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Harnessing Courage: Blindness and Mental Health Resilience with Laura Bratton
Manage episode 496981168 series 3634670
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In this deeply moving episode of Overcome: A Mental Health Podcast, host Travis White welcomes Laura Bratton—author of Harnessing Courage, speaker, coach, and advocate for mental wellness—to share her powerful story of blindness and mental health resilience.
Diagnosed in childhood with a rare degenerative eye condition, Laura faced a gradual and permanent loss of sight. But it wasn’t just her vision that was impacted—it was her identity, her independence, and her mental health. She vulnerably opens up about the panic attacks, anxiety, and depression that began in middle school and followed her through adolescence.
Despite these challenges, Laura learned how to transform fear into strength through support, self-awareness, and a resilient mindset rooted in grit and gratitude.
This conversation dives into:
- The life-altering moment she realized she was going blind
- How denial evolved into debilitating anxiety and depression
- What blindness taught her about true strength and mental health resilience
- Physical symptoms of panic attacks and how she learned to manage them
- The role of therapy, medication, mindfulness, physical activity, and nutrition in her recovery
- How her guide dogs provided emotional healing and built confidence
- Why her parents holding her to the same expectations helped her heal
- Reframing independence as knowing when—and how—to ask for help
- How gratitude journaling became a daily anchor for emotional clarity
- Building small daily wins into long-term resilience
- Her mission to help others navigate change through coaching and public speaking
Whether you’re navigating a personal health crisis, supporting a loved one through depression, or searching for ways to cope with anxiety—Laura’s story is a beacon of hope. She proves that blindness does not define your ability to thrive, and that resilience can be built moment by moment, with the right tools and support.
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Learn more or contact Laura: www.laurabratton.com
Harnessing Courage — Now available on her website
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Chapters
1. Introduction & Guest Welcome (00:00:00)
2. The Onset of Vision Loss & Emotional Impact (00:02:00)
3. Experiencing Panic Attacks as a Teen (00:06:30)
4. Identity Crisis After Losing Sight (00:10:00)
5. Building Resilience Through Support (00:13:00)
6. Learning to Cope: Therapy, Medication & Mindfulness (00:17:30)
7. Letting Go of Negative Thoughts with Mindfulness (00:23:00)
8. The Power of Gratitude Practice (00:28:00)
9. Redefining Strength and Independence (00:31:00)
10. The Story Behind “Harnessing Courage” (00:36:00)
11. Nutrition, Holistic Living, and Mental Clarity (00:43:00)
12. Advice for Those Struggling with Mental Health (00:51:00)
13. Breaking the Stigma of Invalidated Emotions (00:56:00)
14. Laura’s Coaching & Speaking Work (00:58:00)
15. Final Words & Where to Find Laura (01:00:00)
30 episodes
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