No One Knew How Bad My Anxiety Was with Shawn Johnson

Talk To Me: The Debra Fileta Podcast

AccessMore

Talk Radio, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality, Default

4.8 • 808 Ratings

🗓️ 3 February 2026

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In one of the most vulnerable conversations of the year, I sat down with Pastor Shawn Johnson and processed the moment that literally almost took his life -- the moment he broke mentally and emotionally. After suffering from intense and continuous panic attacks behind the scenes for many years, one day he could take it no more. Thank God he chose vulnerability in that dark and desperate moment, and reached out for help, because it was vulnerability: letting people in on his darkest moments, that ultimately saved his life. We spend some time talking about the series of events leading up to this dark season in his life, what kept him from opening up before this moment, and how he's keeping track of his mental health and well being today. If you suffer from mental illness, panic attacks, depression or anxiety -- his journey will truly challenge and inspire you to continue moving toward healing, and to learn to let people in. The Debra Fileta Counselors Network: Book a counseling session at the Debra Fileta Counselors Network and get started on your healing journey from the inside out TODAY! DEBRA FILETA is a Licensed Professional Counselor, national speaker, and founder of the Debra Fileta Counselors Network. She is the bestselling author of eight books including Choosing Marriage, Are You Really OK?, RESET, and Soul Care. Debra is the host of the popular podcast and nationally syndicated radio show Talk To Me where she facilitates on-air authentic counseling-style sessions with notable pastors and leaders. You may also recognize her voice from her appearances on national television and radio, including Better Together, The Kirk Cameron Show, Focus on the Family, The 700 Club, and many others. She reaches millions of people each year with the message of mental, emotional, and relational health. Connect with her on Instagram or at DebraFileta.com.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Access more
0:03.5	So I go back, I tell the church and I told our church everything.
0:14.6	I didn't just didn't know how else to do it.
0:16.6	And I had found so much freedom and finally being honest with my family and friends that how bad I was struggling in my mind.
0:23.6	And I thought, well, this is probably going to be the end of our church.
0:27.6	I'm guessing everyone's going to go, wow, that guy's that jacked up, like, and we're out.
0:32.6	And I don't know specific numbers, but it may have doubled.
0:38.3	Like it was crazy to me.
0:39.3	And I was like, what is happening?
0:41.3	And what I learned and I just didn't see coming was, and I should have known this, but like, I always thought you need to be as close to perfect as possible because that's what I'm supposed to be.
0:50.3	I'm a pastor.
0:51.3	And what I learned is I was able to connect with people
0:55.2	on a different level than I'd ever been able to before.
1:03.0	Are you ready to talk to me? My name is Deborah Felata and I'm a licensed professional
1:08.1	counselor, national speaker, and author.
1:15.8	Through my blog, books, and podcast, I have the privilege of helping millions of people get healthy mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and relationally.
1:20.5	The purpose of this podcast is to have on-air, authentic, counseling-style sessions,
1:26.5	where we talk about how people are really doing and give my guests
1:30.8	and callers an opportunity to talk to me as a licensed professional counselor. Each of these episodes
1:37.1	is meant to show you that we are all on the journey of healing, mentally, emotionally,
1:42.5	spiritually and relationally, together. None of us are
1:47.5	immune to the challenges and struggles of life, but we don't have to walk this path alone.
	...

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