YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

I don't know if it's a conscious decision never to get angry, or just that I don't feel comfortable sharing my emotions with other people. It's much easier to keep up a well-adjusted facade than to allow that vulnerability. I never want to make people mad, maybe because I grew up with a father who w...

Welcome to the forum, Dan! I can totally relate giving others a pass but not yourself, or wondering what it would be like to be normal. But I'm learning that everyone has their own normal and all we can do is strive to be the best version of ourselves. I totally thought I would have my act together ...

A belated welcome to the forum! I can easily relate to many of the things you said, especially about social anxiety. I can talk myself out of going anywhere with anyone at any time because I always focus on the negatives (Will I be able to find a parking space? What if I talk too much? What if my cl...

I'm sure it is stressful to be facing that amount of uncertainty. If you're like me, your brain is busily coming up with all the negative outcomes of your situation and each one is more depressing than the worst. But try not to think that way. I know it's easier said than done, but try to focus on t...

As Paul says, you are not alone. I have felt the same way many times. Recently a friend posted on Facebook that he was engaged; this will be his second marriage. And while posting a "Congratulations, I'm so happy for you" comment, I'm thinking, "We're the same age and he's already fou...

Hi, everyone! I'm taking the opportunity on this very rainy night to catch up on Paul's podcast and this forum. I learned about it through Sklarbro Country and am looking forward to future 'casts and being involved with this board. I've dealt with a mix of anxiety and depression since I was a teenag...

It was amazing to learn that Janet worked at a movie theater, since I did as well! That thing where you rest yourself against the wall in a dark theater is something I did quite often when I was an usher, though I'd panic more about having to do popcorn concession vs. Coffee concession. The upselli...

Social anxiety is a strange animal. I've been dealing it with for over 20 years now, and I'm afraid I don't have any ready answers for you. I think the root of it, at least for me, is self-esteem. Feeling like you deserve friends, you deserve to be treated well, you deserve to have your opinion hear...