Getting Pregnant at 17 & Being a Young Mom: Leena Long

Published: Sept. 17, 2021, 1 p.m.

This is the second episode of a series I'm calling How I Improved My Health where individuals speak on their mental health journeys and how they got them better. If you have a story of overcoming mental health troubles, please feel free to reach out! I can always use more guests. I believe having more conversations helps with normalizing mental health conversations and increasing conversation on these taboo topics.

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Leena, in her day to day, is involved with construction management. At 17, she was pregnant with her first child Kassandra.

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In this interview she talks about:

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- Having substance abuse issues with marijuana, alcohol and adderall in high school

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- Having a child at 18 and her advice to young moms

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- Getting divorced at 26 and her advice on divorce and co-parenting

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- Advice on being a single mom

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- How she improved her mental health with EMDR and therapy

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- Re-connecting with God

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- Her podcast: Running Towards the Light

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Leena Long is the host of the Running Towards the Light podcast.

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RTTL Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Rm2DrqYB2NHD2S5naMhJ4

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Leena's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leenaxox13/

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Grateful Living Info:

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My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aroy81547/?...

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To Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Hn4ttt...

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To Listen on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

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YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Bo...

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Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/gratefulliving4

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Approximate Time Stamps:

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0:00 Intro

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0:48 Leena talks about her life - substance abuse, being pregnant at 17, getting a divorce, EMDR

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10:43 Why did you get into drugs in high school?

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13:50 What would you recommend to someone considering drugs right now as a high schooler?

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15:53 Did you have any withdrawals?

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18:00 Did you consider an abortion?

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18:50 Advice to a young pregnant mom

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21:30 Relationship with judgment

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24:20 How did you manage not feeling FOMO?

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25:59 Divorce

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27:00 Conversations with your kids about divorce

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28:23 Co-parenting advice

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29:30 Single mom advice

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31:45 What made you start doing therapy?

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34:35 Dating as a single parent

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39:41 Emdr, medications

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44:50 reconnecting with God

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48:07 podcast running towards the light