At the Edge of My Coping Skills: K. Thor Jensen on Diabetes and Mental HealthAt the Edge of My Coping Skills: K. Thor Jensen on Diabetes and Mental Health
Mental Health News Radio
K. Thor Jensen is a writer and cartoonist living in the Pacific Northwest. He has contributed to dozens of prestigious outlets, including PCMag, Tested, Clickhole, and Game Informer. He is currently finishing his second graphic novel, Cloud Stories,...
36:10•16 Jan 2018
Coping Skills & Mental Health with K. Thor Jensen
Episode Overview
- K. Thor Jensen discusses caregiver fatigue due to his son's diabetes.
- Exploring the stigma surrounding mental health and depression.
- The impact of traumatic experiences on mental health recovery.
- The importance of seeking help for mental health struggles.
- Balancing personal mental health with caregiving responsibilities.
“Admitting that I needed help was the biggest thing that I hadn't done. It's very difficult due to the stigma around mental health care.”
In this insightful episode of Mental Health News Radio, writer and cartoonist K. Thor Jensen shares his personal experiences and struggles with mental health and caregiver burnout. Living in the Pacific Northwest with his family, Jensen has been managing his depression since childhood. He opens up about his journey, emphasizing the importance of destigmatizing mental health issues and the challenges associated with it. Jensen's son suffers from type 1 diabetes, adding an additional layer of complexity to his caregiving responsibilities.
He highlights how caregiver fatigue is a significant stressor, particularly when dealing with a chronic illness in the family. His writing serves as a therapeutic outlet and a way to connect with others facing similar challenges. Throughout the conversation, Jensen shares how a traumatic experience led him to seek psychiatric treatment for the first time, marking a pivotal moment in his mental health journey.
He discusses the societal stigma attached to mental health care, particularly for men, and how this can hinder seeking help. The podcast delves into how admitting the need for help is a critical step in overcoming mental health struggles. Jensen reflects on his hospital experience, which was a turning point, encouraging him to reach out for external support like therapy and medication.
The episode is not only a personal narrative but also a broader discussion on the necessity of destigmatizing mental health issues. Jensen advocates for open conversations and encourages anyone at a breaking point to seek help without delay. Listeners can find Jensen's work on his website, shortandhappy.com, and learn more about his son's foundation at beyondtype1.org. His latest graphic novel, Cloud Stories, is available on Amazon.
Jensen's story is a testament to resilience and the power of sharing one's struggles to foster understanding and support.
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.
Related Episodes
Similar episodes from other shows in the catalogue.