Depresh Mode with John Moe
J. Kenji Lopez-Alt on Food, Booze, Weed, Anxiety, Depression, and Living a Healthy Life
Mar 17, 2025
J. Kenji Lopez-Alt, an award-winning food writer and New York Times columnist, shares his candid journey with addiction and mental health. He reflects on how alcohol initially helped with social anxiety but eventually led to dependency. Kenji discusses his decision to get sober in his mid-40s, emphasizing the disconnect between societal stereotypes of addiction and his own success. He highlights the importance of community support during recovery and the transformative journey to healthier coping mechanisms.
54:07
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Quick takeaways
- J. Kenji Lopez-Alt's journey reveals that mental health disorders can be hidden, as many function normally despite internal struggles.
- His experience with alcohol highlights how casual drinking can evolve into dependency, often unnoticed until it impacts mental well-being.
Deep dives
Understanding Mental Illness
The podcast emphasizes that not all individuals with mental health disorders present obvious signs. Many people with depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder function normally in their daily lives, such as going to work or school, making it difficult to detect their struggles. This demonstrates that mental health issues can manifest in various ways, and stereotypes often misrepresent the experiences of those affected. The conversation encourages a more nuanced understanding of mental illnesses, highlighting that external appearances do not always reflect internal battles.
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