Unhinged Episode #056: Spectrum With Attitude

Unhinged Episode #056: Spectrum With Attitude

Author: Doug: Depression Survivor, Ed: Supporter January 23, 2018 Duration: 1:03:34

This week we welcome special guest Avery, a friend of the show’s, and to us. Avery and Doug share a connection through both being somewhere on the spectrum. Technically, Avery is toward the Asperger’s side. We discuss when and how each of them were first diagnosed, and how they have managed to overcome some of their challenges.

We also chat about the “gifts” that many people on the spectrum have and how it can sometimes be more of a curse. We’ve talked about Doug’s hyperfocusing abilities, and Avery has an eidetic memory and can recall facts with extreme accuracy. We did put Avery to the test trying to recall what year certain songs came out, and he was impressive!

Ultimately, people on the spectrum learn differently, so early and accurate diagnosis can help put them on the right path. Awareness is key!

Show resources:

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…