Marriage and Family Therapist Erika Holmes answers listener questions from Facebook and Twitter. Topics include Eating Disorders, Borderline Personality Disorder, PTSD therapies, Neurofeedback and damage caused by parents who are religious zealots. Erika can be followed on Twitter @ErikaHolmesMFT and her website is www.erikamft.com
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The comedian/burlesque dancer (she goes by the name Lucky DeLuxe) talks about the power, pitfalls and rush of performing with and without her clothes on, including being a sex worker at a “jack shack” to make ends meet. She opens up about her low self-esteem, fear of the future, struggles with her dad and desire for truth no matter how bleak it may be. She also opens up about being attracted to unavailable men who often hide their relationship with her from friends and family.
The former Second City improviser turned drug & alcohol counselor talks about his mother’s suicide when he was 12, coming out at 16 (in 1981), getting physically sober but being emotionally toxic and being fired from the prestigious improv company. They talk about the breakthroughs felt in doing EMDR (and CBT). Paul also reads some surveys and emails on the topic of suicide given the nature of this week’s news about Robin Williams. On the surface this may seem like a very dark episode and while it has its moments, it is ultimately not a downer.
The photographer and activist talks about her bookwormish childhood, coming out in high school, the abusive relationship she couldn’t bear to leave and her project which documents the stories of suicide attempt survivors (she is one) Live Through This. To check out Dese’Rae’s website go to www.livethroughthis.org and follow her on Twitter at @DeseraeStage This episode is sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. To participate or support their Out of the Darkness Walk which takes place on Sept. 20th in Chicago, go to www.chicagowalk.org This episode is sponsored by Bulu Box. To learn more and get a MIHH listener discount go to www.bulubox.com click on the microphone in the upper left hand corner and use the offer code “happyhour”.
Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Fibromyalgia, ME, etc) a purely physical ailment or is there also an emotional component related to trauma. Pamela shares about being an incest survivor as well as the challenges of living with CFS and being a people pleaser. She also shares about raising a child with Selective Mutism and learning to be emotionally intimate with her supportive husband. Pamela is also a singer/songwriter. To learn more about her or her music check out her ReverbNation Page
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Recently diagnosed with BiPolar II, the actor and director of Jason Nash is Married talks about his fear of being just like his father by never being a breadwinner and his inability to fully enjoy what others seem to be able to easily enjoy, including being married and a stay-at-home dad.
Follow Jason on Twiiter @Jason23Nash Check out his Vine videos And be sure to check out the trailer for his movie Jason Nash is Married which is available to stream on Itunes or Amazon
This episode is sponsored by Bulu Box. To learn more and get a MIHH listener discount go to www.bulubox.com click on the microphone in the upper left hand corner and use the offer code “happyhour”.
The West-Indian-American writer/performer shares about being raised by a violent and mentally unstable mother who refused to take meds, often leading to 911 calls and police. She also talks about her own depression, anxiety, perfectionism and relationship struggles.
This episode is sponsored by Bulu Box. To learn more and get a MIHH listener discount go to www.bulubox.com click on the microphone in the upper left hand corner and use the offer code “happyhour”.
The actor/singer and fiance of past guest Chemda talks about being a trans male (male but born into a female body) and despite his religious upbringing (his father is a minister) coming to embrace being transgender. Check out Lauren’s website at www.laurenhennessy.com and follow him on Twitter @LaurenHennessy.
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At 40, Jilll took up competitive boxing to work through the childhood PTSD caused by her mother’s physical abuse. She shares about living with depression, aiding other female fighters and making her documentary Fight Like a Girl.
This episode is sponsored by Bulu Box. To learn more and get a MIHH listener discount go to www.bulubox.com click on the microphone in the upper left hand corner and use the offer code “happyhour”.
To take the listener survey for Paul’s potential advertisers go to www.podsurvey.com/mentalpod Your email will not be sold or exploited, only to contact you if you win the $100 Amazon Gift Card.