How to Save Yourself With Bestselling Author, Danielle

On The Verywell Podcast

Grant Morgan, LCSW, hosts The Verywell Podcast. It features expert interviews, author discussions, athlete stories, musician experiences, and people sharing strategies to help others think, feel, and do their best.

Danielle's Story

Danielle's life took a challenging turn when she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Following medical advice, her symptoms persisted, leading to weight loss and hospitalizations. Determined to take matters into her own hands, she embarked on a journey of dietary changes, one step at a time. Through trial and error, she discovered foods that worked for her and those that didn't.

Faced with dietary limitations, Danielle felt overwhelmed. She set out to create recipes that tasted good and met her dietary needs. Her blog, The Honestly Mom, gained a following, leading to cookbooks and establishing her as a best-selling author.

Danielle's Strength

Despite initial doubt from medical professionals who questioned the impact of dietary changes on her condition, Danielle remained persistent in her pursuit of self-care. She recognized that even if dietary changes didn't cure her, they were still worth trying since they caused no harm.

Danielle's mental strength lies in her unwavering belief in herself. She conducted food experiments with her diet to discover what worked best for her, and now she generously shares her knowledge with others. She openly discusses the emotional toll of her health journey and encourages others to explore strategies for achieving well-being.

What You'll Hear on the Show

• The emotional toll of changing diets and giving up certain foods
• Danielle's search for answers about her health beyond traditional medicine
• The importance of physical, mental, and spiritual health
• Conducting 30-day experiments to develop a dietary plan
• Recognizing yourself as the ultimate expert on what works best for you
• Dealing with unsupportive or skeptical individuals
• The value of a supportive inner circle and avoiding the need to explain yourself to everyone
• Danielle's experiences with grief and loss
• The importance of therapy in achieving lasting well-being
• Danielle's self-care practices
• Understanding the impact of certain foods on health

What You'll Learn About Mental Health and Strength

• The challenges of finding strategies that truly work for mental health, especially when dealing with mental health issues
• The importance of not dismissing expert advice but also understanding the reasons behind recommendations
• The value of trying recommended strategies, even for a short period, to assess their effectiveness
• The existence of various treatment options for the same problem, allowing individuals to choose the approach that best suits them
• The need to be open to trying different things and changing your mindset, even when faced with doubt
• The importance of seeking help when a specific treatment or approach is not working and being open to trying something else

Quotes From Danielle

• "I look up and try to not care about what other people think—which is always easier said than done."
• "Trying to focus on the good and the things that I can have rather than on deprivation has helped me significantly."
• "I don't have to prove myself. I'm a good mom."
• "We asked my audience to submit their testimonials about how food saved them. And we got a lot of mental health comments that I wouldn't have expected."
• "Some mental health conditions can come from lack of hope when you are faced with a chronic illness."

More About the Podcast

The Verywell Podcast is available on major platforms. Positive reviews and ratings spread the message and encourage others to listen and prioritize their mental health.