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

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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:

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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

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:

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

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.

Why are so many mental health professionals, researchers, and activists critiquing the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)? In this episode, we dive deep into the complexities surrounding mental health diagnoses and explore the limitations and hazards of labeling and codifying human experiences. We look at why researchers have called the DSM “scientifically meaningless” as statistically unreliable and invalid and what this means for those receiving diagnoses. We look at who gets to decide what is normal vs. abnormal human behavior, and why more input is needed from other related fields to truly do justice to the nuances of human emotion and behavior.

Key Topics Discussed:

Links:

IDHA - www.idha-nyc.org

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Research:

Kate Allsop’s Research in Neuroscience News: https://neurosciencenews.com/meaningless-psychiatric-diagnosis-14434/

Cracked: Why Psychiatry is Doing More Harm Than Good by James Davies

The Reliability of Psychiatric Diagnoses: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2990547/ &

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00101/full

New Version of DSM critique https://www.madinamerica.com/2022/02/new-dsm-coming/

RDOC - https://www.nimh.nih.gov/research/research-funded-by-nimh/rdoc

JAMA article on other biological factors https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/2804355

Once Radical Critiques of Psychiatry are Now Mainstream, So What Remains Taboo? by Bruce Levine - https://www.counterpunch.org/2023/05/05/once-radical-critiques-of-psychiatry-are-now-mainstream-so-what-remains-taboo/

Criticisms of psychiatry: https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/its-time-for-us-to-stop-being-so-defensive-about-criticisms-of-psychiatry

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.

“There's something incredibly dangerous to the status quo about us no longer feeling ashamed for choosing lives that are right for us, and within that choosing to direct our creative life force energy that we all embody into whatever we so choose.” - Ruby Warrington

Today I delve into the complex and often ignored topic of non-motherhood with author Ruby Warrington. Ruby wrote “Women Without Kids” to challenge the prevailing societal narratives surrounding motherhood and unravel the inherent binary thinking that erases the diversity of human relationships and caregiving experiences.

We explore the broad motherhood spectrum, which encompasses women who are unable to have children and those who consciously choose not to. Ruby passionately dissects the harmful effects of pronatalism, an ideology that values parents over non-parents within a colonial capitalist framework.

Throughout our conversation, we emphasize the vital role of non-parents, particularly women, in societal transformation amid the daunting challenges of climate impact and economic collapse. Furthermore, we explore the notion of deviance and shame associated with choosing alternative paths in life and how shedding shame can unleash our creative potential and empower us to challenge the status quo.

Also in this episode:

Ruby Warrington is creator of the term Sober Curious. Author of the 2018 book and million download podcast of the same title, her work has spearheaded a global movement to reevaluate our relationship to alcohol. Other works include Material Girl, Mystical World (2017), The Numinous Astro Deck  (2019), and The Sober Curious Reset (2020). With 20+ years’ experience as a lifestyle journalist and editor, Ruby is known as an astute cultural commentator and true thought leader. She is also the founder of self-publishing incubator Numinous Books. Her new book, Women Without Kids, is out now.

Links:

Ruby’s Website: https://www.rubywarrington.com/

Ruby’s Books: https://www.rubywarrington.com/books/

Women Without Kids Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/women-without-kids/id1642683714

Women without Kids Retreat at Krippalu Center in June https://kripalu.org/presenters-programs/women-without-kids

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

Research:

Gateway women, Jody Day https://gateway-women.com/

Regretting Motherhood by Orna Donath https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/552538/regretting-motherhood-by-orna-donath/

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.

Harm Reduction Specialist and Peer Counselor, David Levine, and I discuss the social and political context of the war on drugs in the United States and how drug laws and policies disproportionately affect those who are disenfranchised and most marginalized. David works on the ground helping people who have overdosed on opioids and discusses what true harm reduction means when it comes to mental health and substance use. He also describes gatekeeping, inequity, and hypocrisy when it comes to research and legalization of medicines, and how stigma around drugs often creates more harm than the drugs themselves.

In this episode:

David Levine, JD is a drug warrior and harm reductionist. Identifying as a person who uses drugs and committed to fighting against War on Drugs, David has worked professionally in Harm Reduction since 2014 in a multitude of settings. He currently works two jobs on the front lines helping people affected by dangers inherent to a black market drug supply in the Bronx through street outreach and engaging overdose survivors in ERs. Email: [email protected]

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

Links & Research:

MAPS: https://maps.org/about-maps/

Andrew Tatarsky: https://www.centerforoptimalliving.com/

Harm Reduction Coalition - https://harmreduction.org/     

FDA approvals and fee process: “The FDA collected $29 million in fees in 1993, the year after Congress passed the Prescription Drug User Fee Act for the first time. The fees rose to $908 million in 2018. That year, industry fees amounted to about 80% of the money spent on FDA employee salaries for drug reviews, according to the study.” https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/01/14/796227083/fda-approves-drugs-faster-than-ever-but-relies-on-weaker-evidence-researchers-fi

“If you get the message, hang up the phone. For psychedelic drugs are simply instruments, like microscopes, telescopes, and telephones. The biologist does not sit with eye permanently glued to the microscope, he goes away and works on what he has seen.” - Alan Watts

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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.

In this much-requested episode, we explore the topic of shame and blame, how we can become mired in these emotions, whether by taking on too much responsibility or deflecting it onto others. What does centered self-accountability look like and when and why do we engage in both over and under-accountability? We discuss the pitfalls of using the language of ‘victim mindset. ’We delve into the complexities of centered self-accountability and explore the origins of over and under accountability, which are often rooted in childhood trauma. In other words, how do we move forward and find agency, power, and creative potential without ignoring or denying the pain of the past.

In this episode we discuss:

Links:

Sessions: www.jazminerussell.com

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

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

Research:

The Myth of Normal by Gabor Mate https://drgabormate.com/book/the-myth-of-normal/

Accountability Spectrum inspired by Beyond Survival: Strategies and Stories from the Transformative Justice Movement, Nathan Shara's chapter on Facing Shame: From Saying Sorry to Doing Sorry https://www.akpress.org/beyond-survival-e-book.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.