance, but how to, like, persevere while also going in, like. What's the word? Like, being proactive with other people. Try. It's like, people. I needed, like, different. Like, who. Like, who were certified to teach these different things. So I had to, you know, really make an effort to go and reach out to them. Like, hey, I need your help to get this requirement. And there was a lot of that. But I think I learned a lot about perseverance, what that meant, and resilience. [00:30:48] Speaker D: It's good. You know, I. It took me a while to think about it, but as I thought about it, probably the most memorable event, at least recently anyway, was during a point in time where I was struggling with my faith. And I can't remember if we talked about this during our faith and spirituality episode, but it was a moment in time. I was struggling with my faith as a result of the death of my best friend due to cancer and gosh. So he was my best friend. We grew up together and he died of lung cancer. He was a non smoker but died of lung cancer. Had two kids, was married, had two kids and he was 39 when he died. He's a physician, great guy, one of the best guys you'd ever meet. And so I struggled my faith from that time because as much as Michael was another friend. Michael. So I've had a couple friends. Michael. But as Michael was battling with cancer, I don't know that my prayers were ever so intently made. But also when he died, I really. It felt like they were also then not hurt, you know, understand. And it felt kind of at its worst, a bit of a betrayal. So I started questioning, not, not necessarily giving, giving up my faith, but really questioning hard. And I did that for about 12 years. 12 years, that's lot a long time kind of wandering the desert. But oddly enough, not oddly enough, but maybe fittingly enough, you know, I was able to regain it just as I started here of all things. And I think part of it was getting reconnected to a church community and getting. Which allowed me to get reconnected to my faith. [00:33:05] Speaker A: Awesome. [00:33:05] Speaker D: Yeah. So. But that was about 12 years of just wandering and questioning. [00:33:13] Speaker A: That's great. [00:33:14] Speaker D: Yeah, yeah. What about for you, Brooks College? [00:33:19] Speaker A: I'd say, golly, I hate coming back to this. But probably honestly changing my major because at that point, you know, that was a lifelong dream of becoming a dentist. And then you have to look at it in the face and is that dream really for me, is that in my best interest? So that was. That was pretty tough. And I feel like honestly I'm a lot happier now, more content with my decision and leading up to that decision, you know, that's especially when I was like going to tell my parents and stuff. [00:33:52] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:33:53] Speaker A: You know, not that they'd be disappointed or upset or anything, but they were probably. I mean they were probably going to take it just like I did, you know, especially when they had thought all along, you know, that's what I wanted to be and we had prepared to do some stuff like that. And just a lot of time that was spent towards that and had to run away with it. And I look back on a lot of my high school sports and there have Just been truly some great moments, especially team wise, that I can look back on and think that we had a squad and it was all. It was all fine and dandy even. Even though we shouldn't have necessarily been able to do some of the stuff we did, we were able to win some big ball games and those are some fun moments to look back on for. Sure. [00:34:44] Speaker D: That's. That is definitely resilience in the making right there. [00:34:47] Speaker A: Oh, yeah, no doubt. We didn't know it at the time. None of us would even know how to start spell that. But I think we all back on it now and are just happy and, you know, made along with that, made friendships that will never die. [00:35:02] Speaker B: So. [00:35:02] Speaker D: Love it, love it, love it. [00:35:05] Speaker A: What do we want to pull? [00:35:07] Speaker D: One more? Let's go ahead. Let's go for it. [00:35:10] Speaker B: All right. [00:35:17] Speaker D: Feel like a drum roll is in order. [00:35:21] Speaker B: What is your most favorite childhood memory and how does it. [00:35:28] Speaker D: Oh, this is mine. Yeah. [00:35:29] Speaker B: How does it. What to your mental health. Contribute. Contribute. [00:35:35] Speaker A: What do we. What do we consider childhood? [00:35:39] Speaker D: Anything from when you were born to now. [00:35:42] Speaker B: Okay. [00:35:44] Speaker A: All right. [00:35:48] Speaker D: I bet I've got more than. Well, actually, I was gonna say, I bet you I've got more than yours, but there are only so many I can remember at this age. [00:35:56] Speaker A: I think there are a lot. Yeah, definitely. First one being when I got baptized. A million percent. And that just goes to show itself. I feel like. [00:36:10] Speaker D: What was that decision? How did you, like, go about that decision for yourself? [00:36:15] Speaker A: I had, I mean, growing up in a family that constantly in church, and I just wanted to, you know, looking at my parents, especially my mom and dad, like, seeing how their relationships with the Lord were and, you know, as a kid, that was something I wanted to be exactly like my parents, which I'm glad. [00:36:35] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:36:36] Speaker A: Now that I. I was looking like that. So I basically just wanted to follow. Follow their footsteps and, you know, had some talks with our youth pastor and it was just the right decision for me at the time and has been great ever since. So I'd say probably that and then backing it up with probably state championship senior year. Baseball, that was just. We, I mean, a bunch of us were just great friends growing up and spent so much time on ball fields, maybe different teams and little League and stuff. And then we got to the high school level and we were definitely not by any means supposed to win the state championship that year. But when it. When it came down to, you know, crunch time and we're. We're looking back on it, like, wow, you know, we weren't Supposed to be there. We were, and we ended up being able to get it done. And that taught me a lot about life in general. Sometimes you're not supposed to be the top dog, and sometimes you may feel that stuff's not meant to be done by you, but that's all a lie. However hard you work is what you're gonna reap the benefits of. [00:37:49] Speaker D: Yeah. So love it. Love it. [00:37:54] Speaker B: I mean, it's hard to think of, like, the, like, my most favorite in terms of, like, one memory, but I think one thing that comes to mind a lot is I think I. Oh. Like, just growing up where I grew up, like, I wasn't, like, super in the country, but I was still pretty. Like, I was. I was in a pretty. Like, I had room. We had room. Because I lived around farms, so I get. Like, I was always able to just kind of be outside, I think. And definitely trips that I take with my family, like, to the mountains. I think I grew in a pre. Like, when it comes to, like, how that applies to my mental health, like, I always. I think I had an appreciation for being outside. And I was a kid especially, like, running out in the woods, like, building fires and making forts out of. [00:38:44] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:38:44] Speaker B: Fallen limbs and stuff. [00:38:45] Speaker D: Stuff. Yeah. [00:38:47] Speaker B: So I think as it. When it comes to trying to, you know, like, improve your mental health, like, I think for like, one thing I do like doing is going outside. I like going outside. I like being kind of in fresh air. I feel cooped up a lot very easily. So just kind of getting some fresh air or even, you know, built. Like, last night, I built a fire. [00:39:09] Speaker D: Okay. [00:39:09] Speaker B: I have a little fire pit in the backyard of my house where I live, and had, like, a little, like, a couple, like, really small, like, half of a pallet. [00:39:18] Speaker D: Okay. [00:39:19] Speaker B: That was just sitting in our backyard. So I'll just put a fire burn that kind of, you know, long weekend, kind of unwind. [00:39:27] Speaker D: That's such a great image. [00:39:29] Speaker B: So I think, like, just being outside, memories of. Of, like, very early, that I have bad memories of being outside, except for, like, pulling weeds when it was kind of work. [00:39:38] Speaker D: When it was work. Right. [00:39:40] Speaker B: If it was, like, any kind of yard work. Oh, that was less desirable. But even as I got older, like, some of that I grew an appreciation for. [00:39:49] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:39:50] Speaker B: No, some of it I wouldn't do even today. I think pulling weeds is one of them. But, like, if I ever had to, like, you know, clean up limbs on a tree, like, chop them down and haul them somewhere, like, that was always taxing. But it was good Something rewarding about that, isn't it? [00:40:04] Speaker A: Absolutely. [00:40:05] Speaker D: I think kind of one of my favorite memories is my brother and I, My youngest brother and I, we played. This is one summer. I can't remember when it was, but we ended up playing like four and a half rounds of golf one day. It was fantastic. Holy cow. We had. [00:40:25] Speaker A: It was all day. [00:40:26] Speaker D: All day. We had the course to ourselves. We started in the morning, but we had the course to ourselves. Nobody else was out there for tee time and we only had to pay once. The guy in the. In the pro shop said, there's nobody out here. Course is all yours. So we ended up playing four and a half rounds of golf. Still had all. I mean, most of the balls I came out there with. [00:40:45] Speaker B: That's always a plus. [00:40:46] Speaker D: It was great. But, you know, it taught me. It said to me it was about, you know, doing things at the spur of the moment, being spontaneous, and the joy that comes from that. So, as a matter of fact, come to think of it. So that helps my mental health in terms of not having to stress too much about making plans because I can. You know, I like to plan things just because it helps make whatever event go well, but also doing things at the spur of the moment, not having any plans. Kind of like what we're doing today. Just doing things on a certain spur of the moment. It's kind of a nice, fun way to. To still get our points across, but also not to stress ourselves out too much about what are we going to talk about today? [00:41:29] Speaker B: Shake it up a little. [00:41:30] Speaker D: That's right. [00:41:30] Speaker B: Keep it fresh. [00:41:31] Speaker D: That's right. [00:41:33] Speaker B: Well, that was our second segment of today's podcast. I've had a lot of fun. I'm sure we'll have a few more things to talk about in our outro. This has been the BAMA Balance. Wvuafm Tuscaloosa. [00:42:07] Speaker C: This show is not a substitute for professional counseling and no relationship is created between the show hosts or guests and any listener. If you feel you are in need of professional mental health and are a UA student, we encourage you to contact the UA Counseling center at 348-3863. If you are not a UA student, please contact your respective counties crisis service hotline or their local mental health agency or insurance company. If it is an emergency situation, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. [00:42:52] Speaker D: Welcome back to our last segment of the Bama Balance. So this was our first try at this. What do we think? [00:42:59] Speaker B: I like this. [00:43:00] Speaker D: It was kind of fun. [00:43:01] Speaker A: Yeah, I thought it was awesome. It gives us a, like you said, good break from. I feel like we've had a lot of deep, deep, meaningful conversation recently. Not that this wasn't meaningful, but not quite as heavy. Yeah, maybe. [00:43:16] Speaker D: Yeah, there's something about it too, that, that, like, I enjoy. I enjoy just the. The impromptu nature of it. Yeah, right. And I think it draws me back to, you know, kind of the realness of our conversations and not wanting to force anything. [00:43:35] Speaker B: Right. [00:43:35] Speaker D: I think sometimes when, you know, I know when I can plan or over plan, then it can feel too forced and not. Not real. [00:43:45] Speaker A: Yeah, no doubt. I think we. I think at some point maybe we need to bring this back. Maybe next semester. [00:43:53] Speaker D: Yeah. Yeah. [00:43:54] Speaker A: Especially with. We were talking about it earlier, maybe getting some of the fan input questions. [00:43:59] Speaker B: For some audience input. [00:44:00] Speaker A: Audience. [00:44:01] Speaker D: Yeah. That's a great idea. [00:44:02] Speaker B: Look out for that on the Instagram. No, maybe sometime soon or next semester for sure. [00:44:07] Speaker D: If you've got. If anybody has things they'd like us to talk about or if they're wanting to maybe even perhaps share their story, check us out. DM us on our Instagram account @thebama balance. And we. We'd love to hear from. From anybody. [00:44:25] Speaker A: Yeah, absolutely. [00:44:27] Speaker D: To see what your thoughts are. We've been, you know, we've been really thankful for those who've been able to listen and stay with us this semester and certainly all throughout the spring semester last year. So it's been great. And I think that we're kind of now at a point where we've got more feedback from others who are wanting to be a part of. Part of the podcast and also realizing that. That there's also more to come from the three of us. And so I look forward to these. To these times, too. [00:45:05] Speaker A: Absolutely. Great start to the week, for sure. [00:45:08] Speaker D: It really is. [00:45:09] Speaker A: Hopefully next week we'll be on a high note, too. [00:45:11] Speaker D: That's right. That's right. So I guess in terms of things that you all looking forward to this week, any. Any highlights for you other than the game, maybe? [00:45:22] Speaker A: I was about to say Saturday. [00:45:27] Speaker D: We'Ve. [00:45:27] Speaker A: Got elections on Wednesday for the fraternity. And I always think that's interesting, especially just to hear, you know, guys now, I guess, younger than us and their input and how they think things really run, knowing that they don't know how they run. [00:45:44] Speaker D: Right. [00:45:45] Speaker A: But just seeing them, you know, get up there in a friendly competition and try to beat each other out for a spot. So that'll be fun to watch. And, oh, and basketball tonight, I'll be. Yeah, I'll be in Coleman at 7:00'. Clock. [00:46:01] Speaker D: That's not Notre Dame. North Dakota. Gosh, yes. Seven o' clock tonight. [00:46:06] Speaker B: Man, they don't. They gave us some. Yeah, they gave us some hell last year. [00:46:10] Speaker D: Yeah, they did, didn't they? [00:46:12] Speaker B: That one dude put up Eagle staff. [00:46:14] Speaker A: I think it was crazy. [00:46:16] Speaker D: It was crazy. [00:46:17] Speaker B: Couldn't miss crazy. [00:46:18] Speaker D: So you're going to the game tonight? Oh, yeah. What time does Chapter end for you? [00:46:22] Speaker A: We don't have Chapter. [00:46:23] Speaker D: Oh, I'm sorry, that's Wednesday. [00:46:25] Speaker A: Edward and them. [00:46:26] Speaker D: Okay. [00:46:26] Speaker B: We have Chapter tonight. [00:46:27] Speaker D: Okay. [00:46:28] Speaker B: And elections. [00:46:29] Speaker D: And elections. It probably won't be over by. By 8:00'. Clock. [00:46:34] Speaker B: I doubt it. [00:46:36] Speaker D: Maybe by the half. [00:46:37] Speaker B: I might have to just catch it on the. On the ESPN plus or whatever. It's on. I don't know if I'll be making it to Coleman. [00:46:46] Speaker D: Gosh, I'm glad you reminded me of that. I'm excited, too, about the season. [00:46:50] Speaker A: It'll be fun. [00:46:50] Speaker D: I can't wait. I'm also excited to see, you know, Nate Oates and what he does with his team. It's. I have high hopes and expectations this season. Season. [00:47:02] Speaker A: Absolutely. [00:47:03] Speaker D: Yeah. I think it'll be good. It'll be good. Well, thank you all for joining us. Edward Brooks, it's been great to see you guys again. [00:47:10] Speaker B: Good to be here as always. [00:47:11] Speaker D: Yeah. And thank you all for joining us for another episode of the Bama Balance. Till next time, I'm Dr. Tony Perez. [00:47:19] Speaker A: I'm Brooks Barbary. [00:47:20] Speaker B: And I'm Edward Fountain. [00:47:21] Speaker D: And we'll see you all later. [00:47:41] Speaker B: Wvuafm Tuscaloosa. [00:47:44] Speaker C: This show was not intended as a substitute for professional counseling. Further, the views, opinions and conclusions expressed by the show hosts or their guests are their own and not necessarily those of the University of Alabama, its officers or trustees. Any views, opinions or conclusions shared on the show do not create a relationship between the host or any guest and any listener, and such a relationship should never be inferred. If you feel you are in need of professional mental health and are a UA student, please contact the UA Counseling center at 348-3863. If you are not a UA student, please contact your respective counties crisis service hotline or their local mental health agency or insurance company. If it is an emergency situation, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.