Podcast Summary: "Mind If We Talk?" - Episode: How to Cope With a Tough Diagnosis
Podcast Information
- Title: Mind If We Talk?
- Host: BetterHelp (Hosted by licensed therapist Haesue Jo)
- Description: “Mind If We Talk?” is an 8-episode podcast that delves into real conversations about life’s challenging moments and explores how therapy can aid in overcoming them. Each episode features personal stories followed by expert insights to provide practical mental health tools.
Episode Overview
Title: How to Cope With a Tough Diagnosis
Release Date: July 17, 2025
Guest: Ryan Sickler, Comedian and Host of the Honeydew Podcast
In this poignant episode, Ryan Sickler shares his harrowing journey of living with Factor V Leiden, a genetic blood clotting disorder. Hosted by licensed therapist Haesue Jo, the conversation delves deep into the emotional and psychological challenges of receiving a life-altering medical diagnosis, advocating for oneself in medical settings, and navigating grief associated with familial medical histories.
Key Sections
1. Introduction to Ryan's Story
Haesue Jo sets the stage by highlighting the mental toll of health complications and the often feeling of being unheard in medical settings. She introduces Ryan Sickler, who was diagnosed with Factor V Leiden at age 42, inherited from his father. This diagnosis led to a near-death experience following a back surgery, profoundly impacting his life and career.
2. The Day of Diagnosis
Ryan recounts the unexpected onset of symptoms and the subsequent diagnosis process:
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Initial Symptoms and Hospital Visit (00:11 - 05:24): Ryan describes experiencing itchy legs and visible veins while watching Star Wars, leading him to seek medical help. Initially attributed to kidney stones, further tests revealed severe clotting issues. A primary care physician suspected Factor V Leiden, sending Ryan to an oncologist under the fear of potential cancer diagnoses.
Ryan Sickler (05:24): “I'm freaking out for two weeks. Do I have cancer? Am I going to die? Like, what is going on?”
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Communication with Healthcare Providers: Ryan emphasizes the anxiety of waiting for two weeks without clear answers, compounded by personal life challenges, including a split with his daughter's mother.
3. Near-Death Experience Post-Surgery
Ryan details a life-threatening incident during a back surgery:
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Surgical Complications (09:50 - 16:24): Despite extensive pre-op paperwork highlighting his Factor V Leiden, unexpected complications led to severe clotting during surgery. Ryan had to advocate fiercely to receive proper care, resulting in multiple surgeries and a daunting recovery period.
Ryan Sickler (16:23): “That's the last thing I hear. That's it for me. And thank God I wake up.”
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Emotional Turmoil and Hospital Stay: The ordeal left Ryan feeling isolated, angry at the medical negligence, and terrified of his precarious health state.
4. Grieving Familial Losses
Ryan shares the deep-seated grief tied to his family's history with heart disease:
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Realization of Genetic Impact (22:21 - 24:19): Discovering that his father and grandmother likely succumbed to undiagnosed Factor V Leiden deepened his grief, intertwining survivor's guilt with memories of losing his loved ones.
Ryan Sickler (23:10): “If my dad would have just been on some blood thinners, he'd probably still be here today.”
5. Coping Mechanisms and Therapy
Ryan discusses the strategies he employed to manage his mental health post-diagnosis:
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Gratitude Journal (25:39 - 27:54): Implementing a daily gratitude journal helped shift his focus from negativity to positive reinforcement.
Ryan Sickler (25:51): “I wake up every morning and it asks you to write three things you're grateful for.”
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EMDR Therapy vs. Talk Therapy (27:54 - 31:01): Ryan explains how Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) provided a more structured approach to processing trauma compared to traditional talk therapy.
Ryan Sickler (29:02): “It's about rewiring connections in your brain.”
6. Empowerment Through Self-Advocacy
Haesue and Dr. Srila Roy Greene delve into the importance of advocating for oneself in medical settings:
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Strategies for Effective Advocacy (37:53 - 38:37): Dr. Greene advises clear communication and assertiveness in medical environments to ensure one's concerns are addressed.
Dr. Srila Roy Greene: “Asking questions doesn't make one a difficult patient. It makes you an advocate for you.”
7. Processing Retroactive Grief and Survivor's Guilt
The conversation touches upon the complex emotions tied to understanding past losses through the lens of new medical knowledge:
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Understanding Survivor's Guilt (39:24 - 40:47): Dr. Greene explains how realizing a loved one's death was due to an undiagnosed condition can lead to feelings of guilt and intensified grief.
Dr. Srila Roy Greene: “Survivor's guilt is when we survive a really difficult experience... almost a guilt over the fact that I survived but somebody else didn't.”
8. Reframing a Diagnosis for Empowerment
Haesue and Dr. Greene discuss transforming a diagnosis from a limiting factor to a catalyst for positive change:
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Mindset Shift (45:22 - 46:59): Emphasizing mindfulness and self-care, they highlight how individuals can take control of aspects within their reach to foster resilience.
Dr. Srila Roy Greene: “It's about being more present, being more mindful, being more cognizant of the things that you do have control over.”
9. The Power of Gratitude
The episode concludes with a focus on gratitude as a tool for mental well-being:
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Benefits of Gratitude Journals (48:02 - 49:15): Practicing gratitude helps rewire the brain towards positivity, enhancing overall mental health.
Dr. Srila Roy Greene: “It can be simple gratitude. So I think that it's very powerful to practice gratitude in whatever ways you can.”
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
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Ryan Sickler (00:11): “You grow up your whole life thinking, dad died of a heart attack... you don’t ever consider that there’s this genetic marker in there that’s killing us if we don’t know about it.”
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Ryan Sickler (05:24): “I'm freaking out for two weeks. Do I have cancer? Am I going to die?”
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Ryan Sickler (16:23): “That's it for me. And thank God I wake up.”
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Ryan Sickler (23:10): “If my dad would have just been on some blood thinners, he'd probably still be here today.”
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Dr. Srila Roy Greene (37:23): “Asking questions doesn't make one a difficult patient. It makes you an advocate for you.”
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Dr. Srila Roy Greene (39:24): “Survivor's guilt is when we survive a really difficult experience...”
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Ryan Sickler (25:51): “I wake up every morning and it asks you to write three things you're grateful for.”
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Ryan Sickler (29:02): “It's about rewiring connections in your brain.”
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Dr. Srila Roy Greene (48:02): “It can be simple gratitude. So I think that it's very powerful to practice gratitude in whatever ways you can.”
Conclusions and Takeaways
This episode of "Mind If We Talk?" offers a raw and insightful exploration into the intersection of physical health challenges and mental well-being. Ryan Sickler's story underscores the importance of self-advocacy in medical settings, the profound impact of genetic conditions on familial relationships, and the vital role of therapeutic interventions like gratitude journaling and EMDR in coping with trauma. Dr. Srila Roy Greene complements Ryan's narrative by providing expert advice on navigating medical diagnoses, processing complex grief, and fostering mental resilience.
Key Lessons:
- Advocate for Yourself: Clear and assertive communication in medical settings can significantly impact the quality of care received.
- Embrace Therapeutic Tools: Practices like gratitude journaling and EMDR therapy can aid in processing trauma and shifting towards a positive mindset.
- Acknowledge Complex Emotions: Understanding and addressing feelings like survivor's guilt and retroactive grief are essential for healing.
- Live Mindfully: Taking control of aspects within your reach and fostering daily mindfulness can transform a life-altering diagnosis into a pathway for personal growth and resilience.
Note: This summary focuses solely on the content-rich segments of the episode, excluding advertisements, introductions, and outros, to provide a comprehensive and engaging overview for listeners and non-listeners alike.