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Watch, read and listen as people tell their story of lived experience with mental health and illnesses.
Warning: Some of these stories could be potentially triggering. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for free and confidential support 24/7.
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Recovery is possible: Brian’s journey of healing and support
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Looking back now: SJ’s success story in progress
Podcast
The Practice of Self-care and Finding Community
Video
Penumbra Mental Health and Race
Video
Rebirth of Resilience: A Mother’s Recovery From Postpartum Depression
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Beyond bipolar disorder: Jehan shares her lived experience to inspire others and to help end mental health stigma
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Self-doubt to self-discovery: Joel finds confidence through depression support groups.
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Hidden pain but open healing: Monica breaks through stigma with the help of her husband.
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Unveiling the invisible and overcoming PTSD: Sarah’s story of hope and not feeling alone
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Redefining strength and finding balance: Maleeha shares how she has begun to discover what works for her in her recovery from anxiety.
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Changing hushed whispers to loud resilience: Jocelyn is met with support
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Through the lens of connection: Cara’s story of accepting her diagnosis and finding support through therapy
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Defying the thin ideal and nourishing hope: Ashley’s journey in overcoming an eating disorder
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Shattering stereotypes, unveiling the real me: Jess finds support for depression and anxiety through therapy.
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Finding Humor in the Darkness: Camryn shares the Hilarious World of Depression podcast helped her in opening up about her depression and seeking treatment.
Podcast
Brian Dawkins on Tremendous Upside
Video
Battling the Shadows: Albert’s Experience With Schizophrenia and the Darkest Voices
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Donald’s journey through opening up about his bipolar, PTSD and substance use and mission to end the stigma
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The art of healing: Deb’s story of navigating through depression, substance use and the stigma held by her family while finding hope and healing through art and music
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Redefining normal. You are more than your mental illness. Lauren’s story of support and healing
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Melissa’s journey through living with multiple mental health conditions, the stigma and the friends who help her through
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Vic’s victory over anxiety
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Misdiagnosis to self-acceptance: Mel’s story of borderline personality disorder and learning to love herself
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High octane to high hopes: Alex shares his journey of how his wife’s support saved him in managing his ADHD, anxiety and depression
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Finding radical acceptance: from running from his family history of depression to finally accepting his diagnosis; how he found hope and healing
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Depression. It doesn’t discriminate: Curtis’ story of discovering how depression can affect anyone, even him, no matter how perfect your life may be
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Trauma Survivor to a Trauma Doctor: Jess’ story
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Moms on the Frontlines of Suicide Awareness: Janet’s Story
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Mental illness isn’t a catch-all: Leah shares about her bipolar disorder and why she appreciates curious, nonjudgmental questions
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Silence makes it difficult. Sherri opens up about her anxiety, depression, PTSD and where she found support
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Breaking Barriers: Lisa’s Journey as a Health Care Warrior Battling Depression Stigma
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A complete 180: Bruce finds support through peers and writing
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A Mother’s Story: Anna’s Courageous Battle With Anorexia Nervosa
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What is not normal about living a life with bipolar disorder?
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Resonating Melodies: Adam Levy’s Grief Journey and Using Music To Inspire Change
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Breaking Barriers: Dale’s Inspiring Journey Through Schizophrenia, Blindness and Love
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Daniel’s Fight Against PTSD, Depression and Cultural Stigma
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Not forgotten: James tells the story of his mother who lived with schizophrenia and his own diagnosis
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Maria’s story of accepting her bipolar diagnosis and finding healing through comedy
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From dark to light: Adam’s story of depression, suicidal ideation, and recovery
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Combatting stigma from others and herself: Melissa’s journey recovering from bipolar disorder
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Stacy shares what has helped her in her journey with a psychotic disorder
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A full-time job in hell: Josh’s journey in and out of opioid addiction
Podcast
Metta World Peace on Tremendous Upside
Podcast
Wil Wheaton Is Really Hoping It’s All Worth It
Podcast
Margaret Cho Works Out A Lot And Makes People Upset In New Jersey
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A Recovery Story: Brenda
Podcast
A Recovery Story: Jessica
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Reshaping perceptions and going beyond a checkbox
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A message of hope: Jillian reflects on her recovery from an eating disorder
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Steven Page Camouflages Songs About Depression
Podcast
A Message From Inside John’s Closet. I Mean Office.
Podcast
Adventures in Therapy
Podcast
Aimee Mann Discovers That Having Feelings About Terrible Things Is Perfectly Fine
Podcast
Ana Marie Cox Is Not Really Edited Much At All
Podcast
Andrew Zimmern Wrecks His Life, Rebuilds His Life, and Eats Weird Food
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Angelina Spicer Wants to Say Things Out Loud About Postpartum Depression
Podcast
Anil Dash Loves Social Media and Wants It To Change
Podcast
Call A Friend, Find Out How They’re Doing
Podcast
Charlene deGuzman Has Unsexy Stories About Sex
Podcast
Check-Ups on Gary Gulman, Linda Holmes, Janelle James, and “Steve.” Plus, Sock Opportunities
Podcast
Chris Gethard Does Not Avoid the Collision
Podcast
Darryl “DMC” McDaniels Finds Therapy More Helpful Than Olde English 800
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Dave Holmes Puts the ADHD in Dave Holmes
Podcast
Depression’s Eleven Big Lies EXPOSED!
Podcast
Emmy Blotnick Once Ate a Whole Head of Cabbage. Alone. In Silence.
Podcast
Figuring Out Regular Adolescent Behavior vs. Alarming Disorder with Jen Kirkman
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Free Chapters of The Hilarious World of Depression: The Book: The Audiobook
Podcast
Gary Gulman Is a Brilliant Comedian and an Ineffective Offensive Lineman
Podcast
Guy Branum Goes to Minnesota, Gets Good Internet, Finds Self
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Hannah Hart Gets Drunk, Tries To Make Grilled Cheese, Gets Famous, Tries To Enjoy It
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Heather B. Armstrong Nearly Dies Ten Times and It Works Out Great
Podcast
The Holiday Coping Mechanism Spectacular
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Impostor Syndrome: True Tales, Tricks, and Tactics for When You’re Feeling Fraudulent
Podcast
Jameela Jamil Has an Ambitious Goal: To Feel Things
Podcast
Janelle James Discovers She’s a Comedian and Not a Gardener
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Jeff Tweedy Didn’t Want to Take His Doctor On Tour Because the Doctor Was Terrible
Podcast
Jenny Lawson is Very Fond of Creepy Smiling Dead Animals and Worries Quite a Bit
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John Green Falls Victim to Some Bad Fiction While Writing His New Book
Podcast
Jonny Sun Ended Up Here Somehow
Podcast
Julie Klausner Builds a More Confident and Dumber Version of Herself For Our Amusement
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Just the Funny Parts
Podcast
Linda Holmes Leaves Law to Concentrate On Watching TV and It Works Out Great
Podcast
Lori Gottlieb Has Seen All Possible Sides of Therapy
Podcast
Lulu Miller Treats Her Depression With Fish Research, Finds Fish Don’t Exist
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Mara Wilson Had Great Opportunities and Difficult Challenges
Podcast
Mark Duplass Has Two Speeds: Go and Crash
Podcast
Mike Birbiglia Faces His Darkest Fears and Puts Them On Stage
Podcast
Mike Brown Trains as an Engineer to Prepare for Comedy
Podcast
Miz Cracker Looks in the Mirror
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Mortified‘s Dave Nadelberg Presents Your Shame Live On Stage
Podcast
Naomi Ekperigin Brings In Her Baggage, Unpacks It
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Neal Brennan Gives Ketamine and Magnetic Impulses a Try
Podcast
Neko Case Leaves Bad Places, Goes to Better Places
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Open Mike Eagle Goes Outside And Meets People
Podcast
Patti Harrison Figures Out Who She Is and She’s a Woman Who Likes Gross Jokes
Podcast
Pete Holmes Looks for Meaning and Membership
Podcast
Rachel Bloom Finds Her Voice, Then Uses It To Sing About Stealing Pets and Moving to West Covina, California
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Reggie Osse Puts It Together
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Rhett Miller Really Hates That Brass Cat
Podcast
Ryan Bingham Finds a Home and Settles Down
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Scott Thompson Keeps Getting Back Up Again
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Ted Leo Stops Beating Up File Cabinets, Songs, Self
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The Hilarious NIGHT of Depression
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The Perils and Rewards of Travel
Podcast
Thom Tran Is a Regular Standup Comic Except for the Part About Being Shot in the Head in Iraq
Podcast
Whitney Cummings Puts It Together and Stops Falling Apart
Podcast
Words: Am We Uses Them Good At Mental Health?
Podcast
Your Amazing Therapeutic Jukebox
Podcast
Briana Scurry on Tremendous Upside
Podcast
Introducing Tremendous Upside
Podcast
Kenny Anderson on Tremendous Upside
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Suzy Favor Hamilton on Tremendous Upside
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