Inside Mental Health

What is schizophrenia? What are the symptoms? What’s it like to experience it? How is it managed? The answers depend on who you ask. Pop culture has one view. Doctors have another. And Rachel Star Withers has a first-person experienced view. In this episode of Inside Schizophrenia, Dr. Ali Mattu joins Rachel and co-host Gabe Howard to explore this often misrepresented illness and how social media is changing the way it’s viewed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Living in the “information age” that’s filled with “fake news,” how do we know what to believe when it comes to information about mental health or mental illness? This episode explains how you can determine whether the information is fact or fiction. Listen and learn how. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is often a disconnect when it comes to caring for the psychiatric patient, who is already in a crisis even before entering the overwhelming hospital atmosphere. Today’s guest shares some insights on her work to improve this relationship. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pulling from his years as a psychologist and hundreds of personal interviews, this week’s guest discusses the different forms of trauma, the correlations between trauma and psychosis, and much more. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Modern psychiatric care is thankfully nothing like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. This week’s guest worked for years in a psychiatric emergency facility and joins us to share his thoughts about the experiences he had while employed there. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all know what a first aid kit is. We pull them out and grab the bandages or whatever we need. But what about first aid for the mind? It’s not a kit you can pick up at the pharmacy, but there is mental health first aid that you can learn. Find out more about it in this episode. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most of us are familiar with PTSD largely due to soldiers returning from service. But most people have experienced trauma in one form or another. Learn about the differences between PTSD and other forms of trauma, how to identify it, and what can be done about it. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All our lives, we’re told that being selfish is a bad thing. But is selfishness wrong in all situations? Can it be that, sometimes, being selfish is a healthy thing, even in relationships? This week’s guest believes this to be so. Listen in to learn why. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tony Hoffman went from teen BMX star to homeless addict, followed by a prison sentence. After his release, Tony returned to the BMX world, taking the silver medal in the 2016 BMX World Championships. Today, he helps those with addiction issues via his motivational speaking and special projects. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Social media has many positive benefits, but it also has a dark side, such as making it easier for things like bullying to proliferate. For something that has become so integral to our lives, how can we reduce the stress it creates? Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do we really mean by “moral character”? Are morals and character two different things? Is this something that exists only in the abstract, philosophical sense, or something that can be shown in everyday life? We examine these questions and more in this week’s episode. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s likely that we’ve all, at one point or another, tried to break one or more of our bad habits – whether it be smoking, emotional eating, or something else – only to have the break be temporary. Listen to learn the secret to lasting habit change. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s guest shares how she dealt with Tourette Syndrome, OCD, anxiety, depression, and many other things, by using her “mental illness super powers.” Better still, she gives advice on you can tap into your own super powers to improve your own life. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why are most of us unable to maintain lifestyle changes for the long-term? Why do we get out of habits, once they’ve been established? In this episode, you’ll learn different reasons for this, but even better, how to make changes stick for the long term. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve all experienced that feeling of smug happiness at another person’s misfortune. There’s something satisfying in seeing a jerk receiving a dose of instant karma. Why is that? Should we feel guilty about feeling it? And how do we say it in English? Listen in to find out! Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Toxic relationships can include physical abuse, emotional abuse, and more. They can include romantic, platonic, and even familial relationships. So what do we do when we realize that we’re in such a relationship? Listen for some excellent advice and information. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Service animals are animals (usually dogs) trained to assist persons with disabilities of one sort or another. This week’s guest explains the difference between service animals and emotional support animals, including some surprising laws (or lack thereof) pertaining to them. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We know that addiction, severe depression, and other conditions change our personalities, but not typically how profound that change can be, nor how difficult (and scary) it can be to try to become “ourselves” again. Listen and learn more. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy joins our hosts to talk about mental health and addiction parity. They speak candidly about the problems faced with regard to parity by those who live with mental health or addiction issues. And they talk about how anyone can become an advocate. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life is often emotionally painful. And sometimes the pain we experience becomes embedded to such a degree that it negatively affects our emotional health. In this episode, we examine this kind of emotional baggage and how to break free of the grip it can have on us. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transitioning from youth to adult is difficult, filled with changes that we are ill-prepared for. Often, we lack life skills, such as psychological and emotional tools to make this huge change easier. Our guest this week explains how we can make adulting much less intimidating. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, you’ll meet a man who lost over 130 pounds and went on to become a transformational coach helping others to achieve the same goals. His success was not because of a New Year’s Resolution, and shows just why such January promises don’t work. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cognitive distortions are lines of thinking that are based on untruths. Such thinking can cause misery in our lives. In this episode, Psych Central founder, Dr. John Grohol, explains many types of these distortions, as well as how to address them in order to improve our lives. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are many suggestions about how to survive a bad holiday. But what about those holidays that are not optimal, but not awful? Gabe and Vincent talk about how they are each spending Christmas this year, and why they’re totally okay with not having their preferred holidays. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode shares the story of a woman whose solution to stress involves regularly making challah, a traditional Jewish bread. Not only does the ritual of the making of the bread reduce stress, but the history and tradition of the bread are also important to her. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Growing up with a mentally ill parent can be a traumatic experience for any child. Ally Golden discusses her life growing up with a mentally ill mother, and the psychological trauma that resulted for her, both before and after her mother’s suicide. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charita Cole Brown’s goal in writing a book was to show that people can live well with bipolar disorder, despite how it is often portrayed in the media. She shares her story, as well as her views on the ways mental illness is viewed in different cultures. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy Gamble’s path in life took her from Olympic Stadium to a bipolar journey of paranoia and delusion that ultimately to a stint in jail, and finally to the path to recovery. Today, she is an author and speaker, an outspoken advocate for the mentally ill. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s often claimed that we are addicted to technology. This episode looks at the effects of technology on our personal and social lives and shows us how to form and maintain a healthy balance in our relationship with technology. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emotional overeating is an extremely common problem for many people, particularly among those who live with depression. Many of us “eat our feelings,” resorting to food to escape from the things that bother us. Listen to learn how to break the emotional overeating cycle. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite all the efforts being made in suicide awareness and prevention, suicide is still rampant in society. Spurred by her brother’s death by suicide, our guest became a “change agent” who stresses the importance of being more innovative in our approach to suicide prevention. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bullying is a huge problem in society, and not limited to school and online; it’s also unfortunately present in the work environment. Listen to hear about how widespread workplace bullying is, the patterns it follows, and what to do about it. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pro football player Erik Coleman shares his story of living with parents addicted to alcohol and drugs. He speaks of how this affected him as a child and as an adult, as well as his thoughts on what is most important for children of addicts to know. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Masculinity has long had an identity complex. How much “girly” stuff can a man enjoy without being viewed as non-masculine? Women have redefined femininity, so why can’t men redefine what it means to be masculine? Listen to this week’s episode and you might begin to understand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the biggest misunderstandings about bipolar disorder is about how much it will prevent us from living the lives we want to live. But those with bipolar can lead stable, satisfying lives, on their own terms, rather than the terms dictated by the disease. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For our 100th episode, Michelle Hammer, co-host of A Bipolar, a Schizophrenic, and a Podcast, joins as “host for a day” to ask Gabe and Vincent to share their perspectives on the show as its hosts and to answer some questions. Listen in for some inside scoops and a lot of laughs. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mental health is an important topic in the workplace that is often not addressed properly, if at all. Host Gabe Howard shares his insights on the subject, including his story of being fired from a job due to his mental illness. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people are familiar with postpartum depression. Our guest this week is a woman who developed the lesser-known condition of postpartum bipolar disorder very soon after the birth of her second child. She shares her stories of hypographia, the treatments she adhered to, and how she stays stable with the condition today. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rehab facilities help many addicts kick drugs and live healthy lives again. But sometimes things go awry. Listen to hear how one woman investigated her son’s death in one such facility and the obstacles she encountered – and overcame – on her quest for the truth. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s no surprise that gay men are one group prone to mental health issues. What is surprising is how well they bounce back from such issues. Our guest this week shares stories of such resilience and some behind-the-pages experiences he had while researching his book on the topic. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How common is child sexual abuse? What are some of the misconceptions surrounding it? What trauma do survivors deal with long after the actions have stopped? Can a victim have a healthy life when their abuser is still around? Listen in to hear these things and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest is a developmental coach who works with people to help them develop a stronger connection to nature. Listen in as he shares why he chose this direction in life. He also speaks on how nature is important to mental health and why it’s so important for us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When we think about PTSD, we generally think of soldiers or others who work in dangerous situations, or possibly victims of violent crimes. Few of us think of children. Listen in to hear our guest speak of how witnessing a murder when she was quite young has impacted her life. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The rate of depression in children and adolescents continues to grow, leaving many parents clueless on what to do. What is driving this increase? Are things truly different for young people today, compared to twenty or thirty years ago? Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A young man, ultimately diagnosed with schizophrenia, murders his parents. His brother shares the story of how it affected the family both before and after the tragedy, why his brother was unable to use a mental health defense, and how treatment could have prevented it all. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Stanford Prison Experiment has been a psychology staple for decades. But new evidence has created a stir of controversy. Listen as we discuss the origin of the experiment, the controversy surrounding it, and what (if anything) we can actually learn from it. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Sex therapy” is often misunderstood. In this episode, our guest sex therapist talks about what his work consists of, dispelling a few of the misconceptions. Also discussed are the hallmarks of arousal, erectile dysfunction, “simmering,” and more. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Addiction is a vicious condition that destroys lives every day. Existing treatments have been found lacking. Now, a new approach that features mindfulness has shown good results. Listen to hear how a mindful approach to addiction may be the answer for many. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fear is something we all face in our lives, sometimes in profound ways. We develop fear-based behaviors that prevent us from living the lives we want to. Our guest for this episode explains how this happens and how to change our behavior to reduce fear’s grip on us. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two transgender women share observations from their 20+ years of experience; discuss how transitioning, and the science of it, changed over the decades; and offer their views on what they believe are the most important things for society to know about it. Hosted by Gabe Howard (www.gabehoward.com) and Vincent M. Wales (www.vincentmwales.com). Previous episodes can be found at psychcentral.com/show or on your favorite podcast player. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices