Running is often described as a cure-all for stress, anxiety, and low mood. Many runners report feeling calmer, clearer, and more focused after a run—but does running actually help mental health in a clinically meaningful way?

In this episode of the State of Mind Podcast, Dr. Shyam Bhat examines the science behind running and mental health, exploring when running can be genuinely beneficial and when it may not be enough, or even become harmful.

Dr. Bhat reviews research on exercise, mood, and cognition, including studies showing improvements in mild anxiety and depression, as well as large meta-analyses comparing high-performance athletes with non-athletes. He explains why running helps some people feel better temporarily, yet may fail to address deeper anxiety or clinical depression.

This episode explores:

1. What research really says about running and mental health
2. Why running helps mild anxiety and depression but not always severe cases
3. The role of endorphins, adrenaline, and the autonomic nervous system
4. How chronic stress and anxiety affect the body’s biomechanics
5. Why running in a fight-or-flight state can increase injury and health risks
6. The importance of mind–body alignment when exercising
7. When to seek professional help instead of relying only on exercise

Running can be joyful, meditative, and deeply healing—but only when it comes from the right internal state. This episode invites a more mindful, integrated approach to movement, mental health, and self-care.

To know more, follow Dr Shyam Bhat on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drshyam_bhat

Twitter: https://x.com/shyambhat

WhatsApp Channel:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6sRziD8SDyMkA7r139

While coronavirus spread across the world, something else spread even faster: anxiety.

In this episode of the State of Mind Podcast, Dr. Shyam Bhat explores why pandemics trigger widespread fear and panic, often taking a greater psychological toll than the illness itself. Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and existential theory, he explains why uncertainty, novelty, and awareness of mortality activate deep fear responses in the human mind.

Dr. Bhat discusses how new and unknown threats strongly activate the brain’s fear centres, why modern humans struggle more with uncertainty than previous generations, and how pandemics confront us with the reality of our own mortality—fueling anxiety beneath the surface.

Rather than reacting with panic, this episode invites you to respond with awareness, balance, and compassion—focusing on what you can control, letting go of what you cannot, and using this moment as an opportunity to build resilience.

Touching elders’ feet is often seen as a ritual but what does it really mean?

In this episode of State of Mind, Dr. Shyam Bhat explores the psychological, emotional, and cultural significance behind touching elders’ feet. Beyond tradition, this practice reveals how respect, humility, and connection are expressed across generations—and how its meaning has evolved in modern society.

This conversation looks at:
• Why this gesture exists across Indian culture
• The emotional impact of respect rituals
• Power dynamics, consent, and changing generational values
• How traditions adapt without losing their essence

Whether you grew up practicing this ritual or questioning it, this episode offers a thoughtful perspective on how traditions shape relationships, identity, and emotional bonds.


To know more, follow Dr Shyam Bhat on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drshyam_bhat

Twitter: https://x.com/shyambhat

WhatsApp Channel:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6sRziD8SDyMkA7r139

In times of uncertainty, stress, and isolation, the mind naturally drifts toward fear, worry, and worst-case scenarios. Our brains are wired to predict the future—but when the future feels unclear, this very ability becomes a source of suffering.

In this live episode of the State of Mind Podcast, Dr. Shyam Bhat explains why stressful and unprecedented situations amplify anxiety, and how meditation helps us reclaim calm, clarity, and emotional stability—regardless of what is happening outside us.

This session includes both a guided meditation practice and a deeper explanation of why meditation is so effective during periods of uncertainty, loneliness, relationship strain, and fear. Dr. Bhat explains how the human brain struggles with uncertainty, why we habitually postpone peace until life feels “perfect,” and why learning to access calm within is essential for resilience.


This meditation is not about forcing relaxation—it is about allowing the mind and body to settle naturally by coming fully into the present moment.

If you are feeling stressed, anxious, lonely, or overwhelmed, return to this practice as often as you need.

Self-love is often presented as the ultimate solution to mental health struggles.

But what if self-love, when misunderstood, can actually deepen suffering?

In this episode of State of Mind, Dr. Shyam Bhat explores the dark side of self-love—where it helps, where it harms, and why balance matters. Drawing from psychology, philosophy, and Eastern perspectives, this conversation goes beyond pop-culture definitions to examine self-love in a deeper, more integrated way.

If you’ve ever felt confused, pressured, or disconnected by the way self-love is talked about online, this episode offers a grounded and thoughtful perspective.

What we discuss:
00:46 Mental Health in India
03:06 Clinical Depression
05:04 Suicide
06:12 Selflove
08:00 Ayn Rand
11:19 What is Selflove
13:48 Selflove in the East


To know more, follow Dr Shyam Bhat on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drshyam_bhat

Twitter: https://x.com/shyambhat

WhatsApp Channel:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6sRziD8SDyMkA7r139

In this episode of State of Mind, Dr. Shyam Bhat explores why stress, anxiety, and emotional burnout have become the new normal in today’s world.

We are living in what Dr. Bhat calls an “insane world”, a culture shaped by hyper-individualism, material success, self-absorption, and constant comparison. While modern society offers technological progress and economic growth, it is also quietly reshaping our sense of self, connection, and emotional well-being.

This conversation goes beyond surface-level mental health advice. Dr. Bhat examines how global culture, social norms, and modern values contribute to rising levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness, substance abuse, and suicide—and why mental health is not just an individual problem, but a societal one.

Drawing from Indian philosophy, Eastern psychology, and spiritual traditions, Dr. Bhat explains why reconnecting with ideas of interconnectedness, transcendence, and collective well-being may be essential to counter today’s culture of hyper-productivity and materialism.

This episode asks a powerful question: Can a society achieve success and innovation without losing peace, connection, and happiness?

If you’re interested in mental health, stress management, modern life, emotional well-being, Eastern philosophy, self-growth, and the psychology of society, this episode offers a deeply reflective and eye-opening perspective.

Timestamps
0:00 📖 Dr. Shyam Bhat shares an old Sufi story about a cursed kingdom. He relates this story as a metaphor for the state of current global culture and its impact on stress and anxiety levels.

3:32 📈 Dr. Bhat discusses the alarming statistics of stress, anxiety, and depression in today's world, emphasizing that they have become the new normal. He highlights the increase in emotional anguish and suicide rates, as well as the epidemic of isolation and substance abuse.

6:25 🌍 Why the individual is not solely responsible for their mental health issues. Dr Bhat argues that society plays a significant role in shaping the mental well-being of individuals, and the current societal norms contribute to the stress and anxiety epidemic.

9:50 🎯 What are the features of this ""insane"" modern world that contribute to the stress and anxiety epidemic. Dr Bhat discusses the increase in self-absorption, the emphasis on material achievement, the decrease in frustration tolerance, and the focus on the external rather than the internal.

12:38 🤝 Dr. Bhat highlights the importance of authentic relationships and the dangers of superficiality in today's world. He points out the obsession with language over behavior, which leads to a lack of genuine emotional connection and understanding.

16:29 🔍 The issue of hyper individualism and the toxic idea of the self as separate and disconnected from the universe. A healthier perspective is to recognize the interconnectedness of the self with society, culture, and the natural order of the universe.

18:46 ❤️ Do you need to say I love you to your parents to express love? Observations about an event hosted by a famous self help guru and how western ideas about love and communication are influencing our own rich cultural traditions

19:47 🌟 Dr. Bhat concludes by emphasizing the need for greater awareness and understanding of the toxic aspects of today's world. He encourages viewers to challenge societal norms and embrace the Eastern perspective of the self to find balance and true happiness in life.

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To know more, follow Dr Shyam Bhat on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drshyam_bhat/?hl=en

Twitter: https://x.com/shyambhat

WhatsApp Channel:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6sRziD8SDyMkA7r139

Loneliness is becoming a global epidemic and it’s rising rapidly in India. In a country known for community, family, and social life, more people than ever are feeling isolated, disconnected, and emotionally alone.

In this episode of State of Mind, psychiatrist Dr. Shyam Bhat breaks down the growing loneliness crisis through a powerful lens of psychology, neuroscience, and social behavior. Why are so many people feeling disconnected despite being constantly online? What does chronic loneliness do to the brain, mental health, and physical well-being? And most importantly, what can we actually do about it?

Dr. Bhat offers thoughtful insights into how loneliness is reshaping modern society and what it means for our relationships, sense of belonging, and inner well-being.

If you’re interested in mental health, loneliness, emotional well-being, relationships, human connection, psychology, and modern life in India, this episode will help you better understand what you’re feeling—and why you’re not alone in it.

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To know more, follow Dr Shyam Bhat on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drshyam_bhat/?hl=en

Twitter: https://x.com/shyambhat

WhatsApp Channel:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6sRziD8SDyMkA7r139

People have been handing more of their thinking to AI and it's changing their minds in ways no one fully understands yet.

In this episode of State of Mind, Dr. Shyam Bhat breaks down what AI is really doing to our minds through a powerful lens of psychology, neuroscience, and human experience. Why do we feel understood by a machine that cannot feel anything? What happens to the brain when we outsource thinking, feeling, and even friendship to AI? And most importantly, what becomes uniquely, irreplaceably human in a world where machines can imitate almost everything we do?

Dr. Bhat offers thoughtful insights into how AI is reshaping the way we think, feel, and connect and what we must protect to stay human as the technology grows more powerful.

If you're interested in mental health, artificial intelligence, emotional well-being, human connection, consciousness, psychology, and the future of being human, this episode will help you understand what's shifting in your own mind and why choosing to stay present has never mattered more.

To know more, follow Dr Shyam Bhat on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drshyam_bhat/

Twitter: https://x.com/shyambhat

WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6sRziD8SDyMkA7r139

Disclaimer: Any patient or client narratives discussed in this video are presented solely for educational purposes. All case histories are composites drawn from clinical experience. Identifying details, personal characteristics, and contextual information have been changed or combined to protect confidentiality. Individuals described do not represent any specific person or actual patient or client.