Ashley-Lauren Elrod on Healing: The Power of Meditation, Therapy and Support Groups
Through her personal journey, Ashley-Lauren Elrod shares how meditation, physical exercise and community support play a key role in overcoming trauma and emotional challenges.
By Lana Pine | Published on October 1, 2024
5 min read
In the second part of an interview with The Educated Patient, Ashley-Lauren Elrod, board certified mental health coach, advocacy leader, and the founder of the Emmy-nominated production company, Visionary Woman Productions, emphasizes the importance of daily routines like meditation, therapy and support groups for managing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while also advocating for improved mental health resources for trauma survivors.
She starts each day with meditation and prayer, which helps align her mind and spirit. The routine is essential, especially when dealing with PTSD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or other challenges that make burnout more intense than for those who haven’t faced severe trauma. Elrod believes a structured process and routine are critical to maintaining a healthy and happy life. Physical exercise, particularly weightlifting, has been another major part of her healing. She explains that moving her body and lifting heavy weights reminds her of her strength and helps shift her mindset from doubt to empowerment.
Therapy and support groups have also been key parts of her journey. Connecting with people who share similar experiences, such as childhood trauma or family dysfunction, help to remind her that she’s not alone and offer a sense of comfort and shared growth. She encourages anyone going through tough times to seek out support groups, which are often free and easily accessible, especially post-COVID.
Elrod believes surrounding yourself with people who love and understand you is also crucial. Whether it’s a support group or a few close friends, it’s important to have a safe space to express yourself authentically without judgment.
Mental health remains stigmatized, Elrod says, and there’s still widespread misunderstanding about issues like depression and suicidal ideation. She urges people to educate themselves on these topics to better recognize the signs in loved ones. As a social impact leader, she is dedicated to creating solutions, such as developing private funds and community resources that provide real help to survivors, including housing, mental health services and financial support.
For more information, visit Ashley-Lauren Online.
