On this episode of Beyond The Mud, Mud (Mike) gets brutally honest about what it’s like to look “put together” on the outside while feeling like a complete imposter on the inside. Four days into a new antidepressant, juggling ADHD meds, sobriety, single fatherhood, and a nonstop grind, he talks about the days when the tools stop feeling like they work the writing, the therapy, the medication, the gratitude, all of it.

Mud opens up about anxiety, social anxiety, trauma, addiction, neurodivergence, and fatherhood, and what it’s like to still feel broken even after doing “everything right.” No highlight reel, no fake positivity just a real conversation about living with a brain that was rewired by years of alcohol, prescription drugs, instability, and emotional neglect… and still choosing to fight for a better life anyway.

You’ll hear about the lonely road where he takes his guilt, pressure, and anger so his kids don’t have to carry it. You’ll feel the tension of trying to be a present dad while battling imposter syndrome, overthinking, and the fear that you’ll become the person you swore you’d never be.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Why do I still feel like this after all the work I’ve done?” this episode is for you.

Topics:
mental health, depression, anxiety, neurodivergent, ADHD, antidepressants, therapy, sobriety, addiction recovery, single dad, healing journey, imposter syndrome, childhood trauma, inner work, faith, self-doubt, nervous system, healing while parenting.

Listen, share with someone who’s struggling in silence, and remember: you’re not alone