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Hoarding, Helping, Hoping: An Interview with psychologist Deborah Derrickson Kossmann, author of "Lost, Found, Kept: A Memoir" | RDID; 121
Manage episode 498230307 series 3608017
"Love is what gives us the strength to balance the anger."
It seems improbable that a human being who has shouldered the weight of so much trauma, so many secrets, so much shame could come to this conclusion, but this is part of what makes Dr. Deborah Derrickson Kossmann such a powerful writer, and such an unshakable empath.
In this episode of Recovery Diaries in Depth, Deb speaks openly about her mother's descent into hoarding disorder, their immensely complex relationship, and broader issues related to mental illness, trauma, anxiety, and recovery in this fascinating interview with host Gabriel Nathan. Deb's book, "Lost, Found, Kept: A Memoir" is a stunning, award-winning debut book from this therapist/author who confronts so much buried pain with such compassion, not only for her mother, but for herself and for others going through similar trials in life.
"Lost, Found, Kept" is far more than a story of one woman's mental illness, it is a complex narrative woven and stitched through time that traces, through objects and memories, a story of what happened and how, and what comes after shame is discovered and uncovered.
Deb shares with Gabe what writing "Lost, Found, Kept" was like, why she decided to tell this story, how she navigates her two lives as therapist and as writer-- one requiring discretion and boundaries, one necessitating public openness-- and she vulnerably shares about what it has been like to navigate the immensely complex nature of coming to grips with a family member's mental illness when you yourself are a practitioner.
This book and this interview are, ultimately, about survival of what threatens to consume and destroy, what lies buried under detritus and secrets, and what can emerge to give hope, strength, and love. Listen, and share.
Conversations like the ones on this podcast can sometimes be hard, but they're always necessary. If you or someone you know is struggling, please consider visiting www.wannatalkaboutit.com. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please call, text, or chat 988.
Chapters
1. Introduction to Recovery Diaries In-Depth (00:00:00)
2. Meet Deborah Derrickson-Kostman and Her Memoir (00:01:35)
3. The Visceral Experience of Hoarding (00:05:42)
4. Processing Anger and Finding Compassion (00:13:30)
5. Understanding Hoarding as Mental Illness (00:22:40)
6. Balancing Psychology Career with Memoir Writing (00:30:20)
7. Remembering the Mother Beyond the Hoarding (00:42:37)
8. Closing Thoughts and Where to Find the Book (00:52:27)
22 episodes
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