What to Do When You Feel Completely Alone With Singer/Songwriter Grace Gaustad

In The Verywell Mind Podcast, Amy Morin, LCSW, interviews authors, experts, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and other inspirational people about the strategies that help them think, feel, and do their best in life.

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Meet Grace Gaustad

Grace Gaustad is a singer and songwriter who rose to fame at the age of 15 when her performance of “Take Me to Church” went viral. She released her debut album, BlKBX, in 2021, in which she addresses her experiences growing up as part of the LGBTQ+ community and the bullying she endured in school. In 2022, she released several singles.

Why Grace Gaustad Is Mentally Strong

Despite being bullied throughout school, Grace focuses on helping other young people who are struggling rather than seeking revenge on her former bullies. She started a website with resources and information for people feeling alone, and she teamed up with a licensed mental health professional to provide support. Grace also openly discusses her experiences with anxiety and depression and the steps she takes to manage her mental health.

What You’ll Hear on the Show

• Grace’s reasons for starting counseling as a child • How Grace’s parents recognized her anxiety • Grace’s experiences with bullying and their impact on her mental health • Why she’s passionate about helping others who feel alone • The unhealthy behaviors her depression tempts her to engage in • The coping skills she uses to improve her mental health • How music can positively impact mental health • The self-destructive habits that sometimes accompany mental health struggles • The importance of treating mental health similarly to physical health

What You’ll Learn About Mental Health and Mental Strength

Grace emphasizes the influence of mental health on thoughts, feelings, and behavior, acknowledging that when her mental health suffers, her thinking is impaired. Mental strength often involves recognizing the unreliability of thoughts and pushing oneself to engage in healthy behaviors despite a lack of motivation, trusting that these behaviors will ultimately improve mental health. While not all mental health problems are preventable, individuals can choose how to care for themselves and address their mental health needs.

Quotes From Grace

“I think often we find solitude and peace within music. It gives us a place to express our emotions. It gives us a place to be vulnerable.” – Grace Gaustad

“It’s easy to feel alone, but if you actually look at what you’re going through, the odds are that if you’re going through it, there are thousands and thousands of other people who are going through the exact same thing. You just have to find that community.”

“If you’ve gone through something hard, my mom always says ‘the only way out is through.’ You just have to power through it. Once you’re on the other side of it, I think you can look back and think about how to turn it into something that can be useful for others.”

“When you’re in that space where you’re feeling very alone, it’s very easy to isolate yourself further and you don’t even really realize you’re doing it.”

“You’ve got to be aware that when you’re in that bad space, you’re going to do things that are actually self-destructive as opposed to helpful. A lot of times you don’t realize you’re doing self-destructive things until you’re on the other side of it.”

“I always tell people who maybe don’t have a great understanding of mental health is they have to think of it exactly like a physical injury. It takes time. You have to heal it. You have to take certain steps to make sure you don’t re-injure yourself again. It’s a process forever.”

More About the Podcast

The Verywell Mind Podcast is accessible on all streaming platforms. Leaving a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated, as reviews and ratings help encourage others to listen and prioritize their mental health.

Editor’s Note: This transcript has not undergone standard editorial processes and may contain grammatical errors and inaccuracies. For media or public speaking inquiries, contact Amy here.

Links and Resources

• Visit Grace’s website: GraceGaustad.com • Follow Grace on Instagram: @GraceGaustad

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