John Ballen

But they're things that if you brought them up, no one's going to question your manhood. They're not going to question, you know, things that society views as really important, right? It's the stuff that is super personal to you that could be potentially embarrassing. Those are the things that are your real demons. I'm not saying those other things aren't demons. They are. They are.

But they're things that if you brought them up, no one's going to question your manhood. They're not going to question, you know, things that society views as really important, right? It's the stuff that is super personal to you that could be potentially embarrassing. Those are the things that are your real demons. I'm not saying those other things aren't demons. They are. They are.

But if you can't talk about those things, they will dog you your whole life. They really will. And so I think it's not about you need to go sign up for therapy and go talk to a therapist. But I do think that, like you mentioned it yourself, you have to be able to sort of like unburden yourself. And part of that is simply talking about it.

But if you can't talk about those things, they will dog you your whole life. They really will. And so I think it's not about you need to go sign up for therapy and go talk to a therapist. But I do think that, like you mentioned it yourself, you have to be able to sort of like unburden yourself. And part of that is simply talking about it.

Like I had one, this is not really a demon, but to give people a sense who are watching this of like how comfortable I am being forward about things that I struggle with. So. Oddly enough, one of the reasons that I was also drawn to the military, believe it or not, was I struggle mightily to urinate in front of other people, just publicly going to the bathroom in front of other people.

Like I had one, this is not really a demon, but to give people a sense who are watching this of like how comfortable I am being forward about things that I struggle with. So. Oddly enough, one of the reasons that I was also drawn to the military, believe it or not, was I struggle mightily to urinate in front of other people, just publicly going to the bathroom in front of other people.

It's not like it's destroying my life, but it's uncomfortable. Like it's easier for me if I'm alone, right? I knew this about myself at a young age. Don't have a reason for it. But I knew when I was in high school or in college, I would go to a bathroom that was private because that was easier for me. And as I got older, I was like, that's not really that normal that this is happening to me.

It's not like it's destroying my life, but it's uncomfortable. Like it's easier for me if I'm alone, right? I knew this about myself at a young age. Don't have a reason for it. But I knew when I was in high school or in college, I would go to a bathroom that was private because that was easier for me. And as I got older, I was like, that's not really that normal that this is happening to me.

And so part of the reason I was interested in the Navy is they drug test you and they do it really publicly. And it was like... In order to deal with this, I have to go into an organization that literally will force me to have to urinate in front of other people.

And so part of the reason I was interested in the Navy is they drug test you and they do it really publicly. And it was like... In order to deal with this, I have to go into an organization that literally will force me to have to urinate in front of other people.

But for me, it's sort of like facing these things that are hyper-personal, like inability to pee in front of other people, which I've overcome. But you have to be willing to sort of identify those things. And in my case, I talked to my wife about it before I joined the Navy. And she's like, OK. I talked to my therapist about it recently as well.

But for me, it's sort of like facing these things that are hyper-personal, like inability to pee in front of other people, which I've overcome. But you have to be willing to sort of identify those things. And in my case, I talked to my wife about it before I joined the Navy. And she's like, OK. I talked to my therapist about it recently as well.

But it's sort of like that's a really specific personal thing that if I brought that up in a casual conversation, I'm sure there are people that could actually relate to it. But most people would be like, that's a little uncomfortable that you brought that up. But like everybody's got stuff that falls into that category.

But it's sort of like that's a really specific personal thing that if I brought that up in a casual conversation, I'm sure there are people that could actually relate to it. But most people would be like, that's a little uncomfortable that you brought that up. But like everybody's got stuff that falls into that category.

Maybe not specifically, but everybody's got weird insecurities and they've got things that drive their decisions that would be to them deeply embarrassing to bring up. That is the reason you have to bring them up because they will dog you and they will always be there until you deal with them. And for me, it's been helpful and cathartic to state them out loud and then do something about them.

Maybe not specifically, but everybody's got weird insecurities and they've got things that drive their decisions that would be to them deeply embarrassing to bring up. That is the reason you have to bring them up because they will dog you and they will always be there until you deal with them. And for me, it's been helpful and cathartic to state them out loud and then do something about them.

Yeah, that's true.

Yeah, that's true.

Yeah. So I would say, obviously, the medium by which you're telling the story matters.

Yeah. So I would say, obviously, the medium by which you're telling the story matters.