Unhinged: Discussing Mental Health

Doug is back! But only briefly to explain what he’s been going through and what it means for the future of our podcast. Don’t worry, we will continue in one form or another, but we must now consider Doug’s mental health and whether talking so personally about his daily struggles is a potential trigger or […] The post Unhinged Episode #022: Trepidations appeared first on Unhinged.

Last episode, we discussed how Doug was unable to join us due to his off-the-charts anxiety. This past week, his anxiety has continued like a roller coaster. Unfortunately, his disease is again keeping him from participating. We chatted a few days ago and he told me that the past week has felt more like years. […] The post Unhinged Episode #021: Fear appeared first on Unhinged.

If you’ve been following the podcast, you’ll know that Doug has been on a roller coaster ride with his treatment resistant depression, being in remission for quite a while, then falling back down, then coming back out of it again. In our last episode, he was on an upswing, having just come out of a […] The post Unhinged Episode #020: Return to Pooh Corner appeared first on Unhinged.

After a long three weeks of relapse, Doug is finally starting to emerge from the darkness. In this episode, Doug recalls some of what he was feeling during that time… the anger, the frustration, the hopelessness. We also respond to a couple of emails we received about Episode #18: Relapse Part 2 – The Call. […] The post Unhinged Episode #019: A New Hope appeared first on Unhinged.

NOTE: This episode contains very strong language and disturbing subject matter. This is a real life documentation of a person in a desperate state, wanting his pain to end. Listener discretion is advised. Since the 4th of July, Doug’s mood has been steadily dropping, effectively ending his two-month remission from his treatment-resistant depression. On July […] The post Unhinged Episode #018: Relapse Part 2 – The Call appeared first on Unhinged.

NOTE: This podcast was recorded on July 10th and talks about Doug beginning to relapse right after recording our previous episode about his remission. After this episode, Doug has unfortunately continued this downward trend, and on next week’s show, you will hear an emotionally raw phone call between Doug and Ed. Stay tuned. In this […] The post Unhinged Episode #017: Relapse Part 1 appeared first on Unhinged.

NOTE: This podcast was recorded on July 3rd and deals with Doug’s recent 2-month remission. However, as of July 4th, Doug’s mood has taken a downward turn, so the declaration of a full remission was a bit premature. We will have more information about this on next week’s show, so please stay tuned. In the […] The post Unhinged Episode #016: Mission Remission appeared first on Unhinged.

In this episode, we welcome special guest Jamie Rickel, Doug’s older brother and de-facto family liaison. Jamie has come to understand Doug’s plight and that his disease is not something he can control. The discussion gives us a look at Doug’s early childhood from Jamie’s point of view. Jamie also talks about when he noticed […] The post Unhinged Episode #015: Brothers in Arms appeared first on Unhinged.

Another month’s end, another situational downward turn. In our 14th episode, we discuss how living under the poverty line puts any mental illness recovery in danger. Doug’s situation is no exception as he struggles to survive for eight days with a zero balance. We re-enact a texting conversation we had in preparation for the show […] The post Unhinged Episode #014: Texting Truths and Brain Facts appeared first on Unhinged.

In our 13th episode, we cover Doug’s 6-month stint in a mental hospital. We learn what it felt like for him to be in a real life “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”. Doug reads an old journal entry, which sounds like a dark and emotional suicide note. He’s come a long way since then. Next, […] The post Unhinged Episode #013: Letters From the Loony Bin appeared first on Unhinged.

This week we talk about drugs and how genetics might play a part in how they affect different people. Doug , as part of an IMPACT study in pharmacogenetics, discovers he metabolizes slowly, so medicinal treatments need to be adjusted accordingly. We also discuss his battles with the Ministry of Health and drugs not covered by […] The post Unhinged Episode #012: Psychopharmacology and Pharmacogenetics appeared first on Unhinged.

We all love to fear monsters. In Hollywood, that thrill brings in millions. But what about when those monsters are real people who feel no remorse for their criminal behaviors, including murder? In this episode of Unhinged, we dig into what makes serial killers, from environmental factors to neurology. Can a serial killer be created […] The post Unhinged Episode #011: Inside the Criminal Mind appeared first on Unhinged.

Another rocky start this week as Doug’s money troubles due to being on disability nearly derailed the show. So we decided to discuss the issue as our opening topic. How does someone with a mental illness, who cannot work, survive on only $15k per year in a city where the poverty line is at nearly […] The post Unhinged Episode #010: Money, Magic, & Murray appeared first on Unhinged.

In our 9th episode, We talk about how music is what brought us together many years ago and how it became an important part of our friendship. We also disclose what the “blue room” from our previous intro is and how that’s related. There was another rocky start the morning of this show, and Doug […] The post Unhinged Episode #009: Music and the Brain appeared first on Unhinged.

In our 8th episode, Doug discusses the details of Treatment Resistant Depression. What is it? Is it common? What treatment options are available? Having lived with TRD his whole life, Doug has researched and tried pretty much every treatment option out there, from drugs to electroshock, to DBS. We also get an update on Doug’s progress. […] The post Unhinged Episode #008: TRD and Special Guest Nurit Adler appeared first on Unhinged.

In this episode, we discuss the difference in how the media covered the death of Prince vs. the death of Robin Williams. Responsible journalism calls for portraying celebrity suicide as not something romantic and sensationalized, but rather as a disease that has treatment options and support. Is the media partially to blame for suicidal contagion […] The post Unhinged Episode #007: Prince, Robin Williams, and Suicidal Contagion appeared first on Unhinged.

We start by listing some celebrities known to have Major Depressive Disorder. Though their fame does bring much needed focus to mental illness, we strive for the day when it’s accepted as a disease that is out of the control of its victims. We also discuss the use of ketamine in the fight against treatment-resistant depression. Doug […] The post Unhinged Episode #006: Celebrities, Ketamine, and Family appeared first on Unhinged.

This episode opens with an emotional reveal of our struggle to get the episode recorded due to Doug’s most recent downward turn. Waking up depressed and angry for the last couple of days has forced Doug to postpone the show twice before we decided to openly discuss his feelings on-air. Once we got the show […] The post Unhinged Episode #005: Self-Medication & Medical Marijuana appeared first on Unhinged.

In this episode of Unhinged, we talk about the area of the brain called Area 25 and how it relates to mental health.We also find out why there are some psychologists who think that Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is dangerous and prefer non-surgical, and even non-medicinal forms of therapy, including meditation, empathy, love, and mindfulness. […] The post Unhinged Episode #004: Area 25, DBS Detractors & Mindfulness appeared first on Unhinged.

Episode #3 gets into some details of Doug’s most radical depression treatment: brain surgery. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a neurosurgical procedure involving the implantation of a device that sends electrical impulses, through implanted electrodes, to specific parts of the brain. It’s used to treat Parkinson’s, dystonia, and chronic pain, but has also proven effective in helping […] The post Unhinged Episode #003: Deep Brain Stimulation, Cody Glode appeared first on Unhinged.