Not Crazy

Lots of podcasts are hosted by doctors and other mental health professionals. The podcasting space is filled with them because that is who major networks often hire. But who is helping to elevate the patient voice? Short answer? They're counting on you. What We Need & What You Get In order to have a Season 4 (they've done over 100 episodes in the past six years), which will consist of 10 brand spanking new episodes, they need to raise $5,500. This money will only go to the cost of production, hosting, and paying for perks, shipping, and associated fundraising fees. Gabe and Michelle are working for free! And listen, one of the perks is a 10-minute guest spot on the show. They have a one-of-a-kind exclusive BSP shirt designed by Michelle. There is awesome stuff -- would you expect anything less? And, of course, you also get 10 more episodes of A Bipolar, a Schizophrenic, and a Podcast. The Impact People living with mental illness deserve to have the opportunity to share their struggles, feelings, and successes in whatever way feels organic to them. Vulnerability isn't about using the right words or phrases, it's about simply sharing your truth. Gabe and Michelle have been doing that for years and despite rising costs, they have done all they can to continue. Aside from the impact to the greater mental health community, Gabe and Michelle have shared that this is meaningful to them, as well. As long time listeners of the show know, they have had their ups and down. But just like bipolar disorder, they are always come back to the middle and find each other. Other Ways You Can Help If you can't contribute, we understand but that doesn't mean you can't help! Please get the word out and make some noise about the campaign Use the Indiegogo share tools and help spread the word Send an email & link and let people know why this is important to you! Everyone involved with this podcast wants to see it continue. Help get Gabe & Michelle off the street corner and back in front of the microphone. -- where they belong. To learn more, please visit bsp.show/support.

Visit ThisEmotionalLife.org/bsp to learn more or subscribe RIGHT NOW on your favorite podcast player. A Bipolar, a Schizophrenic, and a Podcast was the first podcast by people with mental illness for people with mental illness. Each episode looks at life through the unique lens of people living with depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Its original run ended in 2019 after garnering massive praise in the mental health community and boasting tens of thousands of listeners. Now back for a limited run of 10 episodes with the first episode having launched on January 4th, 2022.  The podcast is hosted by Gabe Howard and Michelle Hammer. Learn more about them here and subscribe or follow on your favorite podcast player. (it's free!)   This podcast is proudly sponsored by Betterhelp. Save 10% on your first month with the discount code “BSP22” or by clicking here.

We are returning for a limited run of 10 episodes with the first episode launching on January 4th, 2022. Episodes weekly through the end of the season. Our original run ended in 2019 after garnering massive praise in the mental health community and boasting tens of thousands of listeners.  Subscribe on your favorite podcast player or visit thisemotionallife.org/bsp BSP is hosted by Gabe Howard and Michelle Hammer. Learn more about them here.

A Bipolar, A Schizophrenic, and a Comeback? In the meantime check out Gabe's book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and Other Observations, at gabehoward.com. He'll sign it for you and throw in some cool swag.  Stay Tuned! Gabe & Michelle  

Please update your subscriptions and links to continue listening to the new Not Crazy podcast with Gabe Howard and his ex-wife, Lisa.  It's the mental health podcast for people who hate mental health podcasts.  Visit psychcentral.com/notcrazy for more information and links to popular podcast players. 

This Feed is Closing Down -- to continue listening please resubscribe to the new feed NOW. Grab the new links at psychcentral.com/notcrazy  ... See You There! :) Should people with mental illness have children? In today’s Not Crazy podcast, Gabe and Lisa discuss their own reasons for not having kids, while also giving a platform to Amy Barnabi, a mother of two with bipolar disorder. Amy discusses her decision to have children and shares her experiences, joys and challenges thus far. What if you can’t be a good parent when your illness flares up? What if the child inherits your diagnosis? If you are a parent with mental illness, you’ve likely heard these questions. Tune in to hear these topics discussed (and much more!) on today’s podcast.

Some of the professionals that work most with helping people with schizophrenia are nurses. There are so many types with different skill sets. Host Rachel Star Withers and Co-host Gabe Howards learn who these often overlooked healthcare workers are. Dr. Tari Dilks, Professor and President of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, joins with insight on what goes into being a psychiatric nurse. 

This Feed is Closing Down -- but we wanted to give you a taste of what you are missing! Grab the new links at psychcentral.com/notcrazy    It’s Mental Health Awareness Month! But what does that mean, exactly? Who are we raising awareness for? Is “mental health” the same as “mental illness?” In this Not Crazy Podcast, Gabe and Lisa ponder the meaning of this decades-old campaign and discuss the pros and cons of the movement.  What do you think? Is Mental Health Awareness Month a necessary outreach that sheds light on mental health, or is it a flimsy substitute for actual help? Tune in for an in-depth discussion that entails several different perspectives.  For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Deconstructing Mental Health Month.

This Feed is Closing Down -- but we wanted to give you a taste of what you are missing! Grab the new links at psychcentral.com/notcrazy What if a divorced couple decided to make a podcast about mental health? What would it be like? Well, wonder no more, because here it is. Grab a cup of hot tea and tune in to the first episode of the totally revamped Not Crazy Podcast with Gabe and Lisa, a couple of divorcees who didn’t like each other’s cats.  What was their marriage like? Why do they want to talk about mental health? And what happened to the cats? Find out the answers to these questions and much more on today’s show.

All good things must come to an end. And today is one of those days. In this episode of The Not Crazy Podcast, we say a sad farewell to our amazing cohost, Jackie Zimmerman. Tune in, as Jackie and Gabe reminisce about the good old days, ponder the fate of podcasts, and discuss Jackie’s decision to leave. They also introduce you to Gabe’s new cohost, Lisa, who just happens to be his ex-wife. Yep! You heard that right! Will this divorced duo be an absolute train wreck (as most divorced cohosts would be) or an inspiration to all? You’ll have to stick around to find out. Join us for a sweet farewell to Jackie and a warm welcome to Lisa. We also give instructions on how you can sign up to hear the new show on the new feed! For More Information and a complete transcript, visit It’s See You Later, Not Goodbye.   Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.    Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

Is your mind constantly preoccupied with the past or the future? What if you could train your brain to just BE in the present moment? This is the essence of mindfulness -- simply being in the here-and-now (not worrying about that stupid thing you said last week), and gently noticing your surroundings and thoughts without judgment. In today’s podcast, Jackie enlightens a skeptical Gabe of the value of practicing mindfulness and how it can be a very useful tool in his mental health tool box. And she’s armed with scientific facts to break him down. When was the last time you truly listened to the rain, enjoyed a cup of coffee… or stopped to smell the roses? Tune in to hear how mindfulness can help you get rid of the mental static that causes so much anxiety. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.    Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

Does your anxiety take over when it’s time to leave the house -- making you stay home more often than not? Do you cancel plans at the last minute due to that feeling of dread in the pit of your stomach? Or maybe YOU are the friend that keeps getting canceled on. In today’s podcast, Gabe and Jackie discuss why this happens and how both parties -- the chronic canceler and the chronically disappointed friend -- can navigate this awkward scenario.  Tune in to today’s Not Crazy podcast to get specific tips on how you can feel more in control so you can cancel less. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.    Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

Do you have difficult -- or even toxic -- family members? How does one go about setting boundaries with them ? And is it OK to cut them off? In today’s Not Crazy podcast, Jackie and Gabe tackle these tough questions with Sonya Mastick, a mental health advocate and fellow podcaster of a show called “What Won’t She Say?” Sonya shares her personal story of how she handled her toxic mom and demonstrates how it’s OK, and sometimes even necessary, to set strong boundaries with family members who hurt you. It’s also OK if those boundaries shift and evolve with time. Tune in for an honest discussion about protecting your mental health from harmful family members. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.    Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

Day 1,364 of the COVID-19 quarantine (well, at least it feels like it). How are you holding up? If you’re like most people, you’re not having much fun. But if you already struggle with anxiety, depression or another mental health issue, these days of isolation and uncertainty can feel like absolute torture. In today’s Not Crazy episode, Gabe laments the loss of his routine -- those regular activities he clung to religiously to keep his mental health in check.  Now what is he supposed to do? Tune in for a special quarantine episode. Together, we will grieve our old routines and discuss how to start new ones. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.    Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

Cannabis, weed, marijuana, pot. It goes by several names, but we all know what it smells like. As weed becomes more mainstream, we on the Not Crazy podcast want to know: Is marijuana really an effective treatment for anxiety? Is it just a coping mechanism? Or a vice? In today’s podcast, Gabe and Jackie look at the research and weigh out the evidence. They also interview Eileen Davidson, a rheumatoid arthritis patient who regularly uses marijuana as a medicine to see what she has to say. What’s your take? Tune in for an open-minded discussion about weed. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.    Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

How are you handling the coronavirus pandemic? Most people are struggling right now, but for those of us with mental illness, these days can feel truly overwhelming. Fear, depression, isolation and loss of routine are just a few of the difficulties many of us are facing. In today’s podcast, Gabe and Jackie discuss what we can do right now to make things just a little better, and they share their personal hopes and fears for humanity once this pandemic subsides. You’re not alone -- we’re all in this together. Join us for an important discussion on how we can handle this time of fear and uncertainty. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.    Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

Men and women experience schizophrenia differently; from the age of onset to symptoms and how society treats those with mental disorders.  Schizophrenic, Rachel Star Withers and co-host Gabe Howard continue the discussion of the differences from the last episode but change the focus to men.  Jason Jepson, an author who has schizophrenia joins for a man’s perspective and Dr. Hayden Finch returns to explain the clinical side of the issues.

Do you struggle with abandonment fears? Do you worry your partner will suddenly ditch you even though there’s no real reason to feel this way? In today’s Not Crazy podcast, Gabe opens up about his own deep-rooted fear that his wife will decide she doesn’t want him anymore. After all, he concludes, what does he have to offer her? I mean, surely she can do better. And even though he knows these fears are unfounded and irrational, he feels helpless in stopping them.  How can Gabe get these thoughts under control? Tune in to hear Jackie give some great advice to her dear friend, and for anyone dealing with abandonment issues. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.    Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

Are people with mental illness more creative? Jackie believes there may be a link between the two ideas, while Gabe thinks it’s just a bunch of hoopla. Get ready -- they’ve both done their research and are ready to back their claims. Tune in to hear a lively (and friendly) debate on whether the science is valid, the difference between inspiration and creativity, as well as their own opinions and experiences on mental illness and creativity. What’s your take? Join Gabe and Jackie on this Not Crazy podcast to see whose side you’re on, or if you’re somewhere in the middle. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.    Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

Do you live in constant fear of losing your job because of your illness? What are your options? In this podcast, Jackie and Gabe tackle this complex topic with real answers. They discuss the exact actions you can take in various scenarios, including who to contact for help. They also share their own stories of being fired when their employers deemed them too sick to be productive. When should you contact human resources? The ADA? A lawyer? If you struggle with mental illness and job insecurity, tune in for an informative discussion on the ins and outs of getting the complicated, and often unfair, American system to work for you. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.    Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

The rent is due tomorrow; but then you’ll be left with only $10 for the week's groceries. What do you do? Many people panic over money (or the lack of it), but for those of us with mental illness, it can feel like a life or death situation: It can trigger an even greater anxiety attack and/or depression. Or it may mean not being able to afford the medication that keeps you well enough to work. What can be done? In this Not Crazy episode, Gabe and Jackie discuss how you can gain a sense of control in these situations, and Jackie shares her own big money scare. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.    Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

Often we don't really consider gender dynamics in treatment or medication. A lot of medications are only tested on men because of the risk of pregnancy, etc. This means there are whole drugs that have made it to market that may not have ever been tested with women. Schizophrenia affects women in many different ways than men. This episode discusses differences in age, symptoms, treatments, lifestyle, parenthood in the genders as they experience schizophrenia. Dr. Hayden Finch joins to explain the medical side. 

Do you struggle with anger? Did you know that some of our most hot-headed moments are actually rooted in anxiety? In today’s podcast, Jackie openly shares her own fuse-blowing moment when her husband’s keys were (gasp!) missing from the hook, and now she must face being late for therapy and perhaps even lie dying on the side of the road. How did she handle this catastrophic situation her mind so graciously forewarned her about?   Does this sound familiar? Join us as we discuss anxiety-driven anger and explore ways to minimize and possibly even prevent it.  Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.    Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

What’s it like being the spouse of someone with mental illness? In today’s podcast, our hosts Gabe and Jackie invite their beloved spouses, Kendall and Adam, to share what marriage with mental illness is like from their point of view. What issues have the couples run into so far and how did they resolve them? Do they have a safety plan if something goes awry? Is a strong partnership with mental illness even doable?  Tune in to get a glimpse of married life with mental illness and see how both couples support each other through it all. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.    Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

America is facing a loneliness epidemic, according to research. But what exactly is loneliness? Is it social isolation? A lack of intimacy? And importantly -- is loneliness a choice? In today’s podcast, Gabe and Jackie tackle these difficult questions and share their own thoughts on loneliness and how it relates to mental health. Gabe also unveils the 7 different types of loneliness -- one of these being “no-animal loneliness.” But is there really such a thing? Jackie is doubtful. Tune in to hear a thoughtful and nuanced discussion of what it means to be lonely, and see if you can relate to one or more of the 7 types. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.    Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

Rich celebrity on TV: “Have you ever been sad? You might have depression.” If scenarios like this make you want to throw a rock at a window, you aren’t alone. In today’s episode, Gabe expresses his distaste for celebrities posing as the “face” of mental illness. He feels further validated after watching a satirical episode of BoJack Horseman, in which Mr. Peanutbutter, a cheerful canine celebrity, becomes the new face of depression -- first as a “sad dog” meme and then as a depression spokesperson. What do you think? Tune in to hear Jackie and Gabe get into a thoughtful discussion on whether celebrities acting as the “face” of mental illness is a good or bad thing. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.    Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

Comorbidity is the presence of one or more additional conditions co-occurring with a primary condition. In this episode, host schizophrenic Rachel Star Withers with her cohost Gabe Howard will be discussing comorbidity with schizophrenia. Comorbidity is associated with worse health outcomes, more complex clinical management and increased health care costs. Occupational therapist and host of the podcast Occupied, Brock Cook, will be joining us to discuss ways that he works with people with schizophrenia to manage multiple health issues. 

Have you ever been so pissed off, in a state of absolute rage, and said or done something you completely regret later? Many people living with bipolar disorder understand this feeling all too well: At the time, you feel so righteous, so fueled with this powerful Hercules-like energy, so ready to take on your enemy (or the world), only to think later... What in the world was that all about? Yep, in these moments, the angry response tends to far outweigh the initial trigger. In this episode, Gabe and Jackie discuss the blind rage that many people have experienced. They talk about how to deal with it and how it’s OK for you to move on from one of these episodes and not identify with your past. Gabe even shares his own blind rage moment and how he managed to put it behind him (after a mega-apology, of course). Have you had a blind rage moment? Or know someone who has? Tune in to peek into the mind of a person with an uncontrollable temper. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.    Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

Sex addict. Nympho. You’ve likely heard these words used for a person with hypersexuality, but what exactly is this condition? Is hypersexuality really a symptom of a mental disorder or is it just a super high libido? Where does one draw the line between liking (or loving) sex and being hypersexual? Is it similar to a drug addiction? Or a binge eating disorder?  Join Gabe and Jackie as they tackle this often misunderstood topic and hear Gabe’s own personal experiences with hypersexuality as a debilitating symptom of his bipolar disorder. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.      Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

Incontinence While Sleeping -- or "pooping" the bed -- isn’t as uncommon as you may think. While this unexpected night time activity may be embarrassing, it doesn’t have to completely derail your mental health.  There can be many causes for sleeping incontinence but you'll never discover what they are if you're unable to move past the psychological trauma. This week we’re sharing honest, personal experiences discussing how to cope without dying of embarrassment. Listen Now! Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.      Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

Should we be talking so plainly about suicidal ideation? What are the benefits of assessing our thought patterns over a period of time? Join us as we discuss the Columbia-Suicide Severity Scale screening tool. We tackle this sensitive topic after Jackie was surprised by a suicide assessment at a physician’s office. Rare trigger warning this week for a tough subject, as we explore talking openly about suicidal ideation.   Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.      Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

Medication for your brain - whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been in treatment for years, you may have doubts if drugs are right for you. You’re not alone. Jackie and Gabe get real about reasons people want to quit psych meds and why our brains convince us to quit despite the benefits of taking medication. They discuss consequences you may not be aware of from just stopping your meds and why you should always involve your doctors, no matter what your decision, when it comes to medication.   Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.      Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

Medication, Therapy, Hospitalization, Electroconvulsive Therapy- what are the treatment strategies for schizophrenia? How do you convince someone they need help? What if someone refuses treatment? Schizophrenic Rachel Star Withers with co-host Gabe Howard reveal different treatments they have undergone over the years with various outcomes. Guest Barbara Thompson, with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, shares support options for people with schizophrenia and their family in the community.

You’ve just been diagnosed with bipolar disorder… now what? The week we interview a young woman named Emma, a twenty-something who is fresh off a bipolar diagnosis and working hard to navigate her way through finding the right medications, a treatment plan that works, and navigating tough family conversations.    Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.      Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

There is no time more joyous and stressful as the end of year holidays. As we fast approach the holidays this year it’s time to start thinking about how you’ll navigate family parties and other familial obligations. In this episode, we give our best tips for making holiday parties less stressful and how to decide if not going is the best option for you.    It’s rough out there, but we care about you and we wish you a happy, healthy holiday season. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.      Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

After receiving two chronic illness diagnosis by the age of 24, it really was no surprise that host Jackie Zimmerman also started to experience depression. Unable to tackle both, Jackie chose to focus on her physical health, letting her mental health deteriorate quickly -- and dangerously. In this episode, we discuss the mind-body connection and how when your body is sick, your mind can quickly follow. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.      Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

In part two of this series, we go into more detail about Gabe’s inpatient hospital stay and focus on what he was thinking while he was hospitalized and what he learned after he was discharged.  We talked about what to do if you feel like you need to be hospitalized, the steps you need to take in order to be admitted and the obstacles involved with getting the help you may need.   Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.      Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

What exactly is psychosis? What happens in the brain of a person with schizophrenia who is hallucinating? Schizophrenic Rachel Star Withers shares her personal hallucinations and delusions and Dr. Joseph Goldberg, who specializes in researching what goes on in the brain when someone is experiencing psychosis, joins to break down how the brain functions during psychotic episodes. Host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard delve into these intense subjects in this episode of Inside Schizophrenia. 

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be an inpatient in a psych ward? In this two-part series, we go into detail about Gabe’s inpatient stay starting with the events that lead him to be an inpatient, and what his days were like after he was admitted. We talk about common misconceptions that you may have around what happens while you’re admitted, what your day looks like and who you’d spend time with. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.      Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

The feeling of abandonment can span through all types of relationships and in this episode, we focus on friendships. Have you ever had a close friend abandon you or have you ever exited a friendship without notice? The emotions and actions surrounding the abandonment of friends can be complex and hurtful, but they are very real and can hurt deeply.   In this episode, Jackie recounts friendships that were very important to her and how she’s handling the loss of them.   Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.      Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

While therapy is often used as one method of treatment for mental illness, it still has a large cloud of mystery around it. Due to its portrayal in movies and television shows, there are a lot of misconceptions about what it means to go to therapy, what a session looks like and what the benefits to therapy can be.     In this episode, we talk about some of the common myths surrounding therapy, touch on the different types of therapy and why Jackie loves therapy so much.    Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.      Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

Each Halloween we encounter the same debate: are haunted asylums stigmatizing or are they simply entertainment? While some may think haunted asylums are tasteless at worst, they don’t feel like they’re an actual detriment to the mental illness community. In this episode, we look at this argument from both sides and really dig into what happens when we use mental illness as a theme for entertainment.  While Jackie and Gabe both make great arguments, we toss this question back to you.  Are you offended by haunted asylums and do you feel like they harm our community? Listen now!    Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.      Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

Psychiatric medications are the religion and politics of the mental health advocacy world -- don't bring them up unless you want a fight to break out. Luckily, here at Not Crazy, we don't shy away from confrontation.  In this episode, we cover the good, the bad, and the ugly surrounding medications. Like whether or not you should take them. We tackle side effects like feeling numb and sexual dysfunction and share our personal histories with medication therapy. Listen now!   Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.      Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

The word "schizophrenia" tends to conjure ideas of hallucinations, delusions, insane asylum in the general public's mind. Most people don't think of the boring parts that consume many with schizophrenia, like lacking the motivation to get out of bed, to make friends... Host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard discuss avolition and ways to help motivate loved ones in this episode of Inside Schizophrenia. Family Counselor Ms. Breen joins to share ways to sort through dilemmas. And Rachel does an experiment on her own to address her lack of motivation in being social.  

Did the movie Joker portray mental illness correctly and does it matter? We passionately go over the movie Joker from the lense of people living with mental illness and discuss whether or not there are implications of making a movie like this. Does it help us or hurt us? What if it does both? Listen in to hear Gabe’s freakishly good recollection of scenes from the movie as Jackie struggles to separate entertainment from reality.  Spoiler Alert: You don’t need to see Joker to appreciate this conversation but we do go over the plot and reveal some important scenes from the movie.   Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.      Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.    

Are you so happy that you can’t understand depression? Not us! While Gabe and Jackie can't relate to that level of positivity, there are lots of people in the world who simply can’t fathom what depression feels like. Despite their best efforts, naturally happy people can have a hard time understanding depression and in Episode 2, we discuss how to explain depression to happy people, including both of our spouses who are, to be honest, annoyingly peppy. We give tips on how to approach the topic and share our own personal experiences of having this hard-to-understand conversation. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts   Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show.      Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare and patient community building. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.  

In the first full episode of Not Crazy, we learn a little more about the new co-host, Jackie, and her history with chronic illness and depression. Gabe rants about person-first language and how nitpicking verbiage is distracting from more pressing matters in the lives of those living with mental illness.  Overall, we decide that “crazy” is not a dirty word and there are other, more time-sensitive, things we should be focusing on that can benefit the mental health community.    https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/     About The Hosts Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com.      Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare and patient community building. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.  

One show ends and another begins. Don't unsubscribe just yet! In the final episode of A Bipolar, A Schizophrenic and a Podcast, Gabe and Michelle reminisce on past episodes, and Michelle tells us what her plans are for the future. Later, Michelle gives some words of wisdom to Gabe’s new co-host, Jackie Zimmerman. We get to know Jackie and discuss how Gabe and Jackie will be taking over BSP, but with a slightly new direction and a new name, which will be released in next week’s episode! About The Hosts Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com.       Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare and patient community building. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co,  Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.      

Everyone complains about work. Having to go to work every day, working too much, not getting paid enough- working can be challenging for so many reasons. Today's episode of Inside Schizophrenia focuses on working while having schizophrenia.  Host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard share antidotes from their own work lives and speak with fellow schizophrenic Michelle Hammer. Michelle, an award-winning graphic designer and entrepreneur, discusses her struggles working full time and transitioning to working for herself. Cheryl Wallace the Vice President of Programs at Rose Hill Center, a psychiatric treatment and rehabilitation center, also joins this episode and speaks about how Rose Hill facilitates programs to help people with schizophrenia rejoin the workforce after a psychotic episode. 

Schizophrenia does not just affect the person with schizophrenia, but their families, also. This episode of Inside Schizophrenia explores the family relationships impacted by schizophrenia, both immediate and extended.  Two guests join us. The first is Chrisa Hickey, who is the mother of an adult son with schizophrenia and started an online site for parents of children who have a severe mental illness. The other guest, interviewed by co-host Gabe Howard, is Janel Star Withers, mother of host Rachel Star Withers. Janel shares her experiences with raising a schizophrenic daughter.  Host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard delve into these intense subjects in this episode of Inside Schizophrenia. 

In this episode, our hosts discuss how the amount of money and resources a person has influences their mental health care. Listen now to hear how Gabe and Michelle tackle this difficult social discussion -- and have a couple laughs along the way.  “It’s so hard to get help with mental illness if you have no money, and that’s not ok.” - Michelle Hammer Highlights from ‘Money and Mental Illness’ Episode [1:00] How does money impact people with mental illness? [3:00] Michelle’s epiphany on the subway. [5:30] The difference between mental health and physical health. [9:30] Insurance and the price of psychiatric medications. [15:00] Michelle’s past job failures. [18:30] Disability: does it help people? [22:00] How can you recover from mental illness when you can’t afford healthcare? [27:30] Michelle and other people living with schizophrenia in NYC.