Episode 78: Taming the Black Dog

In this powerful episode of Work Savvy, Karen sits down with guest Adam Blum—a firefighter, keynote speaker, and author of “Easy Target: Taming the Black Dog” - to have a candid conversation about mental health.  

Karen and Adam discuss:  

• Childhood experiences and their impacts. 

• Tools they each used to go from surviving to thriving in life.  

• The power of speaking up; both in enabling self-healing and helping others.  

Key Takeaways:  

Stories of Resilience: Both Adam and Karen shared personal experiences with bullying, abuse, and mental health struggles, each reaching a point of crisis before seeking support. Their journeys emphasize that recovery is possible, even after experiencing deep pain.  

Effective Coping Strategies: They highlight tools that have supported their mental wellness, including journaling, visualization, gratitude exercises, physical activity, meditation, and positive self-talk. Therapy also played a significant role in helping them gain clarity and develop healthy coping mechanisms.  

Importance of Self-Belief and Support: Building self-compassion and reframing negative thoughts are crucial for resilience. A supportive network, whether friends, family, or professional resources, can offer motivation, guidance, and a safe space for sharing difficult emotions.  

Breaking Mental Health Stigma: By sharing their experiences, Adam and Karen contribute to reducing stigma, reminding listeners that mental health challenges are common and that there’s no shame in seeking help.  

Encouragement to Seek Help: The episode closes with a call to action, urging anyone struggling to reach out to trusted individuals or professional resources. Recovery is possible with the right support and mindset, and everyone deserves to lead a fulfilling life.  

Connect with Adam Blum on LinkedIn Now!