OpenTube

Nish Kumar: "What surprised me is how little I knew about my own mind"

How Do You Cope? with John Robins

12,969 views

What happens when you realise your mind has been protecting you in ways you never understood?

In this episode, John is joined by comedian Nish Kumar.

After a gig in 2019 became the catalyst for a period of anxiety, fear and hypervigilance, Nish eventually received a diagnosis of PTSD.

In this conversation, he reflects on the changing political landscape, the impact of sustained online abuse and why therapy transformed the way he understands his own mind.

John and Nish also discuss ADHD, EMDR therapy, shame, learning to recognise fear instead of denying it, and how comedy can turn painful experiences into something that helps us feel less alone.

There’ll be more from Nish on Thursday in our bonus episode, The Gratitude List, where he shares the five things he’s most grateful for right now.

💭 You can send in your thoughts and reflections to hello@howdoyoucopepod.com or via https://howdoyoucopepod.com

📹 Subscribe and watch here on YouTube

🎧 Listen in your podcast app

📱 Follow the show on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook:

Instagram: howdoyoucopepod
Facebook: howdoyoucopepod
TikTok: howdoyoucopepod

🛎️ How Do You Cope is a Significant Production.

20 Comments

@rebeccawampler3276 2 months ago (edited)

As someone with extreme anxiety, ADHD and PTSD, I was thinking, “Focusing on various worst case scenarios multiple times a day isn’t that weird.” Then John pointed out that it’s not normal and I was just like, “Oh, yeah, okay, that tracks.”
Nish makes me feel less insane, because there is something wrong with people who think everything is fine right now.

@concettaowens9631 2 months ago

I liked Nish before I knew he was bravely talking about politics and inequality. Now I love him ❤

@scatteredburps 2 months ago (edited)

Nish seems like a genuinely lovely person and I think what he has done in this podcast will be very helpful to a lot of people.
It's really nice to watch a podcast of this nature where the host gives the guest uninterrupted space to talk freely without getting cut off or diverted. Really interesting and respectful conversation about something quite difficult and traumatic.
Would love people who send these sorts of death threats and hate messages to listen and understand the impact words online can have.

@louisemoulding5139 2 months ago

Thank you, Nish for sharing these experiences. Obviously most of us will not get bread thrown at us, or death threats, or have to take a break from a nationally broadcast show but we can fully relate to being scared, dissociated, and feeling the disconnection from our own body and loved ones. John, I am so grateful to have found this podcast and count it as part of my own therapy and routine to keep connected with myself.

@sarahfaulkner5099 2 months ago

I am, unashamedly, one of Nish’s braying acolytes. I’ll be seeing him for the 5th time in October and can absolutely attest to the vibe at his gigs; can’t recommend highly enough if you’re also a sane person in a mad world.

@emmabobby3666 2 months ago

As someone who was in a situation of abuse from a very young age, before a baby is able to form memories properly it was very interesting to hear Nish describe ptsd symptoms because it allows you to figure out what it would be to be out of the symptoms of CPTSD and dissociation. Thank you!

@Ryansdove 2 months ago

Thanks Nish for explaining Superman's underpants-on-the-outside. I've never understood that before.

@OtMeijers 2 months ago

What a f** intense, genuine, informative, caring (!) and moving conversation this is. (I must admit I am also curious about this best man’s speech …. :-)

@ArtfulDogster 2 months ago

I've never had therapy, but I've been getting it second-hand through some of these podcasts. Really useful information without having to put myself in the hot seat.

@Stut-l4z 2 months ago

I love Nish! Thank you for helping him open up.

@thesquawkingscraper5521 2 months ago

Thank you for this episode and all the episodes of the How do you Cope podcasts and Gratitude lists! You have really interesting and inspiring guests; I've learnt such a lot from them and am very grateful to them for sharing their experiences. John is a brilliant interviewer and host who does lots of research into each guest, asks thoughtful, compassionate questions and is a great listener.

@RiaWalker81 2 months ago

Nish ❤🥰. Great conversation guys!

@blackcatz1364 2 months ago

Love this - 2 of my fave podcasters and a great conversation

@SueClarke-sm9fs 2 months ago

LOVED this ❤ and love Nish x

@kimhewer1479 2 months ago

I think Nish is great.
the charity event sounds like a nightmare of self righteous people that don't like being forced to listen to the truth.

@desiraecicerone 2 months ago

I gotta say, a friend that will literally email a therapist for you to get you connected... that is a good friend. Good friends are so important and such blessings. ❤

@Clairelbear78 2 months ago (edited)

Why would someone send horrible messages to someone (regardless of who they are) it makes no sense…. Kindness is everything ❤ would they do it to their face? Nope. I just feel strongly about trolling etc) it’s so unkind and glad Nish is ok x
Nish is brilliant just a lovely bloke making people laugh in comedy. X

Great pod ❤