The Carlat Psychiatry Podcast Flourishing with Mental Illness
Mar 17, 2025
Margaret Chislom, a Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University, discusses how individuals with mental illness can still flourish in life. She emphasizes the importance of relationships and engaging activities, sharing success stories of patients overcoming challenges. The conversation unveils four pathways to flourishing: family, community, work, and education. Chislom advocates for a holistic approach, valuing connections and nature in recovery, and redefines education as a means for personal growth while addressing isolation during the pandemic.
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Flourishing and Unhappiness
- Flourishing involves navigating ordinary unhappiness, a universal experience.
- This is harder with mental illness, as its symptoms mirror everyday life stressors.
Forward-Focused Flourishing
- Focus on future possibilities, not past problems, to help patients flourish.
- Strengthen pathways like family, work, education, and community to move forward.
Post-Pregnancy Addiction
- A pregnant patient with addiction stayed sober during pregnancy but faced less motivation afterward.
- Strengthening family ties, work, education, and community support became crucial for maintaining recovery.