A Chat with Uma By cover art

A Chat with Uma

By: Uma R. Chatterjee M.S. MHPS
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  • Summary

  • Hi! I'm Uma - a neuroscientist, researcher, board-certified Mental Health Peer Specialist, mental health advocate, organizer, community builder, communicator... and most importantly, someone with vast lived experiences with mental health, chronic illness, young-adult cancer, & survivorship. On this show, I bring all of my identities together to bring you honest and unfiltered conversations exploring our true human experiences in their fullest form. We bridge the gap on all things neuroscience, psychology, mental health, lived experience, advocacy, psychedelics, research, & more!
    Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS
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Episodes
  • 27. From Me-search To Research: How I Turned My Lived Experience Into An Independent Research Project

    27. From Me-search To Research: How I Turned My Lived Experience Into An Independent Research Project
    Oct 26 2023
    On episode 27 of A Chat with Uma, I share my full experience of developing a fully independent research project inspired by my lived experience as a patient. I share the full story of how this project was born, and how this idea developed into a full research project that has resulted in presentations, awards, published abstracts, acceptance into Ph.D programs, and an upcoming publication. I discuss the experience of forging my own path as a single-author presenter as a student, and how I navigated various scenarios through this journey. I reflect on how this project provided novel avenues for my advocacy as a patient, and how I bridged my identities as a researcher, patient, & advocate as a result. This episode provides tangible tips and resources for pursuing one's own independent research project, empowering anyone listening to forge their own path and believe in what's possible for them. Topics Discussed (+ timestamps): (00:00:00) Checking in with ya'll! (00:10:20) Introduction to the episode Contextual episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠01. My Full Story: 0 to 26⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠24. Nontraditional Students: My Experiences, Advice, & Reflections From My Nontraditional Academic Path⁠⁠25. From College Dropout to Graduate Student: Navigating Graduate School Applications & Admissions as a Nontraditional Student⁠⁠19. Disability Isn't A Dirty Word: The Realities of Being Disabled and Navigating Discrimination, Erasure, & Ableism⁠ (00:19:25) EVENT REPLAY: IOCDF's OCD Con 2023 Keynote Address Link to watch⁠⁠⁠Video + event recording repository⁠⁠⁠ of many past events (00:21:56) UPCOMING EVENTS: IPN Psychedelic Personal Statement Workshop: Tues. 11/7, 7pm ET | Register hereWonderland Miami - "So, You Want To Join The Psychedelic Field?": Sat. 11/11, 3-4pm ET | Register here: code IPN20 for 20% offABRCMS 2023 - Navigating Disabilities in Higher Ed panel: Fri. 11/17, 11:15am | Register here (00:25:22 ) Context & background behind the inception of my independent research project Where I was at academically at the timeMy lack of research & presentation experience at the timeMy "blissful ignorance" of the process (00:38:30) How the project developed and evolved into posters, presentations, and awards Considering myself as a patient related to psychedelic-assisted therapy for PTSDRealizing the gap in the literature & fieldHow my lived experience with comorbid OCD & PTSD inspired this research questionGetting a single-author publication abstract acceptedWinning PsychedelX 2022Presenting posters at numerous conferences as the sole authorWinning awards and grantsGiving talks at international conferences (01:00:25) How the project expedited my academic timeline, changed the course of my career, and contributed to getting into my Ph.D program The difference between my "traditional" research experience versus my independent research projectHow connecting with researchers at conferences inspired me to include this project in my applicationsWhy I ended up getting into a Ph.D program largely because of this project (01:22:56) Key takeaways and tangible tools to develop & pursue your own independent research project Connect with me! My website⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠umarchatterjee.comVideo + event recording repository⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Upcoming Events⁠Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@umarchatterjee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support my work: ⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/umarchatterjee⁠⁠Have a guest you want on the show? Fill out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Suggestion Form!⁠
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    1 hr and 34 mins
  • 26. OCD 101 & My Full OCD Story: Misdiagnosis, Evidence-Based Treatment, OCD Myth Busting, & Comorbidities

    26. OCD 101 & My Full OCD Story: Misdiagnosis, Evidence-Based Treatment, OCD Myth Busting, & Comorbidities
    Oct 9 2023
    On episode 26 of A Chat with Uma, I dedicate a full episode to OCD awareness, in honor of OCD Awareness Week 2023. I provide a full primer on OCD 101 - all about what OCD is NOT, and what it IS. I share my full OCD story of onset, symptoms, misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, incorrect treatment, and what evidence-based treatment has looked like. I speak at length about my non-linear path within treatment, normalizing the coexistence of both suffering and recovery at once. I dismantle misconceptions and bust pervasive myths about what OCD is considered to be by popular culture, and discuss the repercussions of misinformation around OCD. Above all, I provide empowerment, validation, and hope around the OCD experience through speaking openly and honestly about all facets of living with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Topics Discussed (+ timestamps): (00:00:00) Intro, overview, why I am recording this episode today (00:13:04) UPCOMING EVENT: Made of Millions OCD Socratic Seminar: BIPOC Representation in the OCD Space Mon. 10/9, 8 ETLivestream on @MadeOfMillions TikTok + replay on IG (00:14:21) UPCOMING EVENT: ⁠IOCDF⁠ Live Stream Panel - Diversity Starts With UsTues. 9/26, 7 ET Thurs. 10/12, 7pm ETLink to attend (00:15:13) UPCOMING EVENT: IOCDF Advocate Instagram Live Sat. 10/14, 12pm ETAttend: @IOCDF Instagram Live (00:15:55) UPCOMING EVENT: OCD Gamechangers: Live Advocate Virtual Event Sat. 10/14, 7:30pm ETAttend: OCD Gamechangers YouTube or Facebook Live (00:17:04) UPCOMING EVENT + ANNOUNCEMENT: Online OCD Conference - KEYNOTE ADDRESS! Sat. 10/21, 6pm ET⁠Register here⁠ (00:18:16) ANNOUNCEMENT: Joining OCD Wisconsin's Board of Directors (00:20:25) What OCD is NOT: A choiceAn adjectiveA quirkEgo-syntonic (it's ego-DYStonic)Nobody "is a little OCD" or "has a little OCD"Why misrepresentation of OCD leads to misdiagnosis & mistreatment (00:38:18) What OCD actually IS: DSM-5 definition of "obsessions"DSM-5 definition of "compulsions"OCD themes & subtypesTaboo obsessional themes within OCDMental compulsions & ritualsThe shame of OCDWhy rationality, logic, & reason do not permeate the "OCD brain"How OCD is fully ego-DYStonicThe doubting diseaseAnxiety vs. OCD (00:54:22) My FULL OCD story What OCD looked like for me in childhoodHow it fully took over by adolescenceHow I hit rock bottom in early adulthood and lost all functionalityHow I finally received a diagnosis at 2213 years of no diagnosis or treatment22 years of misdiagnosis12 years of incorrect treatment25 years without proper interventionFinding evidence-based treatment at 25Contextual episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠01. My Full Story: 0 to 26⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠02-04. My Mental Health Journey: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Part 1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Part 2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Part 3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (01:33:24) What evidence-based treatment & recovery has looked like for me My experience of comorbid OCD & PTSD (01:45:02) Reconciling the time lost to misdiagnosis & lack of treatment How OCD led me to join a religious cult at 14Grief and loss (01:55:04) Rapid-fire final OCD myth busting: OCD is NOT an anxiety disorder (& is not treated as such)OCD is NOT "just" a form of anxiety (disgust, guilt, shame, just-rightness, etc.)OCD is NOT a form of traumaOCD is NOT a form of PTSD (& is not treated as such)OCD is also a neurodevelopment disorder Connect with me! My website⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠umarchatterjee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Video + event recording repository⁠Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@umarchatterjee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support my work: ⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/umarchatterjee⁠⁠Have a guest you want on the show? Fill out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Suggestion Form!⁠
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    2 hrs and 4 mins
  • 25. From College Dropout to Graduate Student: Navigating Graduate School Applications & Admissions as a Nontraditional Student

    25. From College Dropout to Graduate Student: Navigating Graduate School Applications & Admissions as a Nontraditional Student
    Sep 21 2023
    On episode 25 of A Chat with Uma, I share my full journey of applying for graduate school as a non-traditional student with a very divergent & complicated academic + personal history. I share my experience in full detail of applying for clinical psychology Ph.D programs earlier on in my academic journey, and how + why I ultimately chose to pursue my masters in neuroscience. I discuss how vastly different my experience was as a student whose path was so divergent from anyone around me, and the resulting confusion about my future & chances due to having no basis + reference point about my own journey. I explain how I navigated the ambiguity of applying to Ph.D programs with my unique journey, and why I ultimately decided to try. I speak at length about every detail of my application experience as a non-traditional student: including disclosure in personal statements, my CV, internet/social media "outing," recommendation letters, interviews, and more. This episode serves to provide evidence & hope that pursuing academic endeavors as a non-traditional student with a divergent past IS possible. I share all of my advice, empowerment, experiences, and honest reflections from my experiences in the hopes that others feel valid & hopeful about forcing their own paths with their unique lived experiences. Topics Discussed (+ timestamps): (00:00:00) Intro & overview of episode (00:07:48) Update: ⁠Video + event recording repository⁠ of many past events (00:10:18) UPCOMING EVENT: Hosting IOCDF's Community Conversations - Tues. 9/26, 7 ET Link to attend (00:11:35) EVENT REPLAY: Co-hosted IOCDF's Community Conversations with Tom Smalley Link to watch (00:12:23) EVENT REPLAY: IOCDF Diversity Roundtable on Suicide Prevention - with Dr. Darlene Davis Goodwine, Krista Reed, & Erika McCoy ⁠Link to watch⁠ (00:14:08) UPCOMING EVENT: Online IOCDF OCD Conference 2023 & ticket giveaway! Register hereEmail for ticket giveaway: hello@umarchatterjee.com (00:16:55 ) Brief background from my undergraduate degree & considering next steps Contextual episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠01. My Full Story: 0 to 26⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠02-04. My Mental Health Journey: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Part 1⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Part 2⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Part 3⁠⁠⁠⁠ (00:23:33) Applying to grad school the first time Psychology Ph.D programs & my neuroscience M.S. programHow & why I chose the neuroscience M.S.The major influence my non-traditional path played in this application cycle (00:32:46) Starting my masters degree in neuroscience My extremely unique experience as a non-traditional studentThe prescribed, typical path around me vs. my very divergent pathConfusion around what was possible for my future (00:41:55) The wide range of evaluations & judgments I received due to my unprecedented, non-traditional academic path (00:45:48) How and why I decided to apply to Neuroscience Ph.D programs, in spite of the odds; How I "broke the rules" of the typical application process (00:51:38) How I specifically chose schools, programs, and mentors as a non-traditional student (01:02:53) How I "broke the rules" in navigating disclosure + talking about my non-traditional path as an applicant Statements & essaysMy CVMy exposure & disclosure on the internet + social mediaWhat I shared vs. what I didn't share (01:16:48) Recommendation letters: How I chose recommendersHow I asked recommendersHow I shared my history/past with themThe resources I created to optimize my chances as a non-traditional student (01:26:36) Ph.D Interviews: how they went, how I navigated disclosure, the results of my applications, closing out the episode Connect with me! My website⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠umarchatterjee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@UmaRChatterjee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@umarchatterjee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support my work: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/umarchatterjee⁠Have a guest you want on the show? Fill out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Suggestion Form!⁠
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    1 hr and 40 mins
Psychology Hygiene & Healthy Living
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