One Hidden Cause for Six Different Symptoms. The Psychiatrist Explaining Why 50% of Physical Complaints Begin in the Mind | Dr. Paul Conti

Mayim Bialik's Breakdown

Mayim Bialik

Comedy, Health & Fitness, Mental Health

4.8 • 5.9K Ratings

🗓️ 15 May 2026

⏱️ 104 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What if everything you’ve been told about mental health is backwards? In this episode of Mayim Bialik's Breakdown in honor of Mental Health Month, Dr. Paul Conti (psychiatrist & President of Pacific Premier Group PC) reveals why focusing on what’s wrong with you may actually be keeping you stuck, and how a completely different approach can unlock resilience, hope, and real change. We dive into the shocking truth that MORE THAN HALF of physical health issues may originate from mental health, and why treating symptoms alone (with medication or endless information) often misses the root cause entirely. You’ll learn why overdiagnosis is more dangerous than you think, how self-fulfilling prophecies quietly shape your reality, and why “feeling fine” might be the biggest thing holding you back. Dr. Conti breaks down the hidden long-term effects of trauma, including how it impacts longevity and can even be passed down genetically, and why the cycle of intergenerational trauma can stop with you. He shares his personal story, the critical difference between grief and trauma, and why letting go of guilt and shame is essential for true healing. We explore why mental health stigma still exists despite everyone talking about it, why it’s so emotionally difficult to examine your own mind, and why you can’t separate mental and physical health, no matter how much we try. We also discuss: - Hidden root behind multiple symptoms you didn’t know were connected - Why more information won’t help unless you can actually apply it - Surprising reason relief from distress doesn’t equal happiness - How your recurring thoughts may be shaping your entire life - Why giving back can make you feel whole in ways nothing else can Plus, we tackle some of the most controversial topics in modern mental health: - When medication should (and shouldn’t) be used - Dangers of turning to AI for therapy - Why elevating science to the level of “truth” can actually limit human growth Most importantly, Dr. Conti introduces a powerful, practical framework: using compassionate curiosity to re-examine your life story - so you can begin healing, even without professional therapy. If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or like you’re missing something important about your own mind, this conversation might change how you see yourself forever! Check out Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam and subscribe: https://unpacked.bio/q1e Start your new morning ritual & get up to 43% off your @MUDWTR with code BREAK at https://mudwtr.com/BREAK ! #mudwtrpod Get 15% off OneSkin with the code BREAK at https://www.oneskin.co/BREAK #oneskinpod Get 15% off + a FREE bottle of MassZymes ($20 value) when you go to https://bioptimizers.com/breaker and use code BREAKER. Limited-time offer, only available through this link (not on Amazon or in stores). Grab it while it lasts. Dr. Paul Conti’s latest book, What’s Going Right: A Powerful New Method for Optimizing Your Mental Health: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/paul-conti/whats-going-right/9781538776049/ Follow us on Substack for Exclusive Bonus Content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bialikbreakdown.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BialikBreakdown.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.com/mayimbialik⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	More than 50% of complaints to all physical medicine doctors are originating in the mind.
0:06.4	The increase in pain that you're having, the GI issue, maybe it's fibromyalgia, it's autoimmune
0:11.1	phenomenon, pains in your joints, rash, your six entirely different things, are coming from one thing.
0:16.2	Dr. Paul Conti, the psychiatrist who helped Lady Gaga, the Kardashians, Mel Robbins, the author of
0:23.0	What's Going Right, a Powerful New Method for Optimizing Your Mental Health, who sees how we can
0:27.6	all make it better.
0:29.2	If we don't address the traumas in our lives, they don't go away.
0:33.0	It spins off symptoms, insomnia, panic attacks, oppression, substance.
0:36.9	My youngest brother died by suicide. I was in my mid-20s at the time. And life was going in such a bad direction. I had no hopefulness about the future. I had unhealthy relationships. I was drinking more. It was so embarrassed to get help. And then someone started bringing order. And I started just learned the mind and the body aren't just attached.
0:56.0	They're interwoven. And what goes on in one dramatically affects the other.
1:00.0	We treat the symptoms as if they were the problems.
1:03.0	Let's give you an SSRI. Let's give you a sleeping medicine.
1:06.0	Of course they're not getting any better.
1:08.0	Let's look for what could be root causes.
1:10.0	Everything worth having in life
1:11.5	requires some work, but here's the good news. We can understand it. We can get at it. We can change it.
1:20.7	Hi, I'm Miami-B-Lx. My-M-B-AX breakdown is supported by Helix Sleep. Spring is in the air,
1:26.6	and so are all of the allergens that come with it.
1:29.2	Spring allergens means you need more sleep, but there are a ton of factors that can prevent us from getting a good night's rest.
1:35.7	Night sweats, back pain, feeling the person next to you when they roll over a million times.
1:40.3	We were so excited to hear that Helix wanted to partner with us.
1:43.8	I've had my Helix mattress for about five years now, and I have been sleeping so much better. Jonathan and also our kids love their Helix mattresses and all of those issues, night sweats, back pain, motion transfer. Those things are significantly better with a Helix mattress. Helix delivers your mattress right to your door, which is so much fun with free shipping
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