What if the thing that finally helps you heal is not another attempt to outrun your pain, but learning how to sit with it, breathe through it, and come back to yourself? Jon Paul Crimi spent years running from emotional pain through alcohol, drugs, partying, and self-destruction. After hitting rock bottom, he found breathwork, a practice that helped him reconnect with his body, release stored pain, and begin building a life rooted in purpose instead of survival. In this episode of Overcome with Travis White, Travis sits down with Jon Paul to talk about addiction, trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, shame, and the unexpected path that led him from personal pain to helping thousands of others through breathwork. Jon Paul shares why he believes breathwork can help people quiet the mind, access emotions they have buried, and move through the nervous system patterns that keep them stuck. He also explains the difference between different styles of breathing, why circular breathwork can feel intense, and why the goal is not to force healing, but to create space for the body to release what it has been holding. This conversation is honest, practical, and deeply human. It is about recovery, emotional release, finding purpose, and learning that you are worth the work it takes to heal. What We Discussed Jon Paul's early life in Massachusetts and the pain he tried to escapeHow alcohol, drugs, and self-destruction became coping mechanismsWhat changed after Jon Paul hit rock bottomHow breathwork entered his life and helped him begin healingThe difference between box breathing, Wim Hof-style breathing, and circular breathworkWhy breathwork can bring buried emotions and trauma to the surfaceHow the body can hold grief, stress, fear, and unresolved painWhy therapy and breathwork can work togetherHow people can feel stuck even when they understand their problems intellectuallyThe connection between purpose, self-worth, and emotional healingWhy men and high performers may resist slowing down long enough to feelWhat someone can expect from a breathwork classWhy Jon Paul teaches people to trust the breath and stop overthinking the processHow healing can change the way you show up in your life, work, and relationshipsWhy living authentically often starts when you stop caring so much about other people's opinionsLearn More About Jon Paul Crimi Jon Paul Crimi is a breathwork teacher who helps people use breathwork to navigate addiction, anxiety, grief, trauma, stress, emotional pain, and feeling stuck.Through his work, he teaches people how to use the breath to quiet the mind, reconnect with the body, and create space for emotional release and healing.Learn more at https://breathewithjp.com.Call To Action If this episode helped you think differently about addiction, trauma, breathwork, or healing, please follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope, and leave a review. Your support helps us continue bringing real conversations about resilience, mental health, recovery, and personal growth to more people. Visit Blog: https://overcomepod.com Workbook: https://overcome68.gumroad.com/l/you-are-not-broken-workbook Shop Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/OvercomeMentalHealth Follow Overcome - a Mental Health Podcast Instagram: @overcomepodYoutube: @overcomepodListen to us SpotifyApple PodcastsWant to have a real conversation about your mental health? Fill out this form!
