On this episode Andrea and Lacey discuss the brains response to trauma, the imprisonment of shame, the pursuit of beauty and curiosity and the life-unlocking power of stepping into responsibility. Growing up, Lacey experienced a deep sense of abandonment after her mother, grandmother and aunts died in a tragic accident when she was a young child. She experienced shame that her mother had suddenly abandoned her and that she had survived the accident. Not knowing how to deal with her emotions, she ended up in a series of toxic abusive relationships that resulted in a lot of pain, suicidal thoughts and soul deafening shame. Learn how Lacey transformed her negative thoughts and toxic behaviors into a beautiful garden of healing and freedom through the soul-unlocking power of choice. Lacey Johnson is an award-winning essayist, editor and journalist. Also a doting wife, mom, enthusiastic overthinker and coffee connoisseur. Having worked with an eclectic range of celebrated experts and thought leaders — including Deepak Chopra, Daymond John and Gabrielle Bernstein, her word babies can be spotted in a variety of top magazines and digital media sources including Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, O, The Oprah Magazine and others—many of which have been syndicated by Apple News, MSN and Yahoo! millions of times. She's also been a featured guest on a variety of Forbes' top podcasts.​ With a deep intrigue for human beings, and a passion for smacking her readers in the face with the truth, she writes and reports boldly about topics in the realms of mental health, relationships, women’s issues and self-optimization. She's author of the 21-Day Radical Life Renovation: Anchor Joy, Explode With Confidence and Redesign Your Future, and is deep in the process of finalizing her first hardback, which is a dazzling guide that explores the opportunities within pain and trauma, and how they might be transformed into providence and power. www.laceyjohnson.com   IG: @thelaceyjohnson

A mental health and relationships magazine journalist and the author of Radical Life Renovation: Heal the Past, Reclaim Your Power & Build a Future You Love, shares how unresolved early childhood trauma set her up for poor self-esteem and volatile relationships in adulthood, and how she learned to govern her "mental kingdom" and ultimately transform her life.

In this podcast I chat with award-winning mental health journalist Lacey Johnson, on how to understand and harness the power of our minds and thinking to find true self-acceptance in an era defined by social media and narcissism. Lacey also shares some great tips on how to spot a narcissist, and how to deal with narcissistic people and parents. Read the show blog here: https://drleaf.com/blogs/news/self-acceptance-in-the-social-media-age-signs-of-a-narcissist-amp-how-to-deal-with-narcissistic-people-with-award-winning-journalist-lacey-johnson For more info on Lacey visit her website here: https://www.laceyjohnson.com And follow her on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/thelaceyjohnson Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelaceyjohnson Articles discussed in this episode: https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Q-Gen-Z-Social-Media-Mental-Health-46077919 https://www.oprahmag.com/life/relationships-love/a31189989/what-is-a-narcissist/ Special offers from this week's sponsors: -BiOptimizers (my favorite supplement company): get a free bottle of my favorite digestive enzymes MassZymes here: https://masszymes.com/leaffree -Thrive Market (the best grocery delivery service!): try Thrive Market and become a member risk-free! Join today and you’ll get up to $20 in shopping credit toward your first order. Sign up here: https://thrivemarket.com/drleaf. Podcast Highlights 2:18 Why Lacey is passionate about the optimization of self and how we connect with others 4:08 Mental health and the pandemic 10:03 People do not realize how much power they have over their minds 13:24 The challenge of being a journalist in today’s world 20:20 Depression, anxiety and social media 27:11 How can we get the best out of social media? 32:00 How Lacey faced her own abandonment issues and changed her thinking 43:51 Why is the topic of narcissism so hot right now? Additional resources: -Sign up to join my free text program and receive mental health care tips and strategies, exclusive offers and more! Just text DRLEAF to 1 (833) 285 3747 (*Only available for U.S numbers at this time) -Get my new brain detox app SWITCH on sale now! Get 50% off a 3 month subscription. Just look for Switch on Your Brain in the App Store or Google Play or visit: https://theswitch.app -Visit my website at https://drleaf.com for more free resources, tips, and tools to help you improve and heal your mental health! And be sure to sign up for my weekly newsletter to get even more mental self-care tips delivered to your inbox weekly and to see my upcoming events (you can sign up at drleaf.com!) Follow me on social media for daily mental self-care tips! -Instagram: @drcarolineleaf: https://www.instagram.com/drcarolineleaf/ -Facebook: Dr. Caroline Leaf: https://www.facebook.com/drleaf -Twitter: @drcarolineleaf: https://twitter.com/DrCarolineLeaf -Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/drcarolineleaf If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5 review on iTunes, Google Play, or wherever you are listening! And don't forget to subscribe and share this podcast with friends and family! I love seeing your posts on social media!

Mental Health Journalist Lacey Johnson and Psychologist Kevin Gilliland go LIVE on Instagram to explore the shadow side of social media and influence culture, how our relationships either enhance or hinder our happiness and success, and the unglamorous secret to personal transformation.

Lacey Johnson, mental health journalist and author of Radical Life Renovation, and Terri Cole, renowned psychotherapist, author of Boundary Boss and creator of Real Love Revolution, go LIVE on Instagram to explore the nuances of healthy boundaries and habits within relationships, as well as how to use your pain and setbacks as a birthplace for lasting, life-unlocking transformation.