This Episode is About Nothing

Okay, so it’s not so much about “nothing” per se, but it’s about feeling relaxed, not stressed, and for a brief moment, like I wasn’t depressed. I had the pleasure of finishing two of my masters classes today (the day before this was released,) and although I start another tomorrow, for a short 7 or so hours, I didn’t have any responsibilities. Sure, I had to do a few things like get dinner, walk Halsey, and play with Leia, I didn’t have any overarching things to do for once. I felt completely and totally uninhibited and I could do what I wanted without feeling guilty. I took that time to play Mario Party with me beautiful fiancée, spend time with my pets, and reflect on why this feeling of “nothing” happened, and how I can replicate it moving forward.

I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do this podcast with the hopes that it can help some people.

If you’re interested in other content by me, follow me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcceptableMadness

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpiT4JjAzziR-EODaBDPaJg

Also, I wrote a book! https://www.amazon.com/Trying-Myself-Scott-Christopher-McKinney/dp/1735125105/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HJRD1Q2OGBG6&dchild=1&keywords=trying+not+to+kill+myself&qid=1595216485&sprefix=trying+not+to+kill+m%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1

Reaching Out for Help

For all the time I talk on this podcast about the revelations that I’ve had about myself, I’m still no expert on me. Sometimes I need to reach out to other people for help. This episode is about the people I’ve reached out to, when and why I did, and what came of it. Along with that, I talk about the times that other people have reached out to me, and what that made me realize about people as a whole. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy the episode!

I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do this podcast with the hopes that it can help some people.

If you’re interested in other content by me, follow me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcceptableMadness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acceptablemadness/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpiT4JjAzziR-EODaBDPaJg

Also, I wrote a book! https://www.amazon.com/Trying-Myself-Scott-Christopher-McKinney/dp/1735125105/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HJRD1Q2OGBG6&dchild=1&keywords=trying+not+to+kill+myself&qid=1595216485&sprefix=trying+not+to+kill+m%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1

Organizing Your Priorities

Hey – you there! Thanks for joining me for another episode of the podcast. This week, I talk about figuring out priorities. What inspired me to talk about it is the fact that I (along with everyone else in the world) have a lot of stuff on my plate that I either need or want to do, and I don’t have enough time to do it all. This caused me to really sit down and figure out what I needed to do to be most successful in the future, and what will make me happier over the duration of my life. With that came a lot of soul searching and thoughts about every aspect of what makes me who I am, what I should do in the future to make me happier, and how my recent revelations can help you in your future as well.

You know, for a marketing professional, you’d think I’d pick a sexier name for my podcast episodes.

I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do this podcast with the hopes that it can help some people.

If you’re interested in other content by me, follow me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcceptableMadness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acceptablemadness/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpiT4JjAzziR-EODaBDPaJg

Also, I wrote a book! https://www.amazon.com/Trying-Myself-Scott-Christopher-McKinney/dp/1735125105/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HJRD1Q2OGBG6&dchild=1&keywords=trying+not+to+kill+myself&qid=1595216485&sprefix=trying+not+to+kill+m%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1

Can You Work So Hard That You Forget About Your Depression?

Have you ever thought about diving into something and immersing yourself so completely so that you don’t have to worry about the thoughts going through your head? If so, I did it for you and learned that it’s not a great thing to do, so I don’t recommend it. I’ve been very busy with everything going on in my life that it’s hard for me to focus on the stuff that I know makes me feel happier, such as talking with my friends and family, writing, making content for Acceptable Madness, and more. This last week has amounted to me working almost exclusively on my masters classes and other daily responsibilities, and although I was able to get everything done in time, the act of putting my mental health on the backburner to focus on it was hard… and putting it frankly, it sucked. So, to answer the main question of this episode – no, you can’t work so hard that you forget about your depression. In this episode, I dive deeper into why I think that is.

I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do this podcast with the hopes that it can help some people.

If you’re interested in other content by me, follow me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcceptableMadness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acceptablemadness/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpiT4JjAzziR-EODaBDPaJg

Also, I wrote a book! https://www.amazon.com/Trying-Myself-Scott-Christopher-McKinney/dp/1735125105/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HJRD1Q2OGBG6&dchild=1&keywords=trying+not+to+kill+myself&qid=1595216485&sprefix=trying+not+to+kill+m%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1

Acceptable Madness’ 100th Birthday!

It’s been a long road – after a little over 2 years, it’s time to celebrate Acceptable Madness’ 100th birthday. In that short amount of time, I’ve talked for hours and hours about different topics such as loss, friendship, sleep, rejection, and so much more. I’ve told you more about myself than most of my closest friends know about me, and I’ve uncovered more about how my mind works in that time than I ever could have imagined. In this episode, I’d like to talk about how much I’ve changed over that time, how I feel about it, and what I’d like to see moving forward. This episode is special for me, not just because of it being triple digits, but because it means I’ve been able to start something and follow through with it, no matter the challenges that life (and that pesky depression) throws at me. I hope that I’ve helped you through whatever struggles you’re having, and hope that the lessons I’ve shared with you will keep you moving forward through life with optimism and strength, because life is tough, but you’re tougher. Thanks for listening, and I can’t wait to talk to you in another 100 episodes!

I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do this podcast with the hopes that it can help some people.

If you’re interested in other content by me, follow me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcceptableMadness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acceptablemadness/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpiT4JjAzziR-EODaBDPaJg

Also, I wrote a book! https://www.amazon.com/Trying-Myself-Scott-Christopher-McKinney/dp/1735125105/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HJRD1Q2OGBG6&dchild=1&keywords=trying+not+to+kill+myself&qid=1595216485&sprefix=trying+not+to+kill+m%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1

How Does Depression Affect Love?

Love and depression are like potato chips and chocolate; they seem like they shouldn’t go together but they’re actually a magical combination. Huh? Only I like chocolate-covered potato chips and most people think it’s weird? Oh… the more you know I guess. What I mean is that love and depression, although many people would think they don’t mesh, they actually do and in a perfect, weird kind of way. Even though you might not feel love in the traditional sense – full of hearts and smiles fluttering across your face – I’m sure you feel it in different ways. No matter how you feel love and other strong emotions that are special to you, just know that they’re real, they matter, and even if you feel emotions differently than some others, it doesn’t mean you’re an unfeeling robot. I can say that with confidence because I am a recovering unfeeling robot. Listen to this episode of the podcast to learn more about my thoughts on how depression affects love in your everyday life.

I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do this podcast with the hopes that it can help some people.

If you’re interested in other content by me, follow me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcceptableMadness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acceptablemadness/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpiT4JjAzziR-EODaBDPaJg

Also, I wrote a book! https://www.amazon.com/Trying-Myself-Scott-Christopher-McKinney/dp/1735125105/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HJRD1Q2OGBG6&dchild=1&keywords=trying+not+to+kill+myself&qid=1595216485&sprefix=trying+not+to+kill+m%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1

Falling Shorter Than You’d Like

There are so many things in the world that we are amazing at, average at, and terrible at. Now, I like to focus on the things that I’m amazing at, and I’m sure you do too (and I’m sure there are a lot of things that you’re amazing at,) but no matter if you’re great at something or awful at it, there is always the chance that you’ll fall short. Whether it’s a test that you thought you got a 100% on but you actually got a B, or you were working on a project at work that didn’t go as planned, we’ll occasionally fall short. For the longest time, I couldn’t get passed that and would hold myself to the unrealistic task of being perfect all the time, but I’ve recently had a change of mind. In this episode, I talk about how it’s okay to fall short on things, and it can actually be something that really helps you figure out what you are good at, and how to prioritize your time.

I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do this podcast with the hopes that it can help some people.

If you’re interested in other content by me, follow me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcceptableMadness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acceptablemadness/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpiT4JjAzziR-EODaBDPaJg Also, I wrote a book! https://www.amazon.com/Trying-Myself-Scott-Christopher-McKinney/dp/1735125105/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HJRD1Q2OGBG6&dchild=1&keywords=trying+not+to+kill+myself&qid=1595216485&sprefix=trying+not+to+kill+m%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1

Mentally Preparing for the Future

Hi! I hope you’re ready to sit back and relax while we talk about the future. A friend of mine recently told me that to feel better about the world and their current situation, they just stopped thinking about the future, and instead focused entirely on the present. That inspired me to make this episode, where I really dive into how I look at the future, how it’s probably not the most productive way to do it, but how I’m hoping to change my mindset to be a more happy individual. The future can always look scary, especially when you have so many things that you hope to accomplish in life, but taking it one step at a time, knowing that what you’re doing is the best thing for you in the moment, is probably the best way to fend off those fears. Thanks for listening.

I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do this podcast with the hopes that it can help some people.

If you’re interested in other content by me, follow me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcceptableMadness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acceptablemadness/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpiT4JjAzziR-EODaBDPaJg

Also, I wrote a book! https://www.amazon.com/Trying-Myself-Scott-Christopher-McKinney/dp/1735125105/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HJRD1Q2OGBG6&dchild=1&keywords=trying+not+to+kill+myself&qid=1595216485&sprefix=trying+not+to+kill+m%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1

The Importance of Education

Past Scott would beat me up for this episode, but I have to admit that education is awesome. No matter why you learn, whether it’s to become better in your field of expertise, beat someone in trivia, or develop a higher sense of understanding in the world, learning is great. It’s an amazing way to show and feel personal growth, while also seeing the world in a way that you may not have considered before. I used to hate school and dreaded going to class every day to see people there that were smarter than me, but now, I crave learning and think that furthering your education, no matter the medium, is a valuable, life-changing experience.

I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do this podcast with the hopes that it can help some people.

If you’re interested in other content by me, follow me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcceptableMadness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acceptablemadness/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpiT4JjAzziR-EODaBDPaJg

Also, I wrote a book! https://www.amazon.com/Trying-Myself-Scott-Christopher-McKinney/dp/1735125105/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HJRD1Q2OGBG6&dchild=1&keywords=trying+not+to+kill+myself&qid=1595216485&sprefix=trying+not+to+kill+m%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1

Setting Deadlines for Yourself

Okay, hear me out with this one. No one likes deadlines, I know. At work or school, they stress you out. If you miss one, it can feel very defeating. But dang, when you accomplish whatever deadline you have, it feels pretty good. That’s what this episode is all about! Setting realistic deadlines for yourself is a great way to give yourself a reason to get out of bed and do something. In the past, I’ve talked about setting the goal of simply getting out of bed and showering, and although that is a worthwhile and very difficult goal on some days, it’s important to have other things that keep kicking you in the butt to keep moving forward, too. If you don’t you might not be able to find a way to move beyond simply getting up and showering.

I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do this podcast with the hopes that it can help some people.

If you’re interested in other content by me, follow me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcceptableMadness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acceptablemadness/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpiT4JjAzziR-EODaBDPaJg

Also, I wrote a book! https://www.amazon.com/Trying-Myself-Scott-Christopher-McKinney/dp/1735125105/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HJRD1Q2OGBG6&dchild=1&keywords=trying+not+to+kill+myself&qid=1595216485&sprefix=trying+not+to+kill+m%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1

Looking Forward to the Next…

The next what, you may ask? Well, the next… anything! It’s not always easy to keep pushing forward through whatever you’re dealing with. Life can be a bit bipolar, so sometimes it’ll treat you like royalty, and other times it’ll do it’s best to keep you down. When it’s trying to keep you down, I think it’s best to find something in the world that makes you excited, whether it’s a TV show, new video game release, or the fact that you’re having chicken salad for dinner (which I’m having on Wednesday, so I’m pretty stoked.) There are so many things in the world and your future that you can look forward to, so let’s take a dive into what they are, and how you can use them to push through the dark times.

I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do this podcast with the hopes that it can help some people.

If you’re interested in other content by me, follow me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcceptableMadness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acceptablemadness/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpiT4JjAzziR-EODaBDPaJg

Also, I wrote a book! https://www.amazon.com/Trying-Myself-Scott-Christopher-McKinney/dp/1735125105/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HJRD1Q2OGBG6&dchild=1&keywords=trying+not+to+kill+myself&qid=1595216485&sprefix=trying+not+to+kill+m%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1

When Your Motivation Takes a Vacation

We all know the feeling. You feel inspiration to chase something new and exciting in your life, and the second you get ready to work on it, the motivation disappears. This thing that was driving you mere seconds ago is gone, and now you feel empty and directionless, a fleeting feeling in its place. That’s what this episode is about. I talk about what happens when the motivation vanishes without the courtesy of saying goodbye, and you’re left with nothing but the desire to lay in bed and eat chips.

I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do this podcast with the hopes that it can help some people.

If you’re interested in other content by me, follow me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcceptableMadness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acceptablemadness/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpiT4JjAzziR-EODaBDPaJg

Also, I wrote a book! https://www.amazon.com/Trying-Myself-Scott-Christopher-McKinney/dp/1735125105/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HJRD1Q2OGBG6&dchild=1&keywords=trying+not+to+kill+myself&qid=1595216485&sprefix=trying+not+to+kill+m%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1

Taking a Much Needed Break

Taking a break seems like it should be such an easy thing to do. You just… do that thing that makes you feel relaxed, right? But it’s not always that easy. That thing that makes you relaxed might not be accessible, you might be feeling too down to do it, or you might simply not know what that thing is supposed to be. Well, I struggle to figure out how to relax sometimes too, and that’s what this episode is about. Listen to this week’s episode, where I talk about what relaxing is to me, the stress of not being able to relax when you need to, and I attempt a weird analogy about a skateboarder on a halfpipe, even though I’ve never skateboarded a day in my life.

I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do this podcast with the hopes that it can help some people.

If you’re interested in other content by me, follow me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcceptableMadness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acceptablemadness/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpiT4JjAzziR-EODaBDPaJg

Also, I wrote a book! https://www.amazon.com/Trying-Myself-Scott-Christopher-McKinney/dp/1735125105/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HJRD1Q2OGBG6&dchild=1&keywords=trying+not+to+kill+myself&qid=1595216485&sprefix=trying+not+to+kill+m%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1

Bullet by Hollywood Undead

This week, I wanted to try something a little different. Instead of talking about what’s going on with me and my life, I talk about the song Bullet, by Hollywood Undead, and what I believe the band was talking about when they wrote it. It’s a song that’s all about suicide, the implications of it, and what it meant to the character/person that was singing it. My thoughts definitely aren’t written in stone, and I hope that while you listen to it, you find some areas that you disagree with, because I’d love to hear your opinions on it! I hope you like it!

I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do this podcast with the hopes that it can help some people.

If you’re interested in other content by me, follow me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcceptableMadness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acceptablemadness/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpiT4JjAzziR-EODaBDPaJg

Also, I wrote a book! https://www.amazon.com/Trying-Myself-Scott-Christopher-McKinney/dp/1735125105/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HJRD1Q2OGBG6&dchild=1&keywords=trying+not+to+kill+myself&qid=1595216485&sprefix=trying+not+to+kill+m%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1

How to Manage Your Stress

Stress isn’t an easy thing to manage. It’s one of life’s many “things” that seem to beat all rational, and prevent you from thinking clearly, figuring out what you want, and feeling better. This week, I talk about my approach to managing my stress. My system may not necessarily work for everyone, but it works pretty well for me the majority of the time, so maybe it can work for you, too. I hope that something in here can help you out and make the rest of your week a little easier.

I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do this podcast with the hopes that it can help some people.

If you’re interested in other content by me, follow me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcceptableMadness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acceptablemadness/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpiT4JjAzziR-EODaBDPaJg

Also, I wrote a book! https://www.amazon.com/Trying-Myself-Scott-Christopher-McKinney/dp/1735125105/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HJRD1Q2OGBG6&dchild=1&keywords=trying+not+to+kill+myself&qid=1595216485&sprefix=trying+not+to+kill+m%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1

Destiny: What Does It Mean for You?

I’m not a superstitious person, but the concept of destiny has always interested me. Feeling that you have this purpose set for you by someone or something is easy to believe, especially because finding direction in life is arguably one of the most difficult things that a person can do – but that doesn’t mean that destiny, or your purpose, can’t change as you grow older and experience more of the world and humanity. In this episode, I talk about destiny, and how it’s much more malleable than you’d think.

I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do this podcast with the hopes that it can help some people.

If you’re interested in other content by me, follow me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcceptableMadness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acceptablemadness/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpiT4JjAzziR-EODaBDPaJg

Also, I wrote a book! https://www.amazon.com/Trying-Myself-Scott-Christopher-McKinney/dp/1735125105/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HJRD1Q2OGBG6&dchild=1&keywords=trying+not+to+kill+myself&qid=1595216485&sprefix=trying+not+to+kill+m%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1

Lessons From the Avatar

I’ve been watching Avatar: The Last Airbender, and through all of the awesome fighting and world building, the character that sticks out most to me is Uncle Iroh. The once great Fire Nation General turned tea-loving mentor is a complex man, and no matter the situation, he always brings the calming presence of wisdom. In this episode, I talk about some of the quotes he had throughout the show, and how applicable they are to our lives on the outside. I never thought I’d make an episode of a mental health podcast about a children’s TV show, but hey, I think it turned out pretty great! Thanks for listening.

I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do this podcast with the hopes that it can help some people.

If you’re interested in other content by me, follow me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcceptableMadness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acceptablemadness/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpiT4JjAzziR-EODaBDPaJg

Also, I wrote a book! https://www.amazon.com/Trying-Myself-Scott-Christopher-McKinney/dp/1735125105/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HJRD1Q2OGBG6&dchild=1&keywords=trying+not+to+kill+myself&qid=1595216485&sprefix=trying+not+to+kill+m%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1

I’m Publishing a Book!

My book, Trying Not to Kill Myself, comes out THIS FRIDAY! It’s been a long process, from writing, editing, cover design, formatting, and everything else that goes into self-publishing a book, I’m glad to say that this project is wrapping up and launching! I’ve been excited about getting this thing out there for years, and it’s finally happening. This feels like a massive milestone for me, and I couldn’t be more proud of myself. In this episode, I talk about what it took to make this bad boy, and how it’s helped my mental health. Thank you for your continued support, and I hope you like the book!

I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do this podcast with the hopes that it can help some people.

If you’re interested in other content by me, follow me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcceptableMadness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acceptablemadness/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpiT4JjAzziR-EODaBDPaJg

Bitter With the Sweet

Ya know, not everything in the world is great (as I’m sure you’ve already noticed.) That doesn’t make the world bad or terrible to live on, but it means that there are some less than perfect things that happen, whether it’s a dispute between you and a friend, some burnt mac n’ cheese because you forgot to add water to the Kraft you were microwaving, or you have a dog that WON’T STOP BITING YOUR SHOE LACES NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU TELL HER NOT TO, but I digress. Not everything will be great, but as the great musician, Carole King, said, “you’ve got to take the bitter with the sweet.” In this episode, I dive into what that actually means.

I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do this podcast with the hopes that it can help some people.

If you’re interested in other content by me, follow me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcceptableMadness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acceptablemadness/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpiT4JjAzziR-EODaBDPaJg

The Ideal Body Image

I don’t like my wrists, my hair is too curly, and when I gain weight, it shows itself in the most undesirable of places. My body isn’t perfect, and it never will be. Chances are your body isn’t perfect either. And that’s perfectly okay. In this episode, I talk about body image, how it can impact your mentality, and some solutions on how to feel better about yourself.

I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do this podcast with the hopes that it can help some people.

If you’re interested in other content by me, follow me on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcceptableMadness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acceptablemadness/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpiT4JjAzziR-EODaBDPaJg