Unhinged Episode #053: Hey Brother

Unhinged Episode #053: Hey Brother

Author: Doug: Depression Survivor, Ed: Supporter December 19, 2017 Duration: 1:08:26

We’re back for our final show of 2017 (we’ll be back in January). This episode is a little bit different since the bulk of it is an actual recording of our typical pre-show planning discussion. Doug had mentioned in the past that we should probably start recording these talks, and this week that’s just what I did. Since that conversation got pretty personal and fairly deep, we decided to just play it as the main topic of this week’s show.

What follows below is a timeline of how the episode is structured. We start with a song clip and a discussion of the past two weeks. The full pre-show discussion starts nearly 19 minutes in.

0:00 – 00:57
Clip of original song “Hey Brother”

00:58 – 01:20
Unhinged Intro

01:21 – 18:55
We explain a bit about why we were absent for the last two weeks. Doug talks a bit about his struggles this holiday season so far, and we briefly chat about traumatic brain injuries in sports and the death of a UFC fighter.

18:56 – 01:07:02
Recording of pre-show discussion. This is the meat of this episode where Doug and I talk freely, usually to prepare the show for the day, but this time we discussed Doug’s slight downturn in mood in the last two weeks. He starts the conversation in a pretty low state, upset about his lot in life and feeling insecure about his future. We go back and forth for a while on feelings, distortion, and socialization. The conversation gets interrupted by a call from Doug’s sister. We ended our pre-show discussion after Doug talked to Laurie, and at that point recorded the opening to the this show.

01:07:03 – 01:08:25
I explain how Doug’s mood had shifted noticeably after our discussion and his interaction with his sister. The social interaction had improved his general state greatly. This is good data.

The next day (Monday), Doug and I talked again and his turnaround was even more pronounced. He even admitted how he felt better after hearing his sister’s voice the day before.

UPDATE:
We just posted an addendum to this episode! Check it out!

Holiday Gifts

 


In a world where conversations about mental well-being can feel either overly clinical or frustratingly vague, Unhinged: Discussing Mental Health offers a different space. Hosted by Doug, a depression survivor, and his supporter Ed, this podcast delves into the raw, complex, and often messy reality of living with and managing mental health challenges. Their dialogue moves beyond simple advice, exploring how mental health intersects with daily life, culture, fitness, and personal growth. Each episode feels like an honest conversation between friends, one who has navigated the depths and one who provides grounded perspective from the outside. Listeners will hear personal reflections, practical discussions about coping mechanisms, and explorations of how societal views on health and self-improvement shape our individual journeys. This isn't about providing easy answers; it's about building understanding and reducing isolation through shared stories and genuine talk. The unhinged podcast creates a relatable audio experience for anyone seeking a more authentic and human connection to topics often shrouded in stigma or silence.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 62

Unhinged: Discussing Mental Health
Podcast Episodes
Unhinged Episode #021: Fear [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:42
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 participa…
Unhinged Episode #020: Return to Pooh Corner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:19
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…
Unhinged Episode #019: A New Hope [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:02
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…
Unhinged Episode #018: Relapse Part 2 – The Call [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:30
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 o…
Unhinged Episode #017: Relapse Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:55
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 tr…
Unhinged Episode #016: Mission Remission [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:05
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 w…
Unhinged Episode #015: Brothers in Arms [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:04
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 gi…
Unhinged Episode #014: Texting Truths and Brain Facts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:35
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 su…
Unhinged Episode #013: Letters From the Loony Bin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:40
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 dar…
Unhinged Episode #012: Psychopharmacology and Pharmacogenetics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:25
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 t…