Sanity and Society

Sanity and Society
Podcast Description
Welcome to "Sanity and Society," where we peel back the layers of the modern mind and the cultural forces that shape it. I'm your host, a therapist with a passion for exploring the deep and sometimes daunting aspects of human psychology as they intersect with today's most pressing societal issues.
Life doesn't come with an instruction manual, but you can think of this program as a guide for better understanding the complexities of the human psyche and the societal trends impacting us all. psychfox.substack.com
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on themes such as mental health, psychotherapy, personal growth, and societal dynamics, with specific episodes addressing topics like narcissism in therapy, men's mental health strategies, and the implications of luxury spending in healthcare, ensuring a blend of expert insights and practical advice.

Welcome to “Sanity and Society,” where we peel back the layers of the modern mind and the cultural forces that shape it. I’m your host, a therapist with a passion for exploring the deep and sometimes daunting aspects of human psychology as they intersect with today’s most pressing societal issues.
Life doesn’t come with an instruction manual, but you can think of this program as a guide for better understanding the complexities of the human psyche and the societal trends impacting us all.

Summary
In this conversation, Barri and Jeremy explore the complexities of grief, trauma, and resilience, particularly in relation to significant dates like Mother’s Day. They discuss the importance of creating personal rituals to honor lost loved ones and the role of community support in navigating difficult emotions. The dialogue emphasizes the need for flexibility in understanding resilience, moving away from the notion of being ‘strong’ to embracing a more nuanced, bendy approach to coping with life’s challenges. The speakers also highlight the significance of rituals in processing grief and fostering connection with both the past and the present.
1. Reclaiming Hallmark Holidays
* Permission to ReframeHolidays like Mother’s Day are “Hallmark” by design—and you get to decide what they mean. Whether that’s gathering with an “Unmothered” community, splitting the day between grief and celebration, or simply ignoring the date altogether, the only rule is: make it work for you.
* Plan for the FeelingsAnticipate when memories will hit hardest, then build in social support or distractions (a walk, friends, or faith community) so you don’t get swept away by unprocessed emotions.
2. Rituals as Grief “Tending”
* Create Your Own Rites of PassageLighting a candle, leaving stones on a grave, revisiting meaningful places, or even ordering a latte in a loved one’s name—all of these are rituals that transmute stagnant grief-energy into something you actively engage with.
* Grief-Tending PracticeSet aside a small daily slot—light a candle, write a note, hum a tune—to consciously “tend” your grief, then close the ritual (blow out the candle, finish the writing) so it doesn’t spill into every moment.
3. Anchoring Positive Memories
* EMDR-Style “Safe” BookmarksJust as trauma therapies reconsolidate distressing memories, you can anchor moments of safety, wisdom, or strength (e.g., placing white stones, picking flowers) as positive memory landmarks you can return to when grief or anxiety feels overwhelming.
4. Somatic & Creative Processing
* Movement & Body-Brain ConnectionSomatic approaches—dance therapy, trauma-informed yoga, Tai Chi/Qi Gong, breath work—help release the “stuck” energy of trauma and grief.
* Writing as MovementIf you’re more cerebral, remember: putting pen to paper is itself a form of somatic “movement.” Whether it’s journaling, essays, or cards, use the page to carry feelings from inside to out.
5. Redefining Resilience
* “Stretchiness” vs. StrengthResilience isn’t about lifting heavy weights (being unbreakable) but about the rubber-band quality of bending and bouncing back. Embrace being “bendy,” forward-leaning, and adaptable rather than rigidly “strong.”
* Internal Locus of ControlChoosing how you assign meaning—what rituals you perform, how you remember—builds resilience by reinforcing that you influence your own experience.
6. Energy-Blocking & Digital Fasting
* Guard Your Mental BandwidthJust as time-blocking protects your schedule, energy-blocking protects your emotional and cognitive capacity. Decide in advance what you can take on, then prevent spill-over of work, anxiety, or grief into all your moments.
* Dopamine & Anxiety FastsExperiment with tech fasts—short breaks from notifications or social media—to ride out the initial discomfort (“withdrawal hump”) until you’re free from the cycle of reflexive checking.
7. Community Witnessing
* Wisdom ExchangeThere’s nothing like sharing your story and hearing someone else say, “Me too, I get it.” Mutual witnessing dissolves isolation, validates your feelings, and models how to show up authentically for one another.
* Cultural Rituals for AllMining traditions from every culture (e.g., the Jewish Kaddish, Yizkor service, memorial candles) can offer ready-made practices or inspire personal adaptations, filling the gap left by our often-rote Western observances.
Bottom line: grief and trauma don’t have to overwhelm you. By planning ahead, building rituals, anchoring positive memories, using your body as well as your mind, redefining resilience as “bendiness,” protecting your energy, and leaning on community, you transform passive suffering into active tending—staying fully alive even as you honor what you’ve lost.
Takeaways
* Life doesn’t pause, and neither should our healing.
* Creating rituals can help navigate complex emotions.
* It’s important to honor both grief and joy simultaneously.
* Community support plays a crucial role in healing.
* Resilience is about being bendy, not just strong.
* Rituals can transform grief into meaningful connections.
* We can choose how to commemorate our loved ones.
* Emotional labor is a shared responsibility in relationships.
* Grief can be expressed through various forms, not just words.
* Finding ways to move energy through the body is essential.
Sound Bites
* “Life is in session, man.”
* “Meet it any old way you want.”
* “Can we bounce back?”
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Trauma and Resilience
05:01 Navigating Grief and Mother’s Day
09:46 Creating Meaningful Memories in Grief
15:03 The Role of Community and Support
19:54 Energy Management and Personal Well-being
28:00 Exploring Alternative Therapies for Grief
31:55 Redefining Resilience in the Face of Grief
38:54 The Importance of Rituals in Grieving
44:47 Creating Personal Rituals for Healing
50:48 Transforming Memories Through Rituals
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psychfox.substack.com
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