Mental Illness Happy Hour

Born in Montreal to a WWII widow, the clinical and forensic psychologist talks about the sexual abuse he experienced as a boy, the stigma and confusion adult male survivors grapple with and ultimately how he healed.  Episode is sponsored by www1in6.org which he co-founded. 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.

Raised by parents who talked about God a lot, the 29 year-old opens up about the hypocrisy he saw in a mom who couldn't parent him and a trucker dad who was either disappearing for months or dealing meth in their small Wyoming town. 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 actress (Prairie Home Companion, Big Sky) was raised by successful but emotionally closed-off parents, and was emotionally volatile as a child.  Recently diagnosed with Bipolar II, she discusses the suicide attempts, paralyzing depression,...

The comedian/actor/writer (Kids in the Hall, Larry Sanders, Hannibal) opens up about his childhood in Brampton Ontario, coming to terms with his sexuality and the bullying that eroded his self-esteem.  He also shares about a traumatic and violent even at his middle school that he considers seminal and his past battle with cancer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19...

Borderline Personality Disorder is often misunderstood.  The blogger, author, performer and mom explains what it's like to live with, how to manage it and when it's most challenging.  She also shares about her emotionally volatile childhood with her Russian Jewish relatives who emigrated from Estonia to Australia and being the mother of two boys.  She also shares about living with the idea that her performing dreams may never come true. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

The 28 year-old listener opens up about his familiy's history of avoiding emotions, his cries for help, struggling to live on $8/hour, his cutting and self-abuse and his shame over his paraphilia (adult baby) fetish. 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.

Born to a drug-addict teenage mom, Julie was given up for adoption and raised by a stoic military dad and Fundamentalist mom whose obession with demons comes close to resembling the mother from "Carrie".   There much more to her story including her humor and resilience.   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 friend shares about being committed to a psych hospital at 17 over a breakup, discovering drugs (crack) and how to hustle money to feed his habit.  Hitting bottom in the desert and the dog that might have saved his life. 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 actress/writer/standup/podcaster/tv host joins Paul at LAPodfest in front of a live audience and discusses her outcast status as a child, where her drive comes from, growing to understand her father and appreciate the challenges of her marriage. 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 26 year-old shares about emigrating to the U.S. from Mexico at 8, his fear of his father, "passing" for white, his body dysmorphia and the trouble feeling his feelings rather than shutting down. 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.