“Therapy was like a big warm hug… It was cathartic and freeing. I wish I had these tools years ago. Having somebody to talk to who wasn’t a friend or family member… It was invaluable.”

Gretchen Shoser, also known as G Rex, is a mental health advocate and co-host of the podcast ”Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads”. Gretchen shares her journey of a severe mental health crisis on Christmas Day 2022, which led her to call 988 for help. This experience, combined with therapy and sharing her story on social media, helped her find support and heal.

Finding hope despite feeling overwhelmed and being close to suicide is something Gretchen lived by. She explains how thinking about her loved ones and future possibilities helped her reach out for help. The role of therapy in providing tools, support, and a safe space for expression is huge. The importance of finding the right therapist and the profound impact therapy has had on Gretchen’s life, including dealing with negative self-talk and emotional healing. The negative self-talk is very powerful, but Gretchen didn’t fully understand its extent until she started therapy.

Finding hope and love is possible, just reach out.

Notes:

😇 Becoming a mental health advocate after a serious breakdown in 2022: being terrified and on the edge of suicide. 02:26

😩 Being really scared and calling 988: what if this is not working, what about my loved ones? 5:55

😭 Cathartic tears and findings during the therapy: three types of therapies Gretchen is practicing. 08:47

🆚 “Go find your Happy” vs blockage: Gretchen’s bad self-talk and not being able to find her voice. 13:22

🛋️ Being 18 months in therapy and having tools for changing issues that appear: helping other people through a podcast. 18:38

🎙️ Laughing therapy and creating a podcast: sharing stories with people about their mental health journey. 21:05

🌞 Getting out of the shadows: shame came out when therapy started and people left Gretchen when she started sharing her story. 26:07

🙅‍♀️ Boundaries is not just saying no: three questions Gretchen asks herself.  27:47

🕵️‍♀️ Figure out patterns other people are pushing towards you: taking care of yourself and not being a people pleaser. 32:07

🧒 Let your inner child come out at least once a day: Gretchen is happy to be alive. 35:04

✍️ The power of journaling for Gretchen: routine with five new tools she learned in therapy. 39:24

🤗 Self-care is a decision to care for yourself: you are worth of it – find your joy and connection to yourself. 46:29🩷 Don’t compare yourself to others. 47:49