Saint Dymphna’s Playbook

118: Intrusive Thoughts of Suicide

March 26th, 2022  |  Season 6  |  18 mins 53 secs

grief, long-term grief, saint clement mary hofbauer, suicide

Tommy talks about and prays for a college athlete who recently died by suicide, introduces listeners to Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer, and answers listener questions about the experience of long-term grief, how to help a child with intrusive suicidal thoughts, and how we should understand diminished responsibility when it comes to those who have died by suicide.

106: When the Church Gets it Wrong on Suicide

November 27th, 2021  |  Season 5  |  16 mins 29 secs

anxiety, confession, pope francis, saint agnes of assisi, suicide, trauma, wounds of christ

Tommy talks about Pope Francis' prayer intention for the month of November, introduces listeners to Saint Agnes of Assisi, and answers listener questions about how the experience of trauma might impact our ability to meditate on the wounds of Christ, how to know when we might need medication for anxiety, and how to respond when our parish hands out a pamphlet that gets it wrong on suicide.

105: What's a Crisis Plan and How do I Make One?

November 20th, 2021  |  Season 5  |  22 mins 25 secs

marriage, saint margaret of scotland, suicide, therapy

Tommy talks about how to create a personal plan for times of crisis, introduces listeners to Saint Margaret of Scotland, and answers listener questions about how to recognize if a therapist is bad or unethical, how to cope with not being on the same page in marriage, and how to support a friend who is contemplating suicide while still taking care of ourselves.

56: Help! I'm Burned Out!!

October 3rd, 2020  |  Season 3  |  21 mins 54 secs

bipolar disorder, burnout, consecrated life, maternal mental health, mother teresa, suicide

Tommy talks about the importance of maternal mental health services and a project that seeks to provide an alternative to calling 911 for a mental health crisis, shares some insights about Saint Teresa of Calcutta, and answers listener questions about Bipolar Disorder and the consecrated life, how to recognize and address burnout, and how to rebuild a relationship after a loved one attempts suicide.

36: The Emotional Fallout of Social Distancing

April 18th, 2020  |  Season 2  |  17 mins 29 secs

anger, blessed james alberione, emotional health, social distancing, substance abuse treatment, suicide, trauma

Tommy talks about how social distancing impacts our emotional health and discusses the idea of a "higher power" in substance use treatment, welcomes Sister Anne Flanagan to introduce listeners to Blessed James Alberione, and answers listener questions about how to prepare for the anniversary of a friend's death from suicide, how to cope with anger toward family members, and how to figure out how a traumatic event has changed us.

30: Are My Flashbacks Real?

March 7th, 2020  |  Season 2  |  18 mins 25 secs

death of parent, father evan harkins, flashbacks, grief, medication, saint john vianney, suicide

Tommy talks about the the recent suicide of a Kansas City priest and the importance of not over-pathologizing ourselves, shares a little about Saint John Vianney, and answers listener questions about flashbacks, grieving the death of a parent, and how to respond to Catholics who think using mental health medication is just "drugging our bodies."

27: At-Home Date Nights

February 15th, 2020  |  Season 2  |  20 mins 15 secs

childhood abuse, early cognitive difficulties, family issues, marriage, saint ignatius of loyola, suicide

Tommy talks about the importance of focusing on your relationship as a married couple and how to address suicide with young children, shares a little bit about Saint Ignatius of Loyola, and answers listener questions about recovering from childhood abuse, navigating relationships with difficult family members, and supporting a loved one experiencing early cognitive difficulties.

20: Healing After Abortion

October 19th, 2019  |  Season 1  |  19 mins 37 secs

healing after abortion, mental health stigma, ptsd, saint bacchus, saint serge, suicide

Tommy talks about suicide and mental health stigmas, introduces saints Serge and Bacchus, and answers listener questions about vicarious PTSD, healing after abortion, and weather-related PTSD.

2: Fasting and Eating Disorders

June 15th, 2019  |  Season 1  |  16 mins 46 secs

postpartum depression, suicide, therapy