
About this episode
Colleen Clifford shares her journey of overcoming shame and self-loathing after a painful STI diagnosis at 19.
One moment of shame can become a life sentence if we never challenge the story it creates. My guest, Colleen Clifford, knows that firsthand. After a painful STI diagnosis at 19 and the judgment that came with it, she quietly decided she was unlovable and lived for years with self-loathing, binge drinking, and a drive to disappear into work and distance, including decades in the commercial fishing industry on massive vessels in the Bering Sea. We also go to the hard place: the loss of C...
People in this episode
Host: Brenda McGregor
Guest: Colleen Clifford
Topics covered
- self-acceptance
- mental health
- overcoming shame
- personal growth
- life challenges
Keywords
- shame
- self-loathing
- STI diagnosis
- binge drinking
- commercial fishing
- personal story
- mental health
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