Mental Illness Happy Hour #779 Depression & Anxiety - Best Of - Jamie Denbo
Dec 19, 2025
Jamie Denbo, a comedic actress and podcast creator, dives into her journey with anxiety and depression shaped by her Jewish upbringing. She reflects on growing up as an only child and dealing with familial fear, leading to feelings of guilt and panic. Jamie shares how reading Andrew Solomon's work helped legitimize her struggles while discussing her enriching therapy experiences. With humor, she connects her past to her creativity and opens up about parenting, aiming to break negative cycles while embracing small joys in life.
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Early Anxiety Shows As Physical Symptoms
- Jamie Denbo describes lifelong shortness of breath as an early sign of anxiety and panic that began in childhood.
- She emphasizes that physical sensations can precede a formal anxiety diagnosis and persist into adulthood.
Generational Fear Shapes Family Dynamics
- Jamie links her family's culture to a generational, fear-based Jewish upbringing that shaped parenting styles.
- She realizes much of her parents' control and punishment messaging came from historical trauma and fear.
Craving Attention During Parents' Divorce
- Jamie recalls feeling happy to receive sympathy when her parents separated at 11, admitting she enjoyed the attention.
- She says this reaction revealed early depression: feeling bad despite circumstances that should have felt different.