1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:02,640 Speaker 1: The Zitim Podcast Network. 2 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:10,840 Speaker 2: People do not understand the severity of emotional distress when 3 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 2: it comes to this disorder. You are who you are, 4 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 2: You go through what you go through, and there's things 5 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:18,400 Speaker 2: that you can control, and there's things that you cannot. 6 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 2: And the wisdom comes from knowing the difference. 7 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:25,440 Speaker 1: Hi, everyone, welcome back to Hope. 8 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 3: It's for all the podcast Season three. We're at another episode, 9 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 3: another week. I hope you've had a good week. I 10 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:36,520 Speaker 3: am so insanely excited about today's episode. I genuinely think 11 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:39,240 Speaker 3: this is one of my favorite episodes that I've ever recorded, 12 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 3: one of my favorite interviews that I've ever done. I 13 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 3: will give you pre warning. I cried a bit in 14 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:48,879 Speaker 3: this episode, purely because of how beautiful this guest was 15 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 3: and her articulation of things. Doctor Courtney Tracy. She's a 16 00:00:53,479 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 3: psychologist from America. You may have seen her on TikTok. 17 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,080 Speaker 3: But not only is she a psychologist, she's a psychologist 18 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:03,600 Speaker 3: who lives with borderline personality disorder. Now, if you yourself 19 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 3: have borderline personality disorder, or you know anyone that does, 20 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 3: you know that it is one of the most difficult, 21 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:13,040 Speaker 3: one of the most debilitating, one of the most misunderstood 22 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 3: mental illnesses. And the way that Courtney was able to 23 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 3: kind of talk about her experience as someone who lives 24 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 3: with that has so incredible. It's so heartfelt, it's so 25 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 3: eye opening, it's so beautiful, and it's also painful, and 26 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:31,680 Speaker 3: that's the reality of living with BPD. 27 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 1: And I really. 28 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 3: Hope that this episode, if you are someone who lives 29 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:38,280 Speaker 3: with BPD, that this is an episode that gives you hope, 30 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:42,199 Speaker 3: that helps you feel understood, that helps you feel heard, 31 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:44,960 Speaker 3: but also that she has this but has been able 32 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 3: to go and live a full career. She learns how 33 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 3: to manage and kind of deal with her day to 34 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 3: day life. I was lucky enough to meet doctor Courtney 35 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 3: when I was over in the US, and we recorded 36 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 3: a kind of interview thing that we did for voices 37 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 3: of hope and just hearing her. Then I was like, man, 38 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 3: I need to get you on this podcast. I need 39 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 3: you to be able to talk to these incredible listeners 40 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 3: and to be able to share the story even widelier 41 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 3: that's not even a word, even wider, but I genuinely 42 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 3: believe that you're gonna get a lot out of this episode. 43 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 3: So please, if you can stick around for it again. 44 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 3: If you need to take a break at anytime, we'll 45 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 3: talk to someone that's fully okay do that at any 46 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 3: point in time. This episode does talk about suicide attempts, 47 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:30,079 Speaker 3: it does talk about self harm, and it does talk 48 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:34,080 Speaker 3: about both autism and obviously borderline personality as well. 49 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 1: So please stick around. 50 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:37,840 Speaker 3: This episode is a good one, and coming up right 51 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 3: after this, you'll hear doctor Courtney Tracy's story. Doctor Courtney Tracy, 52 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 3: Welcome to Hope is real. 53 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:49,359 Speaker 1: First of all, how are you doing? 54 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 4: Then? 55 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 2: Well, thank you so much for having me. I am 56 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 2: doing better than I have been for the last eighteen months. 57 00:02:56,919 --> 00:02:59,240 Speaker 2: But I would have to say that I think there's 58 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 2: still quite a with lots of exciting things and healing 59 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 2: to come. 60 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 1: I love how honest that answer is. 61 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 3: I think in New Zealand we have this tendency to 62 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 3: kind of almost script like, hey how are you? 63 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 1: Yeah? Good? Thanks? How you move on with your day? 64 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 3: And people don't ever actually answer the question honestly, it's 65 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 3: just kind of like scripted response, move on. And this 66 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 3: whole podcast and conversation is literally around being open and 67 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 3: honest and having these conversations. And the last time I 68 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:31,640 Speaker 3: saw you was in La. We were filming a campaign 69 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 3: for voices, and you were very pregnant at the time. 70 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 2: Yes, I was very pregnant and it was so hot 71 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 2: that day. I felt like I was dying. 72 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:42,120 Speaker 3: It was so hot, and I had come from New 73 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 3: Zealand winter as well, and I was like, I don't 74 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 3: know what's going on. It was boiling in LA. But 75 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 3: obviously kind of a lot has happened. You've had your kid, Yes, 76 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 3: I have. 77 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 1: How was it experience? 78 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 2: I mean, well, the interview we had prior the pregnancy 79 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 2: was a struggle, right, I became very depressed, etc. I'm 80 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 2: not sure if we'll get into that on here. But 81 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 2: now that she is her own being, she's almost eight 82 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 2: months old, I get emotional immediately because that pregnancy, my second, 83 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:26,600 Speaker 2: was so different than my first, and I didn't expect 84 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 2: to feel so wildly out of control, even though I 85 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:33,719 Speaker 2: lived most of my life in that state, I didn't 86 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 2: see this coming, and so the pregnancy was horrible and 87 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 2: the birth was pretty horrible. But I am joyful now 88 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 2: and when she laughs, I'm so happy. And she loves 89 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 2: me and I love her, and she will always be 90 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 2: a testament to healing and to the work and I'm 91 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:07,279 Speaker 2: excited for when she grows up and learns how much 92 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:11,159 Speaker 2: it took for me to become her mother and how 93 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 2: proud and happy I am of that. 94 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 1: That's really beautiful. I really love that. 95 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 3: And I mean just seeing you in La and even 96 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 3: kind of hearing your experience after we did that interview 97 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 3: and kind of being like, oh my gosh, like this 98 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 3: so much almost is so much more. And I think 99 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 3: it's so important that everyone knows that recovery is not linear, 100 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:35,960 Speaker 3: Like it's not just kind of you walk up one mountain, 101 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:36,920 Speaker 3: boom it's done. 102 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 1: It's such a process. 103 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 3: And I think your life and the way that you're 104 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 3: able to articulate articulate that and be so honest as 105 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:46,840 Speaker 3: such a kind of evidence to that. And I would 106 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 3: love to kind of jump back and well, I definitely 107 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:52,479 Speaker 3: want to talk further about your experience with this pregnancy, 108 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:56,359 Speaker 3: because it's a very big thing that I think a 109 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:58,920 Speaker 3: lot of mothers go through, and especially with the past 110 00:05:58,960 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 3: history that you've had. 111 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 1: But what was your life like growing up? 112 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 2: That's a big question and one I've answered a lot 113 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 2: over the last five years, and you know, it's changed 114 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:13,840 Speaker 2: over the last five years. And what I mean by 115 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:17,359 Speaker 2: that is I've healed a lot becoming a public figure. 116 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:20,279 Speaker 2: Maybe we can talk about that one day. I wonder 117 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 2: if that's happened for you, well ups and downs, But 118 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 2: it's I mean having borderline personality disorder, which is a 119 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 2: difficult disorder that for one encompasses really not knowing who 120 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 2: you are. Growing up, I had no idea who I was, 121 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 2: and then becoming so known to millions of people, it 122 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:43,960 Speaker 2: forced me to develop myself more in different ways. But 123 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:47,840 Speaker 2: that was interesting because typically when somebody develops a sense 124 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:51,160 Speaker 2: of self, it's in childhood. It's in their upbringing and 125 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 2: the way that they're mirrored by their parents and the 126 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:58,840 Speaker 2: way that they form hobbies and opinions through their peer friendships. 127 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:03,480 Speaker 2: And growing up for me was really difficult because I 128 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 2: grew up with a single mom on welfare and food stamps, 129 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 2: with an adult uncle who who has really severe autism, 130 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 2: grandparents who had a fifties relationship, and I was exposed 131 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:21,760 Speaker 2: to a lot of mental health issues and substance use. 132 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 2: And because of my neurodivergency mixed with my borderline, that's 133 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 2: what I became. I became someone obsessed with substances and 134 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 2: someone who was obsessed with psychology, but in the way 135 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 2: where it told me why everybody else was messed up 136 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 2: around me. I never used psychology to figure out how 137 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 2: I could heal myself. And the last five years have 138 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 2: really allowed me to reflect on my childhood in ways 139 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 2: where I feel like I'm the parent I needed while 140 00:07:55,960 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 2: becoming a parent to my own kids, I don't know 141 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 2: that was a bit reflective, but it was hard. It 142 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 2: was hard growing up. There wasn't money, and there wasn't stability, 143 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 2: and it took a long time to. 144 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 1: Crawl out of that. 145 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 3: Just hearing you say becoming the parent that you needed 146 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 3: and becoming just a person that you needed. 147 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 1: Makes me so emotional. 148 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 3: Like especially I think someone that has borderline personality disorder 149 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 3: one is something that is so insanely stigmatized, and also 150 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 3: a lot of people just fail to understand that that 151 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:33,199 Speaker 3: is something that is I mean, you're the professional here, 152 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 3: but it's majority at the time rooted in childhood trauma, right, 153 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 3: and stuff that was out of your control that is 154 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 3: not your fault. And to kind of go through this 155 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 3: whole process and then become the person that you needed, 156 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 3: it's just it's so beautiful that you've been able to 157 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 3: take that pain and that misunderstanding and all of the 158 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:58,719 Speaker 3: stigmas that come with it and the confusion, and it's 159 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:02,959 Speaker 3: one of the most painful mental illnesses to live with 160 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 3: because of how stigmatized it is. What do you think 161 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 3: were like the first symptoms for you that you had 162 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 3: borderline personality disorder? 163 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 2: Well, you know, I'm still labeling some of the experiences 164 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:23,839 Speaker 2: that I've had in childhood as borderline symptoms the more 165 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:27,560 Speaker 2: I reflect and look back on it. But you know, 166 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:30,400 Speaker 2: self harm was a big thing for me growing up. 167 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 2: But I used sex as self harm. I'm afraid of 168 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:38,200 Speaker 2: physical pain, but I'm not I'm afraid of my body 169 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:40,640 Speaker 2: being hurt, but I'm not afraid of my body causing 170 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 2: my heart to be hurt. Like that just doesn't It 171 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 2: didn't for a long time mean anything to me my body, 172 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 2: and so I used that to harm myself. But there 173 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:57,200 Speaker 2: were instances of really intense binging substances, not being able 174 00:09:57,240 --> 00:10:01,959 Speaker 2: to maintain stable relationships, lacking as sense of self and identity, 175 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 2: having really intense anger control issues. It felt like I 176 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 2: was the Tasmanian devil and I was so incredibly destructive. 177 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:20,400 Speaker 2: But what was interesting growing up was that there was 178 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:24,560 Speaker 2: this little space inside of me that was quiet, calm 179 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:30,600 Speaker 2: and scared, like so deeply afraid. And I masked that 180 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 2: with the substances and the anger, and it was so 181 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 2: clear that something was wrong, but I didn't have someone 182 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 2: to tell me that, or to actually, I mean, I 183 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 2: knew that, but I didn't have someone to tell me 184 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 2: there's something you can do about it. I didn't feel 185 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:53,600 Speaker 2: seen growing up, and so I thought for a while 186 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 2: that this was just me acting out. But it wasn't 187 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:02,040 Speaker 2: just a conscious choice to behave the way I was behaving. 188 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 2: It was a wiring of my brain and my body 189 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:09,080 Speaker 2: and my mind that I didn't know could be potentially 190 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:11,880 Speaker 2: inescapable if I don't do if I didn't do something 191 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 2: about it. Substance use, impulsivity, really intense anger would be 192 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:21,319 Speaker 2: the main things. 193 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 3: During that the earlier kind of I guess teenage years 194 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:31,439 Speaker 3: were there moments where I guess, the specifically within the 195 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 3: borderline personality and kind of everything else going on in 196 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:37,640 Speaker 3: your life where I don't want to use word exploded, 197 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:39,120 Speaker 3: but it kind of felt like, because I know that 198 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:43,920 Speaker 3: with specifically with borderline, your emotions are going like this, right, 199 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 3: Like I remember reading that it's like someone living with 200 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 3: third degree burns, Like the smallest touch feels so painful. 201 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 1: What were moments like when it did. 202 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:57,719 Speaker 3: Feel so unbearably painful for you? 203 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 2: You know, I've been trying to find words to describe 204 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 2: that feeling. What's interesting is that if I say something 205 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 2: like if you know, you know, then like the people 206 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 2: that know no, but to try to describe something so 207 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:17,680 Speaker 2: incredibly devastating, it's like, hm, well, the outward impulses can 208 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 2: seem like explosions, but what's happening inside is like, I mean, 209 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 2: what's coming to my head is imagine that where you're 210 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 2: standing on the earth, on the ground, your feet are 211 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 2: on the ground. Suddenly the whole rest of the world 212 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 2: comes apart from that surface that your feeder on, and 213 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 2: it has every person you've ever loved on it, and 214 00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 2: then you just see them floating away into space. Like 215 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:55,320 Speaker 2: that's the feeling of loneliness that encompasses borderline personality disorder 216 00:12:55,640 --> 00:13:05,439 Speaker 2: and getting emotional because people do not understand the severity 217 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:10,440 Speaker 2: of emotional distress when it comes to this disorder. 218 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:11,280 Speaker 1: And so. 219 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 2: It feels like the end of the universe, which is 220 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:23,559 Speaker 2: why the behaviors seem like you they they're acting as 221 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:27,440 Speaker 2: though someone's trying to kill them. They're in their worst 222 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:31,319 Speaker 2: possible state, in the most danger they could ever imagine, 223 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 2: in the most scarce, isolative place possible. And the sad 224 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:42,559 Speaker 2: part is that the stigma solidifies that feeling. 225 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:51,559 Speaker 3: I the amount of young people that I see daily 226 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:56,720 Speaker 3: that struggle with this disorder that just is so stigmatized, 227 00:13:56,800 --> 00:13:59,440 Speaker 3: And I wrote about it actually my first book that 228 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:03,000 Speaker 3: when I was younger, I was given the diagnosis of 229 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 3: borderline personality disorder, and then as I got older, they 230 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:09,280 Speaker 3: realized that it was actually for me, it was a 231 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:14,440 Speaker 3: mix of the ADHD and PTSD because the symptoms were similar. 232 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:18,080 Speaker 3: But what I realized was that because I had this 233 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 3: diagnosis and it was on my hospital files, whenever I 234 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 3: went into the emergency room for a physical thing, I 235 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:28,280 Speaker 3: would be treated as if it was something going on 236 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:33,200 Speaker 3: mentally because this label was on my files and for 237 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 3: people having to just live with that, and I'm like, 238 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 3: I remember it happened. I had just won Young New 239 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 3: Zealander of the Year for literally the journey that I 240 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 3: took and been able to be well again. And I 241 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:51,560 Speaker 3: had this doctor who didn't believe anything because he saw 242 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:56,120 Speaker 3: my mental health history and that's for me, who had 243 00:14:56,280 --> 00:14:58,440 Speaker 3: just kind of been like, Oh, she's got through it. 244 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 3: And I'm like, I can't even imagine for people that 245 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:07,440 Speaker 3: live with this and already feel like a burden and 246 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 3: feel unlovable and feel all of these massive emotions to 247 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:15,600 Speaker 3: then just have this added stigma on top of it that, 248 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 3: like you said, solidifies these beliefs that you already have. 249 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:23,040 Speaker 3: Is so now I'm going to cry. It's so heart 250 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 3: wrenching that people have to live. 251 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 1: Like that and it should never never be the case. 252 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 3: What would you want to say to people that are 253 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 3: listening to this that have borderline personality disorder? 254 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:41,440 Speaker 1: What do you want to say to them? 255 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 2: I know that there's more to you. I know you're 256 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:55,200 Speaker 2: a human being. And when I think about you, I 257 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:59,520 Speaker 2: think about how the pain is a system in your 258 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 2: brain and everything else is you. And I think that 259 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 2: that's really important, because when someone sees the label, or 260 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:13,680 Speaker 2: someone sees the physical form of the person that has 261 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:22,280 Speaker 2: the label, they're not seen as a person with hobbies 262 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:28,840 Speaker 2: and dreams and favorite movies, and they're dances that embarrass 263 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 2: them and the people that they've lost. And I see 264 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 2: it all, and I think that if no one else 265 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 2: ever says that to you. Please know that I am 266 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:46,440 Speaker 2: somewhere in the world and my perception of you is 267 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:49,920 Speaker 2: what you wish it could be from others. So please, 268 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:55,800 Speaker 2: I'm not the only person that will see you, So 269 00:16:55,960 --> 00:16:56,960 Speaker 2: please believe me. 270 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 1: I am. I think I'm so emotional because I. 271 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:15,439 Speaker 3: See this pain so deeply of people that live with this, 272 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:22,520 Speaker 3: and I've seen so many people lose their lives because 273 00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:26,640 Speaker 3: they don't ever hear what you've just said, and they 274 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:31,600 Speaker 3: don't ever experience the people in their worlds showing them 275 00:17:31,640 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 3: what you've just said. 276 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:36,600 Speaker 1: And I think it's I mean, we've. 277 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:39,119 Speaker 3: Tried for the last three seasons of this podcast to 278 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:43,640 Speaker 3: find someone who could talk about borderline personality disorder from 279 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 3: this one. 280 00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:46,000 Speaker 1: I think you're so. 281 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:52,000 Speaker 3: Incredibly articulate and graceful, and you've just been through hell 282 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 3: with it. 283 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:55,200 Speaker 1: But to be able to sit there and. 284 00:17:57,119 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 3: Articulate the way that you do and talk to these 285 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 3: people the way that you do is something that I'm 286 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:08,679 Speaker 3: so grateful that the world has, and I know that 287 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:11,960 Speaker 3: the world was very close to not having that with you, 288 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:15,640 Speaker 3: which also makes me freaking emotional. 289 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:18,640 Speaker 1: Like you're here and people get to understand that there 290 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:19,920 Speaker 1: is hope because you exist. 291 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 3: And when we did the Change your Mind into View, 292 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 3: you were talking about a moment that was really really 293 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:32,480 Speaker 3: bad for you where you kind of were like you 294 00:18:32,560 --> 00:18:34,160 Speaker 3: just didn't see any way out. 295 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:36,480 Speaker 1: Would you be willing to talk about that? 296 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:43,360 Speaker 2: Definitely, and thank you for everything that you've said. Creating 297 00:18:43,359 --> 00:18:49,879 Speaker 2: a family is all I've ever wanted, and I'm a 298 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 2: very ambitious woman. I tend to pile on really massive 299 00:18:55,880 --> 00:19:02,479 Speaker 2: projects all at once, like opening up an entire treatment center, 300 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 2: completing IVF and having a baby, completing a doctorate, and 301 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 2: my licensure hours for my masters. I did all of 302 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:16,400 Speaker 2: that at the same time in twenty seventeen successfully, So 303 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:21,600 Speaker 2: I tried it again in twenty twenty three, where I 304 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:25,240 Speaker 2: did IVF, to have a baby, opened up a treatment center, 305 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:30,960 Speaker 2: and wrote my debut book. The problem was I am 306 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:37,080 Speaker 2: also autistic, and as we age, our sensitivity levels increase, 307 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:43,120 Speaker 2: our energy levels decrease naturally, not all the time, and 308 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:47,280 Speaker 2: I am not the same person. I've also been through 309 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 2: a lot more trauma since twenty seventeen. But when I 310 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:57,640 Speaker 2: became pregnant, actually I should say I became pregnant three 311 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:02,560 Speaker 2: days after being diagnosed autistic. So for a year prior 312 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:07,399 Speaker 2: to that, I was struggling significantly. I was already really 313 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:12,320 Speaker 2: depressed and anxious. And being depressed and anxious when you 314 00:20:12,359 --> 00:20:15,919 Speaker 2: are a mental health public figure, I'm sure you know, 315 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:18,679 Speaker 2: is very overwhelming. 316 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:20,160 Speaker 1: What do you show? 317 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:23,399 Speaker 2: What do you not show? What has a lesson in it? 318 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 2: For people? What's just cathartic messiness? And I didn't know 319 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:34,119 Speaker 2: my place online. And when I was working to open 320 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:37,840 Speaker 2: my treatment center, it wasn't going well because I was 321 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:42,520 Speaker 2: so anxious and depressed. And when I became pregnant, I 322 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:48,480 Speaker 2: lost all sense of control. My body was no longer mine, 323 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:51,600 Speaker 2: and I struggled with a sense of self and mind. 324 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:59,639 Speaker 2: So I was trapped. I felt trapped, And after I 325 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:03,720 Speaker 2: received the diagnosis, my husband and I began to get 326 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:09,439 Speaker 2: into a lot of arguments because we were trying to 327 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:14,320 Speaker 2: figure out if my anxiety was simply anxiety, was a 328 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:18,560 Speaker 2: trauma response, was my borderline acting up? Was my autistic 329 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:24,479 Speaker 2: difficulties interpersonally? And I needed so much. I needed the 330 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:27,920 Speaker 2: most I've ever needed in my life. And I've been 331 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:31,160 Speaker 2: with my husband for eighteen years, nineteen years, and he's 332 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:34,159 Speaker 2: an amazing human being. But we didn't know what to 333 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:37,960 Speaker 2: do and we were down at the beach one day 334 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:42,879 Speaker 2: and we got into a really big argument, and you know, 335 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:47,400 Speaker 2: I said, when are you going to stop judging me? Now? 336 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:49,920 Speaker 2: Humans judge there's nothing we can do about it. And 337 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 2: we were writing a book about this exact thing, and 338 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:57,199 Speaker 2: he said, I'm always going to judge you, and he 339 00:21:57,320 --> 00:22:00,679 Speaker 2: meant it mean, and we had just in a section 340 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:03,320 Speaker 2: on how humans will judge no matter what there's nothing 341 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:05,359 Speaker 2: we can do about it. So he wasn't trying to 342 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:09,159 Speaker 2: trigger me, but it did. I didn't. I wasn't honest 343 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:13,120 Speaker 2: with him about where I was at. So he got 344 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:14,480 Speaker 2: out of the car and he went down to the 345 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:16,680 Speaker 2: beach with our son, and I stayed in the car 346 00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:23,960 Speaker 2: and I had panic attacks and breakdowns, and I was pregnant. 347 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:27,640 Speaker 2: I think I was three or four months pregnant, and 348 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:37,120 Speaker 2: I just needed a pause, like really badly shaking, hyperventilating. 349 00:22:37,280 --> 00:22:40,680 Speaker 2: So I called my best friend, who I never call. 350 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:48,040 Speaker 2: I don't. We talked through words that are written, she answered. 351 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:51,359 Speaker 2: She talked to me for an hour, and I kept 352 00:22:51,359 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 2: playing in my head like this is what I'm gonna do. 353 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:58,040 Speaker 2: I can't handle this anymore. I'm not helping people online. 354 00:22:58,119 --> 00:23:00,840 Speaker 2: My body's not mine, the business is working. There's no 355 00:23:00,840 --> 00:23:02,919 Speaker 2: way I can write the book like the thoughts, the 356 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:05,440 Speaker 2: thoughts that make you believe it's not going to end, 357 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:12,399 Speaker 2: or the pain she talked me out of it. I 358 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:15,320 Speaker 2: kind of like that. I'm talking about this slow because 359 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:18,560 Speaker 2: when we had this last interview, I was breaking, really 360 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:21,280 Speaker 2: breaking down, crying. I feel like I'm a little more 361 00:23:21,320 --> 00:23:28,600 Speaker 2: healed from it now. So I did not do what 362 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:32,480 Speaker 2: I was going to do that day, and it's been 363 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:43,200 Speaker 2: fifteen months since that day. I cannot believe it's been 364 00:23:43,240 --> 00:23:50,200 Speaker 2: that long. The day that my daughter was born, I. 365 00:23:50,119 --> 00:23:55,159 Speaker 4: Was so happy I stayed. I really can't believe that 366 00:23:55,240 --> 00:24:01,200 Speaker 4: I almost didn't. And you know, I've. 367 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:07,560 Speaker 2: Seen people have active suicidality as a clinician often, and 368 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:11,760 Speaker 2: I've dealt with passive suicidality for decades. It's never been active. 369 00:24:13,320 --> 00:24:17,960 Speaker 2: And I never quite understood the joy that came from 370 00:24:18,040 --> 00:24:24,959 Speaker 2: knowing that you didn't do it until now. And I 371 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 2: just want everybody to know that feeling. Everyone struggling. It's 372 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:36,399 Speaker 2: a really hard feeling to believe exists, but it does, 373 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:45,719 Speaker 2: and it's fascinating and it's better than you could ever imagine. 374 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:48,560 Speaker 3: I think this is the first time this season that 375 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:55,200 Speaker 3: I've really cried in an interview. But it's again just 376 00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:57,840 Speaker 3: sitting here and seeing you and even seeing you now 377 00:24:57,880 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 3: compared to last year when we sat down, and just 378 00:25:01,119 --> 00:25:06,439 Speaker 3: the difference already in you, and just this light that 379 00:25:06,560 --> 00:25:11,160 Speaker 3: has turned on of I'm here, Like, I'm so glad 380 00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:15,840 Speaker 3: that I'm here. I mean, I know that even in 381 00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:19,879 Speaker 3: that last interview, I was, you know, talking about again 382 00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:23,639 Speaker 3: how phenomenal, phenomenal it is that you are so willing 383 00:25:23,760 --> 00:25:26,840 Speaker 3: to speak about these things. But I really truly hope 384 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:31,159 Speaker 3: you understand the gravity of the path that you were 385 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:35,159 Speaker 3: laying for so many people that are struggling with this 386 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:38,119 Speaker 3: that feel like they're the only ones that feel like 387 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:42,760 Speaker 3: there is something just acutely wrong with them, and that 388 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:45,480 Speaker 3: this is it that they get to those points of 389 00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:49,600 Speaker 3: this will never change, this pain will never end, and 390 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:54,960 Speaker 3: you today are just such an example and of hope 391 00:25:55,400 --> 00:26:00,800 Speaker 3: that these people so desperately need. And I'm so incredibly 392 00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:04,240 Speaker 3: thankful that you stayed. I'm so thankful you picked up 393 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:08,960 Speaker 3: the phone that day and that you were able to 394 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:13,679 Speaker 3: be here to bring your daughter into this world and 395 00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:15,840 Speaker 3: to refine your strength again. 396 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:17,560 Speaker 1: And like you said, like recovery is a. 397 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:20,880 Speaker 3: Journey, right, Like there's still there's so much healing to go, 398 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:23,960 Speaker 3: and I'm on that same like, there's still so much 399 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:25,200 Speaker 3: healing that I have to do. 400 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:26,920 Speaker 1: But to get to that. 401 00:26:27,359 --> 00:26:32,840 Speaker 3: Position of being thankful that you are still alive, that 402 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:35,760 Speaker 3: is the moment that is so worth fighting for. 403 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:40,480 Speaker 1: I yeah, I just oh my gosh. 404 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:44,879 Speaker 3: Courtney, you are such a phenomenal human and I would 405 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:49,240 Speaker 3: love to know what the process has been like for 406 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:52,359 Speaker 3: you from that day that you made that phone call 407 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:56,800 Speaker 3: to now being able to sit here and go I'm 408 00:26:56,840 --> 00:26:58,080 Speaker 3: so happy I'm here. 409 00:26:59,119 --> 00:27:01,240 Speaker 1: What was that procees? What happened? 410 00:27:02,640 --> 00:27:06,399 Speaker 2: I struggled for quite a while after that day. You know, 411 00:27:06,600 --> 00:27:11,199 Speaker 2: we had the interview a few months after, and then 412 00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:16,440 Speaker 2: I watched that interview after it was posted, and then 413 00:27:16,480 --> 00:27:20,760 Speaker 2: I stopped all social media, and I remember you reached 414 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:25,479 Speaker 2: out and you were like, excuse me, are you okay? 415 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:28,960 Speaker 2: Did we do something like? Are you what's wrong? And 416 00:27:31,359 --> 00:27:37,320 Speaker 2: seeing myself explain the scariest moment of my life in 417 00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 2: the way that I described it made me feel like 418 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:46,640 Speaker 2: I had something special to offer and needed to take 419 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:52,800 Speaker 2: care of myself so that it didn't go anywhere. So 420 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:57,840 Speaker 2: thank you for that interview. It really changed my life, 421 00:28:00,520 --> 00:28:06,080 Speaker 2: and I decided to try to do my treatment center. 422 00:28:06,840 --> 00:28:09,399 Speaker 2: After I saw that interview, I had shut it down completely. 423 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:13,119 Speaker 2: I was working with a ghost writer for my debut book, 424 00:28:13,119 --> 00:28:16,880 Speaker 2: and I decided that sh she couldn't write my story 425 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:19,480 Speaker 2: the way that I could, so I let her keep 426 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:24,080 Speaker 2: the money and I started all over from scratch and 427 00:28:25,760 --> 00:28:30,720 Speaker 2: had my baby. So I guess what happened was I 428 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:38,480 Speaker 2: decided to live and to exist and to give it 429 00:28:38,560 --> 00:28:42,640 Speaker 2: my all. And so I took a break and I've 430 00:28:42,640 --> 00:28:47,000 Speaker 2: been slowly coming back. My business is open, my book 431 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:50,160 Speaker 2: cover was just revealed. My baby's turning eight months old, 432 00:28:50,320 --> 00:28:53,120 Speaker 2: and I think I've just told myself the truth. 433 00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:56,040 Speaker 1: You are who you are. 434 00:28:56,160 --> 00:28:58,320 Speaker 2: You go through what you go through, and there's things 435 00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:00,840 Speaker 2: that you can control, and there's things that you cannot, 436 00:29:02,120 --> 00:29:05,760 Speaker 2: and the wisdom comes from knowing the difference. Yeah, So 437 00:29:05,960 --> 00:29:09,480 Speaker 2: that's what my entire book is about. I wrote about 438 00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:15,160 Speaker 2: what it means to feel wildly out of control, to 439 00:29:15,200 --> 00:29:20,040 Speaker 2: have a diagnosis where people think you're insane and evil, 440 00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:24,560 Speaker 2: and to be stable and good through it all. 441 00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:26,200 Speaker 1: When does this book come out? 442 00:29:27,400 --> 00:29:30,520 Speaker 2: The book comes out March eleventh, twenty twenty five and 443 00:29:30,520 --> 00:29:35,440 Speaker 2: what's it called. It's called Your Unconscious is Showing and 444 00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:39,760 Speaker 2: the subtitle is take Control of your life using the 445 00:29:39,840 --> 00:29:41,880 Speaker 2: Twelve Steps of Consciousness. 446 00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:44,520 Speaker 1: Wow, oh my gosh. 447 00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:48,600 Speaker 3: I everyone who is listening to this, I please whenever 448 00:29:48,600 --> 00:29:50,600 Speaker 3: this comes out for pre order, pre order it. 449 00:29:50,680 --> 00:29:53,960 Speaker 1: I remember doing it was your. 450 00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:57,280 Speaker 3: Podcast so long ago, Like literally, I think we both 451 00:29:57,320 --> 00:30:02,959 Speaker 3: had kind of really well babies in the social media space, 452 00:30:03,040 --> 00:30:06,200 Speaker 3: like we're just kind of in those beginning stages, and 453 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:10,360 Speaker 3: you had your podcast was about that concept of the unconscious, 454 00:30:10,360 --> 00:30:13,440 Speaker 3: and I think it was the first time that I 455 00:30:13,480 --> 00:30:15,120 Speaker 3: had really thought about it in the way that you 456 00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:18,400 Speaker 3: were articulating and began to be like, oh my gosh, 457 00:30:18,440 --> 00:30:22,080 Speaker 3: like there's so many things of like these beliefs and 458 00:30:22,120 --> 00:30:26,680 Speaker 3: behaviors that have developed that I'm just so in my mind, 459 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:28,720 Speaker 3: I'm like, this is everything that's wrong with me. But 460 00:30:28,800 --> 00:30:32,000 Speaker 3: it was like these things developed at some point, and 461 00:30:32,440 --> 00:30:35,600 Speaker 3: my brain has just been working over time to protect 462 00:30:35,640 --> 00:30:40,880 Speaker 3: itself without me even knowing. And I'm really really excited 463 00:30:41,280 --> 00:30:43,520 Speaker 3: to read this book, and I'm so glad that you 464 00:30:43,600 --> 00:30:46,120 Speaker 3: wrote it yourself. I just think it makes it so 465 00:30:46,240 --> 00:30:49,960 Speaker 3: much more powerful, especially because of the voice that you 466 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:51,880 Speaker 3: are and I know I've said it twelve million times 467 00:30:51,920 --> 00:30:54,200 Speaker 3: in this interview, and I'll say it twelve million more 468 00:30:54,240 --> 00:30:58,640 Speaker 3: times again because I just don't know if you realize 469 00:30:58,680 --> 00:31:05,240 Speaker 3: how special you are and how many people your voice 470 00:31:05,280 --> 00:31:10,120 Speaker 3: and your story and your openness just gives them that hope. 471 00:31:10,200 --> 00:31:13,920 Speaker 3: And I also really love that you are a woman 472 00:31:13,960 --> 00:31:18,720 Speaker 3: who is living with borderline and with autism and your 473 00:31:18,760 --> 00:31:22,360 Speaker 3: experiences that you've had, and you've got your doctorate and 474 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:25,920 Speaker 3: you are opening treatment centers and you've written a book 475 00:31:26,040 --> 00:31:29,440 Speaker 3: like you are the proof that your illness is not 476 00:31:29,520 --> 00:31:34,040 Speaker 3: your identity and that you can live a full life, 477 00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:38,280 Speaker 3: even though the statistics and the things that you see 478 00:31:38,280 --> 00:31:41,480 Speaker 3: online about the fact that this will never go away 479 00:31:41,520 --> 00:31:44,120 Speaker 3: because it makes people lose hope, right there's no treatment 480 00:31:44,200 --> 00:31:48,360 Speaker 3: necessarily or pill to magic pilled it to change it, 481 00:31:48,440 --> 00:31:49,480 Speaker 3: so people feel hopeless. 482 00:31:49,480 --> 00:31:50,600 Speaker 1: And I just your life is. 483 00:31:50,560 --> 00:31:54,719 Speaker 3: So evident that that's just this gues It gets so 484 00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:57,040 Speaker 3: hard at times, and it is and ebbs and flows, 485 00:31:57,040 --> 00:31:59,080 Speaker 3: but my goodness, you. 486 00:31:58,640 --> 00:31:59,560 Speaker 1: Survive every day. 487 00:31:59,560 --> 00:32:04,360 Speaker 3: You survive, and you live, and you write and you 488 00:32:04,840 --> 00:32:06,560 Speaker 3: create places people to get help. 489 00:32:06,760 --> 00:32:09,280 Speaker 1: Like you're just such a phenomenal person. 490 00:32:09,520 --> 00:32:13,360 Speaker 3: And I will tell you that till the day I die, 491 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:15,160 Speaker 3: because you're just You're. 492 00:32:15,200 --> 00:32:19,080 Speaker 1: Phenomenal, and I would love you if you could. 493 00:32:20,520 --> 00:32:22,680 Speaker 3: I think kind of well, we've talked about a lot, 494 00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:24,760 Speaker 3: and what we know to be true is that borderline 495 00:32:24,760 --> 00:32:28,080 Speaker 3: personality is such a misunderstood illness, right, and I think 496 00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:31,640 Speaker 3: for those who know someone in their immediate life who 497 00:32:31,760 --> 00:32:37,000 Speaker 3: has it, it can be so confusing to understand the 498 00:32:37,080 --> 00:32:40,160 Speaker 3: behaviors and the reactions and the responses, and kind. 499 00:32:39,960 --> 00:32:41,080 Speaker 1: Of hard to get out of. 500 00:32:41,720 --> 00:32:44,640 Speaker 3: I think attention seeking is often a stigma that is 501 00:32:44,680 --> 00:32:46,360 Speaker 3: attached to this as well. 502 00:32:46,760 --> 00:32:50,280 Speaker 1: I would love for you to be able to articulate to. 503 00:32:50,280 --> 00:32:54,400 Speaker 3: People who have a loved one with borderline who don't 504 00:32:54,480 --> 00:32:59,560 Speaker 3: understand from this lived experience point of view. Can you 505 00:32:59,680 --> 00:33:03,560 Speaker 3: tell them the things that their loved ones want them 506 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:06,200 Speaker 3: to know, well, you know, wish for them to know, 507 00:33:06,280 --> 00:33:08,160 Speaker 3: but maybe just don't know how to articulate it as 508 00:33:08,200 --> 00:33:09,120 Speaker 3: they're in the middle of it. 509 00:33:09,880 --> 00:33:21,560 Speaker 2: That's such a good question. We're sorry, it's very hard, 510 00:33:23,600 --> 00:33:26,959 Speaker 2: and we did not ask for this, and we know 511 00:33:27,080 --> 00:33:33,800 Speaker 2: that you didn't either. We hear you, and we know 512 00:33:33,920 --> 00:33:38,080 Speaker 2: that you love us, and we know that we can 513 00:33:38,120 --> 00:33:46,520 Speaker 2: be hurtful and we need your help. When people act 514 00:33:47,480 --> 00:33:51,600 Speaker 2: in any way. There's a process that happens internally. 515 00:33:53,440 --> 00:33:58,000 Speaker 5: The way that our body feels triggers the thoughts that 516 00:33:58,040 --> 00:34:03,080 Speaker 5: our brains have, and the thoughts that our brains have 517 00:34:03,760 --> 00:34:04,400 Speaker 5: create the. 518 00:34:04,400 --> 00:34:09,359 Speaker 2: Stories that we tell ourselves. We were not taught how 519 00:34:09,360 --> 00:34:13,400 Speaker 2: our body works. We were not taught how our brain works. 520 00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:18,080 Speaker 2: We were not taught how our mind works. What we 521 00:34:18,080 --> 00:34:24,319 Speaker 2: were taught is that we deserve and cause pain. And 522 00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:28,600 Speaker 2: when that is all you know, you tend not to 523 00:34:28,680 --> 00:34:31,480 Speaker 2: do the things that you would do if you knew more. 524 00:34:33,360 --> 00:34:41,920 Speaker 2: So hold our hand, set your boundaries, and please give 525 00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:42,680 Speaker 2: us a chance. 526 00:34:49,760 --> 00:34:55,560 Speaker 3: I Oh, I don't even know what to say, except 527 00:34:55,600 --> 00:35:01,600 Speaker 3: that just it was both so beautiful and so heart 528 00:35:01,640 --> 00:35:09,480 Speaker 3: wrenching at the same time and so important. So thank 529 00:35:09,520 --> 00:35:13,680 Speaker 3: you for taking the time to really think about that 530 00:35:13,960 --> 00:35:19,000 Speaker 3: and to be able to articulate the things that so 531 00:35:19,160 --> 00:35:23,960 Speaker 3: many can't and don't know how to. Your voice is 532 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:29,520 Speaker 3: so important and has just been able to clarify and 533 00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:34,600 Speaker 3: almost just pull back the curtains to show what it 534 00:35:34,680 --> 00:35:38,080 Speaker 3: is really like in a way that I know a 535 00:35:38,120 --> 00:35:40,600 Speaker 3: lot of people want to be able to express but can't. 536 00:35:42,239 --> 00:35:47,960 Speaker 1: And I would really love to ask you this last 537 00:35:48,080 --> 00:35:49,360 Speaker 1: question before I let. 538 00:35:49,200 --> 00:35:50,680 Speaker 3: You go as much. I mean, I want to talk 539 00:35:50,719 --> 00:35:52,799 Speaker 3: to you all day, every day. I just this so 540 00:35:52,960 --> 00:35:59,080 Speaker 3: much wisdom that comes from you. This podcast is called 541 00:35:59,160 --> 00:36:01,799 Speaker 3: Hope Is Real and I asked this to everyone, but 542 00:36:01,840 --> 00:36:06,840 Speaker 3: I really want to ask this to you. With everything 543 00:36:06,880 --> 00:36:12,080 Speaker 3: that you've shared and all of your experiences, what does the. 544 00:36:11,960 --> 00:36:15,799 Speaker 1: Word hope mean to you? 545 00:36:15,800 --> 00:36:21,359 Speaker 2: You asked me this in the last interview, and I 546 00:36:21,440 --> 00:36:26,360 Speaker 2: didn't have an answer at the time, and then I 547 00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:29,880 Speaker 2: went and looked it up, was like, what is the 548 00:36:29,960 --> 00:36:34,440 Speaker 2: typical definition? And honestly, my mind just went shit. I 549 00:36:34,480 --> 00:36:39,600 Speaker 2: don't remember what it said, but I've been thinking about 550 00:36:39,600 --> 00:36:43,719 Speaker 2: that since you asked. What's coming up for me is 551 00:36:43,760 --> 00:36:46,960 Speaker 2: that I'm full of hope in a way that I 552 00:36:47,040 --> 00:36:54,960 Speaker 2: never have been before. I think for me, hope is 553 00:36:55,120 --> 00:37:02,040 Speaker 2: knowing that there's a way out, that you're not alone, 554 00:37:04,480 --> 00:37:09,000 Speaker 2: and that things do get better. I'd argue to say 555 00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:14,640 Speaker 2: that hope feels like love, because when I think of 556 00:37:14,880 --> 00:37:18,680 Speaker 2: hope and the feeling that it gives me, it's the 557 00:37:18,760 --> 00:37:25,640 Speaker 2: same feeling that my husband gives me. And as you 558 00:37:25,680 --> 00:37:28,279 Speaker 2: can probably tell, i'm autistic in borderline right now when 559 00:37:28,320 --> 00:37:30,680 Speaker 2: I'm a therapist and I'm still trying to decipher what 560 00:37:30,920 --> 00:37:34,840 Speaker 2: love and hope feel like, you know, I do. I 561 00:37:34,880 --> 00:37:38,120 Speaker 2: think I'm going to go with that, like, because hope 562 00:37:38,480 --> 00:37:42,240 Speaker 2: is real, and what's real is that things can change 563 00:37:42,239 --> 00:37:46,719 Speaker 2: and you're not alone and things get better. Yeah, I 564 00:37:46,760 --> 00:37:48,920 Speaker 2: feel like I'm coming to It's like I have an 565 00:37:48,920 --> 00:37:51,400 Speaker 2: answer to it. Maybe I want it to be more succinct, 566 00:37:51,440 --> 00:37:53,719 Speaker 2: but I think what I find fascinating is that such 567 00:37:53,719 --> 00:37:58,439 Speaker 2: a simple question, for such an articulate person can be 568 00:37:58,600 --> 00:38:01,799 Speaker 2: such a stop sign, and maybe that means I have 569 00:38:01,880 --> 00:38:03,640 Speaker 2: more hope to find. 570 00:38:04,360 --> 00:38:05,399 Speaker 1: I also think that. 571 00:38:06,560 --> 00:38:09,920 Speaker 3: What I'm the person who is sitting here on zoom 572 00:38:09,960 --> 00:38:13,280 Speaker 3: in front of me right now, you and your life 573 00:38:13,360 --> 00:38:16,960 Speaker 3: right now is the very definition of hope. I think 574 00:38:17,000 --> 00:38:21,920 Speaker 3: that knowing your story and from even from the last 575 00:38:21,960 --> 00:38:26,560 Speaker 3: interview to now, and the fact that you're still here 576 00:38:26,800 --> 00:38:31,399 Speaker 3: and you are speaking the way that you are, you 577 00:38:31,960 --> 00:38:36,880 Speaker 3: represent hope. And I think that's that's why I really 578 00:38:37,080 --> 00:38:38,400 Speaker 3: and I know that I did ask you that in 579 00:38:38,440 --> 00:38:41,480 Speaker 3: the last interview, and just like I said right at 580 00:38:41,520 --> 00:38:45,120 Speaker 3: the beginning, this light has really turned on in you 581 00:38:45,200 --> 00:38:49,200 Speaker 3: that you can see and this kind of grit of 582 00:38:49,920 --> 00:38:52,600 Speaker 3: I'm going to stay and I'm going to be here, 583 00:38:52,719 --> 00:38:57,680 Speaker 3: no matter what, and you're the way that you just are. 584 00:38:58,040 --> 00:39:03,240 Speaker 3: And yeah, I just I think that you carry hope 585 00:39:03,680 --> 00:39:07,120 Speaker 3: wherever you are and with every word that you have 586 00:39:07,280 --> 00:39:12,520 Speaker 3: spoken on this podcast, hope has been there. And I 587 00:39:12,560 --> 00:39:15,480 Speaker 3: think that, yeah, like you said, hope is a journey 588 00:39:15,480 --> 00:39:19,160 Speaker 3: that maybe there's definitely always more hope to find. But 589 00:39:19,719 --> 00:39:22,200 Speaker 3: I hope that you hope. I hope that you leave 590 00:39:22,239 --> 00:39:27,279 Speaker 3: this interview really like, I really want you to understand that, 591 00:39:27,360 --> 00:39:32,520 Speaker 3: like you you to me right now, this is hope, 592 00:39:33,640 --> 00:39:36,520 Speaker 3: Like this is you look at your your eight month 593 00:39:36,520 --> 00:39:37,040 Speaker 3: old daughter. 594 00:39:37,800 --> 00:39:42,479 Speaker 1: That is hope. Yeah, Like it's the fact that Yeah, 595 00:39:42,640 --> 00:39:44,239 Speaker 1: I mean I could go on and on and on, 596 00:39:44,440 --> 00:39:47,399 Speaker 1: and I mean I really I. 597 00:39:47,400 --> 00:39:51,399 Speaker 3: Need people to be able to get this book when 598 00:39:51,400 --> 00:39:52,040 Speaker 3: it comes out. 599 00:39:52,080 --> 00:39:53,600 Speaker 1: I just think that the wisdom that. 600 00:39:53,600 --> 00:39:57,360 Speaker 3: You have is just so so needed in this world. 601 00:39:58,360 --> 00:40:01,360 Speaker 3: And I mean, how can people find you on the 602 00:40:01,400 --> 00:40:03,799 Speaker 3: socials as well? 603 00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:04,280 Speaker 1: Yeah? 604 00:40:04,520 --> 00:40:08,120 Speaker 2: You Well, my website is the Truthdoctor dot com and 605 00:40:08,480 --> 00:40:10,600 Speaker 2: you can pre order my books there. 606 00:40:10,680 --> 00:40:12,000 Speaker 1: Now, okay, we. 607 00:40:12,320 --> 00:40:14,200 Speaker 3: Will put a link up on both in the show 608 00:40:14,239 --> 00:40:16,360 Speaker 3: notes of this but also on our page when this 609 00:40:16,440 --> 00:40:18,520 Speaker 3: interview comes up, So please everyone go order it. 610 00:40:19,400 --> 00:40:23,200 Speaker 2: Thank you, And then my socials on TikTok, Instagram and 611 00:40:23,280 --> 00:40:29,480 Speaker 2: YouTube and snapchat and LinkedIn are the Truth Doctor as well? 612 00:40:29,880 --> 00:40:31,960 Speaker 2: And for the pre order, you can do that anywhere 613 00:40:33,280 --> 00:40:35,759 Speaker 2: you can pre order books. I'll get better at that soon. 614 00:40:37,080 --> 00:40:38,799 Speaker 1: Wait. Can I just ask where did the name the 615 00:40:38,800 --> 00:40:39,879 Speaker 1: Truth Doctor come from? 616 00:40:41,400 --> 00:40:45,319 Speaker 2: Well, the name the Truth Doctor came from. Actually I 617 00:40:45,360 --> 00:40:48,640 Speaker 2: write about it in the book. The year that my 618 00:40:48,800 --> 00:40:51,799 Speaker 2: son was turning one, I was finishing my doctorate and 619 00:40:51,840 --> 00:40:54,840 Speaker 2: I was finishing my hours to become a licensed clinician. 620 00:40:55,360 --> 00:40:59,200 Speaker 2: I went through a major family trauma publicly in front 621 00:40:59,239 --> 00:41:02,319 Speaker 2: of my whole city as a treatment center owner and 622 00:41:02,360 --> 00:41:05,480 Speaker 2: a therapist. It was a really big deal, and I 623 00:41:05,600 --> 00:41:10,040 Speaker 2: started drowning myself in the stigma of mental health and 624 00:41:10,080 --> 00:41:14,960 Speaker 2: substance use issues, and I caved. It was really bad. 625 00:41:15,520 --> 00:41:20,880 Speaker 2: And then I decided that if someone was going to 626 00:41:20,920 --> 00:41:24,400 Speaker 2: come out and show that therapists can be human beings, 627 00:41:25,080 --> 00:41:28,280 Speaker 2: that human beings can struggle with mental health issues, therefore 628 00:41:28,360 --> 00:41:31,160 Speaker 2: so can therapist. If anyone was going to do that, 629 00:41:31,440 --> 00:41:34,520 Speaker 2: I wanted it to be me. So I talked to 630 00:41:34,520 --> 00:41:36,719 Speaker 2: my husband and I said, I'm going to make a 631 00:41:36,760 --> 00:41:40,240 Speaker 2: social media account and I'm going to tell it all 632 00:41:40,600 --> 00:41:44,120 Speaker 2: all the time. The full truth, all of it, all 633 00:41:44,160 --> 00:41:47,640 Speaker 2: my messiness, and he was like, okay, And I said, 634 00:41:47,680 --> 00:41:50,800 Speaker 2: what should I name myself? And he said, you should 635 00:41:50,880 --> 00:41:53,360 Speaker 2: name yourself the Truth doctor, because I've never met a 636 00:41:53,400 --> 00:41:57,399 Speaker 2: woman that couldn't hold back saying it exactly the way 637 00:41:57,440 --> 00:42:00,440 Speaker 2: that it is for the benefit of other people. And 638 00:42:00,480 --> 00:42:04,600 Speaker 2: if there isn't another definition of the truth, doctor, and 639 00:42:04,760 --> 00:42:06,920 Speaker 2: I don't know what is, so I made it the 640 00:42:06,920 --> 00:42:10,440 Speaker 2: Truth doctor, and I made my mission to tell my 641 00:42:10,640 --> 00:42:13,960 Speaker 2: truth to help other people tell theirs, and that that 642 00:42:14,239 --> 00:42:15,719 Speaker 2: is my method appealing. 643 00:42:17,000 --> 00:42:18,200 Speaker 1: I love that so much. 644 00:42:18,360 --> 00:42:22,160 Speaker 3: And I'm just so thankful that you've taken the time 645 00:42:22,200 --> 00:42:24,879 Speaker 3: to come on this podcast and to chat with me. 646 00:42:24,960 --> 00:42:26,360 Speaker 1: Again for a second time. 647 00:42:27,160 --> 00:42:29,960 Speaker 3: And I'm so glad that you have because I just 648 00:42:30,880 --> 00:42:33,120 Speaker 3: been able to just see this growth from the last 649 00:42:33,120 --> 00:42:36,240 Speaker 3: interview to this one is just so beautiful. 650 00:42:36,400 --> 00:42:39,520 Speaker 1: And I know that you're you're very busy doing. 651 00:42:39,320 --> 00:42:41,799 Speaker 3: The twelve million things that you do, and on top 652 00:42:41,840 --> 00:42:43,719 Speaker 3: of it, your mind. I don't even have kids, and 653 00:42:43,760 --> 00:42:46,279 Speaker 3: I feel like I'm constantly scrambling with the amount of 654 00:42:46,280 --> 00:42:49,680 Speaker 3: stuff I'm doing. So thank you so much for coming on. 655 00:42:49,800 --> 00:42:51,439 Speaker 3: Is there any anything else that you want to say 656 00:42:51,440 --> 00:42:54,000 Speaker 3: before I let you go? You can have a whole 657 00:42:54,040 --> 00:42:57,120 Speaker 3: other hour if you will. I've you you just take 658 00:42:57,120 --> 00:42:57,560 Speaker 3: the floor. 659 00:43:00,600 --> 00:43:07,440 Speaker 2: I think I would just like to say that while 660 00:43:07,440 --> 00:43:13,239 Speaker 2: I can be really deep, I can also be really fun. 661 00:43:13,719 --> 00:43:18,200 Speaker 2: And so I want people to know that this or 662 00:43:18,320 --> 00:43:25,280 Speaker 2: these very difficult conditions and disorders and the healing process 663 00:43:25,400 --> 00:43:30,080 Speaker 2: from them does not have to be a drag or 664 00:43:30,320 --> 00:43:36,160 Speaker 2: dreary or just feel like another nightmare on top of 665 00:43:36,160 --> 00:43:37,920 Speaker 2: the one you were trying to get yourself out of. 666 00:43:38,160 --> 00:43:46,959 Speaker 2: It can be fun and lighthearted and joyful. And that's 667 00:43:47,040 --> 00:43:49,520 Speaker 2: the up and down that you've been talking about. And 668 00:43:50,040 --> 00:43:55,200 Speaker 2: so just please keep that in mind to everyone listening, 669 00:43:55,480 --> 00:43:58,200 Speaker 2: Like when you find yourself on the path of healing 670 00:43:58,239 --> 00:44:01,239 Speaker 2: from borderline personality disorder and it just seems like it's 671 00:44:01,400 --> 00:44:06,080 Speaker 2: always always work, that probably means you're coming close to 672 00:44:06,120 --> 00:44:08,879 Speaker 2: it being a little fun. So stay in the game 673 00:44:09,600 --> 00:44:16,400 Speaker 2: and remember that I see you and you can see me. 674 00:44:16,680 --> 00:44:18,320 Speaker 2: Just come online and say hi. 675 00:44:19,120 --> 00:44:21,279 Speaker 3: Oh that's so beautiful. Hey, thank you so much for 676 00:44:21,680 --> 00:44:23,440 Speaker 3: coming on this podcast, and I hope that you have 677 00:44:23,760 --> 00:44:26,520 Speaker 3: a good rest of your evening because it is now 678 00:44:26,600 --> 00:44:29,200 Speaker 3: I know the time zone that we're. 679 00:44:28,760 --> 00:44:31,200 Speaker 2: Yes, it is. Thank you so much, Jos, Thank. 680 00:44:31,080 --> 00:44:33,920 Speaker 1: You well do you have it? 681 00:44:33,960 --> 00:44:36,760 Speaker 3: Guys, thank you so much for staying and for listening 682 00:44:36,840 --> 00:44:39,320 Speaker 3: to this episode. And like I've said at the beginning, 683 00:44:39,320 --> 00:44:42,200 Speaker 3: and I always say, if anything in this episode that's 684 00:44:42,239 --> 00:44:44,640 Speaker 3: been talked about has brought anything up for you, you 685 00:44:44,680 --> 00:44:47,240 Speaker 3: feel like you need to talk to someone, then please 686 00:44:47,360 --> 00:44:49,640 Speaker 3: remember and know that the bravest thing that you can 687 00:44:49,719 --> 00:44:52,440 Speaker 3: do right now is to talk to someone, is to 688 00:44:52,520 --> 00:44:55,720 Speaker 3: ask for help, whether that's from a friend, a family member, 689 00:44:55,920 --> 00:44:57,799 Speaker 3: or if you don't know who to talk to, then 690 00:44:57,880 --> 00:45:00,840 Speaker 3: if you live in Altaiola here you can call or 691 00:45:00,920 --> 00:45:04,000 Speaker 3: text one seven three seven at any time to talk 692 00:45:04,040 --> 00:45:06,880 Speaker 3: to a trained counselor. Or if you live overseas, go 693 00:45:06,920 --> 00:45:09,759 Speaker 3: to dubdubdub dot the Voices of Hope dot org for 694 00:45:09,840 --> 00:45:13,040 Speaker 3: a list of international helplines. Remember that no matter what 695 00:45:13,160 --> 00:45:15,040 Speaker 3: it is that you're facing, no matter what it is 696 00:45:15,080 --> 00:45:18,000 Speaker 3: that you're going through, that in all things, hope is 697 00:45:18,040 --> 00:45:19,800 Speaker 3: real and change as possible. 698 00:45:20,040 --> 00:45:21,120 Speaker 1: I'll see you guys next week