SPECIAL EPISODE: Opening up about mental health and how to get help with Teresa & Jane

In this episode of the podcast, I have the amazing Jane Travis who used to be a councillor and now helps other counsellors with their marketing. Jane is a very good friend who has really supported me through some really difficult times and I knew she would be the perfect person to bring on and talk about this topic. Today we talk all about mental health and my own struggles I have experienced and hidden up until now.

KEY TAKEAWAYS COVERED IN THE PODCAST

• I have suffered with anxiety for around 14 years now.
• When you are a perfectionist, anxiety can be triggered when something happens that is out of your control.
• Many people may experience mental health problems and you would never know from looking at them or talking to them.
• If everyone keeps their struggles to themselves, this can lead to isolation and feeling embarrassed/ashamed of this.
• We have to find a way to keep going but we also have to be able to say “I need some time off” – you can give yourself permission to stop if you need to.
• Anxiety is very common – it affects us all in different ways.
• Sometimes when we get angry, it’s an accumulation of everything else that has gone on.
• Anxiety and anger are really closely related – the feelings we have are similar.
• Instead of judging yourself when you react to something, turn it on its head and question why you may have reacted like that.
• If you take medication, attach it to something you do every single day without fail and you won’t miss a day.
• Self-care is something we can do every day that can really help.
• Don’t judge yourself and be so hard on yourself.
• Personal development can be really key in how you feel in yourself.
• You learn right up until the day you die. There are always so many new things to learn.
• Mindfulness is doing activities that take you out of your normal headspace – takes your brain from thinking about everything that’s going on.
• We all show our highlights – very little of us show the bad days.
• Just because people show up in a certain way, doesn’t mean we have it all sussed.
• If you haven’t suffered with some sort of mental health, it’s hard to understand why someone can’t just do that thing.
• People only judge because they can’t understand how difficult it can be.
• There are always going to be people who have a critical view of things, what is important is that you look after yourself and get the help you need so you can get on with your life.
• You don’t have to struggle with anxiety for the rest of your life – you can get help.
• Counselling is looking at the reasons you are anxious in the first place – once you have worked that out, you can move forward in a different way.
• “This is a process, I will come out of it”.
• Counselling is the best self-care EVER.

THE ONE THING YOU NEED TO REMEMBER ABOVE ALL ELSE…

You have serious moments and then you will have laughter!

HIGHLIGHTS YOU SIMPLY CAN’T MISS

• An Introduction to Jane – 02:28
• Opening up about mental health – 04:53
• Taking time off work due to mental health – 12:03
• Anxiety – 17:25
• Medication – 27:40
• Self-care – 31:44
• Mindfulness – 35:37
• We are all in this together – 38:57
• Judgement – 45:13
• Getting help – 46:58

LINKS TO RESOURCES MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE

 Jane’s Membership Group

Say hi to Jane on Instagram

Jane’s podcast

Want the full transcript−click here!