What happens when the most important conversation of your life happens in the middle of a mental health relapse? In Part 1 of this powerful three-part series, I share an unfiltered conversation on trauma, healing, and resilience that might change the way you see your own story.

During my mental health relapse back in April, I sat down with Hawa Who from KeepCalm.org for a conversation that became the start of a powerful series on trauma, healing, and emotional resilience. My words weren’t as fluid, my eyes didn’t shine as brightly and I showed up anyway. What unfolded was real, raw, and deeply human.

It’s the very first time I’ve included another voice on The Lulu Essey Podcast and I couldn’t imagine a better person to share this moment with than Hawa. In Part 1, her thoughtful questions open the door to an honest conversation about the nature of trauma, how it impacts the body, and what the first steps toward healing can look like.

In Part 1, we explore:

• What trauma really is (and what it’s not)
• Why it’s less about the event & more about the impact on your nervous system
• How trauma lives in the body and how your body tells the truth, even when your mind wants to move on
• The role of safe relationships in the healing process
• Why you don’t need to “be ready” to begin healing

This is not a neat, polished conversation. It’s an honest one. Whether you’ve experienced “big T” trauma, ongoing stress, or life events that have left an imprint you can’t quite shake, this episode offers a grounded, compassionate space to explore what healing can look like.

If you’ve ever felt “broken” or wondered whether healing is even possible for you, my hope is that this conversation reminds you: you are not broken, and you are not alone. Healing is rarely linear, and sometimes the most powerful steps happen when we feel least prepared.

Share this episode. Invite people into the conversation, & into the possibility of a gentler, more resilient way forward.

Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction to Trauma & Healing
02:53 – Understanding Trauma and Its Impact
03:21 – Resilience and Emotional Fitness
03:51 – Conversation with Hawa Who — the myths, truths, and lived realities of trauma
20:51 – Closing reflections & Part 2 preview

Resources & Links

📍 KeepCalm.org — a nonprofit mental health organization providing education, community support, and practical tools to help people navigate stress, anxiety, & other challenges.
🔗 keepcalm.org

📍 Hawa Who — creative, model, author, poet, and woman in tech; Cybersecurity Analyst at the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center under Carnegie Mellon University.
🔗 hawawho.com

#TraumaHealing #EmotionalResilience #MentalFitness #SelfLeadership #NervousSystemHealing #LuluEsseyPodcast #KeepCalm

Until next time, Beautiful Souls...

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