REAL*TALK SERIES/Ep. 6: Real* Talk With Conrad - Sounding Board

This is the sixth episode of Mind Health Therapy’s REAL* TALK SERIES. Our guest for this episode is a dear friend and colleague of mine, Conrad. I am honored to work alongside Conrad as clinical therapists supporting individuals struggling with severe mental health issues. Conrad is a natural leader and everyone stops to listen intently whenever he shares his tactical insight and strategy on handling difficult crises. I am inspired by the way he is able to see things outside of the box and utilize as many resources needed for the best care.

Here’s a glimpse into how he actively works through his own personal challenges:

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WHO AM I?

First and foremost, I am a family man. I have always been family oriented, which is why I am extremely close to my siblings. I am a proud husband, uncle, father, brother, son and grandson. I am a social worker, passionate about helping others achieve personal wellbeing and recovery, which I learned from my mom. My mom is the definition of selfless, she is my hero. I hope that my identity as a man is one of high character, that embodies selflessness and shows compassion for others.  

QUESTION 1:  WHAT DOES STOPPING THE MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA MEAN TO YOU?

As someone who has struggled with both anxiety as a child and depression as an adult, I believe stopping the stigma is about more than eliminating words like “crazy” or “psycho” from our vocabulary or labelling ourselves as “OCD” or “Bipolar.” We all need to stop minimizing mental health symptoms and treatment with statements like “power through it.” We need to stop assuming everyone’s treatment is the same, whether that means taking medications or not. We need to stop offering unsolicited advice as if the person doesn’t feel bad enough about their own efforts. I believe stopping the stigma is about allowing people to share openly about hardships, recognizing that simply listening with kindness and compassion instead of immediately reacting can be incredibly empowering.

QUESTION 2: HOW HAVE YOU STRUGGLED WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND HOW HAVE YOU OVERCOME IT?

One of the most emotionally overwhelming time of my life was during my first year of college. I moved away from my little mountain town to a big city, and during my freshman year suffered through a break up, lost a grandparent, and managed a major family crisis. I felt very alone, and it seemed like every part of my life was falling apart. I debated dropping out of college. Before making a rash decision, I chose to give therapy a try on campus. This decision literally changed my life. At the time I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the therapist became a sounding board for me. I worked to stop avoiding the “what if’s” that held me back for so long and joined a fraternity. I built the confidence needed to break out of my shell of doubt and hopelessness.

QUESTION 3: SHARE WITH US A QUOTE THAT GROUNDS + INSPIRES YOU, AND WHY.

“Fortune favors the bold!”  TERENCE, A ROMAN PLAYWRIGHT IN THE PLAY PHOMRIO

 This quote says simply, “I know you’re nervous, but you’ll never achieve what you want if you don’t take action.”

QUESTION 4: HOW DOES ONE OVERCOME GUILT AND SHAME?

This is a tough one for me. Guilt and shame often lead me to get mentally stuck when I dwell on my past mistakes. There is no easy answer to overcome this, other than to forgive myself. I remind myself every outcome has a lesson to be learned. It might be a cliché perspective, but it allows me to take responsibility for my mistakes and move forward in doing better next time with acceptance and forgiveness.

Thank you Conrad for reminding us of the power of compassion and how it can help heal others and stop the stigma of mental health. Thank you for highlighting the importance of self-reflection, taking responsibility for our behaviors and ways of thinking that are unhelpful, and working proactively to do better.

From The Desk Of, 
Katrina Niere, LMFT
Founder of Mind Health Therapy