Unhinged Episode #054: Open Your Presence

Unhinged Episode #054: Open Your Presence

Author: Doug: Depression Survivor, Ed: Supporter January 9, 2018 Duration: 29:05

In our first episode of 2018, we start with a short and fun guitar jam, which highlights the mood for the new year. Doug is feeling much better, and after receiving the love and generosity from some of our friends and listeners, he’s entering the new year on a wave of positivity.

The bulk of this episode was recorded on January 2nd, which happened to be my birthday. Doug contacted me and said he had some things to say that should be recorded for the show, so I went ahead and recorded our conversation. For Christmas, I got Doug a Fender Squier guitar and a Fender amp. His acoustic guitar, though a beautiful instrument, was not totally filling his void for musical expression, and his last electric guitar had to be sold last year for financial reasons (plus it ended up not being the guitar he thought it would be anyway). In any case, getting a Fender back in his hands was enough to trigger a positive psychological change.

We mostly talk about music and guitars in this episode, but the underlying tone is one of hope. Doug talks about self-care and how to try to stay positive by surrounding yourself with a strong support system.


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 #011: Inside the Criminal Mind [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:29
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 Unhing…
Unhinged Episode #010: Money, Magic, & Murray [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:13
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…
Unhinged Episode #009: Music and the Brain [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:18
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’…
Unhinged Episode #008: TRD and Special Guest Nurit Adler [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:43
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…
Unhinged Episode #007: Prince, Robin Williams, and Suicidal Contagion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:21
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 sensati…
Unhinged Episode #006: Celebrities, Ketamine, and Family [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:18
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 con…
Unhinged Episode #005: Self-Medication & Medical Marijuana [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:12
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 s…
Unhinged Episode #004: Area 25, DBS Detractors & Mindfulness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:12
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 dangero…
Unhinged Episode #003: Deep Brain Stimulation, Cody Glode [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:51
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 impulse…
Unhinged Episode #002: Delving Deeper, Trump, and More [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:00
In our second episode of Unhinged, we touch on why some people with severe depression make good comedians. In fact, the need for approval or validation for some can push them to the arts. In our news segment, we delve in…