Mental Illness Happy Hour

The reality TV producer (Somebody's Gotta Do It) opens up about his depression, social anxiety, history of unrequited love obsessions - especially as a kid, getting sober from prescription opiates and smoking speed thru a broken light bulb! This episode is sponsored by BlueApron. To get your first three meals free (with FREE shipping) go to www.blueapron.com/mental This episode is sponsored by SquareSpace for 10% off your first purchase go to www.squarespace.com and use offer code MENTAL For more on Stephen go to www.stbrophy.com (to buy his books go to the "merch" page on the site) Follow him on Twitter @STBrophy www.twitter.com/STBrophy For info on seeing the MIHH podcast at LA Podfest go to www.lapodfest.com For info on seeing the MIHH podcast at the In This Together Festival in Nov. go to www.ITTFest.com The post-abortion counseling resources mentioned on the show www.1in3campaign.org www.yourbackline.org www.plannedparenthood.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at

28 year-old Cynthia Pena ACSW opens up about her life, experiencing skin tone prejudice within the Hispanic community, being the "good child" who gets forgotten, anxiety, triggers, working in an overloaded county system helping children with severe or persistent mental illnesses and her dream of expanding the role of mental health in athletics. Follow Cyndi on Twitter @Ms_Cyndi_Pena For more information on Paul's appearance at LAPodfest Sept 23-25 go to www.lapodfest.com and use offer code HAPPY for $5 off. 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.

Paul's support group friend and writer talks about weighing 95 lbs at 5 years-old, being in foster homes and psych wards, surviving incest, learning self-love and dealing with addictions to food and abusive men. This episode is sponsored by Blue Apron.  To see this month's menu and your first three meals free (including free delivery) 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 43 year old teacher and recovering alcoholic talks about being sexualized as a child by her father, having to cut contact with her controlling mother, and trying to heal while dealing with anxiety, panic attacks and PTSD. Get info on Paul's upcoming appearances in Oakland July 20 & 21. 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 podcaster (Too Beautiful To Live), radio host (Live Wire Radio) and tv host (CBS Morning News) talks about his outbursts of anger that get physical, always feeling uncomfortable in his skin and being hyper vigilant to avoid criticism. This episode is sponsored by SquareSpace. For a free trial and 10% off your first purchase go to www.squarespace.com and use offer code MENTAL Get info on Paul's upcoming appearances in Oakland Follow Luke Burbank on Twitter @LukeBurbank 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 author (Lesbian Love Addiction: Understanding the Urge to Merge and How to Heal When Things Go Wrong) and therapist talks about love addiction especially in the lesbian community, what coming out what like for her, myths about lesbians and what makes a good therapist. For more about her or her book go to www.lesbianloveaddiction.com Follow her on Twitter @DrLaurenCostine This episode is sponsored by BlueApron. Get your first three meals free (with free shipping) by going to www.BlueApron.com/mental This episode is sponsored by SquareSpace. For 10% off your first purchase go to www.SquareSpace.com and use offer code MENTAL. For tickets to Paul's upcoming live podcasts in Oakland July 20 or 21 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 French Canadian biologist sits down with Paul and talks about experiencing covert incest by her mother who she believes also had Borderline Personality Disorder, and her complex relationship with her safer but extremely codependent father.  Julie shares about her struggle to share intimacy with her husband and the progress she's making in releasing some of the trauma thru somatic therapy. 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.

Paul's old comedy pal Mike shares about psych wards, not being deemed "black enough", anxiety, depression, experiencing some classic 70's Chicago racism and trying to be a better parent than he had. 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.

Zachary shares his story while his wife Sarah sits in.  He talks about losing his mother (actress Diana Hyland) to cancer when he was 3, being raised by an abusive father, learning to numb himself with sex and after bottoming out, finding help.  They also talk about how they navigate marriage and work on intimacy while working through their individual issues. Zachary is a writer and is working on a book to be titled It's Always Worse In Your Head. For more info about him or his writing go to www.zacharygoodson.com The upcoming live podcast recording that Paul mentioned is July 20 $ 21 in Oakland. For tix and info go to www.eastbayexpress.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.

Part I of Sarah and Zachary sharing their stories and how they navigate healing while being married.  Sarah shares her story which includes sexual abuse, codependency, perfectionism, anxiety & a stay in a psych ward. This episode is sponsored by SquareSpace.  For 10% off go to www.squarespace.com and use offer code MENTAL at checkout. 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 33 year-old research biologist shares about her narcolepsy, PTSD, cataplexy, hypnogogic hallucinations, codependency and life with a partner with bipolar. 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.

MFT Intern Elie El Habr works with at-risk youth in South Central Los Angeles and shares about his successes and failures in trying to reach kids who either want help or are court mandated, as he tries to keep them from going into juvenile hall or foster   Elie recommends all parents read the book The Whole Brain Child by Dan Siegel.   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 32 year-old shares about breaking free from her mother (and their religion Christian Science) after years of her using scripture as a weapon to justify her neglectful, unempathetic and narcissistic parenting.  She also shares about her history of panic attacks/fear of choking, and trichotillomania. 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.

Paul's support group friend shares about being raised in a Catholic Italian-American family where attention was hard to get, how her mother's death helped her to grow and her love addiction to men and sugar. To read the article about mental health in colleges by Catherine Savini go to http://chronicle.com/article/Are-You-Being-Rigorous-or-Just/236341 This episode is sponsored by SquareSpace. For a free trial and 10% off your first purchase go to www.squarespace.com and use the offer code MENTAL To check out Paul's Squarespace page go to www.paul-gilmartin.squarespace.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.

The 29 year-old Vietnamese-Australian shares about being raised by his refugee, mentally-disabled (OCD & PTSD) single mother, experiencing racism, living in inner city poverty (Melbourne) and trying to be "Vietnamese enough" for the Vietnamese community. 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.

22 year-old Melanie R. shares about living with DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder which used to be called Multiple Personality Disorder), being bullied, having a perpetrator who is female, integrating her "alters" and Sensory Integration Disorder. Melanie can be reached at [email protected] Her personal blog is at loserchildhotpants.tumblr.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.

Melissa reads excerpts from her book So Sad Today, probes her turn ons, food issues, stint with polyamory, panic attacks, sexting and depression. This episode is sponsored by the meditation app Calm.  Visit www.calm.com/mentalillnesspodcast Follow Melissa on Twitter @SoSadToday Check out her website www.melissabroder.com Buy her book So Sad Today on Amazon. 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.

For many years the ex-highway patrolman's beat was the Golden Gate Bridge. He shares about the encounters he had with people who wanted to jump and how he learned to get some of them to open up and change their minds. He also shares about his PTSD, surviving cancer and struggling to be a better parent. Kevin now travels the world speaking as a suicide prevention advocate. Kevin's organization is www.Pivotal-points.com He can be reached at [email protected] This episode is sponsored by the mindfulness/meditation app Calm download it for free at www.calm.mentalillnesspodcast.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.

The podcaster (Sex Nerd Sandra) shares some of her struggles (low self-esteem, depression, perfectionism) and shares about sex topics like: swinging, orgies, role play, polyamory and giving good blow jobs. This episode is sponsored by SquareSpace.  For 10% off your first purchase go to www.squarespace.com and use offer code MENTAL Follow Sandra on Twitter @SexNerdSandra Visit her websites http://sexnerdsandra.com/ and http://nerdist.com/podcasts/sex-nerd-sandra-channel/ The books referenced were The Erotic Mind by Jack Morin and Urban Tantra by Barbara Carrellas 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 32 year-old postal employee shares about growing up with an alcoholic mom and stoner dad, her struggles with perfectionism, anxiety, co-dependency and fear of the unknown, and how altruism has helped her find peace and gratitude. This episode is sponsored by www.Penzu.com This episode is sponsored by www.Harrys.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.