The 30 year-old writer talks about being parentless at 3 and the complex relationship with her mentally disabled sister whom she now has guardianship of.  She and Paul bond over suicidal thoughts, isolating and much much more!

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The 25 year-old discusses his Generalized Anxiety Disorder, social awkwardness, difficulty making eye-contact, compulsive overeating, abusive ex-wife and the possibility of being on the autism spectrum.  

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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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