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

Hi Hedgewitch, I just read your note you posted in late November. I have difficulties as an adult with any holiday, but especially at Christmas. In my highly dysfunctional family, my father was a professional that made great money at his job. But, he was an alcoholic and gambler spending most of his...

I understand the intense feelings of shame over childhood memories. Many I could not control, but a few that I "consented" to. One was similar to yours with an older brother although he initiated it. Our family was a dysfunction wreck with an alcoholic and gambling father who crossed the s...

I know family triggers me when I have expectations for them. I love to be around them most of the time. I feel this is not reciprocal due to my brothers and mother being very busy with families, jobs, proximity, maybe lack of interest, etc. So when I texted, left a voicemail, or emailed and did not ...