In the Wake

** Trigger Warning **

This is a heavier episode. We talk about my suicide attempts and sexual abuse in explicit detail. If you are suffering or recovering from a mood or mental disorder, and/or sexual assault, abuse, or trauma, please listen with caution or don't listen at all. The last thing I would want is for hearing these stories to set you back in your healing journey or to trigger bad memories or thoughts. Also, if you are a bit more sensitive or an empath, you also may want to listen with caution. 

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I've shared my story openly and publicly about being sexually abused and suffering with anxiety and depression. My parents and siblings are secondary survivors to my abuse since they lived and witnessed the hell along side me. My support system has been a crucial part of healing from these traumas. In this episode, part 1 of 2, I have a conversation with my very own father, Brett Rogers, on what it was like parenting and supporting me through these traumatic moments in time.

We talk about things like:

• My parents' experience finding out about my sexual abuse
• The effect my extreme anxiety and depression had on my family
• The process of finding the right kind of mental health care
• Navigating extreme and suicidal behavior from a parent/caregiver standpoint
• Recognizing abusive behavior

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Connect with Brett Rogers here.

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Follow along with the rest of my journey.
Instagram: @whytli
Website: whytli.com
Contact me here. 

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*Disclaimer*
Whytli here - I would like to make an edit saying that I may not align or agree with the entirety of this message any longer. My viewpoints on pornography and addiction have either expanded and/or changed. At the time of this interview, I was authentically speaking from my understanding and personal experience but have since shifted away from that original standpoint. Although I may not 100% agree anymore with everything that was said, I didn't feel the need to take down this episode because regardless, it may still have valuable content or messages that some may need to hear. If you are listening to this older episode, you may keep that in mind.

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Caitlin Taylor started an Instagram platform called @NotMySinToShare as a way to reach other wives struggling with their husbands' pornography addictions. Caitlin's husband, Adrian, then started a second Instagram platform called @ItIsMySinToShare where he was open and honest about his own addiction. Both are a power couple as they fight and heal from addiction. In this interview, Caitlin speaks vulnerably about her experiences coping and healing after learning of her husband's addiction and facing their marital issues. Caitlin has so many words of hope and light that may hit deep for those currently in her position. If you or someone you love, suffers from a porn addiction, this episode may be of high interest to you.

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Follow along with the rest of my journey.
Instagram: @whytli
Website: whytli.com
Contact me here.

In this interview, Dillon tells of his experiences serving refugees in Germany. He was on a service mission trip for two weeks. In that time, he learned the difference between selfish and selfless service and then he tells stories about how he applied it to his personal life. He recounts the lessons he learned from the people he was serving and serving with and the ways that he was changed as a person. Listen in to hear more from Dillon Stewart himself!!

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Resources
Mission trip: HOPE Youth Corps
Instagram: @dill.on
Blog: dillthechill.wordpress.com

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Song:
Upside Down by Jack Johnson

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Follow along with the rest of my journey
Instagram: @whytli
Website: whytli.com
Contact me here. 

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In this intimate and vulnerable interview, Joseph and Carolyn don't hold anything back. They speak of their experiences and emotions from childhood up until current day. Through telling their stories, there are many relatable aspects and lessons to take away. If you listen with an open mind, hopefully you'll leave with more compassion, empathy, and understanding.

Joseph speaks about his pressured childhood, pornography addiction, run in with prostitution, divorce, leaving the religion he was raised in, and healing through therapy.

Carolyn speaks about not fitting in as a child, single momhood, being harassed and bullied, blending families, leaving the religion she was raised in, and healing through therapy.

Through all of these many transitions in life, Joseph and Carolyn have come out on top as stronger, more open minded & understanding people. Tune in to hear and learn from their experiences!

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Resources:
Navigating an LDS Faith-Based Transition Course by Tiffany Roe
CES Letter by Jeremy T. Runnels

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Follow along with the rest of my journey.
Instagram: @whytli
Website: whytli.com
Contact me here.

Support the show

***Trigger Warning***

This is a heavier episode and I talk about my suicide attempts and suicidal ideation. I speak of the heaviness of the depression I’ve faced and includes great detail at some points. So if you are suffering or recovering from a mood or mental disorder, please listen with caution or don’t listen at all. The last thing I would want is for hearing these things to set you back in your healing journey or to trigger bad memories or thoughts. Also, if you are a bit more sensitive or an empath, you also may want to listen with caution.

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In this episode, I recount my intense depressive episode and what it looked and felt like on the daily. I speak about my suicide attempts and suicide ideation. I also talk about the stigmas and misunderstandings regarding depression as well as what I've taken away and learned from my depression. It has stretched and transformed me. It has grown my capacity to feel emotions and sheer happiness and gratitude.

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Other podcast episodes:
Episode 3 -- Being a Helpful Support to Your Loved Ones
Episode 7 -- Mental Health: Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors
Episode 10 -- Talking All Things Therapy & Stigmas
Episode 26 -- My Anxiety & Panic Attacks
My #NoFilter Story

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Song: Breathe Me by Sia

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Follow along with the rest of my story.
Instagram: @whytli
Website: whytli.com
Contact me here. 

Support the show

In this episode, I dive deep into my experience battling anxiety and panic attacks. I speak of my triggers, stories, coping mechanisms, and experience with medication and therapy. I went from having multiple panic attacks every single day to not having a panic attack for months at a time. Listen in to hear more of how I made that transformation and what it looks like day to day living with severe anxiety.

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Podcast Episodes:
If you liked this episode, listen to previous episodes mentioned in this recording:

• Episode 3 - Being a Helpful Support to Your Loved Ones
• Episode 5 - Navigating Control
• Episode 7 - Mental Health: Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors
• Episode 10 - Talking All Things Therapy and Stigmas

Resources:

• Resilience Book by Linda Graham 
• Calm App -- Meditations & breathing
• Breathe App
• Anxiety Release App -- based on EMDR
• Weighted blanket
• EndTheStigma.org
• Instagram: @endthestigmaorg
• My #NoFilter Video

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Song:
Stronger by Kelly Clarkson

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Follow along with the rest of my journey.
Instagram: @whytli
Website: whytli.com
Contact me here.

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In this quick episode, I talk about what it means to be aligned with your core beliefs and values and living an authentic life. I speak of how your delivery can look different while your inner self is consistent. I give examples and scenarios to show the differences between living in alignment versus living inauthentically. I address the term "fake" that gets thrown around and what that means. Authenticity is imperfection, vulnerability, and consistency. This takes inner work listening to your inner, core voice/self. 

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Resources:

• From Technology Addiction to Minimalism
• Navigating Control
• Brene Brown

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Song: Will I Be by Sebastian Molina

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Follow along with the rest of my journey.

• Instagram: @whytli
• Website: whytli.com
• Contact me here.

Support the show

In this episode, I briefly answer the following questions:

1. How do you show kindness and charity to others without letting them take advantage of you?
2. How do you feel confident and enjoy your summer when you don’t look like the perfect skinny, blonde, tan bikini body?
3. After making mistakes in life, how do you recover and come back stronger?
4. What are some ways to cope with anxiety?
5. How do you get through the times where you just feel so low that you think there is no coming back? How do I recover from not feeling good enough?

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Song:
Makin' A Move by Lady Bri

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Follow along with the rest of my journey.
Instagram: @whytli
Website: whytli.com
Contact me here.

Support the show

We experience these deaths that aren’t physical. These endings. These losses and changes that leave us in just as much pain, mourning, and heartache as the physical death of something. In this episode, I process and speak to my experiences right now as I grieve the end and change of so many aspects of my life. I talk about the numbing (denial & isolation), the feeling of emotions (depression, anger, and bargaining), and the rising (acceptance). I am currently in this valley of transition and I am learning to sit in a bathtub full of my grief in order to feel it and move through the valley with grace. Listen in for further insight on my grief and the grieving process.
 
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Song:
You're Gonna Be Ok by Brian & Jess Johnson

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Follow along with the rest of my journey.

• Instagram: @whytli
  • Grieving Instagram Post
• Website: whytli.com
• Contact me here.

Support the show

In this week's episode, I passionately speak about our misuse of technology that has turned into addiction. I explain the negative affects our phones and social media have on our lives, relationships, and overall happiness. Then, I give different tips as to how you can make shifts in your habits to improve the way you use your technology in a minimalist fashion. I speak of personal experiences about how technology has affected me and how using it minimally has changed my life for the better. Down below, I have some incredible resources and Ted Talks about phone usage that will change the way you think about your relationship with your technology.

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Resources

• Apple Screen Time Setting How To
• Book: Digital Minimalism 

Collin Kartchner

• Instagram: @collinkartchner
• Website: SaveTheKids.us
• Ted Talk: Can flip phones end our social media addiction?

Ted Talks

• Why our screens make us less happy
• How smartphones change the way you think
• Addiction to technology is ruining lives
• Why we should rethink our relationship with the smartphone

Song: Perfect by Madilyn Paige

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Follow along with the rest of my journey.

• Website: whytli.com
• Instagram: @whytli
• Contact me here. 

Support the show