After suddenly disappearing from the podcast for 6 months, Tarek returns with a powerful episode full of radical transparency and vulnerability like he never left. In this episode, Tarek takes us on the journey of what caused him to hit rock bottom when he thought he was on top of the world, a shocking diagnosis from his psychiatrist, navigating new medication, and everything he has learned about himself and anxiety in the process.
This episode will give you insight into the process of starting a new medication for your mental health, how to identify and manage your own anxiety and/or depression, and encourage you to allow more support in your life from family, friends, and more.
0:00-10:06 Too Much Trauma — stressors that got me here
10:06 Overcompensating, Avoiding Depression, Toxic Positivity, Sacrifice
15:42 The Evaluation
18:40 The Diagnosis
20:36 Fear of Starting Medicine, Self Shaming, Not Deserving Help
23:15 Changing Perspective of Medicine, Fighting Stigma
30:12 No Time to Live, Only Time to Cope
38:35 Healing with my Dad
42:40 Keep Trying. Keep Trying. Keep Trying.
44:20 Identifying Anxiety.
50:00 Not a Cure
52:14 Normalizing Anxiety
1:00:00 0 to 100...mg? Self Shame, Giving Anxiety a Voice
1:04:00 Affirmations, Motivation, & Encouragement