WARNING: This episode talks about suicide, which some people may find disturbing. If you are having thoughts of suicide, know there is help and you are not alone.

Support: Call or text 988 Chat: 988lifeline.org Maurice Benard sits down with actor Nathan Dean Parsons for a deeply personal conversation about bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and suicide. Together, they open up about living with mental health challenges, the pain of losing a loved one to suicide, and the overwhelming feeling of being a burden. This powerful State of Mind episode explores what it takes to keep going, the importance of support systems, and why honest conversations about mental health can help others feel less alone.

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Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch! Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book! Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch:https://www.mbstateofmind.com State of Mind Production Team: Host & Editorial: Maurice Benard Executive Producer: Paula Benard Director of Production & Video: Anthony Cammarata Podcast Strategy Consultant: Aaron Calafato Audio Consultant: Ken Wendt

In this episode of State of Mind, Maurice Benard sits down with actor Diedrich Bader for a deeply personal conversation on depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and the ongoing pursuit of peace within.

What begins as a light conversation about Hollywood quickly turns into an honest exploration of mental health, including the realities of living with bipolar disorder, the impact of alcohol and anxiety, and the emotional toll of acting and storytelling. Diedrich opens up about his own experience with depression, sleeplessness, and unconventional paths to healing, while Maurice shares his lifelong journey with bipolar disorder and medication.

Together, they unpack the pressure to “feel happy,” the importance of representation in mental health, and why sometimes stepping away is the most powerful step forward.

This is a raw, vulnerable, and ultimately hopeful conversation about what it means to live, struggle, and keep going.

In this episode:

• Bipolar disorder and long-term mental health management
• Depression, anxiety, and the impact of sleep
• Alcohol and mental health
• Acting, identity, and emotional toll
• Alternative healing and recovery paths
• Why peace within matters more than perfection

Follow SOM, tap 5 stars, & share this episode with someone who needs it.

Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch! Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book! Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital

Follow Maurice on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricebenard/

X: https://twitter.com/mauricebenard

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch:https://www.mbstateofmind.com State of Mind Production Team: Host & Editorial: Maurice Benard Executive Producer: Paula Benard Director of Production & Video: Anthony Cammarata Podcast Strategy Consultant: Aaron Calafato Audio Consultant: Ken Wendt

On this episode of State of Mind, Maurice Benard sits down with rising actress Bluesy Burke for an honest conversation about anxiety, acting, and growing up in the spotlight.

Bluesy opens up about moving across the country during COVID, leaving behind close friendships, and stepping into the unknown at a young age. She shares what it was like booking General Hospital, walking into high-pressure auditions, and navigating nerves on set while learning to trust herself.

Together, they explore:

• What anxiety actually feels like in real time
• The fear of the unknown and how it shapes decisions
• Why doing the thing you’re afraid of changes everything
• Mental health across generations
• Simple tools like breathing, movement, and mindset shifts

It’s a conversation about showing up scared, pushing through self-doubt, and realizing you’re more capable than your thoughts tell you.

As Maurice reminds us, sometimes the breakthrough comes from doing it anyway.

Show your support: Follow SOM, tap 5 stars, & share this episode with someone who needs it.

Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch! Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book! Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital

Follow Maurice on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricebenard/

X: https://twitter.com/mauricebenard

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch:https://www.mbstateofmind.com State of Mind Production Team: Host & Editorial: Maurice Benard Executive Producer: Paula Benard Director of Production & Video: Anthony Cammarata Podcast Strategy Consultant: Aaron Calafato Audio Consultant: Ken Wendt