Podcast Summary
Visualizing life as a plate with constant shifts: Embrace instability, prioritize effectively, and practice self-care to manage various aspects of life
Achieving perfect balance in life is an unrealistic goal. Instead, Revi Jane suggests envisioning life as a plate with a ball underneath, acknowledging that we will constantly be leaning towards different areas such as work, relationships, and mental health. It's important to recognize that this instability is a natural part of life and focus on prioritizing and managing the various aspects of our lives effectively. Revi also emphasizes the importance of self-care and seeking support when needed. She shares her own experiences of juggling multiple responsibilities as a mom, content creator, and business owner, and encourages listeners to let go of the pressure to maintain an unattainable balance.
Balancing Life's Priorities: It's Okay to Ebb and Flow: Understand that perfect balance is unrealistic, prioritize as needed, and support each other through seasons of focus.
We put too much pressure on ourselves to balance all aspects of our lives perfectly, especially in today's world with social media highlighting seemingly perfect lives. However, we need to understand that we cannot give equal attention to every area of our lives at all times. Instead, we should normalize the ebb and flow of prioritizing different areas as needed. This includes recognizing that it's okay to have seasons where certain areas may suffer while others thrive. Additionally, understanding and supporting each other through these seasons can lead to greater kindness and empathy towards ourselves and others. It's important to remember that what we see on social media is often an incomplete picture, and comparing ourselves to others can be unhelpful and detrimental to our mental health.
Perception vs. Reality: Mental Health and Transparency: Despite transparency, people's perceptions of a life with mental health struggles can differ from reality. Seek help and live authentically.
Everyone's perception of a person's life, even when they're being transparent, can be different. No matter how curated or transparent someone's online presence may be, people will still perceive it in their own way. The speaker, who lives with mental health disorders and shares her life openly, emphasizes the importance of showing that mental health struggles can coexist with successful and joyous lives. She also shares her personal story of growing up with an abusive father and an unstable mother, which led her to seek help and find meaning in life by understanding what she didn't want. Through her experiences, she encourages people to seek help and live their lives authentically, without hiding their struggles.
Childhood Trauma Leading to Complex PTSD: Complex PTSD is caused by prolonged childhood abuse or neglect, leading to interpersonal disturbances, negative self-concept, and dysregulation. Seek emotional support and appropriate treatment for unique experiences.
Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) is a type of trauma that occurs when a child experiences prolonged abuse or neglect. Unlike PTSD, which is often associated with a single traumatic event, CPTSD can lead to additional symptoms such as interpersonal disturbances, negative self-concept, and dysregulation. These symptoms can manifest in various ways, including relationship issues, self-blame, and difficulty with executive functions. The speaker shared her personal experience with CPTSD and how it affected her, including nightmares, emotional dysregulation, and executive dysfunction. She emphasized the importance of emotional availability and support for children, as neglect can be as damaging as physical or sexual abuse. Understanding the differences between PTSD and CPTSD can help individuals seek appropriate treatment and support for their unique experiences.
Healing from complex trauma through new experiences: Individuals with C-PTSD can heal by stepping out of their routine and facing new experiences, like traveling, despite anxiety and fears.
Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) is a deeply layered and complex condition that arises from prolonged exposure to trauma and abuse during childhood. Unlike PTSD from a singular event, C-PTSD leaves individuals with a fractured self and a lack of trust in their own judgment. The brain's development during early childhood and adolescence, with its rapid changes, makes the impact of an unstable upbringing even more significant. For people with C-PTSD, stepping out of their routine and facing new experiences can be an essential part of the healing process. An inspiring example of this is choosing to travel, like flying to Paris for an extended stay, despite anxiety and fears. The speaker's determination to live her life to the fullest, despite her struggles with C-PTSD and OCD, serves as a powerful message to the world. It's crucial to remember that OCD is more than just being overly particular about certain things; it's an obsessive thought pattern that can affect various aspects of life.
Understanding the Complexity of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: OCD is a complex mental health condition that affects people regardless of their external circumstances. It involves intrusive thoughts and compulsions, and breaking the stigma is crucial for managing it.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a complex mental health condition that can manifest in various forms, including self-harm and harming others, and often involves ego-distonic thoughts and compulsions. These intrusive thoughts can be distressing and shameful, leading individuals to keep them hidden. OCD can affect anyone, regardless of their external circumstances, and it's essential to recognize that people dealing with OCD can still lead fulfilling lives. The condition is not a binary experience, and awareness and understanding are crucial first steps towards managing it. For instance, a person may have a beautiful family life while dealing with intrusive thoughts or compulsions related to safety or harm. It's essential to break the stigma surrounding mental health conditions and acknowledge that they do not define a person's worth or capabilities.
Embrace your experiences, even the painful ones: Accepting past experiences and practicing self-compassion are essential for healing and finding happiness in life
It's important to identify and accept the experiences that shape us, even if they're painful, rather than trying to "fix" them before moving on. Acceptance and self-compassion are key to healing and finding happiness in life. It's not about being grateful for the trauma, but rather using our access to resources and therapy to transform the pain into growth. We all deserve to feel better, and the complexity of the human psyche means that healing is a cyclical process with multiple layers. It's important to remember that our past does not define us, and that we are capable of meeting ourselves with love and compassion, rather than judgment. Our experiences, even the painful ones, make us who we are and are an essential part of our journey towards growth and self-discovery.
Mental health is an ongoing journey: Caring for mental health is essential, healing looks different in various stages of life, compassion is crucial, mental health care can be inaccessible and expensive, it's not a sign of weakness.
Just like physical health, mental health requires ongoing care and attention. The stigma surrounding mental health often leads people to believe that it's something that can be fixed once and for all, but in reality, it's an ongoing journey. Healing can look different in various stages of life and can come from various sources, including therapy, self-compassion, and simple activities like going for walks or reading a book. Compassion is crucial in this journey as it allows us to listen to what we truly need. Unfortunately, mental health care is often inaccessible and expensive, adding to the challenge. It's important to remember that taking care of our mental health is not a sign of weakness, but rather an essential aspect of overall well-being.
The importance of self-love and integrity: Practicing self-love by keeping promises to ourselves builds integrity and strengthens our relationship with ourselves, leading to stronger connections in all areas of life.
The relationship we have with ourselves is the most important one. It's crucial to keep promises to ourselves, as it builds integrity and self-love. This not only benefits us in the present moment but also in the long term. Communication is key in all relationships, including the one with ourselves. Honesty and self-awareness are essential in building trust and maintaining healthy relationships. It's important to remember that we don't have to hide our past or struggles before entering a relationship. Instead, being open and honest with ourselves and our partners can lead to stronger and more meaningful connections.
Understanding and supporting unique experiences: Communication, education, and exercise are essential for supporting individuals dealing with various challenges, including mental health disorders and traumatic experiences.
Everyone's experiences and struggles are unique, and it's essential to recognize and respect that. People who haven't gone through certain challenges may find it hard to understand those who have, but that doesn't mean they can't offer support. Communication and education are key to understanding how to help someone in need. For instance, mental health disorders and traumatic experiences require specific forms of support. Exercise is an effective tool for improving mental health, and the sense of accomplishment and self-integrity it brings can be crucial for individuals dealing with various challenges. The speaker's personal journey of incorporating exercise into her life during different stages demonstrates its significant impact on her mental well-being.
Fitness promotes mental health through endorphin release and emotional management: Fitness releases endorphins, acting as a natural painkiller for both physical and emotional distress, and offers a therapeutic outlet for individuals with mental health conditions like CPTSD.
Fitness plays a significant role in promoting mental health. For the speaker, discovering the power of fitness was a transformative experience that helped her understand self-respect and provided a consistent outlet for managing her emotions. The release of endorphins during exercise not only alleviates physical pain but also soothes emotional distress, acting as a natural painkiller. Additionally, the speaker's hyper-vigilant nature with CPTSD found comfort in the stress of exercise, making it a therapeutic and enjoyable experience. The effects of exercise on the brain are profound, changing its chemical structure and providing a behavioral intervention for mental health.
Using physical activity to manage mental health and release emotions: Physical activity can help manage mental health, release emotions, and provide a coping mechanism, especially during challenging times. Recognizing the value of physical activity and addressing emotional wounds of abandonment are important themes.
Physical activity, such as dancing or participating in sports, can be an effective way to manage mental health and release pent-up emotions. This was evident in the speaker's experience of using dance as a coping mechanism during challenging times in her life, even when she was living alone as a teenager. The absence of love and the feeling of abandonment were also identified as significant sources of trauma and pain. Despite the traumatic experiences, the speaker's bond with her parents remained strong due to the complex emotions associated with their role as caregivers. Overall, the importance of recognizing the value of physical activity and addressing the emotional wounds of abandonment were key themes in the speaker's story.
A teen's journey to healing and growth with the help of loving foster parents: Even in difficult circumstances, healing and building a fulfilling life are possible with the support of loving caregivers
Even in the face of adversity and difficult circumstances, it's possible to heal and build a fulfilling life. The speaker shares her experience of being taken in by a loving family when she was 17 and how they became pseudo-parents to her. She recalls feeling overwhelmed during her teenage years, working long hours and struggling with her health. When she expressed her desire for a place to stay, her friend's parents welcomed her with open arms, offering her a room. Although she was initially hesitant and guarded, they eventually grew to love and support her. The speaker is now grateful for their unwavering presence in her life and the impact they've had on her personal growth. Despite the challenges she continues to face, she is proud of the progress she's made and the life she's building. The speaker's story serves as a reminder that healing and living a fulfilling life can happen simultaneously. It's a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of love and support from others.
Comparing life stages to a child's development: Embracing the perspective of continuous learning and growth, even in the challenging context of parenthood, can lead to immense joy and healing.
As we grow older, we can compare our stages of life to that of a child's development, recognizing that we're all just figuring things out. Embracing this perspective with grace and a sense of play can lead to immense joy and healing, especially in the context of raising children. This process of self-discovery and rebirth can be challenging, but ultimately rewarding, as we come to terms with the inevitable changes that come with parenthood. And just like the love we have for our pets, the love we have for our children is a primal and powerful force that can bring us to our knees in awe.
Embracing Unconventional Feelings: Acknowledge and express all feelings, even if they don't fit societal norms. Be kind to yourself and don't let others' judgment define your worth.
Everyone's experiences and emotions are valid, even if they don't always fit neatly into societal expectations. The speaker shared her personal story of feeling shame about her emotional connection with her dog, but emphasized the importance of acknowledging and expressing feelings, no matter how unconventional they may seem. She encouraged listeners to be kind to themselves and not take criticism or judgment from others. The speaker also shared her Instagram handle, ReviJane, and mentioned her athleisure label, Alita State. The name Alita, which means "little goddess" in Latin and "little wing" in Spanish, holds personal significance for her. She urged listeners to follow her for more content and encouraged open communication and support for each other. The speaker's story highlights the importance of self-compassion, authentic expression, and the power of community in overcoming shame and finding healing.
