126: A Mental Health Hero's Journey with Johnny Crowder, Founder of Cope Notes

<p>This episode is brought to you by <a href="https://cathleenking.simplero.com/products/143239-PRIMAL-TRUST-ACADEMY-AND-COMMUNITY?ref=41388-Our-Power-Is-Within" target="_blank">Primal Trust Academy &amp; Community</a> by Dr Cathleen King. Sign up for one year today &amp; receive 2 months FREE, or use the special code: OPIW to get 5% off your monthly membership fee.</p> <p><strong>"It's so funny looking back. I think everyone's like this as a teenager, and then we all just pretend like we weren't when we grow up. But when I was a teenager, I had this very much, like, you can't tell me nothing attitude. So I had it in my head there's nothing that some clinician is going to be able to tell me about my own brain that I don't already know. So my mentality was, I'll just take psychology courses."&nbsp;</strong></p> <p>As a suicide/abuse survivor,<a href="https://johnnycrowder.com/" target="_blank"> Johnny Crowder </a>spent his formative years searching for resources to help him cope with his mental health conditions, ranging from OCD and bipolar disorder to schizophrenia. After studying psychology at UCF and volunteering with NAMI, he wanted to combine the neuroscience principles he learned about in school with the power of peer support that changed his life in treatment.</p> <p>In 2017, he began sending unsolicited psychology facts, journaling prompts, and exercises to friends via text message. The response was so positive that he opened it up to the public, and the rest is history. Today, Crowder is a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS-Y|A) and mental health advocate who relies on the simple strategies he shares through Cope Notes to live a happier, healthier life than ever before.</p> <p>In today's episode you will learn:&nbsp;</p> <p>1. &nbsp;How did Johnny Crowder go from being an obstinate client with clinicians to being willing to take medication and seek therapy?</p> <p>2. What are some of Johnny's recommendations for the most practical tools to implement today to improve mental health? &nbsp;</p> <p>3.