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Imani State of Mind

"Imani State of Mind" is a thought-provoking and engaging podcast hosted by the dynamic duo, Dr. Imani Walker and Megan “Meg Scoop” Thomas. Join these insightful and entertaining hosts every Friday as they explore a wide range of topics, from mental health and personal growth to pop culture and social issues. Each episode provides an empowering and enlightening journey that will leave you feeling inspired and informed.

We are stressed! And this isn’t just normal stress - the pandemic has disrupted every aspect of our lives, and this summer there’s already been a non-stop tide of news stories of police shootings and violence against black communities. This week Dr. Imani lays out how to process the trauma of trying to live your life in the midst of a crisis. Plus, Dr. Imani breaks down how one of her favorite TV shows depicts mental illness in Pop Culture Diagnosis.

Don't Panic!

Substance abuse is on the rise as we’ve been in quarantine. This week, Imani talks with addiction psychiatrist and host of the ‘In Recovery’ podcast, Dr. Nzinga Harrison about what addiction is, why recovery can be so difficult, and what you should look out for if you’re worried about your own behavior.

Is This A Problem?

Stigma makes it hard for so many people to even talk about their mental health, let alone get help. But among Millennials and Gen Z, there's less and less stigma about mental illness. This week, Imani talks with Tracy Clayton (@brokeymcpoverty) about how she became a go-to voice for normalizing mental health conversations for Millennials on Twitter.

You're Not Extra, You're Depressed

Black women are twice as likely to experience a major depressive disorder compared to Black men, but Black women are less likely to seek mental health help. This week Dr. Imani talks with therapist and author of The State of Black Girls, Marline Francois Madden to talk about why therapy is an important part of mental health care, how to find a therapist, and how to truly make time for self-care.

Protect Black Women And Girls

Is having bipolar disorder really like having a "sprained brain" like Kanye said? This week Imani breaks down for you what bipolar looks and feels like and how to get help. Plus, on Pop Culture Diagnosis, Imani goes deep on how bipolar disorder shows up for everyone's favorite hype man on FX's Dave.

Let's Talk About What It Means To Be Bipolar

Between COVID and the most recent protests against police brutality, ""how are you?"" is a loaded question right now - especially for Black folks! Imani talks with reporter Priska Neely about the cognitive dissonance of getting check-in texts from her white friends (you can read her essay in The Cut about those texts here: https://www.thecut.com/2020/06/i-dont-need-your-check-in-texts.html), plus how Priska takes care of her mental health while reporting on traumatic events for her job.

Okay, But How Are You REALLY Doing?

Do your thoughts hit different? You're not alone. Anxiety is the most common mental health disorder in the United States. This week, Imani breaks down what kinds of anxiety disorders there are, what they feel like, and how to get help for them. Plus, Imani digs into how mental illness shows up on HBO's Insecure.

The Real Deal About Anxiety

This week, Imani shares how she's been processing the end of her marriage to her partner of 11 years, how she's been coping with being alone and single parenting, and why divorce was the right move for her. Plus, she takes a close look at Spike Lee's latest movie Da 5 Bloods and how it deals with PTSD.

Getting Real About My Divorce

Electro convulsive therapy (ECT) sounds scary...but is it? This week, Imani talks with comedian Gary Gulman who underwent ECT to treat severe depression. Plus, Imani and Gary compare notes on the way depression has affected both of their lives over the years. Gary's hour-long comedy special, The Great Depresh, is out on HBONow and HBOGo.

The Funny Thing About Depression

If you think eating disorders are just a "white girl problem", this episode is for you. The National Eating Disorder Association estimates that 30 million Americans are affected by eating disorders. Imani breaks down how eating disorders affect people across all demographics, what eating disorders are, and how you can cope if you're struggling with disordered eating. Plus, she dives deep into forensic psychiatry and psychopathy in Netflix’s Mindhunter on this week’s Pop Culture Diagnosis. Content warning: This episode contains frank discussion of eating disorders. If you need help for an eating disorder or are concerned about a loved one, you can call the National Eating Disorder hotline at 1-800-931-2237.

What Does It Mean To Have An Eating Disorder?

“It didn’t even happen that way. You’re just making things up!” Okay, but are you really? A term that dates back to the 1944 film ‘Gaslight,’ gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse that involves manipulating someone into questioning their personal experiences, feelings, perceptions, or even their sanity. Join Dr. Imani and Meg Scoop as they discuss what gaslighting looks like, when and where it can happen, and how to put an end to it. Plus, the duo shares a pop culture diagnosis on Erica Mena from the MTV reality series ‘Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta’.

If you'd like to submit a listener letter, please email us at hello@imanistateofmind.com.

Gaslighting: What Is It and How to Put Out The Flame

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