IS MENTAL ILLNESS A DISEASE? A Conversation with Gabe Howard

What does it really mean to be mentally healthy?In this conversation, I sit down with mental health advocate Gabe Howard, of the well-known Inside Mental Health and Inside Bipolar podcasts, to explore one of the biggest questions facing our culture today: How should we understand mental illness?Gabe shares his deeply personal story of being diagnosed with bipolar disorder after waking up in a psychiatric hospital at 26 years old. Together, we talk about what that diagnosis meant to him, how it shaped his identity, and why hope—not hopelessness—became the turning point in his recovery.Along the way, we wrestle with some difficult questions:What is the difference between mental health and mental illness?Are diagnoses permanent identities, or can people genuinely heal and grow?Why are terms like OCD, ADHD, anxiety, and trauma used so casually today?What happens when our beliefs about ourselves become disconnected from reality?How do childhood experiences shape the stories we tell ourselves as adults?As a therapist, I also offer a different lens than diagnosis alone. Rather than beginning with symptoms, I ask, "Tell me everything." I believe understanding a person's story often reveals far more than simply naming a disorder.We discuss:The difference between diagnosis and case conceptualizationWhy context matters in understanding sufferingHow shame distorts our thinkingThe role of attachment, identity, and early family dynamicsWhy memory can become fragmented when we're living in survival modeThe importance of telling our stories honestly—and having someone who is willing to listenWhether you agree with every perspective we discuss or not, my hope is that this conversation invites you to think more deeply about mental health, healing, and what it means to become more fully human.If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to subscribe, share it with someone who might benefit, and join the conversation in the comments.