In this episode of Navigating a Broken Vessel, host Dave Harris sits down with Eric Dyches to discuss a topic that is too often shrouded in silence: postpartum depression, anxiety, and maternal mental health.

Eric opens up about his late wife, Emily, who developed severe postpartum anxiety and depression following the traumatic birth of their fifth child. He candidly shares the confusion of navigating her diagnosis, the heartbreaking loss of Emily, and his subsequent journey through grief, faith, and rebuilding a life. Now remarried to his wife, Leslie—who also lost a spouse to mental illness—Eric talks about the beautiful, complex reality of blending a family of eight children and finding joy after trauma.

This episode is a powerful testament to resilience, the critical importance of maternal mental health resources, and the reality that there is always hope, even in the darkest valleys.

Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

• The Reality of Postpartum Anxiety & OCD: Understanding that maternal mental health struggles can look like hyper-vigilance, panic, and worry, rather than just sadness.

• Grief as a Lifelong Journey: Eric shares how he handles the ongoing process of healing without trying to "move on" from Emily’s memory.

• The "Tossed Salad" of Blended Families: Navigating the shifting identities and challenges of blending five children and three children into one household.

• Post-Traumatic Growth & Empathy: How experiencing profound loss completely shifts how we view human suffering and extend compassion to others.

• Advocacy & Action: Turning pain into purpose through foundations and clinics dedicated to women's maternal and hormonal health.

Resources & Support Mentioned This Episode:

If you or a loved one are struggling with postpartum mood disorders, please know you are not alone. Reach out to the professional resources discussed by Eric:

• The Emily Effect: A foundation dedicated to raising awareness, erasing the stigma of maternal mental health dysphoria, and letting mothers know they are not alone.

• Serenity – A Healing Center for Moms: Offering intensive outpatient and general therapy support tailored specifically for mothers in Utah (Draper & Provo locations).Website: serenityrw.com

  Auri Medical: A clinic co-founded by Eric and his sister (a nurse practitioner) focusing heavily on women’s health, hormone replacement therapy, and perimenopause/menopause care.Website: ⁠aurimedicalutah.com

  
  

• Connect with Navigating a Broken Vessel:

• • Website: navigatingabrokenvessel.com

  • Email Dave: Dave@navigatingabrokenvessel.com

  • Social Media: Find us on Facebook and Instagram at NavigatingaBrokenVessel

  Disclaimer: The host and guest of this podcast are not medical professionals. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency or severe postpartum symptoms, please consult a licensed medical professional or contact the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline.

Dave sits down with his lifelong friend of 35 years, Rowdy Reeve, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC). Rowdy shares his fascinating career pivot from law enforcement and owning an indoor shooting range to dedicating his life to community mental health and suicide prevention.

Together, they dive into the complex realities of mental health, unpacking what it really means to find a way out when life feels entirely overwhelming.

Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

• The Power of Pivoting: Rowdy opens up about how a tragic suicide at his indoor shooting range, Rowdy’s Range, served as a profound turning point that ultimately led him into clinical therapy.

• Conquering Imposter Syndrome: Even professionals feel like phonies sometimes. Rowdy discusses his own battles with imposter syndrome and explains how the DBT skill "Check the Facts" can ground you when you feel like you don't fit the mold.

• De-stigmatizing Suicide Prevention: Dave and Rowdy bust common myths surrounding suicide—including the false belief that talking openly about it plants the idea in someone's head. Rowdy explains that suicidal ideation is rarely about wanting to end life, but rather a desperate desire to end unbearable pain.

• Crucial Advice for Parents: How to establish a non-judgmental, open-door policy with your children so they never feel "stuck" or isolated in their struggles.

• Healing with Equine Therapy: A fascinating look into Rowdy's current work using horses to help clients process deep-seated emotional challenges, alongside an exciting preview of his private practice, Reevive Counseling.

Important Note: If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges or thoughts of suicide, please know that you are not stuck and you are not alone. Reach out to a professional, talk to someone you trust, or contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline immediately at 988.

Help is always available.

In this highly requested episode of Navigating a Broken Vessel, host Dave Harris is joined by his absolute favorite guest—his wife, co-adventurer, and the show's producer, Shelly Harris!

Instead of our usual deep-dive interviews, Dave and Shelly are pulling back the curtain to answer listener-submitted questions. Together, they open up about the raw, day-to-day realities of managing mental health, neurodivergence, and relationships.

Inside the Episode:

• The Secret to a Resilient Marriage: How they have navigated decades of stress, anxiety, and depression together while staying happily married (hint: it’s all about communication).

• Practicing Metacognition: Dave shares a powerful perspective shift from his therapist on how to look at yourself from the outside in to stop a negative downward spiral before it starts.

• Social Anxiety vs. Outgoing Personality: How Dave manages social anxiety (even around family) and why "faking it till you make it" is sometimes part of the journey.

• The ADHD Revelation: Shelly breaks down how discovering Dave's ADHD and utilizing tools like "body doubling" completely transformed how they support each other.

• What a "Bad Mental Health Day" Actually Looks Like: Dave shares a powerful metaphor of what depression feels like and how he relies on "treading water" routines to make it through.

• A Sneak Peek at What's Next: Shelly previews upcoming, deeply powerful episodes featuring Dave's best friend Rowdy, Eric Dyches, and Kim Dellis.

A note from Dave: "Life is not designed to be easy or perfect. By experiencing these trials, we become better people. Trust your past self, take it one day at a time, and remember—you are doing better than you think you are."

Connect with Us!

We want to hear from you! If you have a question or a topic you want us to unpack in Part 2, reach out:

• Email: Dave@navigatingabrokenvessel.com

• Website: navigatingabrokenvessel.com (Listen to all past episodes here!)

• Socials: Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @navigatingabrokenvessel

• Watch on YouTube: Prefer video? Subscribe and watch our full studio video podcast!

Disclaimer: We are not medical or mental health professionals. This podcast is based entirely on our personal perspectives and lived experiences and should not be taken as medical advice.