Coping Chaos

In our final episode of Season One, we explore the complicated relationship between routines and mental health. As two siblings living with mental illness, we share how our daily, weekly, and/or monthly routines can help us navigate life, manage symptoms, and create a sense of stability. We spend time unpacking our own routines and the role they play in our lives. From the habits that help us feel...

In this episode, we talk about the ever-present background noise of anxiety—the constant static that can find its way into nearly every part of daily life. We share our experiences with the physical and emotional signs of anxiety and the ways it can quietly shape our behavior, from doom scrolling and procrastination to avoidance, people-pleasing, and the need for control. We also discuss the invis...

In today’s episode, we’re talking about emotional dysregulation — what it is, how it shows up in our lives, and the reality of experiencing what we personally call “meltdowns” while living with mental illness. We open up about our own experiences, from misunderstandings and mistakes to disagreements and overwhelming moments that can quickly spiral emotionally. We also talk about the important diff...

In part two of our Coping Chaos series on guilt and shame, we continue the conversation by talking about the ways these emotions personally affect our mental health, relationships, and sense of self-worth. Now that we’ve explored the differences between guilt and shame, we open up about the pressure to always be productive, the guilt and shame that can come from feeling like our struggles affect o...

Welcome to the first part of our two-part series on guilt and shame. In this episode, we break down the differences between guilt and shame, explore how they show up in everyday life, and share the personal ways they’ve impacted us over the years. From feeling guilty for being happy, to survivor’s guilt, to carrying shame about past versions of ourselves — we open up about the emotional weight the...

In honor of Mother's Day, this episode explores the complicated reality of parenting while living with severe mental health challenges. We start by sharing some of the positives of parenting — the moments of love, pride, and joy that keep us going even on the hardest days. From there, we open up about the very real physical struggles that can come with parenting while battling mental illness: cook...

In this episode, we unpack the world of ‘mental maintenance’—the coping mechanisms that help us navigate everyday life while living with mental illness. We break down what coping mechanisms really are, and share what we’ve learned throughout our mental health journeys—everything from the healthy, to the unhealthy, to the ones that might seem a little unconventional. We open up about the tools we c...

What if your energy worked like a video game health bar—or even a pizza you only get a few slices of each day? In this episode, we dive into what it really means to live with limited energy while navigating severe mental illness. We share how our conditions shape not just how much energy we have, but how quickly it disappears—and how much more it takes just to get through everyday tasks. From the...

In today’s episode, we explore the often invisible challenges of navigating social situations while living with mental illness. From interactions with friends and family to encounters with coworkers and strangers, we share personal stories that highlight just how complex and exhausting socializing can become. Even though it can feel overwhelming to put ourselves out there, getting into a comfortab...

In today’s episode, we dive into what’s going on inside our minds—exploring intrusive thoughts, inner monologue, and imposter syndrome. Content note: This episode includes discussions of suicide, self-harm, grief, and pet loss. Please listen only if you feel safe engaging with these topics. From overthinking and rehearsing conversations for every possible scenario to second-guessing our ideas and...

We all deal with some level of workplace drama, but when mental health joins the party, it really knows how to make things extra. From awkward interviews to decoding coworker small talk, we’re diving headfirst into the chaos of trying to function while our brains attempt a full-on sanity heist. As we share stories from our own jobs, we hope it helps others feel a little more seen, a little more un...

In this episode, we share the real challenges of self-care—from something as simple as washing your hair to the often difficult act of asking for help. Self-care is essential for both emotional and physical well-being, but when mental health struggles are part of the picture, even small tasks can require a larger amount of energy. We also share strategies, tools, and habits we’ve tried—or are curi...

In this episode, we’re diving into something that shapes every single day of our lives: meals. From the constant decision-making to the planning, shopping, cooking, and everything in between, food is more than just fuel—it’s a daily challenge, routine, and sometimes even a struggle. We open up about our personal experiences—from grocery store mishaps to figuring out timing, balance, and how the me...

While last episode's focus was on how mental illness can have many difficult effects on everyday life, there can also be unexpected positives that come from those experiences. We swear! In this episode, we focus on the growth and strengths that can develop through mental health struggles. We talk about some people that we’ve met that have helped us on our journey, how mental illness can shape cert...

The negative aspects surrounding mental and physical health issues are infinite, unfortunately, but talking about them and sharing the experiences one has gone through negatively might help others not feel so alone in a subject that can seem so isolating. We talk about our negative experiences when it comes to dealing with doctors, healthcare in general, and intrusive thoughts. We get pretty real...

We want to share with everyone all we are struggling with, both physically and mentally, to help spread more understanding as we share our experiences and stories in later episodes. We will share diagnoses we’ve received and a small overview of some treatments received, showing just how similar things can be in certain aspects even with different diagnoses. Hopefully this episode can help listener...

We want to start our podcast with an introductory episode, explaining the who what, when, where, and why of how this all came to be, who we are as the hosts, and what direction we are planning to go with our show. We want to take away the stigma of mental health with the help of conversation and community. Coping Chaos is hosted and produced by KJ Cervi and Leia Williams. Audio mixed and edited by...

Coping Chaos, a podcast about coping with the chaos of daily life while also navigating the uncertainties of mental illness. We are not experts, but experts in our own mental health, and want to have a conversation with anyone who has been affected by mental illness in any way. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok at Coping Chaos Podcast. Email us at copingchaospodcast@gmail.com