We talk a lot in Boca Raton about health: fitness, nutrition, staying active.
But mental health? That conversation is still catching up.
“A huge percentage of the population is struggling, no doubt,” said Dr. Raphael Wald, a board-certified neuropsychologist at Marcus Neuroscience Institute, part of Baptist Health South Florida, when he joined me on The Paige Kornblue Show.
Based right here in Boca Raton, Dr. Wald works with individuals and families across all stages of life helping them better understand their brain, their emotions, and their path forward.
One of the biggest challenges with mental health is that you can’t always see it.
“With mental health, you can’t really point to it,” Dr. Wald explained. “With diabetes, you can point to a blood test, with a heart condition, we can point to imaging.”
Without that visible proof, it’s often misunderstood, or minimized.
“The overwhelming majority of the time, mental health problems come and they will pass. You’re not a depressed person, you’re a person with depression, it doesn’t define who you are. It will pass. You can get through it. It’s not who you are.”
When I asked for one thing anyone can do today, his answer didn’t involve anything complicated.
“Walk. Walk. Walk. Just go. If you can’t get in the pool, do chair yoga. You just have to move your body. It improves everything. 30 minutes a day, five days a week, that’s the goal” said Dr. Wald.
Another takeaway that hits especially close to home:
“The more that you surround yourself with negativity, the more negative you’re going to feel. If you go onto your social media feed, don’t expect to feel better after you close it,” added Dr. Wald.
His advice isn’t to disconnect completely, but to be intentional.
“It’s probably time to take a break or to really relook your feed,” said Dr. Wald.
At Marcus Neuroscience Institute, located on the campus of Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Dr. Wald and his team are helping families navigate everything from anxiety and depression to memory disorders and neurological conditions.
It’s the kind of place many in our community don’t think about until they need it.
And when they do, it matters.
In a place like South Florida, where life moves fast and expectations run high, this conversation felt like a pause.
You’re not alone. What you’re feeling won’t last forever.
And sometimes, the most powerful next step is also the simplest.
Walk.
Connect with Dr. Raphael Wald and the Marcus Neuroscience Institute here.
Listen to Paige’s interview with Dr. Wald in full and for more on Community, Travel and Sports, visit PaigeKornblue.com | Instagram | Substack
