Why You Push People Away When You Need Them Most

In this episode of Ask Kati Anything, we dive deep into the complex and often unspoken corners of mental health recovery. We explore the psychology behind why some individuals experience persistent suicidal thoughts without the intent to act and discuss strategies for navigating friendships that inadvertently trigger eating disorder relapses or competition. I also open up about the ethics of plastic surgery when dealing with body dysmorphia , the "push-pull" dynamic in therapy often associated with BPD and attachment wounds , and share my professional perspective on gender-affirming care and the importance of therapeutic support. Finally, we analyze a shocking listener story about a therapist allowing a date in their office, breaking down the major red flags of blurred boundaries. My new book is in stores now! Why Do I Keep Doing This? → https://geni.us/XoyLSQ Get Yours For The Holiday - If you’ve ever felt stuck, this book is for you. I’d be so grateful for your support. 00:00 – Intro 00:19 – Why do I have suicidal thoughts but can't act on them? 06:00 – When a friend's passion triggers your Eating Disorder relapse 12:21 – Navigating Anorexia recovery when treatment is denied (NHS & Weight Stigma) 20:06 – CrowdHealth message 21:53 – Plastic Surgery: Confidence booster or Body Dysmorphia? 27:35 – Envisioning suicidal scenarios & struggles with Lithium medication 33:02 – Why do I push my therapist away? (Fear of Abandonment & BPD) 36:36 – OneSkin message 38:13 – AuraFrames message 43:44 – My honest opinion on Gender Affirming Care & the "Affirm First" approach 52:37 – Red Flags: My therapist let me have a date in her office?! Shopping with our sponsors helps support the show and allows us to continue bringing you these important conversations about mental health. Please check out this week's special offers: • CrowdHealth: get started today for $99 for your first three months using code ASKKATI at https://www.joincrowdhealth.com/ • OneSkin: For a limited time, try OneSkin for 15% off using code KATI at https://www.oneskin.co/Kati • Aura Frames: Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://www.auraframes.com/KATI Promo Code KATI Ask Kati Anything ep. 292 | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT MAIN YOUTUBE CHANNEL www.youtube.com/@Katimorton #podcast #psychology #katimorton MY BOOKS Why Do I Keep Doing This? https://geni.us/XoyLSQ Traumatized https://geni.us/Bfak0j Are u ok? https://geni.us/sva4iUY ONLINE THERAPY (enjoy 10% off your first month) While I do not currently offer online therapy, BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, online therapist: https://betterhelp.com/kati PARTNERSHIPS Nick Freeman | nick@biglittlemedia.co Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or mental health advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problem or disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. Viewing this content does not establish a therapist-client relationship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices