S1 E13 How Sweta Sansara Broke Barriers: From Nepal to Hollywood, Marine Corps Service, and Mental Health Advocacy
Summary
Sweta, a Hollywood actress and the first female Marine from Nepal, shares her journey of overcoming childhood trauma and addiction to embrace sobriety. She emphasizes the importance of building a community of sober people and finding support through therapy and 12-step programs. Sweta highlights the role of social media in creating an inclusive and supportive space for sharing stories and helping others. She also discusses her career in Hollywood and the importance of pursuing passions for the right reasons. Sweta shares her experience of joining the Marine Corps and how it was a turning point in her life. She talks about the camaraderie and connection she felt with her fellow Marines. Sweta also discusses her struggles with addiction and how the Marine Corps helped her overcome them. She reflects on the transformation she underwent during boot camp and how it shaped her into a stronger and more courageous person. Sweta shares her experiences in the Marine Corps and how it affected her relationship with her body and food. She talks about the pressure to be thin and the extreme measures she took to try to achieve that ideal. Sweta also discusses the challenges she faced in the military, including sexual harassment and the impact it had on her mental health. Through healing and recovery, she has learned to love and accept herself, focusing on self-care rather than striving for a specific body size. Sweta shares her experience of struggling with binge eating and body image issues. She recalls a specific incident where she planned to have one last binge before starting a diet, but it escalated to a dangerous level. Sweta's parents found her unconscious and she was rushed to the hospital. She reflects on her journey of self-acceptance and gratitude for her body, realizing that every part of her has a purpose. Sweta emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment and finding joy in the small things. She also discusses her sensitivity to sugar and how it can trigger addictive behavior. In this conversation, Sweta discusses her journey with alcoholism and how it led to her developing ulcerative colitis. She shares her experience with binge eating and the addictive nature of sugar. Sweta also talks about the importance of understanding the impact of pesticides and food on our health. She explains how she manages her diet by avoiding high oxalate vegetables and opting for low oxalate options. Sweta emphasizes the need for therapy in her healing process and the importance of professional support.
Takeaways
Sweta, a Hollywood actress and the first female Marine from Nepal, shares her journey of overcoming childhood trauma and addiction to embrace sobriety. She emphasizes the importance of building a community of sober people and finding support through therapy and 12-step programs. Sweta highlights the role of social media in creating an inclusive and supportive space for sharing stories and helping others. She also discusses her career in Hollywood and the importance of pursuing passions for the right reasons. Sweta shares her experience of joining the Marine Corps and how it was a turning point in her life. She talks about the camaraderie and connection she felt with her fellow Marines. Sweta also discusses her struggles with addiction and how the Marine Corps helped her overcome them. She reflects on the transformation she underwent during boot camp and how it shaped her into a stronger and more courageous person. Sweta shares her experiences in the Marine Corps and how it affected her relationship with her body and food. She talks about the pressure to be thin and the extreme measures she took to try to achieve that ideal. Sweta also discusses the challenges she faced in the military, including sexual harassment and the impact it had on her mental health. Through healing and recovery, she has learned to love and accept herself, focusing on self-care rather than striving for a specific body size. Sweta shares her experience of struggling with binge eating and body image issues. She recalls a specific incident where she planned to have one last binge before starting a diet, but it escalated to a dangerous level. Sweta's parents found her unconscious and she was rushed to the hospital. She reflects on her journey of self-acceptance and gratitude for her body, realizing that every part of her has a purpose. Sweta emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment and finding joy in the small things. She also discusses her sensitivity to sugar and how it can trigger addictive behavior. In this conversation, Sweta discusses her journey with alcoholism and how it led to her developing ulcerative colitis. She shares her experience with binge eating and the addictive nature of sugar. Sweta also talks about the importance of understanding the impact of pesticides and food on our health. She explains how she manages her diet by avoiding high oxalate vegetables and opting for low oxalate options. Sweta emphasizes the need for therapy in her healing process and the importance of professional support.
Takeaways
- Sweta's journey to sobriety involved hitting rock bottom and losing everything, but she was able to rebuild her life and pursue her passion for acting.
- Building a community of sober people and finding support through therapy and 12-step programs played a crucial role in Sweta's recovery.
- Social media, particularly Instagram, has provided an inclusive and supportive space for sharing stories and helping others in their sobriety journey.
- Sweta emphasizes the importance of pursuing passions for the right reasons, rather than seeking external validation or approval. Writing down your life story can be a powerful way to reflect on your experiences and find inspiration.
- The Marine Corps offers a strong sense of camaraderie and connection with fellow Marines.
- Joining the military can be a transformative experience that helps individuals overcome personal challenges and become stronger.
- Sweta's journey in the Marine Corps taught her discipline, resilience, and the importance of self-improvement. The Marine Corps reinforced Sweta's desire to be thin and fit, leading to destructive behaviors and an unhealthy relationship with food.
- Sweta experienced sexual harassment and witnessed the mistreatment of women in the military, which added to her PTSD and drinking problems.
- Through healing and recovery, Sweta has learned to love and accept herself, focusing on self-care and letting go of the pressure to be thin.
- Sweta's journey has taught her the importance of replacing negative thoughts with self-love and exploring her true identity. Sweta's struggle with binge eating and body image issues led her to a dangerous incident that required medical intervention.
- She has learned to appreciate and accept her body, finding purpose in every part of herself.
- Sweta emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment and finding gratitude in everyday experiences.
- She shares her sensitivity to sugar and how it can trigger addictive behavior, leading to a loss of control. Alcoholism can have a significant impact on physical health, leading to conditions like ulcerative colitis.
- Sugar can be highly addictive and have detrimental effects on the body, similar to drugs.
- Understanding the impact of pesticides and food quality is crucial for managing health conditions.
- Avoiding high oxalate vegetables and opting for low oxalate options can help manage certain health conditions.
- Therapy and professional support play a vital role in the healing process.
Creators and Guests
Host
Jane W Ballard
Jane Ballard, LCSW-S, CEDS, PMH-C, is a licensed psychotherapist and Alcohol Free Life coach. She is the founder of Jane Ballard Wellness, a private practice offering in-person counseling services in Dallas, TX and virtual individual and group coaching to women in the United States and beyond. After waking up to the realization that alcohol was a barrier to living her purpose, she set out to make information, support and connection more accessible to like minded women.
Guest
Sweta Sansara
Sweta Sansara, born in Kathmandu, Nepal, faced adversity with determination from a young age. Overcoming childhood trauma and addiction, she embraced sobriety at 17. Breaking barriers, she became the first Nepalese female Marine and Hollywood actress, using her platform to advocate for fmental health and destigmatize therapy, especially in South Asian culture. As a devoted mother and wife, she founded the Nepal Youth Fund, empowering communities through education. Through her advocacy on Instagram, Sweta inspires hope and unity, reminding others they’re not alone in their journey towards healing. Her story embodies triumph, resilience, and a commitment to building a better world for all.