Holding On and Moving Forward

Letting go. It sounds simple — but for many of us, it’s one of the hardest things we’ll ever do.

In this deeply personal episode, I open up about what it really feels like to walk away — from relationships, patterns, people, or versions of ourselves that no longer serve us.

Why do we hold on when we know we’re hurting?

Why does the pain of the familiar feel safer than the uncertainty of freedom?

Why do we blame ourselves for being betrayed — or for trusting in the first place?

This episode explores the emotional weight of letting go, the fear of change, the cycle of self-blame, and the powerful truth that walking away isn’t weakness — it’s self-love.

💬 Whether you’re in the middle of a heartbreak, struggling to set boundaries, or just quietly learning to put yourself first — this episode is for you.

📌 Highlights:

• Why we stay when we know we should go

• The grief of leaving behind people or futures we hoped for

• Trusting the wrong people — and blaming ourselves

• Reframing letting go as an act of love, not loss

• A reminder: you’re allowed to choose you

🎧 Tune in, take what you need, and remember —

Letting go isn’t failure. It’s the beginning of freedom.

In this raw and honest solo episode, I open up about what it’s like to feel worn down by life — even when you’re doing your best to stay strong.

“When Life Won’t Give You a Break” is a reflection on those days, weeks, or even years when it feels like everything comes with a fight. From internal battles with your own mind to external struggles against broken systems, I talk about what it means to keep going even when you’re running on empty.

This episode explores why the phrase “everything happens for a reason” can feel hollow, why resilience isn’t always about building strength — and how just showing up, especially for others, is a form of courage that often goes unrecognised.

Whether you’re in the middle of your own battle or holding space for someone else, this episode is for you.

🔊 Listen in for:

• Honest talk about burnout, trauma, and mental health

• Reflections on systems that fail those who need them most

• A reminder that being “still here” is a quiet kind of power

• A few words about Archie, of course

💬 “You’re not lacking resilience — you’re living it.”

In this deeply personal episode of What About Now? – Holding on and moving forward, we explore the emotional toll of performing for others—wearing a mask to protect those around us while silently struggling inside.

Drawing from a recent blog post, I reflect on what it means to “put on an act” in everyday life—why we do it, who we’re really protecting, and what it costs us. This episode is a raw, honest look at how pretending to be okay can become a survival strategy, and how vulnerability might be the bravest thing we can offer ourselves and others.

Whether you’ve played the part yourself or loved someone who has, this is a space to feel seen, heard, and held.

In this episode, we explore the invisible nature of mental illness — how easy it is for others (and sometimes even ourselves) to forget that it’s there simply because we can’t see it. Drawing a poignant comparison between mental and physical health, we question why it’s so much harder to call in sick for a day of depression than it is for the flu.

This episode is a reminder that asking for help is not a weakness — it’s one of the bravest things you can do. If people forget that you’re struggling, it’s okay to remind them. It’s okay to take space. And it’s more than okay to prioritise your healing.

In this raw and personal episode, I reflect on the devastating consequences of inadequate aftercare — both in my own life and in the lives of others. From a formal complaint that left me feeling unheard, to the heartbreak of a misdiagnosis that shaped my youth, I explore the complex emotions of sadness, relief, and long-overdue clarity. This is a message for anyone who has ever felt abandoned after discharge — and a call to share, relate, and push for change. You are not alone.

In this deeply honest episode, I share what it’s really like to still be struggling while trying to support others.

I talk about the anger I carry, the mask I wear, and the shame of not being “better” yet — even though I write and speak about healing all the time.

This isn’t a story about how I made it through.

This is a story about staying.

About showing up anyway.

About still learning — even on the hardest days.

If you’ve ever felt like a fraud for not having it all figured out, or if you’re carrying more than you can say out loud, this is for you.

In this raw and deeply personal episode, I speak honestly about the fear that came with reaching out for help — and how, instead of feeling supported, I felt judged, watched, and silenced.

This isn’t just about mental illness. It’s about being a parent who needed understanding, not scrutiny. It’s about the moments I felt I let my child down — not because I didn’t care, but because the systems in place made me feel like the enemy.

If you’ve ever felt scared to ask for help, or like you were slipping through the cracks while trying to hold everything together — this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Amazon/Audible, and Apple Podcasts

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💛 Please subscribe and share if this resonates — you’re not alone.

#WhatAboutNow #MentalHealthPodcast #ParentingAndMentalHealth #SystemicFailure #LivedExperience #NewEpisode

In this episode, we explore the unexpected friendships, human complexity, and hard truths discovered inside a psychiatric hospital. From the bonds formed in the most unlikely places to raw stories of addiction, relapse, and recovery, this is a reflection on what it means to truly see someone. We talk about broken systems, unseen strength, and the deep need for community beyond discharge.

🧠💬

This is for anyone who’s ever felt judged, misunderstood, or left behind — and for everyone who believes we can do better.

Share your story. Hold space for someone else’s. Let’s challenge stigma, together.

— What About Now?

🎙️ New Podcast Episode – “We’re Not All Mad” is now live!

This week’s episode dives into the powerful stigma around mental illness — the misconceptions, the labels, and the damage they cause. I share what it’s really like to be treated like you’re “crazy” simply for struggling, and why we need to rewrite that narrative.

This one’s honest, reflective, and unapologetically real.

🔗 Plus, catch up on our blog and latest updates:

https://learningtotalk4.wordpress.com/

📲 Follow & share:

@whataboutnow25

@whataboutnowthepodcast

Let’s keep smashing the stigma — because we’re not all mad.

#WhatAboutNow #MentalHealthPodcast #EndTheStigma #LivedExperience #WeAreNotAllMad #MentalHealthAwareness #PodcastDrop

“What About Now? – Holding on and moving forward” is officially here.

This first episode is raw, honest, and deeply personal — sharing my own experience of being admitted to a psychiatric ward, what happened after, and why I’ve launched this project to support others through the same.

💬 It’s not always an easy listen — but it’s real. It’s for anyone who’s ever asked, what happens next?

🌱 Listen now, follow along, and join us as we explore stories of healing, hope, and holding on — one step at a time.

🎗️ Donate or share:

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📝 Read the original blog post:

www.learningtotalk4.wordpress.com

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