I Have Issues - Psychology with Dr Mark

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What happens in the brain of someone who has ADHD?
How is an ADHD brain different from an non-ADHD brain?
What can you do to support the ADHD brain, what is and isn't helpful? 

In the latest episode of ' I Have Issues,' I discuss the what happens in the brain of a person with ADHD.
There can be a lot of misunderstanding, confusion and misinformation around ADHD and this can create stigma, shame and fear. 
The field of neuroscience researches how the brain works and this information is vital to people living with ADHD so they can understand what is going on up there. 

In this episode I'm joined by Dr Miguel Mateas. He is a neuroscientist, applied microbiologist, and nutrition practitioner with a multifaceted career spanning over two decades.  As a researcher, clinician, author, and advocate, he has developed a unique expertise in neurodivergence, mental health, and the intricate world of the gut microbiome. This comprehensive skill set has guided him through a remarkable journey across the diverse landscapes of science, biotechnology, and human experience, collectively shaping the professional I am today. Miguel also has ADHD himself!

We discuss together ADHD as two mental health professionals  (a psychologist and a neuroscientist) who treat this condition. 
We explore how ADHD develops, what happens in an ADHD brain, how food impacts ADHD and what you can do to support your ADHD brain. 

This episode is essential listening for anyone who is living with ADHD. Understanding how your ADHD brain works is vital to living with ADHD and managing it instead of it managing you. 

I'm an adolescent and adult chartered psychologist for the past two decades. This is a completely free and independant podcast, non-sponsored and ad-free to support you with your mental health. Please support this podcast by sharing and rating it. 

Don't lose your mind. Find it.

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Cocaine use is common-place in many cities around the world, including London the one where I live and work. Like many psychologists I have worked with patients who have problems with cocaine and they become addicted to this drug. 

For someone who is addicted to cocaine, it brings chaos to their lives and the people who are in their lives along with poor physical and mental health. Sadly in some cases, cocaine addiction can lead to a premature death. 

In this episode I talk to Sean WIllers.
Sean's story is a facilitating one, from his time in the British army, to becoming a top DJ in nightclubs in both London and Berlin. 
Sadly, Sean became addicted to cocaine and his life began to unravel.
I have an open and honest conversation with Sean about his addiction to cocaine, what led to that , how he managed to give it up and get his life back on track. 

Sean now uses his story to support and provide inspiration to other people like him who are struggling with cocaine addiction. He is now a lifestyle coach, personal trainer and mental health advocate. He is truly an inspirational person and this interview is full of hope that other people too can deal with this issue. 

I'm an adolescent and adult chartered psychologist for the past two decades. This is a completely free and independant podcast, non-sponsored and ad-free to support you with your mental health. Please support this podcast by sharing and rating it. 

Don't lose your mind. Find it.

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Sex addiction can be a serious issue for many people. 
It can take the form of addiction to pornography, sex workers and other sexual behaviours.  

In the latest episode of ' I Have Issues,' I discuss the issue of sex addiction.    
I'm joined by Professor Colin O'Gara,  a consultant psychiatrist for the past twenty years. Since 2007, he is the Head of Addiction Services at Saint John of God Hospital, Stillorgan, Dublin, Ireland treating patients who have a sex addiction. 

Sadly people with sex addiction can struggle to have healthy relationships and sex addiction can damage their physical and mental health. 

Listen to this episode to learn how to deal with sex addiction and if you do struggle with this issue, there is a way forward to help you deal with this addiction. 
There is no shame or embarrassment when it comes to talking about sex addiction,  it's a conversation that needs to be had and in some cases it will save lives. 

I'm an adolescent and adult chartered psychologist for the past two decades. This is a completely free and independant podcast, non-sponsored and ad-free to support you with your mental health. Please support this podcast by sharing and rating it. 

Don't lose your mind. Find it.

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Living with anxiety and depression is sadly a reality for many people.
Life can be challenging for lots of reasons and we can struggle to cope and end up with poor mental health. 
As a psychologist, this is something that I regularly help my patients deal with. 

In this episode I speak with Joe Moriarty,  he is a young man that has lived with anxiety and depression. Joe has struggled with his mental health from adolescence, and this caused problems for him in different areas of his life. 
Joe's story is a story that lots of people will be able to relate to. 
He speaks honestly and openly about his mental health story and it is one of hope as he takes us on this personal journey.   

Joe now uses his story to break down the stigma around mental health and raise awareness.  He is the co-host of the InsideAMind podcast, which has open conversations about mental health, and in Joe's own words, 'We are on a mission to help people better understand their 'problems' and be able to turn them into positives. '

I'm an adolescent and adult chartered psychologist for the past two decades. This is a completely free and independant podcast, non-sponsored and ad-free to support you with your mental health. Please support this podcast by sharing and rating it. 

Don't lose your mind. Find it.

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Do you struggle with your relationship with alcohol?
Has it caused difficulty for you and other people?
Has it been suggested to you that it might be a good idea for you to live a sober life? 

In this episode I speak with Scott Pearson. 
When Scott was a teenager, his relationship with alcohol was already causing problems in his life. From then and into his early 20’s this had gotten worse, and Scott then made the decision at age 28 to live a sober life. 

Scott’s story is sadly not unique, there are lots of people out there like him who struggle with their relationship with alcohol. Scott now uses his story to break down the stigma around alcohol and sobriety.  He is an ambassador for Alcohol Change UK, and actively engages in community work through his online and in person community, Proud and Sober. 

Please join me as a I have a heartfelt and open conversation with Scott, as the talks his relationship with alcohol and his decision to live a life of sobriety.  As ever, this podcast is all about hope and my conversation with Scott is to provide hope and inspiration for people who are struggling with this issue. 

I'm an adolescent and adult chartered psychologist for the past two decades. This is a completely free and independant podcast, non-sponsored and ad-free to support you with your mental health. Please support this podcast by sharing and rating it. 

Don't lose your mind. Find it.

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Living with ADHD can present it's own unique challenges and difficulties. 
Sadly, it can create additional mental health problems for the person. 
As a psychologist, this is something that I regularly help my patients deal with. 

In this episode I speak with Tom McCormick,  he is a young man that is living with ADHD. Tom has struggled with his mental health from adolescence, and this caused problems for him at school and in his personal life. 
Tom had undiagnosed ADHD, which unfortunately was a contributing factor to the mental health challenges he was facing. 

Tom now uses his story to break down the stigma around mental health and raise awareness.  He is the co-host of the InsideAMind podcast, which has open conversations about mental health, and in Tom's own words, 'We are on a mission to help people better understand their 'problems' and be able to turn them into positives. '

Please join me as a I have a heartfelt and open conversation with Tom, as the talks about living with ADHD.  As ever, this podcast is all about hope and my conversation with Tom is to provide hope and inspiration for people who are struggling with their mental health. 

I'm an adolescent and adult chartered psychologist for the past two decades. This is a completely free and independant podcast, non-sponsored and ad-free to support you with your mental health. Please support this podcast by sharing and rating it. 

Don't lose your mind. Find it.

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Working with patients who have experienced trauma is part of my job as a psychologist. 
Trauma changes how the brain and the body functions and treatment is needed to assist and support that patient to recover.
Breath work is a form of treatment that is used to support people who have experienced trauma. 

In this episode, I have the privilege to talk with Pat Divilly.
Pat has been involved in the wellness industry for over fifteen years and has hosted retreats and personal development workshops for the last ten.  Pat has written 4 books and has his own podcast, The Pat Divilly Podcast. 
He has done Ted X and also been on The Late Late Show in Ireland. 

​He is an experienced breathworker, a TRE (trauma release exercises) provider and has completed Gabor Mate's year long Compassionate Inquiry program. Pat's passion lies in creating space for individuals to feel safe to explore and find out who they are beyond the stories they have come to believe about themselves. 

I have a great chat with Pat about the incredible work that he does and also his own story. As ever, this podcast is about hope and this episode provides hope for people who maybe dealing with trauma,

I'm an adolescent and adult chartered psychologist for the past two decades. This is a completely free and independant podcast, non-sponsored and ad-free to support you with your mental health. Please support this podcast by sharing and rating it. 

Don't lose your mind. Find it.

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Have you been told that you have an issue with attachment?
Do you fall into the same negative patterns in relationships? 
Do you have a fear of abandonment and crave relationship security, often causing you dreadful anxiety? 

Attachment is something that we all share in common, as we are hard-wired to attach to other people. 
However, we don't have the same attachment style and depending on whether your's is healthy or not, this will impact how you deal and cope with relationships in your life. 
Poor attachments styles can lead to poor mental health for all parties in a relationship. 

In this episode I discuss what attachment is and why some people have an issue with it.
I talk about how attachment is something that happens so early on in our life, that we can be oblivious to it's impact on us as adults. 
As ever, this podcast is about hope and I provide advice and support for people who have an issue with attachment and how they can work on it. 

I'm an adolescent and adult chartered psychologist for the past two decades. This is a completely free and independant podcast, non-sponsored and ad-free to support you with your mental health. Please support this podcast by sharing and rating it. 

Don't lose your mind. Find it.

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Living with mental health difficulties can sometimes cause the person to become hopeless and feel that life is just too hard to live.
This can leave the person vulnerable to having suicidal thoughts, which can change into plans and attempts. 
As a psychologist, this is something that I regularly help my patients deal with. 

In this episode I speak with Tanya Marwaha,  she is a young person that pioneered youth mental health awareness during the pandemic from her bedroom. 
Tanya has struggled with her mental health from a young age after developing long-term disabilities, Fibromyalgia and Ehlers -Danlos Syndrome. 
Sadly Tanya's mental health difficulties caused her to have suicidal thoughts which led to her having suicide attempts. 

Tanya now uses her story as a young female in the South Asian community, to break down the stigma around mental health, raising awareness of the cultural sensitivities around such topics. She is a Living Experience TED x speaker and is part of the Baton of Hope UK, the UK's largest suicide prevention imitative. 

Please join me as a I have a heartfelt and open conversation with Tanya. I appreciate that suicide can be a sensitive subject, but it's a subject that needs to be talked about, given how tragic the consequences can be.  As ever, this podcast is all about hope and my conversation with Tanya is to provide hope and inspiration for people who are struggling with their mental health, 

I'm an adolescent and adult chartered psychologist for the past two decades. This is a completely free and independant podcast, non-sponsored and ad-free to support you with your mental health. Please support this podcast by sharing and rating it. 

Don't lose your mind. Find it.

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Do you suffer from vicarious trauma?
Do you know what it is and how it can effect you?
If you do have vicarious trauma, what can you do about it?

Vicarious trauma can be  a serious issue for people who's job it is work with people who have been traumatised. 
It is also an issue for people who witness trauma happening to other people.
Certain professions are more prone to this than others, but vicarious trauma is something that can happen to anyone of us, especially with the images and stories that we consume in the news. 

In this episode I discuss what vicarious trauma is and why some people have an issue with it.
I talk about how to recognise vicarious trauma and what you can do to manage it. 
As ever, this podcast is about hope and I provide advice and support for people who have an issue with vicarious trauma and how they can cope with it. 

I'm an adolescent and adult chartered psychologist for the past two decades. This is a completely free and independant podcast, non-sponsored and ad-free to support you with your mental health. Please support this podcast by sharing and rating it. 

Don't lose your mind. Find it.