You Don’t Have a Mental Health Problem… You Have an Identity Problem (Ep. 190)

You Don’t Have a Mental Health Problem… You Have an Identity Problem (Ep. 190)

How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This conversation on **Genuine Life Recovery with Jodi Stevens** zooms in on one surprising answer: identity. Joined by Dr Eric Moyer, author of *Redeeming Identity: Restoring the Heart of God's Design*, Jodi chats about why many problems labelled as “mental health issues” may actually be rooted in a shaky sense of who you are.

Rather than focusing only on behaviour change, Dr Moyer argues that, "Identity is the set of principles, perspectives, purposes, and priorities… that we hold at our core that end up defining or influencing everything that we think, say, or do." You’ll hear how this “four Ps” framework explains patterns like addiction, anxiety, codependency and people-pleasing, especially for those whose lives have been shaped by trauma or the constant chase for approval.

Jodi shares candid stories from her own recovery, including performance-driven self-worth, church hurt, and the painful but freeing process of letting old identities fall away. From a biblical perspective, they talk about “corrupted identity”, the difference between self-esteem and God-esteem, and why changing how you see God often shifts how you see yourself.

There’s plenty here for Christians in recovery, but also for anyone who’s ever thought, *If I lose my role, my addiction, my success… who am I?* The pair balance theology and psychology with honest humour—think lines like, “When a codependent dies, someone else’s life flashes before their eyes,” and “forsake all hope of a better past.” It’s serious, but not heavy-handed.

If you’ve been stuck in addictive patterns, burnout, or low self-worth and suspect there’s a deeper story beneath your symptoms, this conversation might help you start asking a new question: instead of “What’s wrong with me?”, what if it’s “Who am I really?”