Ask Kati Anything

In this episode, Kati explains why self harming can actually make us feel better and she even dives into the reasons we can keep coming back to it. She also talks about anxiety and if it will ever go away or if it’s something we have to live with for the rest of our lives. She then discusses physical touch and why some of us might be uncomfortable with it, and she offers ways to overcome it and how to talk with those we love about it. She also gets into some of the ramifications of childhood sexual abuse and neglect, and how we can work through that as well. This and so much more in this week’s episode! Ask Kati Anything ep. 164 | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT Audience questions: 1. Can you explain why self harm, in my case cutting, results in me feeling really calm (I suffer with depression and anxiety), and even thinking about doing it calms me down... 2. Will my anxiety ever really go away? I have learned to push through so much of my anxiety using different coping skills I learned in therapy. But... 3. After years of neglect as a kid, I've never learned about physical touch. I don't remember being hugged and such. So now, what seems intuitive for most people feels so confusing... 4. I’m wondering how I can honor and validate my boyfriend's feelings even when they trigger me. I grew up in an emotionally neglectful/abusive environment where I... 5. In one of your episodes you talked about some of your colleagues being judgmental about how you paced yourself getting your credit hours in school and wondering why... 6. Hi Kati. I have asked this question so many times. I really want your advice. I have had anorexia since I was 13, I'm now 40. I have a 7 year old daughter. I never want to have her go through this too and I want to know how I should talk to her about this because, even though she hasn't asked yet, she has seen some ED behaviors before from me and... 7. Is it normal for a child (pre-pubescent) to masturbate while thinking about being punished, or is this related to sexual trauma? I have a history of verbal and emotional abuse and neglect, but... 8. How can you tell if your mum was and still is emotionally neglectful and or abusive? I have watched your videos about childhood emotional neglect extensively... https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/theres-scientific-reason-why-self-harm-makes-some-people-feel-better-180953062/ Here are some resources that can help: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 The Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386 The Jed Foundation: https://www.jedfoundation.org/ The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org/ If you are in immediate danger, please call 911 KATI'S BOOKS (in stores now) Traumatized   https://geni.us/Bfak0j Are u ok?    http://bit.ly/2s0mULy MORE YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@katimorton & https://www.youtube.com/@OTDM Amazon Suggestions https://www.amazon.com/shop/katimorton Online Therapy  I do not currently offer online therapy.  My sponsor BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online counselor, please visit: https://betterhelp.com/kati Patreon https://www.katimorton.com/kati-morton-patreon/ Business Contact   Linnea Toney  linnea@underscoretalent.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/support

This week we're discussing emotion regulation, feeling anxious and depressed at the same time, and why that can be so uncomfortable and dangerous! Kati also explains why we can feel angry at our abusers, but struggle with this anger because they were abused themselves. Next, we discuss attachment to our therapists and why we can miss them after our sessions have ended. We also talk about trauma, nightmares, and how to heal. Ask Kati Anything | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT Audience questions: 1. My question is about emotion regulation…I think. I have learned to tolerate and move through fairly bad anxiety, and I’m getting better at noticing and stopping depression spirals too, but I still have a big problem: sometimes the depression and anxiety mash together and create this whirlwind of grief, sadness, fear and shame, and I feel like I’m literally exploding inside... 2. I have a history of childhood trauma, and at the moment I feel really torn between feeling angry towards my parents and feeling like I have no right to be angry with them because I am aware that they didn't intentionally hurt me. But... 3. Would it be normal or acceptable to ask my therapist if I can just check in with her every now and then (like maybe every 3 months or so)? Do people do that? I don't have a big need to... 4. My question is also regarding how trauma, in particular childhood trauma, manifests in our bodies. I have a condition called interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome and pelvic floor disorder. After years and years and thousands of dollars seeking medical attention... 5. I want to know why it is so difficult to ask for help? I am so overwhelmed with things to do but won't ask for help. How do I get the courage to ask for... 6. I’m wondering what to do about my intense fear of failure and the need to be perfect. For context, I have a lot of trauma and was emotionally abused/neglected in childhood. Because of this, I have an anxious attachment, OCD, and I spent some time in a mental hospital when I was in college. I also have a history of disordered eating, self harm, generalized anxiety, and ADHD. I am now 23, and... 7. Was just wondering - how to cope with CPTSD nightmares? I've been having them every single night, seeing my triggers everywhere in the dreams and being confronted with my abusers face to face. It's an awful experience... 8. I have a question about trauma and disgust and I am really scared that I might be the only one feeling like that. I recently talked to my best friend about feeling turned on by movie scenes, etc. and I told her that for me that belly tingling... KATI'S BOOKS (in stores now) Traumatized   https://geni.us/Bfak0j Are u ok?    http://bit.ly/2s0mULy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@katimorton & https://www.youtube.com/@OTDM Amazon Suggestions https://www.amazon.com/shop/katimorton Online Therapy  I do not currently offer online therapy.  My sponsor BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online counselor, please visit: https://betterhelp.com/kati Patreon https://www.katimorton.com/kati-morton-patreon/ Business Contact   Linnea Toney  linnea@underscoretalent.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/support

This week Kati talks about trauma healing, if we can do it without talking through the specifics, and how to untangle our identity from what happened to us. She also discusses attachment in therapy, with our abusers, and its connection to OCD. She explains why we may not have memories of traumatic times, and why we might not be able to recognize ourselves in photos. She also talks about medical trauma, revisiting the places where trauma took place, and whether or not a narcissistic parent can get better as they get older. This and so much more in this trauma pack episode! Ask Kati Anything ep. 162 | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT Audience questions: 1. When it comes to trauma therapy, do you actually have to talk about the specific event(s) to be successful with it? Or can you still heal from trauma by working on... 2. I get super easily attached to people and the attachments can be all consuming. I want to find a therapist (not specifically to talk about that but I’m sure it’ll come up) and I’m not sure what... 3. Hi Kati, I'm 25 and I have a chronic illness which is life limiting. In the past year it has become very serious and about 5 months ago, during a long stay in hospital, my doctors told my family and me that we should prepare for the worst. 4. I was wondering where an attachment to a therapist might come from even if I grew up with parents who met my needs? I am almost obsessed with the idea of my therapist, she is someone I... 5. My question has to do with still processing and dealing with trauma you sustained as a child. I grew up with an alcoholic father who eventually passed away due to his addiction to alcohol. But even now, I... 6. I recognize myself when I look at my childhood photos, but still, I don't feel any emotional connection or remember the situation when the photo was taken or the person who took it. Why is that? And how can I help myself remember my childhood? 7. Is there any benefit to revisiting places where you experienced trauma? I'm going to start processing past trauma with my therapist soon, but I don't have a lot of clear memories from that time in my life... 8. Can a narcissistic parent, who has no desire to improve themselves, tone down their narcissistic tendencies simply due to old age? 9. How long does it take for a person to work through trauma? As soon as I started discussing this with my therapist, my sleep and physical health has gone for a toss. My stress levels have... Kati's Books (in stores now) Traumatized   https://geni.us/Bfak0j Are u ok?    http://bit.ly/2s0mULy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@katimorton & https://www.youtube.com/@OTDM Amazon Suggestions https://www.amazon.com/shop/katimorton Online Therapy  I do not currently offer online therapy.  My sponsor BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online counselor, please visit: https://betterhelp.com/kati Patreon https://www.katimorton.com/kati-morton-patreon/ Business Contact   Linnea Toney  linnea@underscoretalent.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/support

This week Kati talks about recording therapy sessions and if that’s a good idea or even allowed. She also explains why we would be looking for a deeper meaning when our therapist tells us things, and what connection that can have to our attachment style. She also discusses the effects of growing up with an addict in our home, and why being around verbal abuse can be traumatic. This and much more in this week’s episode! Ask Kati Anything ep. 161 | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT Audience questions: 1. What are your thoughts on voice recording therapy sessions? I have the past 3 sessions and my therapist doesn’t know. I tend to listen to them multiple times a week and I don’t know why. I also found my therapist on social media and like learning more about her... 2. I tend to ruminate on what my therapist says following our sessions. While doing so I’ll try to look for deeper meaning because I have a hard time taking... 3. I’ve started to be able to open up a bit more in therapy and talk about more difficult things. I don’t want to accept it but I know part of it was sexual abuse... 4. My question is about what affects growing up with parents who argued and did verbal abuse to each other has on a child who had to watch it and live with it? My dad was verbally abusive to my mom and he was... 5. I am 30 years old and still carry my teddy with me everywhere I go. I have an intense fear that if I leave him home alone, my house might burn down, or I will for some reason not be able to... 6. I have a question regarding addictions and addictive behaviors. I have noticed that I have a problem with addictions and addictive behaviors. However, the problem I have is that I... 7. How do you know how you feel for real? I constantly doubt my feelings, and I find it so hard to trust that my feelings are not made-up (particularly sad feelings; I never really doubt happy feelings). There are times that I... 8. I am curious if people could be traumatized by movies? I was really scared once when I watched a movie when I was 13 or 14 and that wasn’t even a scary movie. However, I started to have those imaginations that if I open a door I’ll see a corpse... --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/support

This week licensed therapist Kati Morton dives into the differences between numbing out and dissociation, and why one can lead to the other sometimes. She also explains why we can get caught up in a cycle of not reaching out because we don’t want to be too much, and then not being able to get help when we are struggling. She also talks about why we can feel like we don’t belong anywhere, and why we can use humor to deal with tough situations. She really challenges us to look into our old familial patterns this week, and see where these sabotaging behaviors are coming from. This and much more in this week’s episode! Ask Kati Anything ep. 160 | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT Audience questions: 1. I would love to hear your opinions on the difference between numbing out and dissociation. I have been talking a lot with my therapist about not wanting to be present in my body, but struggling to determine when I am numbing out (phone, sleeping) or truly dissociated... 2. Hope you’re okay. How do you get out of the cycle of not reaching out for help because you think it’ll be too much for people and not feeling safe reaching out? I find myself picking and choosing the exact thing to say rather than letting it... 3. I feel like I don't belong anywhere (family, work/ uni, my flat…). I feel quite lost and lonely and I'm wondering: What can I do to feel a sense of belonging in this world? I’m autistic and have depression, anxiety as well as anorexia... 4. Do you see any issues with using humor to talk about certain things with your therapist? In general I usually try to make people laugh almost as a self defense mechanism and find it sometimes helps when introducing a topic or situation... 5. I was wondering whether it’s better to distract from something like a flashback or panic attack or just let it play out? I sometimes feel the build up to something... 6. My husband and I are both in therapy and seeing different therapists at the same practice. We are both dealing with the same marital issue in our individual therapy sessions. My therapist offered to talk to my husband's therapist... 7. How do you know if you're even doing therapy right? I’ve been in therapy for 9 months and took a couple months break. She knows I was sexually abused and that I used self harm to deal with it. But I don’t know if I’m sharing what I need... 8. Is NPD like a spectrum? I watched your video about 8 signs of narcissistic mom and recognised mostly my father. Not all of these fit with him... Ask Kati Anything | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT Kati's Books (in stores now) Traumatized   https://geni.us/Bfak0j Are u ok?    http://bit.ly/2s0mULy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@katimorton & https://www.youtube.com/@OTDM Amazon Suggestions https://www.amazon.com/shop/katimorton Online Therapy  I do not currently offer online therapy.  My sponsor BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online counselor, please visit: https://betterhelp.com/kati Patreon https://www.katimorton.com/kati-morton-patreon/ Business Contact   Linnea Toney  linnea@underscoretalent.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/support

This week licensed therapist Kati Morton talks about emotional neglect during our teen years, what it means to have a healthy emotional relationship, and what we can do to be better parents. She also discusses whether or not we can date while still working on our trauma, and why sex can be such a hangup for those of us with abuse in our past. She explains dissociation, DID, and whether or not we can dissociate throughout our entire childhood. This and so much more in this week’s episode of Ask Kati Anything - Your mental health podcast. Audience questions: 1. Can you talk about emotional neglect during the teenage years? This is a time when teens and parents are often at odds and don't necessarily... 2. When is the right time to enter the dating game as opposed to waiting to heal your childhood trauma? It seems to be a popular advice not to date until you healed - to some extent - your trauma and are ready to... 3. So this question is very embarrassing for me. I'm recently divorced and I know sex was a main contributor. I like the idea of sex but the physical act of it makes me cringe and become very uncomfortable. After a long stretch of absolutely no sexual desire... 4. I'm currently working on childhood trauma with my therapist and he's letting me kind of "take the lead" (so I decide the tempo) but I'm just so unsure if what I'm doing is... 5. Last week my therapist said that I have reached a plateau in therapy and that I need to look for another therapist to help me because she has done all that she... 6. Could I have dissociated most of my childhood but still remember some details? I have got childhood trauma and have struggled most of my life now with it. I'm 16. For context, I had a psychology assignment where I had to create a timeline of my childhood and... 7. I was watching my favorite show "Station 19" and I realized that I relate so much with one of the characters: Maya. Maya is someone who has a lot of childhood trauma and the only outlet she knows is... 8. How do you deal with the loss of therapy because you made a horribly wrong decision so the fault is on you? I just got kicked out of an inpatient program because they think I tried to kms. They were wrong and some of them believed me, so I am allowed to come back in... Ask Kati Anything | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT Kati's Books (in stores now) Traumatized   https://geni.us/Bfak0j Are u ok?    http://bit.ly/2s0mULy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@katimorton & https://www.youtube.com/@OTDM Amazon Suggestions https://www.amazon.com/shop/katimorton Online Therapy  I do not currently offer online therapy.  My sponsor BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online counselor, please visit: https://betterhelp.com/kati Patreon https://www.katimorton.com/kati-morton-patreon/ Business Contact   Linnea Toney  linnea@underscoretalent.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/support

In this episode Kati talks about shame, embarrassment and why those feelings can come up when we try to express ourselves. She also digs into dissociation, what it can feel like, look like, and ways that you can be brought back. She talks about procrastination and its link to trauma, how we can better open up and trust our therapists, and how to get over our fear of not being believed. She also discusses medical trauma, why hospitalizations can be traumatizing, and how to date when you have a mental illness. This and so much more in this week’s episode! Ask Kati Anything ep. 158 | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT Audience questions 1. Would you be able to talk about the feelings of shame and embarrassment that come with talking about how I feel? For about 3 years, I've been struggling with eating disorder behaviors and what might be depression. I'm constantly thinking about food, my body, comparing myself to others, feeling lonely but isolating myself. I find... 2. I'm wondering how dissociation can present itself visually. When I start to become distressed with trauma memories I recently have begun to 'zone out'. I can still technically hear, see and understand where I am, but it's like I can't connect to anything in the room or to any emotions or memories... 3. Can procrastination be related to trauma? I find myself procrastinating a lot, especially when it comes to things that are important for me personally and actually mean a lot to me. It seems as if I am sabotaging myself. Can my ptsd be the root for my procrastination or... 4. How do I open up to my therapist and show emotion? To give a little context, I have been seeing my therapist for two months and she's amazing, she validates my feelings and makes me feel seen. I just can't seem let her in and myself be completely transparent with her, I don't tell her the complete truth or answer her questions with complete honesty... 5. Do you have any advice on how to deal with the fear of not being believed in therapy? I‘m scared to talk about my past/ symptoms etc. because I fear they‘ll think I‘m just making stuff up for attention or making a big deal out of nothing. I have had negative experiences such as being accused of making up my symptoms... 6. I have a question about trauma from psychiatric hospitalizations. when I was 13, I struggled with suicidal thoughts/attempts, self injury, disordered eating, etc. I (unwillingly) went in and out of multiple mental hospitals for months, then went away to a residential treatment center for 3 months. I don’t have super clear memories of this time, but... 7. I'm 37 and due to my CPTSD, ED and OCD I've never been in a relationship. I know you can't tell me if I'll ever have one but maybe you can tell me how to approach this topic when I'm on a date. The last times I went out on a date the guys asked about my last relationship, my job etc. I was... 8. Can you talk about the occurrence of symptoms generally found in OCD versus in other anxiety disorders? 9. I am wondering if you can talk about CPTSD. Trauma is often discussed in the context of childhood trauma. Can you get CPTSD from multiple different types of trauma but not really stemming from childhood? Ask Kati Anything | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT Kati's Books (in stores now) Traumatized   https://geni.us/Bfak0j Are u ok?    http://bit.ly/2s0mULy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@katimorton & https://www.youtube.com/@OTDM Amazon Suggestions https://www.amazon.com/shop/katimorton Online Therapy  I do not currently offer online therapy.  My sponsor BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online counselor, please visit: https://betterhelp.com/kati Patreon https://www.katimorton.com/kati-morton-patreon/ Business Contact   Linnea Toney  linnea@underscoretalent.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/support

Licensed therapist Kati Morton discusses childhood trauma, dissociation, and why that can be a helpful coping skill growing up. She also explains the difference between feeling nothing versus having a sense of emptiness. She dives into why those of us with a history of trauma can get overwhelmed more easily than others, and how to push through that weirdness of inner child work. She also gives her thoughts on intermittent fasting, and how we can instill self confidence in teens. Ask Kati Anything ep. 157 | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT Audience questions: Due to childhood trauma I've known I dissociated from my problems. What I don't know is, apparently, when I'm triggered. For example with this podcast on occasion a tough topic will come up and... I always hear people talk about the symptoms of depression. And one of them that they always talk about is a feeling of emptiness. What I'm wondering is feeling nothing is the same as feeling empty? Is it common for those of us who experienced trauma to get overwhelmed easily? Why does it happen and how can we deal with it? I'm just wondering how you push through the weirdness, uncomfortableness, and vulnerability of doing inner child work. My therapist has asked me to close my eyes to picture myself at... What is the best way to instill self confidence in tweens so they don’t feel like they have to measure up to what they see on social media and are able to be confident... I'm a manager at my job and one of my employees is dealing with newly worsening panic attacks. She's on medication that doesn't really... I have B.E.D, Diabetes and I live in a bigger body. The meds I'm on cause weight loss and a feeling of not being hungry. My endocrinologist told me that if I'm not hungry, not to eat or intermittent fasting... What are 'affirmations', in the context of therapy? I keep coming across this word and it seems like just saying things to yourself in the mirror? Or is there more to it? Ask Kati Anything | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT Kati's Books (in stores now) Traumatized   https://geni.us/Bfak0j Are u ok?    http://bit.ly/2s0mULy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@katimorton & https://www.youtube.com/@OTDM Amazon Suggestions https://www.amazon.com/shop/katimorton Online Therapy  I do not currently offer online therapy.  My sponsor BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online counselor, please visit: https://betterhelp.com/kati Patreon https://www.katimorton.com/kati-morton-patreon/ Business Contact   Linnea Toney  linnea@underscoretalent.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/support

Ask Kati Anything ep. 155 | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT  This week licensed therapist Kati Morton talks about why we can bring up a past trauma once and then not be able to speak about it again. She also digs into why we can become angry with our therapist when they haven’t done anything wrong, and why we can find ourselves with a crush on them. She also explains why we need coping skills that require little to no energy, and what those look like. This and so much more in this week’s episode! xox  Audience questions:   1. Recently I admitted to my therapist that I was sexually abused as a child, I didn't talk about any details, and since then, I am avoiding this topic with her. She gave me some space and, after some time, tried to bring it back into our session, but the minute she started talking, I wanted to run out of her office....   2. I have found myself becoming angry with my therapist the last few sessions. She didn’t even do anything. I keep thinking back to the sessions wondering what she had said, but it wasn’t a particular thing that she said. She was just annoying me...   3. I recently realized that I have sexual feelings about my therapist. I have read about transference, the thing is that we are both women. Does this mean that I am not straight? Addressing this to her feels extremely uncomfortable, so I would appreciate some hints on what this...   4. I was wondering if therapists do work for their clients in between sessions? I always assumed that they do, and that that was part of why the fee was so high, because they need to take some time to look things up between sessions...   5. I have a question about coping skills. I have a list of coping skills that can work if I can physically make myself do them. But recently I have been struggling to do them. My therapist never told me what to do when...   6. My mom is a narcissist and last year I went no contact with her for almost 6 months at my therapist’s suggestion...   7. There are these videos about how you now realized that some of the things in your childhood were associated with a person turning out to be gay in adulthood. Nothing in my childhood or being a teenager points to that...   8. You've talked a lot about eating disorders changing the way they show up over time, and I was wondering if trauma can do the same thing. For context, my trauma caused panic attacks and extreme distress for years, but recently those panic attacks stopped... Ask Kati Anything | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT Kati's Books (in stores now) Traumatized   https://geni.us/Bfak0j Are u ok?    http://bit.ly/2s0mULy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@katimorton & https://www.youtube.com/@OTDM Amazon Suggestions https://www.amazon.com/shop/katimorton Online Therapy  I do not currently offer online therapy.  My sponsor BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online counselor, please visit: https://betterhelp.com/kati Patreon https://www.katimorton.com/kati-morton-patreon/ Business Contact   Linnea Toney  linnea@underscoretalent.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/support

In this episode, licensed therapist Kati Morton delves into the importance of setting boundaries in therapy and what to do if our therapist doesn't respect them. She also tackles the controversial topic of repressed memories and whether we could have fabricated our trauma or simply forgotten about it.  Kati explains how physical contact with our therapist could be triggering and why it's important to acknowledge and validate our feelings without necessarily acting on them. She even provides helpful tips on how to respond when someone asks to see our self-harm cuts and we're not ready to talk about it yet.  Join Kati Morton as she provides valuable insights and advice on how to navigate through the complex and often challenging terrain of therapy. Don't miss this thought-provoking episode!   Audience questions:   1. I have been seeing my therapist for a year and a half now and she is amazing. I’ve made so much progress and she’s been so supportive. However, sometimes her boundaries with me are not very strict...   2. I have a question about repressed memories, flashbacks and body memories. Why would you only begin to have flashbacks and other kinds of reactions once something has been revealed to you (such as a repressed memory). Or something that’s never bothered you until you start to...   3. How common is it to "forget" trauma? I know my brother was sa by my dad. I have no clear memories from 0 - 12. I can give you a detailed description of my elementary school and my high school. But I can't remember what my bedroom looked like when I was...   4. The thought of my therapist having any physical contact with me terrifies me. If she stands too close to me or the chairs are too close together I feel very threatened and panic. I've been with her for almost 2 yrs. She's very kind and patient and I feel I've connected with...   5. Are feelings really always valid? People often say one's feelings shouldn't be judged. I find that weird because if I always took my feelings as valid and acted accordingly, I'd not function in life. My first reaction to quite some things is to avoid them because the first feeling is fear/worry...   6. Why is it so important to me that I am believed??? I recently started again with a new trauma therapist. Going over my story again is harder than I expected it to be. I find myself leaving certain...   7. Today my sister asked me about the self-harm cuts on my legs, and I told her I wasn't sure what happened, and that I've been really clumsy lately. She didn't seem to buy it though. What should I say if people ask about my cuts and I'm not ready to share?   Ask Kati Anything | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT Kati's Books (in stores now) Traumatized   https://geni.us/Bfak0j Are u ok?    http://bit.ly/2s0mULy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@katimorton & https://www.youtube.com/@OTDM Amazon Suggestions https://www.amazon.com/shop/katimorton Online Therapy  I do not currently offer online therapy.  My sponsor BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online counselor, please visit: https://betterhelp.com/kati Patreon https://www.katimorton.com/kati-morton-patreon/ Business Contact   Linnea Toney  linnea@underscoretalent.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/support

In this week's episode, licensed therapist Kati Morton delves into crucial topics that can transform our mental health. Discover the significance of coping skills and resources to manage the waiting period between therapy appointments. Gain insight into avoidant personality disorder and attachment styles, and learn why therapists might not disclose a BPD diagnosis. Explore the importance of emotional intelligence and the benefits of openly discussing our feelings for personal growth and healthy parenting. Plus, Kati shares her experiences with emotional attachments to patients and the boundaries she maintains in her practice. Don't miss out on this insightful discussion! QUESTIONS: How do you deal with "content" in-between therapy appointments please? I know some techniques, but this time the therapy has opened a can of worms tightly closed for years, and it's all coming out randomly, in between sessions. Flashbacks, hypervigilance, insomnia. If someone has trust issues and shame issues originating from an avoidant personality type, do you have any suggestions on how they can get into psychotherapy to overcome these... I grew up in what I always considered to be a perfectly normal home. We were all well behaved and never complained about anything because basically we had our needs... Would a therapist not tell you if you have BPD? I really connect with the BPD research I see and I recently had the courage to ask my therapist if... Within the past year I've been dealing with eating disorder behaviors. I don't know if it would "count" as an eating disorder as what happens is that I'll spend a few months heavily restricting, and then when external things calm... I was wondering if you’ve ever told a client you loved them? I recently said it somewhat impulsively before leaving a session and she said she cared very much about me but didn’t want to cross her boundaries... How much of a plan is your therapist supposed to have for you? Something I find frustrating lately about therapy is that after several months it doesn't seem to be... Ask Kati Anything | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT Kati's Books (in stores now)  Traumatized   https://geni.us/Bfak0j    Are u ok?    http://bit.ly/2s0mULy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@katimorton & https://www.youtube.com/@OTDM Amazon Suggestions https://www.amazon.com/shop/katimorton Online Therapy  I do not currently offer online therapy.  My sponsor BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online counselor, please visit: https://betterhelp.com/kati Patreon https://www.katimorton.com/kati-morton-patreon/ Business Contact   Linnea Toney  linnea@underscoretalent.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/support

Are you wondering if you should increase or decrease your therapy sessions? Join licensed therapist Kati Morton as she delves into this topic and explores what could be causing your therapist to space out your sessions. In this video, Kati also addresses bullying, trauma, and the challenges of healing. You'll learn about the similarities and differences between C-PTSD & ASD, the various types of depression, and how to identify what you're experiencing. Kati even explains why some therapists remain neutral and don't show preference or emotion with their patients. This week's episode is packed with valuable insights and information! Don't miss out! Ask Kati Anything ep. 152 | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT   AUDIENCE QUESTIONS   1. I just started to trust and open up to my therapist, and I recently shared my deepest traumas. I am still not able to speak about them, but I’ve finally “told” someone...   2. Why am I still angry and resentful at the world after being bullied? I'm 21 now and was severely bullied between 11 and 18 and still struggle with anger/trust issues with everybody I...   3. From childhood on, I've been playing fake scenarios in my head before I fall asleep. I can't remember at which age I started this and I'm curious where this behavior could...   4. I’ve been working with my therapist for a few years now (on and off since covid) and I’ve got a topic I need to talk about and work through but I just can’t say what I’m feeling or thinking about...   5. I hope you’re doing well. Is there a name for when someone experiences symptoms of depression for 10-14 days? Occasionally, I will feel unmotivated, exhausted, withdrawn and struggle to enjoy my...   6. Could you possibly talk about the symptom overlap between C-ptsd and ASD? As someone with both diagnoses I wish I could understand the roots of my struggles. Are my...   7. Happy thursday! How do I deal with feeling like I have to start over again and again due to my mental illness? I'm 26 now and still working on getting my bachelors degree. I had to...   8. How can I cope with my therapist being neutral? You know how you sometimes say “I want to punch them [abusers] in the face”? I really wish my therapist was...   9. How important would you say that a feeling of hope is in therapy? What role does it play for recovery and for the therapeutic process in general and in my case in particular? I've been in therapy for C-PTSD since... Kati's Books (in stores now) Traumatized   https://geni.us/Bfak0j   Are u ok?    http://bit.ly/2s0mULy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@katimorton & https://www.youtube.com/@OTDM Amazon Suggestions https://www.amazon.com/shop/katimorton Online Therapy  I do not currently offer online therapy.  My sponsor BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online counselor, please visit: https://betterhelp.com/kati Patreon https://www.katimorton.com/kati-morton-patreon/ Business Contact   Linnea Toney  linnea@underscoretalent.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/support

This week, licensed therapist Kati Morton talks all about anxiety in between therapy sessions. Why it happens, what could trigger it, and what we can do to better manage it. She also explains why it can be easy for us to tell strangers really personal or upsetting things but impossible for us to share it with those closest to us. Kati then jumps into repressed memories and whether or not we can trust them, and how to be more optimistic in light of all that’s going on in our world. This and so much more in this week’s episode! Xoxo     Ask Kati Anything ep. 151 | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT   AUDIENCE QUESTIONS 1. How do you deal with anxiety between therapy sessions?  I ruminate about my therapy sessions every week on what we talked about, what I said and shouldn't have...   2. Why do I find it so easy to be open about everything, even the darkest parts of myself in front of strangers, even in public spaces but around my parents I can’t seem to say...   3. I was wondering how trustworthy repressed memories are? I recently had a clear memory pop up that I was sexually abused by a female relative. It all sort of clicked into other realizations and suspicions about   4. Since the pandemic I feel like I’ve turned from an optimist to a pessimist, and just don’t know if I’ll ever be able to be generally optimistic. Especially injustices around the world, be it right wing...   5. How do I stop obsessing over the people I care about getting older? There's just this massive fear of running out of time...   6. hat if therapy just makes you go home and cry too much, and NOT because you were talking about something sad or heavy but because of how the appointment went?    7. Last episode you answered a question about intrusive thoughts, and asked if they were ego dystonic or ego syntonic. The curious part is (I think) they are syntonic. I get excited at the possibilities. I am sometimes attracted to women as well as men. Some emotionally, some physically...   8. Hi Kati! I’ve listened to a few therapist’s podcasts and always come back to you. I’ve never been to therapy before and now I’m certain no one in my rural area will measure up what I’ve taken away from just listening to you. Could this just be another avoidant tactic for me?   Kati's Books (in stores now) Traumatized   https://geni.us/Bfak0j   Are u ok?    http://bit.ly/2s0mULy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@katimorton & https://www.youtube.com/@OTDM Amazon Suggestions https://www.amazon.com/shop/katimorton Online Therapy  I do not currently offer online therapy.  My sponsor BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online counselor, please visit: https://betterhelp.com/kati Patreon https://www.katimorton.com/kati-morton-patreon/ Business Contact   Linnea Toney  linnea@underscoretalent.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/support

This week on licensed therapist Kati Morton's podcast, Kati dives into the reasons why we want others to understand our true emotions, even when they may not match our exterior. She also shares her thoughts on ending therapy, when it's the right time, and how to continue healing even when finances may be an issue. Kati also sheds light on the effects of emotional abuse and neglect on an individual's mental health, including PTSD and difficulties with intimacy. Additionally, she discusses dependent personality disorder and the challenges of speaking about traumatic experiences, as well as the ethical considerations for therapists working with both individuals and their families. Join Kati for this informative and compassionate discussion on mental health and self-care.  Ask Kati Anything | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT   ep. 150 audience questions:  1. Why do I so badly want people to understand what I'm "really" feeling, on the inside? To the outside world I appear confident, successful and organized. But on the inside I actually have super low self esteem, have severe anxiety...   2. My current therapist means a lot to me, and we've been working together for more than a year. Our last session is coming up, and we're leaving on okay terms. I'm wondering what I can do to show her how I feel. Is it too corny to...   3. Could complex ptsd from emotional abuse and neglect result in an absolute fear and aversion of sexual intimacy? The few times I’ve been in a relationship, I’ve felt so excruciatingly uncomfortable when guys...   4. I notice myself “speaking in code” in therapy. I’m currently in trauma therapy dealing with CSA and SA and I think I tend to do this so I don’t have to say certain words out loud...   5. I've been seeing my current therapist for a little over a year now, and things are going great and I feel like she "gets me" a lot more than my previous therapist. The problem is that I constantly feel like I'm lying to...   6. Can you talk about Dependent Personality Disorder? I had never heard of this until my doctor (mental health and eating disorder specialist) diagnosed me with this. From what she told me, it sounds exactly...   7. I've been following you for a while now and I found you very helpful! Before I start I wanted to tell you that I'm not English so I’m sorry for possible grammar mistakes. I wanted to ask you if it’s “normal” for a therapist...   8. I have a question about how you would handle a situation as a therapist. If a spouse of some of your clients emailed you and told you about abuse that was to the point of getting a restraining order would you... Kati's Books (in stores now) Traumatized   https://geni.us/Bfak0j   Are u ok?    http://bit.ly/2s0mULy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@katimorton & https://www.youtube.com/@OTDM Amazon Suggestions https://www.amazon.com/shop/katimorton Online Therapy  I do not currently offer online therapy.  My sponsor BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online counselor, please visit: https://betterhelp.com/kati Patreon https://www.katimorton.com/kati-morton-patreon/ Business Contact   Linnea Toney  linnea@underscoretalent.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/support

This week licensed therapist Kati Morton talks about overcoming a severe depressive episode and suicide attempt. She discusses OCD and fears of being a parent, and even dives into whether or not it’s sometimes helpful to just ignore symptoms of PTSD and abuse. She also explains why we can want to recover from an eating disorder and still struggle with it. This and so many other topics in this week’s episode!    Ask Kati Anything ep. 149 | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT   Audience questions:  1. I am recovering from a severe depressive episode where I attempted to commit suicide many times. My question is: What happens next?   2. I have OCD and I am terrified of becoming a parent. I imagine that I will be super hard on myself trying to parent “the right way,” and the fact that there are no clear-cut answers to everything will drive me crazy. There are so many disagreements out there about parenting and so much judgment...   3. Something at work regarding sexual abuse brought up memories that I’d always known were there but never thought they’d had an impact on me. I’m now realizing it’s probably had more of an impact that I thought and...   4. My question revolves around sexuality. I strongly resonate with the term "asexual", yet for some reason also long for a relationship. My therapist said that I might not be asexual, but simply feel this way due to fear coming from my past and c-ptsd…    5. I feel like 2023 should or could be the year I finish being in therapy. I will miss my therapist and especially miss having someone like her to talk to. I realize that everyone needs someone in their life that they can talk things...   6. Why can’t I recover from anorexia, even though I want to. I have almost always struggled with food restriction. From as young as I can remember, I’ve put self imposed “limits” on food intake amounts, food groups etc regardless of...   7. I'm in the process of getting diagnosed with ADHD, I'm 35. I've spent a lifetime struggling with depression and social anxiety and I'm hoping that maybe getting help for ADHD will help me with those two as well. I've read that ADHD can make it more difficult to do...   8. As a therapist, if you are seeing a client for a while and could recognise that they had been abused, would you tell the client? Let's say this client is oblivious and doesn't realize that the other person's behavior was abusive towards... Kati's Books (in stores now) Traumatized   https://geni.us/Bfak0j   Are u ok?    http://bit.ly/2s0mULy YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@katimorton & https://www.youtube.com/@OTDM Amazon Suggestions https://www.amazon.com/shop/katimorton Online Therapy  I do not currently offer online therapy.  My sponsor BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online counselor, please visit: https://betterhelp.com/kati Patreon https://www.katimorton.com/kati-morton-patreon/ Business Contact   Linnea Toney  linnea@underscoretalent.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/support

Ask Kati Anything ep. 148 | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT   This week licensed therapist Kati Morton talks extensively about body memories, and how they can be from abuse or assaults we don’t remember. She also explains the connection between self injury and sexual abuse, and how we can later use masterbation as a way to retraumatize or harm ourselves. She also discusses how we can build up trust with our therapist, how to keep motivated when looking for a job, and what to do when you love your parents, but the relationship is toxic. Then she talks us through why it can be hard to make any decisions for ourselves, and offers ways we can mitigate our self injury urges. This and so much more in this week’s episode of AKA!    Audience questions  1. Hi Kati, this is a hard and weird question for me to write, but thank you for allowing us to ask these types of questions. Sometimes I experience what might be body memories that suggest a sexual assault (though I have no memory of anything).    2. I’ve been seeing my therapist for almost a year now and I still find it really difficult to fully trust her. I am aware that she has done nothing but show me reasons that I can and should trust her. She has the patience of a saint   3. How do you stay motivated when applying for jobs and get rejection after rejection?    4. How do you find the emotional balance when you truly love your parents, are thankful for everything they've done for you, but at the same time you have to deal with the consequences of their emotional neglect and abuse.   5. Why do I find it so difficult to make decisions? I can support others to make decisions or make simple decisions on behalf of others with no issue, but as soon as it's for myself, I have this internal battle.    6. My question is on ways to mitigate sh. I use sh to cope with panic attacks related to trauma (I have ptsd), and my therapist is aware of it. Both me and my therapist agree that working on the trauma that causes the self harm is better than working on the behavior...  Kati's Books (in stores now) Traumatized   https://geni.us/Bfak0j   Are u ok?    http://bit.ly/2s0mULy    Amazon Suggestions https://www.amazon.com/shop/katimorton   Online Therapy  I do not currently offer online therapy.  My sponsor BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online counselor, please visit: https://betterhelp.com/kati   Patreon https://www.katimorton.com/kati-morton-patreon/   Business Contact   Linnea Toney  linnea@underscoretalent.com    --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/support

This week licensed therapist Kati Morton discusses whether or not we should continue talking about things our therapist thinks are important, even if we don’t. She also gives honest advice on what to do if our family is toxic, but we also love them and don’t want to cut them off. She also explains what OCD, and intrusive thoughts are, and how it differs from generalized anxiety disorder. She explains why a therapist can’t be our only source of support, and how to get that from other people in our life. She also talks about what is and is not an eating disorder. Finally, she digs into what a trauma bond is and how love bombing and gaslighting can cause us to form one.  Ask Kati Anything ep. 147 | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT   Audience questions:  1. I was wondering about your thoughts on whether it's important to continue to discuss things in therapy that our therapist thinks have meaning but we may think are completely...   2. How do you navigate a loving but toxic relationship with a family member? As a way of dealing with a toxic family member, you said it’s okay to cut them off. But what if you don’t want to...   3. How can I work through my feelings about being unsupported when I needed help? When I think about it, I feel a mixture of hurt/sadness and can become misanthropic, but I want to heal that...   4. (Note: I’m not diagnosed with OCD, but will be seeking help) How important can it be to tell a therapist the content of your intrusive thoughts? I’ll be getting help soon for mine, but I do fear their reaction...   5. My therapist seems to have a similar system to yours regarding contact between sessions when feeling worse. But because I have no other support network, he has said I can't contact him either. My depression has gotten worse lately, and I struggle with ST...   6. I have an eating disorder related question, kind of following up on something I asked a while back where you told me it definitely sounds like I have an eating disorder (being extremely picky, restricting, beginning to calorie count, and struggling with body image a bit)...  7. I have a question about how to get out of what I think is a trauma bond with my adoptive father. He sexually abused me as a preteen/teen. He has done so many things... 8. At what point is alcohol a concern with patients with addictive tendencies. People with addictive tendencies or people who are prone to it, what other areas are you cautious of. Can they become addicted to anything easily?   HEALTHY BOUNDARIES WORKSHOP |  https://katimorton.com/the-shop/p/healthy-boundaries  Kati's Books (in stores now)  Traumatized   https://geni.us/Bfak0j    Are u ok?    http://bit.ly/2s0mULy    Amazon Suggestions https://www.amazon.com/shop/katimorton  Online Therapy | I do not currently offer online therapy.  My sponsor BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online counselor, please visit: https://betterhelp.com/kati  Patreon | https://www.katimorton.com/kati-morton-patreon/  Business Contact |  Linnea Toney  linnea@underscoretalent.com     If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call a local emergency telephone number or go immediately to the nearest emergency room --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/support

This week licensed therapist Kati Morton explains why it can be hard for us to communicate our needs in therapy, and how we can heal from sexual abuse when we can’t cut our abusers off. She also talks about passive self injury, what to do when we have trouble accepting a new diagnosis, and dodging eye contact in therapy. This and so much more in this week’s episode!    Ask Kati Anything ep. 146 | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT   Audience questions:   1. Why is it when my therapist asks me what I need during moments in session, it is as if every option, idea or logic leaves my brain and all I can say is ‘I don’t know’. I’m starting to annoy myself with that answer...   2. This isn’t really a question, but I wanted to ask, if it’s possible, for you to maybe try and do some more videos on sexual abuse( siblings/family members) the trauma, and how to move forward when you don’t really have an option for them to not be...   3. Every time i feel stressed/angry/ embarrassed the first thing i do is that i dig my nails into my hand (my skin) to the point that my hand would turn to red and the marks would stay from the morning till the night.. I don't...   4. How do you accept the fact of when you get told/diagnosed something, such as having trauma or anxiety. I have such an issue playing it off like it hasn't really happened...   5. Have you ever played "dodge eye contact" with a client before? Whenever I have in person sessions with my therapist I've noticed that it isn't just me. She seemingly has her own awkward moments with eye contact. I'll look at her and...   6.  I’m very embarrassed about what I'm doing. I was raped by my brother years ago (had a freeze response) and sexually abused by an extended family member when i was 6/7..I HATE everything about any sexual interaction   7. Please can you talk about recovery from narcissistic abuse, including PTSD symptoms, cognitive dissonance, gaslighting, guilting etc? Specifically talking about steps to recovery would...   8. Hi Kati, during this past week I’ve found myself getting unreasonably annoyed when others (especially family and extended family members) have been sick and it’s definitely not the first time this happens… It wouldn’t be the same if it would...   9. I’ve always had a hard time being vulnerable although for others I’m very soft and understand their deep emotions…since being in therapy I’ve thankfully learnt to be more emotional for myself and express my vulnerability. My question is about going into the real world. I’m sometimes afraid that I’m over-sharing now... KATI'S BOOKS Traumatized https://geni.us/Bfak0j Are u ok? http://bit.ly/2s0mULy ---- ONLINE THERAPY While Kati does not currently offer online therapy, her sponsor Betterhelp will connect you with a licensed, online counselor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/kati PATREON: this podcast is made possible through the generous support of patrons like you. https://www.patreon.com/katimorton BUSINESS INQUIRIES: Linnea Toney linnea@underscoretalent.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/support

This week Kati discusses if we can ever have a relationship with our therapist outside of therapy, and what that can look like. She also talks about the different treatment styles from EMDR to schema, CBT and DBT, etc. She explains the connection between chronic illness and our mental health, why crying in therapy can be hard but important, and how much we should remember about our childhoods. This and so much more in this week’s episode.    Ask Kati Anything ep. 145 | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT   Audience questions:  1. Does having a relationship with your therapist after therapy ends ever work out? My former therapist (of 3 years) and I found out we were blood relatives through another family member...   2. You’ve been a therapist for a while now, so I just wonder, in what ways have you changed your mind about certain things? What therapeutic methods or different therapies do you look at...   3. Have you ever considered doing a completely random podcast where you randomly pick all your questions instead of going by the most likes?    4. Could you talk a little bit about dealing with a physical chronic illness and how it affects our mental health? I have multiple chronic illnesses and it feels like I'm just constantly getting bad news...   5. When is it ok to take a break from life (in particular, work)? I’ve been in therapy for one year, working through my PTSD/CPTSD symptoms and quite frankly it’s becoming almost impossible to do my job properly. I mostly WFH which has been a blessing, but I work full time in a high stress job and I’m constantly afraid of...   6.  I'm relatively new to therapy having only just started about 7 months ago. Due to the pandemic I've only ever been able to do tele-therapy with my therapist so I've never actually met her in person...   7. Is it strange to have only cried a couple of times in therapy over several years? It's been nearly 4 years of twice a week and I just can't cry. Before I started therapy I could cry easily...   8. How much about our childhoods are we supposed to remember? I remember different events that took place growing up, but when I try to think about how things were for me emotionally or...   9. I have a restrictive ED and I am in IOP (3 hrs/day, 3 days/week) and I see my dietitian, ED therapist, and regular therapist weekly. I’ve been doing better overall since starting treatment, but sometimes I want a higher level of care, like PHP (6 hrs/day, 5 days/week) or residential...   10. My therapist allows me to text her when I’m struggling with my ED and need some extra accountability. For example, sending her photos of my meals when I’m having a hard day. My question is, is that something you would allow your clients to do? KATI'S BOOKS Traumatized https://geni.us/Bfak0j Are u ok? http://bit.ly/2s0mULy ---- ONLINE THERAPY While Kati does not currently offer online therapy, her sponsor Betterhelp will connect you with a licensed, online counselor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/kati PATREON: this podcast is made possible through the generous support of patrons like you. https://www.patreon.com/katimorton BUSINESS INQUIRIES: Linnea Toney linnea@underscoretalent.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/support

This week Kati talks about expressing anger in a healthy way, what childhood emotional neglect is, and our fight / flight / freeze response. She also walks listeners through healing from childhood sexual abuse and going on to have a happy healthy sex life. We also dig into our need for attention, what to do when we miss an old therapist, and the difference between depression with anxiety and bipolar disorder. This and so much more in this week’s episode.   Ask Kati Anything ep. 144 | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT   Audience questions:  1. A few videos back, someone asked a question about anger and how they struggle to express that emotion. Your response to them was something like, 'instead of trying to feel the emotion head on, first try to understand why you have a hard time expressing it, get to the root of it'...    2. I am a little confused about emotional neglect. I am intrigued by what you said that some individuals don't get their emotional needs met and as a result they can become emotionally neglected by parents or caregivers. But how about if we try our best and we think we are still doing...   3. This is a follow up to a questioned asked a while back about sex and dealing with csa. You had said something about discovering what feels right and what maybe feels off. After you had said that I noticed that foreplay seems to be easier to stay present...   4. I’m a CSA survivor and Sa survivor from college. Also, I’ve been sober for 9 years. However, since I got sober I really haven’t been able to be physically intimate with my husband. It’s not that I don’t want to at times, but...   5. I hope you’re well! (I asked that question before, but I think you didn’t answer it so I ask it again). Is there a way to get better if you want to be mentally ill for attention? I don’t think I can stop wanting to be mentally I’ll for attention....   6. Is it possible to go into the fight/ flight/ freeze response in therapy? Is it possible to be all 3 at once? In my last therapy session I got so angry because I felt my therapist really invalidated me. When I get this angry I...   7. Can you talk about missing a therapist while seeing a new one? I miss my old therapist quite frequently.  I'll remember something that we talked about in session and just think man I still wish I saw her...   8. Could I have made up my thoughts and feelings? I'm sure my feelings are real every time I feel sad, but then when I feel okay again I'm convinced that I just made those moments up and they never actually happened...   9. I was wondering if you could talk about the differences between depression with anxious distress and bipolar disorder. I have struggled with depression for several years. The anxiety portion comes in waves but is almost always in response to something very stressful... KATI'S BOOKS Traumatized https://geni.us/Bfak0j Are u ok? http://bit.ly/2s0mULy ---- ONLINE THERAPY While Kati does not currently offer online therapy, her sponsor Betterhelp will connect you with a licensed, online counselor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/kati PATREON: this podcast is made possible through the generous support of patrons like you. https://www.patreon.com/katimorton BUSINESS INQUIRIES: Linnea Toney linnea@underscoretalent.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/askkatianything/support