Not Crazy

A Bipolar, A Schizophrenic, and a Podcast is BACK with Michelle Hammer and Gabe Howard. Yes, Brand New Episodes like this one! Subscribe to the new BSP Feed on your favorite podcast player or visit our new home at thisemotionallife.org/bsp so you don't miss any epsiodes (and go binge listen the episodes you've already missed!) Whenever there is mass violence in the United States, politicians are quick to blame people living with mental illness. These same politicians are often also quick to the cut mental health budgets and create barriers to psychiatric care for people who are sick. In this episode, Gabe and Michelle discuss guns, mental illness, and sex toys — among other important points. Needless to say, they aren't happy being blamed for the deaths of innocent people, including children. Listen now to hear their thoughts. Hey! Follow Society of Valued Minds on Instagram by clicking here or search for @societyofvaluedminds. This podcast is proudly sponsored by Betterhelp. Save 10% on your first month with the discount code “BSP22” or by clicking here. About the Hosts of A Bipolar, A Schizophrenic, and a Podcast Gabe Howard is a professional speaker, writer, and activist living with bipolar and anxiety disorders. Diagnosed in 2003, he has made it his mission to put a human face on mental illness. He's the author of Mental Illness is an Asshole and Other Observations and a popular podcast host. Learn more at gabehoward.com. Michelle Hammer is a Schizophrenia Activist and spends her time passionately fighting stigma. She is an NYC native featured in the WebMD documentary Voices, which was nominated for a Tribeca X Award at the Tribeca Film Festival 2018. Founded and run by Michelle, Schizophrenic.NYC is a clothing brand with the mission of reducing stigma by starting conversations about mental health.

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.

Gabe Howard and Michelle Hammer 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.

Sadly, this is the end. No, not the end of the world, although it sometimes feels like it. This is the end of the Not Crazy podcast. Why are we checking out? Join us as Gabe and Lisa explain why the podcast has come to a close and also fill you in on new things to come. And as a wise man (Dr. Seuss) once said, “Remember me and smile, for it's better to forget than to remember me and cry.”   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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.  

As a child, Lisa would daydream about suicide. It wasn’t until her sophomore year in college that she would be diagnosed with major depressive disorder. What was her long journey like? What finally helped her? Join us as Lisa shares her personal story of living with depression and a sleep disorder. She also reveals her personal struggle with taking meds, even though they have helped her tremendously. 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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.  

How did Gabe and Lisa go from being spouses to divorcees to best friends? Do they hold any residual anger toward each other? Hurt feelings? Secret attraction? How do their current spouses feel about their friendship? If you’re curious to understand their unique journey, join us as they tell all on today’s podcast. For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: From Divorce to Besties. Find More Episodes of Not Crazy online at psychcentral.com/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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.  

Schizophrenia has been around since the dawn of time but actually treating it has only been around the past 100 years. In this episode host and schizophrenic Rachel Star Withers takes you through the dark and disturbing evolution of schizophrenia treatments. From systematic euthanasia to hydrotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy to the infamous lobotomy.  Were these doctors "mad scientists" torturing the mentally ill or were they the only ones trying to help a population of people seen as a burden? 

Is there a correct way to grieve? What if you lose an estranged family member with whom you have unresolved differences? In today’s show, Lisa discusses the death of her grandfather, whom she wasn’t close to, and how she has mentally and emotionally processed the loss. Join us for a closer look at the grieving process and how there is no one way to handle death. For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Grieving and Radical Honesty. Find More Episodes of Not Crazy online at psychcentral.com/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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.  

What’s it like growing up with a sibling with mental illness? In today’s show, we hear it straight from Gabe’s little sister Debbie, who shares what it was like living with Gabe well before anyone knew he had bipolar disorder.  Join us for a great discussion on mental health issues in families. While it’s always hard, there is often a silver lining.  For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Family Perspective on Mental Illness. Find More Episodes of Not Crazy online at psychcentral.com/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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.  

Can a never-depressed person truly understand what your depression is like? Or give you advice? Probably not. It’s like getting parenting advice from a non-parent. In today’s show, our two depressed co-hosts, Gabe and Lisa, understand the pain of depression and are here to share their experiences and offer some helpful tips. If you’re struggling with depression, tune in for a great discussion -- from two people who have been there and understand what you’re going through. By the end, you will know you're not alone. For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Depression Management Hints and Tips. Find More Episodes of Not Crazy online at psychcentral.com/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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.    

It’s that time of year again! That’s right -- Gabe’s Annual Birthday Blog. Each year, Gabe looks back on the important events and lessons he’s encountered during the previous 12 months. But what events can he talk about when COVID came and stole the show?  Join Gabe and Lisa as they discuss the Year of Coronavirus and the good and bad that came with it. For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Birthdays, COVID, and Reframing (Oh My!) Find More Episodes of Not Crazy online at psychcentral.com/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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.    

Is your family bad for your mental health? If so, how do you handle the holidays? In today’s show Gabe and Lisa reminisce about their family holidays together -- the good and the horrible -- and discuss how they currently curb controversial topics at the table. Join us for a walk down memory lane which leads to a whole lot of bickering and laughter. For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Families and Holiday Survival. Find More Episodes of Not Crazy online at psychcentral.com/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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.    

Have you seen the Netflix series Ratched? In today’s Not Crazy podcast, we discuss whether the show gives an accurate portrayal of 1940's mental illness treatments. And to help us out, we welcome Rachel Star Withers, the podcast host of Inside Schizophrenia and a person who lives with schizophrenia, to discuss her views of the show.  Are the lobotomies and hydrotherapy treatments portrayed in the show realistic? Did doctors really do lobotomies on children? Join us as we take a deeper look into this popular miniseries. For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Reviewing Netflix's Ratched. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ Guest Information for 'Rachel Star Withers- Reviewing Ratched' Podcast Episode Rachel Star Withers is an entertainer, speaker, video producer, and schizophrenic. She has appeared on TV shows including MTV’s “Ridiculousness,” “TruTV,” “America’s Got Talent” and is the host of “Insanity with Rachel Star” on Amazon Prime. She grew up seeing monsters, hearing people in the walls, and intense urges to hurt herself. Rachel creates videos documenting her schizophrenia, ways to manage and let others like her know they are not alone and can still live an amazing life. She has written Lil Broken Star: Understanding Schizophrenia for Kids and a tool for schizophrenics, To See in the Dark: Hallucination and Delusion Journal. Fun Fact: She has wrestled alligators. 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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.      

Openly sharing our personal mental health stories can help others know they’re not alone, especially when it’s a rarely-discussed or taboo subject. In today’s Not Crazy podcast, our guest Rachel Steinman, a podcaster, writer and mental health advocate, discusses what it’s like to host a podcast where she shares her family’s mental health secrets.  By talking openly about her family’s four suicides, mental illness, substance abuse, family affairs, and more, Rachel is changing the narrative and replacing it with love, compassion, and understanding.  For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Value of Personal Mental Illness Stories. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ Guest Information for 'Rachel Steinman- Value Mental Illness Stories' Podcast Episode Rachel Steinman is a Los Angeles native who received her Masters in Education and has taught every elementary school grade, K-6. She’s even been the school librarian, a job she adored. Rachel never set out to become a writer, a podcaster, or a mental health advocate but that is exactly what she proudly calls herself after discovering her beloved grandfather’s unfinished memoir 24 years after he jumped from his high rise. Rachel is sharing her family’s story to rid the shame and stigma that come with family secrets and generations of mental illness. By talking openly about her family’s stories of four suicides, bipolar, depression, substance abuse, family affairs, and more, she’s changing the narrative and replacing it with love, compassion, and understanding. She’s also cutting generational trauma so she doesn’t pass it onto her precious daughters and to inspire others to share their stories openly. Rachel is a lead presenter for NAMI speaking about ending the silence to discuss mental health warning signs and offer resources and hope to middle and high schoolers as well as their parents. Rachel hosts and produces the Dear Family, Podcast celebrating our complicated families and overcoming obstacles to find mental wellness. She lives in Studio City with her husband of 20 years, two beautiful, bright, and musical teenage daughters, and her adorable rescue puppy.    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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.      

A third of all people will be a caregiver at some point in their lives. Caregiving for people with schizophrenia presents challenges that many people are ill-prepared for.  Host Rachel Star and Gabe Howard break down the principles of caregiving and creative ways to navigate schizophrenia.  Dr. Sarah Kopelovich joins to share schizophrenia caregiver specific training. 

In today’s show, Gabe discusses what he could have done differently as a newly diagnosed bipolar patient that may have made his life a little easier. He and Lisa also discuss some common pitfalls a new patient may run into. For example, what’s the problem when patients are told they need to be med-compliant at all costs? Should you be open at work about your illness? Join us to hear Gabe's experiences and learn from his rookie mistakes (which actually ended up working out in the end anyway). For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Dear Newly Diagnosed- What We Wish We Knew. Find More Episodes of Not Crazy online at psychcentral.com/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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.    

Let’s discuss the nuances of dysfunctional parenting. In today’s Not Crazy podcast, Gabe recalls the relationship he had with his parents when he was young. As a teen, he thought his parents were being overly harsh, but now he sees they were trying to punish symptoms of his undiagnosed bipolar disorder -- and were doing the best they could. Join us for a great discussion on how the parent-child dynamic can go wrong when undiagnosed mental illness is involved. For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Understanding a Dysfunctional Childhood. Find More Episodes of Not Crazy online at psychcentral.com/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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.    

Are you sad? Just be happy! Does this irritate you? In today’s show, Gabe and Lisa ponder whether happiness really is a choice -- especially for people who struggle with mental illness. How do we measure happiness? And what is happiness inflation? Join us for an in-depth conversation on whether or not people can actually choose happiness. For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Is Happiness a Choice? Find More Episodes of Not Crazy online at psychcentral.com/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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.    

Who do you think understands more about bipolar disorder: a psychiatrist or a patient with the illness? In this Not Crazy podcast, we discuss whether a patient can be considered a mental health expert without all the credentials after their name. Today we invite writer and bipolar advocate Natasha Tracy -- who also has bipolar disorder -- to the show to give her opinion. Would you seek advice from a patient? Join us for an in-depth discussion on mental health patients as experts. For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Can Mental Patients Also Be Experts? Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ Guest Information for 'Natasha Tracy- Patients as Experts' Podcast Episode Natasha Tracy is an award-winning writer, speaker and social media consultant from the Pacific Northwest. She works to bring high-quality, insightful and trusted information on bipolar disorder and related illnesses to the public while engaging with the mental health community. Natasha has written, literally, thousands of pages on mental health-related matters. She currently writes two award-winning blogs: Breaking Bipolar and Bipolar Burble,  which has been named a top 10 health blog by Healthista, Health.com, Healthline, Medical News Today and others.  Natasha has also been featured on the Huffington Post, BPHope, Healthline, PsychCentral, Sharecare and many others. 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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.      

Do you have a constant feeling of self doubt or fraudulence despite evidence to the contrary? You may have a very common condition: Imposter syndrome. In today’s Not Crazy podcast, we discuss what this syndrome is and why so many people feel like they are swindling others with their personal success. What is the difference between imposter syndrome and negative self-talk? And how can we start thinking more positively about ourselves? Join us for a great discussion on imposter syndrome. For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Do You Have Imposter Syndrome? Find More Episodes of Not Crazy online at psychcentral.com/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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.    

Does the thought of surgery throw you into a panic attack? Let’s discuss how to mentally prepare yourself for invasive medical procedures, especially if you already struggle with anxiety on a daily basis. Today’s show was recorded a day after our host Gabe’s surgery, so the anxiety and experience was still fresh in his mind. Gabe and Lisa also reminisce about Gabe’s decades-old surgery -- and his extreme anxiety around it -- before he knew he had bipolar disorder.   For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Medical Procedures and Anxiety Disorders. Find More Episodes of Not Crazy online at psychcentral.com/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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.    

Can people with schizophrenia love? Can they date or get married?  Host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard review their own past experiences.  Andrew and Stephanie Downing, authors of “Marriage and Schizophrenia: Eyes on the Prize” join and share their incredible journey and love. Bonus Content: Inside Schizophrenia Podcast 

Our host Gabe may have signed up to be a spokesperson for mental illness, but do you sometimes feel like an involuntary spokesperson simply for having mental illness? It’s kind of like being the only person of a certain ethnicity or sexual orientation in your social group -- you often become a representative, whether you want to or not. So what happens when your symptoms act up when you represent “everyone” with your illness? In today’s podcast, Gabe and Lisa discuss how it feels to be a representative of your illness -- voluntary or not -- and the pressures that come with it. For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Involuntary Spokesperson for Mental Illness. Find More Episodes of Not Crazy online at psychcentral.com/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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.    

Self care is vital for people with mental illness. But what exactly is self care? Many of us think of a long bubble bath with a glass of wine. But how about maxing out your credit cards in the name of “retail therapy?” It feels good, right? How does self care differ from self-detriment? In today’s show, Gabe and Lisa dig deep into the concept of self care, what it means, and how we can take it too far. Is it still self care if it feels good in the moment but is bad in the long term (like eating 20 cookies)? Or is it self care if it feels bad in the moment but is good long term (like exercise)?  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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.    

A mentally ill man is standing in your yard yelling at the mailbox. What do you do? You call the police, right? Not so fast, according to today’s guest, mental health advocate Gabriel Nathan. There is a better way to do things. Gabriel believes that rather than training police officers to de-escalate people in mental health crises, the police shouldn’t be called at all in these situations. Our host Gabe has a different take on things, as he is an advocate for training police officers in crisis intervention practices. Join us for an enlightening and nuanced discussion regarding the role of the police when it comes to mental health crises. For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Is Police (CIT) Crises Training Needed? 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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.    

From lobotomies to pharmaceutical advertising to forced treatment, let’s discuss some of the more taboo topics in the history of psychiatry. While some of these approaches are obviously terrible (especially in hindsight) others are in the gray area. Should pharmaceutical companies be able to advertise directly to the patient? Is it OK to force psychiatric treatment in certain cases? What do you think? Tune in to today’s Not Crazy episode for a great discussion on the more controversial topics in the field of psychiatry. For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Medical Model Errors and Omissions in Treating Mental Illness. 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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.    

“You’re so stupid. That was the dumbest thing anyone has ever done.” You probably wouldn’t ever say this to a loved one -- but would you say it to yourself? What’s your self-talk like?  And why does it matter? In today’s Not Crazy podcast, Gabe and Lisa break down their own experiences with negative self-talk and why they do it. And while Gabe believes in reframing his thoughts to be more positive, Lisa thinks there may be some benefits to not always looking for the silver lining. What do you think? For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Negative Self-Talk and Pessimism. 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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.    

What does psychosis feel like? What’s the difference between a delusion that demons exist and a religious belief of the same? In today’s show, Gabe and Lisa recall Gabe’s real-life psychotic episodes and discuss all the pain and stress surrounding psychosis. Join us as Gabe shares how it felt when there were demons under his bed and when the window washers were watching his every move.  For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: My Husband Has Psychosis. 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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.    

Take the bull by the horns! Pick yourself up by your bootstraps! Are these cliches condescending for people with mental illness? Or is there a grain of truth to them? Today, Gabe and Lisa debate the pros and cons of the all too common “taking your life back” advice we all get from well-meaning people. Gabe shares his personal story of gaining back control of his life a day at a time while healing from depression. When you struggle with mental illness, how much of your behavior, thoughts and emotions do you actually have control over? Is it helpful to feel in control of your life, even when it screws you over?  For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Self-Help Cliches Have a Peculiar Value. 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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.    

At one point, Gabe weighed more than 550 pounds. Today, he and Lisa remember and discuss the extreme pain and slow healing process of living with binge-eating disorder. Gabe shares his shame in being so overweight, his intense relationship with food, the story of his gastric bypass and the difficult process of learning new coping mechanisms. How did Gabe’s bipolar and panic attacks tie in with his binge eating? And, importantly, how is he managing the illness now? Join us for an open and honest discussion on living with an eating disorder. For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Life With Binge Eating 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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.    

Rates of psychosis are more strongly influenced by ethnicity and socioeconomic status than any other mental health condition. In this episode of Inside Schizophrenia host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard discuss the impact of schizophrenia in minority communities. Guest Sakinah “The Muslim Hippie” joins to share her experiences in mental health care.

What is the “anti-psychiatry” movement? In today’s Not Crazy podcast, Gabe and Lisa get to the bottom of this mentality and debate the reasons and end-goals of people who are explicitly against medicalizing mental illness.  What is behind their passion? What is their end-game? Is it a dangerous group? Join us for an enlightening debate on this growing movement. For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Debating 'Anti-Psychiatry' Advocacy. 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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.    

Does religion help or harm people with severe mental illness? In today’s Not Crazy podcast, Gabe and Lisa welcome Rachel Star Wither, host of the Inside Schizophrenia podcast, to discuss religion’s role (or lack thereof) in treating those struggling with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Rachel relates her personal experiences of mixing religion with her illness and shares how she currently manages to believe in God while keeping her faith “separate” from her symptoms. Tune in for a deep discussion on religion and severe mental illness, including Rachel's 3-day exorcism experience at age 17. For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Religion's Role in Mental Illness Treatment. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ Guest Information for 'Rachel Star Wither- Religion Mental Illness' Podcast Episode Rachel Star Withers is the host of the Inside Schizophrenia podcast, and a mental health advocate who lives with schizophrenia. She creates comedic and mental health videos and has appeared in numerous TV shows.     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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.      

What is resting b**ch face? In today’s Not Crazy podcast, Gabe and Lisa discuss the resting b**ch face concept and why it’s even a thing. Lisa shares how she’s been accused of it and how she's been prodded by men to smile more.  What do you think? Is resting b**ch face an unconscious bias against women to always look pretty for men? Or is how you are perceived by others just a regular part of life? Join us for a nuanced discussion on the psychology of resting b**ch face. For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Studying "Resting B**ch Face." 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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.    

What is the link between addiction and mental illness? Is addiction a choice? In today’s Not Crazy podcast, Gabe and Lisa discuss whether addiction should be classified as a disease and whether or not it should require medical treatment. Gabe also shares his personal story of addiction and how it tied in with his bipolar disorder. What's your take? Tune in for an in-depth discussion which covers every angle of this often controversial topic. For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Is Addiction a Disease? 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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.    

Can a relationship work when one person has severe mental illness? In today’s Not Crazy podcast, Gabe and Lisa discuss dating with bipolar disorder. They share their own story of dating, marrying and divorcing under the umbrella of Gabe’s bipolar diagnosis and discuss the ups and downs from both perspectives. What are some positive signs that the relationship can last? And what are the clues that you might need to call it quits? Tune in for a heartfelt discussion on living and dating with severe mental illness. For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Should I Date Someone with 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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.    

Is it ever OK to joke about mental illness or suicide? In today’s Not Crazy podcast, Gabe and Lisa welcome Frank King, a comedian who’s turned his struggles with major depression and suicidal thinking into comedic material.   What do you think? Is joking about suicide too heavy? Or is humor a good coping mechanism? Join us for an in-depth discussion on gallows humor. For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Joking About Suicide- Is It Ever Okay? Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ Guest Information for 'Frank King- Joking and Suicide' Podcast Episode Frank King, Suicide Prevention speaker and Trainer was a writer for The Tonight Show for 20 years. Depression and suicide run in his family. He’s thought about killing himself more times than he can count. He’s fought a lifetime battle with Major Depressive Disorder and Chronic Suicidality, turning that long dark journey of the soul into five TEDx Talks and sharing his lifesaving insights on Mental Health Awareness with associations, corporations, and colleges. A Motivational Public Speaker who uses his life lessons to start the conversation giving people permission to give voice to their feelings and experiences surrounding depression and suicide. And doing it by coming out, as it were, and standing in his truth, and doing it with humor. He believes that where there is humor there is hope, where there is laughter there is life, nobody dies laughing. The right person, at the right time, with the right information, can save a life. 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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.      

At the thought of losing a job or missing a mortgage payment, Gabe is an anxious discombobulated mess, while Lisa is cool as a cucumber. In today’s Not Crazy podcast, Gabe and Lisa ponder: Why do people have such vastly different ways of reacting to the world? They also discuss -- with the special flare that only a divorced couple has -- the good old days when Gabe would have full-blown panic attacks and Lisa had to get them through it.  How did they handle these scary moments? Is it ever OK to feel anger toward the panicky person? And what if the panicky person accidentally causes harm -- should they have to apologize? Join us as Gabe and Lisa recount their personal experiences. For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Hiding Panic Attacks in the Bathroom. 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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.    

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. For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Parenting and Bipolar Disorder. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ Guest Information for 'Parenting and Bipolar' Podcast Episode Amy Barnabi is from northeast Ohio. She received her BA in Elementary Education from the University of Akron, where she attended on a Division 1 basketball scholarship, and has a BS from Full Sail University in Educational Media Design and Technology. She has been a teacher for over 18 years. In 2011 she was the Claymont District Teacher of the Year. Amy is also a published author (Randy Howe’s, “One Size Does Not Fit All.”). You can follow Amy’s journey on her Facebook page: My So-Called Manic Life. She is married to her husband, Mike, and they have two sons, Ryan and Nate.  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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.      

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. 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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.      

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. For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Divorced Couple Hosting a Mental Health Podcast. 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.    Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness's “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.      

The Not Crazy podcast is hosted by a guy with bipolar with his ex-wife, who lives with depression. Our unique hosting duo know first-hand that people don’t lay awake at night and wonder about the "state of their mental health," but might very well wonder whether or not they are crazy.  It's the mental health podcast for people who hate mental health podcasts. Listen and subscribe today. The podcast is hosted by Gabe Howard and produced & co-hosted by Lisa.  New episodes every Monday on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/notcrazy.