The 57 year-old incest survivor talks about growing up in a family "where being born female was considered a moral failure".  She also talks about her struggles with repressed memories and possible DID (Dissociative Identify Disorder)

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The licensed therapist and Paul talk about eating disorders, emotional intimacy and how to support friends/loved ones while also practicing self-care and establishing boundaries.

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The comedian/dancer/actor shares about her mother's descent into mental illness (schizophrenia), the abuse she suffered at her hands, the year she spent in the foster care system and the strength she feels it has given her.

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The comic book artist and father talks about the role superheroes have played in helping his imagination and creativity heal the trauma he experienced as a child, and trying to break the cycle of abandonment his father never could.

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The 28 year-old writer shares about being unemployed and an only child, her fear of abandonment, being born with club feet, body and sexuality shame and the depression that often makes everything feel like an effort.

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The 40 year-old shares about her traumatic upbringing (incest, religious extremism, abandonment) and the ways her body and mind learned to cope; hallucinating, going numb and following strangers and elaborately envisioning how to kill them and get away with it.

This episode is sponsored by Shari's Berries.  For our podcast discount go to www.berries.com, click on the microphone in the upper right hand corner and use our offer code MENTAL.

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The Hispanic, 31 year-old PhD shares about the downside of raising herself up by her bootstraps; growing up knowing she couldn't depend on her passive mother or gambler father, and now finding her emotional development lacking, especially in areas of trust, intimacy or being comfortable asking for help.

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Listeners share their deepest darkest struggles and darkly hilarious "awfulsome" moments via email and surveys.  Also a contemplation on the life and death of transgender teen Leelah Alcorn.

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The 37 year-old Canadian comic discusses his two psychiatric hospitalizations, his Bipolar II (with rapid cycling), how sports helped him channel his anger about his abusive dad and what he does to stay in balance today.

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The 37 year-old comedian shares about the three traumas that led her to finally seek somatic therapy for her disassociating subtype of PTSD, how she's healing and the tools she uses to cope today.

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