Mind In View

We all want to belong, but what does that actually mean? In this week's episode, Kate and Thea explore the concept of belonging and unpack the who, what, where, why of it all. We also discuss what it feels like to NOT belong, and discuss where it's self-inflicted or driven by others. We hope that you feel like you belong with us, just two weirdos, over-sharing our feelings each week. Stay for the end to hear Thea's daughter, Georgia tell her she does NOT belong in her room... the nerve!

This week's episode puts the spotlight on Kaitlin, who had to rethink her entire life at the same time the world shut down. Her story shows her resilience, perseverance, and adaptability in the face of major life changes and stressors. If you have ever reinvented yourself, or are feeling the urge to take that leap, Kaitlin's words will resonate with you. Kaitlin also reflects on her grief journey in the face of tremendous loss. Tune in to hear this compelling story!

For those of you who are female or female-identifying, do you ever find it challenging to navigate the world of 'lady-friends'? Support systems are so important to our mental health, but finding the right amount/kind/intensity is different for all of us. In this episode, Kate and Thea reflect on their own history with female friendships, and discuss the various nuances involved. We explore competition, jealousy, comparison and unconditional positive regard, to name a few. Intrigued yet?

Do you ever feel like all you do is work, work extra, do various chores, sleep and repeat? Well we feel like this, and it seems to have gotten worse since the pandemic began! Everything just seems to take more annoying steps, and we end up dedicating less time to the things we truly care about. In this episode, Kate and Thea explore this trap and discuss ways to break the cycle in spite of the limitations of COVID life.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an often misunderstood disorder, for both laypeople AND medical professionals. Kate and Thea are very passionate about breaking mental health stigma generally, but ESPECIALLY around OCD. In light of OCD awareness week, this episode focuses on aspects of the disorder that are often misrepresented or unknown to many. Kate and Thea also discuss what it's like to be the patient and the therapist in OCD treatment respectively. So snuggle up and hang with us, and whatever you do, just don't say you're "so ocd" when you just mean you're a tidy person!

It's hard to know whether our attitude determines our reality or if our reality determines our attitude. We think it's probably a bit of both/and rather than either/or. In this episode, Thea and Kate discuss this concept and the idea of 'self-fulfilling prophecies'. Join us as we explore these topics and ways to interact with a world that is sometimes predictable, and other times confusing.

Do you ever just want to indulge feeling really sorry for yourself? Well we certainly do but then we end up feeling worse in the long run. It's important to feel our feelings but when we find ourselves on an island by ourselves, thinking we're all alone in our suffering, it's kind of a road to nowhere. In this episode Thea and Kate discuss ways to fight the pull toward self-pity, and instead to connect with others and our feelings in a meaningful way.

Let's face it--at some point in our lives, we all need help. Are you like Thea, who has natural ease and confidence about making requests of others? Or maybe you are more aligned with Kate, for whom asking a favor doesn't even occur to her unless she's in an extreme state. Thea offers Kate some much-needed pointers in this episode, and they discuss how we can all cultivate a healthier approach to needing, asking for, and accepting assistance...and in doing so both the helped and the helpers can benefit.

Here's the thing about seasons: they affect us, whether it's a change in the weather or a subtle evolution to a new phase of life. And yet we act like they shouldn't, like something is wrong with us if we find it harder to wake up in the morning or we miss what we used to have. In this episode, Thea and Kate examine their own relationships with seasons--physically and emotionally, literally and figuratively--and offer thoughts on how to adjust to the changes that come naturally.

It feels counter-intuitive when you're experiencing trauma or pain, but sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is fall apart. Thea and Kate talk in this episode about how it can actually be a faster path to healing; they share their own experiences and some strategies for releasing the need to fight our feelings. Think of the Phoenix, the gorgeous mythical bird that bursts into flames and returns to dust, re-emerging as a more fabulous version of themselves. That's the vibe.