From Panic Attacks to Purpose: Author Carrie Berk on Healing, Heartbreak, and Finding Your Voice

In this episode, I’m joined by the amazing Carrie Berk, a fearless Gen Z mental health advocate, bestselling author, and the powerhouse behind the newly released Mind Fire: Diary of an Anxious 20-Something. Carrie doesn’t just talk about anxiety, she lives the journey of turning pain into power, and her story will move you in ways you didn’t expect. Together, we dive deep into what it’s like growing up in the chaos of New York City, how writing became her lifeline through OCD and panic attacks, and what she really needed from the adults around her (hint: it wasn’t advice, it was someone to listen). From the heartbreaks that feel like the end of the world to the panic attack that changed everything, Carrie shares it all with raw honesty and grace. Each chapter of Mind Fire explores universal emotions, grief, loneliness, heartbreak and how leaning into those feelings helped her heal. Whether you're a parent trying to better support your child, a young woman navigating anxiety and heartbreak, or someone who’s felt misunderstood in your mental health journey, this episode is a reminder that healing begins when we feel truly seen. “Mind Fire” is available now on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Follow Carrie on all platforms @carrieberkk. And thank YOU for helping Judging Meghan hit #10 on the Apple Podcasts Mental Health charts. This community is a space for healing, growth, and truth without shame. Use code JUDGING at checkout for 15% off your entire order at www.vionicshoes.com when you log into your account. 1 time use only. Ready to help your kids grow money skills that will last a lifetime? Just head to acornsearly.com/judging or download the Acorns Early app to get started. Sign up now and your first month is on us! Head to Sittercity.com and find child care that has your back when life does what it does. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code JUDGING at https://www.oneskin.co/ This podcast is a place for trauma survivors as well as their friends and family. This is a safe environment to be vulnerable but it's also a place for celebration and moving forward. Let's all start to embrace who we are becoming by #mentalhealth #selfcare #self #judgingothers #judgingmeghan #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #survivor #resilience #traumahealing #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #podcasts #MentalHealthAwareness #SelfCare #EmotionalHealing #MentalHealth #OCDAwareness #GenZVoices #AnxietySupport #JudgingMeghan #CarrieBurke #MindFireBook #EmotionalWellness #PanicAttacks #HealingJourney #YoungAuthors #BreakupRecovery #InnerStrength #MentalHealthMatters #AuthenticVoices #AnxietyRecovery #WomenSupportingWomen #NavigatingLife #SelfDiscovery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices