Mental Illness Happy Hour

The Salon contributor and author of Getting Off: One Woman's Journey Through Sex and Porn Addiction shares about her sex addiction, which began at age 12 after discovering masturbation as a way of soothing her anxiety and not having to deal with her feelings but over time escalated into riskier and more addictive behavior which she eventually sought help for. She shares about the odd relationship shame and pleasure have for her when acting out and how today she can have sexual experiences that are actually intimate and freeing. For more on Erica go to www.EricaGarza.com Follow her on Twitter @EricaDGarza Buy her book here This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.  To get your first week of online counseling free go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental  Must be 18 This episode is sponsored by SquareSpace.  For a free trial and 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain go to www.SquareSpace.com and use offer code Mental.  To see Paul's SquareSpace site with his dog pictures and music go to www.Paul-Gilmartin.s

She battled OCD as a child but when she gave birth to twins it gripped her again despite being a trained psychologist who specializes in...yes...OCD. A great episode about the power fear, dark thoughts and shame in fueling OCD but also the power of getting help. She tearfully recalls her obsessive monitoring of her newborns despite being exhausted; being gripped by fear, almost certainty of their imminent deaths if she left their side. Dr Yip shares about her postpartum OCD and OCD in general, how it can be treated, how loved ones can be supported without enabling them and the pressure on young mothers to "be perfect" in the eyes of other young mothers. For more on Dr. Yip Website: www.RenewedFreedomCenter.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drjennycyip/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrJennyYip Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjennyyip/ Book: Productive, Successful YOU! End Procrastination by Making Anxiety Work for You Rather Than Against You Podcast: The Stress-Less Life with Dr. Yip This ep is spo

The writer (HBO's Crashing) and stand-up (Me Being Me) opens up about his dad abandoning his family when he was 2 years-old and how that has effected his view of the world, himself and now his children. He talks about his struggles with food, anger, making mistakes, letting people into his life for fear of them disappointing him and he also discusses his need as a child to care for his overburdened mother after his father left. For more on Jay, including his new special "Me Being Me" go to www.JayLarsonComedy.com Follow him on Twitter at @JayLarsonComedy www.Twitter.com/JayLarsonComedy Follow him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/JayLarsonComedy This ep is sponsored by BetterHelp online therapy.  To try a week of counseling for free go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental  Must be 18 This ep is sponsored by SquareSpace.  Go to www.SquareSpace.com to try it for free and when you're ready to launch use offer code MENTAL for 10% off your first purchase of a domain or website.   For more on Jay, including his new special "

Couple's therapist Jen Elmquist sits down with Paul and answers questions about the most common mistakes and hurdles couples face and offers advice on how to value your partner and relationship without devaluing yourself. There are no surveys in this episode as Paul will explain in the opening 20 minutes. Moments before he sat to record he was at his usual Thursday night support group meeting when it was interrupted by a shooting outside their building and the bleeding victim taking refuge in his meeting.   For more on Jen Elmquist: Twitter: @jen_elmquist FB: @jenelmquistlmft Insta: @relationshipreset LinkedIn: Jen Elmquist, LMFT website: www.jenelmquist.com Buy her book Relationship Reset: Secrets From A Couples Therapist That Will Revolutionize Your Love For a Lifetime This ep is sponsored by BetterHelp online therapy.  To try a week of counseling for free go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental  Must be 18 This ep is sponsored by SquareSpace.  For 10% off the purchase of a website or domain go to www.SquareSpace.

Imagine having a panic attack live on-air while anchoring ABC news. That happened to Dan Harris in 2004. The Nightline anchor, Good Morning America Weekend Co-anchor, war correspondent and author (10% Happier) opens up about his history of anxiety, depression, drug abuse (he's now sober) and witnessing horrific scenes while reporting in conflict zones. He talks about being skeptical at first about meditating but after researching it like a reporter, interviewing scientists and trying it himself he discovered it actually helps his anxiety. Dan is also the host of the 10% Happier podcast. Check out Dan's books about meditating and the power of getting help. Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics: A 10% Happier How To Guide 10% Happier You can find Dan on social media at  https://www.facebook.com/DanHarrisABC/ https://twitter.com/danbharris https://www.instagram.com/danharris/ And check out his podcast   10% Happier Podcast (An ABC News Podcast) https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/10-happier-with-dan-harris/id108714782

The author (My Fair Junkie) details her jaw-dropping and often hilarious descent from a nice (but spoiled) Jewish girl from Beverly Hills to shooting coke into her neck, bottoming out on meth and sex and being assigned to a chain gang after threatening her ex-husband with a knife and ultimately having to rebuild her life.  She shares on her struggled with self-harm, BDD, depression, anxiety, sex addiction, suicide attempts, psych ward stays, fear of growing up, the danger of relying on her father's money, their complicated relationship and the abandonment by her mother. For more on Amywww.amydresner.com   twitter: @AmyDresner   IG: @amydresner   FB:  @amydresnerofficial    And buy her book My Fair Junkie This ep is sponsored by BetterHelp online therapy.  To try a week of counseling for free go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental  Must be 18 This ep is sponsored by Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.  Learn more at www.JHSPH.edu/FeelGood This ep is sponsored by Casper mattresses.  Get $50 to

The young writer/director (2 Kawaii 4 Comfort) shares about the intersection of people on the autism spectrum (especially Asperger's) and nerd culture especially anime. He opens up about his diagnosis as a child, different therapies his parents tried and what it feels like to be on the spectrum. He talks about a lot of the myths and stereotypes of people on the spectrum and how he has changed from an angry, withdrawn non-verbal child to an adult who is able to function easily in mainstream society (aka neurotypical people). Watch all of the show Luke wrote and co-directed at www.2Kawaii4Comfort.com You can also check out its FB page https://www.facebook.com/2K4Comfort/ Scroll down to see the list of different anime genres Luke put together for people unfamiliar with it. This episode is sponsored by Quip electric toothbrushes.  To get your first brush refill for free go to www.GetQuip.com/mental This ep is sponsored by BetterHelp online therapy.  To try a week of counseling for free go to www.BetterHelp.com/me

Born mixed-race to a white prostitute mother and a black, pimp father, Nicole grew up belonging to one of the most notorious families in the Boston underworld. Having seen and experienced unimaginable things, she found an outlet in music and finally gained a sense of self until drugs and alcohol stepped in. She shares about her new path in healing the PTSD, staying sober and trying to realize her artistic dreams. She also touches on being a lesbian, having a nervous breakdown and a dogged belief in science which cracked open the door for her to reimagine a universe that might hold the love and positivity she has found essential to staying sane. Nicole performs under the name Blu Nyle. Check her out on all social media @BluNyleGlobal or her speaking about the importance of opening up here This ep is sponsored by BetterHelp online therapy.  To try a week of counseling for free go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental  Must be 18 To become a monthly donor (and qualify for bonus content and goodies from Paul go to www.Pat

Marc and Sonja Raciti both served in the military; he as a medic, she as a psychologist. They talk about PTSD myths and the PTSD he struggles with from fearing for his life to seeing unspeakable carnage to having survivor's guilt. She weighs in as his supportive partner, a therapist, and an ex-officer who witnessed and experienced both overt and subtle sexism while she served. They also address how Marc has been able to heal thru exposure therapy and EMDR. Buy Marc and Sonja's book about his battles with PTSD, I Just Want To See Trees:A Journey Thru PTSD This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling.  To experience a free week, go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental Use offer code MENTAL This ep is sponsored by HelloFresh meal kit delivery service.  For $30 off your first week go to www.HelloFresh.com and use offer code MENTAL30 This ep is sponsored by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.  To learn more go to www.JHSPH.edu/FeelGood This ep is sponsored by ZipRecruiter.  To post jobs for FREE

In a live show recorded in Oakland, the 26 year-old writer (Shitfaced) discusses the loving but strained atmosphere growing up and his teenage years attempting suicide, drinking his way to rehabs and an eating disorder. He shares about making peace with being gay, therapy and the importance of writing and using other emotional tools today to keep him sane. Buy ‘Shitfaced’ on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Shitfaced-Musings-Former-Seamus-Kirst/dp/069282281X   Follow Seamus on Twitter and Instagram @SeamusKirst, and ‘like’ his page on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/seamuspatrickkirst/ This ep is sponsored by BetterHelp online therapy.  To try a week of counseling for free go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental  Must be 18 This ep is sponsored by Casper sleep products.  For $50 off your first mattress go to www.Casper.com/mental and use offer code MENTAL This ep is sponsored by Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.  Learn more at www.JHSPH.edu/FeelGood This ep is sponsored by Quip electric toothbrushes.  To get your

The award-winning playwright, t.v. writer (Jack Ryan)and author (Devil in Ohio) opens up about feeling abandoned by her father and the effect it has had on how she views herself, her place in it and the conscious decision she has made to become the hero of her own story by dealing with her fears of not being enough or taking chances. She shares about the catharsis of putting dark parts of herself in some of her characters and she and Paul talk about the awful feelings of jealousy or envy towards peers.  Photo by Elisabeth Caren. Devil in Ohio available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Daria-Polatin/e/B0762C6B61/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1 Twitter: @DariaPolatin // https://twitter.com/DariaPolatin?lang=en Instagram: @DariaPolatin // https://www.instagram.com/dariapolatin/ Facebook: @dariapolatinauthor // https://www.facebook.com/dariapolatinauthor/ This ep is sponsored by BetterHelp online therapy.  To try a week of counseling for free go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental  Must be 18 This ep is sponsored by ZipRe

The standup/podcaster (Here We Are podcast) shares about taking unconventional approaches to his battles with depression and hopelessness. He opens up about his kind but very religious and uncommunicative parents and the hometown where things weren't questioned and getting help was considered weak or weird. For more about Shane and his A Good Trip tour go to www.ShaneMauss.com Follow Shane on Twitter at @ShaneComedy Listen to his podcast at www.HereWeArepodcast.com or on Apple Podcasts here This ep is sponsored by BetterHelp online therapy.  To try a week of counseling for free go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental  Must be 18 This ep is sponsored by ZipRecruiter.  To post job ads for free go to www.ZipRecruiter.com/mental This ep is sponsored by the book Memory Rescue. For info go to www.MemoryRescueBook.com To become a monthly donor (and qualify for bonus content and goodies from Paul go to www.Patreon.com/mentalpod To make a one-time donations via Paypal go to www.mentalpod.com/donate Help the podcast by shoppin

Growing up Kelly McCarron's home life wasn't chaotic or abusive but she still struggles mentally and emotionally. After filling out the show's Shame and Secrets survey she reads it aloud, touching on the issues of self-esteem, the aftermath of being sexually assaulted by a co-worker at 18, binge eating, social anxiety, BiPolar, loneliness, being bullied in middle school and giving up on a painful relationship with a sibling. Follow Kelly on YouTube  Check out her standup on Open Comedy Follow her on Twitter @KellyBMcCarron and on her Facebook Page This ep is sponsored by BetterHelp online therapy.  To try a week of counseling for free go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental  Must be 18 This ep is sponsored by the Family Ghosts podcast as well as The Hilarious World of Depression. This ep is sponsored by Quip electric toothbrushes.  To get your first brush refill pack free at www.GetQuip.com/mental This ep is sponsored by the book Memory Rescue.  Purchase it at www.MemoryRescueBook.com To become a monthly donor (and

30 year-old Mary M. left America for Europe to escape not only an American culture that was wearing on her but a family where she was tired of being the scapegoat to her golden-child brother.  An all-too-common scenario where her parents can only seem to support her financially but not emotionally. She discusses the prejudice she experiences as a queer woman of color, what she has learned by having a fiancee who is a trans man and the subtle politics of skin color within the black community. Other topics: when well meaning but narcissistic parents focus too much on molding their child out of fear rather than listening to what their child wants and the excessive political correctness that she believes is making true communication more difficult between people who need to hear each other, NVLD and OCD. This ep is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling.  To experience a free week go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental This ep is sponsored by HelloFresh meal kit delivery service.  For $30 off your first week of meals

Panic attacks, agoraphobia, anxiety and depression had brought Sam to a very dark place a few years ago and he decided he needed help. Bit by bit he began to see how his childhood and negative self-beliefs had to be re-examined. A new clarity on the dysfunction in his family (a disinterested workaholic dad and a controlling, angry mother) gave him the hope to began protecting himself from the pain of having them in his life. A great episode on self-care, cutting contact with parents, re-parenting ourselves and the importance of humor and pursuing our dreams and being our authentic selves even if it means disappointing others. Sam's Website:  https://www.sisyphusbrewing.com/ NAMI MN: http://www.namihelps.org/ This ep is sponsored by BetterHelp online therapy.  To try a week of counseling for free go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental  Must be 18 This ep is sponsored by ZipRecruiter.  To post job ads for free go to www.ZipRecruiter.com/mental This ep is sponsored by Audible.  To start your free trial go to www.Audibl

The 32 year-old poet, mental health advocate and daughter of a Nigerian immigrant father and Brooklyn mother opens up to Paul about her emotional and mental turnaround after years of feeling suicidal and several times attempting it. She details the ways her depression, disconnection and fear of taking off her "mask" as the perfect, popular girl played in leading her to believe it was a good idea. She and Paul discuss possible ways loved ones can reach out to someone who is talking about suicide as well as how the person who is in pain can find help and potentially hope. Her relationship with her mother, who is a doctor, is a great example of how someone in the helping profession can still learn ways to communicate with and love someone who is hurting. Follow Kelechi athttps://kelechiubozoh.wordpress.com/https://twitter.com/kubozoh Check out the documentary she appears in called The S Word The book about covert incest that Paul mentioned is called Silently Seduced. This ep is sponsored by BetterHelp online th

Paul's longtime friend, standup (Letterman) and actor (Everybody Loves Raymond) shares about his struggles with OCD, ADD and feeling the need to control people's opinions about his behavior even after lashing out at someone. He talks about his childhood and the negative self-beliefs and self-hatred that he's now understanding have been driving his behaviors and fears. For more on Andy go to www.AndyKindler.comwww.Facebook.com/AndyKindler or www.Twitter.com/AndyKindler This ep is sponsored by BetterHelp online therapy.  To try a week of counseling for free go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental  Must be 18 This ep is sponsored by RXBar protein bars.  For 25% off your first purchase go to www.RXBar.com/mental and use offer code MENTAL This ep is sponsored by Glynn Washington's new podcast about cults entitled Heaven's Gate.  It can be found in Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. To become a monthly donor (and qualify for bonus content and goodies from Paul go to www.Patreon.com/mentalpod To make a one-time donations via Payp

The mortician, TED Talk speaker and author of Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, talks about her childhood OCD and fascination with death as a result of witnessing a tragedy, how she'd like to see the American funeral industry change and how death is viewed/embraced around the world via a read excerpt from her new book From Here To Eternity: Traveling the World To Find The Good Death. Follow Caitlin on Instagram @TheGoodDeath Follow Caitlin on Twitter @TheGoodDeath Check out her website www.CaitlinDoughty.com Buy her new book From Here to Etnernity: Traveling the World To Find The Good Death This ep is sponsored by BetterHelp online therapy.  To try a week of counseling for free go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental  Must be 18 This ep is sponsored by Hello Fresh meal kit delivery service.  For $30 off your first week of deliveries go to www.HelloFresh.com and use offer code MENTAL30 This ep is sponsored by ZipRecruiter.  To post jobs for free go to www.ZipRecruiter.com/mental If you live in the Twin Cities come see a live

The comedian, co-author of He's Just Not That Into You and longtime friend of Paul drops by to lighten his day up. They laugh at their fears, loves and thoughts about mortality and getting older. Check out Greg's PODCAN podcast network Here is the episode with Paul that he talked about Follow him on Twitter @GregoryBehrendt Check out his website http://www.gregorybehrendt.com/ Visit his Facebook Page This ep is sponsored by BetterHelp online therapy.  To try a week of counseling for free go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental  Must be 18 To buy tickets to LAPodfest Oct 6-8 (we're taping Oct 8th 4pm) at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown LA go to www.LAPodfest.com If you live in the Twin Cities come see a live taping of the podcast in the afternoon and a comedy show that night at Sisyphus Brewery (with Paul as the emcee) Sat Oct 14th.  Click here for tix or info. To become a monthly donor (and qualify for bonus content and goodies from Paul go to www.Patreon.com/mentalpod To make a one-time donations via Paypal go to ww

Specializing in treating clients whose self-judgement of their thoughts results in obsession and compulsions, Kimberley sits down with Paul and talks about the different forms OCD can take and how to treat it or support someone you love without enabling their compulsions.  She and Paul also play a game she plays with clients called "One Up" where they try to outdo each other in sharing "disgusting" things that pop into their brains to show we all have thoughts pop into our heads that make us uncomfortable and laughing about it instead of judging it is the healthy response.  Be forewarned, some of the stuff they share might be considered offensive or too intense for some listeners. Links and resources mentioned by Kimberley. KQ links:  Her podcast: Podcast Your Anxiety Toolkit Website: kimberleyquinlan-lmft.com Her Facebook:  Her Instagram     Other links:  Best website and org to help get info and resources Iocdf.org Best book for a family member with OCD Best book to explain Intrusive thoughts/OCD This ep