What happens when someone living with a serious mental illness truly believes they are not ill?

 

In this episode of Look Again: Mental Illness Re-examined, we explore anosognosia, a neurological symptom that affects a person’s ability to recognize their own illness. Host Faydra Aldridge introduces conversations with clinical psychologist Dr. Xavier Amador, author of I’m Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help, and documentary filmmaker Frank Kosa. Together, they unpack what anosognosia really is, why it’s often misunderstood, and how approaches like the LEAP method can help families and clinicians build trust and support recovery.

 

Timecodes:

(1:32) What is the LEAP method – techniques to support people with psychosis

(3:18) How anosognosia affects caregivers and people living with psychosis
(4:20) Why anosognosia is a neurocognitive impairment, not denial
(5:23) Denial vs. anosognosia: how to tell the difference in mental health
(9:22) Why caregivers should focus on listening and partnership
(13:07) LEAP partnership insights: encouragement for supporting loved ones
(17:06) The most harmful myths about anosognosia
(18:56) The origin of the Brain Stories podcast
(23:00) Does understanding mental illness improve the lives of those affected?






Resources:

Brain Stories podcast 

What happens when someone living with a serious mental illness truly believes they are not ill?
&nbsp;
In this episode of Look Again: Mental Illness Re-examined, we explore anosognosia, a neurological symptom that affects a person&rsquo;s ability to recognize their own illness. Host Faydra Aldridge introduces conversations with clinical psychologist Dr. Xavier Amador, author of I&rsquo;m Not Sick, I Don&rsquo;t Need Help, and documentary filmmaker Frank Kosa. Together, they unpack what anosognosia really is, why it&rsquo;s often misunderstood, and how approaches like the LEAP method can help families and clinicians build trust and support recovery.
&nbsp;
Timecodes:
(1:32) What is the LEAP method &ndash; techniques to support people with psychosis
(3:18) How anosognosia affects caregivers and people living with psychosis (4:20) Why anosognosia is a neurocognitive impairment, not denial (5:23) Denial vs. anosognosia: how to tell the difference in mental health (9:22) Why caregivers should focus on listening and partnership (13:07) LEAP partnership insights: encouragement for supporting loved ones (17:06) The most harmful myths about anosognosia (18:56) The origin of the Brain Stories podcast (23:00) Does understanding mental illness improve the lives of those affected?
 
Resources:
<a href="https://brainstoriesproductions.com/">Brain Stories podcast </a>

"Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined" is a groundbreaking podcast by the British Columbia Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) and supporting partners. Host Faydra Aldridge, CEO of BCSS, speaks with medical experts, families, and people with lived experience of mental illness to dispel myths and get to the truth. This podcast is for anyone whose life is touched by mental illness.

"Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined" is a groundbreaking podcast by the British Columbia Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) and supporting partners. Host Faydra Aldridge, CEO of BCSS, speaks with medical experts, families, and people with lived experience of mental illness to dispel myths and get to the truth. This podcast is for anyone whose life is touched by mental illness.

Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined

"Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined" is a groundbreaking podcast by the British Columbia Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) and supporting partners. Host Faydra Aldridge, CEO of BCSS, speaks with medical experts, families, and people with lived experience of mental illness to dispel myths and get to the truth. This podcast is for anyone whose life is touched by mental illness. 

"Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined" is a groundbreaking podcast by the British Columbia Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) and supporting partners. Host Faydra Aldridge, CEO of BCSS, speaks with medical experts, families, and people with lived experience of mental illness to dispel myths and get to the truth. This podcast is for anyone whose life is touched by mental illness.&nbsp;