Mental Illness and Me Katie Houston Davies

My mom has one son and three daughters. I gave birth to my first biological son nine months ago. My sister, Christina, has three sons ages two to eight years old. Our younger sister, Anna, is seven months pregnant with her first child, also a son. To help prepare our mom-to-be for what’s ahead, we sat down together to discuss some of the unique challenges the postpartum period presents mentally and emotionally. We also shared some of the funny and heartwarming experiences we had along the way.

Studies have shown that anxiety disorders are often genetic, as evidenced by my older brother joe and me. Joe has dealt with generalized anxiety disorder his entire life, and now sees similar traits in his own daughter. The anxiety my brother and I both experience was exacerbated as young children when we were sexually abused by an extended family member. Joe fought to achieve his dreams in spite of the crippling anxiety he experiences.

This episode features the cohosts of Sharing Her Journey, a podcast for women to share their unique stories. Kirsten and Alexis discuss issues from their perspective that women face mentally and emotionally and ways they’ve learned to face these challenges. Kirsten Brockner is an interior designer who helps her clients find their unique style and then bring it to life within the spaces of their home. Her 23 years in the interior design industry gives her a wealth of knowledge and networks to utilize in transforming her client’s homes. Her passion project has been co-hosting a podcast ‘Sharing Her Journey’ where they interview women who share their stories, triumphs, and struggles to foster connection and not feel alone on their journey. Kirsten lives in Meridian, Idaho with her husband and two teenagers. Alexis is a life-long learner, which led her to recently complete a master’s in Adult/Organizational Learning and Leadership from the University of Idaho. She is a communication coach, educator, speaker, and consultant. She enjoys co-hosting the podcast Sharing Her Journey, volunteering within her community, and writing articles for her website. Her husband, Clinton, and their four children enjoy spending time outdoors, traveling to experience the beauty of the world, and cooking and eating delicious food…especially during the holidays.

This episode is part 2 of an interview with Dr. Kevin Theriot, a therapist for more than 40 years. He discusses his best advice for teenagers and parents from a the perspective of a mental health professional.

Dr. Kevin Theriot received his doctoral degree in social work from Arizona State University. He spent the majority of his 40 year career working in family services for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in addition to maintaining a private counseling practice. On this episode, Dr. Theriot offers valuable insights on how to recognize when mental health counseling would be beneficial and how to choose a mental health specialist. This episode is part one of a two part interview with Dr. Theriot.

Barbara Lally, author of The Trichster Diaries, has Trichotillomania. For the past 20 years, she has been compulsively pulling out her body hair. She shares her experiences to help others suffering know there is hope for a happy, shame free life despite the struggles associated with the disorder.