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 go extend to prioritize the unique concept of mental beauty, episode 118 of the Dare To Share Your Untold Story Podcast, Mental Beauty Segments, focuses on it’s more than just a diagnosis, coming to terms with mortality and death. In relation to this episode topic the prior episode 43 has been selected for further exploration and deeper dive. In episode 43, titled “The Journey is more about my death than it is about the cancer”, with guest, Rishma Dhalla. Her journey is a profound example of what it means to confront our deepest fears and find meaning in the face of life's greatest challenges. Her story sheds light on the transformational power of embracing vulnerability, facing mortality, and redefining our relationship with death. Her open sharing serves as a powerful reminder that healing is not just about treating a physical illness—it's about nurturing our mental and emotional well-being, even in the most trying of times. Rishma's courage to explore the depths of her fears and find purpose in her journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Her words perfectly capture the essence of the Mental Beauty Rethink. She says, I love the phrase "mental beauty" because it evokes positivity, hope, and optimism. It's about shifting our perspective to the positive and recognizing that there is always room for growth, no matter how optimistic we may already be. It's about removing the shame and stigma surrounding mental health and embracing a new way of thinking. Rishma's headline, "My death, my way," is a powerful declaration of her journey. It's about facing our own mortality and claiming a level of control over what the end of life might look like, regardless of when it happens. It's a way to engage with the process of dying and find peace in the uncertainty.
3 Practical ‘Mental Beauty Tips’ inspired by Episode 118:
1. Grounding Through Breath and Body Awareness
When fear of uncertainty overwhelms us, the mind often spirals into worrying about the future. To counter this, grounding techniques help reconnect to the present moment. A simple yet powerful method is focused breathing:
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Take a deep breath in through the nose for 4 counts, hold for 4 counts, and exhale slowly through the mouth for 6 counts. Repeat this cycle 5 times.
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This exercise calms the nervous system; shifts focus away from future-based fears and allows you to settle right into the here and now.
2. Journaling for Gratitude and Clarity
Fear often stems from a feeling of powerlessness. Journaling can provide structure and control by helping process thoughts and refocus on what is within reach.
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At the end of each day, write down:
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Three small things you are grateful for that happened today.
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One action you can take tomorrow, no matter how small, to feel more in control.
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Gratitude journaling trains the mind to notice positive moments, while identifying actionable steps shifts focus from uncertainty to small, achievable progress.
3. Naming and Confronting Fears
Uncertainty often grows stronger when fears remain unspoken. Naming fears out loud or writing them down creates space to confront and reframe them.
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Write down your top three fears and ask yourself: What am I truly afraid of here?
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Challenge each fear by asking: Is this within my control? What small steps can I take to prepare for this?
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By exploring fears directly, their intensity often decreases. Naming fears gives them form and allows you to identify solutions or acceptance.
Episode 118 Takeaway:
A self-care tool called ‘Affirmation-Based Body Scan’:
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To practice, find a quiet space and take slow, deep breaths. Starting at the top of your head, slowly move your attention down to each part of your body. As you focus on each area, pair your attention with a calming affirmation, such as "I am safe and grounded"; “I am okay in this moment.”; "I trust myself to get through this." Notice any sensations without judgment and breathe gently into those areas.
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Conclude with a full-body affirmation: "I am present, I am connected, and I am okay." Allow these affirmations to settle deeply within you.
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This tool serves as a gentle reminder that the body holds calm and safety.
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 email to mentalbeautycommunity@gmail.com.
Spread Mental Beauty, Stop the Stigma!