Speaking Through Me
About
Speaking Through Me was created to empower teens and young adults with knowledge and awareness about the most precious and amazing supercomputer they will ever own: their developing brain. With the increasing cases of depression, anxiety, addiction, overdose, self-harm, and suicide amongst our youth in the United States – a paradigm shift is needed. The film follows a grieving mother/scientist, along with three brave young adults who have battled either severe depression and anxiety, anorexia and bulimia, or drug addiction; their stories will touch your heart, uplift your soul, and demonstrate how YOU ultimately possess the power to change your story to the positive.
A film by the Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery at Vanderbilt.
Specifications
Director Biography
Kristen earned her Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at the University of Colorado, Boulder. She later served as an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo. During her professorship at Cal Poly, she taught Organic Chemistry, Neurochemistry, and the Chemistry of Drugs and Poisons. After Kristen’s son was diagnosed with cannabis-induced schizophrenia at the age of 17, Kristen joined the Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery at Vanderbilt University (2018) to research new treatments for schizophrenia. .
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Kristen delivered a TEDx presentation titled Rewiring Revolution: Neuroplasticity’s Impact on Wellbeing in 2018, as well. Tragically, Kristen lost her son to an accidental overdose in 2019 after his mental health severely declined and he became addicted to opioids and stimulants. Kristen then changed the trajectory of her life to utilize her scientific teaching, presentation, and research skills to educate adolescent-aged children and their parents on mental health challenges and how it can lead to self-harm, substance use, and/or substance use disorder. As the Director of Outreach and Advocacy Programs for the Warren Center, Kristen presents to middle schools, high schools, law enforcement agencies, community centers, and recovery programs across Middle Tennessee. In addition, she has developed an educational documentary aimed for middle school and high school-aged children titled Speaking Through Me which was released in August of 2023. The documentary and Kristen’s presentations focus on the developing teenage brain and neuroplasticity, the structural and functional changes that occur in the brain when under repeated stress and anxiety, the impacts of high potency cannabis on the adolescent brain, the neurobiology of addiction, and the dangers and prevalence of fentanyl. Lastly, the documentary and presentations also include methods to combat everyday stressors or adversity using mindfulness and the importance of self-compassion and emotion regulation skills on the developing adolescent brain
Pedagogical value
Speaking Through Me was created to empower teens and young adults with knowledge and awareness about the most precious and amazing supercomputer they will ever own: their developing brain. With the increasing cases of depression, anxiety, addiction, overdose, self-harm, and suicide amongst our youth in the United States – a paradigm shift is needed. The film follows a grieving mother/scientist, along with three brave young adults who have battled either severe depression and anxiety, anorexia and bulimia, or drug addiction; their stories will touch your heart, uplift your soul, and demonstrate how YOU ultimately possess the power to change your story to the positive.
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Speaking Through Me was designed to aid in the prevention of substance use and self-harm using education and compassion – not fear. The film addresses: 1) neurobiological changes occurring in the brain during adolescence. 2) what neuroplasticity is and how to utilize it to build strong and heathy connections in the brain 3) the danger and prevalence of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids or street drugs. 4) the high-THC potency cannabis/marijuana today and the risks associated with repeated use during adolescence. 6) how to utilize breathing exercises, grounding techniques, and self-compassion to better handle stress/anxiety so as to avoid escaping with substance use and/or self-harm This film is fueled by the loss of my 22-year old son, Anders, to an accidental drug overdose in 2019. He suffered from drug-induced schizophrenia brought on by smoking high-THC potency cannabis. He later became addicted to heroin and cocaine after his mental health began to spiral out of control. I have a sincere passion for reaching the young to prevent this heartbreaking tragedy from happening to other families. This film represents my son, Speaking Through Me.
Info
Screenings
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