Mental Health Awareness: Breaking the Stigma, Finding Hope

What if the feelings you’re hiding aren’t proof you’re broken—but clues pointing you toward care?

In this episode of Shame Free Sunday, we sit down with Harmony (our shame-free bear) to explore Mental Health Awareness Week through a grounded, faith-informed lens. We talk about how anxiety, depression, and grief are not flaws to hide but signals to understand—and how shame often twists struggle into identity. Naming what hurts is the beginning of relief.

You’ll hear about simple nervous system tools—like slow exhale breathing and even bubble-blowing—alongside deeper practices of awareness, pattern-tracking, and finding safe people. We unpack when anxiety and grief become maladaptive, what it means to feel stuck in fight/flight/freeze, and how to gently widen your window of tolerance. We also look at biblical stories like Elijah and David, where rest, nourishment, and honest prayer came before solutions—offering a compassionate model of healing that honors both faith and therapy.

As a trauma therapist in Central Texas and Miami, Florida, I also share practical ways to seek support: understanding the difference between coaching and counseling, finding a provider who aligns with your values, and reframing help-seeking as strength—not weakness.

Our refrain throughout: shadows mean light is nearby. If you’ve been feeling ashamed or stuck, this is your invitation to take one small step—name it to tame it, feel it to heal it, and remember you’re not alone.

✨ If this episode speaks to you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review. What’s one baby step you’ll take today?

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