I recently caught up with my friend Karena Dawn to talk about the amazing work she’s doing in the mental health space and what she’s learned in her own healing journey. 

Karena and I discuss her debut memoir The Big Silence: A Daughter’s Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing, which is a deeply moving story of her journey from crisis, addiction, and depression to a life of hope and happiness. In our conversation, she shares her advice for anyone who is struggling with their mental health right now and highlights some supportive solutions. 

CONNECT WITH KARENA

Follow Karena: @karenadawn 

Order your copy of Karena’s book: The Big Silence: A Daughter’s Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing

Learn more about Karena’s charity, The Big Silence: thebigsilence.com 

Listen to The Big Silence  

CONNECT WITH LORI

Follow me: @loriharder

Follow Lite Pink: @drinklitepink

Follow Earn Your Happy: @earnyourhappy

Follow Girlfriends & Business: @girlfriendsandbusiness

Listen to Girlfriends & Business

EPISODE TIMELINE

(0:48) Welcome back to Earn Your Happy. Today, Lori is joined by Karena Dawn. 

(4:09) Lori asks Karena, “What was going on in your life right before writing the book? Why did this conversation have to come out right now for you?”

(6:19) Lori asks Karena, “Where do you think this stigma comes from? And what is one of the things that people can do?” 

(9:02) Lori asks Karena, “When seeking help, are there particular people that we should aim to go towards? What were you finding yourself doing because you weren’t talking?”

(12:25) Karena asks Lori, “What is it like where you’re at with your family?”

(14:51) Lori shouts out the sponsor of today’s show, Issuu. 

(17:16) Lori asks Karena, “Tell me about when you were growing up, just your experience of kind of thinking that you had to hold it in. What were some of the ways that that was manifesting in your life?”

(21:43) Lori asks Karena, “Did you have a realization with the all or nothing mentality? Were you that way as well? What did that journey look like for you?”

(26:45) Lori asks Karena, “How do you go back to the challenging times in and dig for the gold and find that gift?”

(27:57) Lori asks Karena, “Where can we get your book and what’s the best way to connect with you and The Big Silence Foundation?”

(28:41) Lori asks Karena, “What’s your Instagram handle?”