Mayim Bialik's Breakdown

Anthony Green (lead singer of Circa Survive, Saosin, and The Sound of Animals Fighting) opens up about his struggles with addiction and living with bipolar disorder. He describes how his distorted self-image manifested into disordered eating and drug and alcohol abuse, and details his first stay in rehab and being misdiagnosed with schizophrenia. Mayim breaks down the clinical definition, types, and dual-diagnoses associated with bipolar disorder, and opens up about her own father’s struggle with the affliction. She and Anthony discuss the dopamine loop and how this can also apply to technology, and highlight the importance of tackling addiction one step at a time, having an outlet to communicate, and exercising patience with those who are struggling. Anthony explains his process for accepting his diagnoses and managing his stressors and triggers, and how he has been able to repurpose his mania to use as a hack for improving his creativity as an artist.National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255 // https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/Anthony Green's new live album "Live at Studio 4": https://memorymusic.limitedrun.com/products/707405-anthony-green-live-at-studio-4?view=f15452 BialikBreakdown.com YouTube.com/mayimbialik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rainn Wilson (The Office, Six Feet Under, Metaphysical Milkshake with Rainn & Reza, SoulPancake) joins Mayim and Jonathan in the studio as their first ever in-person guest to discuss his nerdy childhood, growing up with social misfit parents, and the evolution that therapy has provided to every area of his life. He explains how feeling unloved and alienated as a child in a petri dish of dysfunction led to anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and addiction issues. Rainn admits to learning early on in his acting career to embrace playing the role of an alienated misfit, and opens up about his meditation process and the tools his faith gave him in finding his own path and identity. Mayim and Rainn bond over being band geeks and chess club members and the expectations, insecurities, and limitations that come with being sitcom character actors. They examine the similarities between a recovery journey and spiritual journey, the benefits of going to AA even if you’re not an alcoholic, and reasons some individuals might be resistant to therapy. BialikBreakdown.com YouTube.com/mayimbialik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Angela Matusik, Head of Corporate Brand Content & Creative at Hewlett-Packard, breaks down the impact of brand storytelling on society’s capacity for mental wellness. She details her impressive trajectory from an unstable childhood to becoming an editor in the fascinating era of 90’s print media, and eventually reinventing her creative journalism to pivot into the world of corporate storytelling. Mayim and Angela discuss the ways in which brands shape societal values, behavior, and conversation and the responsibilities these corporations have to maintain integrity and address mental health. They examine the importance of young women having access to mentorship from successful women in corporate positions, the effects of isolation on adolescents created by the digital age, and how their hyper awareness as mothers shapes their views of the media. Mayim and Jonathan explain the values in recognizing how your past impacts your present and finding creative trajectories for one’s unique skillset in another round of “You Might Need Help If…” BialikBreakdown.com YouTube.com/mayimbialik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Timber Hawkeye (best-selling author of Buddhist Boot Camp and Faithfully Religionless) details his life’s journey after having an enlightened experience. He explains why he left his solid corporate job and comfortable life to strip himself of all possessions, moved to Hawaii where he survived on just $7k per year, studied psychology and world religion, and built a world of being of service to others. Timber discusses how he was able to achieve freedom through simplifying his life and valuing time rather than following society’s recipe for happiness. Mayim and Timber examine the cognitive dissonance that stems from the vicious loop of internal conflict, the importance of aligning our actions with our values, using nonviolent communication to identify unmet needs, and ways we may identify as victims.  Mayim breaks down how the brain physically changes after having an enlightened moment and the isolation that comes with setting high standards for others. Timber's Website: BuddhistBootCamp.comTimber's Buddhist Boot podcast: https://www.buddhistbootcamp.com/podcast BialikBreakdown.com YouTube.com/mayimbialik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lindsey Stirling (unique, futuristic electronic violinist, songwriter and dancer with over 13M YouTube subscribers) opens up about how seeking a sense of control developed into disordered eating and how honing her dancer’s physique affected her body image. She shares how the mindset she adopted through disordered eating manifested in other areas of her life, and how going through the motions gave her her power back. Mayim and Lindsey break down body dysmorphia, the feelings of isolation and unworthiness that stem from disordered eating, and the similarities these afflictions have with substance abuse. Lindsey shares her experience on the set of Dancing with the Stars and the Cirque du Soleil stunt she has finally been able to cross off her bucket list.  Mayim examines ways to regulate emotional eating, how to identify diet culture, and what healthy eating does to the brain in the latest installment of Ask Mayim Anything. Lindsey Stirling's YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyC_4jvPzLiSkJkLIkA7B8gLindsey Stirling Tour: http://www.lindseystirling.com/tour BialikBreakdown.com YouTube.com/mayimbialik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin Sussman (actor, writer, comedian, The Big Bang Theory) discusses his anxiety surrounding performing and reveals his process for tricking his brain into redirecting anxious thoughts. Mayim and Kevin reminisce about their shared experiences on the set of The Big Bang Theory and examine the differences between Kevin and his character, "Stuart Bloom." Kevin shares the advice George Clooney and Gary Shandling gave to him about combating anxiety and the body mechanics of the Alexander Technique he uses to manage habitual physical tension. Mayim breaks down the physiological symptoms and evolutionary advantages of anxiety, the science and cultural aspects of crying, and ways to avoid the trap of rumination. They discuss the benefits and side effects of anxiety medication and natural coping methods, and Mayim ends the episode with advice for managing anxiety when trying to fall asleep in the latest installment of Ask Mayim Anything. BialikBreakdown.com YouTube.com/mayimbialik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jackson Galaxy (Host & Executive Producer of My Cat from Hell, animal advocate, cat behavior expert, author, musician) opens up about his struggles with social anxiety, substance abuse, and disordered eating. After an illuminating installment of "What Mayim Hears", Jackson discusses growing up wanting to be a rock star and how playing guitar and busking at an early age helped him combat anxiety. He details his use of food as a comfort tool and alcohol as a social lubricant before he discovered the benefits provided by the structure of rituals. Mayim and Jackson break down how misdiagnoses and ineffective prescriptions can lengthen one’s mental health journey, the biological instincts tied to social anxiety, and navigating society as an empath. They bond over their shared love for the energetic minefield that is New York City, disordered eating as a public person, desires to be terminally unique involutes, and of course, their love of cats.Jackson Galaxy's Website: https://www.jacksongalaxy.com/Jackson Galaxy's Books: https://shop.jacksongalaxy.com/collections/booksJackson Galaxy Cat Camp: https://www.catcamp.com/Jackson Galaxy Project: https://greatergood.org/jackson-galaxyBest Friends Animal Society: https://bestfriends.org/ BialikBreakdown.com YouTube.com/mayimbialik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Gary Small, Professor of Psychiatry, Biobehavioral Sciences & Aging and Director of the UCLA Longevity Center, breaks down the biological causes and symptoms of aging and its impact on mental wellness. He discusses the effects of neurodegenerative memory disorders on patients and caregivers, his personal experiences with Alzheimer’s, and the toll his work with the difficult aspects of cognitive transitions takes on him. Mayim and Dr. Small examine the negative effects of stress and isolation on the aging process and how technology has the potential to help or harm it before delving into the ways we can strengthen our brains through meditation, sleep, therapy, social connections, learning a language or instrument, and even certain foods. They unpack the roles of the elderly in our society and the ways various cultures treat aging populations. Mayim opens up about her father’s degenerative condition, details common reasons we distract ourselves, and explains the Look-Snap-Connect techniques we can use to maintain and improve active brain health and memory.Dr. Gary Small's Books: http://drgarysmall.com/books/ BialikBreakdown.com YouTube.com/mayimbialik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melissa Bernstein, author, entrepreneur, and Co-Founder of the successful toy company Melissa & Doug, breaks down her existential journey through birthing art from divergent qualities. She discusses her disassociation from dark feelings and how her imagination allowed her to channel that sense of despair into creativity. Mayim and Melissa bond over being unable to relate to mainstream culture and how perfectionism can sometimes feel like a drug. They examine the science behind overexcitabilities, reasons why we lie, and how to accept and move through rejection. Melissa opens up about how her need for control led to a severe eating disorder at the age of 11 and how she found recovery through her relationship with her now husband. After years of self-depletion, Melissa reveals how logotherapy and studying philosophy guided her through her mental health journey.Mayim reminisces about her time hanging out with fellow misfits at Venice Beach, and ends the episode with advice for teachers on dealing with anxious students in the latest installment of Ask Mayim Anything.Melissa & Doug Website: https://www.melissaanddoug.com/Melissa Bernstein's Book: https://www.lifelines.com/shop-book BialikBreakdown.com YouTube.com/mayimbialik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jennette McCurdy opens up about her struggles with enmeshment, coping mechanisms, and the impact of her mother's death. Mayim and Jennette discuss their paths to recovery from disordered eating, the pressures of early fame, and self-discovery. They share insights on enmeshment in relationships, emotional discomfort, and personal growth through storytelling.