All in the Mind

Breastfeeding Trauma and the Psychology of Awkwardness


Listen Later

When breastfeeding goes wrong some women feel guilty that they have failed to do what should come naturally. But Professor Amy Brown from Swansea University says those with the most severe physical and emotional impact could be experiencing trauma, similar to the effects of a traumatic birth. We hear from Linzi Blakey who had problems with breastfeeding when she gave birth to her daughter and son and had to give up before she wanted to. A specialist therapist has helped her to realise that she did the best she could - despite a lack of the right kind of support when she was feeling vulnerable.

Awkwardness can result when we do something embarrassing - and science writer Melissa Dahl set out to write a book on how to overcome those feelings of embarrassment. Cringeworthy: How To Make The Most Out of Uncomfortable Situations is the result of her discussions with scientists. She challenges herself to feats such as performing a stand-up routine, going to see a professional cuddler and reading out her teenage diaries to an audience at the Brooklyn show, Mortified. She now feels awkwardness is part of being human- and encourages us all to show more empathy to each other.

Claudia's studio guest Catherine Loveday, Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Westminster shares her own cringeworthy stories plus news of a spat in the world of psychedelic drugs research and how hallucinations seem to be a lot more common than we thought.

Producer: Paula McGrath

Made in Partnership with The Open University

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

All in the MindBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

57 ratings


More shows like All in the Mind

View all
In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,394 Listeners

All In The Mind by ABC listen

All In The Mind

760 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,837 Listeners

Woman's Hour by BBC Radio 4

Woman's Hour

409 Listeners

Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,899 Listeners

Science Weekly by The Guardian

Science Weekly

427 Listeners

Thinking Allowed by BBC Radio 4

Thinking Allowed

316 Listeners

Health Check by BBC World Service

Health Check

89 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,825 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,118 Listeners

Inside Health by BBC Radio 4

Inside Health

122 Listeners

More or Less: Behind the Stats by BBC Radio 4

More or Less: Behind the Stats

868 Listeners

Discovery by BBC World Service

Discovery

964 Listeners

The Food Programme by BBC Radio 4

The Food Programme

267 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,065 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,054 Listeners

The Life Scientific by BBC Radio 4

The Life Scientific

213 Listeners

BBC Inside Science by BBC Radio 4

BBC Inside Science

398 Listeners

Word of Mouth by BBC Radio 4

Word of Mouth

65 Listeners

Sliced Bread by BBC Radio 4

Sliced Bread

149 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

723 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

2,975 Listeners

Cover by BBC Radio 5 Live

Cover

303 Listeners

Just One Thing - with Michael Mosley by BBC Radio 4

Just One Thing - with Michael Mosley

244 Listeners

Life Changing by BBC Radio 4

Life Changing

90 Listeners