Episode 284: Are Anger and Shame the Root of Depression and Anxiety? - Interview Bronwyn Schweigerdt

Do you suffer from depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, even psychosis? My guest today, Brownwyn Schweigerdt may be the most evocative psychotherapist you’ve ever heard. Instead of fixing peoples messes, her goal is to elicit the feelings we’re most ashamed to have, such as hatred, betrayal, anger, shame. She knows that even though feelings are invisible they don’t evaporate - instead they store away in our bodies when we disown them. These hidden feelings haunt us and cause mental illness until we externalize them into words… so stay tune and let’s have some words with Bronwyn.

Bronwyn has a masters degree in counseling and another in nutritions She is a public speaker, and author and licensed psychotherapist. I’m excited to have her on the show as depression and anxiety have shown up in my kids and I’m always looking for answers. So…let’s get right down to talking about this topic of how feelings buried alive cause us some serious harm.

Tune in to hear my discussion with Bronwyn and to hear us discuss questions like:

Let’s start with your story. What in your life brought you to want to specialize in this career, this topic?
Tell us about this idea of externalizing our feelings into words and the best ways to do that and not alienate the world.
You believe that most types of therapies and medications don’t work for depression and anxiety, let’s hear about that. There are a lot of people on meds.
What role does shame play in our lives?
How do we raise resilient children, and how do we help older children that may already suffer with some of these issues like depression and anxiety?

Find Bronwyn:

Podcast: Angry at the Right Things

Years ago - like really - 20-30 years ago, I read a book called Feelings Buried Alive Never Die. It became one of my go-to favorites because it explained so many things to me about myself. Things I didn’t understand about me. Bronwyn’s message is very much the same. If we bury feelings they show up in our body in different ways - illnesses, aches, weakness, stuff just not working right. Because our bodies and minds are so closely connected, I believe this is very likely true. I don’t think it’s the absolute cause for all that ails us, but I do believe that it effects us. Mental and physical are intertwined. As we create our best life stories on purpose we are always needing to process and grow from the emotions and the messiness that life generates. Understanding how to do this, like the things we’ve talked about today can be crucial to making changes that bless our lives, our minds, our hearts.

As we close I want to send my love and best wishes to all the listeners of the LYS podcast. I am getting ready to take a sabbatical from the show and I want to thank all the editors, listeners, supporters and people who have learned to love their story on our 8 year journey together. Thanks for being here. We’ll be back in the saddle in no time at all, but for now: Live your best life with intention and keep coming back to the Love Your Story library.

All the shows will still be available at www.LoveyourStorypodcast.com. There are almost 300 incredible episodes with incredible people, incredible stories that shine a light for the rest of us on how to navigate tough things, and incredible life hacks. Keep using the episodes. There is so much good to keep listening to! It’s all still here. Enjoy and happy travels on your life adventure.