The post Mancertified Episode 10: | Steve Lee Men & Mental Health appeared first on Man Certified.

Welcome to this weeks edition of the mantastic podcast my IS Sean Kavanaugh and I’ve got both of my pals and co-hosts with me today. Allen “Supreme Commander” Wilterdink and John George Ellis.

How’s it hangin today? Hey John how was your drift triking event?

We have a very special guest on with us today. We asked him several weeks ago to come on the show to talk about some serious stuff never knowing just how relevant the subject matter would be in the wake of Robin Williams tragic death. Our goal was to shed some light on the very real epidemic of depression and anxiety, personality disorders etc, in the US. Seeing such a high profile star take his own life, losing the lifelong battle with severe depression makes this show pretty important in our eyes.

So I’ll stop my yapping and introduce the renown therapist and founder of todaystherapist.net  Dr. Steven Lee. We are certainly honored to have you here today. How are you Doctor? Thanks for being on with us today.

I know this is a rather direct to start but how would explain the death of Robin Williams to the person who sees him from afar and thinks this guy has everything, money is no issue, seems to have a solid marriage. What could drive such a successful person to take there own life.

It’s just coming out in the press that Williams was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Is there a link between severe depression and Parkinson’s?

Money is such an issue in middle America its hard to imagine it not being a stress. If that stress were removed it seems everything would be just about perfect. But money and fame still didn’t rid him of his demons.

Why doesn’t the person with severe depression believe people when they tell them that they are good and needed and important? They continue to believe that this world would be better off without them. They can’t seem to step out of their own pain to see how traumatic it would be for everyone connected to them.

In that way I believe it’s such a selfish act but I know that is to simple of a reaction. Can you explain it in further detail?

By all accounts Williams had years of therapy battling addiction. How could this have been avoided, what could have been done?

What are some things individuals or family members can do to help family members or even themselves in cases of severe depression.

Do you see mental illness becoming more open or do you still see a stigma attached to it. Some old schoolers still think its weak to want help.  “Just get over it” is a common reaction.

I feel like mental illness is on the rise and not just because of awareness. I feel like Americans are unhappy, they are stretched thin. There are no vacations, salaries haven’t risen for real in 30 years. Do you think mental illness in men has become more prevalent?

In Chicago the construction industry was in a severe depression for 7 years. We had structural unemployment for at least 5 of the 7 years (the supply of labor far outweighed the demand for those workers) Do you know what the first thing was that was cut from several large labor union as a cost cutting procedure? Mental health. I was irate. I said to them raise the deductible but don’t take away a construction workers ability to talk to someone or take medication to get through THE toughest construction market in this country’ history.

Why is that the first thing that gets cut? It seems logical to keep it and cut something else like dental.

What would be your recommendation for someone who is struggling with their professional career and in turn it is really messing with their mood and ability to function. How do you break the cycle?

Hey everyone this is probably a good time for a quick break. We will be right back with more from Dr. Steve Lee on the Mantastic Podcast

Obviously everyone who is married would love to know how to better understand their wives or maybe I should say females in general. My wife and I have gotten much better over the years communicating through experience but also with some help as well. The one thing we have always done is respect each other by never name calling or saying never and always. We call it not fighting fair. Give us some insight into the female mind that can help us find our way because sometimes I feel like I’m living in the Twilight Zone.

Raising kids is like a crap shoot. I know I try to learn from my parents, books the internet and common sense but I’m still amazed at how many seemingly great parent raise completely effed up kids. Is it all parenting or is it human nature

We’ve seen some high profile shooting sprees lately but the one that is real strange is Elliot Rodger son of Hunger Games Assistant Director Peter Rodger. The father flat out says he didn’t realize his son was disturbed at all. That is scary to me. How much parental intervening should there be. When do you let them go? When step in? Obviously if the parents would have sniffed around they would have seen this kid was angry.

Words of advice for a great marriage?

I’m a big proponent of 12 step programs when it comes to addiction. It’s been very successful with several people I know. There seems to be a paradigm shift in addiction therapy using a combination of behavioral therapy and medication. How do you feel about it.

Learn about experimental ways to treat PTSD

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