Listeners share their deepest darkest struggles and darkly hilarious “awfulsome” moments via email and surveys. Also a contemplation on the life and death of transgender teen Leelah Alcorn.
This episode is sponsored by SquareSpace. For 10% off your first purchase go to www.squarespace.com and use offer code MENTAL
To view Paul’s SquareSpace site (and his dog park pics) go to www.paul-gilmartin.squarespace.com
The 37 year-old Canadian comic discusses his two psychiatric hospitalizations, his social anxiety, feelings of being overwhelmed by daily tasks and his Bipolar II (with rapid cycling); also how sports helped him channel his anger about his abusive dad and what he does to stay in balance today.
You can find Ian on Twitter @IGutoskie His website is FunnyIan.com
This episode is sponsored by Love With Food. Visit www.lovewithfood.com/happyhour to get your first monthly snack box free (plus $2 shipping) and Love With Food will also donate a meal to a hungry child. Offer lasts until Jan 1st 2015.
The comedian shares about the three traumas that led her to finally seek somatic therapy for her disassociating subtype of PTSD, how she’s healing and the tools she uses to cope today.
Follow Lauren on Twitter @SBelleLauren Visit her Facebook Page Follow her Instagram Feed
Paul’s 41 year-old friend talks (and laughs) about his arrested emotional development and struggle to be an adult after a childhood where he often had to parent his parents because of their addictions, mental illnesses (including hospitalizations and suicide attempts) and lack of boundaries.
This episode is sponsored by Audible. For a free 30 day trial and a free downloadable audio book go to www.audible.com/mentalpod and sign up.
The Marriage and Family Therapist Intern opens up about the rarely-discussed trauma of miscarriage, the lack of traditional grief support in our culture, and the surprising results she got from seeking an alternative healing therapy (a full spectrum doula) after her fifth miscarriage.
The blog piece that Gillian wrote is called The Closing of the Bones.
Her therapy website is http://gillianchacheretherapy.com/
The Youtube piece that Paul referenced about sexual trauma survivors’ is here.
The 24 year-old first generation Mexican-American is currently unable to stop her anorexia, bulimia or blackout drinking. She shares what her struggle is like and about the abusive ex-boyfriend whose chaos and trauma-bonding helped distract her from her feelings and finally she shares about the family life where most of her pain originated
This episode is sponsored by Cards Against Humanity visit them at www.cardsagainsthumanity.com
The former NHL goalie opens up about his difficult childhood and the OCD that helped him professionally but ultimately almost ended his life. He shares about his anxiety, depression, alcoholism, suicide attempt and the PTSD from a skate to the neck that almost caused him to bleed to death during a televised game in 1989. Clint has survived it all an more importantly got the help his “cowboy” upbringing had stigmatized for years as “weak”. Clint’s book is called A Matter of Inches (in Canada it’s called The Crazy Game).
“No man ever pleased me like cocaine did.” The 60 year-old shares about the drug that helped her with her ADD, feel skinnier, prettier and more powerful especially when she began dealing it by the kilo. She also opens up about her stint in prison and the things she learned there that helped her emotionally when being treated for breast cancer. She is currently a certified drug and alcohol counselor studying to become a MFT (Marriage and Family therapist).
This episode is sponsored by the hilariously offensive party game Cards Against Humanity and their 10 Days or Whatever of Kwanza. For more info go to www.holidaybullshit.com
This episode is sponsored by LootCrate. For 10% off any subscription go to www.lootcrate.com/happyhour and use offer code HAPPYHOUR
Born with achondroplasia dwarfism to emotionally unavailable Taiwanese immigrant parents, Sam shares about being a “litte person” and the ways support groups have helped her navigate dealing with love addiction, sex addiction and co-dependency.
SquareSpace sponsored this episode. For a Free Trial and 10% off, go to www.squarespace.com and use offer code MENTAL.
Harry’s shaving products sponsored this episode. To get $5 off your first purchase go to www.Harrys.com and use the offer code Mentalpod