The quality of the questions we ask can drastically shape our lives. We consciously and subconsciously ask questions throughout our day, but how many of these inquiries are really offering generative possibility and how many are simply limiting or keeping us stuck? This is a love letter to asking questions and an exploration into why questions are more important than answers.

Also in this episode:

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Reclaiming All Parts of You: Healing the Roots of Shame and Insecurity [Free workbook & meditation download] ⁠https://witty-creator-9045.ck.page/e89cafda64

Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

We've been raised to fear the ‘yes’ within ourselves, our deepest cravings - Audre Lorde

The distrust of our desires and of pleasure is a huge disservice to the world. Because when we are cut off from our deepest desires, from our pleasure, from our sense of satisfaction, how can we really put our life force energy towards meaningful change? In this episode, I talk about cultural toxic beliefs we have around pleasure and desire, and the main fears that pop up when we think about following our authentic desires. I also discuss the value of our discontent in showing us where we might be enduring or self abandoning. Connecting to pleasure and satisfaction in our bodies, learning what that really feels like, helps us point our compass in the direction of more joy for ourselves and our communities.

Also in this episode:

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Goal Setting for Creatives Course - https://jazminerussell.lpages.co/goal-setting-for-creatives/

Notion Life Dashboard Template - https://jazminerussell.gumroad.com/l/life-dashboard-goal-setting-project-managing

Monthly Planning Canva Template - https://jazminerussell.gumroad.com/l/monthlyplanningtemplate

Weekly Planning Canva Template -https://jazminerussell.gumroad.com/l/weeklyplanningtemplate

Resources:

Uses of the erotic by Audrey Lord - https://uk.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/11881_Chapter_5.pdf

Pleasure Activism by Adrienne Maree Brown - https://www.akpress.org/pleasure-activism.html

Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Wellness plans and crisis plans (sometimes called psychiatric advance directives) are documents that outline our mental health needs and can even help prevent or avoid a crisis. These plans not only give us the opportunity to self-reflect but also can help us communicate with our community in times of need. No one wants to plan for a crisis, but when we’re struggling, these documents can get us through some of the toughest times and help us maintain agency, self-determination, and support. Whether you’ve used mental health services or want to engage in mutual aid and peer support, wellness plans can be applied. In this episode I discuss 3 types of wellness/crisis plans and how they can be applied within or outside the mental health system.

Also in this episode:

Institute for the Development of Human Arts: www.IDHA-NYC.org

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Resources:

TMAPS - https://tmapscommunity.net/make-your-own-t-map-2/

Wrap Plans - https://www.wellnessrecoveryactionplan.com/what-is-wrap/

Peer Respite Directory- https://power2u.org/directory-of-peer-respites/

Psychiatric Advance Directive Template - https://docs.google.com/document/d/14l5wlpZ1BVYXoH0GUtUbjTgKYxTL5Abe/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=101616156886737959846&rtpof=true&sd=true

Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Depression can be a challenging, incredibly painful experience, but it can also pave the path to change and transformation. Experiences of numbness, despair, emptiness, fatigue, loss of meaning and all the things that get labeled as depression are emotional and physiological responses from the body. The question that has always been quite interesting to me is: what is my body trying to tell me through depression? What is the message behind these signals? “Depression makes holes in our theories and assumptions, but even this painful process can be honored as a necessary and valuable source of healing” as psychologist Thomas Moore says. So in this episode we explore depression as complex trauma processing, nervous system overwhelm, a values crisis, a signal of physiological illness, basic needs not being met, a response to toxic culture and society, and a spiritual awakening.

Also in this episode:

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Resources:

Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

What’s it like to spend 20 years locked up in a psychiatric asylum? Issa Ibrahim knows this intimately. As a survivor of complex trauma, drug-induced-psychosis, sexual and institutional abuse, Issa’s story holds up a mirror to America’s racist and coercive mental health system as a microcosm for our sick society. Through it all, Issa is a memoirist and artist, whose subversive provacative art has been shown in numerous galleries and non-profit spaces. Art and compassion were his pathways out of the asylum and continues to be some of his greatest gifts that Issa shares with the world.

Also In this episode:

Issa Ibrahim is a visual artist, author, musician and filmmaker born and raised in Queens, New York. He has exhibited in numerous galleries and non-profit spaces in the greater New York area as well as in group shows at Hofstra University and the Queens Museum of Art in addition to fairs and showcases the Netherlands and South Korea.

Issa has been featured on German Public Television, in the 1999 HBO documentary The Living Museum, by Academy Award winning director Jessica Yu, and the 2015 documentary That Which Is Possible. He was also the subject of an hour-long NPR audio story that won the 2014 Edward R. Murrow Award for Best News Documentary and the 2014 Third Coast Director’s Choice Award

Issa’s 2016 memoir The Hospital Always Wins, published by Chicago Review Press, has the notable distinction of being the first work published by an African American written from behind the walls of a mental institution. Issa is also a member artist represented by Fountain House Gallery in New York City; the premier gallery dedicated to promoting the artwork of artists with mental health issues.

Issa will continue to use his creativity to challenge preconceived and prejudicial ideas in society, combat stigma, expose the realities of our broken mental health system. He wishes to and explore how openness can aid in respecting psychiatric sufferers and survivors who are our fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, friends, neighbors and ourselves.

Links:

Art: https://www.artsy.net/artist/issa-ibrahim

The Hospital Always Wins: https://www.chicagoreviewpress.com/the-hospital-always-wins-products-9781613735121.php

Fountain house : https://www.fountainhouse.org/

Living Museum : https://thelivingmuseum.org/about/

IDHA: ⁠www.idha-nyc.org⁠

Get bonus episodes on substack! ⁠⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/⁠⁠

Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

If we want more Intimacy and connection with others, it requires vulnerability. We all have ways that we protect ourselves from potential rejection, pain, and vulnerability. Many of these self-protection strategies are depely subconscious and picked up in childhood as ways we had to adapt and survive in our life context. But in adulthood they become ways we distance from oursleves, each other, and the world at large. In this episode, I discuss the 11 self- protection strategies outlined by psychologist Stefanie Stahl in her book The Child In You. When we are aware of which self-protection strategies we tend to use most often, we can actively chose differently and cultivate more connection in our lives.

In this episode:

Get bonus episodes on substack! ⁠⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/⁠⁠

Reclaiming All Parts of You: Healing the Roots of Shame and Insecurity [Free workbook & meditation download] ⁠https://witty-creator-9045.ck.page/e89cafda64

Links:

Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

“If you've come here to help me, then you're wasting your time. But if you have come here because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” Lila Watson

Martyrdom, or self-abandoning and self-sacrificing for the sake of a mission or cause, is so highly rewarded in our culture. It can show up in our interpersonal relationships, but also when it comes to our work, our creativity, or ‘purpose’ in the world. We can even start to sacrifice our health and wellbeing for the sake of a ‘mission’ in attempts to prove our worthiness. In today’s episode, I share perspectives around martyrdom and saviordom in life and work and how we can take the pressure off ourselves, stop feeling the need to prove our worth, and take ourselves less seriously with the sustainability of lightness and play and joy.

Get bonus episodes on substack! ⁠⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/⁠⁠

Reclaiming All Parts of You: Healing the Roots of Shame and Insecurity [Free workbook & meditation download] ⁠https://witty-creator-9045.ck.page/e89cafda64

Resources:

Karpman Drama Triangle: https://www.karpmandramatriangle.com/

https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/6e5efd05/files/uploaded/Drama 

Lila watson - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilla_Watson

Liz Gilbert Interview on Martyrdom - https://open.spotify.com/episode/4THxJpSZZLmIz7TPKcOf5W?si=4486ca107db14aed

Big Magic - https://www.elizabethgilbert.com/books/big-magic/

Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Celiac disease is an unfortunately common autoimmune disorder that affects about 1 in 100 people. That’s 1%, a HUGE proportion of the population. What's most concerning is that many aren't ware they have celiac often because many of the symptoms are mental health related and treated solely by psychological means. However, we need to rethink this approach. There's a high correlation between celiac, psychosis (and other mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, and OCD) and childhood trauma. This is the trifecta that has affected me personally, and many of my clients. So today, I tell you my whole story on finding out and healing autoimmunity and mental health issues.

I also discuss:

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Research:

- The Inflamed Mind by Dr. Edward Bullmore - https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250318145/theinflamedmind

- Stress & autoimmunity - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29922828/

- Autoimmunity and psychotic disorders - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00131/full

- Childhood stress and autoimmunity - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19188532/

- Gluten psychosis - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26184290/

- Depression and inflammation - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21927805/

- Inflammation and schizophrenia - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26359903/

Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Functional medicine and psychoneuroimmunology is on the rise as a more integrative way of understanding the physiological roots of mental health concerns. For decades we’ve been obsessed with the theory that mental health concerns are solely about chemical imbalances in the brain - but that’s not what the research has shown. The truth is much more complex since environmental, societal factors, childhood trauma, gut health, and so much more impact our brain health. In this episode, Dr. Randall Gates, a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist discusses the profound impact of childhood trauma on long-term disease, the intriguing connection between schizophrenia, psychosis, and gluten, and the significance of inflammation in the brain. We talk about why going gluten free isn’t the only fix and why sometimes mental health issues are the primary if not, only, sign of an underlying autoimmune issue. We also delve into obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, and PANS/PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections), as well as Hashimoto's disease, the most common autoimmune disorder, often manifesting as brain fog and depression. Moreover, we delve into the potential synergy between functional medicine and psychiatry, and why our current system needs an integrated approach.

We also discuss:

For the past thirteen years, Dr. Randall Gates, D.C., Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist, has dedicated his life to helping people discover the causes of their chronic health conditions. Shortly after graduating in 2006 with a B.S. in Biology, Dr. Gates started his doctoral program in Chiropractic. During Chiropractic school, he was introduced to Functional Neurology. When he learned about Functional Neurology, everything clicked! He became fascinated/obsessed with neurology and spent much of his free time studying the brain in-depth including its dysregulations and rehabilitation. In 2009, Dr. Gates graduated from Life Chiropractic College West receiving his Doctorate of Chiropractic, as well as being Valedictorian of his class. Simultaneously, he was completing 300 additional credit hours in the field of neurology, and in 2010, Dr. Gates passed the rigorous American Chiropractic Neurology Board Examination. At 28 years old, Dr. Gates attained his designation as a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist- one of five hundred in the world. Dr. Gates has since completed 250 hours of additional training in Traumatic Brain Injuries, Vestibular Rehabilitation and Movement Disorders. He continues to spend countless hours researching conditions that are not well understood, as well as conditions that are treated primarily through pharmacological medications.

Website: https://www.gatesbrainhealth.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3edfdLeVw7tvOTziAnTEew

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Reclaiming All Parts of You: Healing the Roots of Shame and Insecurity freebie ⁠⁠⁠https://witty-creator-9045.ck.page/e89cafda64⁠⁠

Find the links to all cited research from this episode here: www.jazminerussell.com/blog/functional-neurology-mental-health-research

Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

“We arise out of the very conditions that will heal us.” - Asia Suler

We also discuss:

Asia Suler is a writer, teacher, earth intuitive and author of Mirrors in the Earth: Reflections on Self-Healing from the Living World.  Asia began her journey after early years of chronic pain and illness. The experience— which pushed her into a deep search for healing, both within and without— led her to the altar of the green world and the creation of One Willow Apothecaries, an Appalachian-grown company that offers handcrafted medicines and educational experiences in herbalism, animism, and earth-centered personal growth. Asia has guided over 20,000 students in 70+ countries through her immersive online programs. Through her work, Asia helps people embrace their own unique medicine through a joyful engagement with the natural world.

Asia’s Website: www.onewillowapothecaries.com

Intuitive Plant Medicine Course: https://onewillowapothecaries.com/classes/online-learning/intuitive-plant-medicine/

Asia’s Mothering Depth Substack : https://asiasuler.substack.com

Research:

Get bonus episodes on substack! ⁠⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/⁠⁠

Reclaiming All Parts of You: Healing the Roots of Shame and Insecurity [Free workbook & meditation download] ⁠https://witty-creator-9045.ck.page/e89cafda64

Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.