Meet Fliss Holyle, born and raised — and still living — in the UK. At just 17, her world was turned upside down after a horrific car accident that set off a chain reaction of mental and physical health challenges. What followed was years of battling depression, anxiety, panic disorder, and an eating disorder — and later, a severe medication reaction that triggered bipolar disorder and led to her first stay in a psychiatric hospital.

For the next sixteen years, Fliss had to rebuild herself, piece by piece, while facing new diagnoses like seizures, PMDD, and IBS. But instead of giving in to despair, she found purpose in helping others. Fliss discovered that the best way to quiet her own struggles was to lift others through theirs.

Today, Fliss used her lived experience to train teachers, healthcare professionals, and businesses on how to better support people living with mental health disorders. She’s also a sought-after inspirational speaker, sharing her story at universities and nurse training programs across the UK.

In this episode, Fliss shares what it really takes to rebuild your life from the ground up, how empathy can transform pain into purpose, and why hope is never lost — even when everything seems broken.

Questions? Need help navigating your mental health issues? Reach out to Fliss (and follow!) on Instagram @fliss_thepatientadvocate

Need urgent, IMMEDIATE HELP in the UK? Visit https://hubofhope.co.uk/ to search for crisis support services near you or call one of the numbers below:

NHS

Call 111 and select option 2
(service available across England, Wales, and Scotland, open 24 hours)

Lifeline | Lifeline helpline

Call 0808 808 8000
(service available across Northern Ireland, open 24 hours)

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