Karena Dawn, co-founder of Tone It Up, is a wellness entrepreneur, NY Times best selling author, NAMI board advisor and a passionate mental health advocate. Growing up with a mother who was diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic, her childhood was filled with traumatic experiences that resulted in repressed emotions, guilt, shame and a suicide attempt. She knows from experience that suffering in silence only reinforces the stigma surrounding mental health issues and creates barriers which prevent healing.

She overcame a dark period of depression, anxiety and substance abuse in her teens and 20s, was able to forge a path to self-discovery, build a nurturing community that has helped millions, and ultimately find peace. She has always used her platform and influence to inspire people around the world through fitness, mindfulness and spiritual empowerment and founded The Big Silence Foundation to further her mission and erase the stigma surrounding mental health..

If this episode of Bodies By Brent has inspired you, please share it on your favorite social media platform. You can also support the podcast by making a purchase with the show’s sponsor Athletic Greens. 

What You’ll Learn

• What it was like for Karena growing up with a mother who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia 
• What an early 00’s Compton crack house was like
• Karena’s transformation from taking ketamine and crack cocaine to training for triathlons
• How to cope with overwhelming grief
• Karena’s key principles for a happy, healthy life

Links and Resources 

Karena Dawn

Karena Dawn on Instagram

Karena Dawn on Facebook

Karena Dawn on Twitter

Karena Dawn on LinkedIn

Karena Dawn on YouTube

The Big Silence Non-Profit 

The Big Silence on Amazon

Crisis line: Text “HERO” to 741741

Bodies By Brent 

Bodies By Brent on YouTube

Bodies By Brent on Instagram

Bodies by Brent on TikTok

This episode’s sponsor, Athletic Greens

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