When Do Mental Health Problems Need More Help Than Your Friends Can Give? Part 1

In this episode of HVAC Know It All, host Gary McCreadie speaks with Matt Showers, a commercial-industrial HVAC professional and the host of Trade Therapy Podcast. They discuss putting real stories behind the topic, recognizing when peer support is not enough, managing screen and gaming habits, and responding to online negativity without feeding it.

Matt draws from his experience creating the Trade Therapy podcast and seeking therapy for his own screen addiction. He explains how professional support and future-focused exercises helped him reset priorities, set limits around gaming, and spend more intentional time with his family.

Key Takeaways How sharing personal stories can make mental health conversations in the trades more concrete and relatable.

Why professional help may be necessary when a mental health challenge is beyond what a friend can help resolve.

How phone games and immersive video games can become a distraction from family and other priorities.

The value of setting a timer and stepping away from screens before they consume more time than intended.

Why asking questions and seeking context is more constructive than attacking people online.

Key Timestamps 00:00 – Cintas Ad

04:03 – Matt explains why he started the Trade Therapy podcast

09:44 – Matt describes the pull of phone games and video games

12:02 – Therapy, future-focused exercises, and resetting priorities

21:35 – Why online attacks can be driven by attention and engagement