Mental Illness Happy Hour

The 40 year-old public administrator talks about "losing her humanity" being assigned to work on a criminal defense unit on behalf of sexually violent predators and the anxiety, panic and breakdowns that followed.   She also talks about her chaotic and abusive upbringing which included her father molesting her brother, domestic violence and her coping by becoming a rescuer. This episode is sponsored by the online therapy provider BetterHelp.com  To try out a week of counseling for free go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental, fill out the questionnaire and get matched with a counselor, to see if it's right for you. This episode is sponsored by the one-stop wedding registry Zola.  Receive $50 when you register and use Zola.  Go to www.Zola.com/mental for details. This episode is sponsored by MadisonReed.  For 10% off your first hair color kit (plus free shipping) go to www.Madison-Reed.com and use offer code HAPPY Consider becoming a recurring monthly donor to the podcast (and receive free rewards from Paul) go to www.Patreon.com/mentapod 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.

The writer and director of Inside Amy Schumer, co-creator of Chapelle's Show and standup comic (3 Mics coming soon on Netflix) talks about being one of ten kids raised by a violent alcoholic father and his struggles today with trusting his feelings and needs and dealing with his anger especially with partners.  He also talks about his relationship with Dave Chapelle and the conflicts and emotions he experienced when Dave decided to stop doing the show. Neal's standup special 3 Mics debuts Jan 17th on Netflix Follow Neal on Twitter @NealBrennan This episode is sponsored by the online therapy service BetterHelp For a free week of counseling go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental and fill out a questionnaire. This episode is sponsored by ZipRecruiter To post jobs for free go to www.ZipRecruiter.com/first This episode is sponsored by Madison-Reed For 10% off your first hair color kit (and free shipping) go to www.Madison-Reed.com and use offer code HAPPY This episode is sponsored by BlueApron. To get your first 3 meals free (with free shipping) go to www.BlueApron.com/mental 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.

The 30 year-old freelance journalist and Pilates teacher doesn't have anything dramatic to point to in her life, yet she has struggled to find her voice in life with bad relationships, eating disorders, depression, body dysmorphia, and intense fears of rejection and feeling excluded.  Paul and Amanda peel back the layers to try to find out what's underneath. To learn more about Amanda, go to www.AmandaBloom.com  Follow her on Twitter @AmandaJBloom This episode is sponsored by ZipRecruiter.com Listeners can post jobs for free by going to www.ziprecruiter.com/first To become a monthly donor to the podcast (and get the occasional reward from Paul) go to www.Patreon.com/mentalpod To donate Frequent Flyer miles to the podcast go to http://mentalpod.com/donate 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.

At 16 he was playing drums at CBGB and Max's Kansas City as the punk scene exploded. After destroying his career (Pianosaurus, King Missile) he got sober. The PsyD & MFT explains his extensive work with treating trauma victims (especially those with addictions) by using EMDR. He talks about the difficulty people have in calling what happened to them "trauma" and why the label isn't important.  He shares his personal experiences and insights about bullying, Buddhism, self-sabotage, spirituality, depression and what being a "good person" means to him. Dr. Dansiger can be found at www.drdansiger.com Check out this new book Clinical Dharma Follow him on Twitter @DrDansiger This episode is sponsored by the magazine app Texture. For a 14 day free trail go to www.texture.com/mental This episode is sponsored by TalkSpace. For $30 off your first month of online therapy go to www.TalkSpace.com/mihh and use offer code MIHH For info on how to donate frequent flyer miles to the podcast go to http://mentalpod.com/archives/4307 To support the podcast as a monthly donor (and get rewards from Paul) go to www.patreon.com/mental 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.

The 31 year-old ex-model (Vogue, Vanity Fair) discusses surviving incest by her mother (who was also an alcoholic with BiPolar and DID aka Multiple Personality Disorder) and a lifetime of battling eating disorders (binging, bulimia, anorexia), psychosis, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, depression, anxiety, alcoholism and drug and sex addiction. She reflects on the physical and emotional bottom that finally made her walk away from modeling and seek help, ironically as her emaciated body was more desirable than ever in the industry. Follow Nikki on Twitter @TheNikkiDubose Buy her new book Washed Away: From Darkness to Light Buy it also on Kindle Washed Away: From Darkness to Light - Kindle Version 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.

Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato have produced and/or directed some of Paul's favorite documentaries, including Mapplethorpe: Look At The Pictures, 101 Rent Boys and Monica in Black & White. They sit down with Paul to talk about their newest film, Every Brilliant Thing which debuts on HBO Dec 26th and tackles the subject of finding joy in life's little things when we're surrounded by darkness.  Paul also talks to them about their days as struggling artists in the East Village during the beginning of the AIDS crisis and what draws them to subjects who have been vilified or marginalized by society.   Fenton and Randy also produce Ru Paul's Drag Race and talk about why they love drag queens. Follow Randy on Twitter @RandyBarbato Follow Fenton on Twitter @FBailey For info on Every Brilliant Thing click here. 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.

The 19 year-old college sophomore opens with a letter she wrote to her 16 year-old self who was so tired of the years of depression, anxiety self-hate, bullying, co-dependence, perfectionism, Crohn's Disease and feeling like a burden that she was on the verge of taking her life.  Her dad, Alan sits in on the session to occasionally share his perspective on her struggles, their family dynamics and what he might have done differently. This episode is sponsored by American Public Media's podcast The Hilarious World of Depression with host John Moe This episode is sponsored by TalkSpace online therapy.  To sign up or to learn more, go to www.Talkspace.com/mihh  and, as a special offer for our listeners, you can use coupon code MIHH to get $30 off your first month. Follow Katie on Twitter at @Rosearium The podcast is now accepting monthly donations via Patreon.  Go to www.patreon.com/mentalpod 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.

The 25 year-old professional basketball player opens up to a live audience about mental health issues not only in his life (OCD, panic attacks and anxiety) but societally, especially in the NBA where he played, and in the relationships between POC and police officers. Royce shares about being raised by a single mom in a culturally diverse extended family. Check out Royce's mental health foundation www.anxiousminds.org Follow him on Twitter @Highway_30 This episode is sponsored by http://www.treatmentplacementspecialists.com/ This episode is sponsored by TalkSpace.  For $30 off your first month of online therapy go to www.talkspace.com/mihh and use offer code MIHH This episode is sponsored by ZipRecruiter.  To post jobs for free go to www.ZipRecruiter.com/first This episode is sponsored by the magazine app Texture.  For a FREE 14 day trial go to www.texture.com/mental This episode is sponsored by Spring of Life's Daily Energy.  Save 30% when you purchase online at www.getdailyenergy.com/mental The podcast still needs monthly donors.  We now accept via Patreon and donors qualify for rewards from Paul.  Go to www.patreon.com/mentalpod 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.

Author/life-coach April Adams clarifies what an "energy healer" actually does despite it sounding like new-age b.s.  She talks about techniques she has used to deal with her childhood trauma and heal others.  She opens up about her experiences with swinging, sexual fluidity, embracing her attraction to women fairly late in life and possible love addiction/fear of intimacy in her same-sex marriage. April's book is Essence: Ending Emptiness, Finding Fulfillment Her websites are www.AprilAdams.org and www.FillingYourCup.com This episode is sponsored by TommyJohn.  For 20% off your first order go to www.TommyJohn.com and use offer code MENTAL This episode is sponsored by TalkSpace.  For $30 off your first month of online therapy go to www.TalkSpace.com/mihh and use offer code MIHH To support the podcast (and get rewards from Paul) become a monthly donor via Patreon www.patreon.com/mentalpod 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.

The 34 year-old British writer/comedian/performer shares about the pain of her parents' nasty divorce when she was a kid, especially her father using her as a pawn and poisoning her mind about her mother. She also shares about her depression and only being turned on by men who treat her badly or are in some way unavailable. She talks about her struggle to not equate her self-worth with her career ups and downs and overcome her fear of not being enough. This episode is sponsored by MVMT watches. Get 15% off today with FREE shipping and FREE returns by going to www.mvmtwatches.com/mental This episode is sponsored by the magazine app Texture. For a 14 day FREE trial go to www.texture.com/mental To become a monthly donor to the podcast (and get rewards by Paul) sign up at www.patreon.com/mentalpod Follow Luisa on Twitter at www.twitter.com/luisaomielan Check out her website www.ILoveLuisa.com 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.