Early Life and Diagnoses

• 🧠 Rachel was diagnosed with ADHD at age five and later with bipolar disorder at twelve, which she believes was a misdiagnosis for borderline personality disorder (BPD).
• ⚖️ She notes that BPD is often misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder because there's no specific medication for BPD, relying primarily on talk therapy like DBT.
• 💊 Early medication, including lithium, led to a thyroid disorder and memory gaps, highlighting the challenges of managing complex mental health conditions in youth.

Therapeutic Boarding School Experience

• 🔒 At seventeen, Rachel was sent to a therapeutic boarding school in Utah after behavioral issues, describing it as a "lockdown" or "kid prison".
• ⛓️ The experience involved strict rules, constant supervision, and limited communication, with some students being "escorted" in the middle of the night.
• 🎓 She graduated from the program at eighteen, receiving a diploma from the facility, which she describes as having a mascot of Ritalin or "Provo Prozacs".

Comedy Career and Mental Health

• 🎤 Rachel discusses the challenges of being a comedian in Los Angeles, including limited stage time and the impact of the pandemic on the comedy scene.
• 🤝 She credits mentors like Matt Fulshear and Felipe Esparza for guidance and support in navigating the comedy industry.
• 🎭 Her experiences with BPD, including emotional dysregulation and dissociation, often surface during her stand-up, with the release of laughter helping her cope.

Parental Influence and Generational Trauma

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Raised by lawyer parents in Las Vegas, Rachel felt a lack of emotional validation, contributing to her struggles with self-esteem and emotional regulation.
• 🔄 She reflects on generational trauma, noting how stoicism in her parents' generation, influenced by their upbringing, impacted their ability to provide emotional tools.
• ❤️ Despite the difficult experiences, Rachel doesn't blame her parents, acknowledging they were likely doing the best they could with the tools they had.

Reflections on Motherhood and the World

• 🌍 Rachel expresses concerns about raising children in today's world, citing issues like school shootings and the impact of the internet.
• 💖 She emphasizes the importance of love, validation, and attention for children, believing that providing basic needs and emotional support is crucial.
• 🎓 She attended Landmark College for learning differences and later American University, finding validation and learning how to learn effectively in college.