Mental Illness Happy Hour

Paul's support group friend Meredith opens up about being raised by parents who lacked a sense of privacy or sexual boundaries; being sexualized by her father, mother (who has a long history of "accidentally" showing her vagina) and step-mother in covert but damaging ways, being comfortable giving help but not taking it or asking for it; being a perfectionist, self-harm, being attracted to emotionally unavailable men ( #loveaddiction ) and being on both ends of manipulative/coercive sexual experiences.  She also talks about the ways that therapy, support groups and mindfulness have helped her with these issues. 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 jobs for free go to www.ZipRecruiter.com/mental To buy tickets to LAPodfest Oct 6-8 (we're taping Oct 8th 4pm) at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown LA or to live stream it go to www.LAPodfest.com If you live in the Twin Cities c

Raised in financial privilege but emotional poverty, the actor/writer/standup reflects on her "don't give a fuck" eating disorder, drug and alcohol years trying to stuff the real feelings of abandonment, not being good enough, anxiety, anger and feeling invisible especially in comparison to her golden-child brother. She gets honest about the "self-centered demon inside me" that drove her actions until sobering up almost 20 years ago and learning to deal with her insecurities, fears and anger by connecting to trusted people in support groups and trying to be of service. Check out her great web series www.BitterHomesandGardens.com and her website www.FieldingEdlow.com This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling.  To try a free week go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental and fill out a questionnaire.  Must be 18 This episode is sponsored by ZipRecruiter.  To post job ads for FREE go to www.ZipRecruiter.com/mental To take the survey Paul mentioned on the podcast (to help out a graduate student doing a thes

The actor/writer/comedian known for the Netflix show Love, the movie Inglourious Basterds and IFC's Comedy Bang! Bang! opens up about his battles with anxiety, OCD, taking on other people's emotions, people pleasing, wanting attention, shame, fear of letting people down and the role vulnerability and therapy have played in him finding emotional stability and peace. Follow Paul on Twitter @PaulRust Follow Paul on Instagram @PaulRust This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling.  To try a free week go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental and fill out a questionnaire.  Must be 18 This episode is sponsored by HelloFresh.  To get $30 off your first week of meals go to www.HelloFresh.com and use offer code MENTAL30 To take the survey Paul mentioned on the podcast (to help out a graduate student doing a thesis on how this podcast helps people) click here. To become a monthly donor (and qualify for bonus content and goodies from Paul go to www.Patreon.com/mentalpod Catch the podcast live at LAPodfest Oct 6-8.  T

The author (Every Moment of a Fall: Recovery Thru EMDR Therapy) opens up in front of a live audience in Oakland about the years she abused herself through bad relationships, booze and sex before therapy and EMDR helped her confront her true feelings about her predatory father, passive mother, abusive step-father and the plane crash she survived as a 16 year-old. Visit Carol's website www.Carol-E-Miller.com Buy her book Every Moment of a Fall: Recovery Thru EMDR Therapy This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling.  To try a free week go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental and fill out a questionnaire.  Must be 18 This episode is sponsored by Warby Parker Glasses.  To try some on free at home go to www.WarbyParker.com/mental This episode is sponsored by the men's personal clothes styling service Bombfell  To get $25 off your first purchase go to www.Bombfell.com/mental To become a monthly donor (and qualify for bonus content and goodies from Paul go to www.Patreon.com/mentalpod Catch the podcast live at

Paul's support group friend shares about recovery and battles with binge-eating, shame, compulsive exercise, not knowing what he looks like, porn addiction, love addiction, fear of leaving relationships, feeling like he "is enough", growing up in a family where one sibling takes up all the parents' attention and energy, surviving the suicide of his brother and the huge impact learning to be vulnerable has had on his healing and life in general. Find out more about Matt at: Youtube: www.youtube.com/meetmattshepherd Instagram: www.instagram.com/meetmattshep Twitter: www.twitter.com/meetmattshep website: www.meetmattshep.com This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling.  To try a free week go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental and fill out a questionnaire.  Must be 18 To become a monthly donor (and qualify for bonus content and goodies from Paul go to www.Patreon.com/mentalpod Catch the podcast live at LAPodfest Oct 6-8.  To learn more go to www.LAPodfest.com To make a one-time donations via Paypal go to 

YouTube personality Sarah Sterling is 26 and was obsessed with Harry Potter (and Disney) since day one. At a convention she met a singer who captivated her. He was 24 and she was 16. Looking back, she sees it as statutory rape and is processing that. What's possibly even harder to process for her is that she still hasn't told her overly-protective easily-overreactive mom. Sarah talks about how she has always felt the need to protect her mom from information that would set off her anxiety and the dynamics of having a parent that loves her but sometimes just doesn't understand her or accept her as an adult. For more about Sarah visit: Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/sarahsterling_ YouTube- http://www.youtube.com/sarahsterling Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/sarahgsterling This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling.  To try a free week go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental and fill out a questionnaire.  Must be 18 To become a monthly donor (and qualify for bonus content and goodies from Paul go to

Louise (a pseudonym) shares about the moment in her otherwise mostly happy childhood that things changed.  She shares about the abuse at a posh Harry-Potteresque school when she was six by a headmaster who walked the dark halls with a torch; her mom's drinking, letting go of childhood shame, fear of conflict, how parents can support an abused child, when kids sexually abuse other kids, inner child work, Britain's NHS, and trying to cope with past trauma thru drugs and sex. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling.  To try a free week go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental and fill out a questionnaire.  Must be 18 This episode is sponsored by Casper Mattresses.  To learn more go to www.Casper.com/mental   Listeners can use offer code MENTAL  To become a monthly donor (and qualify for bonus content and goodies from Paul like the upcoming raffle for a free hotel, lunch with Paul, weekend passes for two and front row seats for the MIHH taping at LAPodfest Oct 6-8) go to www.Patreon.com/mentalpod Monthly

Why do some people enjoy physical pain or become aroused by it? For Kal, the discovery came with a lot of complications; he was a young boy and it was at the hands of a powerful and sadistic pedophile Rabbi (Heshy Brier) who is now a fugitive living in Israel. Kal shares about his years of self-destruction and bottoming out before eventually getting sober and starting the process of healing and advocating for other survivors. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online therapy. To try a week for free go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental  Must be 18. This episode is sponsored by BlueApron. To get your first 3 meals free with FREE delivery, go to www.BlueApron.com/mental To become a monthly donor (and qualify for bonus content and goodies from Paul like the upcoming raffle for a free hotel at LAPodfest Oct 6-8) go to www.Patreon.com/mentalpod To learn more about LAPodfest go to www.LAPodfest.com  To help fund Paul's next trip to record international guests, especially in Ireland, go to https://www.gofundme.com/pa

Imagine getting gay hate mail from your own family.  Or finding a letter where your parents talk about you in a way that confirms your worst fears.  How does Bipolar 2 compare to having something like cancer?  Comedian and author (How To Be Depressed: A Guide) Dana Eagle opens up about being a lonely kid in the 80s whose parents couldn't relate to her perhaps b/c her dad was alcoholic or her mom was thriving in her corporate job.  Or is it genetic?  Paul and Dana talk about art, comedy, shame, money, puberty, homophobia, abandonment, moving and apes!   Buy Dana's book How To Be Depressed: A Guide Visit her websites www.DanaEagle.comhttp://howtobedepressed.comhttps://www.facebook.com/DanaEagleComedy/https://twitter.com/DanaEagleTweetshttps://www.instagram.com/danaeagle/ This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling.  To try a free week go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental and fill out a questionnaire.  Must be 18 This episode is sponsored by Bombas socks.  For 20% off your first purchase go to www.Bomb

He's authored Grammy-nominated hits for the biggest artists, put out his own albums, written best-selling books on baseball, and directed a documentary on the Beatles.  And for as long as he can remember he has struggled with anxiety, panic attacks and feeling disconnected.  What happens when you're achieving your dreams but you haven't dealt with the feelings underneath the drive to be recognized?  Seth got his masters in clinical psychology.  He opens up about his life and his approach to dealing with mental illness -especially depression and anxiety-, making art, raising kids and finding peace through a life lived with authenticity and meaning. For info on or to purchase his book 21 Ways to a Happier Depressionclick here.   To see all the books, music, documentaries and art he's done visit Seth's personal website: Seth.com   To learn more about him as therapist in Los Angeles visit Seththerapy.com   This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling.  To try a free week go to www.BetterHelp.com/ment

Fat-shamed as a child by her mother and classmates, writer-performer Chelsea Frank, now 24, opens up about the complex role food plays in her life.  She talks about her struggles with weight, self-hatred, bingeing and restricting, going to "fat camps", life inside an eating disorder rehab and cutting contact with her abusive mother. Follow Chelsea on Twitter @ChelseaSFrank and on Instagram @ChelseaFrank This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling.  To try a free week go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental and fill out a questionnaire.  Must be 18 This episode is sponsored by BoredWalk. an artist-owned and operated graphic apparel company.  To get 10% off your first purchase go to www.IloveBoredWalk.com and use offer code MENTAL  To become a monthly donor and qualify for bonus content and goodies from Paul (including the upcoming raffle for a free hotel at LAPodfest Oct 6-8) go to www.Patreon.com/mentalpod To learn more about LAPodfest go to www.LAPodfest.com To help fund Paul's next trip to record inte

Creative and sensitive, born and raised in 1980's communist East Germany by a dysfunctional family, Anne's abuse was not dramatic, more like death by 1000 cuts.  Bearing the brunt of being a first child and resented for her intelligence, she developed BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) but has always turned the anger inwards, rarely if ever lashing out.  She talks about the benefits of learning DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) as well as her struggles with anorexia, bingeing, cutting and being passive aggressive as well as the greater context of her personal battles taking place alongside her country's people fighting for freedom and independence from a regime that shot its own citizens for trying to leave the country. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling.  To experience a week for free go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental and fill out a questionnaire This episode is sponsored by BlueApron.  To get your first 3 meals free with free shipping go to www.BlueApron.com/mental This episode is s

What goes on in someone when they're jealous, possessive, obsessive or need to create drama?  Mila was born into a family where her parents "couldn't live with/couldn't live without each other"  and she found herself as an adult becoming like them, She also began snooping on her partners and engaging in online and in-person affairs despite knowing better and wanting to stop but unable to leave her cold and uninterested husband. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling.  To try a week for free go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental  Must be 18. This episode is sponsored by Audible's Binge Listening Event which lasts until June 28.  Get $50 off the price of an annual membership as well.   www.Audible.com/binge Help Paul keep this podcast going.  It's not possible without donations and help from listeners like you.  You can help by: Becoming a one-time (PayPal) or monthly (Patreon) donor for as little as $1/month and qualify for bonus content and personalized stuff from Paul.  www.mentalpod.com/donate

19 year-old JT shares about the crippling anxiety, panic attacks and fear of abandonment he tried to alleviate for years through being hostile and controlling (of course it backfired) before finally deciding to get help. He shares with Paul the painful working-class childhood he had including the death of his parents when he was 8 and embracing his sexuality at 16. He talks about the importance mindfulness has played in helping him find the peace that has allowed him to deal with his anxiety. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling. To see if it's right for you go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental , fill out a questionnaire and try a free week. Must be 18 This episode is sponsored by ZipRecuiter. To post jobs and find the right person to hire fast, and for free go to www.ZipRecruiter.com/first To support the podcast through donations of money (one-time or recurring monthly for as little as $1) or frequent flyer miles, go to www.mentalpod.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat

Christina L (a pseudonym) shares about learning to stand up for herself after an abusive rehab therapist preyed on her as she was getting sober and the confusion of not knowing what he was doing was wrong.  She shares about her dysfunctional family, being bullied by boys in middle school, binge eating, and always being the "good child" by never making waves (unlike her sister who got most of the attention through speaking up or getting in trouble) but also never learning how to talk to her parents about her struggles for fear of bringing more chaos into an already unstable home.  She also talks about the difficulties in getting mental health treatment in her country, England. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling.  To try a week for free go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental and fill out a questionnaire.  Must be 18. This episode is sponsored by Casper Mattresses.   Help the podcast by checking out their highly rated products and to let them know you found out about them from the show go to www.

LMFT therapist Katie Vernoy and Paul respond to listener questions around the topics of 1) How childhood sexual abuse affects the survivors when they become adults and 2) How can people avoid job or helping burnout. They talk about the specifics of self-care and coping tips, acceptance vs approval, forgiveness, anger, misguided generosity, overprotective parents, people who can't say no and is it possible for a younger child to sexually abuse an older child? Katie's website: www.evolvetothriveconsulting.com    Katie's Facebook group for helpers to combat Sacrificial Helping, called The Helping Collaborative: https://www.facebook.com/groups/helpingcollaborative/    Katie's Facebook: Evolve to Thrive by Katie Vernoy    Katie's Twitter: Katie Vernoy     This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online therapy, to experience a free week go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental   This episode is sponsored by Bombas socks.  For 20% off your 1st purchase go to www.Bombas.com/mental   This episode is sponsored by BlueApron.  T

The Australian professional trombonist shares about the mental, emotional and logistical rigors of making a living as a classical musician and some insights into what drove him (and his peers) to such obsessive lengths. We get a peek behind the curtain into the dysfunction and sickness that can fester in such a high-pressure workplace and the poor coping mechanisms used by people who were raised to stuff emotions and just achieve to receive love. We touch on depression, anxiety, therapy, people pleasing, perfectionism, numbness and difficulty with intimacy. Turns out Mozart in the Jungle and Whiplash are not that far off. Check out Ben's podcast Double Depresso https://omny.fm/shows/double-depresso-podcast Ben's Twitter handle is @DepressoPodcast This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling. To experience a free week go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental and fill out a questionnaire. Must be 18 This episode is sponsored by the Scott Alan Turner podcast. For a free audiobook and to hear the strategies h

Rhonda says "It took me 20 years to get thru that day" as she opens up about the event that changed her life forever when she was 14 years old.   She talks about how it changed her view of God, herself and the world around her, sending her on a path or self-destruction she barely survived until finally dealing with the pain and anger, eventually healing and finding her life's purpose. Follow Rhonda on twitter @RhondaBritten Check out her websites for the course she mentioned www.fearlessliving.org/risk www.LifeCoachCertificationProgram.com and her books https://fearlessliving.org/books/ This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling.  To get a free week go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental This episode is sponsored by Audible and their new audio program Where Should We Begin?  To check it out go to www.Audible.com/esther (Audible & Amazon Prime members listen for free) This episode is sponsored by ZipRecruiter.  To post jobs for free go to www.ZipRecruiter.com/first To become a recurring monthly don

Dr. Feinblatt shares her experience as a therapist in working with co-dependent clients; how is co-dependency defined, what are some characteristics and how can it be treated or managed? She also shares about the importance of codependents learning about setting, enforcing and respecting boundaries. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling. To experience a free week go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental In addition to her private practice Dr. Feinblatt also works at Westside Treatment, an intensive outpatient program for addiction & mental illness. Dr Feinblatt (who is also a BetterHelp therapist) can be reached at: www.drnataliefeinblatt.comhttps://www.instagram.com/drnatalief/https://twitter.com/DrNatalieFhttps://www.facebook.com/drnataliefhttps://www.betterhelp.com/natalie-feinblatt/ Consider helping out the show by making a donation. Either one-time, recurring monthly (you get freebies from Paul) or by donating frequent flyer miles. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See

Rarely do we talk about the spouse of someone battling a serious mental illness. Mark and Giulia had never heard of Bipolar I with psychosis until she broke from reality well into their marriage. Taped in front of an audience in Oakland, they bare their souls about the pain and confusion of her treatment and Mark realizing how much help spouses also need. Check out Mark's new book My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward Visit his website www.MarkLukach.com This episode is sponsored by Blue Apron. To get your first 3 meals free with free delivery go to www.BlueApron.com/mental This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling. To experience a free week go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental Consider donating to the podcast with either a one-time donation, a recurring monthly donation (with free rewards) or donating frequent flyer miles. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.