Your Mental Breakdown

Meredith updates us on the intruder in her backyard - who came back again! We continue the new season with Sarah, in spite of a few audio hiccups in the session. Doug and Sarah talk about feeling frustrated, annoyed, and overwhelmed when others don't get to a solution as quickly and easily as you do, especially when that means you take it on and do it all yourself. This has been a part of Sarah for so long as a survival mechanism growing up in, and running away from, a cult. Doug and Mer highlight the process of helping clients like Sarah recognize and begin to change their patterns, rather than stay focused on the details and the content of their current narrative.

Mentioned in this episode:

Doug Friedman

Meredith Levy

General Sherman Aluminum Blanket Wrap

Wimpy from Popeye

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***Trigger warning*** This episode contains potentially triggering and sensitive topics including child abuse. If you suspect or know that a child is being abused or neglected, call or text 800-4-A-CHILD (800-422-4453). Professional crisis counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in over 170 languages. All calls are confidential.

The new season continues with the second therapy session for Sarah, the new client in treatment with Doug. As they explore Sarah's parenting style, she begins to tell some of her own story about growing up in a cult. Doug acknowledges her strength and resilience in the survival of her experiences while paving the way for them to work towards the "thrival" of her life going forward. Doug and Mer break down some of her background story while highlighting the early stages of therapy with a new client.

Doug Friedman

Meredith Levy

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We're baa-ack! In this new season kick-off, Doug and Meredith are "a step up from sweatpants" and ready to dive back into it with us. We hear the first session with Doug and Sarah, the new client we'll get to know and join for the journey in therapy. Sarah shares some of her history and acknowledges that she's spent a lifetime compartmentalizing, but doesn't truly have a handle on everything. We hear a few tips of the icebergs that have developed over time for her coming from a traumatic background. The groundwork for therapy is being set and we all get to follow along from the start. Doug and Mer tease that there will soon be a Patreon site to follow ongoing sessions with Drew, the client we followed in previous episodes. And they're coming out with a store on the website with merch very soon - so MerMer will have some new clothes to wear-wear!

Mentioned in this episode:

Bruce Almighty - file cabinet scene

Doug Friedman

Meredith Levy

YMB Webpage

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In this Roundtable episode, Doug and Meredith are joined by fellow therapist Ashley McGirt and therapist in training Sahaj Kohli for a conversation about cultural issues in mental health and the world around us. Ashley is a racial trauma specialist, speaker, and author. Sahaj is the founder of Brown Girl Therapy, a mental health community for children of immigrants. The conversation explores stigma, discomforts, comforts, and experiences of issues around culture in their lives and work in mental health.

Mentioned in this episode:

Meredith Levy

Doug Friedman

Ashley McGirt - on Instagram @therapywithash

Sahaj Kohli - on Instagram @browngirltherapy

Dr. Joy Degruy

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman

In this Roundtable episode, Doug and Meredith are joined by fellow therapist José Mata and psychiatrist Dr. Craig Heacock, both of whom work with the intersection of psychedelics and therapy. They look at current trends, research, and experiences of healing with the assistance of certain substances like MDMA, Ketamine, Ayahuasca, and Psilocybin. Join Doug and Mer for a unique conversation with these colleagues in the growing world of psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Mentioned in this episode:

Meredith Levy

Doug Friedman

Dr. Craig Heacock - check out "Back From The Abyss" podcast

José Mata

MAPS - Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies

Mer Mer launches herself into another dimension with Oculus, and this reminds Doug of a time when he was immersed in a virtual reality Star Wars experience. The session begins with Drew feeling a little down that he hasn't lived up to the financial or material standard set by his father. He and Doug examine the anxiety he feels about his mother and his lack of trust from feeling that he has been betrayed by everyone in his family. Drew shares a story when he recognized that a "feather" wasn't his stress to take on. Doug reminds him that not everything needs to be perfect to start expressing and processing these emotions.

Mentioned in this episode:

Oculus

Your Mental Breakdown - The Facebook Group

Meredith Levy

Doug Friedman

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Mer Mer launches herself into another dimension with Oculus, and this reminds Doug of a time when he was immersed in a virtual reality Star Wars experience. The session begins with Drew feeling a little down that he hasn’t lived up to the financial or material standard set by his father. He and Doug examine the anxiety he feels about his mother and his lack of trust from feeling that he has been betrayed by everyone in his family. Drew shares a story when he recognized that a “feather” wasn’t his stress to take on. Doug reminds him that not everything needs to be perfect to start expressing and processing these emotions. 

Mentioned in this episode: 

Oculus

Your Mental Breakdown - The Facebook Group 

Meredith Levy

Doug Friedman

Mer Mer keeps her mind fresh and young by doing Sudoku. She and Doug give the update that they still have yet to shut down their computers at the end of each work day. Then, a very packed session with Drew uncovers a few big reasons why he has trust issues. Drew eases his burden by sharing some stories he's never told before. As Drew becomes more financially independent from his parents, more anxiety is kicked up about attachment and connection. They explore the conflict about cutting the cord to parents, which Drew then likens to cutting the red ribbon at a grand opening. Drew gets homework from Doug to look for the weight of stress he takes on that belongs to other people vs. his own.

Mentioned in this episode:

Attached - the New Science of Adult Attachment

Meredith Levy

Doug Friedman

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Mer Mer keeps her mind fresh and young by doing Sudoku. She and Doug give the update that they still have yet to shut down their computers at the end of each work day. Then, a very packed session with Drew uncovers a few big reasons why he has trust issues. Drew eases his burden by sharing some stories he’s never told before. As Drew becomes more financially independent from his parents, more anxiety is kicked up about attachment and connection. They explore the conflict about cutting the cord to parents, which Drew then likens to cutting the red ribbon at a grand opening. Drew gets homework from Doug to look for the weight of stress he takes on that belongs to other people vs. his own. 

Mentioned in this episode: 

Attached - the New Science of Adult Attachment

Your Mental Breakdown - The Facebook Group 

Meredith Levy

Doug Friedman

At the top of the show this week, Doug busts himself and Meredith for not following through AGAIN on shutting down their computers at night! They swap teenage closet stories (including Doug's roaches!). The session begins with Drew sharing that he is moving back to a place in LA that he has lived before. He feels grateful for the comfort and familiarity of it, rather than feeling like he is taking a step backward. Although he is making strides in becoming financially independent and showing up authentically in his relationships, Drew is still struggling with the anxiety of completely cutting the cord with his parents paying the bills. Doug ties in some pretty sweet sports analogies to help Drew see that it's okay to let others know you are uncomfortable. Drew can see that there are a rainbow of possibilities out there rather than see everything as black or white.

Mentioned in this episode:

The X-Files

Doug Friedman

Meredith Levy

YMB Webpage

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