Your Mental Breakdown

Latest Episodes:

90. Sarah #19: That's My Neuroses and My Awesomeness Mar 10, 2022

Show notes

Doug and his mom open with a discussion about multiple personality disorder and her previous work in therapy with clients coming out of cults. In the session, Sarah acknowledges never allowing herself to fully feel the anger she's held onto from her own upbringing in a cult. She is able to drop her protective armor in this session and show trust in herself, her therapist, and the process. Sarah is learning what it means to metaphorically put the oxygen mask on herself first.

Doug Friedman

Meredith Levy

YMB Webpage

Join Us on Social Media:

YMB The Facebook Group

YMB on Instagram

YMB on TikTok

89. Drew #77: What is a Safety Net? Mar 07, 2022

Show notes

Doug helps Drew go deeper to explore the concept of a safety net by processing his all-in, all-out mentality. Drew goes to an emotional place when they talk about feeling abandoned, betrayed, and neglected by the inconsistency of his parents not being there for him.

Doug Friedman

Meredith Levy

YMB Webpage

Join Us on Social Media:

YMB The Facebook Group

YMB on Instagram

YMB on TikTok

88. Drew #76: Mommy and Me Feb 24, 2022

Show notes

For this episode, we check in with Drew, the client from Season 1. Drew wants to be doing more to do less, as he copes with the stress of his recent heart attack. Drew processes his parents not showing up to support him the way he needs and wants them. Speaking of which, Doug is supported on the breakdown by a special guest therapist – his mom!

Doug Friedman

YMB Webpage

Join Us on Social Media:

YMB The Facebook Group

YMB on Instagram

YMB on TikTok

87. Drew #75: Is She Your Girlfriend? Yes But No. Feb 21, 2022

Show notes

Drew explores the idea of his parents as a safety net without dependence or co-dependence in their relationship. Doug and Drew look at the concept of allowing someone to do something supportive for you, rather than depending entirely on somebody that could let you down. Mer digs into whether Drew's girlfriend is really his girlfriend or not.

Doug Friedman

Meredith Levy

YMB Webpage

Join Us on Social Media:

YMB The Facebook Group

YMB on Instagram

YMB on TikTok

86. Drew #74: Processing Anxiety in Real Time Feb 14, 2022

Show notes

Drew comes in with a high level of anxiety after going to the emergency room for a heart event. Doug helps Drew process the anxiety in the session. Drew is able to bring his level of anxiety down over the course of the session. Doug and Drew explore getting support from his "family of choice" while processing the disappointment he feels from his family of origin.

Doug Friedman

Meredith Levy

YMB Webpage

Join Us on Social Media:

YMB The Facebook Group

YMB on Instagram

YMB on TikTok

85. Sarah #18: The Mother of All Triggers Feb 10, 2022

Show notes

Sarah describes taking herself through worst-case scenarios to prepare herself for a situation, so she can avoid the shock and broken heart that might otherwise overwhelm her. That protective mechanism once served her, but now creates a disconnect from her actual emotional experience of life. Doug helps Sarah reconnect to her emotional self after seeing her cousin in the hospital and being triggered by her mom's reactions. Doug explains how she can use her favorite tv shows and books to experiment with expressing the emotions that come up, rather than locking them down because it's not safe to show her feelings.

Doug Friedman

Meredith Levy

YMB Webpage

Join Us on Social Media:

YMB The Facebook Group

YMB on Instagram

YMB on TikTok

84. Drew #73: Thank You Period. You're Welcome Period. Feb 07, 2022

Show notes

Drew describes what it's like to go through highs and lows by himself with the support of people around him. Doug and Drew explore what it means to have the validation that comes when we can say "thank you" and "you're welcome" without qualifying it, dismissing it, or deflecting it. Practice saying, "Thank you." Period.

Doug Friedman

Meredith Levy

YMB Webpage

Join Us on Social Media:

YMB The Facebook Group

YMB on Instagram

YMB on TikTok

83. Drew #72: Down in the Dumps Jan 31, 2022

Show notes

Doug helps Drew acknowledge and process feeling down in the dumps, for seemingly no reason. They talk about the difference between feeling depressed or being in a depressive episode. Drew explains what an "episode" means to him after Doug reads him a portion of a transcript from their session a year ago when he felt something similar.

Doug Friedman

Meredith Levy

YMB Webpage

Join Us on Social Media:

YMB The Facebook Group

YMB on Instagram

YMB on TikTok

82. Sarah #17: Processing Grief in Real Time Jan 27, 2022

Show notes

Doug helps Sarah process grief in real time after she just learned of a family member's failing health while in the hospital. Sarah is able to acknowledge having different feelings spiraling at the same time right now. Doug walks with her through some of the stages of grief that are actively coming up in the session - shock, denial, guilt, bargaining, and anger.

Doug Friedman

Meredith Levy

YMB Webpage

Join Us on Social Media:

YMB The Facebook Group

YMB on Instagram

YMB on TikTok

81. Drew #71: The Myth of Meaning Jan 20, 2022

Show notes

Drew looks at his new 26-year-old life as an adult feeling his independence and confidence growing. He acknowledges that his parents can still be a safety net. While separated from his current girlfriend, he tests himself by having lunch with his ex-girlfriend. Drew is actively building ego strength – he's applying what he's been learning in therapy by seeing things externally and making changes internally.

Doug Friedman

Meredith Levy

YMB Webpage

Join Us on Social Media:

YMB The Facebook Group

YMB on Instagram

YMB on TikTok

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected