A Journey of Self-Growth and Transformation at Turning Winds

In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl sits down with a recent alumnus to explore the profound changes that can occur when you commit to personal growth. From defiance and rebellion to self-acceptance and maturity, this candid conversation delves into the challenges and triumphs of working on oneself, both during and after the Turning Winds program. 

Listen as we discuss the transformative impact of structured support, the importance of self-reflection, and how embracing your journey can lead to a new perspective on life. Whether you’re seeking inspiration or contemplating treatment, this episode offers a powerful reminder that change is possible with dedication and the right guidance.

To learn more about Turning Winds, visit turningwinds.com or call 800-845-1380.

Transcript

This is what it sounds like when you spend the time needed for self growth. Yeah. When you get out of turning winds, it's, it's a new perspective on it, especially when you work on yourself. Welcome to the turning winds podcast. My name is Kevin Zundl.  Turning winds is a full continuum of care for teens.To get the help they require clinically and academically. Today I sit down with a recent alumnus of the program, discuss the change that is possible when you commit to working on yourself.  Wanted to hear a little bit about you and your story, and what was life leading up to turning wins. As a kid, I had a lot of trouble with defiance and just  general disrespect towards my parents.I was very rebellious.  And did not want to do what my parents told me to. So I was doing stupid stuff and being  irresponsible.  

So what were the kinds of things that you were into other than  being defiant? Were you an athlete? Were you into music? Uh, most of my life I played so many sports, uh, from elementary school all the way up to college. I think I,  I play basketball, golf, bowling, football, axe throwing,  baseball. Yeah, but it sounds like stuff that like require a little bit of discipline, uh, and keeps you active. Certainly. How did that kind of play into stuff that wasn't going so well?  Um, well, the activities just kind of kept me busy, kept me, I guess, away from doing the wrong thing, I would say,  just kind of  kept me focused on something that way I had like a goal  to get to basically. And it was a good kind of thing where you were doing well while you were in that activity because you benefited from the structure or, and then when you weren't in that and  things weren't going so well? Right. I definitely do think having structure in my life helped definitely during those times.Basically when I didn't have structure, I was just kind of, you know, doing dumb stuff and  being disrespectful and  structuring my life, then I could focus on something. 

So tell me about your experience there. I mean, obviously what I've heard again and again is that  it's, it's going to take three to five months.Before your head's really into it. Tell me about that.  Yeah. When you first get there, you're not going to like it. I was defiant towards the staff. I was very awful and rude to the staff that were just honestly, just trying to help me out.  And so then what happens, what are those turning points that happen in the later months? I just had to like flip a switch in my head where I had to say, you know, these people are actually trying to help me and like get me to where I need to be  and help me to do what I need to actually be doing.  There were, there were some times.  Where I would just be  having a really crappy day, and one of the staff members would just come over, talk to me a little, you know, like,  start talking about it, and it would actually help, because most of the staff members there have basically gone what you've gone through, I mean, maybe not in the exact same time, era, or however you call it, but  they've basically been what you've been through, they've all, they've all had their struggles, they've all, you know,  Yeah, they've all just been through their own thing and can relate to you.

So  it's,  it's interesting. And I've  talked to a lot of people who  entered a program as an adolescent. And  it's really interesting to me because I feel like they're much ahead of their peers  because most younger people they were never forced to or asked to aren't introspective, don't work on self growth, don't really look at themselves.Yeah.  Really at all until probably much, much later in life. And so what was it like one do that? Cause it's never easy. It's not easy for me at almost 50 and I'm sure it's not easy for you. I will do.  I am 18. Okay. Um,  but there's a, there's a huge benefit to it, but what is the process of working on yourself look like at turning winds?And then when you get home, how do you almost see the world differently? I mean, cause No one wants to see themselves as flawed, right? Yeah, absolutely. No, no. But everyone is, you know, but like, absolutely. What, what is it like to go on that, that journey? 

Are there steps in that process? Uh, I,  I would definitely say self-acceptance is probably one of the first steps.Accepting who you are, accepting that you have problems of your own that you need to start work working on, and  that some of those problems you can't work on by yourself. Some of those problems, you know. Yes. That kind of have someone to help you through it or talk about it with them. And then how does it make you see the world differently when you return home and maybe all your friends who haven't gone through that, you know, do you feel like  they're somehow different or you're more mature or you're able to regulate a situation better than they can?

When I go home, um,  when I go home, I hadn't really  kept in touch with any of the friends that I had been friends with before. So I.  Can't really say I was able to compare myself to the people that were around me when I got back because People I was hanging out with before I went to Turning Winds were just not good influences So I had ended up dropping those people.But yeah, when you get out of Turning Winds, it's  a new perspective On it, especially when you work on yourself.  

If this helps you at all to have hope, you're ready to seek the treatment that's needed. I encourage you to call turning winds at 800  845 1380  and check out the wealth of resources that they have at turningwinds. com