This episode is brought to you by Primal Trust Academy & Community by Dr Cathleen King. Sign up for one year today & receive 2 months FREE, or use the special code: OPIW to get 5% off your monthly membership fee. "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."  As a suicide/abuse survivor, Johnny Crowder 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. 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. In today's episode you will learn:  1.  How did Johnny Crowder go from being an obstinate client with clinicians to being willing to take medication and seek therapy? 2. What are some of Johnny's recommendations for the most practical tools to implement today to improve mental health?   3. How did Johnny Crowder's passion for music and creativity help him feel understood and accepted? You can follow Jonny on IG @johnnycrowderlovesyou or learn more about cope notes.  Follow us on IG @ourpoweriswithin, join the podcast FB Group, and check out the new website where you can search episodes by topic. Virtual Tip Jar to be a supporter of the podcast.  There are many self healing programs available to help you rewire your brain and create peace. Here are a few others:  CFS School (a comprehensive brain retraining program), Primal Trust/ Regulate (comprehensive brain retraining), and DNRS (classic brain retraining)  Disclaimer: The Content provided on this podcast is for informational purposes only. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Individual results may vary. The show notes may contain affiliate links. IF you click and purchase product or service I might be compensated. Thank you for your support.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ourpoweriswithin/support