TRAUMA RECOVERY: HOW DO YOU START TO HAVE YOUR OWN BACK? S4:E27

Get ready for THE TRUE NORTH COLLECTIVE℠ PODCAST: SEASON 4! With co-hosts Rachel Bellotti (she/her) and Jenell Riesner (she/her), this is a gathering of un-sugar-coated conversations celebrating the untold stories of everyday people fearlessly finding and living their true north. 

In our own search to discover and live from our TRUE NORTH, we continue to meet many interesting, courageous people from all walks of life, doing all sorts of amazing things to live life in their own unique way. Stories from all over the world. Stories with heart. Stories with grit. Stories with plot twists. Stories going untold - until now. This season, we continue to celebrate these untold stories of everyday people who are fearlessly living their true north and inspiring each of us to do the same.

In today’s episode, we’re so excited to talk to Soheila Hakimi, a lifestyle content creator, self-taught photographer, travel writer, + mental health podcaster, born + raised in Toronto, Canada. Guided by her authenticity, Soheila focuses on connecting to her audience through vulnerable storytelling, engaging conversation, + beautiful photography. In 2019, after years of suffering from PTSD, depression, + anxiety, she opened up to her audience about her mental health struggles + created a podcast called Is That Soh Podcast, which aims to inspire, empower, + provide insights on various mental health + life topics so that others who are also struggling can find support + community. In this episode, we wrestle with:

• Big families
• Self-reflection
• Comparison + the downward spiral
• Healing journey + finally remembering the truth
• High functioning PTSD 
• Rape culture + self-blame
• Using social media to share your trauma 
• Self-sabotage + having a good support system
• Secrets, shame, + control
• Self-compassion for your younger self
• Share in safe spaces to empower self + others
• Becoming who we want to be
• Delaying the inevitable
• Relapses
• Power of language
• Healing is painful + SO rewarding
• Emotional hangover

Soheila is like the best friend you had growing up. She invites you in with her genuine laugh + makes you want to stay with her honest humxn generosity. This is an episode with some heavy content matter, so take care for yourself as you follow along on this journey of self-discovery. <3

 

*note: this episode includes explicit language appropriate for those ages 16+

**TRIGGER WARNING: this episode includes topics surrounding sexual assault, harrassment, + suicide.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• #amplifymelanatedvoices @compassion.prison.project
• #amplifymelanatedvoices @thebodypositive
• #amplifymelanatedvoices @matt_cama
• #amplifymelanatedvoices @blackandembodied
• Come play with us beyond the podcast! The COLLECTIVE is a free monthly conversation with people from all over the world (third Thurs of every month) + our monthly workshops explore a different facet of authenticity + are held the first Thurs of every month. Sign-up here!
• Mindful self-compassion Workbook by Kristin Neff + Christopher Germer
• Single. On Purpose. by John Kim
• Connect with Soheila via IG @isthatsoh or her website at isthatsoh.com or give her podcast a listen via Ig @isthatsohpodcast
• Music from: https://www.jukedeck.com/

 

3 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. It’s ok to take the time you need to share your story with the world. It’s ok for it to take time to fully be able to see what has happened to you. Your body knows not to shock your system + so as you start to own who you truly are + the trauma that may be there, allow it to unfold intuitively. There’s no need to force it as that is just another survival mechanism. And in fact, it cannot be forced if you truly want to heal. Take your time. Take as much time as you need. With all the love in the world, you have permission to take the time you need for you to feel safe + ready.
2. Where might you need to develop more self-compassion for your younger self and/or your current self? Where are you being super hard on yourself because you think you could’ve done better? Is that actually helping you to heal + do better now? No. Self-criticism is perpetuating the shame + the negative inner beliefs. Self-compassion is such a beautiful practice in learning how to sit with all the parts of yourself in a way that honors them + appreciates them for doing the best they could do at the time, even now.
3. No matter how far you have come, there will ALWAYS be setbacks. That is life. We never arrive at some magical place where suddenly nothing bothers us, no mistakes happen, nothing triggers you. It’s gonna happen. It’s inevitable. So, knowing this, how can you care for yourself as you continue to grow + learn + heal + spring forward + double back + pick yourself back up, again + again + again? We’re humxn. This is what we are all learning to do every day. You are not alone.