the tara bixby podcast

Tracey Higgins joins us on the show today to share how she healed from schizophrenia after losing 19 years of her life to a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. At the age of nine, she was taken from her home where she became a ward of the state. Over the next 19 years, she moved around from hospitals, group homes, a juvenile center, and the streets. In her late twenties, Tracey found the courage to leave her schizophrenic world to help a child who was being sexually abused by her father; she discovered at the same time she too had been sexually abused as a child. That triggered off the healing process from her own dark world that robbed her of her dignity and basic human rights. When describing schizophrenia, Tracey calls it a waking nightmare. Coming out of it is a true awakening of oneself—becoming weller than well, a new version of self. It has been said that schizophrenia is an incurable brain disease, but is it? Tracey says no. She believes it's a survival mechanism brought on by disturbing or traumatic circumstances. Today Tracey is here to tell you that schizophrenia doesn't have to be a life sentence. While some mental health professionals called her hopeless, she went to college, worked in Government, and owned and operated a popular restaurant. We chat about... Where Tracey's mental health journey began What her symptoms looked like Why she calls her symptoms "reactions" What life looked like living with paranoid schizophrenia How she suffered from trauma amnesia What it was like to have the memories of abuse flood back How she navigated living with schizophrenia without medications What it was like to be a ward of the state Tracey's thoughts on what is wrong with our current mental health system Why Tracey's against the brain disease theory What she believes treatment should look like for people who live with schizophrenia Tracey's thoughts on what she believes leads to schizophrenia What she feels would have helped her back in the day Tracey's struggle with suicidal ideations What her mental health looks like today ____________________________ Click here to leave The Courageously.u Podcast a written review and rating. ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/tracey-higgins/ COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393

Dr. Margaret Paul is a bestselling author, popular MindBodyGreen writer, and co-creator of the powerful Inner Bonding® self-healing process, and the related SelfQuest® self-healing online program. She has appeared on numerous radio and television shows (including Oprah). Her book titles include Do I Have to Give Up Me to Be Loved By You, Healing Your Aloneness and Inner Bonding, and the recently published, Diet For Divine Connection and The Inner Bonding Workbook. Margaret holds a Ph.D. in psychology, is a relationship expert, public speaker, consultant, and artist. She has successfully worked with thousands and taught classes and seminars for over 50 years. Today we're chatting about... What the Inner Bonding process looks like How Margaret defines the inner child and the inner adult The two intentions of Inner Bonding How to know when you're in a loving adult state What happens when your adult becomes disconnected from your inner child The four major ways you abandon yourself How self-abandonment leads to the presentation of mental health symptoms What Margaret believes is the cause of our suffering How abandonment in childhood plays out in relationships Why it's never too late to use the inner bonding process How caretaking and niceness could be your wounded self attempting to control Tips to help kiddos learn inner bonding How to respond to someone who has a wounded soul ____________________________ Click here to download your anxiety freebie today! ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/margaret-paul/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Before you can succeed at parenting, you must first succeed as a couple. Today's episode is for all the new parents, soon-to-be parents, or wanna-be future parents like myself. Today is an exciting day because I have not one but two guests joining me on the show. Kara Hoppe and Dr. Stan Tatkin join us on the show to discuss their new book Baby Bomb: A relationship survival guide for new parents. Baby Bomb is the resource you need when a new baby turns your life—and your romantic relationship—upside down. Today we're chatting about... How you and your partner can co-parent and co-partner as a solid and supportive team— while also cultivating mad love for each other Why Stan and Kara wrote Baby Bomb How a secure-functioning relationship is essential for raising happy, healthy kids Why it's important to put the relationship before baby What couples can do when a new baby turns their life upside down Why babies don't save marriages The importance of letting your partner know they are a priority Why it's a benefit to step back as a new mom and receive care How to communicate your needs better to your partner What to do when you're jealous of your own baby How to keep intimacy alive after baby The importance of meeting your own individual needs Grieving your pre-baby life Why it's important your relationship is in good shape before baby ____________________________ >>> CLICK HERE IF YOU'RE TIRED OF ANXIETY RUINING YOUR LIFE ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/baby/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Katinka Blackford Newman is an award-winning documentary film director, journalist, and author. While going through a divorce, Katinka took an antidepressant. Not unusual – except that things didn't turn out quite as she expected. She went into a four-day toxic psychosis with violent hallucinations, imagining she had killed her children, and in fact attacking herself with a knife. Caught up in a real-life nightmare when doctors didn't realize she was suffering side effects of more pills, she went into a year-long decline. Soon she was wandering around in an old dressing gown, unable to care for herself, and dribbling. She nearly lost everything, but luck stepped in; treated at another hospital, she was taken off all the medication and made a miraculous recovery within weeks. Since then, Katinka has researched the side effects of antidepressants and interviewed some of the world's leading experts. Her best-selling book The Pill that Steals Lives has been featured on Radio 5 Live, BBC London, Good Morning Britain, the Victoria Derbyshire Show, and in The Times, The Sunday Times, The Daily Mail, and The British Journal of Psychiatry. In 2017 her research was made into a BBC Panorama program A Prescription for Murder which investigated whether an antidepressant could be the cause of one of the worst mass killings of this century. She is also the co-founder of a not-for-profit organization called Antidepressant Risks. Today we chat about... How Katinka lost a year of her life after taking Lexapro Katinka lacerating her arm with a knife The different medications Katinka was put on to try and treat the adverse effects of Lexapro How antidepressants are no more effective than a placebo The role drug companies play in the chemical imbalance theory How Katinka lost the ability to love, feel, care for herself, and show up for her children What mental health looks like in the UK The importance of recognizing red flags to adverse effects to medications What shocked Katinka most when doing her research How Katinka lost the will to live and her constant thought of "I want to kill myself" The realization Katinka had when she reflected on her father's suicide Why for-profit mental health services can be a dangerous situation ____________________________ >>> Click here if you're tired of living with anxiety and want a FREEBIE to help you heal it ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/katinka-blackford-newman/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Nancy Colier joins us on the show to teach you how to let go of anxiety and free yourself from obsessive rumination. Nancy is a psychotherapist, interfaith minister, author, public speaker, mindfulness teacher, and relationship coach. She's a longtime student of Eastern spirituality and mindfulness practices form the ground of her work. She is the author of the recent, Can't Stop Thinking, The Power of Off: The Mindful Way to Stay Sane in a Virtual World, Inviting a Monkey to Tea: Befriending Your Mind and Discovering Lasting Contentment, and other books. Nancy is a national speaker on wellbeing and mindfulness, and technology-related topics including parenting, addiction, and work-life balance. She is also a regular blogger for Psychology Today and Huffington Post. Today we chat about... How Nancy's history of chronic rumination inspired her to write Can't Stop Thinking What it looks like to become addicted to your thoughts How Nancy categorizes addictive thinking What Nancy thinks we are really afraid of What calms down our compulsive need to think The importance of watching your thoughts and stepping away How to find freedom and peace from your thoughts What keeps us hooked to our thoughts Nancy's thoughts on toxic positivity and what you should do instead What rumination looks like and how to break free from your ruminating thoughts My struggle with rehearsing hard conversations in my head and the impact it had on my mood What to do when you're caught in what-if statements How to tackle worrisome thoughts that pop up at night The ability to choose whether you think about a thought ____________________________ Stop letting anxiety hold you back from living your best life! If you're ready to break free from paralyzing anxiety, I want to be your coach! I'm excited to announce that I'm now taking clients for 1:1 anxiety coaching. To learn more and sign up, visit courageouslyu.com/coaching or send an email to [email protected] to join my client waitlist today! ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/nancy-colier/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Join me inside today's bonus closet conversation episode where I'm talking all things Fight-Flight-Freeze. P.S. Do you ever feel like your anxiety will always be a part of your life or you can't do anything without overthinking? If you're ready for personalized support, daily action, and a holistic approach to healing your anxiety and being free from overactive and intrusive thoughts, I'm here to help. While anxiety can be unpredictable, it's been my experience that it is NOT uncontrollable. I take a solution-focused approach to healing anxiety that allows you to take your power back, get out of your head and return to the present moment to finally enjoy your life again, without always feeling like you're suffocating. For more information, visit courageouslyu.com/coaching or send an email to [email protected] to join my client waitlist!

David Cohen is a professor of social welfare at UCLA. His research looks at psychoactive drugs (prescribed, licit, and illicit) and their desirable and undesirable effects as socio-cultural phenomena "constructed" through language, policy, attitudes, and social interactions. Today we chat about... What piqued David's interest in mental health Where he thinks the mental health model is going wrong What makes someone psychotic as opposed to not psychotic How drugs fail to stabilize people David's thoughts on the chemical imbalance theory When you're at most risk to commit suicide What the mental health system aims for The two different pathways to involuntary commitment The dark heart of involuntary commitment David's thoughts on medicating and diagnosing children Why psychiatric medication is not like insulin ____________________________ Stop letting anxiety hold you back from living your best life! If you're ready to break free from paralyzing anxiety, I want to be your coach! I'm excited to announce that I'm now taking clients for 1:1 anxiety coaching. To learn more and sign up, visit courageouslyu.com/coaching or send an email to [email protected] to join my client waitlist today! ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/david-cohen/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Darcey Sergers joins us inside Episode 71 of The Courageously.u Podcast to chat about the time she lived with bipolar. Darcey lived with depression and anxiety on and off again beginning in her adolescent years. In 2016, after experiencing multiple stressors, she had a breakdown which led her to access psychiatric medications for the first time. A year-and-a-half after starting her medications, her symptoms began to worsen, and she knew she had to begin the slow taper off her medications. As she tapered off her medications, her trauma story began to unfold and she finally began the process of true healing. Now off all psychiatric medications, Darcey is advocating for everyone to get curious about the root cause of their symptoms, be open-minded to different forms of treatment, and to explore what mental health means to you. Today we are chatting about... The toughest thing for Darcey after she was diagnosed with bipolar Where Darcey's mental health journey began What her breakdown looked like Darcey's thoughts on taking control of your healing Why it's important to find a therapist that's a good fit for you The tole trauma played in the presentation of Darcey's mental health symptoms Darcey's soul-sucking journey with mental health medications What it looked like for Darcey to taper off psychiatric medications The importance of bodywork when healing mental health symptoms Why Darcey was not born with bipolar, depression, or anxiety ____________________________ Stop letting anxiety hold you back from living your best life! If you're ready to break free from paralyzing anxiety, I want to be your coach! I'm excited to announce that I'm now taking clients for 1:1 anxiety coaching. To learn more and sign up, visit courageouslyu.com/coaching or send an email to [email protected] to join my client waitlist today! ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/darcey-segers/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Stop making excuses, friend! If there is something on your heart, do it. If you hate your job, leave it. If you want to build the life of your dreams, go for it. Whatever you do, stop making excuses for why you aren't doing the thing. In today's closet conversation, I'm hanging out with you with the hopes of delivering a dose of empowerment and inspiration. I'm sharing my fears, excuses, how I overcame them, and more. Oh yeah, one last thing, did you know I offer 1:1 anxiety coaching? Yup, I do! I look at the whole picture (trauma, lifestyle, diet, ACEs, thoughts, stress, etc). and help you heal the root of your anxiety. If you're ready to heal your anxiety, Click here to learn more.

Dr. Anna Lembke is a professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine and chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. A clinician scholar, she has published more than a hundred peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and commentaries. She sits on the board of several state and national addiction-focused organizations, has testified before various committees in the United States House of Representatives and Senate, and maintains a thriving clinical practice. In 2016, she published Drug Dealer, MD – How Doctors Were Duped, Patients Got Hooked, and Why It's So Hard to Stop, which was highlighted in the New York Times as one of the top five books to read to understand the opioid epidemic. Dr. Lembke recently appeared on the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, an unvarnished look at the impact of social media on our lives. Her latest book, Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence explores how to moderate overconsumption in a dopamine-overloaded world. Today we are chatting about... What inspired Anna to write Dopamine Nation Anna's definition of addiction The 3 C's of diagnosing addiction The neuroscience of addiction Whether or not we all have a drug of choice How the mere anticipation of our drug of choice gives us a dopamine hit What drives cravings The role substances play in the presentation of mental health symptoms Whether or not there is such a thing as an addictive personality The problem of overprescribing psychotropic medications How to reset your dopamine threshold The number one risk factor for addiction How drugs are becoming a substitute for self-care The opioid epidemic and the rise of benzodiazepine prescribing What the addictive potential for drugs is Why there's power in sharing your shame The addictive potential of different drugs What abstinence violation syndrome is The impact substances have on a growing fetus's brain My struggle with sugar as my drug ____________________________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: I'm excited to announce that I'm now taking clients for 1:1 anxiety coaching. To learn more and sign up, Click here or send an email to [email protected] to join my client waitlist today! ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/anna-lembke/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Victoria Albina is a Certified Life Coach, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Breathwork Meditation Guide with a passion for helping women realize that they are their own best healers. With over 20 years of experience working in health & wellness, Victoria's on a mission to help women break free from codependency, perfectionism, and people-pleasing and reclaim their joy. She's also the host of the Feminist Wellness Podcast, holds a Masters degree in Public Health from Boston University and a BA in Latin American Studies. We also chat about... How Victoria's own health issues inspired her to help others Why the medical world isn't talking about mysterious illnesses What Victoria believes is the underlying root cause of physical suffering The power of letting the body speak How Victoria uses the Polyvagal Theory in her work The importance of being in body What sacred anger is and what happens when we hold it down How Victoria's anxiety and depression felt and presented Why it's imperative to learn to trust yourself What codependent thinking is How perfectionism and people pleasing can lead to somatic manifestations What self-abandonment looks like How to connect with your inner child The role boundaries play in physical health ____________________________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: I'm excited to announce that I'm now taking clients for 1:1 anxiety coaching. To join my client waitlist, send me a DM saying "I want to know more." Coaching is on a first-come-first-serve basis currently. Click here if you're dying to learn more. ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/victoria-albina/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Dr. Drew Ramsey, MD is a psychiatrist, author, and farmer. His work focuses on clinical excellence, nutritional interventions, and creative media. He is an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and in active telemedicine clinical practice based in New York City. His work has been featured by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Lancet Psychiatry, The Today Show, BBC, and NPR and he has given three TEDx talks. He is the co-author of the Antidepressant Food Scale and his e-courses on Nutritional Psychiatry education for the public and clinicians. His books Eat to Beat Depression and Anxiety (Harperwave 2021), Eat Complete, 50 Shades of Kale, and The Happiness Diet explore the connections between mental health and nutrition. He is on the Advisory Board at Men's Health, the Editorial Board at Medscape Psychiatry, and is a member of the Well+Good Wellness Council. He splits his time between New York City and Crawford County, Indiana where he lives with his wife and children on their organic farm and forest. We also chat about... What nutritional psychiatry is How Drew stumbled into nutritional psychiatry The only time in traditional psychiatry when food is discussed The four ways food impacts mental health Food in institutions and schools The role food plays in ADHD Where to begin if you want to use food to improve your mental health Why some people might say hummus is bad Specific foods to help improve anxiety How much fish we should be eating Ways to spice up your veggies Drews thoughts on alcohol and caffeine ____________________________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: I'm excited to announce that I'm now taking clients for 1:1 anxiety coaching. To join my client waitlist, send me a DM saying "I want to know more." Coaching is on a first-come-first-serve basis currently. Click here if you're dying to learn more. ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/drew-ramsey/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Welcome to the first-ever Closet Conversations, with me, your host Tara Bixby! You might be scratching your head, wondering, what is a closet conversation? Closet Conversations are bonus episodes on The Courageously.u Podcast where I share what's on my heart. These are solo episodes where I sit in my closet and chat with you like we are best buds hanging out on the couch. Every now and then, I might also toss in some tips and tricks that I feel will help you live your best life. Today's Closet Conversation is on the topic of COVID vaccinations and my struggle with mean people on social media. I get real, shed a few tears, and define who I want in my inner circle. Hit play on today's bonus episode if you're ready to hear why I chose not to get vaccinated and my thoughts about the current state of the world.

My anxiety mentor, Dr. Catherine Pittman, joins us on the show for the third time to discuss her latest book Rewire Your OCD Brain: Powerful Neuroscience-Based Skills to Break Free from Obsessive Thoughts and Fears. Catherine is a professor and teaching is one of her greatest joys, so I thought it would be fun to switch things up a bit. Rather than me asking questions, I wanted to give you a look into what it'd feel like to sit inside one of her classes. Today's lecture focuses on how and why your brain gets stuck in a loop of obsessive thinking, uncertainty, and worry, and the tools you need to short-circuit this response and get your symptoms under control—for good. Today, we're chatting about... Who Rewire Your OCD Brain is for What OCD is Where anxiety comes from in the brain Why you have symptoms when anxious The role the cortex plays in anxiety Why the amygdala is important Were fear memories are stored The importance of keeping your cortex calm if you live with OCD Why you need to get off the worry channel The benefits of worry How you can heal OCD ____________________________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: Ready to calm your inner alarm? CLICK HERE to download your freebie today! ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOW NOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/ocd/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Dr. Laura Berman is the world's leading expert in sex, love, and relationships. She earned two Masters and a Ph.D. degree from New York University and has spent the last several decades helping individuals and couples around the globe love and be loved better. She is a New York Times bestselling author of many books, including her latest "Quantum Love." She is an award-winning radio host and has her own podcast, "The Language of Love." Dr. Berman previously hosted her own program, "In the Bedroom with Dr. Laura Berman," on the OWN Network. She is a popular television personality who makes regular appearances on daytime television shows like "The Rachael Ray Show," "The Dr. Oz Show," "TODAY," "Good Morning America," and many more. She is a frequent contributor to women's magazines like Cosmo, Glamour, and more. Today, we're chatting about... Why people are so afraid to talk about sex How important is it to have intimacy and sex in a relationship What to do when you're in a stalemate with your sex life Where women's desire resides How to put yourself in the mood What to do when sex feels like a chore How to communicate what you like to your partner What to do if you're nervous to initiate sex How to start from scratch in your sex life How to talk to your kids about sex The importance of discovering your own sexual needs and wants How to keep the romance alive after baby Sexual trauma and its impact on intimacy The downside to pornography How to repair after an affair Dr. Berman's thoughts on sex toys ____________________________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: Ready to calm your inner alarm? CLICK HERE to download your freebie today! ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/laura-berman/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

In 2008, Britney Spears' father petitioned the court for legal authority over her after what appeared to be a decompensation in her mental health. The courts granted it, and she has now been under a conservatorship for thirteen years. That means, for thirteen years, she has had zero say over her body, finances, career, or life with this conservatorship in place. Her father is in complete control. In today's episode, I'm chatting about: What a conservatorship is Britney's plea to end her conservatorship The timeline of events that led to Britney's conservatorship Why I'm calling bullshit The stressors that appeared to exacerbate her mental health Whether or not I believe Britney lives with a mental illness My theory of what I think happened to Britney Spears Why I feel her conservatorship is doing more harm What I believe she needs to do to heal Be sure to hit play if you want to free Britney from her ridiculous conservatorship. ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/britney-spears/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Christina Dent is a politically conservative Christian, born and raised in Mississippi, who supported criminalizing drugs until she became a foster parent and saw the negative effects up close. She went on a journey to learn why drug-related harm wasn't decreasing and became convinced it's because the criminal justice system is the wrong tool for addressing drugs. In 2017, she began hosting book discussions in her home state of Mississippi using Johann Hari's book "Chasing The Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs." Those discussions grew to hundreds of people, which led to End It For Good becoming a nonprofit in 2019. Christina invites people to explore how addressing drugs and drug use as a complex health issue could dramatically reduce crime, overdose deaths, and the destabilization of families. Christina founded End It For Good from the same passion that led her to foster care – helping children, families, and communities thrive. She isn't advocating drug use. She's advocating approaches to drugs that prioritize life and the opportunity to thrive. Today, we're chatting about... What inspired Christina to do this work Drug use in prison Christina's thoughts on using the criminal justice system to address drugs The causes and effects of drug harm How we have forced drugs underground by criminalizing it What happens when you criminalize a substance Why we should stop looking for the perfect solution to reducing harm The reason so many people are dying from fentanyl What our number one goal should be Why alcohol is no better than any other illegal substance Why you don't have to change political parties or leave your face to support the decriminalizing of drugs ____________________________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: >>> SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A REVIEW TO THE COURAGEOUSLY.U PODCAST ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/christina-dent/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Dr. Kelly Brogan is a holistic psychiatrist, author of the NY Times Bestselling book, A Mind of Your Own, Own Your Self, the children's book, A Time For Rain, and co-editor of the landmark textbook, Integrative Therapies for Depression. She is the founder of the online healing program Vital Mind Reset, and the membership community, Vital Life Project. She completed her psychiatric training and fellowship at NYU Medical Center after graduating from Cornell University Medical College, and has a B.S. from M.I.T. in Systems Neuroscience. She specializes in a root-cause resolution approach to psychiatric syndromes and symptoms. Today, we're chatting about... What inspired Kelly to put down her prescription pad for good Why Kelly doesn't consider herself an unethical person for prescribing meds How to know when you're ready to question information that is in the dominant orthodoxy What Kelly thought would happen when people read A Mind of Your Own Whether or not mental illness is due to a chemical imbalance Why people believe medications save their life The risks of taking mental health medications Why science is not what it used to be How to approach a doctor-client relationship to avoid brainwashing Why Kelly believes you can't get informed consent from the person delivering the intervention The explanation for schizophrenia and bipolar Why it's harmful to cold turkey your medications Whether or not there is a time or place for mental health medications ____________________________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: >>> Ready to calm your inner alarm? CLICK HERE to download your freebie today! ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/kelly-brogan/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Jamie Scrimgeour is a wife, mom, stepmom, life coach, conversation opener, and bs caller. Seven years ago, she found herself sitting on the bathroom floor with a glass of wine, balling her eyes out, wondering what the heck she was thinking marrying a man with three kids and an ex-wife. She was madly in love, the kids were great, but as a 26-year-old with zero experience in the parenting department, she was over her head. When she went to the internet for support and was disappointed in what she found, so she decided to create the type of support she was looking for. Raw and honest conversations about all things motherhood, step motherhood, and living a kick-ass life. Today, we're chatting about... What Jamies life looked like before being a step momma and what the transition to stepmom looked like How growing up in a blended family helped her navigate being the adult in a blended family The anxiety that arises when you sense you have no control How to navigate different rules for different homes The awkwardness of Mother's day How to approach a challenging biological mother The importance of hearing the kiddos perspectives and letting them know they are heard Codependency in blended families The power of creating subfamilies What it's like to add a baby to the mix The power in strengthening your unique relationship with the kiddos The uncomfortableness of feeling like an outsider __________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: >>> Join my client waitlist for 1-on-1 Anxiety Coaching ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/jamie-scrimgeour/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Before becoming a celebrated wellness expert, motivational speaker, author of a best-selling memoir, Co-Founder of Greenhouse Tea Company, and Gwyneth Paltrow's pal, Quentin Vennie was a guy from a single-parent home in Baltimore who was told that he'd never amount to much. He was someone who fought addiction, battled anxiety, sold drugs in the heroin capital of America, escaped death, and dropped out of college three separate times. After years of fighting a war of anxiety, depression, and addiction, he set out on a journey to heal himself. Quentin successfully overcame his addictions and developed a system to manage his anxiety disorder better with nothing more than faith and determination. Quentin has been publicly celebrated by notable figures in the world of wellness for his unbelievable road to recovery. His transformation has inspired thousands worldwide and has raised global awareness of anxiety, depression, and addiction. He is living proof that you have the power and ability to unlock unimaginable strength no matter your background. Today, we're chatting about... How past trauma and childhood diversity planted the seed for his future mental health struggles What Quentins life was like growing up in a community of violence, crime, and drugs How it felt for Quentin to visit his father in prison How as a child, his emotional and psychological pain presented as anger and defiance Quentin's thoughts on where the mental health system fails How in the process of wanting to feel safe, to incubate himself from fear, he became addicted to benzodiazepines Why Quentin slept in a hospital parking lot How Quentin used the word of wellness to heal __________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: >>> SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A REVIEW TO THE COURAGEOUSLY.U PODCAST ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/quentin-vennie/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Today's guest is the brilliant Elizabeth Stanley. Elizabeth, who prefers to go by liz, is an associate professor of security studies at Georgetown University. She speaks, teaches, and writes widely on a variety of topics related to resilience, decision-making, political psychology, civil-military relations, and international security. She is the award-winning author of Paths to Peace and Widen the Window: Training Your Brain and Body to Thrive during Stress and Recover from Trauma. She is the creator of Mindfulness-based Mind Fitness Training, taught to thousands in civilian and military high-stress environments. Her work has been featured on 60 Minutes, ABC Evening News, NPR, and in Time magazine and many other media outlets. Liz is also a U.S. Army veteran who served in Asia and Europe, she holds degrees from Yale, Harvard, and MIT, and she's also a certified practitioner of Somatic Experiencing, a body-based trauma therapy. Liz used to be the queen of powering through and burning the midnight oil, until the day she lost her eyesight. It took Liz losing her eyesight to finally understand that there's an easier way. She spent fifteen years studying the neurobiology of stress, trauma, and resilience—initially as a way to save herself and then to help others heal, too. There's nothing Liz teaches that she hasn't learned personally in her own mind and body. Today, we're chatting about... The difference between stress and trauma What determines if an event is stressful or traumatic How attachment styles impact our ability to recover from stressful situations What a complete recovery looks like after a traumatic or stressful situation What it means to experience dysregulation and how dysregulation of the mind-body present itself How internal stressors trigger your survival brain to activate How you can best support people who live with trauma Liz's thoughts on how the stress of COVID will negatively impact people's mental health What you can do right now to begin the healing process __________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: >>> Ready to calm your inner alarm? CLICK HERE to download your freebie today! ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/elizabeth-stanley/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Majo Molfino is a Latinx author, designer, women's leadership expert, and recovering good girl. She is the author of Break the Good Girl Myth and host of the HEROINE podcast featuring top female leaders, creatives, and visionaries. Her leadership program, IGNITE, guides women to design and share a creative dream with the world. She has a master's in learning, design, and technology from Stanford University and a bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in cultural studies from McGill University. Today, we're chatting about... What inspired Majo to write Break the Good Girl Myth How to dismantle outdated rules, unleash your power, and design a more purposeful life Majo's past desire to fit in by showing up as a good girl What a good girl looks like How being a good girl holds us back from living out our purpose The oppression of women and the role the patriarchy plays in women showing up as good girls How we benefit from following the rules The five good girl myths we need to overcome How you can use design thinking to break the good girl myths What the process looks and feels like when breaking your myth The number one way we can help young girls avoid falling into the good girl trap Who this book is for __________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: >>> Ready to calm your inner alarm? CLICK HERE to download your freebie today! ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/majo-molfino/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

In 2006, Mary Turner Thomson's world shattered when she discovered her husband Will was a bigamist, con man, and convicted sex offender. Unbeknownst to her, this would be the start of a bold new chapter in her life, fighting to protect other women from his heartless gaslighting campaigns—and putting a stop to his endless deception. Mary thought her story would end with the revelation that Will, in fact, had several families—and numerous children. But when she discovered that he had continued to prey on new victims, she vowed to turn his betrayal into a force for good. On her mission to protect these women and others, Mary also learned more about the psychopathy behind Will's duplicitous behavior. Today, we're chatting about... The Royal family and Prince Philip's death Mary's experience with online dating and where it went horribly wrong What it was like to discover her husband was a bigamist, con man, and convicted sex offender Why psychopaths are so charismatic What inspired Mary to share her story Victim shaming Who psychopaths target The red flags to watch out for if you're online dating What life looks like for Mary now and whether or not Mary's back in the online dating world again __________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: >>> SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A REVIEW TO THE COURAGEOUSLY.U PODCAST ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/mary-turner-thomson/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Dr. Jud Brewer is an internationally renowned addiction psychiatrist and neuroscientist. He is an associate professor in the School of Public Health, and Medical School at Brown University. His 2016 TED talk, "A Simple Way to Break a Bad Habit," has been viewed over 16 million times. He has trained Olympic athletes and coaches, government ministers and business leaders, and today he's bringing his wisdom to you. His latest book, Unwinding Anxiety recently hit book shelves and today we are unpacking it. Today, we're chatting about... Dr. Brewers struggle with anxiety and panic attacks When panic disorders develop The neuroscience of anxiety and how it affects the body Dr. Brewers thoughts on differentiating between a panic attack and a heart attack The difference between an anxiety attack and a panic attack Why people are so dang anxious right now Dr. Brewers thoughts on whether or not anxiety can be helpful What a habit loop is and how to break anxiety habit loops How worries become habits What happens when we inject curiosity into anxiety Why anxiety is a concept How avoiding a fearful situation is rewarding Whether or not willpower exists My struggle with emotional eating and the emotional eating habit loop __________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: https://courageouslyu.com/alarmfreebie ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/laura-mckowen/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Laura McKowen is a writer, teacher, and speaker. She had a long, successful career in public relations and the Mad Men–esque drinking culture of advertising. After getting sober, Laura quickly became recognized as a fresh voice in recovery, beloved for her soulful and irreverent writing online and in print. She now leads sold-out retreats and courses, teaching people how to say yes to a bigger life. Laura's also the founder of The Luckiest Club, a sobriety support community. Her first book, We Are The Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life was released in January 2020 and was an instant bestseller. We chatted about.... Laura's 20-year struggle with drinking What life looks like since becoming sober Laura's predisposition to using alcohol to escape The myth that alcohol isn't that big of a deal Laura's thoughts on whether or not certain people can't drink alcohol Why the mommy wine culture is harmful Laura's physical and psychological dependency on alcohol The link between trauma and addiction Laura's rock bottom moment that led her to recognize she had a problem with alcohol The struggles with alcohol withdrawal and getting sober Laura's advice to you if you're struggling alone in silence with alcohol __________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-courageously-u-podcast/id1506417679 ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/laura-mckowen/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Stephanie Thornton Plymale is the CEO of Heritage School of Interior Design. Stephanie calls Portland, Oregon, home – a word with much meaning as she grew up without one. From living in a car on the beach with her five siblings, to isolation in the Dependent Unit of the State of California, to a horribly abusive foster home, Stephanie never experienced a feeling of family as a child. Married at 19 to her high school sweetheart, her desire for family roots helped her to build a stable marriage and loving home for her three children. Stephanie continues to balance family life with promoting Heritage, the success of its students, staff, continually growing community and philanthropic efforts. Stephanie recently founded the Heritage Home Foundation, which serves our foster youth and homeless community, and is an advocate for non-profit organizations including Project Lemonade, William Temple House and Treehouse. She also currently serves on the board for Project Lemonade. Stephanie's traumatic childhood, family life and career is unique yet she takes heart in knowing that life's lessons are universal and that everyone has a story. Her goal is to inspire others to share their stories, receive support and feel empowered by their ability to survive, forgive, heal, transcend and live the life of their dreams. We chatted about.... Why Stephanie decided to share her story after years of hiding it from the world The horrific trauma Stephanie's mother experienced as a child and how her unprocessed trauma presented itself later in life How Stephanie helped her mother release her trauma What it was like for Stephanie to grow up in a toxic home with a stepfather who struggled with substance use and how she later found forgiveness How as a child, Stephanie had to buy drugs and steal food for her mother and stepfather Why Stephanie believes her memoir, American Daughter, is about not living in a state of judging other people How eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) helped Stephanie process and heal her trauma and triggers What life was like living in isolation in the Dependent Unit of the State of California How the foster care system failed Stephanie by placing her in a home with a sexual predator where she was repeatedly sexually assaulted What it felt like for Stephanie to go from having no family history to discovering she descends from America's foremost founding families The possibilities of what her mother's life might have looked like had she received the proper mental health treatment she needed to process through her trauma What Stephanie's relationship looked like with her mother towards the end of her mother's life How her childhood shaped how she showed up as a mother to her own children __________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-courageously-u-podcast/id1506417679 ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/stephanie-thornton-plymale/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Dr. Ethan Kross is one of the world's leading experts on controlling the conscious mind and the author of his first ever book Chatter: The Voice in our head, why it matters, and how to harness it. He is an award-winning professor in the University of Michigan's top-ranked Psychology Department and Ross School of Business, Ethan utilizes and implements his research on how the conversations people have with themselves impacts their health, performance, decisions, and relationships. Ethan earned his Ph.D. in Psychology from Columbia University and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in social-affective neuroscience to learn about the neural systems that support self-control. He moved to the University of Michigan in 2008, where he founded the Emotion & Self Control Laboratory. We chatted about.... What chatter is and when it backfires The purpose of chatter and how it benefits you How you get stuck in chatter Why you don't want to rid yourself of negative emotions What to do if you're caught up in chatter The factors that can make you more vulnerable to chatter like experiences Whether or not you can control your thoughts What to do if a worrisome thought pops up How sharing your chatter with others can push others away Why you read and have no clue what you read How social media impacts your inner voice Whether or not chatter manifests in children Why engaging in introspection when distressed can contribute to mental disorders If auditory hallucinations are similar to chatter __________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-courageously-u-podcast/id1506417679 ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/ethan-kross/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Kelsey Patel is one of Hollywood's leading wellness and reiki experts. She's a sought-after spiritual empowerment coach, movement teacher, reiki healer, meditation instructor, and a multi-faceted entrepreneur and inspirational speaker. She is the creator of the Pure Joy app and founder of Magik Vibes, a soul-enhancing lifestyle brand that includes her very own wellness meets spirituality podcast, Magik Vibes. We chatted about... Kelsey's journey from the U.S. Senate to the world of wellness The importance of micro-breaks for macro joy Why "I'm right on time" needs to be your new mantra How you know you lack an abundant mindset What a nudge from the universe looks like How do you surrender to the universe The one practice that Kelsey leaned on most while healing How anxiety presented itself in Kelsey's life What Reiki is The beauty of energy healing and chakras How to clear negative energy out of a room Items to add to your room to promote good energy The role intentionality plays in good energy Why you should know your moon sign to help clear energy Kelsey's tips for reducing anxiety How Kelsey pulls herself out of the game of comparison __________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: https://courageouslyu.com/anxietyfreebie ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/kelsey-patel/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Were you raised by an emotionally immature person? Are you an emotionally immature parent? Not sure how to answer these questions. No worries. You're in luck. Today the wonderful Dr. Lindsay Gibson joins us on the show to discuss how to heal from distant, rejecting, or self-involved parents. Dr. Gibson has been a psychotherapist for over thirty years, working in both public and private practice. In the past, she has served as an adjunct assistant professor in Clinical Psychology, teaching doctoral students clinical theory and psychotherapeutic techniques. Dr. Gibson is the author of three books: Who You Were Meant to Be, Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, and Recovering from Emotionally Immature Parents, as well as a fourth on Self-Care which will be coming out in Fall, 2021. P.S., I got a sneak peek of her upcoming book and it's definitely one you'll want to add to your wish list. We chatted about... What is an emotionally immature parent What does emotional immaturity look like How trauma impacts their ability to receive your love How our defenses appear as different personalities How an internalizer takes in information How an externalizer can recognize their behaviors are not serving them Whether or not you can struggle if raised by an emotionally immature parent Questions to ask yourself to determine if you are emotionally mature The four types of emotionally immature parents Where healing begins if raised by an emotionally immature person How you can use metacognition to gain awareness about your thoughts, feeling, and experience The "medication" for growing up with emotionally immature parents The importance of reconnecting with your inner child How does being raised by an emotionally immature person impact relationships __________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-courageously-u-podcast/id1506417679 ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/lindsay-gibson/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Karin Jervert is a fine artist, writer, and psychiatric survivor labeled Bipolar at 21. She is currently working on a memoir exploring the medicalization of suffering and the parallel loss of language around emotional pain. Her work explores empathy, identity, normalization of suffering, and the power of creative expression to transform trauma, particularly the types of trauma inflicted by the psychiatric industry. Her study of Buddhism and improvisational comedy find their way into her work as well. Karin currently works for Mad in America. You'll learn... How Karin almost lost her life to her mental health treatment The symptoms and events that led Karin to be diagnosed with bipolar Karin's experience being hospitalized for mental health reasons How Karin was led to believe she had a "broken brain" Why Karin started using substances to cope Factors in Karin's childhood that played a role in her mental health The biggest trauma of Karin's life What it looks like to be involuntarily hospitalized Karin's process of withdrawing from mental health medications The role community, support, and hormones play in mental health How Karin found her laugh again The pros and cons of being diagnosed with bipolar Karin's struggle with suicidal ideations ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/karin-jervert/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

According to the CDC, in 2018, suicide was the tenth leading cause of death overall in the United States, claiming the lives of over 48,000 people. Suicide was the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34, and the fourth leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 35 and 54. There were more than two and a half times as many suicides in the United States as there were homicides. Today Dr. David Rudd, President and Distinguished University Professor of Psychology at the University of Memphis, is joining us on the show to discuss the topic of suicide. Dr. Rudd's primary focus of his research is clinical suicidology, with an emphasis on understanding acute and chronic distinctions in risk. You'll learn... Pandemic suicide statistics Dr. Rudd's thoughts on why suicide rates are increasing Suicide warning signs Dr. Rudd's thoughts on whether people genuinely want to die when they attempt suicide The difference between chronic and acute suicidality Tips on how to help people who have passive suicidal thoughts When it's more likely for someone with severe depression to act on suicidal thoughts Correct terminology to use when discussing suicide How to help a teenager who's having suicidal thoughts Tips on how to ask for help if you're having suicidal thoughts How to cope when a family member dies by suicide Whether or not talking to someone about suicide will lead them to attempt suicide The importance of a safety plan and limiting access to a method How to treat chronic suicidal urges How to help someone engaging in self-injurious behavior Dr. Rudd's advice to someone having suicidal thoughts If it's normal to have passive suicidal thoughts ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/suicide-2/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Jessica Murnane is the founder of Know Your Endo (the endometriosis education and awareness platform), the author of the One Part Plant cookbook, and the host of One Part Podcast. She is a sought-after speaker and has contributed to/appeared in several magazines and websites including Bon Appétit, Goop, Shape Magazine, The Kitchn, Mind Body Green, and The Coveteur. Her latest book, Know Your Endo: An Empowering Guide To Health + Hope With Endometriosis is out April 27th, 2021. She lives in Charleston, South Carolina with her family, and lots of palm trees. You'll learn... What it felt like to find out I had endometriosis Statistics on endo What endometriosis is and its symptoms The average time frame it takes to be diagnosed with endometriosis The different kinds of surgery for endometriosis Jessica's story of living with endometriosis Whether or not a hysterectomy is your answer If there is a cure for endometriosis Why it's valid to feel anger after being diagnosed with endo The importance of tapping into your hormones How endo led to Jessica not wanting to wake up in the morning Why it's important to plan your life around your period Tips for how to navigate work when you live with endometriosis Jessica's advice for managing endometriosis How often you should ask for ultrasounds if you have a history of cysts Jessica's thoughts on birth control as a form of treatment Whether or not pregnancy is a treatment for endo ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/jessica-murnane/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Dr. Caroline Leaf is a communication pathologist and cognitive neuroscientist specializing in cognitive and metacognitive neuropsychology. Since the early 1980s she has researched the mind-brain connection, the nature of mental health, and the formation of memory. She was one of the first in her field to study how the brain can change with directed mind input. During her years in clinical practice she worked with many people who struggled with Traumatic Brain Injury, learning disabilities, autism, dementias and mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Dr. Leaf is also the bestselling author of Switch on Your Brain, Think Learn Succeed, Think and Eat Yourself Smart, and Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess. She teaches at academic, medical and neuroscience conferences, churches, and to various audiences around the world. She is also part of the mental health initiative in Washington, DC. You'll learn... What happens when we don't use our minds correctly The difference between the mind and the brain What neuroplasticity is How your thoughts keep you stuck What happens when you suppress the undealt with thoughts The toxicity of being labeled with a mental illness The role telomeres play in mental health Dr. Leaf's beliefs on schizophrenia The importance of identifying the why behind your symptoms How you can clean up your mental mess The importance of tuning into your physical and mental warning signals How many days it takes to build a habit (It's not what you think) The importance of using brain-building to keep your brain clean ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/caroline-leaf/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Denise Woods is one of the nation's most sought-after voice and dialect coaches, with clients such as Halley Berry, Common, Will Smith, Octavia Spencer, Tyler Perry, Jessica Chastain, Soledad O'Brien, Queen Latifah, Ray Liotta, Portia De Rossi, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mike Myers, and many, many more. She has also coached broadcast news anchors at NBC Nightly News, CNBC, Bloomberg News, The Today Show, CNN, Inside Edition, KTLA News, and the TV Guide Channel, and she has prepared NBA and NFL athletes for on-camera commentary. Denise is a graduate and former faculty member of The Juilliard School and a long time faculty member of California Institute of the Arts. Denise is committed to giving disenfranchised voices the courage and tools to use their words, thoughts, and stories in ways they never thought possible by dismantling fear, shame, and insecurity. Her first book, The Power of Voice, was released in January. You'll learn... Where the real origin of voice comes from The event that inspired Denise to write The Power of Voice How anxiety, stress, and trauma impact your true voice The importance of breath when speaking One thing to do if you struggle with anxiety around public speaking How imagination and relaxation improve speech Why you need to release your jaw when speaking The proper placement of your tongue when talking How tension in your tongue impacts speech All about nasal constants and when they become a problem How to improve speech by slowing down and putting more color in your voice Why you must imagine yourself bigger when speaking The role your personality plays in your voice ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/denise-woods/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Dr. Will Cole is a leading functional medicine expert who consults people around the world via webcam and locally in Pittsburgh. Named one of the top 50 functional medicine and integrative doctors in the nation, Dr. Cole specializes in clinically investigating underlying factors of chronic disease and customizing a functional medicine approach for thyroid issues, autoimmune conditions, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders, and brain problems. He is the bestselling author of Ketotarian and The Inflammation Spectrum. Dr. Cole has also cohosted the popular podcasts goodfellas and Keto Talk and is the host of the new podcast, The Art of Being Well. You'll learn... Dr. Cole's approach to healing the underlying driver of your mental health problem The importance of an integrative medicine approach to treating mental health Why you can't medicate yourself into health The importance of looking at your "second brain" Why mental health symptoms are your check engine light The role inflammation plays in mental health How autoimmune issues can impact your mental health The role histamine intolerance plays in anxiety and depression Where to start if you want a functional medicine approach to healing The core four foods that disrupt the microbiome and homeostasis of your body What intuitive fasting is and how it can improve health Which Dr. Will Cole book he suggests you read first Dr. Cole's thoughts on using CBD to reduce anxiety ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/will-cole/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Today's guest is the wonderful Satya Doyle Byock. Satya is a psychotherapist in Portland, Oregon and the Founder of The Salome Institute which offers online seminars on socially relevant psychology. Satya's teaching, psychotherapy, and writing is influenced by a few primary areas, including Jungian psychology, trauma research, feminist theory, and the study of race and racism worldwide. Her clinical work offers a developmental and soulful approach to work with individuals in Quarterlife, the stage of adulthood between adolescence and middle age. Satya sees the struggle to balance Stability and Meaning in Quarterlife as a timeless pursuit. Her book on finding Stability and Meaning in Quarterlife is forthcoming from Random House. You'll learn... What a Quarterlife is and why it's complicated The importance of a childhood "death" How Quarterlife "crisis" is being mistaken as mental illness The importance of remembering we are mammals How to raise kiddos to support them through Quarterlife better Satya's beliefs about our current mental health system How we are approaching kiddos mental health the wrong way Why we are failing people if mental health medications are the only tool being used How our current system is sending younger generations to future empty goals Why people focused on "surviving" tend to have an easier Quarterlife What the bigger question of life needs to be The two types of people and what midlife "crises" might look like for them A few tips to help navigate Quarterlife ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/satya-doyle-byock/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Dr. Nima is both a Chiropractor and an educator, specializing in helping individuals and professionals get to the root cause of their physical and emotional challenges, from stressed, depressed, and anxious to living Powerfully Aligned and on Purpose. After building a successful Chiropractic practice in Canada, Dr. Nima sold his clinic to pursue his passion of teaching and coaching professionals who are stressed, depressed, and anxious to transform and have their best year ever. Dr. Nima has integrated all the mind-body tools in his quest for healing stress-related disorders into one, simple to follow method called The Overview Method. You'll learn... What happens when your soul becomes fractured from your body The connection between a chiropractic adjustment and release of emotions Examples of when your soul fractures from self How to heal your fractured parts How anxiety presented itself in Dr. Nima's life and how he navigated through it Dr. Nima's favorite way to reconnect with his body when feeling anxious What happens when your parent's words become your narrative How Dr. Nima helps people make the connection between self-abandonment and pain How learning to regulate and validate yourself improves your relationships What it looks like to have a dysregulated nervous system The Holy Grail of secure attachments The importance of awareness to your wounds in relationships The first place to start in your healing journey ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/nima-rahmany/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Caitlin Anderson is a fantastic singer, songwriter, two-time CrossFit Games athlete, and straight-up good time. She lives in Boise, Idaho, with her wife Jamie and four adorable fur babies. In 2020, Caitlin discovered music therapy's healing power and is now translating her pain into beautiful lyrics. You can listen to her work at Indi Anderson on Spotify. You'll learn... What Caitlin did to navigate 2020 How Caitlin uses music as therapy to heal past pain and suppressed emotions Caitlin's thoughts on how hardship builds confidence Caitlin's definition of anxiety Why Caitlin encourages you to produce your pain through creative outlets The power of music therapy How Caitlin coped with a recent panic attack Why you start with one little thing only to help you move forward ____________________________ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/caitlin-anderson/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Dr. Catherine Pittman, Ph.D., HSPP, is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and psychology professor at Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN. A practicing clinical psychologist treating anxiety for over 30 years, she's also experienced in neuropsychological rehabilitation for individuals who have experienced brain injuries or strokes. In today's episode, Dr. Pittman is sharing her concerns about Benzodiazepines. IN TODAY'S EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: The problem with Benzodiazepines (7:26) Where anxiety comes from in the brain (12:11) What Benzodiazepines do in your brain (21:48) The side effects of Benzodiazepines (25:31) What happens if you take Benzodiazepines every day and then stop (28:26) How long it takes to have changes in your brain after taking Benzos (30:35) How daily use of Benzodiazepines creates a physiological dependence (34:30) When Benzo use becomes a concern (35:12) Why you don't come off Benzodiazepines cold turkey or without doctors help (36:30) The most common Benzo withdrawal symptoms (39:47) Why people confuse withdrawal symptoms as mental illness (44:45) I can't wait to hear your feedback on this episode! Screenshot and tag me—I'm @courageously.u— and my guest— @drcmpittman and share your thoughts, feelings, and reactions. __________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: If you'd like to access the PowerPoint slides mentioned in the episode, please email me at [email protected]. Unfortunately, the slides wouldn't upload to the website. I'm more than happy to send them to you, though. __________⁣⁣ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/benzodiazepines/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Today's guest is the co-founder and CEO of the Whole30 program, host of the Do the Thing Podcast, and six-time New York Times bestselling author, Melissa Urban. If you're as big of a fan of Melissa's as I am, you most likely know her for Whole30. Well, today, we aren't chatting food. Melissa joins us on the show to share her courageous journey through addiction and the trauma she experienced that led her to numb through substances. She discusses engaging in self-injurious behavior and how she navigated her way out of the dark. Oh, and her adorable dog Henry makes sure his voice is heard on the show, too. Creating conversations around trauma, coping skills, abuse, and substance use is something I'm insanely passionate about. IN TODAY'S EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: What Melissa's substance abuse history looked like (3:48) Whether or not Melissa had coping skills to cope with her sexual assault (5:27) In hindsight what Melissa feels she needed after she was sexually assaulted (7:44) Whether or not substances actually helped her cope with the abuse (8:52) What Melissa's turning point was (10:44) Melissa's healing journey (12:09) How Melissa copes with big emotions and what her recovery looks like (13:15) How Melissa used self-injurious behavior to feel something (15:33) Why Melissa says, "I'm not drinking right now" (17:50) Melissa's journey from drug addiction to Whole30 (20:42) What Melissa would say to you if you are struggling right now (22:56) I can't wait to hear your feedback on this episode! Screenshot and tag me—I'm @courageously.u— and my guest— @melissau and share your thoughts, feelings, and reactions. __________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: Ready to have freedom from your anxiety? Download my 4-week action plan today. __________⁣⁣ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/melissa-urban/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Welcome to my first ever bonus episode on The Courageously.u Podcast! Today I am discussing the overwhelming anger I felt following my surgery for endometriosis. Join me inside today's bonus episode, and let's create a conversation around the importance of women's hormonal health. ______________________ To learn more about hormonal health, endometriosis, and fertility, be sure to check out these past episodes on The Courageously.u Podcast: Episode 13: In the FLO: Biohacking Your Hormones With Alisa Vitti Episode 25: Fertility and Primemestering 101 With Dr. Cleopatra Episode 30: Toss the Toxins With Allison Evans Episode 35: Dr. Neal Barnard Tells You His Secret to Hormonal Health

I'm curious, do you struggle with your weight and feeling comfortable in your body? Do you have an unhealthy relationship with food? Is your worth tied up in your pant size? I've struggled with my weight for what feels like my whole life, and I'm most definitely riding shotgun on the emotional eating struggle bus. If you want to hear more about my weight struggle, be sure to tune into episode 4. As we roll into a new year, where diet culture is preying on our insecurities, I wanted to give you a serious dose of inspiration. Today's guest. Jessi Jean straight took me to church in today's episode. Jessi Jean is a Certified Eating Psychology Coach who turned her decade long struggle with food + body into her mission. Now she helps women worldwide end the fight with food using unique brain-based techniques so they can have an effortless relationship with food + unshakeable confidence in their skin. IN TODAY'S EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: How Jessi's diet/binge cycle journey led her to help other women find food freedom (5:01) What Jessi's journey with food and body love looked like (7:26) Questions to ask yourself if you're wondering if you have an unhealthy relationship with food (12:31) Jessi's thoughts on "disordered" eating (14:27) The power of reprogramming your brain to transform your life (17:25) How Jessi healed and found food freedom (19:10) Why you can have food freedom and still care about your body (24:50) An activity to help you better understand how society dangles an unattainable carrot in front of you (27:34) How body image ideals change over the decades (31:24) How to show companies you are not going to support unrealistic body ideals (33:27) What healing from body obsession looks like (35:32) Why your ideal body type might not be a healthy body type for you (37:09) Why you need to question and understand the systemic problems surrounding weight (41:20) Jessi's tips for navigating diet culture as you enter 2021 (44:10) I can't wait to hear your feedback on this episode! Screenshot and tag me—I'm @courageously.u— and my guest—@jessijeannn and share your thoughts, feelings, and reactions. __________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: Get 10% off your first Primally Pure order with code: COURAGE10 __________⁣⁣ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/jessi-jean/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Today's guest is writer and essayist Christie Tate, who recently published her debut memoir, Group. Group is a real and vulnerable look at how one therapist and a group of strangers saved Christie's life. In law school, Christie was at the top of her class, yet she found herself struggling with suicidal ideations. What was missing? Christie desperately craved intimacy and connection, and with some serious reservations, Christie took the advice of a friend and sought help. Group is not your typical how-to book, but rather a raw look inside one courageous woman's struggle with a longtime eating disorder, suppressed emotions, trauma, the pursuit of unavailable men, and personal transformation. IN TODAY'S EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: What led Christie to write her debut memoir Group (5:38) A misconception about therapy (8:20) What Christie discovered about herself while writing Group (9:24) How Christie's thoughts were her worst enemy (10:54) Where Christie's negative internal dialogue came from (12:05) One thing Christie appreciates about her group process (13:25) What healing looked like to Christie (15:33) One of the things that tripped Christie up in group therapy (18:30) Christie's thoughts on how long you could stay in Group (19:54) The metaphor Christie uses to describe Group (21:35) What Dr. Rosen's prescriptions looked like (23:27) Christie's role in group therapy in regards to Dr. Rosen (27:02) How Christie feels when new members join her Group (28:23) One of Christie's biggest shocks about group therapy (32:16) Why christie struggled to get close to people (34:26) Christie's thoughts on calling anger bad (36:24) How Christie feels closer to people who show their "mess" (40:56) Where shame comes from for Christie (41:58) How Christie's will to be in a relationship led to unfulfilled relationships (42:38) I can't wait to hear your feedback on this episode! Screenshot and tag me—I'm @courageously.u— and my guest—@christieotate and share your thoughts, feelings, and reactions. __________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: I need your help! Podcasting is like a popularity contest, and while I could care less about being popular, I want to make sure as many women as possible hear The Courageously.u Podcast. That's why I need your help. If you love The Courageously.u Podcast, click here to leave a 5-star review of the show. You get bonus points for adding a comment, too. Together we can make sure no woman struggles alone in silence. Thanks for your help, friend! __________⁣⁣ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/christie-tate/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Today's guest is the courageous Kerri Axelrod. Kerri is a leading expert in a holistic approach to mental health, specializing in the connection between diet, lifestyle, and mood. In her work as a certified holistic health coach and nutrition consultant, she utilizes nutritional science, cutting-edge scientifically proven research, and the integrative modalities of Ayurveda, yoga, and meditation. Before helping other women heal holistically, Kerri spent most of her life sad, anxious, overweight, frustrated – convinced that if she just lost weight, her life would change. In her twenties, she was a rising star in the fast-paced, high-stress world of national politics. Working long hours at a grueling pace, she endured a personal health crisis that marked the beginning of her health and wellness journey. After being diagnosed with an autoimmune thyroid disorder and bouncing between doctors to only be left without answers, she quit her job, packed up her life in D.C., and devoted herself to getting healthy. Now Kerri is the creator of a monthly online educational tool for integrative resources on mental well-being and frequently provides expert commentary for national and local media publications. She was also recently named one of Boston magazine's go-to wellness pros for nutrition services as well as one of the "Top 10 Healthy Food Instagramers to Follow." IN TODAY'S EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: How Kerri's mental health struggles led her to work in the world of wellness (4:56) What anxiety looks like for Kerri (6:36) Kerri's struggle with weight (8:39) How years of putting her career in national politics first led to an autoimmune disease (10:33) What Kerri's healing journey looked like (17:01) Kerri's tips on how to improve your wellness (20:28) The advice Kerri would give you if you're struggling with your wellness (25:20) The evolution of Kerri working 1:1 with clients (25:39) I can't wait to hear your feedback on this episode! Screenshot and tag me—I'm @courageously.u— and my guest—@kerriaxelrod and share your thoughts, feelings, and reactions. __________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: Ready to reduce your anxiety through breathwork? CLICK HERE to download your freebie today! __________⁣⁣ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/kerri-axelrod/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Part of my mission with the courageously.u podcast is to help you break free from beliefs and behaviors that keep you stuck. For the longest time, I believed periods were supposed to be painful, and the only way to function through the pain was to take medications. I've recently learned that my belief couldn't be any farther from the truth. To help further educate not only you but myself on hormonal health, I invited Dr. Neal Barnard onto the show. Dr. Neal Barnard is an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC, and President of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, Dr. Barnard received his M.D. degree at the George Washington University School of Medicine and completed his residency at the same institution. Dr. Barnard has led numerous research studies investigating the effects of diet on diabetes, body weight, and chronic pain, including a groundbreaking study of dietary interventions in type 2 diabetes, funded by the National Institutes of Health, that paved the way for viewing type 2 diabetes as a potentially reversible condition for many patients. Dr. Barnard has authored more than 90 scientific publications and 20 books for medical and lay readers and is the editor in chief of the Nutrition Guide for Clinicians, a textbook made available to all U.S. medical students. As president of the Physicians Committee, Dr. Barnard leads programs advocating for preventive medicine, good nutrition, and higher ethical standards in research. His research contributed to the acceptance of plant-based diets in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. In 2016, he founded the Barnard Medical Center in Washington, DC, as a model for making nutrition a routine part of all medical care. Working with the Medical Society of the District of Columbia and the American Medical Association, Dr. Barnard has authored key resolutions, now part of AMA policy, calling for a new focus on prevention and nutrition in federal policies and in medical practice. You can consider this episode your 101 course in hormonal health. If you're ready, pull up a seat, or shall I say ear, and get ready to take some notes IN TODAY'S EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: What hormones are (5:10) Where things go wrong with your hormones (6:01) What determines the level of estrogen in your blood (11:10) Why doctors aren't educating us on our hormonal health (12:59) What Dr. Barnard wants you to do to heal your hormones (14:20) What endometriosis is (16:06) On average, how long it takes to heal your hormones (18:45) What PCOS is (22:16) How to begin shifting to a vegan diet (26:56) Why we shouldn't give kids milk (28:03) Dr. Barnard's thoughts on coffee (30:18) Why infertility seems to be on the rise (32:02) The first step to reducing menstrual pain (35:33) Whether or not toxins impact hormonal health (37:50) I can't wait to hear your feedback on this episode! Screenshot and tag me—I'm @courageously.u— and my guest—@drnealbarnard and share your thoughts, feelings, and reactions. __________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: Save 10% on your Branch Basics Starter Kit with code: COURAGE __________⁣⁣ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/neal-barnard/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Did you know that I work in an all-male prison? Yup! During my 9 to 5 or more like 6 to 4, you can find me working as a mental health clinician in an Idaho prison. Working with fellas who are incarcerated has opened my eyes in a way that they had never been opened before. I've become massively aware that trauma is real, substance abuse is, in fact, a common coping skill, and that many families looked like anything but the Brady bunch. Today's episode is me sharing a sliver of what I see at work with you. Granted, Doug was never incarcerated in Idaho. He was once incarcerated. Doug Bopst was a former convicted felon and drug addict, sentenced to months in jail due to being found guilty of "possession with intent to sell." With his cellmate's help, Doug was able to find fitness and use his time locked up to beat his demons and reinvent himself. Doug is now an award-winning personal trainer, author, and host of the Adversity Advantage Podcast. He was voted Baltimore's "12 Fitness Heroes" in 2015 by The Baltimore Sun, and he has been featured on the Today Show and Men's Health. With the drug epidemic at an all-time high, he is on a crusade to share his story with hopes of inspiring others not only on the power of fitness but also to help inspire others to beat addiction. IN TODAY'S EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN: How incarceration and fitness saved Doug's life (5:40) Why Doug used substances to cope (8:22) What led to Doug's incarceration (12:04) What Doug would tell a kiddo who's struggling with big emotions (17:36) How time led to change for Doug (20:15) The four things Doug would tell someone who has an addict in their life (26:22) How Doug navigated triggers (32:42) Ways Doug managed cravings (34:54) How anxiety presented itself in Doug's life and how he navigated it (37:50) What Doug's up to now (45:46) What Doug would tell his younger self (49:05) I can't wait to hear your feedback on this episode! Screenshot and tag me—I'm @courageously.u— and my guest—@dougbopst and share your thoughts, feelings, and reactions. __________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: Save 10% on your Four Sigmatic purchase with code: COURAGE10 __________⁣⁣ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/doug-bopst/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

You all know anxiety is my jam. I'm basically obsessed with all things anxiety, so when I learned of today's guest, you better believe I was all over getting him on The Courageously.u Podcast. Today's guest is Dr. Russell Kennedy. Dr. Kennedy grew up with a parent with schizophrenia and developed his own anxiety disorder as a result. Dr. Kennedy has degrees and advanced training in medicine, neuroscience, and developmental psychology. He is also a certified yoga and meditation teacher —and to top it all off, Russell was a professional stand-up comedian for over a decade. His life's work is dedicated to helping people to recover from anxiety. His Book, Anxiety Rx combines his traditional scientific training with lessons learned from his atypical life experience to show people exactly how to escape chronic worry. I'm a firm believer that anxiety is not black or white and that it presents itself in many shades of grey. Dr. Russell and I dive deep into the grey areas of anxiety. IN TODAY'S EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: How having a father that lived with schizophrenia ignited Russell's anxiety (4:25) What happens when we stop reading ourselves (5:47) Why we project on to people close to us (7:55) How Russell's anxiety led to him contemplating suicide (8:54) What Russell believes is the underlying cause of anxiety (9:22) How our ego dragon overprotects us from potential dangers (10:40) Why it's important to sit with and notice your anxiety (13:42) The one thing Russell wants you to do (14:19) Why Russell wants you to stop using the word anxiety (16:48) Why you can't have anxiety without being a victim (17:47) How your alarm (your inner child) is asking for attention (19:51) How to reconnect to your inner child (24:21) The correlation between childhood trauma and chronic anxiety (26:50) What the three W's of warning are (29:13) Why uncertainty drives anxiety (29:33) How worries are used to avoid feelings (33:04) How to get out of your thoughts and back into sensation (42:06) Why one can split from themself (47:03) Russell's thoughts on mental health meds and GP's role in prescribing meds (49:50) What Russell does when he has a panic attack (56:56) Why people mistake a panic attack for a heart attack (58:06) Why people cry during yoga (1:02:39) Russell's thoughts on health anxiety (1:07:54) I can't wait to hear your feedback on this episode! Screenshot and tag me—I'm @courageously.u— and my guest—@theanxietymd and share your thoughts, feelings, and reactions. __________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: Save 10% on your Four Sigmatic purchase with code: COURAGE10 __________⁣⁣ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/russell-kennedy/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Today's guest is holistic nutritionist, and lifestyle cleanse expert Elissa Goodman. Elissa has struggled with her health her entire life, culminating in cancer and Hashimoto's in her 30's. Beyond her own health, she has also struggled while watching various loved ones suffer from health-related issues, including her husband Marc, who lost his battle to cancer in his mid-40's. Elissa believes that proper nourishment, healing by listening to your "gut, connecting to your inner strength, and a daily renewal practice is essential for optimal living. She's on a mission to educate and encourage healthy, mindful living while helping others embrace the concept that we are a product of what we eat and how we treat ourselves. Today's episode is jam-packed full of nuggets of wisdom, so feel free to take notes. I may be biased, but I feel this is just the episode we need as we roll into a wild holiday season. IN TODAY'S EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: Elissa's health story that led her to use food to heal (3:23) The importance of marrying conventional and functional medicine (9:01) Elissa's BIG epiphany (11:18) What happens to your gut when you're stressed and unhappy (12:42) Why focusing on your emotions and diet are essential in healing (13:32) What Elissa does for self-care to improve her well-being (14:46) Why you are never too old to reinvent yourself (18:11) The benefits of juicing (19:04) The importance of using food and lemon water to cleanse the toxins from our body (22:11) One of the best things to do for yourself in the morning (25:44) Why Elissa love's juicing and doesn't worry about the fiber being eliminated (26:34) Why you shouldn't put fruit in your juices (27:35) What to do if you don't have a juicer and want a shortcut (27:51) How Elissa does intermittent fasting and why she chose to fast (29:35) Key foods to incorporate into your diet (32:09) The supplements I use to improve my hormonal health (34:27) Foods Elissa encourages people to avoid (35:42) Why Elissa thinks the word superfoods is overrated (38:09) The benefits of taking organic MCT oil (41:35) Elissa's thoughts on alcohol (41:40) Why we should be drinking bone broth (43:45) The importance of sleep (46:02) I can't wait to hear your feedback on this episode! Screenshot and tag me—I'm @courageously.u— and my guest—@elissagoodman and share your thoughts, feelings, and reactions. __________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: Toss the toxins in your home for good! For a limited time only, Branch Basics is giving YOU 10% off your first Starter Kit. Click here to start tossing the toxins today! __________⁣⁣ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/elissa-goodman/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Today with are chatting with a survivor of a sexual assault, Lacy Crawford. I'll let Lacy share her story with you, but I do want to chat a second about why this episode means so much to me. Did you know, on average, there are 433,648 victims (age 12 or older) of rape and sexual assault each year in the United States, and every 73 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted? Bananas, right?!? I'll never forget the feeling that came over me when I realized how many courageous souls had been sexually assaulted. The majority of my clientele, both in community work and corrections, have experienced sexual abuse at one point in their life (Not all, but definitely a large majority). This blew my mind! Why? Because no one ever talks about sexual assault. I honestly had no clue that it was really a problem until I became a therapist. Becoming a therapist opened my eyes to the realities that many people's emotional struggles stem from past sexual trauma. Creating a conversation around sexual abuse is very important to me, and that's why this week's podcast interview with the ever courageous Lacy Crawford is so near and dear to my heart. IN TODAY'S EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: Where Lacy found the courage to share her story of sexual assault (6:24) The red flag that leads to victims holding blame and shame (9:34) The background of what led to Lacy's first sexual assault (11:00) The events that followed after Lacy was sexually assaulted (14:22) When Lacy gave up and concluded her body no longer belonged to her (15:40) Why Lacy didn't kick and scream and say no (17:08) How Lacy's deadening inside carried with her into adulthood (17:45) How Lacy coped with the assault, loneliness, and suicidal thoughts (19:00) How Lacy refused to let the perpetrators and elite boarding school take what she had worked so hard to build away from her (21:35) The methods Lacy used to heal her inner child (24:45) What saved Lacy's life (27:57) How an elite boarding school failed to report, protect, and treat Lacy (32:32) What transpired when Lacy began the process of pressing charges (36:28) Why Lacy went back to St. Pauls after they threatened to destroy her reputation (45:55) What is taken away from someone who has been sexually assaulted (47:03) How St. Pauls school covered up teachers sexually assaulting students (48:06) Whether or not the school has tried to contact Lacy since her book came out (57:14) The advice Lacy would give to someone who has been sexually assaulted (1:01:29) I can't wait to hear your feedback on this episode! Screenshot and tag me—I'm @courageously.u— and my guest—@lacycrawford and share your thoughts, feelings, and reactions. __________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: Make the switch to non-toxic deodorant today! Get 10% off your first Primally Pure order with code: COURAGE10 __________⁣⁣ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/lacy-crawford/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/

Are you ready to toss the toxins and get back to basics? I sure am! Today's guest is the ever courageous Allison Evans. I first discovered Allison after hearing her story through Branch Basics. Allison is a co-founder of Branch Basics. She has dedicated herself to helping others reap the benefits of clean living after experiencing life-changing healing from living in an environment free of toxic chemicals. I won't dive into her story here because I want to let her tell you for herself, but Allison loves researching all things holistic parenting, clean eating, and she especially loves helping others navigate their health journeys. This episode is really important to me because I recently learned I have endometriosis, and it threw my baby-making plans for a loop. After connecting with Allison and hearing her story, I discovered I'm not alone in this hormonal struggle. My intention with this episode is to ensure women are informed and are provided the tools and education they need to be proactive in their overall health. IN TODAY'S EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: Allison's health journey and what led to the creation of Branch Basics (4:47) How toxic products are disrupting our endocrine system (10:30) How we have become desensitized to fragrance (13:40) The importance of becoming more comfortable with the smell of clean (17:13) About Lyme Disease and how Allison is treating it holistically (18:00) Allison's feelings about birth control being used for symptom management (24:19) The first thing to do if you have endocrine-related symptoms (25:07) How to avoid overwhelm when removing toxins from your home (29:24) All about the wonders of Branch Basics (31:06) The two main categories of cleaning products and how we are depleting our gut bacteria through our cleaning products (33:45) The power of using Branch Basics for your laundry (38:10) Allison's challenge for you (40:19) I can't wait to hear your feedback on this episode! Screenshot and tag me—I'm @courageously.u— and my guest—@branchbasics and share your thoughts, feelings, and reactions. __________ ALL THE GOODIES FROM THIS EPISODE: Want to snag 10% off your first Branch Basics Starter Kit? Click here and use code COURAGE at checkout. __________⁣⁣ COURAGEOUSLY.U SHOWNOTES: https://courageouslyu.com/toss-the-toxins/ COURAGEOUSLY.U FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1416219115169393 COURAGEOUSLY.U INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/courageously.u/