Lead singer of a death metal band, Johnny Crowder, shares his journey as a suicide survivor battling schizophrenia and depression. He spreads care through his music. Topics include reshaping the brain for healthier thinking, embracing self-compassion, overcoming trauma, and managing hallucinations.
Creative outlets can serve as shields against abuse and fears in chaotic environments.
Challenging negative internal voices and self-doubt is crucial for resilience and recovery.
Pattern interruptions can help train the brain towards healthier thinking and coping strategies.
Deep dives
Facing Childhood Trauma and Coping Mechanisms
Growing up in a chaotic household, the speaker shares how they coped with fears by staying invisible and using creativity as a shield against abuse. They recall feeling afraid to leave their room, seeking invisibility as protection. Over time, the speaker's coping mechanisms included creative outlets like music and art, recognizing the importance of holding on to these tools despite external pressures to abandon them.
Overcoming Doubt and Self-Limiting Beliefs
The speaker reflects on battling self-doubt and intrusive thoughts related to recovery, sharing their journey off medications for schizophrenia. Initially met with skepticism from others and internal doubt, the speaker gradually reduced medication, focusing on evidence of past achievements. They describe the process of challenging negative internal voices, affirming their resilience and choice to push back against limiting beliefs.
Navigating Hallucinations and Distorted Perceptions
The speaker recounts experiences with hallucinations, ranging from fearful demons and violent images to benign delusions like owning an imaginary printer. Through treatment and slow medication reduction, the speaker learned to differentiate between reality and hallucinations, engaging in critical analysis of contextual clues to ground themselves in what is truly happening.
Harnessing Resilience and Cultivating Healing Habits
Through self-compassion and patience, the speaker emphasizes the importance of perseverance in navigating challenges like recovery and medication adjustments. They highlight the gradual shifts in perception and coping strategies, emphasizing the value of incremental progress and self-awareness in overcoming obstacles and fostering healing.
Utilizing Pattern Interruptions to Manage Negative Thought Patterns
Utilizing pattern interruptions can help in derailing negative thought patterns. By interrupting these negative patterns with positive catalysts for thoughts, the brain can be trained to prioritize healthier thinking. For example, the speaker shares insights about building a mental health company called Cope Notes, which sends text messages containing psychology facts and exercises to interrupt negative thought patterns and encourage a shift towards healthier thoughts.
Overcoming Trauma and Seeking Support for Healing
The podcast highlights the speaker's journey of overcoming trauma and seeking support for healing. Sharing deeply personal experiences, the speaker discusses instances of abuse and trauma, highlighting the impact on mental health. The importance of therapy and seeking professional help is emphasized, showing how therapy can provide support and help individuals navigate through difficult experiences for healing and recovery.
Johnny Crowder (@JohnnyCrowderLovesYou) is the lead singer of a death metal band and a suicide survivor who shares his story, which includes battles with schizophrenia and depression and how he spreads care for humankind through his music. Check out his TED Talk “Why I don't want to die anymore”.
