Speak Out Loud

Welcome to Season 2 of the Speak Out Loud podcast! Thank you for joining us in this journey of sharing hope and encouragement for those who struggle with mental illness and for those who love and support them.

There are no straight lines of recovery. Through the ups and downs, staying the course builds resilience, especially when you are suffering. In this episode, Stacee and Doug talk about making it through some recent tough weeks, regaining momentum in the recovery journey, and the value of friends and community for making it through the darkest of days.

Resilience produces hope-hope that tomorrow will be better than today, hope that there is purpose in your pain, and the hope of knowing God has not abandoned you in your struggle.

We're so glad you are here - let's experience hope together!

Welcome to Season 2 of the Speak Out Loud podcast! Today's brief preview provides a taste of what's ahead in season 2 - new topics, new interviews, Stacee and Doug continuing to share out their mental illness recovery journey and the same commitment to sharing hope and encouragement for those who struggle with mental illness and for those who love and support them! We hope you join us for each episode throughout season 2!

Episode 1 of Season 2 - "Resilience: Navigating the Ups and Downs of Mental Illness" - drops on September 23. We can't wait to share it with you!

If you haven't yet - check out the new social media pages for The Speak Out Loud podcast on both Facebook and Instagram. We hope you'll follow us there as we look forward to engaging with listeners through these social media platforms throughout season 2.

See you on September 23!

In part 3 of Stacee and Doug's discussion about her battle with anorexia, they talk about what ongoing recovery looks like, finding hope, joy, and peace in the midst of the journey, and experiencing purpose in the midst of the pain of this life-long battle for Stacee.

This episode also wraps Season 1 of the Speak Out Loud podcast. Thank you to those who have listened and made season 1  reality! The Speak Out Loud podcast will be back in September with new episodes, topics, special guests and more! Together we can continue to build a community of hope for those who struggle with mental illness and those who love and support them!

A lot's packed into this short episode focused on recovering well and recovering with integrity. Stacee and Doug talk about being commited to recovery, starting anew after a rough day, finding momentum, and the hope to press on even when your battle has you exhausted.

Stacee and Doug continue with their story of recovery in Stacee's battle with anorexia. In this episode, Stacee and Doug talk about Stacee's in-patient treatment program, lessons and practices learned by both Stacee and Doug, and the life-changing and life-saving impact of treatment. If you struggle with an eating disorder or any other chronic illness or issue, Stacee's journey will encourage and inspire you to press on through both the hard days and the good days of recovery. If you care about someone who battles these issues, you'll gain deeper understanding, compassion and empathy for your loved one and their struggle. There is hope for those who struggle with eating disorders and other mental heal issues - thanks for being a part of The Speak Out Loud podcast as we build this community of hope!

Mental illness is not something you can leave behind, go away for two weeks, and then return to face it refreshed and reenergized. If you go away, it goes with you. In this short, bonus episode, Stacee and Doug tackle this one question of how do you deal with never getting a day off in the struggle with mental illness. Stacee shares from her experience and also ways she has learned to deal with this struggle - even when on vacation - and find joy and thankfulness in the battle.

We're back with the first of several episodes focused on anorexia and Stacee and our family's journey of finding hope and recovery in this battle of a lifetime. In this episode, Stacee and Doug talk about the roots of her illness, the impact it's had on Stacee's life, our marriage and family, and how even in the midst of pain and brokenness, hope and life restoration can be found. If you struggle or have struggled in the past with an eating disorder, you'll connect with Stacee's story. If you love or know someone who battles this illness, you'll gain insight, grow in compassion, and better understand the battle your loved one or friend faces. For everyone who knows what it's like to battle something which tries to control or take your life, this story is for you. Together we can build a community of hope for those who struggle with eating disorders and other mental illness and for those who love and support them!

*For more information and resources on how to find help and hope for eating disorders and eating disorder treatment, visit www.okeatingdisorders.org.  

If you've been struggling with anxiety or love someone who does - you are not alone. Anxiety has exploded across the country and around the globe this last year. In this episode, Stacee and Doug are joined by Phoebe Barron, a LPC specializing in treating anxiety and trauma, to discuss some of anxiety's causes and triggers, what it feels like and how it impacts us in mind, body and spirit. Phoebe also shares about how we can find help and hope for coping with and overcoming anxiety. Phoebe shares some great information and insights from her practice and opens up with authenticity and vulnerability about some of the personal challenges she has had to face and overcome. You'll connect with Stacee as she shares about her ongoing battle with chronic anxiety and how it impacts her daily life and recovery. Bottom line - there is hope for those who struggle with anxiety and mental health and for those who love them. We invite you to listen and join this community of those finding hope in their mental health journey!

*You can find Phoebe at her website, phoebebarron.com, and on instagram @phoebekate. You can also find Phoebe's practice in Bethany, OK.

Mental illness can be tough to talk about - in our families, with our friends, and in the church. Possibly you've felt like you can't be open about struggles with mental health in church or in circles of Christian community.  Silence and isolation, though, only empower mental illness - keeping it in the dark only increases the pain for those who struggle. Jesus came to shine light into the darkness, and darkness cannot overcome his light!     

When functioning well, a church can be a place of encouragment, hope and healing - a hospital for the broken, hurting and those in despair.  Churches are made up of broken people and for broken people!

In this episode, Stacee and Doug are joined by Amy Cordova, Missions' and Women's Ministry Partner for Oklahoma Baptists, to discuss how churches can support and help those struggling with mental illness and their families. Stacee, Amy and Doug talk from their experiences about what churches are doing well, ways churches can grow, and the hope that can be found in the message and community of a church for those struggling with mental health. Maybe you've been hurt by the church, maybe you've been blessed by the church, or maybe you've never before considered church as a place that could be part of your recovery journey - wherever you find yourself, there's something in this episode for you.

Big Lies need to be combatted with Big Truths! In this episode, Stacee and Doug talk about some of the lies which have screamed in Stacee's head and whispered daily in her heart as she battles mental illness. They also identify Truths which push back on those lies and help us to understand reality more clearly and deeply. Hope is available and is found by overcoming the darkness of mental illness with Truth. The Speak Out Loud podcast is building a community of hope for those who struggle with mental health and for those who love and support them!