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This Is Actually Happening

356: What if they stole a year of your life?

Apr 1, 2025
Banning Lyon, author of 'The Chair And The Valley,' shares his gripping journey through psychiatric abuse as a teen. He reflects on the profound impact of his parents' divorce and the feeling of abandonment during his committal to a psychiatric facility. Banning discusses navigating mental health struggles in the 1980s and the loss of autonomy, beautifully illustrating his path to healing and self-discovery. His story emphasizes the transformative power of trauma, the importance of connection, and the healing journey toward forgiveness and understanding.
01:23:45

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The speaker's idyllic childhood was shattered by his parents' divorce, leading to profound emotional turmoil and feelings of abandonment.
  • His traumatic experiences in a psychiatric facility exposed the failures of mental health systems and the isolation it can cause.

Deep dives

Childhood Memory and Family Dynamics

The speaker reflects on a picturesque childhood marked by his father's career as a pilot and his mother's role as a travel agent. Traveling frequently, he cherished moments spent with his dad, particularly hiking in a local canyon. However, the idyllic life shattered when his parents divorced, leading to emotional turmoil and a feeling of abandonment. The chaos that ensued transformed the family dynamic, as the speaker's mother struggled with mental health issues, further isolating him during a crucial developmental phase.

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