Huberman Lab

Transform Pain & Trauma Into Creative Expression | David Choe

December 22, 2025

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  • The initial impulse driving addiction and constant activity, as described by David Choe, is often a desperate attempt to avoid sitting still and confronting the self, stemming from deep self-hatred or unresolved issues. 
  • David Choe's upbringing involved contradictory parental messaging—being told he was destined for greatness while simultaneously being treated as a disgrace—which fueled his need to constantly run and avoid introspection. 
  • The act of creation, whether through art or conversation, is described by Choe as a difficult, often misunderstood process of translating internal, ineffable experiences (like trauma or deep emotion) into external form, contrasting sharply with methodical skill acquisition. 
  • True artistic bravery involves ignoring criticism and continuing to evolve one's work, exemplified by artists like Andre 3000 and Flea. 
  • Addiction, including workaholism, often functions as a mechanism to avoid sitting still and confronting deep-seated self-hatred or trauma. 
  • The path to success, especially for creators, often requires developing a thick skin and being prepared to aggressively fight for fair compensation against established entities. 
  • David Choe's intense pride in his work, even on controversial projects like pornography illustration, stems from art being his salvation and a source of validation against childhood feelings of disgrace. 
  • Choe's early career was characterized by a pattern of self-sabotage and chasing shame, where he would push boundaries in his podcasting and art, often leading to professional setbacks that paradoxically fueled his drive. 
  • His addiction patterns, including gambling and workaholism, were rooted in codependency and a deep-seated need to make himself small to please others, a behavior he later tried to counteract by hiring friends to physically stop him from engaging in destructive acts. 
  • The ability to sit in uncomfortable, mundane, or mediocre emotional spaces, rather than defaulting to extremes, is where true brilliance and inner spark can be found. 
  • The journey from a head-based, logic-driven existence to a heart-based, vulnerable one is a difficult but necessary path for growth and self-acceptance. 
  • Chasing external validation (like celebrity approval or career success) is often a temporary fix for internal shame, whereas true fulfillment comes from self-acceptance and connection. 

Segments

Addiction as Running from Self
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Addiction is fundamentally a form of gambling, and the underlying motivation for addictive behaviors is often a flight response from confronting the self, leading to an inability to sit still.
  • Summary: The speaker identifies as a severe gambling addict, equating all addictions to gambling, such as driving under the influence. This behavior is driven by an intense desire to avoid self-reflection, symbolized by literally running to ensure one is never stationary.
Introduction and David Choe’s Background
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(00:00:55)
  • Key Takeaway: David Choe is introduced as a world-renowned artist, writer, and host known for painting the original Facebook offices and overcoming cycles of addiction and deep shame.
  • Summary: Andrew Huberman introduces David Choe, highlighting his artistic achievements and his journey through addiction and success, including the famous Facebook mural. The episode promises a raw discussion on transmuting pain and shame into creative work.
Artistic Method and Vulnerability
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(00:03:10)
  • Key Takeaway: Choe’s current artistic practice involves methodical, anatomically correct drawings overlaid on paintings, which he contrasts with the non-logical, heart-centered nature of pure creation.
  • Summary: Choe describes drawing neuroanatomy onto existing paintings, aiming for anatomical correctness while acknowledging the need to strip away excessive detail. He suggests that intellectualizing through logic hinders the creative process, which should connect from the head to the heart.
Initial Awkwardness and Decor Critique
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(00:06:49)
  • Key Takeaway: Choe expressed immediate discomfort with the host’s all-black studio aesthetic, linking the lack of color to a potentially ‘boring’ or uninspired state of modern life.
  • Summary: Choe admitted to projecting his past preference for black clothing onto Huberman’s decor, arguing that color is vital for human experience. He expressed a desire for the host to embrace more color, suggesting that living surrounded by black cannot be conducive to well-being.
South Bay History and Facebook Origin
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(00:12:57)
  • Key Takeaway: The conversation connected the South Bay’s cultural evolution, marked by the tech boom creating ‘right angles,’ with David Choe’s pivotal moment painting the early Facebook offices around 2007.
  • Summary: Huberman shared his own history of being miserable in the South Bay during his postdoc years, realizing Choe was there painting Facebook offices around the same time. Choe then pivoted to discuss his connection to Pee-wee Herman as a prelude to explaining the Facebook story.
Sponsor Break: Eight Sleep and LMNT
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(00:17:52)
  • Key Takeaway: Optimal sleep temperature regulation, achieved via technology like 8-Sleep’s Pod 5, is crucial because the body must drop temperature to fall asleep and raise it to wake refreshed; proper hydration with zero-sugar electrolytes like LMNT is vital for cognitive function.
  • Summary: 8-Sleep automatically adjusts bed temperature to facilitate the necessary drop for deep sleep and subsequent rise for waking energy, featuring an AI Autopilot function. LMNT provides necessary sodium, magnesium, and potassium without sugar, supporting neuronal function and combating dehydration’s negative effects on performance.
Pee-Wee Herman and Creative Icons
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(00:20:40)
  • Key Takeaway: David Choe views Mr. Rogers, Bob Ross, and Pee-wee Herman as his ‘holy trinity’ of childhood artistic education, noting Pee-wee’s role as a ringleader for major creative figures.
  • Summary: Choe listed his foundational creative influences, emphasizing Pee-wee Herman’s ability to gather diverse creative talent like Lawrence Fishburne and Mark Mothersbaugh. He proposed a ‘secret word’ game based on Pee-wee’s Playhouse, highlighting the shared experience of that era’s pop culture.
Self-Diagnosis and Podcast Anxiety
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(00:21:43)
  • Key Takeaway: Choe openly lists severe traits including clinical depression, bipolarity, and process addictions, explaining his anxiety about external podcasts stems from a fear of being misunderstood or edited negatively.
  • Summary: He detailed his history of self-judgment and the difficulty of presenting an authentic self outside his own controlled platforms. Choe noted that he often feels misunderstood after interviews, contrasting with the unedited nature of his own YouTube content.
Childhood Trauma and Parental Duality
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(00:28:45)
  • Key Takeaway: Choe’s mother instilled a powerful, almost delusional belief in his greatness (like King David), which clashed with the reality of his chaotic, abusive childhood, creating a foundation for both high self-regard and deep self-hatred.
  • Summary: The mother’s hardcore Christian faith provided Choe with ‘blind faith’ and the belief that he was the best, regardless of his circumstances. This contrasted with the hypocrisy Choe observed in her business dealings and the physical/emotional abuse he endured, leading to internal conflict.
Immigrant Work Ethic and Self-Sabotage
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(00:36:33)
  • Key Takeaway: The immigrant drive to escape a ‘shitty’ past creates a nation of workaholics, but Choe’s personal experience involved being a second-generation kid who felt alienated, leading to self-destructive behaviors like vandalism and self-harm.
  • Summary: Choe described the immigrant mentality as one focused solely on hard work to escape prior hardship. As a child in LA, he felt he belonged nowhere, leading him to engage in graffiti (vandalism) as an outlet against parental expectations and societal alienation.
Early Career: Vice Magazine and Lying
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(00:45:14)
  • Key Takeaway: Choe learned that ‘reality doesn’t apply’ through his work at Vice magazine, where he was encouraged to write articles under fabricated names, mirroring the performative lying he observed in his mother.
  • Summary: He detailed a long history of not being paid for work by major brands, but his experience with Gavin McInnes at Vice taught him that rules of journalism and reality could be bent. This reinforced the idea that performance and belief could override factual constraints.
Vulnerability, Heartbreak, and Art
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(00:55:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Physical pain passes quickly, but emotional pain like heartbreak and betrayal leaves a lasting mark, making the act of sharing vulnerable writing or art terrifying due to the potential for merciless judgment.
  • Summary: Choe recounted the intense shame of having his private, vulnerable journal read by his brothers, an emotional betrayal worse than physical abuse. This experience trained him to handle rejection, which is necessary for artists who must pour their soul into work that may still be rejected.
Sponsor Break: AG1
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(00:52:08)
  • Key Takeaway: AG1 is a foundational nutritional supplement containing vitamins, minerals, probiotics, prebiotics, and adaptogens that supports gut health, immunity, and mental focus, with new berry, citrus, and tropical flavors available.
  • Summary: The host has taken AG1 since 2012 for its comprehensive nutritional profile that covers dietary gaps. The inclusion of probiotics and prebiotics specifically supports the gut microbiome, which impacts immune and metabolic health.
Artist Bravery and Stagnation
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(00:59:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Artists who fear audience rejection often stagnate by repeating successful formulas rather than bravely pursuing new creative directions.
  • Summary: Artists who achieve initial success often fail to grow by sticking to the same flow or style that pleased their early audience. True artistic evolution, like that of Andre 3000 or Flea, requires pursuing unfamiliar creative avenues despite potential negative reception. Facing harsh criticism is painful, especially when putting one’s soul into the work, but it is a necessary component of brave artistic expression.
Painting Facebook Headquarters
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(01:00:16)
  • Key Takeaway: David Choe was hired by Sean Parker and Mark Zuckerberg to paint the early Facebook offices to intentionally intimidate investors and create a non-corporate atmosphere.
  • Summary: Sean Parker enlisted David Choe to paint the entire Facebook office space to scare investors and differentiate the company from competitors like MySpace and eBay. Choe proceeded with the painting despite concerns over the toxicity of the spray paint fumes, reflecting the young company’s ‘hack the world’ punk rock ethos. Choe observed the earnest, world-changing idealism of the young Facebook crew during this period.
Facebook Access and Education Aversion
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(01:02:02)
  • Key Takeaway: David Choe expressed a strong aversion to formal education and rejected the prestige of a Stanford email, preferring to focus solely on his art.
  • Summary: Mark Zuckerberg offered Choe a Stanford email address, which Choe dismissed, stating he hates education and teachers. Choe advised Zuckerberg to make Facebook accessible to everyone, not just Ivy League attendees. This interaction highlighted Choe’s focus on raw creation over institutional validation.
Negotiating Facebook Payment
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(01:04:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Choe initially calculated his payment for painting the Facebook offices based on a fluke prior sale, while simultaneously supporting his habits through theft and gambling.
  • Summary: Based on a single $10,000 painting sale, Choe requested $60,000 for the Facebook job, needing the money to repay debts incurred from stealing supplies for graffiti. Choe admitted that his addiction manifested as gambling, which he views as an extension of stealing, stemming from observing his parents’ financial struggles. The nature of addiction causes it to jump to new outlets if the root cause is not addressed.
Adaptability and Stan Lee’s Lesson
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(01:10:57)
  • Key Takeaway: Observing his mother’s ability to adapt to constant upheaval taught Choe the necessity of flexibility, while Stan Lee taught him the value of prioritizing others’ happiness over factual correctness.
  • Summary: Choe learned adaptability from his mother, who constantly shifted careers after setbacks like the LA Riots, embodying the principle of ‘hang on tightly, let go lightly.’ Stan Lee demonstrated profound kindness by signing comics he didn’t create for excited fans, teaching Choe not to correct people if it interferes with their happiness. This contrasts with Choe’s tendency to apply logic to emotional situations, which he finds ineffective.
Shame Chasing and Addiction Cycles
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(01:35:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Severe addiction, including gambling, is fundamentally driven by chasing the intense feeling of shame, which provides a perverse high that winning cannot match.
  • Summary: The through-line in all of Choe’s addictions, including workaholism, is the pursuit of shame, which he describes as a powerful drug. Winning large sums of money feels good, but losing it feels even better because it replicates the bottom-of-the-barrel feeling associated with childhood trauma. Addicts run from themselves, and sitting still means confronting the self they hate, leading to constant activity or chasing negative extremes.
Early Career Rejection and Viral Shame
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(01:31:18)
  • Key Takeaway: Choe experienced career-defining shame after sending an aggressive, unfiltered letter to Marvel Comics, which went viral among industry professionals, teaching him about the consequences of unchecked behavior.
  • Summary: After being quietly dropped from drawing the X-Men, Choe sent a scathing, homophobic, and racist letter to everyone at Marvel, which subsequently went viral in the industry as an example of career suicide. This event was his first experience with public shaming, reinforcing a pattern where acting out violently or aggressively seemed to yield career rewards (like getting the job in the first place). Choe realized he was subconsciously replicating patterns of hatred directed toward him by seeking negative attention.
Pride in Craftsmanship and Validation
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(01:56:26)
  • Key Takeaway: David Choe’s intense pride in his work, regardless of the client (even pornography), is driven by the fundamental need for external validation that art provided him.
  • Summary: Choe noted that payment rates for certain adult magazines matched prestigious publications like Rolling Stone, highlighting that the work itself was taken seriously. He emphasized that art saved him, making the subject matter secondary to the act of being seen and respected for his effort. This pride extends to all his work, driven by a desire for the person receiving the work to feel that the creator cared.
Hustling for Pornography Work
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(01:57:47)
  • Key Takeaway: Choe secured work illustrating explicit content for magazines like Buttman by aggressively pursuing art directors and fabricating detailed, graphic stories to meet editorial demands.
  • Summary: After being rejected by more mainstream adult magazines, Choe contacted Buttman and was hired to create explicit illustrations, taking the work seriously despite its nature. The art director requested accompanying written stories, leading Choe to invent ridiculous, graphic narratives under fake names, effectively becoming a pornographer for pay.
Parental Disappointment and Graffiti Discovery
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(02:01:20)
  • Key Takeaway: The discovery of Choe’s graffiti by his father triggered intense shame and anger, reflecting a cultural clash between his parents’ immigrant expectations and his rebellious artistic expression.
  • Summary: Choe’s parents discovered his graffiti, leading to his father’s extreme embarrassment, especially when compared to the academic success of other children in their community. Choe realized later that he might have subconsciously wanted to be caught, confirming his father’s negative judgment. This rejection fueled feelings of failure and disappointment in his pursuit of art.
Rejection from Pornography Industry
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(02:03:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Choe was fired from his pornography illustration job after the art director realized the accompanying stories he submitted were fabricated, leading to another instance of professional rejection.
  • Summary: The Buttman art director confronted Choe about the authenticity of his submitted stories, specifically questioning a fabricated character named ‘Susie Suzuki.’ The editor stated that while they were Buttman magazine, they printed the truth, leading to Choe’s work being thrown back at him and his termination.
Pursuing Hustler and Early Writing Validation
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(02:05:08)
  • Key Takeaway: Following rejection from Buttman, Choe immediately sought work with Hustler, achieving a form of validation by becoming a published writer, even if the context was still adult material.
  • Summary: Choe contacted W.T. Nelson at Hustler and was hired to adapt his existing illustrations for Hustler’s various magazines, also getting paid for a story he wrote. This marked the first time he was paid for writing, leading him to believe he was a legitimate published writer, despite the subject matter.
Co-dependence and Identity Shifting
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(02:10:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Choe identifies codependence as the core of his addictions, manifesting as a chameleon-like behavior where he adopts the interests of those around him to feel safe and accepted.
  • Summary: His addiction issues are fundamentally linked to codependence, where he feels unsafe and adapts his personality and interests to align with others’ preferences. This led to him accumulating large amounts of pornography, which became part of his identity after moving out, causing distress in his romantic relationship.
Unexpected Movie Set Opportunity
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(02:11:30)
  • Key Takeaway: A chance encounter led to Choe earning significant money by renting his 1972 Plymouth Fury to the production of the movie Blow, starring Johnny Depp.
  • Summary: While struggling financially, Choe found a note on his car offering a high daily rate to use his vintage Plymouth Fury for a period piece movie set in Los Angeles. Upon arriving on set, he realized the movie was Blow and briefly interacted with Johnny Depp, who commented on the large amount of pornography in his car.
Encounter with Johnny Depp and Defeat
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(02:13:47)
  • Key Takeaway: Choe’s attempt to gain validation from Johnny Depp by showing him his explicit artwork resulted in a dismissive reaction, reinforcing his internal narrative of inadequacy.
  • Summary: Hoping Depp would recognize his artistic talent, Choe showed him copies of his Buttman art, to which Depp responded that it was ‘a lot of butts’ with a ‘singular vision.’ This interaction, coupled with being paid for only one day instead of two, immediately fed Choe’s self-sabotaging belief that he was a loser.
Encountering Paul Reubens and Compassion
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(02:15:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Seeing Paul Reubens (Pee-wee Herman) on the same movie set, despite Reubens’ public scandal, fostered compassion in Choe, suggesting a shift toward understanding human imperfection.
  • Summary: Choe saw Paul Reubens’ trailer and reflected on his past scandal, noting that such public failures made celebrities seem more human. This realization contrasts with his earlier need for validation, suggesting a growing capacity for compassion, which he later applies when working with at-risk youth.
Facebook Equity and Gambling
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(02:17:53)
  • Key Takeaway: Choe quietly became a millionaire by age 30 through his early Facebook shares, but his concurrent severe gambling addiction meant he was largely indifferent to the rising stock value.
  • Summary: While Facebook shares grew significantly, Choe was simultaneously winning and losing comparable amounts through gambling, rendering the equity’s value meaningless to him at the time. He achieved financial success through the art his father despised, leading to a complex mix of vindication and lingering anger toward his parents.
Workaholism and Vice Magazine’s Early Days
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(02:19:29)
  • Key Takeaway: Choe’s early work with Vice, including filming bizarre adventures, was a form of workaholism driven by the need to prove his worth, capitalizing on the early, rule-free digital landscape.
  • Summary: Choe was an early adopter at Vice, filming content for little to no pay, which allowed him to engage in extreme behavior like hitchhiking to Africa. He realized that the scandalous behavior for which he was shamed in other areas was now being rewarded with jobs and money in the nascent online media space.
Chasing Shame Through Podcasting
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(02:26:54)
  • Key Takeaway: Choe viewed his early podcasting as ‘shame chasing,’ intentionally pushing boundaries to see how far he could go and whether anyone would still care, mirroring a flasher’s compulsion.
  • Summary: The podcast format offered a new, unregulated canvas where Choe felt he could say anything without the FCC repercussions of terrestrial radio. He used the platform to record his ‘downfall,’ testing the audience’s tolerance for his extreme behavior, which he now recognizes as a form of self-destructive narcissism.
Validation from Howard Stern and Self-Sabotage
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(02:29:16)
  • Key Takeaway: Receiving private validation from Howard Stern after being publicly called ‘out of control’ was a significant ego boost, yet Choe continued to self-sabotage by pushing boundaries until he was removed from projects.
  • Summary: Stern complimenting Choe privately after telling him on air that he was ‘out of control’ validated his extreme approach. Choe felt he had to be the most extreme figure, leading him to treat the microphone like an app where words were not taken literally, unlike his visual art.
The Cost of Extreme Validation Seeking
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(02:52:09)
  • Key Takeaway: Choe posits that extreme trauma can lead to Post-Traumatic Growth Disorder (PTGD), where pain is channeled into an aggressive need to prove oneself to those who caused the harm.
  • Summary: The constant need to prove himself to those who minimized him—whether parents or industry figures—fueled his workaholism and self-destructive behavior. This drive, stemming from deep shame, is described as a painful, unending cycle where success is only meaningful if it serves as a lesson to his detractors.
KGB Gang and Anthony Bourdain’s Support
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(02:54:29)
  • Key Takeaway: Anthony Bourdain’s public acknowledgment of Choe’s childhood graffiti crew, KGB (Koreans Gone Bad), provided profound validation that transcended Choe’s celebrity-driven pursuits.
  • Summary: Bourdain referenced Choe’s graffiti crew, KGB, in his show, which deeply moved Choe because it connected his current success back to his earliest, most rebellious artistic identity. This support felt more genuine than the validation received from Hollywood figures, as Bourdain embraced Choe’s authentic, low-brow roots, like eating at Sizzler.
Near Miss with Bourdain’s Legacy Show
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(02:48:11)
  • Key Takeaway: After Bourdain’s passing, 0.0 production team rejected Choe’s proposed art-focused travel show due to ‘optics,’ fueling Choe’s familiar cycle of anger and determination to prove them wrong.
  • Summary: Despite Bourdain grooming Choe to take over a similar show format, the production company ultimately declined to work with him, citing poor optics following Choe’s recent controversies. This rejection immediately became fuel for Choe’s shame-chasing engine, motivating him to create the best possible work to spite them.
David Arquette Sizzler Encounter
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(02:55:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Shared cultural touchpoints, like eating at Sizzler, can create unexpected bonds between celebrities and artists.
  • Summary: David Choe received a call from David Arquette after an appearance, leading to a meeting at a Sizzler restaurant. Arquette connected with Choe over their shared history with graffiti tagging (KGB crew). The meeting included Sasha Baron Cohen and Pee-wee Herman, who were both fans of Choe’s art.
Pee-wee Herman as Art God
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(02:57:43)
  • Key Takeaway: Validation from admired figures, especially those representing commitment to character like Pee-wee Herman, provides significant positive reinforcement.
  • Summary: Pee-wee Herman is cited by Choe as an ‘art god’ due to the full commitment to the character, voice, and stop-motion animation style. Choe later contacted Herman regarding a scene in the movie Blow. Herman’s eventual positive feedback validated Choe’s work.
Recovery and Dedication to Healing
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(02:58:43)
  • Key Takeaway: Overcoming severe addiction and trauma required dedicating oneself fully to recovery methods including therapy, rehab, and 12-step programs.
  • Summary: Choe credits friends for intervening when his addiction cycle went too far, leading him to seek help. He dedicated himself to plant medicine, therapy, rehabs, and men’s groups to stop the cycle of self-destruction. He realized he needed to implement the lessons learned rather than just talk about them.
Purpose Beyond Disappointing Parents
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(03:00:50)
  • Key Takeaway: True purpose emerges after healing trauma, shifting artistic expression from rebellion against parental expectations to authentic self-expression.
  • Summary: Choe questioned his purpose after achieving stability, noting his art shifted from being a ‘fuck you’ to authority figures to something else. He humorously notes that the path to his father’s pride involved first achieving expert status in disappointing him. He now seeks to take space for himself rather than constantly seeking external validation.
The Struggle for Authenticity vs. Media
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(03:02:32)
  • Key Takeaway: The desire to control one’s narrative often leads artists to resist traditional media formats like podcasts or television that involve editing and external feedback.
  • Summary: Choe initially resisted sharing his story publicly after recovery, feeling it was too literal and prone to misinterpretation through words. He created his own show, The Choe Show, to maintain creative control, though even that involved corporate feedback that killed some episodes. He values unedited, genuine connection over curated media appearances.
The Value of Vulnerability and Connection
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(03:06:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Genuine connection is fostered when both parties allow themselves to be vulnerable, sharing their ‘shared brokenness’ rather than maintaining polished facades.
  • Summary: Choe finds that the deepest connection occurs when he and another person share their hearts, acknowledging that high achievers like Andrew Huberman also carry pain. He contrasts this with the cultural norm of simply saying ‘good’ when asked how one is doing, which suppresses true emotional sharing. Vulnerability allows one to move past the all-or-nothing thinking ingrained by cultural upbringing.
The Danger of the ‘Great Artist’ Narrative
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(03:14:05)
  • Key Takeaway: The romanticized narrative that great art requires being psychotic, insane, or deeply damaged prevents individuals from embracing moderate, healthy lives.
  • Summary: Choe critiques the cultural expectation that artists must be broken or face their shadow to achieve greatness, contrasting this with the possibility of creating great art while living a moderate, stable life. He notes that many successful people he knows are miserable, questioning the point of achieving success without happiness. He advocates for the courage to be vulnerable and admit one is ’enough’ without constant striving.
Workaholism and the Need for Rest
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(03:17:58)
  • Key Takeaway: Workaholism, often mistaken for dedication, prevents necessary recharging, leading to running from the very issues one needs to address.
  • Summary: Choe challenges Huberman’s work ethic, noting that taking time off is essential for recharging and gaining new inspiration, rather than being a sign of weakness. He points out that the constant need to work prevents addressing the underlying issues one is running from. He suggests that taking a year off would allow Huberman to nurture his heart and family life.
Surrender vs. Winning Mentality
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(03:23:04)
  • Key Takeaway: For those raised in a culture demanding constant effort, surrendering control and accepting less than perfection is a necessary, albeit difficult, form of winning.
  • Summary: The ingrained mentality of ‘winning’ clashes with the recovery principle of surrender, as giving up control feels like losing. Choe notes that the cultural message is to ‘pick yourself up by your bootstraps’ and never stop producing, which contradicts the need to stop and care for oneself. True winning, in recovery, is achieved by constantly surrendering to what cannot be controlled.
Hope, Faith, and Asking for Help
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(03:45:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Hope and faith, even in seemingly illogical beliefs like Santa Claus, serve as a powerful antidote to the pervasive hopelessness felt in modern society.
  • Summary: Choe suggests that hope and faith act as a powerful drug against the widespread feelings of hopelessness, self-harm, and depression prevalent today. Admitting one’s brokenness and asking others for kind words is the hardest step, but it builds the foundation for hope. Depriving oneself of constant electronic input is necessary to allow real emotion and connection to surface.