Unmasking Sobriety and Mental Health

What if recovery isn’t about addiction at all… but about the human experience? In this episode of Unmasking Sobriety & Mental Health , I sit down with Jeanne Foot, founder of The Recovery Concierge, to challenge everything we think we know about healing. Jeanne shares how her own journey through trauma, suicidal ideation, and traditional recovery led her to discover a deeper truth: abstinence...

In this powerful episode, Louise sits down with Ginger Smith, author of Dementia Denied , to explore a story that challenges everything we think we know about mental health, diagnosis, and recovery. A retired speech-language pathologist who worked alongside neurologists at Stanford and UCSF, Ginger spent her professional life helping others understand the brain. But her most profound lesson came w...

Is it possible that anyone else is living this insane double life? 💔 For years, Alicia was living a reality that many women secretly recognize: A Master’s degree and a career on the outside, but a "war zone" of a divorce on the inside. To cope with the narcissistic abuse , financial intimidation , and the agony of parental alienation , Alicia turned to wine as a sedative. It wasn’t a choice; it w...

What happens when you’re #1 on the leaderboard but #0 in your own heart? Ellen Frazier spent over 20 years perfecting the role of the "Powerhouse." As a top-tier mortgage professional and entrepreneur, she knew exactly how to perform, how to excel, and how to win. But for decades, that success was fueled by a "forced confidence" and a sophisticated relationship with alcohol tha...

"I am not going to end up like this." In 2006, Ana sat in a psychiatric ward, clouded by the haze of medication and the weight of a Bipolar 1 diagnosis. As she looked at the walls around her, she didn't just see a hospital; she saw her mother’s life—decades of suicidal ideation, depression, and a future dictated by a "permanent" chemical imbalance. In that moment, Ana made a choice that defied med...

She shares her lived experience with PTSD, dissociation, and suicidal thinking — and the moment she realized there were only two ways out. Today’s guest is the founder of My Truth Memoir Writing Services, where she helps others tell their stories with honesty, compassion, and courage. But her work didn’t begin as a profession. It began as survival. After a tragic loss in childhood and years of sil...

My 12-year-old daughter ended up at a dive bar—and I didn’t know until it was too late. In this episode, I share what happened, how I handled it, and the bigger questions it raises about parenting, trust, and letting go. No judgment. No perfect answers. Just the reality of navigating moments that don’t come with a playbook.

Palliative Care: When the Outcome Is Already Decided What happens when healing is no longer the goal? In this episode, I sit down with Anne, a licensed psychotherapist and palliative care social worker, to explore the emotional and psychological realities of end-of-life care—where addiction, mental health, and dignity intersect in ways we rarely talk about. Through powerful real-life stories, we u...

Today, on World Bipolar Awareness Day , Tainted Love: A Bipoplar Memoir has a cover. It captures something I don’t even fully have words for yet. Presale is live. 🤍 100% of presale revenue is being donated to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)—and I’m personally matching it. Link to Amazon www.louisebarnett.com March 30 is International Bipolar Awareness Day , a day dedicated to i...

Breaking the Groundhog Day Loop with Terry | Walking Sober What if recovery begins with something as simple as showing up for yourself? In this episode, I’m joined by Terry, the founder of Walking Sober , a growing community built around the idea that healing doesn’t have to be complicated—it can start with putting one foot in front of the other. After seven years of sobriety, Terry began hosting...

March, 2015. Days after standing on the edge of an overpass, I woke up in a psychiatric hospital with no memory of how I got there — and no idea my life was about to change forever. In this episode, I share the story of my psychiatric hospitalization, the memories that resurfaced while I was there, and the moment a doctor finally gave a name to the chaos I had lived with for most of my life: Bipol...

Cole spent over two decades caught in eating disorders and substance addiction before finding lasting freedom. Today, he works in Customer Success and Brand Strategy, coaches competitive gymnastics, and serves as a CCAR-certified Recovery Professional. He’s also the founder of Life Unadulterated, a platform helping gay men use sobriety as leverage to build meaningful, fulfilling lives. In this epi...

Before I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I was living inside a mind I didn’t understand. This episode is my lived experience — the moment I stood at the edge, the spiral that led me there, and the tiny hand that pulled me back. In this deeply personal story, I share what undiagnosed bipolar disorder really looked like, how depression and mania intertwined, and how motherhood became the anchor...

Diagnosis: Bipolar, Courtesy of My Ex What happens when an ex doesn’t just leave, but hands you a diagnosis on the way out? In this episode, I share the night my relationship ended with a stack of printed papers instead of a goodbye. What was framed as “help” was actually control, gaslighting, and a weaponized use of mental health language that would echo for years. This episode is about power, sh...

Welcome to The Unmasking Sobriety and Mental Health Podcast , where we are all “Completely Fine.” I’m your host, Louise Barnett—author of Tainted Love: A Bipolar Memoir and a Jay Shetty Certified Life Coach. I live with Bipolar I and found sobriety in 2021. Since then, I’ve been trying to figure out this whole thing called life—honestly, imperfectly, and out loud. Join me for storytelling and cand...

Summary In this conversation, Louise Barnett discusses the pervasive issue of bullying among tweens, particularly focusing on relational bullying and its long-lasting effects on mental health. She shares her personal experiences as a mother navigating her daughter's struggles with bullying, emphasizing the importance of understanding the different forms of bullying, recognizing the signs, and taki...

Big Picture Bipolar - We’re tackling one of the biggest challenges in bipolar treatment: diagnostic delays. 🧠 Why bipolar diagnoses are often missed for years 📊 The impact of delayed treatment on relationships, finances, and addiction ⏳ How early intervention can change lives This season, I’m sharing my own journey—15 years of depression, chaos, and finally, clarity . If I had known what I know...

Welcome to Season 3 of Unmasking Sobriety and Mental Health —formerly Together Sober —where we explore the deep connection between addiction and mental health. T This episode we’re unpacking bipolar disorder and tracing its progression and journey from the lens of Tainted Love #3: Luke. Adoption Day in our family, the day were my daughter found her real dad is March 3rd, 2021. We wouldn't have thi...

🧠 DBT Therapy Crash Course on the Unmasking Sobriety & Mental Health Podcast (Formally Together S.O.B.E.R.) ➡️ Who Can Benefit? ✔️ Those with BPD, bipolar, PTSD, substance use, or self-harm tendencies✔️ Parents with children navigating emotional challenges✔️ Anyone seeking healthier relationships & emotional stability 🌟 Learn the 4 Core DBT Skills: 🔹 Mindfulness 🔹 Distress Tolerance 🔹...

Triggers Behind Bipolar Mania & Depression explores the complex and often unpredictable nature of bipolar disorder, emphasizing how various factors—such as stress, sleep disruption, substance use, hormonal fluctuations, and seasonal changes—can influence manic and depressive episodes. I share personal insights into the challenges of identifying patterns in mood cycles, underscoring the importa...

🎓Bipolar 101 This episode is a deep dive into the diagnostic criteria for Bipolar 1 & 2 Disorder, breaking down: 📌 The 7 criteria for Mania 📌 The 9 criteria for Depression I share real-life examples of what these symptoms look like unmedicated and undiagnosed, and how life changes with medication and diagnosis. Because here’s the truth: these symptoms don’t magically disappear. 🎧 Tune in n...

Finding both mental acceptance and sobriety has only been possible through the courageous act of “unmasking”—sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly of my story with all of you. Vulnerability is where healing begins. - Let's begin with Marco.

For too long, David buried his suffering and addictions in the shadows. As a recovery coach, a psychologist and a recovered alcoholic/addict, He feels that it is now important for me to be a face and voice of recovery and sobriety. Get in Touch With Dr. David Lee: www.soberway.ae Contact: drdavid@soberway.ae Instagram: @thesoberwaycoach Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drdavidleesobrietycoach Fa...

A’niche (Anish Punjabi), is an MIT triple-major graduate and Class President turned Hip-Hop Artist and Producer that is following his heart and passion to pursue his dream and pave the way for others looking to do the same. He thought he had his life figured out at 18 until he discovered his passion for music. Find Anish: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4ewlm6YvMpDhiHn2luT6Z7 YouTube: htt...

Season 2 kicks off with a deep dive into the top 10 key defining moments of my journey so far, leading me to where I am today, exactly where I need to be. Back from the Abyss Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/back-from-the-abyss-psychiatry-in-stories/id1469826718?i=1000641421685 I'd love to hear from you!: Hello@louisebarnett.com