Inside Schizophrenia

The intersection of schizophrenia and an acute mental health crisis typically involves a profound, overwhelming disruption of cognitive processing, emotional stability, and grasp on reality. During these periods, symptoms of the disorder such as hallucinations or delusions frequently intensify, leaving someone unable to distinguish internal psychiatric distress from the external reality. This internal chaos is often compounded by severe agitation, a sudden withdrawal from social support systems, or a complete breakdown in the ability to communicate, which can rapidly escalate into a dangerous medical and social emergency.

Helping a family member experiencing a mental health crisis is an incredibly stressful and frightening situation. Safety, both yours and theirs, is the immediate priority.

In this episode, host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard discuss how to navigate an active schizophrenia mental health crisis while prioritizing safety for everyone involved.

Guest Touray Beaton, Jr., director of emergency and community based services with the South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, joins. He breaks down how the South Carolina Mental Health Mobile Crisis responds so you can know what to expect.

Touray Beaton, Jr. is the Director of Emergency and Community Based Services for the Coastal Empire Community Mental Health Center South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (Website: https://bhdd.sc.gov/office-mental-health/services/mobile-services/mobile-crisis)

BHDD Office of Mental Health Mobile Crisis clinicians provide 24/7/365 day community-based crisis response anywhere in South Carolina. Our goal is to provide patients throughout the state with immediate access to crisis services and the most appropriate level of care.

Our experienced and highly trained master's level clinicians work directly with local mental health centers, law enforcement, emergency service centers, and community providers to help address the crisis situation and to stabilize individuals who may be experiencing a mental health crisis.

Our host, Rachel Star Withers, (Link: www.rachelstarlive.com) is an entertainer, international speaker, video producer, and schizophrenic. She has appeared on MTV’s Ridiculousness, TruTV, NBC’s America’s Got Talent, Marvel's Black Panther, TUBI’s #shockfight, Goliath: Playing with Reality, and is the host of the HealthLine podcast “Inside Schizophrenia”. She grew up seeing monsters, hearing people in the walls, and having intense urges to hurt herself.

Rachel creates videos documenting her schizophrenia, ways to manage, and letting others like her know they are not alone and can still live an amazing life. She has created a kid’s mental health comic line, The Adventures of ____. (Learn more at this link: https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Fearless-Unstoppable-Light-Ambitious/dp/B0FHWK4ZHS )

Fun Fact: She has wrestled alligators.

Our cohost, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author.

He also hosts the twice Webby honored podcast, Inside Bipolar, with Dr. Nicole Washington.

To learn more about Gabe, please visit his website, gabehoward.com.

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Sometimes, you are so consumed by caring for a loved one with a serious mental illness, like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, that taking a moment for yourself feels like a betrayal. In this episode, host Gabe Howard and Dr. C. Alec Pollard reveal the hidden crisis of caregiver burnout in the world of serious mental illness. They dismantle the myth that self-care is selfish, showing how neglecting your own needs can worsen stress and strain the very relationships you cherish.

 

Dr. Pollard dives into the toxic beliefs that trap caregivers—those who support individuals with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other severe conditions—into a cycle of resentment and exhaustion. With breakthrough strategies and compassionate advice, this episode offers a wake-up call for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the relentless demands of caregiving. Learn how nurturing yourself not only protects your well-being but also empowers you to care more effectively for your loved one.

“If you can do no good, at least do no harm. A lot of the, the things that families don't understand and caregivers is that they're actually doing things that not only they know it doesn't work okay. When they're doing these things, these naggings and lectures and all that, they know it's not working. But what they may not appreciate is it's actually making things worse over time.” ~C. Alec Pollard, PhD

Our guest, C. Alec Pollard, Ph.D., is Founding Director of the Center for OCD and Anxiety-Related Disorders at Saint Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute and Professor Emeritus of Family and Community Medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. He is a licensed psychologist who works with a range of obsessive-compulsive and anxiety-related disorders, with a special interest in obstacles that might inhibit the pursuit of recovery or interfere with effective participation in treatment. He is on the Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board of the International OCD Foundation and chairs the organization’s Training Subcommittee, including a national training initiative called the Behavior Therapy Training Institute.  Dr. Pollard is former chair of the Clinical Advisory Board of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America and has authored over 100 publications, including 3 books – “The Agoraphobia Workbook, Dying of Embarrassment: Help for Social Anxiety & Phobia,” and “When a Loved One Won’t Seek Mental Health Treatment: How to Promote Recovery and Reclaim Your Family’s Well-Being.”

Inside Mental Health's host, Gabe Howard. lives with bipolar disorder and is a nationally recognized speaker and podcast host. He is the author of the book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies available directly from the author.

To learn more about Gabe, please visit gabehoward.com.

Like the Inside Mental Health podcast? Find it on your favorite podcast player or visit psychcentral.com/show!

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Treating schizophrenia in America is often described as a broken system, not because of a lack of medical knowledge, but due to structural and policy failures. The failures of these systems has created a cycle where individuals often move between homelessness, emergency rooms, and the criminal justice system rather than receiving ongoing care. Many families and caregivers struggle to get help even when the situation turns dangerous.

In this episode, hosts Rachel Star Withers and Gabe Howard discuss how the government and health care system failures lead to these tragedies and what needs to change. They unpack cases like the one involving Rob Reiner, where his son, who has schizophrenia, is suspected of murdering both his parents during a severe mental health crisis.

Guest Gail Freedman joins later in the episode. She is the director, writer, and producer of a new documentary, “No One Cares About Crazy People.” It's inspired by Ron Powers acclaimed book of the same name and it's an intimate, immersive dive into the crisis and chaos of severe mental illness and the grassroots movement to do something about it.

Guest Information:

With over 25 years as an award-winning filmmaker, Gail Freedman has produced, directed, and written dozens of documentaries on a wide range of subjects. Among her films: “Hot to Trot,” an award-winning feature documentary inside the fascinating but little-known world of same-sex competitive ballroom dance; “Making the 9/11 Memorial,” a primetime special for The History Channel; “Breaking the Silence Barrier” (cognitive disabilities); “Where’s The Cure?” (breast cancer activism); “Generation Rx” (the opioid crisis); “Lessons for the Future” (public education); “Giving While Living” (philanthropy); and “A Forever Family” (Annie E. Casey Foundation).

“No One Cares About Crazy People”Inspired by Ron Powers’ acclaimed book of the same name, “No One Cares About Crazy People” is an intimate deep dive into the crisis and chaos of severe mental illness in America. A heartbreaking family memoir and searing social history, it is personal and immersive — but also tracks a burgeoning grassroots movement to reinvent our failed systems. Narrated by actor Bob Odenkirk (“Breaking Bad,” “Better Call Saul”) with original music by Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy. Now streaming. noonecaresfilm.com

Our host, Rachel Star Withers, (Link: www.rachelstarlive.com) is an entertainer, international speaker, video producer, and schizophrenic. She has appeared on MTV’s Ridiculousness, TruTV, NBC’s America’s Got Talent, Marvel's Black Panther, TUBI’s #shockfight, Goliath: Playing with Reality, and is the host of the HealthLine podcast “Inside Schizophrenia”. She grew up seeing monsters, hearing people in the walls, and having intense urges to hurt herself.

Rachel creates videos documenting her schizophrenia, ways to manage, and letting others like her know they are not alone and can still live an amazing life. She has created a kid’s mental health comic line, The Adventures of ____. (Learn more at this link: https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Fearless-Unstoppable-Light-Ambitious/dp/B0FHWK4ZHS )

Fun Fact: She has wrestled alligators.

Our cohost, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author.

He also hosts the twice Webby honored podcast, Inside Bipolar, with Dr. Nicole Washington.

To learn more about Gabe, please visit his website, gabehoward.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you've been diagnosed with schizophrenia or you're supporting someone living with the condition, connecting with others who understand schizophrenia can be a great help. Talking to those who are dealing with the same things you’re experiencing can not only help you feel less alone, but also help you learn tips and coping mechanisms from each other, share resources, encourage treatment, and allow you to tell your stories in a safe and accepting environment.

But how do you find other people with serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia to connect with? What should you say? Where do you even go?

Host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard break down how to find other people with schizophrenia and give you a simple opening you can use to build new connections. 

Finally, guest Amber (who lives with mental illness) joins. Amber's mental health advocacy journey began when she found out she had schizoaffective disorder and decided to share it on social media. She decided she wanted to help as many with her diagnosis as she could, so she began speaking about her diagnosis regularly on social media.

Listener Takeaways

Understand why peer connection is unique and how it provides a level of validation that clinical providers often cannot replicate

Discover how staying connected to a community can actually improve outcomes 

Learn Amber’s “Three Pillars of Stability”: consistent support, therapy, and medication

Our guest, Amber W, is a wife, mom, and Army veteran. Amber’s mental health advocacy journey began when she found out she was schizoaffective bipolar type, and wanted to help fight against stigma. From there, she was invited to a psychiatric hospital to speak about her recovery. This ignited a fire in her; she decided she wanted to help as many with her diagnosis as she could so she began speaking about her diagnosis regularly on social media.

Our host, Rachel Star Withers, (Link: www.rachelstarlive.com) is an entertainer, international speaker, video producer, and schizophrenic. She has appeared on MTV’s Ridiculousness, TruTV, NBC’s America’s Got Talent, Marvel's Black Panther, TUBI’s #shockfight, Goliath: Playing with Reality, and is the host of the HealthLine podcast “Inside Schizophrenia”. She grew up seeing monsters, hearing people in the walls, and having intense urges to hurt herself.

Rachel creates videos documenting her schizophrenia, ways to manage, and letting others like her know they are not alone and can still live an amazing life. She has created a kid’s mental health comic line, The Adventures of ____. (Learn more at this link: https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Fearless-Unstoppable-Light-Ambitious/dp/B0FHWK4ZHS )

Fun Fact: She has wrestled alligators.

Our cohost, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author.

He also hosts the twice Webby honored podcast, Inside Bipolar, with Dr. Nicole Washington.

To learn more about Gabe, please visit his website, gabehoward.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Paranoid schizophrenic admits to attacking dog walker.” When we watch a horror movie, we know the “madman” on screen is a work of fiction. But when the nightly news leads with a diagnosis to explain a tragedy, the fear it creates is very real — and often permanent.Why does the media lead with schizophrenia only when the story involves violence, yet remain silent when it comes to stories of recovery, hope, and humanity?

In this hard-hitting episode, host Rachel Star Withers (who lives with schizophrenia) explores the Lead with Fear phenomenon — the dangerous journalistic trend of linking a diagnosis to a crime before the facts are even in — and why schizophrenia seems to have the worst PR team in the world.

Later in the show, we sit down with two media heavyweights who are using their platforms to overhaul how the world views mental health.:

Janet Yang, an Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning producer and former President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Frank Kosa, an Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker for National Geographic, the History Channel, and A&E.

Listener Take-A-Ways:

why "paranoid schizophrenia" is an obsolete clinical term that journalists refuse to let go of

the startling statistic that fewer than 20% of news stories about schizophrenia include themes of recovery

practical ways you can hold news outlets accountable and promote stories of hope

Our guest, Frank Kosa, is an award-winning documentary producer-writer-director, and a journalist. He produced National Geographic’s “The Story of God with Morgan Freeman,” wrote the inaugural season of Travel Channel’s hit show “Booze Traveler,” produced the award-winning “The Revolutionary War,” a mini-series for A&E, “Christianity: The Second Millennium” and multiple shows of TV’s most engaging documentary series including “Life Without People,” “The Universe,” and “Game Changers.”

His shows have aired on The Science Channel, The History Channel, Discovery, A&E, TLC, Animal Planet, The Travel Channel, The Weather Channel, Lifetime, Bloomberg TV, HGTV, and National Geographic. His print journalism has appeared in The LA Times, USA Today, Sacramento Bee, The Christian Science Monitor, and numerous magazines. He has also worked for films and TV shows produced by Universal, Warner Bros., & Sony. He is Emmy-nominated, has won a Cable Ace and other awards, and strives to tell stories that deeply connect with audiences. 

Our guest, Janet Yang, is an Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning Hollywood producer, former President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and has been named one of the “50 Most Powerful Women in Hollywood” by the Hollywood Reporter. Yang’s extensive film and television credits include “The Joy Luck Club,” “The People vs. Larry Flynt,” “The Weight of Water,” “Shanghai Calling,” “High Crimes,” “Zero Effect,” and “Over the Moon.” Yang began her career by running the first distribution company to market Chinese films into North America. She also brokered the reintroduction of American studio films to the Chinese marketplace after a decades-long hiatus. This, in turn, led to joining Steven Spielberg on the historic production of “Empire of the Sun.” This was followed by long-term partnership with multiple Academy-Award winning writer/director, Oliver Stone.

Our host, Rachel Star Withers, (Link: ⁠www.rachelstarlive.com⁠) is an entertainer, international speaker, video producer, and schizophrenic. She has appeared on MTV’s Ridiculousness, TruTV, NBC’s America’s Got Talent, Marvel's Black Panther, TUBI’s #shockfight, Goliath: Playing with Reality, and is the host of the HealthLine podcast “⁠Inside Schizophrenia⁠”. She grew up seeing monsters, hearing people in the walls, and having intense urges to hurt herself.

Rachel creates videos documenting her schizophrenia, ways to manage, and letting others like her know they are not alone and can still live an amazing life. She has created a kid’s mental health comic line, The Adventures of ____. (Learn more at this link: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Fearless-Unstoppable-Light-Ambitious/dp/B0FHWK4ZHS⁠ )

Our cohost, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available ⁠directly from the author.⁠

He also hosts the twice Webby honored podcast, ⁠Inside Bipolar⁠, with Dr. Nicole Washington.

To learn more about Gabe, please visit his website, ⁠gabehoward.com⁠.

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