Are Podcasts the New Self Help Book?
Life is hard sometimes. And sometimes, you may need a little help processing your thoughts and emotions. Though there’s no substitute for professional treatment, a self-care or mental health focused podcast may provide additional support to help you reflect on your life experiences, or work through things that are troubling you. There are so many podcasts that focus on the realities of mental health and the challenges of everyday twenty-first century living. Some are made to help people navigate relationships, to get off the booze, to get over a breakup, to learn new skills to quell anxious feelings, and more.
I’m 26. I am a sometimes-anxious Millennial who works in journalism. Last December, I went through a pretty brutal breakup in the dead of the first pandemic winter, which encouraged me to re-evaluate my relationships, my values, and most importantly, how I care for myself. Podcasts were there to cheer me through it. I personally love podcasts that focus on mental health. But I was curious why others tune in, too. Here’s what I learned.
June, 27, Toronto
I’ve been in formal therapy for 10 years, but I only started using podcasts this year. I started listening to Codependency No More by Brian Pisor and Unlocking Us by Brene Brown during a meditation retreat. I don’t listen to them everyday, but I try to tune in when it supports my therapy sessions or when I need a bit of reassurance or reminders of what I’m working towards. Brene Brown was actually recommended by my therapist in book form, but I have some attention issues, so the audio format has been better for me. I also searched the topic of codependency in Spotify, since that’s the focus of my therapy at this time. I specifically wanted something that could help me process the therapy work I’m doing while I’m on hikes or walks, because I found that really helps me process, focus, and minimize distractions.
Though I had been working through worksheets and journal prompts, the podcasts make me go, “Oh damn, that makes sense!” and adds a level of conversation that reading or journaling can’t do as easily. It puts a bit of the onus off my therapist in between sessions, but I think it would really help people who aren’t already in therapy. Podcasts are so popular right now, but for some reason therapy is still taboo, and it's a missed opportunity in my opinion — especially for people who aren't in therapy because it seems intimidating or unaffordable. I think having an expert talk things out to you can be a good primer. Before diving into therapy podcasts, which can be sometimes intense, I recommend having a few keywords in mind and doing some research on which podcasts may work as a supplementary tool.
Annie, 28, Halifax
Photo by Charisse Kenion on Unsplash
My therapist actually recommended Unlocking Us, and from there I’ve branched out and listened to guests she has on her show, like Dax Shepard. For me, podcasts are a really good in-between — sometimes music can be a little much. It's nice to listen to something positive, help learn strategies, and hear different perspectives. I'm all about gaining more knowledge and ways that I can help myself. I’ve also been really cutting back on my drinking, so listening to people that have those addictions troubles helps too. Overall, it's definitely a good stopgap in between my therapy sessions. It's interesting to hear other people's stories, other people's strategies, and realize that it's not just me who's panicking about these things and I’m not the only person who's feeling this way.
I've been going to therapy on and off since I was about 15 (but the level of engagement at that time is a whole other story.) My current therapist recommended using podcasts, and I find it really helpful because the information just keeps coming to you. So you can passively listen to it in a sense — not to say that it’s less work — but sometimes it’s nice to just sit and listen. When you're in therapy, you’re often working through your things actively. But this way, you can hear things and then put them into practice. I’m also super into any self help books my therapist recommends to me, but I like the podcasts a bit better, because they’re easier to digest. Then I’m able to reflect and implement as appropriate.
Marie, 24, Germany
I listen to podcasts to get information, to feel less alone, and to learn how to deal with my conditions. However, I’m very interested in psychology and psychiatry in general, so I listen to podcasts that don’t necessarily apply to me. I just like knowing how everything works, what the current theories about conditions are, and why my therapist or psychiatrist might make certain decisions. Collecting information and knowing that mental health can be approached scientifically is very comforting to me. My personal go-to is Anxiety Coaches Podcast. Though I would never suggest foregoing professional treatment for anxiety disorders, if you’re broke or can’t find anyone, definitely listen to it as much as you can. I used it for a long time when I still refused to see a psychiatrist or therapist and I was able to stop my panic attacks.
Krista, 24, Toronto
I use sleep podcasts every night to fall asleep — think vaguely meditative stories to lull you to sleep. When I started antidepressants years ago, I started listening to them to try and quell insomnia as a result of the new meds. My favourites include Sleep With Me, and the Calm app sleep stories. Though it’s not technically a ‘podcast,’ the Matthew McConaughey episode is like magic. I can’t sleep to the Harry Styles one though, because I am too big of a stan.
Shout out to therapists who recommend podcasts to their clients! Months ago, mine recommended that I listen to podcasts on the topics of narcissism and codependency — not to spill my own tea or anything — and I found them helpful because it allowed me to actually put language to patterns that I’ve experienced. I also learned how to spot unhealthy dynamics in relationships before I got involved. I’m not sure I would have been able to really get the message if the podcast host hadn’t brought her own experiences to the mic and shared what she learned in her years on this earth. So bless that woman and others like her who put out valuable, free content on the regular.
Do you listen to self care podcasts? Drop us a line, I’m always looking for new ones.
Check out the podcasts mentioned in this post:
