Episode 130: The Story She Stopped Editing: Healing Through the Language of Scars
Dare To Share Your Untold Story
In this episode, Tracey shares the powerful parallels between the physical scars she carries and the emotional ones she spent years learning to understand. At eight years old, Tracey survived life-threatening burns when a candle ignited her homemade costume. She recalls going into survival mode instantly, brushing off her pain, and learning early on to fix problems quickly and minimize her own needs. This became the pattern that shaped much of her life. Tracey later joined the Coast Guard and found herself walking directly into the wounds of trauma through search-and-rescue missions. She...
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Episode 129: Perfectionism as a Shield: Rewriting a Childhood Marked by Sexual Abuse
Dare To Share Your Untold Story
In this episode, Nicole shares the story she once believed she would never speak — the decade of childhood sexual abuse she experienced while the world around her saw a bright, high-achieving, “perfect” young girl. At fourteen, a single, intuitive question from her mother led to a moment of truth that changed everything. Nicole reflects on her mother’s immediate protective actions and the fear, shame, and uncertainty that followed in the aftermath. Nicole describes how she learned to push her emotions down, stay busy, and shape herself into whatever version of “okay” she believed...
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Episode 128: Radical Self-Awareness: She Reclaimed Her Power
Dare To Share Your Untold Story
Jennifer was raised to be strong and independent—and she carried that identity proudly. As a critical care nurse, she believed she knew the answers to what it meant to be healthy and well. But life had other lessons waiting. Her journey shifted in 2002, when her second son suffered a massive neonatal stroke just one hour after birth. The experience awakened her to the many gaps in the healthcare system and inspired her to begin bridging those gaps through energy work, nutrition, and exercise. Several years later, on the same day she discovered she was expecting her fourth child, Jennifer...
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Episode 127: A Bold Step Led Her to the Journey of Healing and Calling
Dare To Share Your Untold Story
Julie’s story unfolds at the intersection of faith, identity, and self-compassion. Raised in a culturally and religiously conservative South Asian household, she grew up surrounded by clear definitions of what was right and wrong — spoken and unspoken rules that guided how one should live and belong. But how Julie was authentically wired didn’t always fit those expectations. The tension between who she was and who she was told to be became an early internal struggle, one she learned to carry as if it were her fault. When Julie was ten years old, she lost her father in a tragic car...
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Episode 126: Moving Through the Storm and Rebuilding from the Rubble: A Story on Trauma, Resilience, and Renewal
Dare To Share Your Untold Story
Felicity’s story is one of survival, silence, and rediscovery after enduring over forty years of physical, emotional, and mental abuse. At ten years old, she witnessed her father attempt to kill her mother with a crystal ashtray — a moment that changed everything and taught her to stay quiet, to shut down, and to carry fear as though it were part of her. Throughout her life, Felicity experienced repeated patterns of abuse. She grew up believing her worth was tied to endurance and her safety to silence — patterns rooted in a long line of generational trauma carried by her grandmother, her...
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Episode 125: The Silent Spiral: When Stage IV Cancer Became My Greatest Gift
Dare To Share Your Untold Story
In this deeply honest and transformative episode, Jenn Greenhut shares a story that began in quiet emotional suppression and perfectionism—and evolved into a journey of awakening, trust, and healing. As a young elite gymnast training for the Olympics, Jenn was conditioned to dismiss her emotions, believing that worth was only found through flawless performance. She trained intensely, travelled globally, and learned to disconnect from her needs—until a knee injury forced her out of the sport. That moment, she now says, was her body making the decision she couldn’t. Years later, she poured...
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Episode 124: The Silent Spiral: Walls Torn Down: A Story of Policing, PTSD, and Healing
Dare To Share Your Untold Story
In this raw and courageous episode, Glen opens up about the emotional cost of living behind the badge—sharing how years of witnessing trauma, bottling up pain, and keeping secrets from loved ones quietly unraveled his inner world. He speaks with striking honesty about the toll of suppressing his emotions to maintain a tough exterior, and how it led to walls of disconnection, impulsive choices, and a sense of losing himself completely. Glen describes how PTSD shaped his responses—through recurring nightmares, emotional shutdown, and what he calls “PTSD-influenced decisions” that felt...
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Episode 123: The Silent Spiral: Hidden Struggles and Racing Thoughts Before OCD Had a Name
Dare To Share Your Untold Story
In this honest and thought-provoking episode, Kevin shares his journey of living with racing thoughts that began in childhood—relentless mental loops he couldn’t fully articulate and believed no one else experienced. For years, he suffered in silence, overwhelmed by the belief that he was alone in his struggle. That changed the day he realized others faced similar internal battles—a pivotal moment that reshaped how he viewed himself and his mental health. At age 29, Kevin was diagnosed with OCD, and he describes the emotional resistance that often spiraled into panic attacks—waves of...
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Episode 122: Grief Will Change You, It Certainly Changed Me
Dare To Share Your Untold Story
In this profoundly moving episode, Julia shares a deeply personal untold story that begins with loss—the loss of her beloved mother, a woman who wasn’t just a parent, but also her best friend, protector, and guiding compass. As her mother’s health declined, Julia tried to remain fully present, asking tender questions and offering emotional support through the unknowns of anticipated grief. One moment that stayed with her was her mother describing how, as a child, she found comfort sitting beneath the soft canopy of a willow tree. That image became a symbol of comfort and connection—and...
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Episode 121: Against the Odds: Solo Parenting and Holding It All Together
Dare To Share Your Untold Story
In this deeply moving and reflective episode, Jennifer Gill courageously unpacks the layered experience of solo parenting, thoughtfully distinguishing it from single parenting. Her journey began in 2007 when her mother-in-law passed away, leaving a wave of grief in the family. Jennifer suddenly found herself juggling the emotional needs of her father-in-law, who was now widowed, while her husband relocated two provinces away for work. At home, she was raising two young daughters—ages 7 and 10—both diagnosed with learning disabilities, which came with their own unique set of challenges. At...
info_outlineAs we extend to prioritize the unique concept of mental beauty, episode 113 of the Dare To Share Your Untold Story Podcast, Mental Beauty Segments, transformation of the imposter, the uncertainty and her infertility. In relation to this episode topic the prior episode 45 has been selected for further exploration and deeper dive. In episode 45, titled “Ending the Era of the Uncertainty, the Imposter, & the Infertility”, with guest, Alyza Raithatha. Her journey is a deeply moving exploration of resilience, self-acceptance, and breaking through the barriers of mental health stigmas, particularly in the South Asian community. Her candid storytelling offers a window into the struggles that many face but rarely voice—imposter syndrome, uncertainty, and the emotional weight of infertility. Her story shines a light on the inner battle between the image we project to the world and the reality of our internal struggles. As Alyza puts it, “the external world will never know my imposter”. This powerful statement captures the essence of her journey toward embracing her authentic self, even when it feels like the world demands a façade. Her episode highlights the power of reframing mental health. Instead of viewing it as a silent struggle or a hidden flaw, Alyza embraces the concept of Mental Beauty. Mental Beauty challenges the way we think about mental health. It invites us to view it as an integral part of our overall well-being, just like physical health. It’s a shift that empowers us to embrace our vulnerabilities, recognizing them as part of what makes us beautifully human. Alyza’s journey perfectly encapsulates the essence of the Mental Beauty Rethink. It’s about moving away from shame and secrecy and stepping into a space of self-acceptance and empowerment.
3 Practical ‘Mental Beauty Tips’ inspired by Episode 113:
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Reframe Your Inner Dialogue: Practice Self-Compassion: Start by identifying the negative thoughts that arise when you feel like an imposter. Instead of judging yourself harshly, try to speak to yourself as you would to a friend. Acknowledge your feelings without letting them define you. For instance, instead of thinking, I don’t deserve this success, reframe it to, I worked hard to achieve this, and it’s okay to feel proud of my accomplishments. Use affirmations to remind yourself of your strengths and achievements regularly.
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Embrace Vulnerability and Share Your Experiences: Open Up to Trusted People: Talking about your feelings of inadequacy with friends, family, or colleagues can help diminish their power. Sharing your experiences can foster connection and show you that many others feel the same way at times. You might consider journaling about your feelings, which can also help you process them and recognize patterns. By expressing your vulnerabilities, you’ll realize you’re not alone, making it easier to combat feelings of imposter.
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Set Realistic Goals and Celebrate Achievements: Break Down Goals into Manageable Steps: Instead of overwhelming yourself with lofty goals, break them down into smaller, achievable tasks. This approach helps you build confidence as you complete each step. Additionally, take time to celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small. Create a ‘success log’ where you record your achievements and the efforts it took to get there. Reflecting on these successes can help counteract the imposter feeling and remind you of your capabilities.
Episode 113 Takeaway:
A self-care tool called ‘The Practice of Self-Reflection Through Journaling’:
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By setting aside a few minutes each day to write about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences, you create a space for honest self-exploration. This allows you to identify the triggers and patterns associated with your imposter syndrome.
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Begin by noting moments when you feel like an imposter and the thoughts that accompany those feelings. Ask yourself questions like, What evidence do I have that contradicts these feelings? or What achievements can I celebrate today? This practice not only helps you confront and challenge negative beliefs but also reinforces your accomplishments and strengths. Over time, you'll build resilience and a clearer understanding of your self-worth, empowering you to take charge and silence that inner critic.
Of course, remember, if you want to share something amazing that you would like to have a shout out for on your behalf, just send an e-mail to mentalbeautycommunity@gmail.com.
Spread Mental Beauty, Stop the Stigma!