Author Kendra Petty opens up about her life story filled with devastation and hope, discussing her past in a cult, the tragic death of her brother, childhood abuse, and resilience. She shares insights on coping mechanisms, legal pressures, traumatic events, family dynamics, healing from past trauma, and embracing vulnerability and healing journeys.
Surviving past traumas through self-discovery and healing modalities.
Challenges with therapy and the journey towards finding connection for healing.
Importance of writing, gratitude, and self-compassion in overcoming past traumas.
Deep dives
Challenging Past and Coping Mechanisms
Kendra Petty shares her journey dealing with a tumultuous past, including traumatic incidents such as witnessing her brother's tragic death and enduring physical abuse from a former partner. These experiences led her to develop coping mechanisms that involved pushing people away, living in fear, and prioritizing career success and physical health over mental well-being.
Seeking Healing and Change
After hitting a breaking point, Kendra embarked on a journey of self-discovery and healing. She delved into various modalities like reading, energy healing, and self-reflection to address her deep-rooted traumas and fears. Writing her story proved to be a therapeutic outlet, allowing her to confront and process her painful past.
Therapy Struggles and Reluctance
Kendra's experience with therapy has been challenging. She had encountered therapists falling asleep during sessions, making insensitive comments, and lacking the connection she needed for healing. Despite attempts with different therapists, Kendra felt unheard and found it difficult to open up about her traumatic experiences.
Overcoming Adversity and Seeking Connection
Through resilience and self-exploration, Kendra strives to overcome past traumas and fears to embrace a life filled with healing and growth. While therapy may not have provided the solace she sought, Kendra's journey towards self-discovery and sharing her story has been a transformative process in seeking connection and healing.
Personal Journey Through Healing and Recovery
The episode delves into a personal story of surviving abuse and addiction, highlighting the challenges faced and the journey towards healing. The speaker shares experiences of enduring abuse from a partner struggling with addiction, including physical harm, financial strain, and emotional turmoil. This narrative emphasizes the importance of self-care, setting boundaries, and finding healing strategies tailored to individual needs, ultimately advocating for self-compassion and finding a balance post-trauma.
Transformation and Resilience Through Writing and Gratitude
The episode also discusses the transformative power of writing and gratitude in the healing process. The speaker recounts the journey of writing a book, initially as a therapeutic exercise, which eventually led to its publication. They highlight the significance of gratitude practices in fostering resilience, sharing personal strategies like keeping a gratitude journal and focusing on forgiveness. The narrative emphasizes the interplay between gratitude and forgiveness in overcoming trauma, ultimately leading to personal growth and a shift towards self-acceptance and healing.
Kendra Petty is an author who opens up about her life story, which is full of both devastation and hope. She talks about being raised in a cult, the tragic death of her brother, the abuse she suffered as a child, and how she’s gotten through it all. Be sure to check out her book, I Can't Believe I'm Not Dead: Escaping Abuse, a Cult, Attempted Murder and Other Insanities...A Story That Cannot Be True, But Is.
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