Introspection Of The Psyche

The Weight of a Depressive Episode | Introspection of the Psyche

What does a depressive episode really feel like when you’re living through it?

In this episode, I’m sharing my personal experiences with depression, the battles that often go unseen, and the reality of trying to navigate life when everything feels heavier than it should. As a mental health nurse living with depression myself, I’ll explore recognising the signs, finding ways through the difficult days, and learning that recovery isn’t always linear.

Because sometimes, finding your way back to yourself starts with simply getting through today.

If you’re struggling, you don’t have to navigate it alone. 🤍

Content warning: Depression, suicidal ideation and emotional distress.

#IntrospectionOfThePsyche #DepressionAwareness #MentalHealth #LivedExperience

Finding My Way Back to Myself

⚠️ This episode discusses eating disorders, domestic violence, trauma and mental health. Please take care of yourself while listening and skip this episode if these topics may be triggering for you.

In this deeply honest episode of Introspection of the Psyche, Marian opens up about her experience with an eating disorder not just what it looked like from the outside, but what was happening inside her mind.

We talk about the thoughts, fears, control and emotions that can sit underneath an eating disorder, and how easily something that begins as a way of coping can slowly take over your life.

Marian also shares the impact her experiences had on her identity, relationships and sense of self, including the reality of living through domestic violence and the psychological effects that can remain long after the relationship ends.

This isn’t a story about an illness defining someone.

It’s a story about losing parts of yourself, finding the courage to face what happened, and slowly learning how to become yourself again.

Most importantly, Marian shares a message of hope for anyone who is currently struggling:

Recovery is possible, your illness is not your identity, and there is a life waiting for you beyond the things you’re fighting through right now.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for professional support can be the first step towards finding your way back to yourself.🤍

Marian’s Socials

https://www.instagram.com/marianpearse?igsi=aHA3MWMwaDA3MjVz

https://www.instagram.com/evolvingher.co?igsi=aXlpeGtoYTVpc2Jm

Trauma isn’t always about what happened. Sometimes it’s about what your mind and body learned from what happened.

In this episode of Introspection of the Psyche, Shae explores what happens after the traumatic event is over and why you can know you’re safe while still feeling unsafe.

We explore hypervigilance, people-pleasing, emotional shutdown, avoidance, control, independence, and the ways survival responses can quietly become part of everyday life.

Through a mental health nursing perspective, we unpack why your brain and body may continue responding to reminders of the past, why your trauma responses aren’t your personality, and why understanding where they came from can be the beginning of changing them.

Most importantly, this episode is a reminder that you are not broken.

You didn’t choose the ways you learned to survive.

And perhaps instead of asking:

“What’s wrong with me?”

we can begin asking:

“What happened to me, and what did I have to learn to survive it?”

Because you survived something.

And now, you get to learn what it feels like to live beyond it. ❤️‍🩹

OCD is often misunderstood.

For many people, the word “OCD” brings to mind organisation, cleanliness, or perfectionism. But the reality of OCD can be far more complex, painful, and invisible.

In this episode of Introspection of the Psyche, I share my personal experience living with OCD the thoughts nobody saw, the battles I fought silently, and the journey of finally understanding what was happening inside my own mind.

I explore what OCD really is beyond the stereotypes, including intrusive thoughts, compulsions, the search for certainty, and the exhausting cycle that can leave someone feeling trapped inside their own thoughts.

I share what it was like to receive my diagnosis, the relief and grief that came with finally having an explanation, and how learning about OCD changed the way I viewed myself.

As both a person living with OCD and a mental health nurse, I reflect on how this experience changed the way I understand mental health, compassion, and the unseen struggles people carry every day.

This episode is not about pretending OCD is easy or minimising the impact it can have.

It is about honesty.

It is about understanding.

And it is about one important reminder:

OCD is real. It can be incredibly challenging. But OCD does not get the final say.

We still get to choose how we live our lives.

Why do we compare our entire lives to someone else’s highlight reel?

In this episode, we explore the psychology behind social media comparison, the stories our minds create from what we see online, and why appearances rarely reflect reality.

Through my own experiences and my work as a mental health nurse, I reflect on why we often feel behind, how we measure success, and the importance of remembering that every person is carrying a story we cannot see.

A reminder that someone else’s timeline was never meant to define yours.

Have you ever worried that you’re too much? That your friends are getting tired of you? That your family would be better off without your struggles?

In this episode, I’m talking about one of the most painful beliefs that can come with mental illness: the fear of being a burden. We explore why anxiety, OCD, trauma, depression and low self-esteem can make us question our place in other people’s lives, and how these beliefs can quietly shape the way we connect with those we love.

I’ll share both my lived experience and my perspective as a mental health nurse, while offering practical ways to challenge these thoughts and build healthier, more compassionate relationships.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re “too much,” this episode is for you. I hope it reminds you that needing support doesn’t make you a burden it makes you human.

If this episode resonated with you, I’d love if you shared it with someone who might need to hear it. Together, we can create more understanding around mental health.🤍

Hi, I’m Shae, and welcome to Introspection of the Psyche.

This is my very first episode, and I’m incredibly nervous to be sharing it. But my passion for mental health and raising awareness is bigger than my fear.

In this episode, I share my story, why I started this podcast, and my hope of creating a space where people feel seen, understood, and a little less alone.

Thank you for being here.🤍