Real Problems Podcast

This episode is explicitly about sex. It is well known that Lauren struggles with severe endometriosis and some other physical health issues, lesser known though is the heavy impact this has on a person's sex life and in turn...emotional health. Sex undeniably has a significant connection to a person's emotional and mental wellbeing, and the goal of this episode is to give listeners with similar health issues tools to manage and improve their sex lives. 

Have you tried therapy, but it didn’t work the first time (or the second)? Are you considering trying therapy, but are worried it won’t work? Lauren and Sophia are here to tell you DON’T GIVE UP. Your happiness is worth it. Both hosts have experienced failure in their mental health journeys and this episode really exemplifies how the age old saying “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again” rings absolutely true. Make the leap, try therapy, and if you’re afraid… listen to this episode.

Just as the title describes, this episode is all about debunking common stereotypes, stigmas, misconceptions, and/or myths about therapy. Lauren and Sophia confront these common reasons that people choose to avoid therapy and discuss other perspectives. "Reasons" include, "I don't need therapy", "It's too expensive", "Therapy doesn't work", "I don't want to be on meds", and many more...

Schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, psychosis...all names that come with some pretty negative stereotypes. But these are actual mental illnesses that people we love go through. Sophia talks to her aunt who suffers from schizoaffective disorder, and they unravel her complicated story. This episode aims to shed light on what it's like to have an illness like this, what it's like for loved ones, and how there is hope for people struggling with this condition. 

When we can't understand why someone acts the way they do, we shut down and get frustrated. Hosts Lauren and Sophia discuss styles of communication and how to recognize those styles to make it easier to handle relationships with people who communicate differently than you.  

Being home is great; it's relaxing and there's a feeling of love, and comfort in the air... but sometimes the holidays with family can get a little crazy. Today Lauren and Sophia discuss navigating family drama, arguments, and stress over the holidays, they give listeners tips on how to have a great holiday season this year.

Both Lauren and Sophia have been experiencing this recently. They talk about what it's like to feel useless, unimportant, and unsuccessful, and why they are feeling that way. Later they discuss how they've worked through those emotions, and they take listeners through a little thought game to help you all create that mindset shift too.

We're not talking about the pain in your legs as you're getting taller. This episode is all about transitional periods in life that almost always come with growth, and almost always come with pain. Whether its growing up, growing apart, or growing out of...the hosts hope this episode will make those transitional times a little less lonely and a little less painful for their listeners. 

I think we all know that feeling that comes along with making a really tough decision. Stress...anxiety...confusion...occasionally panic. In this episode Lauren and Sophia discuss how they work through really challenging decisions and bring up some examples of even life and death choices they've had to make in their lives. They also explain several other ways to work through a difficult decision to hopefully make decision-making easier for their listeners.

Sophia explores the heavy topic of addiction with Richard, a "recovering" heroin addict. Richard has been sober for over 4 years, but as addiction is a life-long disease, it is something you are always recovering from. Richard tells his story, including how and why his addiction began, what it was like during those years, and how he got help. Sophia and Richard also discuss how to help someone you love if they are struggling with addiction.