Making Mental Health Be Part of the Conversation with Keaton Leikam

Welcome to the very first episode of Show Up with Sarah! Today we will be sitting down with the founder of You Don’t Fight Alone and the host of the You Don’t Fight Alone Podcast, Keaton Leikam. Keaton’s nonprofit organization is dedicated to helping those with mental illness and provide support, comfort, and camaraderie, with the goal of reducing stigma around mental illness. YDFA is on a mission to Show Up for others, by providing free coping kits for those who need support. 

 

In this episode, Keaton shares with us his story and how this has inspired him to provide an avenue to make mental health be part of the conversation. We also talked about how our culture drives the difference in mental health between men and women, and how having radical acceptance was key to his growth journey. 

 

[00:01 - 05:33| Opening Segment 

• I welcome Keaton on the show
• Keaton shares about his background 
• • Making mental health be part of the conversation 
  • Reason why he started You Don’t Fight Alone 
• I share about my diagnosis

 

[05:34 - 34:30| Let’s Talk About Mental Health

 

• Not talking about mental health because of the stigma
• The difference in mental health between men and women
• • How culture drives these differences
  • Women are told to have emotion
  • Men are not “allowed” to have emotion except anger
• Keys for Keaton’s growth
• • Learning the concept of radical acceptance
  • Forgiving yourself 
• The Soft Space concept
• • Space where you release all expectations of yourself and be vulnerable 
  • Allowing yourself to pay attention to the red flags 
  • Keaton shares his Soft Space
• The Danger Hallway Concept
• • What our psyche has determined to be put away so we can function
• Importance of boundaries
• • Setting boundaries with family 
  • Boundaries as personal policies 

 

[34:31 - 40:33| Closing Segment

 

• Desire to better show up for Keaton 
• • Leaving room for gratitude 
•  Desire to better show up for others 
• • Practicing intentionality 
• Check out the coping kits through this link
• Final words

 

Tweetable Quotes:

 

“The only way to get past it (people’s expectations), is to talk about it.” - Keatom Leikam 

 

“The only answer to fixing shame is just forgiving yourself. Forgiving yourself for what you didn't know then, that you know now.” - Sarah Hipps

Connect with Keaton Leikam through his website at www.youdontfightalone.org and listen to his podcast! 

 

Work with me and find me at www.sarahhipps.com or connect with me through my social media: 

• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Linktree

 

Tune in next week for more thoughts, ideas and guests that can help you lead a life without self sabotage and with more power!