Mental Illness Happy Hour

For most of his life Mike has been wracked with shame and self-hatred, convinced he was the worst person ever and fantasizing about suicide when he was hospitalized at 15. He and Paul talk about where his self-hate may come from as well as his ADHD, emotionally sterile and achievement-focused childhood, body dysmorphia, cross-dressing, kink as a submissive male, and how he finally summoned the courage and self-love to end an abusive friendship. Mike is a great example of someone learning to embrace his uniqueness instead of hating and shaming himself for it. Follow Mike on Twitter/Instagram: @bizmichael Check out his books: At Least You're Not These Monsters and All The Feelings This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp To try a week of counseling for free go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental and fill out a questionnaire so you can be paired with a licensed counselor. This episode is sponsored by ZipRecruiter. To post your jobs for free go to www.ZipRecruiter.com/first To support the podcast consider becoming a mont

It wasn't until she began to literally pull chunks of her hair out she knew she might be battling something out of her control; postpartum depression. She talks about her battles with cyclical depression starting at an early age, being an only child with depressed, anxious and angry parents, not feeling seen or heard and being a high-bottom alcoholic who finally sobered up instead of self-medicating. She also touches on her body issues and how it was exacerbated during her few years as a model. Thanks to Accurate Secretarial & @WebCaptioning 4 donating their transcribing services. They're so dependable! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. To see if online counseling is right for you, and to get your first week free, go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental and fill out a questionnaire. Must be 18 or older. This episode is sponsored by BlueApron. To get your first 3 meals free with free shipping go to www.BlueApron.com/mental Support the podcast and get free, donor-only stuff from Paul by becoming a monthly do

How does a family deal with its secrets? The PhD opens up about the inter-generational rage brewing beneath the surface of her extended family and the difficulty in trying to cope when favorites are played, a mother feels jealous of her daughter, trauma isn't discussed, emotions are stuffed and through depression a smile is mustered for the unsuspecting outside world. Patricia can be reached at her website www.PatriciaMcKee.com and on Twitter @Patricia_McKee This episode is sponsored by Stamps.com For a free 4 week trial including postage and a digital scale, go to www.Stamps.com, click on the Radio Microphone at the top of the homepage and type in offer code MENTAL This episode is sponsored by Young Health's probiotic Probimune. For your 1st bottle free go to www.Probimune.com and use offer code MENTAL This episode is sponsored by Audible audiobooks. For a free trial go to www.Audible.com/mental This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling. To get your first week free go to www.BetterHelp.com/me

The 29 year-old trans woman dispels myths about what it means to be trans, including those she used to believe. She shares about hormone therapy, gender reassignment surgery, the prejudice and stigma of "passing", feeling dysphoric growing up, coming out in her Indiana hometown and her upbringing by an overprotective mother, an absent father, an alcoholic and emotionally abusive stepfather. Follow Olivia on Twitter @hitherehaidar Follow her on Instagram @ohaidarling Follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ohaidarling This episode is sponsored by Young Health's probiotic Probimune. To get your first bottle free (plus $6.75 shipping) go to www.probimune.com and use offer code MENTAL This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling. To get your first week free, go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental  Must be 18 or older. This episode is sponsored by ZipRecruiter. To post jobs for free go to www.ZipRecruiter.com/first Support the podcast by becoming a monthly donor for as little as $1 a month. Get free rewar

Laura J. shares about contracting herpes by being date-raped and how she has navigated managing it logistically, sexually and emotionally with partners, including her husband. She was raised in an emotionally cold home by a psychiatrist father and image-obsessed mother. Her mother's response when Laura would say "I love you" has only ever been "thank you". Laura shares about having Bipolar 2, codependency, fear of intimacy, occasional paranoia, an eating disorder (compulsive eating), multiple stays in psych hospitals, an abortion and always being in the shadow of her high-maintenance and unstable sister. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling. To get your first week free go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental  Must be 18 or over. This episode is sponsored by Young Health's probiotic Probimune. To get your first bottle free (plus $6.75 shipping) go to www.probimune.com and use offer code MENTAL This episode is sponsored by ZipRecruiter. To post jobs for free go to www.ZipRecruiter.com/first See omn

Paul's fellow support group friend shares about the huge role fantasy has played in her struggle to accept life; especially her love addiction. She talks about being unable to watch lesbian films in moderation (she is a lesbian) and how the CPTSD from her physical (and emotional) trauma at birth and being raised in an emotionally stifled home (where success was the only thing that mattered) have made intimacy and trust difficult especially with her struggles with low self-esteem. Inspired to help others as she has healed Maia now facilitates workshops and speaks publicly to help others who are also struggling. Check out Maia's website http://www.maiaakiva.com/ Maia's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/maiaakiva/ Maia's Facebook https://www.facebook.com/maiaakiva2 Maia's Twitter https://twitter.com/maiaakiva This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. To get your 1st week of online counseling free go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental  Must 18 or over. This episode is sponsored by Blue Apron. To see this week's menu o

The co-host of YouTube's Pauly & Monks show shares about feeling unlovable, not being a good enough partner, trying to always "fix" other people, having to be an adult in his family at nine, learning to equate money with love and being rejected by relatives for being gay. Oh and his Bruce Willis-admiring grandfather shooting his grandmother. Follow Pauly on Twitter @PaulyDavid and Instagram @PaulyDavid1 Check out the Pauly & Monks show on YouTube and on Twitter @PaulyandMonks Visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PaulyandMonks/ Check out Pauly's personal YouTube page  http://YouTube.com/user/VapidDual This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.com to try a week of online counseling for free go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental  You must be over 18. This episode is sponsored by Young Health's Probimune.  To get your first bottle free (plus $6.75 shipping) go to www.probimune.com and use offer code MENTAL This episode is sponsored by Stamps.com  For a special 4 week trial go to www.stamps.com be su

The Moth Grand Slam winner, standup and podcaster (Hopefully We Don't Break Up) shares about being raised by Italian immigrant parents who worried a lot and her "high school brain" that still worries about being left out or gossiped about. Follow Giulia on Twitter @GiuliaRozzi Visit her website www.GiuliaRozzi.com  Check out her podcast www.HopefullyWeDontBreakup.com  Follow her on Instagram www.instagram.com/grozzi This episode is sponsored by Young Health's Probimune. Sign up for automated delivery and get your first bottle free (plus $6.75 shipping). Go to www.Probimune.com and use offer code MENTAL This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. For a free week of online counseling go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental This episode is sponsored by MadisonReed. For 10% off your first color kit plus free shipping, go to www.Madison-Reed.com and use offer code HAPPY This episode is sponsored by ZipRecruiter. To post your job ads free go to www.ZipRecruiter.com/first This episode is sponsored by Zola wedding registry. Re

35 year-old barista (and listener) Charlynn Schmiedt shares about having misophonia which is a "fight or flight" physical response to certain everyday sounds, such as gum chewing, throat clearing etc. and the complications and misunderstanding that arise out of having to interact with people who don't think it is a "real thing".  Charlynn also shares about having an eating disorder in her 20s as well as depression and anxiety.  Her husband Patrick sits in to also share what it is like to live with someone with misophonia. Follow Charlynn on Twitter at @OhTheProfanity For tix or info on Paul's Feb 22 & 23 appearances in Oakland go to www.eastbayexpress.com/mental This ep is sponsored by the online counseling provider BetterHelp.  To try a week free go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental and fill out a questionnaire to be matched with a counselor. This ep is sponsored by MadisonReed.  For 10% off your first hair color kit and free shipping go to www.Madison-Reed.com and use offer code HAPPY This ep is sponsored by

The podcaster (RISK!) and sketch actor (The State) talks about learning to "own his weirdness".  From being a gay kid in a conservative town to being the black sheep in The State he has battled the paralysis and fear of not being perfect or even good enough.  He shares about his attempt at being a prostitute, the 12 year gap between The State ending and him starting Risk! and how he learned to find his authentic voice when he was at his lowest and how he still struggles to act and feel like a grown-up. Follow Kevin on Twitter @TheKevinAllison Check out RISK! at www.risk-show.com or follow on Twitter @RISKshow Check out his classes www.thestorystudio.org For info on Paul's upcoming live podcasts in Oakland Feb 22-23 go to www.eastbayexpress.com/mental To become a monthly supporter of The Mental Illness Happy Hour go to www.patreon.com/mentalpod This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling.  To try a free week go to www.BetterHelp.com/mental  (you must be at least 18) This episode is sponsored by M

The anxious only child of a drunk/rager mom and a passive dad shares about her family's combination of material wealth and emotional ignorance/poverty. She talks about her fear of "just being" instead of always "doing", including triathlons & rock climbing, her ongoing battles with disordered eating -especially binging- , her all-or-nothing thinking and struggles with intimacy while being married and having a family. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online therapy.  To learn more (and get your first week free) go to www.betterhelp.com/mental This episode is sponsored by MadisonReed.  For 10% your first hair color kit plus free shipping go to www.Madison-Reed.com and use offer code HAPPY This episode is sponsored by Movement Watches.  Get 15% off today (with free shipping and free returns) by going to www.MVMTWatches.com/mental This episode is sponsored by ZipRecruiter.  To post jobs for free go to www.ZipRecruiter.com/first Support the podcast by becoming a monthly donor (for as little as $1/month

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

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

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/arch

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 Priva

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 stil

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 Privac