In Episode 039 of A Medicinal Mind: Wisdom and Wellbeing, I seek to dispel some of the myths behind mental health with naturopathic doctor, Dr. Christina Bjorndal.  As you will hear in the podcast, Dr. Bjorndal’s journey to becoming a holistic mental health clinician is anything but linear or easy. In this conversation, Dr. Bjorndal, shares some intimate details of her own struggle with mental illness, navigating the medical system, stigma and labels that sought to suppress her flourishing. Growing through these incredible experiences, Dr. Bjorndal offers some of her own insightful wisdom as she realized the power of nutrition, connection and emotional freedom to cultivate whole being wellness. She leads us through her own definition of health and walks us through her clinical approach to addressing mental illness, offering powerful physiologic and psychological therapies to bring about positive changes to an otherwise conflicted mind, body and spirit. Dr. Bjorndal and I even dig into some potentially controversial topics, exploring the “victim” mentality and what it means to contribute meaningfully to society.  We even start to ask the question: What thoughts and beliefs are actually behind our most common habits and perceptions? Dr. Bjorndal’s story and clinical work is beyond inspiring and will certainly empower anyone who has experienced mental illness. I personally resonated with one her most poignant pieces of wisdom “you will be with you longer than anyone else, so why not start focusing on the relationship with yourself first.” I hope you resonate with her authentic story and seek out some of her nourishing resources created to support people through their journeys of healing. And with that, let’s dig into the show! Learn more about Dr. Christina Bjorndal and her work by using this link to her website: https://drchristinabjorndal.com/   Listen to our previous podcast using this link: https://www.amedicinalmind.com/podcast-wisdom-and-well-being   Disclaimer: The content at A Medicinal Mind and the content of our podcast are educational and informational in nature. They are not intended to be medical advice, spiritual counsel or a substitute for working with a health professional or a trained spiritual counselor. We cannot guarantee the outcome of any of the recommendations provided on our page or by the guests on our podcast and any statements written or made about any potential outcomes are expressions of opinion only.