In Episode number 33 of the Mindful Life Podcast. I talk about suicide prevention. Today September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day. Every year here in Australia 8 people a day end their life via suicide. It is the silent killer of our population, and sadly these stats are climbing each year. As a community we all have a role to play, we can help to raise awareness and reduce these stats by equipping ourselves with the knowledge and skills to provide initial support and referral options to those we are concerned about. Asking the right questions and providing a non judgmental listening ear just may just save a life. 

Stats in podcast via; Black Dog Institute

https://www.suicidepreventionaust.org/world-suicide-prevention-day-2019/

If for any reason, you have found the content of todays podcast triggering or distressing in any way please consider accessing some professional support (Aust only); 

Telephone Counselling support 

*Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 

*Lifeline 131114

 **For serious Mental Health issues-including suicidal behavioural. Please access the relevant support numbers in your state (Aust only) 

Statewide mental mental health triage numbers   

VIC Mental Health Advice Line Ph: 1300 60 60 24   

NSW Mental Health Line Ph: 1800 011 511   

ACT Mental Health Crisis Team Ph: 1800 629 354 or  (02) 6205 1065  

QLD Queensland Government Ph: 13 43 25 84  

NT Mental Health Support Ph: 1800 682 288    

WA Mental Health Emergency Response Line Ph: (08) 9224 888 1300 555 788 (Metro)  1800 676 822 (Rural)   

SA Mental Health Services Ph: 13 14 65   

TAS  Mental Health Helpline Ph: 1800 332 388 

You can find The Mindful Life Podcast on Facebook and Instagram under the handle Mindful Life Podcast. To collaborate or make contact, please email [email protected]

In Episode 32 of the Mindful Life Podcast I explore the idea of “Doing Vs Being”. In todays world many of us spend so much time doing and so little time just being. Constant doing is fast paced, its future oriented and it can increase stress levels. Joy is found in being. Being involves presence and slowing down, enjoying the moment. Being is more about quality time and less about clock watching. Being and presence encourages living in the now, decreasing stress and promoting happiness.

 The Power of Now-Eckhart Tolle 

Stillness Speaks-Eckhart Tolle 

One With All Life-Eckhart Tolle 

A New Earth-Eckhart Tolle 

If for any reason, you have found the content of todays podcast triggering or distressing in any way please consider accessing some professional support (Aust only);       

Telephone Counselling support     

 *Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636      

 *Lifeline 131114     

 You can find The Mindful Life Podcast on Facebook and Instagram under the handle Mindful Life Podcast. To collaborate or make contact, please email [email protected]

In Episode number 31 of the Mindful life Podcast I talk with 20 year old Maya Dove. Maya is the picture of strength, determination and resilience. At 6wks of age Maya was found to have cysts on her Spine which resulted in a Spinal Chord Injury. Maya is a T3 Paraplegic, which means she has no control or sensation from her stomach down and everything up to her chest is numb.  In Australia there are 12,000 people living with a spinal cord injury and each year there are approximately 400 new cases.  Maya has spent the vast majority of her life in a wheelchair. But this has not stopped her, to date she has lived a full and determined life. Her humour, her strength of character and her can do attitude has seen her compete here and throughout the world in wheel chair sports. Maya also recently embarked on a solo 7wk Eurpopean trip, which was mainly for pleasure, but she also snuck in a couple of races in Switzerland in week 1. Maya is a force to be reckoned with. But like all of us, she faces challenges and obstacles on a daily basis but she approaches these with determination and positivity.  Maya is a shining example of living a Mindful Life, her acceptance of what is, positive outlook and attitude and her ability to live her life to its fullest in the NOW are an inspiring lesson for us all. 

For further information on Spinal Chord Injuries, check out Spinal Chord Injuries Australia- https://scia.org.au 

To find out more about Maya Dove, check out her blog. https://mayarose.me  Or find her on Facebook and IG under the handle Maya Dove  

If for any reason, you have found the content of todays podcast triggering or distressing in any way please consider accessing some professional support (Aust only);      

Telephone Counselling support     

 *Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636      

*Lifeline 131114    

You can find The Mindful Life Podcast on Facebook and Instagram under the handle Mindful Life Podcast. To collaborate or make contact, please email [email protected]

In episode number 28 of the Mindful Life Podcast. I talk about my deeply personal journey with Premenstual Dysphoria Disorder or PMDD. PMDD is a psychological disorder characterized by a hormonal imbalance that causes severe bouts of depression, agitation and anxiety. The symptoms of PMDD are similar to those of PMS but are severe enough to interfere with work, social activities, and relationships. Little is known about PMDD out there in the health sector, with some doctors having never heard of it or worse still believing it does not exist. But it is real and unmanaged it can be debilitating and it can impact quality of life severely. PMDD kicked my butt for a number of years, knocking the wind out of my sails each month when it arrived. Its taken a long time but I’ve learnt through trial and error how to manage my symptoms and to live with my PMDD. For me its all bout lifestyle choices and minimizing my exposure to stress. And in more recent times, the Buddhist principles of acceptance, impermanence and self compassion along with my mindfulness practice have been a big part of my management strategy and assisted me no end through my PMDD journey. 

If for any reason, you have found the content of todays podcast triggering or distressing in any way please consider accessing some professional support (Aust only);      

Telephone Counselling support      

*Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636     

 *Lifeline 131114   

PMDD support  https://www.monash.edu/medicine/sphpm/units/womenshealth/_archive/pms-pmdd 

https://www.whria.com.au/for-patients/hormones/pms-pmdd/ 

https://iapmd.org   

You can find The Mindful Life Podcast on Facebook and Instagram under the handle Mindful Life Podcast. To collaborate or make contact, please email [email protected]

In Episode 27 of the Mindful Life Podcast I talk about therapy, what happens in the counselling process, my approach as a therapist and my expectation of the client throughout the counselling journey. Counselling is about self awareness, making the unconscious conscious and helping the client to help themselves. Therapy can be uncomfortable. When we are getting help we are forced to look in the mirror, we have no choice but to address our issues. As a therapist, I will support you without judgment and I will be by your side. But only you can do the work. Only you can make the changes that will help you to become unstuck, move forward and be the best version of yourself. 

If for any reason, you have found the content of todays podcast triggering or distressing in any way please consider accessing some professional support (Aust only);     

Telephone Counselling support    

 *Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636    

 *Lifeline 131114   

You can find The Mindful Life Podcast on Facebook and Instagram under the handle Mindful Life Podcast. To collaborate or make contact, please email [email protected]

In Episode #25 of the Mindful Life Podcast, things are a little different. I am on the other end of the microphone, for this episode. Adam Roach, Podcaster and Music Teacher, interviews me for his Podcast, the Melbourne Northern Suburbs Podcast, where he showcases and chats with local businesses in the Northern Suburbs of Melbourne. It was great to have a chat with Adam, talking all things mental health and discussing exactly what I do and who I see in my day to day work from my Mental Health Practice. What a great service Adam is providing to local businesses, head over to his Podcast and check it out and learn all about some other small businesses that serve the Doreen Community and beyond.

A very big thanks to Adam Roach for so generously sharing this audio recording for use for this episode 

To check out Adam's Podcast head over to 

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/melbourne-northern-suburbs/id1437338756

For more information or to contact Adam direct 

For more information about the podcast and what is coming up check out the Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/AdamRoachhost/

email: [email protected]

If for any reason, you have found the content of todays podcast triggering or distressing in any way please consider accessing some professional support (Aust only);   

Telephone Counselling support  

 *Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 

  *Lifeline 131114 

You can find The Mindful Life Podcast on Facebook and Instagram under the handle Mindful Life Podcast. To collaborate or make contact, please email [email protected]

In Episode #24 of the Mindful Life Podcast, I talk about my recent break up with Facebook. I have made the very scary decision to say goodbye to the social media platform that has over 526 million daily users worldwide. I explore what has prompted my decision to let go of facebook, along with some of my thoughts and insights around why facebook is so popular and why we become so addicted. Humans are all about connection and interaction, so its no surprise that facebook and other social media platforms serve to satisfy this strong need and desire we all have to feel connected and to be part of a community. But in my opinion its so much more than that. Facebook makes us feel good, we love the positive feedback, the approval, and for some of us the ego massage, thanks to all the likes and comments we receive post after post. It’s a great and ongoing boost to our self esteem and our confidence, where in the real world can we have 50 people  like or comment on something we have said or done? Nowhere and this is why its so appealing. But is this feedback real, is it authentic and meaningful? Not only are these connections often not real. Our modern day obsession with social media is taking us away from the real world. We are fixated on this alternate world at the expense of our relationships and our work productivity and we are unfortunately losing sight of our priorities and what is important in the real world. Facebook is the ultimate Mindfulness antitheses, the opposite of Mindfulness, an alternate universe where the real world is all but forgotten.  

If for any reason, you have found the content of todays podcast triggering or distressing in any way please consider accessing some professional support (Aust only);   

Telephone Counselling support  

 *Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 

  *Lifeline 131114 

You can find The Mindful Life Podcast on Facebook and Instagram under the handle Mindful Life Podcast. To collaborate or make contact, please email [email protected]