In part 2 of this episode of A Chat with Uma, I share the second part of my full + lifelong story with mental health. This part 2 episode serves to share my mental health journey from 18 to 23, when I began receiving more regular care, yet received many versions of misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment. This episode also provides context around how I received an OCD diagnosis, the mistreatment I experienced, and the beginnings of an unethical and abusive relationship with a therapist at 23.

The diagnoses & conditions discussed include: OCD, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, C-PTSD, panic disorder, suicidal ideation, PTSD, bulimia, dermatillomania, trichotillomania, neurodivergence, sensory processing disorder, and non-verbal learning disabilities.

This episode series serves to provide a deeper context into my complex, nuanced, and lifelong journey with mental health, as most of my work as a neuroscientist, researcher, mental health peer specialist, advocate, educator, organizer, and podcaster all comes from this journey. To that end, I give a high-level overview of:

My transition to college
Diagnoses
Misdiagnoses
Improper treatment
Neglect + abuse
Treatment attempts
Medication
Types of therapy
Mistreatment & abuse in therapy
Comorbidities
Intersectional identities & how they mediated my journey

Topics covered in this episode + timestamps:

(00:00:00) Intro, reframes, & disclaimers

(00:08:32) ~18: Pre-law, transition to college

(00:16:36) 18-20: College attempt 1, becoming more dysfunctional, OCD & failing classes

(00:22:39) Therapist and psychiatrist experiences in college; 2 years of misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment; Medication issues

(00:32:59) 20-21: Leaving college, starting music school, ineffective therapy, living with my partner, the experience that led me to recognize I may have OCD & seek out treatment

(00:47:45) 21-22: Seeking treatment for OCD, receiving negligent and incorrect treatment, how OCD got worse, therapist red flags, contraindicated OCD treatment, leaving this therapist

(00:54:32) 22-23: Cancer diagnosis, new therapist, PTSD diagnosis, navigating cancer treatment, rock bottom, unethical and abusive therapist relationship, incorrect treatment making OCD worse, not helping PTSD, seeking out EMDR

(01:05:59) Closing, overview of part 3 coming next Monday!

I cannot wait to connect with you, answer all of your questions, and co-create this with you. Welcome to a Chat with Uma!

Connect with me!

My website: umarchatterjee.com
Instagram: @UmaRChatterjee
Twitter: @UmaRChatterjee
TikTok: @UmaRChatterjee
Email: hello@umarchatterjee.com

27. From Me-search To Research: How I Turned My Lived Experience Into An Independent Research Project

A Chat with UmaBy Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPSOct 26, 2023