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From Abuse to Advocacy: Jenn Ginty and the Birth of Moody Monster

Show Notes

In this raw and deeply human conversation, Jenn Ginty shares how surviving childhood abuse and the failures of the justice system shaped her path. She speaks candidly about living with Complex PTSD and major depressive disorder, her two suicide attempts, and the turning point when her brain finally said, “Now is the time.” Out of her own therapy came Moody—her monster you can rip apart and put back together again, a physical metaphor for the messy, real work of healing.

💥 What We Talk About:

• Growing up under the shadow of abuse and a broken system
• The reality of trauma that doesn’t end when the abuser leaves
• Two suicide attempts as a teen and the role therapy played in her survival
• The birth of Moody Monster from group therapy frustration
• Why expressing emotions physically matters for kids and adults
• Jenn’s vision for Moody to support children, families, and first responders
• How sitting with hard emotions can actually help them pass

📞 If You’re in Crisis:

If you're in North America, text 988 for free, 24/7 support.

Elsewhere? Please reach out to your local suicide prevention or mental health hotline. #YouMatter

💬 Subscribe, rate, and share if this episode moved you. It could be the lifeline someone else didn’t know they needed. #ConverSAVEtions

My Moody Monster

the pull‑apart plush that Jenn (Jennifer) Ginty created after that raw, “rip‑it‑to‑shreds” kind of frustration hit her therapy group. It’s therapeutic, tactile, and speaks volumes without words.

Key Highlights & Context

• Therapeutic intent: Created as a tactile aid to help externalize frustration, fostering emotional release AND processing.
• Personal transformational journey: Jenn’s path—from survivor navigating court systems and two suicide attempts to healing advocate—infused Moody with deep care and intention.
• Growing mission: Beyond helping families, Jenn dedicates a portion of every sale to children in trauma, first responders, foster care, and medical centers where emotions run deep.

Multimedia presence: Jenn shares emotional education on her YouTube channel through “Moody Talks,” focusing on coping strategies and emotional vocabulary.

Why Moody Matters

This isn’t fluff. Moody Monster gives physical form to invisible pain. It helps people; kids or adults acknowledge, release, and rebuild emotions in a literal hands‑on way. Jenn’s lived experience drives a message that even in "not yet," emotional connection and healing aren’t just possible; they’re tangible.

Links & Socials

Apple Podcasts

🔗 How to Connect with Jenn Ginty:

• Website: mymoodymonster.com
• Instagram: @mymoodymonster
• YouTube: Moody Story Time

Suicide Zen Forgiveness Stories re Suicide Loss | Ideation | Mental Health | Offering Hope |Empathy for All website

©2025-2018 Elaine Lindsay SZF42.com All rights reserved.

https://suicide-zen-forgiveness.captivate.fm/episode/from-abuse-to-advocacy-jenn-ginty-and-the-birth-of-moody-monster

Elaine Lindsay

Explicit

When moving forward seems too much.

2

When you feel totally out of touch.

3

Hope is seeping out the door You

find yourself, curled on the floor.

4

The thoughts swirl around

all jumbled and messed.

5

Why is this brain so darkly obsessed?

6

I've secret.

7

I've never confessed.

8

Haven't told the soul,

9

I'm depressed.

10

A gentle whisper through the pain.

11

“Remember, rainbows follow rain.

12

Breathe deeply.

13

Hold on.

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tight, Your hope will

return, shining bright.

15

Embrace the now, release the past,

16

In forgiveness, peace will last.

17

You matter deeply.

18

You're not alone.

19

Reach out.

20

Let your strength be shown.

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Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: Hello there.

22

It's so good to be back.

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I'm Elaine Lindsay.

24

This is Suicide Zen Forgiveness,

and my guest today is Jenn Ginty.

25

I am so happy to have

you with me today, Jenn.

26

Yes.

27

Jenn Ginty: Thank you so much,

Elaine, for having me on the show.

28

Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna:

I'm pretty excited I met Jenn,

29

it's just a few months ago.

30

Yeah.

31

And, I felt an immediate connection

with you, which was great.

32

It's always nice when you can vibe with

the people that are in your industry.

33

'cause let's face it we're

in the same industry.

34

I'm going to let you do the talking,

so why don't you give the audience a

35

little idea of who you're, what you

do, and then we'll take it from there.

36

Jenn Ginty: Sounds good.

37

I am a single mom and I live with

Complex PTSD and major depressive

38

disorder from childhood abuse.

39

I have spent a, I had spent a lot of my

life saying not yet to my healing journey.

40

And putting it off because of fear and

timing and those kind of things, the

41

life moments that you just don't, you're

afraid that you'll mess your life up if

42

you get into the dark parts of your mind.

43

I spent a lot of time pushing it off

until one day my brain had just stopped

44

me and said, right now is the time that

you need to get on this journey and.

45

Me being the consummate caregiver all

my life, I pretty much had to convince

46

myself that by doing that I was helping

my family and loved ones as well to start,

47

it had to, I had to have that reason

and not to just completely focus on me,

48

because it's scary to focus on yourself.

49

Especially when you've taken that

role on for so long in your life.

50

So my brain, basically it said right now

with the brain fog and the tiredness and

51

the inability to really communicate well.

52

And so I put together my team of,

healing team, I guess you'd call

53

it, of, an individual therapist.

54

I went impatient in order to be sure

that I was on the right track with

55

medications and with therapies and,

learning the best group therapies for me.

56

Those kind of things.

57

I, so I got all that together to

start my journey and it's been.

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Probably about six years that

I have I made that decision.

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And all healing journeys

are roller coasters.

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They're up and they're down.

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You never know what day is gonna

be climbing up that hill and

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which ones are gonna be crashing

down to the bottom of the track.

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But it's been.

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Incredible in many ways.

65

During that time I was in

group therapy and I was talking

66

about how just frustrating.

67

It was to have complex PTSD symptoms

to be depressed, that kind of thing.

68

And I said, I wish I had a monster that

I could rip apart and throw across the

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room and, maybe, burn in a fire or,

whatever I had to do to get that out.

70

And people in the group were like,

yeah, you should have one of those.

71

So when I went home, I, I'm not a

seamstress, I'm not a tailor, I don't.

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Really know how to sew very well,

but I put together this plush doll

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and the arms and legs and head were

of Velcro so I could rip them apart.

74

And yeah, and I named that

first doll, PTSD, Pete.

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And Pete was my buddy.

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Pete was there for me when I really needed

to let out that raw emotion, though the

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somatic need to get it out of your body.

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And it really helped me to better

understand that I can tear this

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monster apart, but I can also

put it back together and look at.

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You know what happened, why I had that

reaction, and what is a coping skill that

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I've been learning throughout my journey

that can help me to better cope with?

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That frustration in the end.

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So Moody came from PTSD, Pete, I

decided to share them with the world.

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And so my Moody monster was pretty

much born during COVID and I've been

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working on them for quite a while.

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And they're my love letter

to my healing, honestly.

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Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna:

Oh, that is so beautiful.

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That is absolutely.

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I absolutely love that.

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You love letter.

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It's such a beautiful way to put it.

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And I think that's part of what drew

me to you is you do have a very,

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not just upbeat, but calming energy.

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Thank you.

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You seem laid back or calm, it is,

it's a lot of energy but it calms

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and I don't know if I'm explaining

that but I know what I mean.

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Jenn Ginty: Yes.

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No, I understand.

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And thank you for that.

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I that's so you to say,

oh it's really nice to.

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To be open enough now to

receive people as they are.

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And for me, I guess that's

part of my human journey, is

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learning what people really are.

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When you take down all

those defensive walls.

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Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna:

So do we get a look at Pete?

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Jenn Ginty: Oh, we, I

do have Where is Moody?

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Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna:

Or Moody rather?

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Jenn Ginty: Yes, Moody's right here.

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Let me take them out.

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This is Moody.

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Ah, yay.

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Oh, Moody.

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So Moody.

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Yeah.

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So you can rip off their head, you

can pull off their arms and legs

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and get all of that frustration out.

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And they're squishy.

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You can hug 'em after.

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There's lots of things that

you can do with Moody to,

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just be your feelings buddy.

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Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna:

Oh, that is so cool.

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Jenn Ginty: Thanks.

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Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna:

He looks amazing.

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Jenn Ginty: Thank

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You.

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Far from what I did for

PTSD Pete was a mess.

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This is a produced doll.

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Oh, this one's produced.

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Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: Okay.

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Yes.

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Okay.

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And is there, can you

request colors or is it,

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Jenn Ginty: that's ultimately my major

goal for Moody is to have a make a

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monster where everyone can pick whatever

they want their monster to look like.

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Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna:

Oh, that is so cool.

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Jenn Ginty: Yeah.

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But in the beginning, I, you

have to buy a certain amount

138

of dolls in order to get them.

139

So I started off with Moody.

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But yeah, there is high

goals for different dolls.

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I'd love to do different

dolls for different diagnoses.

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Oh yeah.

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Especially for kids like A DHD autism.

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Yeah.

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All these other diagnoses that kids.

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Need to better understand.

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So that's the goal.

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Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna:

Oh, that, that's so good.

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'cause that's exactly

what I was thinking of.

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I was thinking of particular

children and the fact that a lot

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of kids I know have very specific

colors that are of import to them.

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Jenn Ginty: Yes.

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Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna:

Which is interesting.

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But I love the concept of

having them be twinned.

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With their, with A DHD or autism

or Asperger's or whatever.

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Yeah, whatever you have.

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I love that concept.

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Love it.

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So

160

now that we've talked about what

you do and what you have let's

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get into the, how you got here.

162

Okay.

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And you can give us as much

or as little as you want to.

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Okay.

165

But it's always, I believe not only

do we offer hope to our audience,

166

but it can help lighten your

burden when you share your story.

167

Jenn Ginty: Yes.

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Yeah.

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So I was 14 when my older brother

told the trusted adult about

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what was happening in our home.

171

My father was our abuser and

he was a very sadistic man.

172

Honestly.

173

And we weren't the only people he was

abusing and when they finally took my

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father from the home, I think a lot

of people think that's where kids are.

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Okay now the abuser's gone.

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Kids are okay now, but that's really

not the case because there are a

177

lot of other things that can happen.

178

For me, I had a lot of trauma

in the court system and we.

179

The, they wanted to put my

father in prison for what he did.

180

But they also treated us as if

we were just, I don't know, like

181

pains in the asses, honestly.

182

Like they wanted us to say

what they wanted us to say

183

instead of saying our truth.

184

And back then I was only 14.

185

My brothers were older than me.

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They were better able to discuss

what had happened to them.

187

And it took me a while to really

be able to talk about that really

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heavy stuff like sexual abuse.

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Yeah.

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And when I finally did speak on

it the DA did not believe me.

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They thought I was just

wanting to get on that trip.

192

Of, putting my father in prison,

which was what child ever wants that?

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Yeah.

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And what child ever wants to

have to say to anyone that

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they've been very badly abused.

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They made me go in front of

grand jury to tell the stories

197

of what had happened to me.

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Oh my God.

199

That was when I was

about 17, 18 years old.

200

And.

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Of course the grand jury

was like, hell yeah.

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Add her to the list.

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Yeah.

204

But it was humiliating and the

depression that I had over the few

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years had definitely been getting worse.

206

And yeah , it, during my teenage years I

had two suicide attempts that I survived.

207

One when all the things had come out.

208

And second was right

before going to college.

209

I had another just, I think that the

fear being in the middle of this court

210

thing with my abuser and trying to

go to school and I had broken up with

211

my boyfriend, had broken up with me.

212

All these kind of things

had just boiled up.

213

And I had a second attempt

right before college.

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Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: Oh my god.

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Jenn Ginty: But we are lucky to live in

an area that has the premier mental health

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hospital in the country, McLean Hospital.

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Oh, wow.

218

And yeah, and I was lucky enough to

be able to, go to McLean's where I,

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that's the place that I picked again

in my adulthood to go to because I

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knew that they would be able to take

care of everything that I needed.

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My mother made sure that I went to McLean.

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And it really did help beforehand.

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My mother also made it a requirement

that I went to therapy during college

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and I hated it at first, but it

became something really good for me.

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It was, what I tell people all the

time is A therapist is great to

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have because they're a third party.

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Yes, you can tell them anything.

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And they have probably heard it before,

and they're not a part of your life.

229

They're not your family.

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They're not your friends.

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You don't have to be afraid of telling

them what you need to tell them.

232

And they're not going to have

to choose a side at some point.

233

And I think kids intrinsically know that.

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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So those were the two major attempts

that I had in my teen years.

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And I managed to get

through the court hearing.

239

My, my abuser went to prison for four

years, only four years, and then he left

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and he went on to abuse other children.

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Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: Oh my God.

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Jenn Ginty: Yeah.

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Yeah.

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And it was that was a lot.

245

To deal with a lot to watch, but also here

I am, I'm in my twenties now and I'm doing

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this, not yet this pushing things off.

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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And not wanting to deal with

the, like I said the dark times.

250

And so I spent a good portion of my

life doing that pushing things off.

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Not and you know what?

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Trauma still affects you, whether

you push it off or you look at

253

it, and that's the rough of it.

254

Honestly.

255

That's the rough of it, is that

it will still rear its ugly head,

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but you're not noticing that.

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The trauma is doing it.

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You feel it as overwhelm.

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You feel it as depression,

you feel it as fear, right?

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Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: In actual fact,

it's harder on you when you push it away.

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Jenn Ginty: Yes, absolutely.

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Yeah.

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I went through my life.

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I was married and I got a divorce and

became a single mom to two boys and.

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At one point I ended up buying

a boutique in town, and I

266

absolutely adored this boutique.

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I was fitting women in jeans, making them

feel incredible about themselves, but

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times had got really tough and I had to

close the shop and go into bankruptcy.

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And that's when the

darkness ascended again.

270

That would definitely do it.

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Yeah.

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I had lost an identity at that point.

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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And that is when my brain said right now.

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Yeah.

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Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: We can

only put these things off for so long.

278

And I one, I applaud you for listening.

279

Because some of us are stubborn and

we don't for a very long time, and

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the fact that your mom made you go to

therapy in college is such a blessing.

281

Jenn Ginty: Right now.

282

I believe that back then I didn't.

283

You did?

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Oh, absolutely.

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I totally get it.

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And I'm actually doing

the same for my son yeah.

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See.

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Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna:

That's wonderful.

289

I think it's, I think it's so

important and, okay, I have to

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be totally transparent here.

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I have never gone to

therapy, not traditional.

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I work with a spiritual

mentor for many years, which.

293

To me is as good as therapy.

294

And it was a different time, baby

boomers, we, yeah, mental health

295

didn't matter what was happening.

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Mental health was nothing.

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No one never.

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Yeah.

299

It was definitely a thing and

you are of a younger generation,

300

which I think is wonderful that.

301

Each generation since, although

we haven't made big strides, each

302

generation has a bit more empowerment

to try for themselves, thank God.

303

But one thing I have to say here,

because it's been preying on me

304

for weeks now up here in Canada.

305

We had an issue with some hockey players.

306

Jenn Ginty: Oh, yes, I had heard of this.

307

Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: Yeah.

308

Okay.

309

And they got off because the judge

did not believe the girl because

310

there were, a number of hours and

what have you, and a number of

311

different people around me had said.

312

Something to the effect.

313

It's awful, she wasn't very believable

314

and it got me so angry because I

don't care how believable she is.

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I don't care if she said yes

10 times and then said no.

316

The minute she said no,

that's what matters.

317

And the fact is, I don't think.

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We stress that enough.

319

I just had to take down a

post because whoever shared it

320

didn't share it wide enough.

321

They were talking about some young

women who were inappropriately dressed.

322

This one actually happened in the

States, and they had trouble with

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some frat boys, I guess at a party.

324

They were talking, and I guess

the judge or whomever was saying

325

they're very inappropriately dressed.

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I want everybody to be on notice.

327

I don't care if you wear two

band-aids and a lollipop.

328

No one has any right to

interfere with you whatsoever.

329

The fact is if they have a

problem with that's their problem.

330

Yes.

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Not the woman's.

332

Jenn Ginty: Yes.

333

It goes back to what I had

said about no, no teenager, no

334

woman wants to be on show No.

335

About something that's been

so life altering for them.

336

Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: Absolutely.

337

And , it's.

338

What I'm saying it I don't care whether

you think they're believable or you

339

think you don't like their lifestyle

or what they wear, or I don't care.

340

The minute someone says no, the minute

a child is harmed, all bets are off.

341

I'm sorry that I don't think you

need to go farther than the first

342

person talking to that child.

343

That's it.

344

That's all.

345

Okay.

346

Or we are going to keep losing people.

347

Jenn Ginty: Yes.

348

And we're in the, we're in the

situation that we're in now

349

because people don't believe women.

350

Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: Yep.

351

Absolutely.

352

Absolutely.

353

Yeah.

354

And it is, refrain from me getting

political 'cause I tend to be.

355

A little too much.

356

Jenn Ginty: I'm very political myself.

357

Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: Yeah.

358

It's I just think it's horrible

and I know in different

359

religions and different areas.

360

I had spoken a few years ago to some women

who talked about their mode of dress was

361

required because the men in their group.

362

Were unable to contain themselves.

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It's that's not your problem, right?

364

It isn't, but the fact is, it

is because nothing's happening.

365

Jenn Ginty: We were taught when we

were very young that we needed to.

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Beware of men.

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Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: Yeah.

368

Jenn Ginty: Girls from age four are

taught to be aware of the men around

369

you and how they're acting towards you,

370

and the fact that you do that, you

are almost giving them permission

371

to be.

372

Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: Bad is

the only word I can come up with.

373

That's

374

Jenn Ginty: dangerous.

375

Dangerous.

376

Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: Yes.

377

Dangerous.

378

Dangerous.

379

Jenn Ginty: To be dangerous.

380

Okay.

381

To be dangerous to another human being.

382

Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: Yeah.

383

And, okay.

384

And I don't want to.

385

Not acknowledge that it does

happen the other way as well.

386

Yes.

387

Okay.

388

It men have been abused

as well and by women.

389

And so I'm not saying it doesn't

happen, but predominantly women

390

are the ones who are brutalized

most often, disbelieved most often.

391

And very often in employment

culture have to take it on the chin

392

because it's an old boys network.

393

Groups of military I know for

a fact have gone through issues

394

with this military policing there.

395

There's that boys club within and.

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Some are trying to change it.

397

Jenn Ginty: Yes.

398

I actually interviewed for my show.

399

I interviewed someone yesterday, a man

who became an advocate in the yeah.

400

In the Air Force.

401

He had a moment that created that and

he worked so hard in the military to

402

help with the rape culture that was

happening and then went on to work

403

in college colleges to teach them

how, how to teach their students to

404

not only not assault, but to help

when they see assaults happening.

405

Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: Yes.

406

And that's a really good point because

the fact that people just turn away

407

rather than getting involved when

someone's assaulted, when something

408

happens that is incorrect, when somebody

denigrates a person of a different race

409

or a different religion or what have

you, silence to me is as offensive.

410

As actually perpetrating the wrong,

411

Jenn Ginty: I agree.

412

Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: You need

to stand up for those around you.

413

And pri prime example is I have a

lot of friends in the L-G-B-T-Q.

414

Plus two L community.

415

'cause in Canada we recognize two spirits.

416

Yes.

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And two S for two spirit people.

418

And it is so important for everyone

to feel safe in who they are.

419

And one of, to me, one of the

craziest things that goes on is this.

420

Ongoing problem with bathrooms and,

oh, you can't go into a mixed bathroom,

421

then you must have an awful lot more

money than most of the people I know.

422

'cause in our homes doesn't matter what

gender you are, you use the same bathroom

423

Jenn Ginty: of course.

424

Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna:

Is that not the norm?

425

Jenn Ginty: So yeah, I

think that's the norm.

426

I think they're talking

about public bathrooms.

427

Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: I get that.

428

But yeah, the fact is it's,

429

Jenn Ginty: yeah, it's ridiculous.

430

Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: It

is because we in homes, the only

431

reason I believe that it started

was because of the attitude of the

432

patriarchy in, in being so brutal.

433

Towards women in taking what

they wanted, regardless of

434

what was said or what was done.

435

Yeah.

436

And it's happening to this day,

437

and I think all those years ago, women

had to wear a red letter, Scarlet Letter.

438

The Scarlet Letter.

439

Yep.

440

For being.

441

What's, I don't even know

what the term is anymore.

442

Jenn Ginty: Oh, an adulterous.

443

Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: Adulterous.

444

Jenn Ginty: Yes.

445

Yeah, that was Hester Prin.

446

Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: Yep.

447

I think that abusers of all kinds,

and this is just me, but should be

448

branded because you can avoid an open

manhole cover 'cause you can see it.

449

You can avoid an area where the floors are

not safe because they're usually a sign.

450

You can see it.

451

You cannot see the males you have to

avoid because of their proclivities

452

and tendencies, except for some, yeah.

453

So we went a little off the rails there.

454

How long now?

455

You said what is it?

456

How long have you had my

moody monster out there?

457

Jenn Ginty: It's coming up on six years.

458

Six years?

459

Yeah.

460

So I started them during COVID and

it's been wild ride because I'd

461

never created a product before.

462

And so it was great to be able

to test moody with parents and

463

families and therapists and teachers.

464

It's been wonderful to get the feedback

on how Moody is helping others to

465

better communicate their feelings.

466

And I've been, I'm pretty proud

of how Moody has come out.

467

Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna:

And so you should be.

468

Jenn Ginty: Thank you.

469

Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: The

fact is you should be pretty

470

proud of how you come out too.

471

Jenn Ginty: Oh, thank you so much, Elaine.

472

Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna:

You're so welcome.

473

I think it's, I think it's so important.

474

While we're talking about this, we're

going to show the link to your site.

475

Okay.

476

Where people can go check out

their own My Moody, monster.

477

And get on the bandwagon so you

have someone you can rip apart.

478

That's right.

479

I love that concept.

480

I really do.

481

Because yeah, there are

days you just wanna.

482

Rip something apart.

483

Oh yeah.

484

Certainly safer than your spouse or, and

485

Jenn Ginty: it's funny, a lot of adults

that I know that, maybe bought Moody

486

for their kids, they use them too.

487

Yeah.

488

But maybe during a Zoom meeting,

they're like underneath the

489

table as they're like yes.

490

I totally agree with that.

491

Rip.

492

Yeah.

493

Yeah.

494

Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: Arms off.

495

Yep.

496

Yeah.

497

Take that.

498

Yeah.

499

It's so much safer than acting out

when you just wanna get that stuff out.

500

But the fact is our feelings are

supposed to flow and go, and this is

501

really giving them somewhere to go.

502

So you get to be in that

flow, which we often do not.

503

And I think that, wow, that is

such a bonus here because we

504

don't know how to handle emotions.

505

Yeah, we don't.

506

For the most part, all of us hang

on to them for dear life, which just

507

causes so many other issues because

everything from ourselves out,

508

everything takes on those emotions,

whether they're good, bad, or different.

509

We, we are stuffing things inside us.

510

It's no wonder that people get

dis-ease all the time because there's

511

so much that you're just piling in.

512

. Jenn Ginty: Yeah.

513

I think when you've been taught

to not show your emotions because

514

it makes others uncomfortable.

515

Yeah.

516

That's when they can turn so toxic for

you because you're pushing them down.

517

You are hiding them.

518

You're getting secondary emotions too,

like you're feeling fear, but it turns

519

to anger because that feels safer, and

in mixing up your emotions and not sure

520

exactly what to feel or how to feel.

521

And that's why it's so important

for parents to first put the

522

oxygen mask on themselves and two.

523

Learn that they also have to have a coping

skills toolbox, is what I like to call it.

524

Yeah.

525

So that they can put the oxygen mask

on first before they have to help their

526

child, because kids can piss us off

and, if we put gasoline on the fire

527

because we are unregulated, it's not

gonna help you child regulate as well.

528

Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: Oh, absolutely.

529

And having a toolbox.

530

Of, in, in many cases, virtual tools.

531

So this is really nice that

my moody monster is actually a

532

physical entity that you can pull

at because expending that energy is

533

what allows things to flow better.

534

Yeah.

535

It makes a big difference.

536

The virtual tools are all

wonderful and definitely useful,

537

but it is really about us.

538

Regulating ourselves, as you say, be

before you end up messing up your kids

539

worse because, anger breeds anger and,

dysregulation breeds dysregulation.

540

And if you don't, if you cannot show your

child what it is to be in a good place.

541

Then how can you ever

expect them to find that?

542

Yes, it's certainly not easy.

543

It's certainly not something

that we are taught.

544

Yes.

545

Which I think is very sad.

546

We have the greatest computer

in the world, in our heads,

547

and nobody has a manual.

548

Nobody thinks to give kids a basic.

549

Map of what's there and how can you

use it, because now there, there are,

550

in like younger generations, kids are

learning to meditate at two and three

551

years old and be mindful and give

themselves a timeout so that they can

552

figure out what big emotion has them.

553

Things that, frankly we didn't have,

we didn't know as much about that.

554

And I have to say, Disney's been

great in, in coming out with Inside

555

Out and other movies that actually

give kids a look inside so that they

556

can start putting all these things

together better than we ever did.

557

Jenn Ginty: Yes.

558

Yeah, and there's so much

more out there for children.

559

Like I do a, on my YouTube channel,

I do a Moody story time, and there

560

are so many books out there now

that talk about feelings and give,

561

a better understanding to children.

562

Basic understanding of emotions.

563

Yeah.

564

Because when my boys were little, I

called them little cavemen because they

565

were born with all these emotions and

they don't know what to do with them.

566

And having these books to be able to

give them a base, a baseline, yeah.

567

For what each emotion is, has

been really helpful, I believe.

568

Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: Oh

my God I think that's wonderful.

569

I have to say that.

570

Yeah.

571

I call my grandkids heathens.

572

Just all over the map and we all

are, nobody came with instructions.

573

No.

574

Nope.

575

Absolutely not.

576

And, getting into the teen years

has got to be terrifying for

577

the parents, but for the kids.

578

It's, pretty scary.

579

All that goes on inside.

580

Yeah.

581

And again it's not something that

we are taught, which just boggles

582

the mind when you think about it.

583

If we started on the inside and

taught kids from the inside, I

584

think we would have a lot less

trouble on that road to adulthood.

585

Because they'd have a better

understanding of who and what they

586

are and why things go the way they do.

587

Yes.

588

Yeah.

589

So what's next for.

590

Moody or moody adjacent?

591

Jenn Ginty: I've been I've been

writing books and I've been working

592

really hard also to get them into

advocate's hands and first responders.

593

So a portion of every order I do

goes to first responders foster care.

594

Children who are in foster care,

social workers medical treatment

595

facilities who are doing, cancer

treatments for kids that are in trauma.

596

I want them to be able to have

a buddy that they can hold onto.

597

So yeah, that's been my mission

to help kids in trauma, to

598

have someone to hold onto.

599

Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna:

I think that's wonderful.

600

Thank you.

601

And I think the more we can get your

message out there, the better off we are.

602

Getting Moody's everywhere.

603

I think that's a really great idea.

604

So we will make sure that you can see

down below where to get my Moody monster.

605

You already see it on the screen in

front of you, and it will also be

606

in the show notes, everything about

Jen and how to get ahold of Jen.

607

And I'm excited to check things

out with you going forward to

608

see where you go with this.

609

Also because you do story time, I

think it's really important for people.

610

We will make sure that the YouTube

channel is down below as well.

611

'cause nothing better than

story time for children.

612

Absolutely.

613

I think that's wonderful.

614

Jenn Ginty: Thank you.

615

Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: So I believe

you come a hell of a long way and are

616

doing really good stuff, which is awesome.

617

If you could give the audience.

618

One little tip or tweak something

you use in your life, daily or

619

weekly that you find very useful.

620

What would you suggest?

621

Jenn Ginty: I've been working

on this for a while, but sitting

622

with difficult emotions is scary,

but by sitting with them, you're

623

better able to work through them.

624

And I use the term this too shall pass.

625

Because I always run away

from those difficult emotions.

626

I'll get on the computer

and start doing work.

627

I'll create work for myself.

628

I'll do whatever I can to get

away from that intense emotion.

629

But by sitting with it and better

understanding it, it will pass

630

quicker and you'll have a better

grasp of what you are in need of.

631

Elaine @TheDarkPollyanna: That's so good.

632

That is so good.

633

So good.

634

I have to say thank you so

much for joining us today.

635

Jenn Ginty has been our guest today.

636

My moody monster also came on,

which I think is pretty cool, and

637

you can get in touch with her.

638

As I said, down below you'll see that the

ticker down below has the website on it.

639

So you can go right there and we will.

640

See you next time.

641

I'm Elaine Lindsay.

642

This is Suicide Zen Forgiveness.

643

I thank you so much for joining

us today and as per always make

644

the very most of your today, every

day, and I'll see you next time.

645

Voideover: Thank you for being

here for another inspiring episode

646

of Suicide Zen Forgiveness.

647

We appreciate you tuning in.

648

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649

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650

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651

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652

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know who may benefit from the hope

653

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654

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655

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658

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659

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664

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