Oxfordshire Recovery College Podcast

In this episode, Jilly, Jo and Stephanie chat about why Christmas can be stressful, especially as it's often linked to painful memories and emotions. We share tips on how we can leave behind ideas of a perfect Christmas and make it our own kind of celebration - a celebration which works for us in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. Prepare to laugh and cry whilst listening!

In this Podcast we talk about the skills and resilience we learn when struggling with anxiety - and how we can channel our anxious energy to make it our super power. Anxious people have to learn to face down their fears everyday - and this takes courage and determination. We hope this Podcast gives you food for thought about the positive traits of the anxious personality.

This month's podcast looks at life slowly returning to normal with the opening of shops and outdoor eating following another lockdown, and the anxieties that can come with this. We discuss how we will be approaching all the changes and how we can be kind to ourselves during this time, as what one person might be comfortable doing someone else may not. In this podcast we acknowledge how everyone is different and will react to these changes differently.

Easter Eggs and Mental Health is a podcast about celebrations and how we use special events across the year to mark the passage of time and feel more positive about the everyday. Stephanie chats with ORC tutors Vera and Sreeja about how they have got through the dull days of Lockdown and what gives their lives meaning.

In this episode Stephanie talks to Roy Peach about walking and writing. Roy is going to walk 1083 miles by May to raise money for Restore - and he's doing it one step at a time in local walks around Oxford. Roy's also a writer and  developed ORC's creative writing course, so we get talking about all kinds of creative journeys, how to deal with setbacks and freeing your imagination.

In this episode we look at how we can cope with January. For some this can be a really difficult time of year; January is always a long, cold month and with another lockdown now in place this just adds to the difficulty. Together we look at ways in which we can look after ourselves through January, discuss the things that help us and share some useful tips to help others along the way.

S03 Ep2 Holding onto Hope is a Podcast investigating what hope is and how we can build a greater sense of hope in difficult times. Head of ORC Stephanie talks to Recovery College tutors Tam, Peter and Jo, and consultant clinical psychologist  Khadija about what hope means to them. Together we come up with lots of different ways to feel more hopeful about the future, including thinking creatively around challenges and looking for hope in the present moment.

Coping with Christmas is a Podcast for anyone who might struggle with any aspect of Christmas. Head of ORC Stephanie talks to Recovery College tutor Bill,  Restore's CEO Lesley Dewhurst and Oxfordshire MIND's Katie about how they cope with Christmas. The Podcast ends with a summary of different things to try to look after your mental health and wellbeing throughout the festive season.

Our latest Podcast, and the last in the series, is on the subject of Spirituality and Mental Health, looking at Spirituality in the round from both a religious and non-religious perspective. Our guests on the podcast approach the subject from a personal viewpoint, on how spirituality has had an impact on their lives in general, and on their mental health in particular.

This Podcast starts by pondering on the psychology of lateness, but turns into a Podcast about making the most out of everyday life, and introduces listeners to the joys of bullet journaling.