We’re back…and one of us has a date! In light of this momentous occasion, we discuss what it’s like to be in relationships while struggling with chronic mental illness. Topics include filling the emptiness in your soul, talking to your partner about substance abuse and eating disorders, ghosting, and the best dating advice we’ve ever gotten. Enjoy!

See below for ways to follow us and join in the conversation:

* Leave us a voice message on Speakpipe!

* Subscribe to our Substack: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Follow our Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Send us an email: picklesandvodkapodcast@gmail.com

* Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper

* Christina's other podcast: field notes from crisis corner

* Lauren's personal Instagram: @lauren__afh (but mostly @picosauve)

Credits:

* Edited by Christina Jumper

* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive

A message from a listener sparks a conversation about ways we’ve been surviving the spectacle that has been the 2024 presidential election. In between screaming into the void and talking ourselves off a ledge, we share anecdotes from past elections and laugh through the pain. Take a deep breath and…enjoy?

See below for ways to follow us and join in the conversation:

* Subscribe to our Substack: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Follow our Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Send us an email: picklesandvodkapodcast@gmail.com

* Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper

* Christina's other podcast: field notes from crisis corner

* Lauren's personal Instagram: @lauren__afh (but mostly @picosauve)

Credits:

* Edited by Christina Jumper

* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive

We discuss listener responses to the question “What are you in denial about?” Topics include the pitfalls of awareness, chronic mental illness, romanticizing your bad choices, and why harm reduction will fix everything. We also tell stories about shoplifting. Enjoy?

If you want to read the full essay that was published in response to this poll, you can find it on Kiki Walter’s Substack!

See below for ways to follow us and join in the conversation:

* Subscribe to our Substack: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Follow our Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Send us an email: picklesandvodkapodcast@gmail.com

* Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper

* Christina's other podcast: field notes from crisis corner

* Lauren's personal Instagram: @lauren__afh (but mostly @picosauve)

Credits:

* Edited by Christina Jumper

* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive

As promised, we’re changing it up this week with a movie review for spooky season! We watched The Stepford Wives (1975) with our friend Orion and talked about the horrors of patriarchy, mental illness and capitalism, the dark underbelly of psychiatry, 70s fashion, modern parallels, and more. Enjoy!

Got thoughts on this film? See below for ways to follow us and join in the conversation:

* Subscribe to our Substack: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Follow our Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Send us an email: picklesandvodkapodcast@gmail.com

* Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper

* Christina's other podcast: field notes from crisis corner

* Lauren's personal Instagram: @picosauve

Credits:

* Edited by Christina Jumper

* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive

We continue our conversation about acceptance, this time exploring the other side of the coin: denial. Topics include blackout stories, health updates for Pico and Christina, why Lauren hates DBT, panic attacks, and some brutal honesty. We also dig through old treatment materials and find a fatalistic (yet hilarious?) quiz. Enjoy!

Got thoughts on this topic? See below for ways to follow us and join in the conversation:

* Subscribe to our Substack: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Follow our Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Send us an email: picklesandvodkapodcast@gmail.com

* Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper

* Christina's other podcast: field notes from crisis corner

* Lauren's personal Instagram: @laurenafh (but mostly @picosauve)

Credits:

* Edited by Christina Jumper

* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive

In which we accept that we don’t always know what we’re talking about…but that’s OK! This week, we touch on control, denial, giving up, pain versus suffering, disappointment, mindfulness in a crisis, and forgiving ourselves. Tangents include rehoming pets, Benadryl, and DND. Enjoy!

Sources:

* Radical Acceptance in a Time of Uncertainty

Got thoughts on this topic? See below for ways to follow us and join in the conversation:

* Subscribe to our Substack: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Follow our Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Send us an email: picklesandvodkapodcast@gmail.com

* Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper

* Christina's other podcast: field notes from crisis corner

* Lauren's personal Instagram: @laurenafh (but mostly @picosauve)

Credits:

* Edited by Christina Jumper

* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive

We discuss listener responses to the question “How do you overthink your mental health?” Topics include going through the motions, not prioritizing your health, when to push through discomfort, and when to honor your feelings. Plus, Lauren avoids politics with her family and Christina has a disability update. Enjoy!

Thank you for all who contributed this week! See below for ways to follow us and join in the conversation:

* Subscribe to our Substack: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Follow our Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Send us an email: picklesandvodkapodcast@gmail.com

* Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper

* Christina's other podcast: field notes from crisis corner

* Lauren's personal Instagram: @laurenafh (but mostly @picosauve)

Credits:

* Edited by Christina Jumper

* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive

Joining the podcast this week is Christina’s friend Effie, who talks about gender, polyamory, anti-capitalism, forming a chosen family from scratch, and so much more! Tangents include the Ren faire, graduating therapy, codependency, and a cat update.

See below for ways to follow us and join in the conversation:

* Subscribe to our Substack: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Follow our Instagram: @picklesandvodkapodcast

* Join our Facebook group: Pickles and Vodka: a Mental Health Podcast

* Send us an email: picklesandvodkapodcast@gmail.com

* Christina's personal Instagram: @xtinajumper

* Christina's other podcast: field notes from crisis corner

* Lauren's personal Instagram: @laurenafh (but mostly @picosauve)

Credits:

* Edited by Christina Jumper

* Theme song is Insane OK by The Whines from Free Music Archive