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Unmasking Sobriety and Mental HealthAuthor: Louise Barnett
Welcome to The Unmasking Sobriety and Mental Health Podcast, where we are all Completely Fine. Im your host, Louise Barnettauthor of Tainted Love: A Bipolar Memoir and a Jay Shetty Certified Life Coach. I live with Bipolar I and found sobriety in 2021. Since then, Ive been trying to figure out this whole thing called lifehonestly, imperfectly, and out loud. Join me for candid conversations with people willing to go beyond the mask. Together, we explore mental health, sobriety, identity, and what it really means to survive. Not being ok, may just be "completely fine." Language: en Genres: Health & Fitness, Mental Health Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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126. There's a Reason Your Meds Aren't Working: Pharmacogenetic Testing with Kristen Ruth Davis
Episode 126
Sunday, 26 July, 2026
What if the reason your psychiatric medications haven't worked isn't that you're "too complicated"... but because they're the wrong medications for your genetics?In this episode, Louise sits down with mental health advocate, speech-language pathologist, Founder of the I’m Not Crazy project, and author Kristen Ruth Davis, whose life changed after pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing finally matched her with medications her brain could actually use.Despite growing up in a loving family with two physician parents, attending Duke University, and doing everything "right," Kristen spent years battling treatment-resistant depression, multiple psychiatric hospitalizations, involuntary holds, self-harm, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and countless medication trials that left her believing there was something fundamentally wrong with her.Then genetic testing changed everything.Together, Louise and Kristen unpack why some antidepressants fail, why treatment-resistant depression deserves a deeper conversation, and why pharmacogenetic testing should be a standard part of psychiatric care—not a last resort. They also discuss the dangers of trial-and-error prescribing, the stigma surrounding mental illness, the importance of trusting patients, and why praise and validation can become powerful tools in recovery.The conversation ends with a thought-provoking question: What does "crazy" actually mean?Whether you're living with depression, bipolar disorder, supporting someone you love, or simply curious about the future of personalized mental health care, this episode offers hope—and a reminder that sometimes the problem isn't the person. It's the treatment.In this episode, we discuss:Treatment-resistant depressionPharmacogenetic (PGx) testing and personalized psychiatryWhy SSRIs and SNRIs don't work for everyonePsychiatric hospitalization and involuntary holdsSelf-harm and suicidal ideationElectroconvulsive therapy (ECT)Medication stigma and shameThe importance of patient advocacyWhy "crazy" deserves a new definitionIf you or someone you know is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, please reach out to a trusted mental health professional or local crisis services. You don't have to do this alone.Learn more about Kristen and the I'm Not Crazy Project:Website: https://imnotcrazyproject.orgInstagram: @imnotcrazy.projectFacebook: /imnotcrazyprojectLinkedIn: Kristen Ruth DavisTikTok: @kristenruthwrites
