The writer (Lady Parts, The Onion) and dog walker shares about the lifelong battle she has had with her brain and emotions including: Intrusive thoughts, OCD, treatment-resistant depression, procrastination, self-judgment, and anger. She shares how REBT was a game changer for helping her cope.
Paul’s support group friend, recovering heroin addict and author shares about his upbringing on the Isle of Mann (UK) and the shame and anxiety he felt about secrets in his family and within himself. He opens up about his psychosis that convinced him that not only was he the devil he was also James Bond. He touches on his battles with depression, anxiety, panic attacks, codependency, religious delusions and grappling with the idea of what it means to be a man.
Originally recorded while speaking under the pseudonym “Daisy” to protect her from her abusive ex-fiancee, CC, a successful model, DJ and actress describes the abusive relationship she struggled to leave with a wealthy, powerful and manipulative drug addict/alcoholic who had turned increasingly violent and controlling. She talks about the emotionally difficult Mormon household she ran from at 17 to find herself sleeping in her car on the streets of LA, surviving a rape and using music to express her feelings of powerlessness and rage. She opens up about the therapist and support group that helped her leave the abuse and gain clarity on the dynamics of domestic abuse.
Renowned author & TedTalk speaker Dr. Guy Winch talks about different kinds of heartbreak, especially the ones some people minimize (loss of pets or non-married breakups). He gets into the science of how our brains react to loss, how we experience this emotionally and some tips for coping or supporting someone.
Paul is joined by two support group friends, Jonathan & Mukunda, to talk about their experience 3 weeks earlier when a shooting victim stumbled into their meeting and began bleeding out at their feet. Jonathan and Mukunda, both sober and ex-criminals, talk about how they were able to respond differently today than they would have when they were gangbangers.
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.
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.
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.
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.