When Guilt Feels Real: Recovery, Mental Health and Making Amends
The Down a Hole podcast is back, and Fish and I are tackling a difficult question: What happens when someone feels genuine guilt about events experienced during psychosis—even after realizing those events never actually happened?
In this episode, we discuss a man in recovery who believed he had three daughters and had failed them as a father. The daughters were not real, but his memories and guilt still felt very real to him. Should he make amends to people who never existed? Could doing so provide relief, or would it reinforce the delusion?
There is no simple answer. Our conversation explores the complicated intersection of sobriety, mental health, guilt, accountability, and spirituality. We also discuss why someone facing these questions should not try to work through them alone. A therapist, psychiatrist, sponsor or another qualified and trusted person can help determine the healthiest next step.
Watching this episode may offer a different perspective on recovery and a better understanding of how real another person’s experiences can feel—even when those experiences do not match our reality. It also reminds us that listening without immediately judging or dismissing someone can create the safety needed for an honest conversation.
The full podcast is available at NielFlamm.com/podcast.
While you are there, check out the other podcast episodes available on the site. Each conversation explores different experiences, perspectives, and challenges. Watching them may help viewers feel less alone, understand someone else’s journey or begin a meaningful conversation of their own.
Sometimes the greatest benefit of a podcast is not that it provides every answer. It encourages us to ask better questions—and to listen when someone is brave enough to share a vulnerable part of their life.
When Guilt Feels Real: Recovery, Delusion, and Making Amends
The Down a Hole podcast is back.
In this episode, Fish and I explore a complicated question: If someone feels guilt over events experienced during psychosis—even when those events never actually happened—does making amends still have a place in recovery?
We discuss sobriety, mental health, accountability, vulnerability, and the importance of seeking guidance instead of facing difficult thoughts alone.
Watch the full podcast at NielFlamm.com/blog.
Thank You for Reading My Internet Garbage
There are moments when I stop and look at the analytics for NielFlamm.com, and I honestly have to laugh a little. When I started this little hobby, I figured the only people visiting would be a handful of friends, family members, and maybe someone who clicked the wrong link.
Instead, something unexpected has happened.
I've started seeing steady movement in the site's traffic, especially through the RSS feed, and visitors are coming from places I never imagined. A huge percentage of readers and viewers are coming from Asia, with China and Vietnam leading the way. The United States continues to be a strong audience, and across Europe, Germany has become the largest source of visitors.
I have no idea what resonates with everyone. Maybe it's the movie reviews, the health journey, the recovery stories, the Nextdoor commentary, the random observations about life, or just the collection of what I affectionately call Internet Garbage.
Whatever the reason, I'm incredibly grateful.
Over the last 30 days, the site has received more than 800 unique visitors, over 1,000 page views, and more than 800 visits overall. I'm still learning what all these analytics mean, but every number represents a real person who took time out of their day to stop by my little corner of the internet.
That's pretty amazing to me.
If you've read a post, watched a video, or listened to a podcast episode, thank you. Your support means more than you probably realize.
I'd also love to hear from you. Tell me what you enjoy, what you'd like to see more of, or what I could do better. This website is a hobby, but like any hobby, I want to keep improving and evolving.
And if you enjoy the content, please share it with someone else. Don't gatekeep the Internet Garbage—spread it around!
Thanks again for stopping by, and I look forward to bringing you even more Internet Garbage in the weeks and months ahead.
See you on the website!
#NielFlamm #Blogging #ContentCreator #Gratitude #ThankYou #MovieReviews #RecoveryJourney #LifeAsAnAmputee #ESRD #InternetGarbage #Podcast #PersonalBlog #RSS #GlobalAudience #KeepCreating
Cortisol, Spirituality, Stress & Healing | Down A Hole Podcast – Season 1 Episode 7
How much of our daily stress is affecting our bodies, our thinking, and even our ability to connect with other people?
In Season 1, Episode 7 of Down A Hole, Fish and I dive into a conversation about cortisol, stress, spirituality, emotional regulation, meditation, mindfulness, and the challenges of navigating an increasingly stressful world.
From the science behind stress hormones to practical discussions about breathing, awareness, recovery, and personal growth, this episode explores how our minds and bodies respond to pressure—and what we can do about it.
🎙️ Watch or listen to the full episode at:
Interested in being a guest on the podcast?
📅 Use the Calendly link on the podcast page and schedule a conversation. We're always looking for interesting people, unique perspectives, and great stories.
NielFlamm.com Goes More Global 🌎
There’s a new update live now on NielFlamm.com.
Visitors can now actively translate the site into:
中文 (Chinese)
Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
日本語 (Japanese)
These were added to help support and welcome viewers from countries that continue to show strong interest in the content outside of the United States — currently among the highest international viewership on the site.
To use the feature:
➡️ Click the language dropdown on the right side of the website
➡️ Choose one of the three available languages
More language support and updates are coming soon.
Thank you to everyone around the world who visits, watches, reads, listens, and supports the content on NielFlamm.com. The international traffic, comments, shares, and engagement genuinely mean a lot.