Dave Harris takes us back to 1995 to explore a peculiar personal challenge: the "wall" between public confidence and private connection.

Dave recounts a trip from Logan, Utah, to an extended family reunion—the "Butt Reunion"—in Idaho. Despite driving two hours to get there and seeing his parents' car in the driveway, Dave found himself unable to walk into the backyard. Confronted by the prospect of one-on-one interactions with relatives he didn't know, he chose to turn around and drive all the way back home without ever saying hello.

Key Themes in This Episode:

• Public vs. Private Anxiety: Dave discusses the irony of being perfectly comfortable speaking to a stadium of 100,000 people or appearing on live television, yet feeling paralyzed by the intimacy of a one-on-one conversation.

• The Mission Challenge: Hear about Dave’s time as a missionary in New Zealand, where the requirement to approach strangers ("GQing") triggered deep cycles of anxiety and depression.

• A Prophecy of Faith: Dave shares a powerful memory of a dinner with his Mission President, who offered a specific "prophecy" regarding Dave's future activity in the Church and the role of home teaching (now ministering).

• The Power of Workarounds: Now 30 years later, Dave reveals the practical strategies he uses to overcome his social walls, including the vital support of his wife, Shelly, and the importance of "just doing the first step".

• Spirit Over Mortal Body: A reflection on the purpose of life’s mental health challenges, suggesting that these struggles are a design to help our spirits learn to master our mortal bodies through the Atonement.

Join Dave as he reflects on how vulnerability and persistence help us navigate our own "broken vessels" and find strength in our weaknesses.

Social:

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

Instagram: @navigatingabrokenvessel

Disclaimer: I am not a mental health professional, and this should not be taken as any kind of medical advice. If you need assistance, I highly recommend working with mental health professionals. I use many myself.

In this poignant episode of Navigating a Broken Vessel, host Dave Harris sits down with longtime friend Melissa Barney to explore the often-overlooked perspective of the person behind the struggle.

Melissa shares her deeply personal journey as the spouse of Derek Barney, whose transformation from opioid addiction to becoming a professional therapist was featured in a previous episode. Melissa opens up about the isolation, fear, and sheer exhaustion of holding a family together while a loved one faces their darkest trials.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The loneliness of being a caregiver and the feeling of being forgotten by the community during a crisis.

• Why self-care is vital—yet seemingly impossible—when you are juggling the safety of your children and the survival of your spouse.

• How a timely blessing from a Church leader and a commitment to constant prayer provided the strength to endure.

• The healing that comes from the Church’s Addiction Recovery Program and realizing you are never as alone as you feel.

• Choosing a proactive path of discipleship and compassion rather than succumbing to anger or blame.

Melissa’s story is a testament to the refining power of trials and the incredible empathy that grows from surviving the fire. Whether you are currently in the middle of a trial or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers a grounded, honest look at finding hope on the other side.

Connect with us:

• Website: navigatingabrokenvessel.com

• Social Media: Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @NavigatingABrokenVessel

• Email: Reach out to Dave at dave@navigatingabrokenvessel.com

Disclaimer: I am not a mental health professional, and this should not be taken as any kind of medical advice. If you need assistance, I highly recommend working with mental health professionals. I use many myself.

In this episode of Navigating a Broken Vessel, host Dave Harris takes listeners on a deep dive into his personal ADHD world and what he calls "The Lazy Perfectionist."

Dave shares a story from his 6th grade days when he tried to woo a girl named "Sally" by telling her to "Shut up!" This funny and relatable anecdote sets the stage for a discussion on how perfectionism and a fear of failure can often lead to a mental paralysis that keeps us from taking the first step.

Throughout the episode, Dave explores:

• The Planning Trap: How over-planning can feel like progress while actually preventing action.

• Mental Paralysis: The feeling of being physically unable to start a task, even when you know it's important.

• Breaking the Cycle: Dave's practical strategy of focusing on just the very first step, like sitting in a chair or opening a computer.

• The Power of Medication: How understanding ADHD and using appropriate tools can help manage symptoms like rumination and procrastination.

Whether you struggle with ADHD yourself or just find yourself stuck in a cycle of planning without doing, this episode offers a humorous and insightful look at how to overcome the hurdles of your own mind.

Disclaimer: I am not a mental health professional, and this should not be taken as any kind of medical advice. If you need assistance, I highly recommend working with mental health professionals. I use many myself.