logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2023
38m 47s

Annoying Things Psych Docs Say to Patien...

Gabe Howard & Dr. Nicole Washington
About this episode

We asked on social media for the most annoying things people’s psychiatrists have ever said to them. Wow, did we get some responses! From access to care to dismissing symptoms to offering nonsensical advice, people really feel many psychiatrists say a lot of annoying things. 

In this episode, we discuss the top four answers and Dr. Nicole shares some thoughts from her perspective. Even though people had a lot of feedback, the majority remained respectful and shared a lot of great insights. Listen now!

To read the transcript -- or learn more -- visit the official episode page.


Our host, Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author.

He is also the host of Healthline Media's Inside Mental Health podcast available on your favorite podcast player. To learn more about Gabe, or book him for your next event, please visit his website, gabehoward.com.


Our host, Dr. Nicole Washington is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she attended Southern University and A&M College. After receiving her BS degree, she moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to enroll in the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed a residency in psychiatry at the University of Oklahoma in Tulsa. Since completing her residency training, Washington has spent most of her career caring for and being an advocate for those who are not typically consumers of mental health services, namely underserved communities, those with severe mental health conditions, and high performing professionals. Through her private practice, podcast, speaking, and writing, she seeks to provide education to decrease the stigma associated with psychiatric conditions.

Find out more at DrNicolePsych.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Up next
Aug 11
Do You Feel Taken Advantage Of Due to Bipolar?
Do you feel people are manipulating or using you because of your bipolar disorder diagnosis? If that question hits a nerve, this podcast episode is for you. When a listener emailed us because they felt they were being exploited due to their diagnosis, hosts Gabe Howard (who lives ... Show More
40m 17s
Jul 28
Why Can’t You See It? Understanding 'Lack of Insight' in Bipolar Disorder
You can be living in a storm and swear it’s a sunny day. That’s what it’s like when insight slips away. In this episode, Dr. Nicole (board certified psychiatrist) and Kit Wallis (lives with schizoaffective disorder) explore why people with serious mental illness, like bipolar dis ... Show More
37m 45s
Jul 14
New Diagnosis or Managing for Years? Learn to Live Well with Bipolar (Part 2 of 2)
You’ve received a new diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Now it’s time to sharpen your survival toolkit. In part two of this essential series, Gabe Howard (Lived Experience) and Dr. Nicole Washington (Board Certified Psychiatrist) dive straight into the signals you can’t afford to mi ... Show More
38m 26s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
Unmasking Fakes: Is Mental Health the New Excuse? (From Listener Questions)
Dive into a candid discussion on mental health as host Gabe Howard speaks with Rachael Beairsto, a senior editor for Healthline. Together, they tackle tough questions about authenticity and stigma provided by listeners like you. Explore how misconceptions and pop culture blur the ... Show More
25m 32s
Mar 2025
Your Thoughts Are Lying to You: How to Take Back Control
In this episode, our host interviews Dr. David Burns about his methods for overcoming negative thoughts and promoting joy using CBT techniques. Dr. Burns discusses various techniques and introduces his new digital tool, the Feeling Great app, which tracks personal feelings to fac ... Show More
26m 59s
Nov 2024
Diagnosing Politicians? Why Mental Health Experts Refuse
Why won’t mental health professionals share with the public when they suspect a presidential candidate has mental illness? As election cycles intensify, the public often seeks expert opinions on candidates’ mental health, but there’s a reason psychiatrists stay silent. In today’s ... Show More
27m 8s
May 2023
Healing the Unquiet Mind with Kay Redfield Jamison
Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison believes that medication is an overused option and that many people can make great strides recovering from “mental suffering” using therapy, art, and meaningful hobbies. She also shares that we can learn a lot by understanding the lessons learned from res ... Show More
26m 17s
Oct 2024
Is Med School Impossible with a Serious Mental Illness?
[Content warning: this episode contains frank discussions of mental health and mentions suicide.] Getting your support systems in order is key to success in med school with a mental health diagnosis In this episode listener Haley, who is considering medical school while managing ... Show More
1h 2m
Jul 16
Understanding Psychosis for Loved Ones and Caregivers
Psychosis is a state of impaired reality which may include hallucinations and delusions. Experiencing psychosis can impair your functioning and have a negative effect on various aspects of your daily life, such as work, school, and the ability to maintain relationships. Being in ... Show More
52m 40s
Jul 2024
403 SelfWork: Thriving with Anxiety: A Conversation with David Rosemarin
How do you thrive with anxiety? Dr. David Rosemarin is our guest today who talks specifically about how to understand your anxiety as something that can help you thrive - when you work with it, and not against it.David is the director of the Spirituality and Mental Health Program ... Show More
38m 49s
Feb 2025
BITESIZE | 3 Simple Science-Backed Ways to Boost Your Happiness | Professor Laurie Santos #523
We all want to be happy, but what truly brings us happiness is often not what we think. Today’s clip is from episode 151 of the podcast with Laurie Santos, Professor of Psychology at Yale University. Laurie’s ‘Science of Wellbeing’ course has developed into a global phenomenon, w ... Show More
19m 38s
Jan 2025
When Your Partner is in Med School… What You Need to Know
Supporting a Med Student is Tough In this episode, host Dave Etler has been (kidnapped? It’s unclear) and replaced by his grumpy brother Dominic Etler, MD, Harvard, Class of ’96. Confused M1s Megan Perry, Jay Miller, Cara Arrasmith, and M4 Matt Engelken nevertheless buckle down t ... Show More
52m 56s
Feb 2025
432 SelfWork: Doctors and Depression: A Conversation with Dr. Pam Buchanan
Today the focus is on doctors and depression, with Dr. Pamela Buchanan as my guest, in a second episode in the "Careers That Kill" series, discussing medical providers, the pandemic, and depression.  She's a board-certified physician, speaker and thought leader dedicated to t ... Show More
34m 15s