State of Mind with Debra Sloss

Debra Sloss
  • 4.7 (25)
  • SOCIAL SCIENCES
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Intimate conversations about mental health and wellness with psychotherapist Debra Sloss. Guests share personal stories and hard-earned wisdom from their lived experience accompanied by expert guests sharing their professional knowledge on important mental health topics. Together we’ll explore the intricacies of being human and living well. Join us for new understandings, seeds of hope, and valuable resources. New episodes released the first Sunday of every month. Unique resource lists are posted in show notes for each episode and can be found at www.stateofmindmedia.org.

  1. JAN 28

    Dissociative Identity Disorder: Separating Myth from Reality (Remix)

    Episode 87: Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is one of the most misunderstood mental health diagnoses. In this remixed episode, Dr. Alisa Brady and guest Clay Whitten—who lives with DID—offer an inside look at the condition that separates myth from reality. The conversation explores how DID develops, the challenges of misdiagnosis, and how Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy can support healing.

    58 min

  2. 12/31/2025

    Writing to Heal: New Year, New Reflections (Remix)

    Episode 86: Writing can be a powerful tool for healing. This episode explores how storytelling, poetry, and journaling help people clarify emotions, process trauma, and make meaning from life experiences — both painful and joyful. It opens with a powerful Holocaust survival story that highlights writing as an act of healing, and continues with reflections on identity, resilience, and self-discovery, including a personal story about turning inward during the pandemic and finding a voice through poetry.

    58 min

  3. 12/03/2025

    When Hormones Shift: Perimenopause and Mental Health

    Episode 85: Hormonal changes and perimenopause can start earlier than many women expect — sometimes in the 30s — bringing shifts that deeply affect mental health. Anxiety, irritability, depression, headaches, and brain fog are common, yet often misunderstood or misdiagnosed. We’re joined by psychotherapist and hormone expert Helen Bennett, BACP, and experiencer Liz Ryan to share both clinical and personal insights into how hormonal changes impact daily life and emotional well-being. Liz’s partner, Casey, also reflects on navigating this transition together and its effects on their relationship and family. Tune in to recognize the signs, find support, and feel less alone during this transition.

    58 min

  4. 10/29/2025

    Voices of Recovery: Living with Psychotic Symptoms (Remix)

    Episode 84: Psychosis is more common than most realize—affecting up to 3 in 100 people in the U.S.—and early treatment not only improves recovery but also reduces negative impacts on the brain and leads to better outcomes. In this remixed episode, host Debra Sloss talks with Dr. Jennifer Davis, psychiatrist, Tim Beveridge and Kenah Roberts about understanding and recovering from psychotic symptoms. This new version also includes a heartfelt “In Your Voice” story contributed by Angela, who shares a powerful personal view of living with psychosis and finding hope in recovery.

    58 min

  5. 10/01/2025

    How Stories Shape Our Mental Health

    Episode 83: Guest host Youssef Hassanein talks with therapist Lisa Slede and Harvard health communications expert Amanda Yarnell about how personal and cultural narratives can heal, connect, or mislead us. Amanda offers tips for navigating digital misinformation, and storyteller John A. Jacobs reflects on how creative expression has shaped his life. It leaves listeners with the question: What stories guide your life, and how might crafting them more intentionally support your well-being?

    58 min

  6. 09/03/2025

    Facing Death: Living with Terminal Illness

    Episode 82: Guest host Patrice Vecchione explores the mental health challenges of living with a terminal illness. Featuring the late Megan Myers’s moving story, insights from palliative care physician Dr. John Hausdorff, and reflections from Kevin Christine Kennedy, who is now nearing the end of her life. Together, they share how people face loss while also finding courage, hope, and meaning at life’s end. Find resources from this episode in the show notes.

    58 min

  7. 07/30/2025

    Self-Care in Hard Times: Recipes for Resilience

    Episode 81: In this episode, we explore how self-care can sustain us through hard times. Host Debra Sloss and psychotherapist Kara Bowman reflect on a series of moving listener-submitted stories that reveal how simple, soulful practices can nourish resilience. From music to movement, these everyday acts offer powerful ways to stay grounded amid adversity. Tune in for wisdom, inspiration, and gentle reminders that self-care is essential.

    58 min

  8. 07/02/2025

    Suicide Loss: Living with the Pain and Learning to Heal (remix)

    Episode 80: What happens after a loved one dies by suicide? In this poignant episode, Leslie Nielsen shares the loss of her adult son, while another woman reflects on losing her mother. Former suicide prevention director Carly Memoli offers insight into the unique grief that follows and how healing can begin—a raw and hopeful glimpse into learning to live with unimaginable pain and grief.

    58 min
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4.7
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

Intimate conversations about mental health and wellness with psychotherapist Debra Sloss. Guests share personal stories and hard-earned wisdom from their lived experience accompanied by expert guests sharing their professional knowledge on important mental health topics. Together we’ll explore the intricacies of being human and living well. Join us for new understandings, seeds of hope, and valuable resources. New episodes released the first Sunday of every month. Unique resource lists are posted in show notes for each episode and can be found at www.stateofmindmedia.org.

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