KellyApy- The Self Help Podcast: Recent Episodes
Kelly Mahony
Do you ever feel like there is just not enough therapy in the world to heal you? I know that I spent countless hours reading self-help books to figure out what the heck was wrong with me. I found that I was an alcoholic who suffered from all of the ramifications that come with fighting an addiction: low self-worth, fear, self-doubt, shame, guilt... I could go on and on. I have spent 23 years in recovery from this addiction. In my journey, I discovered so many amazing insights into the crazy life I sought to heal. In this 30 minute podcast, I share with you some answers to help you on your self-help journey. By interviewing others who share their life experiences, I seek to open the world to self-help therapy through my podcast KellyApy.
Relapse is something widely considered a part of early sobriety. I know that lots of time I fall into the trap of believing that once you get a certain amount of time under your belt, you are good to go. However, I have also been around long enough to know that this is not the case. The truth is that anyone at any time can relapse. I wanted to take a look at what happens when someone with long term sobriety goes back out to test the waters. What made them go out? What made them come back? What are they doing to prevent that relapse from happening again? Mary B was the perfect person to interview about this. She shares her experience of going out after 28 years of sobriety and finding her way back to recovery.
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I lost a friend to suicide a few years back. I had no idea that my friend was suffering so much that he would choose to end his life. I decided to go in search of answers about suicide. In my quest, I developed a theory that 3 factors lead to successful suicide. I call it the suicide chain. The chain consists of a reason, a will, and a way. If you can break the chain at one of these points, you can prevent suicide. I decided to devote an episode to discussing suicide prevention. My friend Ron suffers from chronic depression but has never attempted suicide. He also has excellent insight and passion for helping prevent suicides. If you are thinking of suicide or know someone who might think of suicide, you will want to hear this episode. As noted in the episode, I am adding some resources for anyone needing them.
https://www.fcc.gov/988-suicide-and-crisis-lifeline
https://www.psycom.net/kevin-hines-survived-golden-gate-bridge-suicide
https://afsp.org/preventing-suicide-in-lgbtq-communities
In addition, you may want to check out the Bridge Documentary
The Bridge (2006 documentary film) - Wikipedia (Beware, it is not an easy film to watch)
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What would you do if the child you gave birth came to you and said that they were not the correct sex? This is a question that many parents are facing as more and more people are becoming aware of the transgender community. In this episode, Leslie shares her recent experience in dealing with this situation. She offers an authentic message of encouragement, strength, and support for other parents who might be struggling. In the end these kids are true blessings and miracles
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A good coach can help anyone reach their full potential. They can guide them through challenging times and inspire them to greatness. Life coaches are a wonderful way to help you overcome whatever slump you find yourself in. In this episode, I talk with an amazing life coach Tricia Parido about how a life coach works in helping those in need. She really is an amazing woman who has helped so many people.
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Do you know what it is like to have your child on prayer lists all over the country? I do. In 2017, my son Liam suffered 3 strokes at 9. This was not the worst of it. We end up in Duke PICU undergoing emergency diagnosis surgery for a blood clot in his brain. It is nothing short of a miracle that he survived. To this day, they still do not have a diagnosis for what happened to him.
Similarly, his friend Colin up the street had an unexpected change in his health. One day he is fine, and the next day my neighbor's world is turned upside down. He ended up eventually getting diagnosed with a sporadic disease known as PANS. I felt that this would be an important episode to talk about with my neighbor Denise in the hopes that we can help any parents going through similar situations.
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Lots of people are lost and looking for answers when it comes to recovery. I relate it to standing in front of a vending machine and looking at all the different options available. So, I thought in this episode, we would approach the Recovery Vending Machine with my friend Mary K. In this episode we explore different options for those seeking to find relief from their addiction. Mary K has extensive experience in the world of recovery. All in all, it is a fun and informative episode. I hope you find the right recovery for yourself after visiting the recovery vending machine with us.
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We all suffer from loneliness at times. Did you know that there is an actual epidemic? It's extremely serious with deadly consequences if unchecked. In this episode, I explore this epidemic with Patsy to see where the conversation takes us. I think you will find an extremely interesting discussion on this emerging and growing problem. Patsy requested in this talk, that I provide you with some useful links to shed more light on the subject. If you would like to explore more about this check out these links:
Loneliness: An Epidemic? - Science in the News (harvard.edu)
What You Need to Know About the Loneliness Epidemic | Psychology Today
The loneliness pandemic | Harvard Magazine
Loneliness won't end when the pandemic ends | CNN
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Welcome to the newest season of Kellyapy. This Season we have lined up some fantastic guests to continue our quest for answers to overcoming life's most significant challenges. The first guest this season used to self-harm by cutting herself. She did this in addition to battling alcoholism, addiction, and depression. She found her way to the other side and she shares her experiences in the hopes that it can help bring light to those living in the darkness. Powerful Episode- Powerful Message- Powerful Start to Season 4
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Shay Walker is a survivor on so many fronts. She is using her gifts and talents to bring awareness to the horrific experiences she has had to light. Her story is so powerful that they are making a tv series about it called The Legend of Fire Lily. The hope is to shine the light on child abuse, sexual abuse, human trafficking, and cyber attacks. As you can see, there is a wide range of topics covered in this podcast. I am happy to partner with her to tell her story with this podcast. If you would like to learn more, please visit www.thelegendofffirelily.com
There are so many options available for anyone who seeks help from his/her addictions. One of the best choices one can make is to enter rehab to help him/her escape the clutches of the disease entangling him/her. For some reason, a stigma has developed around this option so I thought it would be a great opportunity to dispel some myths. Therefore, in this episode, Mary K once again joins us to shed some light on the rehabilitation process in recovery.
Anyone suffering from addiction looks for answers as to how to overcome them. In this interview, I talk with my long-time friend Maria about how she overcame her cocaine addiction. She did not escape by traditional means of rehab or 12-step recovery. However, she found freedom and went on to live a wonderful life. She shares her story in this episode to help others who also find themselves battling for their life.
What happens when an addict or alcoholic exits rehab? Many times they need extra accountability so they might choose to move into a sober living environment. In this episode, I talk with Comea W about her life in a sober living environment. If you are considering a sober living move, you won't want to miss this episode.
Having a baby is a joyous time for most. However, there are occasions where this is not the case. The mother may suffer from the normal baby blues which usually passes. However, sometimes after having a baby, the mother could be thrown into a mental health crisis. My friend Stephanie found herself in such a situation after the birth of her last child. She suffered from an extremely rare mental illness emergency known as postpartum psychosis. This experience did not break her though, as she survived and found a deeper meaning of life in the process. She shares her experience and knowledge about this nightmare scenario in the hopes of helping anyone out there seeking answers.
Are you looking for answers as to how to stop the anxiety and craziness that comes with early recovery? Believe it or not, Yoga is the perfect solution for helping ease the relentless turmoil that recovering addicts face. In this episode, Ellie Cusick shares her personal story of recovery and how by using the 12 steps and Yoga, she has found inner peace and serenity.
Domestic Violence comes in many forms and can happen to anyone. It doesn't matter how rich or poor you are, male or female, gay or straight- anyone can be a victim of domestic violence. In this episode, I interview my friend Julie who, like myself, survived Domestic violence and now leads a happy and productive life. But, of course, anyone who finds themself in a verbal, emotional, or physical abuse situation knows the humiliation, shame, and fear that the abuser brings. In this episode, we seek to share our experiences to help those trapped in these relationships to find a way out.
The plight of the chronic relapser is baffling and heartbreaking. In this episode, I talk with Addiction specialist Tricia Parido to better understand the physiological side of addiction. She explains that anyone stopping a substance will go through Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome. This happens as the body tries to recalibrate itself and varies in length and intensity with each person. This makes total sense for anyone struggling to get clean or sober in early recovery. She offers many suggestions for anyone dealing with PAWS to help them break the cycle of relapse to live a happy and productive sober life.
Addictions run rampant in our society. In an effort to understand them, I reached out to a renowned life coach with a specialty in addictions, Tricia Parido. In this episode, we explore the many nuances of addiction. Tricia brings to light how and why addictions occur. If you or someone you love suffers from an addiction, you will not want to miss this episode.
I had the unique honor to talk with my long-time friend Patsy Pease about the Rust tragedy that happened a few weeks ago. She had a unique perspective on the situation as she has been in the entertainment industry for years. You may have seen her playing Kimberly Brady on Days of Our Lives or Lola in the digital series the Bay- (for which she was nominated for an Emmy btw). In talking with Patsy, we found that there was a greater tragedy than the obvious one in front of us. There was a hateful ugliness surfacing that we both agreed needed to be addressed. Since Patsy is my spiritual advisor, we walked down the spiritual path of recovery. In the end, we come to a beautiful ending to help heal from this hateful underbelly of society.
People are dying in masses. Families are suffering losses at a record level. You would think I was talking about COVID, but I am not. I am referring to the other epidemic sweeping the streets, taking countless victims in its path- The Opioid Epidemic. As with all my episodes, the experts are the people struggling with the problem. In this episode, I interview a recovering opioid addict who champions help for the hopeless addict out there. She is also a mom whose daughter is actively using heroin. She is passionate about showing compassion towards the person who suffers from substance abuse disorder rather than the contempt society has for them. If you suffer from an addiction to opioids of any kind, or you have a child suffering, you will not want to miss this podcast.
Does your child hate tags? Do they complain about the textures of food? Do their feelings get hurt very easily? Do you sense that there is something different about your child, but you just don't know what it is? You may be raising a Highly Sensitive Child. Dr, Elaine N Aron explains in her book entitled "The Highly Sensitive Child" that about 15-20% of the population qualify as an "HSC". Studies have shown this type of child to have an advanced neurological system. This causes them to be extremely sensitive to everything around them. If you are a parent raising this type of child, it can be extremely perplexing. My friend Leslie and I talk about our experiences in our journey to raise this extraordinary type of child.
Jeff Key is an advocate for veterans suffering from the traumas of serving our country. He, himself served in the Iraq war during the "Don't Ask- Don't Tell" era as a gay marine. Talk about adding extra stress to an already stressful circumstance! He has found a path to healing through his writing. He actively works with the Warrior Writers in New Orleans to help others struggling to recover from trauma. In this episode, he shares his journey as a gay soldier serving in the military, his time, in Iraq, and his recovery from the effects of Trauma. This is an extremely important episode to add to the daily fight that these heroes endure each day.
Everyone has to eat to live and survive. What if the act of eating or not eating hindered your ability to live or survive? So many people suffer from eating disorders. It is an epidemic in line with Opioids. It is also an extremely misunderstood disorder. There are so many different types of eating disorders and so many different types of people who suffer from them. Mary K has recently undergone treatment to recover from her own eating disorder. Mary admits that she felt that she was "too old" to suffer from a food disorder. However, it nearly took her life. She shares with us her harrowing lifelong journey to control and manage her eating. She also shares the message of hope for anyone out there who feels that they need help from this misunderstood addiction.
What came first, the addiction or the mental illness? This is a question many may wonder who suffer from a dual diagnosis addiction. People trying to recover from dual diagnosis are fighting an uphill battle against both a mental illness such as depression, anxiety, borderline personality, bipolar... and active addiction. In this episode, Jess W shares her experience in her climb from the clutches of this dilemma into freedom. She highlights the highs and lows of someone facing this prospect and offers hope for a way out.
Death is not a subject anyone wishes to think about until they are forced to. When confronted with losing someone we love, we know that we will endure excruciating pain and grief. How do doctors deal with losing loved ones? In this episode, I talk with my friend Katherine who is a Physician's Assistant about how she coped with the loss of both of her parents, who died in very different ways. Her perspective is intriguing and healing.
Anyone who suffers from an addiction knows the baffling nature of the disease. Most people think of drugs and alcohol when it comes to talking about addiction, but there are so many more out there. One of the most curious addictions out there is Sex and Love addiction. This addiction shows itself in the form of toxic relationships, cheating, acting out sexually, and seeks to destroy the addict's life. In this episode, I interview Mindi who is a recovering sex and love addict. She shares her journey as a sex and love addict from the heart of her illness to recovery. If you think you or someone you care about, suffers from this disease, you will not want to miss this powerful 30-minute episode.
There has been so much in the news about the plight of the immigrants trying to enter this country. Some enter illegally but many others are fleeing for their lives. What happens when something you watch on the news becomes personal? One day I discovered my friend Paula in tears. While seeking to comfort her, I discovered that her world was in danger of collapsing due to her status as an immigrant trying to start a new life in America. Her story is extremely inspiring as she overcame the many obstacles of ignorance and hate to achieve a new life. In this interview, she talks about her journey as an immigrant seeking to save her life and attain what everyone desires-" freedom".
There is a defense lawyer in Las Vegas Nevada who donates his time to help youths that find themselves trapped in addiction and paying the price in the Court System. His story is so fascinating because he was also an addict who found his way out of the darkness to help these kids. Judge Kerns from the YO court (Youth Offenders Court) in Las Vegas hand-picked him to help in this fight. His story is absolutely amazing! What he is doing is nothing short of heroic in the fight to understand and help addicts.
There is a youth offender court in Las Vegas that is unconventional in its practices. It is called YO Court and it treats not only the addict but the addict's family. Judge Kerns presides over this court with a team of street smart experts as well as learned professionals. They incorporate a mix of practices from recreational therapy, group therapy, and incarceration to help put these kids back on the right track in life. In this podcast, Judge Kerns sits with us to share his take on helping addicts and their families break free from the clutches of their addictions. The success of this court speaks for itself. If you suffer from addiction or have a loved one who suffers, you do not want to miss this powerful interview.
The life of anyone struggling with substance abuse leads to many dark places. Frequently, they end up in the court systems. Lots of times they are incarcerated as well. In this episode, I talk with Katie who lived this life. Due to her abuse of alcohol and drugs, she found herself at the mercy of the courts. She was lucky enough to have a Judge take a chance on her and offer her a chance to change her life in his Yo Court program. In this half-hour interview, Katie tells her story of what it was like pulling her life back together with the help of Judge Kerns and Yo Court. Katie has truly blossomed into a beautiful woman today who now gets to share her journey in the hopes of helping those out there who have lost hope.
Something that often gets overlooked in recovery is the effect of the mother and child. We examine in this episode the challenges and rewards of raising a child while in the throes of trying to manage an addiction. Mary K has experience on both sides of parenting a child while actively pursuing her addiction and also while actively pursuing recovery. If you are a mother who wishes to explore what it means to be a mother while battling your addiction, you will not want to miss this episode.
Breaking free from a debilitating addiction is not easy. Many people seek to gain freedom from their ailment only to find that they cannot. This is baffling to both the addict and the person who loves him/her. In my personal journey of recovery, I was lucky enough to get it the first time around, however, this is not always the case. In this episode, I talk with Jess who has been in and out of recovery for 7 years before it finally took. We explore the mystery of relapse in the hopes that it will help the hopeless find some hope.
Getting through the rough times is not always easy. In this episode, we discuss ways to cope with the life storms that hit us without warning. If you are trying to cope with a situation that has got you stuck, take half an hour to listen.
How do you know if you are depressed or just plain sad? There is a difference. My friend Ron has been battling clinical depression for many years. In this episode, he takes time to bring light to the dark subject of depression. If you are worried that you or anyone you love might be suffering from depression, you should take time to listen to this podcast. It is an extremely powerful half-hour.
The brain is fascinating! There is so much we do not know. We are continually learning new things about this vital part of our being every day. The more we uncover, the more we discover just what the brain is capable of. My friend Stephanie is studying to become a licensed EFT practitioner. This new self-help technique is a fascinating revelation of just what the brain is capable of. If you are suffering from any form of stress, I believe that you will find this episode extremely powerful and possibly life-changing.
Bullying has always been a problem but today it seems worse than ever. With the abundance of social media, the opportunities to bully are heightened. In this episode, I talk to Sabrina who suffered at the hands of bullies in her youth. She retells her story and shares the effects it had on her life. If you know someone who suffers from bullying, then you will not want to miss this episode.
Before COVID, there was another epidemic with opioid abuse amongst chronic pain sufferers. Chronic pain sufferers are looking for anything they can get their hands on to help relieve the excruciating pain they suffer from. Here's the question, when does this turn from medicinal purposes to an addiction? In this episode, I explore this topic with Jess H who is a recovering alcoholic and addict. She shares her journey from a person suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis to finding herself dependent on substances for her daily life. If you suffer from chronic pain and worry about the possibility of slipping into addiction, I invite you to set aside a half an hour to hear Jess's powerful story.
Do you dread setting boundaries? Do you know how to set boundaries? Do you even know what a boundary is? I sure didn't. In this episode, I interview Patsy Pease to discuss the importance of boundaries in your relationships and your daily life. Patsy shares here 35 years of experience in recovery to help explain how incorporating healthy boundaries in your life can change your life.
In this episode, I talk about the spiritual aspect of recovery with Mary K. We discuss the importance of spirituality in dealing with an addiction. We both have a higher power who we identify as God so we discuss the difference between religion versus spirituality. We explore the concept of forgiveness. Also, we talk about creating and understanding your own personal concept of God as He relates to you. In the end, Mary helps bring to the table a message of hope to help and heal the person most in need of a spiritual awakening.
Do you or a loved one suffer from an addiction? Are you worried you may be an alcoholic? Do you think you might have a problem with drugs or food? In this episode, I discuss the nature of dealing with a debilitating addiction. We relay our experiences as women in recovery in dealing with the disease of alcoholism and addiction. This is a powerful 30-minute talk that I hope will help to offer a message of hope to help and heal the suffering addict/alcoholic.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to almost die? Linda Todd can tell you. She almost died while teaching English in the Gaza Strip. When she awoke from her coma, she had the brain of an elderly Alzheimer's patient. Doctors had no plan of recovery for her so she went out and created her own therapy which included belly dancing and learning Hebrew. Her method worked because she discovered the magic of Neuroplasticity. She is a walking example of how a damaged brain can heal. In this episode, she shares with the audience the untapped power of the brain she has discovered through her personal experiences. She explains how to use the brain to heal chronic pain and fight the Alzheimer's battle. This is an amazing woman with an amazing story!