How To Survive A Suicidal Mind With Erin MatlockHow To Survive A Suicidal Mind With Erin Matlock
I Love Being Sober
Suicide survivor Erin Matlock shares her long journey from repeated attempts and deep shame to a slow, structured recovery grounded in exercise, nervous-system care and honest conversation. The episode focuses on practical ways to handle ongoing suicidal thoughts and support vulnerable young people under pressure.
1:18:48•30 Aug 2022
Surviving a Suicidal Mind: Erin Matlock on Pain, Recovery and Self-Worth
Episode Overview
- Notice suicidal and self-destructive thoughts with gentle awareness rather than instant panic or self-attack.
- Use simple breathing and vagus nerve-calming exercises to shift an overactive nervous system into a calmer state.
- Treat isolation as dangerous: set personal rules that limit how many days in a row you stay home or in bed.
- Be honest about over-commitment and people-pleasing; saying no can be essential to staying mentally safe.
- Speak openly with young people about pressure, failure and worst-case scenarios so they know they won’t face them alone.
“The hardest part is already passed. You've already been through the deepest level of pain that you can go through.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This conversation between Tim Westbrook and suicide survivor Erin Matlock goes straight into that question, pairing alcohol recovery with the brutal realities of living with depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Erin traces her story from being an isolated, high-achieving teenager who “could perform to a level that no one knew anything was wrong” through four suicide attempts, psychiatric hospitalisations and years of feeling like a burden.
She talks openly about growing up in a loving home yet carrying intense shame about simply existing, her body image struggles as a very tall adolescent, and the pressure to be perfect in school and sport.
You’ll hear how her most serious attempt at 30 led to a coma, blood clots and a terrifying awakening strapped to a hospital bed, where she made a quiet promise: “No matter how bad it gets, I’m going to stay alive.” From there, she describes recovery as slow, unglamorous work—starting with two minutes on a recumbent bike, basic breathing exercises, guided meditations on forest walks, and strict rules against isolation.
Erin shares practical ideas for anyone facing destructive thoughts: noticing the suicide-focused mind without instantly fighting it, calming the nervous system through simple breath work, and setting firm limits around over-committing and people-pleasing. She’s candid that she still experiences suicidal ideation, yet now sees it as a warning sign to pull back, set boundaries and reconnect with supportive people.
For parents and loved ones, she offers grounded suggestions on talking openly about suicide, academic pressure, body image and “what happens if” scenarios—helping young people see that failure doesn’t have to be fatal. If you’ve ever felt like your darkest thoughts make you selfish or broken, this episode gently challenges that idea and asks a bigger question: could your life still be worth the hard work it takes to stay?
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.