Ariza Inspire Podcast
The Ariza Inspire Podcast is where we dive into the world of mental health, personal growth, and the art of simply being human.
Displaying 1 item of Ariza Inspire Podcast with the tag "kristen harootunian".
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401: Understanding Healing Through Stories: Kristen Harootunian
April 14th, 2026 | Season 4 | 55 mins 3 secs
ariza inspire, ariza inspire podcast, kristen harootunian, mental health, samantha ariza
Kristen's childhood was marked by significant trauma, including her mother attempting and completing suicide. As she grew older, she struggled with mental illness and substance use disorder as a way to cope with her pain. At one point, she even believed she wouldn't live past 18. However, through numerous treatment efforts, Kristen was able to attend long-term treatment, go to a recovery high school, and eventually become a Penn State graduate, where she earned her BA in Corporate Communications. She was honored to be the commencement speaker at her own graduation. Kristen's childhood was marked by significant trauma, including her mother attempting and completing suicide. As she grew older, she struggled with mental illness and substance use disorder as a way to cope with her pain. At one point, she even believed she wouldn't live past 18. Throughout this process, she has replaced harmful coping mechanisms with positive ones. She has been sharing her story all over the country since 2016 alongside Minding Your Mind, talking about the importance of therapy, a support structure, and how to ask for help.