02. My Mental Health Journey: Part 1

In part 1 of this episode of A Chat with Uma, I share the first part of my full + lifelong story with mental health. This episode serves to provide the context and story for part 1 of my journey - from birth to 18, before I received any level of consistent treatment by medical professionals. The diagnoses & conditions discussed include: OCD, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, C-PTSD, panic disorder, suicidal ideation, PTSD, bulimia, dermatillomania, trichotillomania, neurodivergence, sensory processing disorder, and non-verbal learning disabilities. This episode series serves to provide a deeper context into my complex, nuanced, and lifelong journey with mental health, as most of my work as a neuroscientist, researcher, mental health peer specialist, advocate, educator, organizer, and podcaster all comes from this journey. To that end, I give a high-level overview of: My early signs + symptoms Diagnoses Misdiagnoses Lack of access to treatment Neglect + abuse Treatment attempts Medication Types of therapy Mistreatment & abuse in therapy Comorbidities Intersectional identities & how they mediated my journey Where I'm at right now + what's next Topics covered in this episode + timestamps: (00:00:00) Introduction (00:01:00) Purpose of this episode, background, my intentions, and disclaimers (00:10:00) 0-12: Family background, culture, childhood symptoms OCD, depression, anxiety, C-PTSD, neurodivergence, gifted program, sensory processing disorder, non-verbal learning disability (00:25:30) 12-15: Middle school, (CW) sexual abuse, suicidal ideation, mental institution, joining the cult, starvation, dieting, developing bulimia, high school (00:48:31) 15-18: High school, medication, numbness, dissociation, therapy attempts (00:53:00) Reflections: lack of treatment vs. mistreatment, lack of diagnosis vs. misdiagnosis, neglect, abuse, closing out I cannot wait to connect with you, answer all of your questions, and co-create this with you. Welcome to a Chat with Uma! Connect with me! My website: umarchatterjee.com Instagram: @UmaRChatterjee Twitter: @UmaRChatterjee TikTok: @UmaRChatterjee Email: [email protected]