77. Healing Tools and Mental Health Tricks For Grieving with Laurie Singer

Unfortunately, the old saying "life is not all rainbows and butterflies" is true… Sometimes bad things happen and it leaves you feeling like everything has been turned upside down. Especially, when the bad thing that happened is the loss of someone near and dear to you. This type of pain can be emotionally messy for everyone involved. Subsequently, this process can take a long time.  Welcome back to another episode of Warriors Unmasked! While Clint is out saving the world, it'll be just me, Chuck, here with this week's guest! If you are new here, you should know this podcast is all about courage and mental health. It's our passion to equip you with new tools and resources that will help you navigate whatever life brings your way.  That's why I am so excited to introduce you to today's guest. I know for some of you, this conversation will be life-changing and soul-healing. Hit play to meet Laurie Singer! Laurie is a licensed marriage and family therapist, board-certified behavior analyst, author, endurance athlete, and mental health advocate.  Learning how losing her 2-year-old son to cancer when she was only 26 led her down a path of deep depression, into total healing and finding her life's purpose through her works today. Hear how this incredible transformation happened and the practical steps she took to get there.  During our conversation, Laurie shares one powerful mental trick she created using the simple "Green, Yellow and Red" formula. Mastering this one skill can start to set your brain free from anxiety and help you become a master of your own "triggers." Whether you have lost someone close to you, or you have just had a few tough years…this episode can help you regain your hope and step into a new light. If you know someone who needs to hear this conversation, shares this episode with them! If you ever want to reach out to us our guests, follow the links below to learn how to connect with us!  More Of What's Inside: When Laurie lost her son CMN and How Laurie's legacy lives on How Laurie found purpose  How fearful thoughts grow Keys for staying in the present moment Coping tools for managing your depression and anxiety How to start changing your habits Loving words for those who have lost someone It's okay to mourn how you need to And much more!   GUEST LINKS: Company Website: Laurie-Home Twitter: https://twitter.com/@LSBEHAVSVC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurie__singer YouTube: Laurie Singer: You're Not Crazy LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-singer-03524b219?trk=people-guest_people_search-card Book site: About Laurie Singer - You're Not Crazy LINKS: malarchuk.com/book  malarchuk.com  www.thecompassionateconnection.com www.warriorsunmasked.com  Follow us on Instagram Like us on Facebook Subscribe To Our YouTube My Community Contact   Episode Minute By Minute: 0:02 A look into today's episode   1:30 Thank you to today's sponsor  2:31 Get to know Laurie Singer  4:14 When Laurie suffered the tragic loss of her son 11:46 What led Laurie to the work she is doing today 18:34 The misconceptions about anxiety  24:16 An exercise to help manage thoughts 29:55 Laurie's thoughts about medication  33:01 Understanding your own triggers 42:33 When recovering from losing a loved one Guest Bio:   Laurie Singer is a licensed marriage and family therapist, board-certified in applied behavior analysis, who leads the Camarillo, CA-based Laurie Singer Behavioral Sciences, Inc.   Motivated by her own personal tragedy, she's devoted her life to the field of mental health with a clear vision in mind: to create a team approach for helping individuals resolve behavioral and other mental health issues by applying a unique combination of behavioral and cognitive behavioral therapies.   Her first book, released in April, 2021, is titled "You're Not Crazy: Living with Anxiety, Obsessions and Fetishes." Using case studies from her successful practice, delivered in a digestible, narrative format and including worksheets designed for the individual to take control of their lives, the book's goal is to help those who suffer deeply from anxiety and mental health concerns. Particularly those which have been exacerbated by the devastating pandemic.   She earned her post-graduate certification in Applied Behavioral Analysis from Kaplan University. She began her college studies at Oxnard College and at UCLA, and completed her undergraduate degree at UCSB. She received her masters from Cal State Northridge in Educational Psychology and proceeded to earn a license in Marriage and Family Therapy. Laurie has been a practicing Behavioral Specialist since 1995 and in private practice since 2004.   Since losing her two-year-old son Jacob Singer to cancer in 1987, she has coordinated an annual fun run and fundraiser (Jacob's Run) in support of Children's Hospital Los Angeles's Child Life Program, which provides playrooms and support for patients and their families. Laurie is also an endurance athlete, having made running 100-mile races nearly routine and completing 28 ultra-marathons of 31 miles or longer. She's a 3-time Ironman competitor, a designation that requires swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112-miles and running a full 26.2-mile marathon in one day. In 2017 she was recognized for her accomplishments as an inductee into the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame.