In this solo episode, I get real about my decision to take a tolerance break and what led me here. Weed has been a daily part of my life for a while—helping me cope, create, and sometimes just escape. But lately, I’ve had to ask myself some hard questions: Is it still serving me? Or am I hiding behind the high? Tune in as I unpack my personal journey with cannabis, what this break is teaching me so far, and how I’m navigating the cravings, clarity, and everything in between. Whether you’re on a similar path or just curious, this one’s for anyone questioning their own habits—and choosing themselves in the process.

In this episode, I sit down with my cousin Darian — the creative force behind my podcast cover — to talk about a story that goes way deeper than photography.We get into her journey of growing up creative, watching addiction up close, and eventually facing her own. From sneaking drinks at family events to hitting rock bottom and withdrawing in jail, Darian shares the raw truth about what it really took to choose a sober life.This one’s for the girls who grew up too fast, the creatives still carrying childhood wounds, and anyone who’s ever had to pull themselves out of the darkest place.We also talk about:Feeling like the “latchkey kids” raising an emotionally intelligent generationUsing photography to help women feel confident when she didn’t feel that way herselfThe shame of hiding addiction while trying to hold everything togetherWhat rock bottom looked like for her — and how it cracked her openChoosing recovery, choosing herself, and choosing a new storyTrigger Warnings: This episode includes sensitive content related to addiction, alcoholism, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, sexual assault, and drug withdrawal. Please listen with care.If this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who might need to hear it. And don’t forget to tag us on socials:📱 @leaunahauser | @bflyeffectpodcast@darianmagnoliaimagery @dariandonovanLet’s keep breaking cycles and telling the truth out loud.#MentalHealthAwareness #SoberLife #AddictionRecovery #CycleBreakers #PhotographyAndHealing #EmotionalHealing #RockBottomToRecovery #StorytellingHeals #BlackSheepToButterfly #ButterflyEffectPodcast

Trigger Warning: This episode contains personal reflections and discussions around anxiety, depression, burnout, and disordered eating. Please take care while listening and skip any sections that feel too heavy for you right now.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, I’m sharing my honest journey through mental health — from childhood anxiety and growing up with separated parents to how people pleasing and perfectionism led me straight into burnout.

I talk about what it was like to navigate different rules and routines between households, internalizing anxiety at a young age, and believing my struggles were character flaws I had to hide. I also open up about the therapy journey — the real one — where I cycled through different approaches and therapists before finally finding what worked for me.

In this episode, I get into:

• The emotional toll of switching homes and identities as a child

• How people pleasing turned into perfectionism

• What unmanaged anxiety looked like before I had language for it

• The overlap of mental health and disordered eating patterns

• How changing my self-talk changed my life

• Learning to sync my routines to my menstrual cycle

• How journaling helps me work through racing thoughts — even when I don’t feel like it

• Doing what works for you, not what works for TikTok

I close the episode with a journal prompt to support your own self-reflection and healing.

Mental health isn’t a trend — it’s a lifelong journey. This is my story.

Join the conversation on IG:
@leaunahauser + @bflyeffectpodcast
#MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #TriggerWarning #AnxietyHealing #DepressionSupport #PeoplePleasingRecovery #BurnoutRecovery #SplitHouseholdSurvival #PerfectionismTrap #DisorderedEatingAwareness #TherapyJourney #SelfTalkMatters #MenstrualCycleAwareness #MentalHealthPodcast #JournalingForHealing #TheButterflyEffectPodcast