Imagine eavesdropping on a mother and daughter’s most intimate, honest, and raw therapy session where they hash out the past and share family secrets in hopes of coming to a life-changing understanding. Also, imagine laughing at some truly wild and unbelievable stories. Imagine no further because this 50th Dear Family, podcast episode is all of that and more!
Laurie Kallen Schwent is a creative and eccentric self-proclaimed comedian and empath, an artist who dabbles in watercolor and photography, a restaurant owner, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a loyal friend, and a dog lover. Laurie’s bipolar likely was triggered when she was fourteen and discovered her mother’s suicide from an overdose of pills and alcohol. Laurie was not diagnosed as bipolar until her late 60s because she ran from a mental illness label because she didn’t want to be like her parents, considering her father would end up taking his life as well.
Laurie is a woman I’ve worried about my whole life for fear she’d follow in her parent’s footsteps. During the current pandemic, she ended up in a mental health unit after a severe bout of paranoia and anxiety. Laurie is a true survivor in every sense of the word. She’s here today to share her story with the intention of helping others to not feel the shame from mental illness and to rid the stigma that goes with it.
This is a story about generational trauma and mental illness running in your family for generations. This is a story about turning into your parents even when you want to be nothing like them. This is a story about how ridding shame and stigma and replacing it with love and compassion can save not just a mother-daughter relationship, but also a life.
SHOW NOTE LINKS:
Dan’s the Grub Shack Restaurant on Yelp
The Bipolar Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know by David Miklowitz
Suicide Prevention Hotline/Phone Number
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Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.
That was the MOST BEAUTIFUL interview ever!!! I found myself tearful for so MANY reasons. Kudos to your mom for her courage to speak out and Rachel, to you, for your courage to be there for your mom! The HONESTY was some hard stuff, but you both got through it. I can relate to a lot of what you both spoke about. Blessings to you both. Wishing you more strength, courage, love, and success.♥️♥️♥️