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: hello@umarchatterjee.com

Om Podcasten

Hi! I'm Uma - a neuroscientist, researcher, board-certified Mental Health Peer Specialist, mental health advocate, organizer, community builder, communicator... and most importantly, someone with vast lived experiences with mental health, chronic illness, young-adult cancer, & survivorship. On this show, I bring all of my identities together to bring you honest and unfiltered conversations exploring our true human experiences in their fullest form. We bridge the gap on all things neuroscience, psychology, mental health, lived experience, advocacy, psychedelics, research, & more!