Trauma surgeon Jeremy Heffner tells Maurice Benard what emotional control cost him. After years of managing chaos and carrying other people’s worst moments, Jeremy says he became so skilled at locking away emotion that he could no longer cry. He called it a “black hole in my heart.” In this deeply personal State of Mind conversation, Jeremy and Maurice go inside PTSD, moral injury, doctor burnout, residential treatment, faith, EMDR, COVID, men and emotion, and what happens when the people expected to handle everyone else’s crisis have nowhere to put their own. Maurice connects Jeremy’s story to his own lived experience with bipolar disorder, severe depression during COVID, faith, and why State of Mind exists.
Content note: This episode includes discussions of suicidal ideation, severe depression, trauma exposure, residential treatment, PTSD, and alcohol-related harm.
Disclaimer: This program is intended strictly for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. It does not constitute formal medical advice, clinical diagnosis, or mental health treatment protocols.
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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
