#14 Between the Monsters and the Weak: Les' Journey to Resilience and Healing

Welcome to another powerful episode of The Touched Out podcast. I'm your host, Carter, and today we have an inspiring guest, Les, who will bravely share her journey through narcissistic abuse and postpartum depression/psychosis.<br/><br/><br/>Les, a remarkable individual from Spokane, Washington, has experienced immense challenges throughout her life. Placed into foster care at the age of 5 due to her mother's abandonment, she had to endure unspeakable trauma.<br/><br/><br/>Les shares how her mother involved her in various "cons" to make money and was tragically exploited from a young age. Raised by her abusive grandfather and resentful step-grandmother, she faced a constant battle to be believed about the abuse she endured.<br/><br/><br/>At 18, Les found herself homeless, addicted to drugs, and caught up in a gang. She bravely left that life, despite the risks. Les opens up about her motherhood journey, driven by a need to be "perfect" due to the shame and trauma she carried from her past.<br/><br/><br/>Struggling with the pressure, she was diagnosed with Post Partum Psychosis, further challenging her path to healing. Les bravely shares her attempts to take her own life, demonstrating the depths of despair she faced.<br/><br/><br/>She highlights the turning point when her daughter fell ill, motivating her to reclaim her life and care for her children. Les shares her journey of healing, meeting her supportive current husband, embracing neuroplasticity, and discovering her purpose in helping others.<br/><br/><br/>Les discusses how her experiences have shaped her approach to parenting, emphasizing the importance of empathy and avoiding reliance on raising one's voice. Les is currently writing a book that documents her entire life, aiming to inspire and uplift those facing similar challenges.<br/><br/><br/>We leave you with two powerful quotes: "It can either make you or break you, it's your choice" and "And maybe just remind the few, if ill of us they speak, that we are all that stands between the monsters and the weak." - Michael Marks<br/><br/><br/>If Les' story has touched you, please share this episode to spread the message of resilience and hope as well as following Les on TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@thelesfactorDJ City - TOUCHEDOUTPODCAST10 FOR 10% off purchase https://glnk.io/y30kv/touchedoutpodcast Kaiko Fidgets - https://kaikofidgets.comSupport the showThanks for listening to The Touched Out podcast! I hope you enjoyed this episode.<br/><br/>If you have any comments or suggestions, please send me an email at touchedoutpodcast@gmail.com. You can also follow me on Instagram at www.instagram.com/touchedoutpodcast for updates and behind-the-scenes content. If you liked this episode, please consider sharing to your social media, discussing with your community and leave a rating and review to help others discover my show.<br/><br/>If you or someone you know are experiencing mental health problems, we encourage you to reach out for help. You can call the Lifeline Australia helpline at 13 11 14 or for parents struggling with postnatal mental health reach out to PANDA at 13 22 89 (www.panda.org.au) <br/><br/>Special thanks to the following friends and partners:<br/><br/>Luke: https://www.tiktok.com/@aka.lukeandrew<br/><br/>Intro music: https://instagram.com/6157sound<br/><br/>DJ City - TOUCHEDOUTPODCAST10 FOR 10% off purchase https://glnk.io/y30kv/touchedoutpodcast<br/><br/>Kaiko Fidgets - https://kaikofidgets.com<br/><br/>Don't forget to subscribe to The Touched Out podcast on your podcast platform of choice so you never miss an episode. Thanks again for listening and keep on keeping on!