Family & Relationships

Rapper, singer, and author Dessa shares how she faced big feelings as an adolescent and how she got the help she needed when she needed it. Dessa tells us how family support and a curiosity about health and medicine have served her well.

Actor and writer Bill Corbett shares an honest look at his journey with anxiety, addiction, and recovery, reflecting on how growing up without conversations about mental health shaped his life. He opens up about his breakdown in New York City, his path to sobriety, and the work it took to regain balance.

Author and professor Clancy Martin tells Dr. Michelle K. Murray about what a lifetime of trying to die feels like, about his own complex family, and how just in the last few years he has managed to finally lose that urge to make the worst decision one can make.

Family gatherings during the holidays are a time of connection and joy. They can also be a cause of anxiety or lead to triggering situations. In this special holiday episode of In This Family, Dr. Michelle K. Murray provides practical tips on thriving or maybe just surviving family events.

Sarah LaBrie reflects on growing up with a mother living with severe mental illness, including psychosis and schizophrenia, and the impact it had on her life. Supported by her grandmother and aunt, Sarah navigated childhood instability, complex family relationships, and the long-term effects of trauma.

Comedian and author Maria Bamford reflects on growing up with loving parents who did their best to support her through bipolar II, OCD, and intrusive thoughts—despite not having the mental health awareness we have today. Maria shares how their compassion, humor, and willingness to adapt shaped her life and continues to influence her work, including the way she lovingly (and hilariously) portrays them in her comedy.

Vivien Lee recalls the first inklings of an existential crisis when she was eight years old. As she grew older, Vivien endured severe trauma. As the oldest of several children in a family that was part of Minnesota’s Hmong community, mental health was not something that was discussed in her family.