Choi Says

Happy New Year Choisters! Oh How I've missed you!! 'Tis a new season of Choi Says!! So excited! I hope you all had a great time with your loved ones and got to relax a little and get away from the daily hustle… We are back full force! This week, I talk about the importance of gratitude and the benefits it can have on you. _*****Sorry about the Robot Voice in TWO SPOTS on this episode! Please excuse my robot voice on 3:24-3:38 and at the VERY END!!! Just trying to keep you on your toes!*****_ Below are a couple of great articles I mention in the episode. Please make sure you take the time to read it! [](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_gratitude_is_good)[Robert Emmons - Why Gratitude is Good [Greater Good]](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_gratitude_is_good) [](ttps://www.forbes.com/sites/amymorin/2014/11/23/7-scientifically-proven-benefits-of-gratitude-that-will-motivate-you-to-give-thanks-year-round/#79073b21183c)[Amy Morin - 7 Scientifically Proven Bene

She's baaaack!!! Hello lovely Choisters! Sorry I haven't been able to post for a couple of weeks. But don't worry, I'm back full force! Here is the third and final episode of the #MeToo. Our Stories Series!!! Once again, I want to thank every woman who shared their stories with me here on Choi Says. I also want to thank all the women out there who are sharing their stories and standing up and standing together. I learned so much and felt so much pride in being a woman while I made this series. so just in general. Thanks you to all of you beautiful souls. We are all sisters on this big round thing we call Earth. Love you all so much! **CONTAINS ADULT CONTENT AND LANGUAGE** In this episode, we talk about what kind of effects sexual assault can have on the victims' mental health. I'm really hoping that beyond sharing these amazing and brave women's stories, that we can bring about some awareness of the aftereffect of the abuse. Sources: Brand, Bethany. (2014). Dissociative identity disorder. 439-458. 

We're back with stories from more brave women. Thank you to all of you amazing women for sharing your stories. I stand with you.

I've put together an amazing series of episodes of some amazing brave women and their stories. **_CONTAINS ADULT CONTENT AND LANGUAGE_** Stories of their sexual assault. Stories of sexual harassment. Stories of shame, fear, and everything else that comes with it. Through this series, I hope to reach as many women as possible to encourage them to speak up. Tell their stories. Own your body. Own your past. Own your assault. I also hope to reach men to understand the movement a little more and understand the importance of talking about this for the future of the world and for our children. Please listen up and tune in to the rest of the series as more courageous women come forward about their experiences with sexual assault and harassment. Thank you

Whoa Nelly...! In this episode I get real up close and personal. I had quite the journey in my mental health. I think the biggest chunk of it was rather I accepted my mental illness or not. I credit all you lovely people listening to this for allowing me to be open and vulnerable about something I am learning to become OK with myself. I sincerely hope that this episode reaches someone and helps someone. In feeling like you're not alone. In feeling that you can talk about your mental illness. In seeking help for something that's new to you. Just in knowing that we're all in this together. Here's an article I mention in the episode that I'd love for you to check out. READ IT!!! [ADHD Looks Different In Women. Here’s How — and Why. - ADDitude](https://www.additudemag.com/add-in-women/) Alrighty! that's all! Thanks as always. KTHANKSBYE

This week, my guest, Michael Lomas and I talk about how depression affected his life. How the stigma people had about depression made Michael stop seeking treatment at a young age. It wasn't until fairly recently, that he went back to getting treatment again and started being able to be more open about this. I connected with Michael's story in many ways and the brief conversation I had with him after the interview has helped me in a big way. Mostly in feeling less afraid to be open about my mental health and being less ashamed of it. Work in progress, though, right? Here's an article from the Harvard Medical School about the science behind depression so you can familiarize yourself with it a little. [What Causes Depression?](https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/what-causes-depression) - Harvard Health Publishing And here's a short 3-minute video with great visual to explain how the treatments work in relation to there receptors in the brain. [What Causes Depression](https://www.youtube.com/watch?

Happy 6-month anniversary to Choi Says Podcast!! Or is it a 6-month birthday? I'm not sure!! ANYWAY!!! I am so happy that I started this podcast. This podcast has brought me closer to my friends and helped me look deeper into myself. I've truly become a better person because of this podcast. In honor of hitting the 6-month mark, I did a little solo episode about Choi Says Podcast. How it came about, how it's affected me, and how I believe and hope it's affecting others. I hope you enjoy it. KTHANKSBYE

In this episode, my guest, Danny Longdon talks about the tragic death of his parents and how he's been dealing with it for the past 7 years. He talks about the great support system he had in his brother and his friends and how focusing on bettering himself has been greatly helpful in moving forward with his life. Danny does some work with [Next Door Solutions](www.nextdoor.org), an organization in Santa Clara County that helps victims of domestic violence. They offer housing, support groups, and other programs that help the victims in many ways. If you ever find yourself in a domestic violence situation or know someone who might be, please check out Next Door Solutions, help might just be one click away. Next Door Solutions is a Santa Clara County specific organization, but if you're in other areas and find yourself in a domestic violence situation, please call the [Domestic Violence Hotline](www.thehotline.org) at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

***Before I begin, there's a weird glitch between 8:17-8:36 but it does stop and it does not come back!!! Sorry about it!!*** HELLO! If you follow my personal social media, you must know how much Burning Man FOMO I've been feeling this past week. So I thought it was  only fitting to do an episode about it as well. I truly grew so much as a person from going to Burning Man ONE TIME. Sadly, I did not go this year, but will be there next year. But while we're all here, and not in Black Rock City, I wanted to share with you the 10 Principles of Burning Man. These 10 principles truly speak to me, and I think everyone should try to live by these principles all the time, on or off the playa.  I want to tell you which one my favorite is, but I can't, because I truly love so many of them. But I will tell you which one I miss the most right now. It's Radical Self-Expression. Be yourself. Do you. Just go for it. I feel like the playa brought the full "me" out. I try to channel that version of me daily, but it's b

This week's guest, Raya Belmonte, and I talk about the many adversities she experienced in her life. Beginning in her childhood with lack of positive attention from the people in her life. This led to her causing a lot of trouble in her younger years and struggling with her self-worth. Raya opens up about the ways she's wronged others in her life because of how low she was feeling. Also, about how she ended up with significant others who treated her horribly, also due to how low she felt. She also talks about the amazing people she's met along the way who have been huge supports for her and her growth & healing process. This interview is definitely a story of an ongoing journey that Raya was so generous to share with us so openly. I say this in the intro, but I just want it in writing as well. If Raya were a color, she'd be glitter. You'll feel her energy immediately when you hear her voice. I hope you guys enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed recording it with Raya.

Guilt. What a difficult thing to overcome, right? In this episode. I talk about the effects that guilt can cause psychologically as well as physiologically and how you can deal with guilt and turn it into a positive thing for your life. You're not alone. We've all been through it. We all go through it. Enjoy the episode! KTHANKSBYE

In this episode, guest, Bri and I talk about some of the ups and downs of growing up in a not-so-practical family structure. Also how the way she was raised shaped her into who she is today. Also we talk about a loss she experienced in a miscarriage and what her process of dealing with that and overcoming it was like. We discuss how not enough women talk about miscarriages and it really should be something that is talked about more openly. So many women blame themselves for the loss of a child but it is usually not the case, and hearing more of these women's experiences could help someone going through a miscarriage. For some more information on dealing with a miscarriage or learning how to talk to someone who has gone through such a loss, please visit the website below. [Through the Heart](http://www.throughtheheart.org)

In this super short and sweet mini episode, I talk about the fear of starting over. The fear of change. Inevitably, we all will need change in our lives in one or more aspects of our lives. Does it bring you joy? It's as simple as that. It's a tool that I try to use in my life each day. I hope it can come in handy for you as well. Enjoy! KTHANKSBYE

In this episode, guest, Chrissy and I talk about addiction, mental health, and loss. How her struggles with those in her own life gives her a great perspective on how to help her clients as she works toward her doctorate degree in counseling psychology. Chrissy also speaks at great lengths about the role of privilege in one's mental and physical health, as well as in how it affects addiction. If you are struggling with mental health issues or addiction, please know that you can talk to someone and that you're not alone. No matter how small or big it seems, someone is there to talk to you. For more information on organizations that can help you through tough times, please visit the below websites. [](www.nimh.nih.gov)[National Institute of Mental Health](https://www.nimh.nih.gov) [](samosa.gov)[](www.samhsa.gov)[Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration](https://www.samhsa.gov)

****Something very important that I forgot to include in the episode**** If someone you love is going through addiction and you don't know how to help them or how to deal with it emotionally, please look for an [al-anon meeting here](https://al-anon.org) or a [nar-anon meeting here](https://www.nar-anon.org). These meetings can help you tremendously through a hard time of being there for someone with a drug or alcohol problem and help you along the way of being there for your loved one. In this week's episode, I talk about addiction and relapse. What an addict might go through. What the process of recovery (successful or unsuccessful) might be like. What might be a good way to be there for a loved one who might be going through addiction. I'd love to hear your experiences and thoughts about this topic. Please email me at choisayspodcast@gmail.com with some personal stories. Hope you enjoy this episode! KTHANKSBYE

CHOISTERS!!!! This week, I speak with my friend, writer Amelia Lovelace. She is the creator and the writer of [She Made The Move](www.shemadethemove.com), a lifestyle blog, which is categorized into dating, food, and everything else. Amelia Lovelace is her writing name. She remains faceless for this interview as she does for her blog and published writing because of the nature of a her blog which can get quite personal and, well, pretty steamy. We had so much fun recording this episode, and I think you'll be able to tell by how much we laugh. But we talk about her big move out to New York and some of the struggles she's had along the way and some amazing times she's had starting her new life in NYC. Please make sure to check out her blog, it is truly a great read. Very sexy and such an easy read. You won't regret it! OKAY! Without further ado, happy listening!! KTHANKSBYE!

Happy Pride Month!!! I volunteered for the NYC Pride March this weekend and just wanted to share a few thoughts on it. I loved being surrounded by love and feeling the oneness of HUMANS of all walks in their lives marching for one cause! It was beautiful and I'm so glad my friend Marco asked me to volunteer! LOVE IS LOVE

This week, I talk to my non-blood brother, Mike Wang. We talk about his journey through life, growing up in a broken family, but making it work through the support of amazing family members and friends. Also assimilating to a new culture in moving to the States as a young boy without his parents and being a trouble maker through his adolescence and young adulthood. We talk about how he got out of a pattern of negative situations and got himself above all difficulties he faced as a young man. I am extremely proud of this guy and I'm hoping his story can relate to many people who have gone through some similar situations. Remember, everyone has something. We all go through something. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. As always, thank you for listening, enjoy this episode. KTHANKSBYE

"Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you… You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind." -Anthony Bourdain You sure left some good behind. Thanks for allowing so many people to travel the world with you. Bon voyage. This week, instead of an interview episode, I record another solo episode in memory of the late Anthony Bourdain and to discuss suicide and depression/mental health (and I'm posting this a day earlier than usual). Anthony Bourdain was someone who this world desperately needs now. He truly stood for unity of mankind and justice. I'm sure he wasn't even aware that he had become this person, but he was. We were lucky to have him for the time we did. I'm sure many people had a similar experience as I did last Friday and a couple days following. I hope this episode brings some comfort or at least some organization of thoughts and feelings for you

Today, I get a little personal, yet again. I talk about my struggle with mental health and finally getting some help with it. ADHD is a tricky condition that a lot of people think is made up and not taken seriously. I am finally starting to realize it can get better and taking action. Mental health is IMPORTANT. Mental health is REAL. Mental health makes you STRONG, not crazy. Talk to someone. Be heard. Be understood. You'd be surprised how big of an impact being heard can do. Thanks for listening and letting me be vulnerable with y'all. Happy Listening! KTHANKSBYE