Hey everyone, Elise here. This episode was a little difficult for me to sit down and record and I don't even think I said everything I wanted to or articulated it in the best way because it was a bit of a raw subject for me at the time of recording. I focus on self-worth and not letting people- friends, family, relationships, define your worth. Don't let them cause self doubt and destruction.

I feel better about the situation that prompted the episode, the feelings aren't as raw, but it still hurts to talk about and it may for a while. And that's OK. I was mad about not getting over feelings and not moving on fast, but it's OK if it takes time. I learned I need to sit with the feelings and acknowledge them. That will lead to healing. The point is, don't let someone put a price tag on your self-worth.

Thank you all for tuning in being a part of the mental illness conversation.

Be sure to subscribe to the Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness podcast as well as follow me on Instagram and join the private Facebook group to continue the conversation!

This is a prerecorded episode.

-Elise

Hey everyone, Elise here. This episode has been a long time in the making and it is finally here! I had the chance to talk with Matt MacLean of "The Recombobulated Life" Podcast on his struggles and journey of living with Bipolar Disorder. I love that we also had a chance to talk about the current stigma on mental illness in society.

Thank you all for tuning in being a part of the mental illness conversation.

Be sure to subscribe to the Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness podcast as well as follow me on Instagram and join the private Facebook group to continue the conversation!

This is a prerecorded episode.

-Elise

Hey  everyone, Elise here. You all know how I like to read inspirational and informative quotes and phrases, well this was one I had to share. In this episode, I talk about how I more or less wished my life away because of my depression, or at least large chunks of it. I was always looking forward to things like events, family visiting, etc. in order to cope; it's what I felt would help me survive. Have you ever felt this way? Now, I am trying to reflect and focus more on the present. Work in progress here, so I am still a long way from my goal!

Thank you all for tuning in being a part of the mental illness conversation.

Be sure  to subscribe to the Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness podcast as well as follow me on Instagram and join the private Facebook group to continue the conversation!

This is a prerecorded episode.

-Elise

Hey  everyone, Elise here. Get ready for part two of the anxiety chat I had with my sister-in-law,  Hannah.  In this episode, which is a little shorter this time, we briefly take about generational trauma, how anxiety is sometimes tied to depression and more! Hannah is currently studying for her Masters in Clinical  Mental Health Counseling and I hope to have more conversations on what she's learned in future episodes!

Thank you all for tuning in being a part of the mental illness conversation.

Be sure  to subscribe to the Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental   Illness  podcast as well as follow me on Instagram and join the private   Facebook  group to continue the conversation!

-Elise

Hey everyone, Elise here!

In this episode of Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness, I talk about my struggles with dating and dealing with depression. Relationships have not been my forte most of my adult life and a big part of that has been due to my depression. My depression was always there to tell me I wasn't good enough or enough of anything. More recently, I've noticed a pattern of my depression getting worse when I liked someone. That's when the "you're not good enough" voice was loudest. This episode was a little hard for me to record, but hopefully you can relate to the struggle.

Thank you all for joining me for this episode and being a part of the mental illness conversation!

Be sure to subscribe to the Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness podcast as well as follow me on Instagram and join the private Facebook group to continue the conversation!

-Elise

Hey everyone, Elise here!

In this episode of Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness, I talk about how cleaning can help you manage symptoms of your mental illness! What? Yep, you heard me! I've noticed that when things get too cluttered, my anxiety and depression start to kick into high gear. I start to relax when things get tidied up! You should give it a try! Tune into the episode for a few more tips and some of my experiences. 

Thank you all for joining me for this episode and being a part of the mental illness conversation!

Be sure to subscribe to the Our Secret Self: Living with a   Mental Illness podcast as well as follow me on Instagram and join the  private Facebook group to continue the conversation!

-Elise

Hey everyone, Elise here!

In case you missed the message last month- moving forward, OSS podcast episodes will be published once a month. Working 40+ hours a week has left me with less time to record and edit episodes more often.  Thanks for your understanding and support!

In this episode of Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness, I had the opportunity to talk with fellow podcaster Joanne VanderVies about Dysthymia, which is also known as persistent depressive disorder or low-grade, chronic depression. This has been my favorite interview so far with the podcast because I heard so much of my mental illness story in her's. This episode truly made me feel less alone simply by hearing so much commonality in our stories; I found someone else who knows exactly how I feel and gets it. I felt understood for the first time in my life and that was a big moment. 

Be sure to check out Joanne's Podcast, The Sun Rises, on your favorite podcast platform! And drop her a message on Instagram @great_aunt_jo!

Thank you all for joining me for this episode and being a part of the mental illness conversation!

Be sure to subscribe to the Our Secret Self: Living with a  Mental Illness podcast as well as follow me on Instagram and join the private Facebook group to continue the conversation!

This is a prerecorded episode.

-Elise

Hey everyone, Elise here!

Quick update- moving forward, OSS podcast episodes will be published once a month. Working 40+ hours a week has left me with less time to record and edit episodes more often.  Thanks for your understanding and support!

In this episode of Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness, I found another quote that spoke to me. I usually won't talk about quotes unless I have this feeling in my heart or feel like it is something I 100% relate to. This month, I want you to give yourself grace. When we live with a mental illness, we are hard on ourselves especially when we've been working on getting better and only have small achievements. I want you to celebrate those small achievements because they are just as important as big ones! You are making progress and you've got this! Take the time to look at where you are now and where you were a week ago, a month ago, a year ago. I guarantee you've come a long way and are not the same person. Celebrate that. Know that it took a long time for your mental illness to root itself; it's going to take just as long to get better. So again, give yourself grace! 

Thank you all for joining me for this episode and being a part of the mental illness conversation!

Be sure to subscribe to the Our Secret Self: Living with a  Mental Illness podcast as well as follow me on Instagram and join the private Facebook group to continue the conversation!

This is a prerecorded episode.

-Elise

Hey everyone, Elise here!

Quick update- moving forward, OSS podcast episodes will be published once a month usually on the second Saturday of the month. Working 40+ hours a week has left me with less time to edit episodes more often. Thanks for your understanding and support!

In this episode of Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness, I got the chance to chat with my friend, fellow podcaster and artist extraordinaire, Lori Laskowsky about her upcoming podcast "The Feel Good Home" podcast, living with ADHD and other family members living with a mental illness. You can find out more about Lori and her podcast through her Instagram page @lorilaskowskyart.

Thank you all for joining me for this episode and being a part of the mental illness conversation!

Be sure to subscribe to the Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness podcast as well as follow me on Instagram and join the private Facebook  group to continue the conversation!

-Elise

Hey everyone, Elise here. This week on Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness, I wanted to share some quotes I found related to mental illness. They are thought provoking and make you wonder if maybe it's a broken heart and not a broken brain that causes depression, and maybe anxiety is an expression of societal imbalances, not just chemical imbalances...

Thank you all for joining me this week and being a part of the mental illness conversation.

Be sure to subscribe to the Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness podcast as well as follow me on Instagram and join the private Facebook group to continue the conversation!

-Elise