Hope to Cope with PTSD with Emily Mowry

Sometimes you heal from it, and sometimes you heal through it.
It’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and our theme this month is
Hope to Cope. We know that it can be difficult at times – when
we’re going through different struggles – to find hope, to know
exactly how to walk in the midst of that, and how to cope. This
month, we’re bringing in guests to share their personal stories
of hope with you, because often we share knowledge through
something that we’ve walked through ourselves, rather than from a
professional place. Today’s guest is Emily Mowry, a PTSD
survivor, science teacher, and Interact, sponsor. She shares with
us her background and how she got into teaching, as well as some
personal stories about the trauma that she has experienced and
how she learned to cope with it. Emily wants us to know that
diagnosis isn’t a linear process and that, sometimes, privilege
can mask certain symptoms of mental illness. We also discuss
healthy coping mechanisms and finding safe spaces to share when
experiencing trauma, as well as the importance of scheduling
joyful activities. Finally, Emily shares a source of hope that
helps her to keep fighting in her journey towards healing. Tune
in to find out more!





Key Points From This Episode:


Emily tells listeners about herself and her background.

The difficulty of diagnosing mental illness and defining
trauma.

Experiencing trauma versus having PTSD.

Emily relates her personal experiences with depression and
anxiety.

Diagnosis isn’t a linear process.

Privilege allows someone to mask symptoms of mental illness.

Shame and how it can prevent someone from reaching out for
help.

Healthy coping mechanisms and finding safe spaces to share
when experiencing trauma.

Fear, sadness, and anger should be felt, named, and
expressed.

The importance of scheduling joyful activities.

Shifting the narrative from victim to survivor.

A source of hope from Emily.






Tweetables:


“The experience of trauma is a part of the human condition” —
Emily Mowry  [0:11:48]


“In going on this journey with being diagnosed with a mental
illness, you have to take things with a grain of salt, and learn
to be a little creative in your own thinking” — Emily Mowry 
[0:20:54]


“Find your safe spot to be vulnerable… find a community to walk
and grow with you… find a way to learn how to feel again” — Emily
Mowry  [0:39:26]


“My source of hope is: you can keep fighting because you already
are a fighter” — Emily Mowry  [0:56:09]





Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:


What Color is Your Parachute?


The Price of Privilege


Safe People


iGrok App


Mosaics of Mercy Resources