"I Didn’t Think I’d Make It to 18”: Kristen Harootunian on Hope, Healing, and Asking for Help
Wed Feb 04 2026
Kristen Harootunian once believed she wouldn’t live past 18. Today, she is a Penn State graduate, a national mental health speaker, and a powerful advocate for healing and hope.
In this deeply honest conversation, Kristen shares her journey through trauma, mental health challenges, and early substance use, and the long road toward recovery, treatment, and self-belief. We talk about what actually helps: therapy, consistent support, learning healthy coping strategies, and finding the courage to ask for help when it feels hardest.
This episode isn’t about quick fixes or inspirational clichés. It’s about choosing to stay, choosing support, and choosing hope again and again.
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Kristen Harootunian once believed she wouldn’t live past 18. Today, she is a Penn State graduate, a national mental health speaker, and a powerful advocate for healing and hope. In this deeply honest conversation, Kristen shares her journey through trauma, mental health challenges, and early substance use, and the long road toward recovery, treatment, and self-belief. We talk about what actually helps: therapy, consistent support, learning healthy coping strategies, and finding the courage to ask for help when it feels hardest. This episode isn’t about quick fixes or inspirational clichés. It’s about choosing to stay, choosing support, and choosing hope again and again.