Unmasked Minds

What happens when everyone thinks you’re confident… but underneath, you’re questioning yourself just as much as everyone else?

In this episode of Unmasked Minds, I sit down with Chloe Middleton for a very real, very unfiltered conversation about confidence, self-doubt and the fear of putting yourself out there.

Chloe has built a strong presence on social media and comes across as confident, funny and completely herself. But as she considers stepping outside her comfort zone and starting her own podcast, we unpack what’s happening underneath: fear of judgment, imposter syndrome, perfectionism and that uncomfortable feeling of being a beginner at something.

We talk about the pressure to be immediately good at the things we try, why being visible can feel so vulnerable, and the strange disconnect between how other people see us and how we sometimes see ourselves.

This episode actually grew out of the conversation we were having before we started recording. It felt so real and so relatable that I thought, we need to capture this.

Because confidence doesn’t always mean feeling fearless. Sometimes it’s being scared, doubting yourself, wondering what people will think… and choosing to give it a go anyway.

A very honest conversation about being seen, starting before you feel ready, and discovering that the people who look confident from the outside might be figuring it out as they go too.

In this episode, Sarah discusses EMDR therapy and its intensives, explaining the types of EMDR therapy, the benefits of EMDR intensives, client and therapist capacity, and the structure of EMDR intensives. She also addresses the affordability of intensives and the importance of the therapist's capacity and the choice of location for the therapy.

Takeaways

• EMDR therapy is an evidence-based treatment for trauma.
• EMDR intensives offer a deeper and more holistic healing experience for clients.

Chapters

• 00:00 Understanding EMDR Therapy
• 02:51 Types of EMDR Therapy
• 08:07 Benefits of EMDR Intensives
• 14:11 Client Capacity and Affordability
• 19:54 Therapist Capacity and Location
• 29:07 Structure of EMDR Intensives

Sarah Wills provides a comprehensive life update, discussing the sale of Glen Eden Estate, the move to a new property, family adjustments, health challenges, and shifts in her psychology practice. She also shares insights into her work with EMDR therapy and the creation of a healing program for Aboriginal women.

Takeaways

• Life transitions and decisions are driven by a desire for alignment with values and family well-being.
• Intensives and retreat-style therapy offer a fulfilling and sustainable approach to mental health support.

Chapters

• 00:00 Life After Glen Eden
• 07:51 Family Adjustments and Health Challenges
• 14:08 Shifts in Psychology Practice

The podcast episode explores the topic of burnout, its symptoms, and its impact on individuals, particularly women. It delves into the concept of burnout as a clinical diagnosis, its presentation in different work environments, and the role of personality traits in contributing to burnout. The conversation also highlights the impact of societal expectations and the importance of self-care in preventing burnout. The conversation delves into the importance of self-care and the impact of burnout on individuals. It explores the barriers to self-care, the need for evidence-based support, and the cultural context of burnout. The conversation also highlights the complexity of burnout and the significance of preventative health measures.

Takeaways

• Burnout is a complex phenomenon that can manifest in various work environments and is influenced by personality traits and societal expectations.
• The concept of burnout as a clinical diagnosis is explored, shedding light on its presentation, symptoms, and the need for self-care and awareness.
• The conversation emphasizes the importance of recognizing burnout, understanding its contributing factors, and prioritizing self-care to prevent and address burnout. Self-care is non-negotiable for preventing burnout
• Evidence-based support and preventative health measures are crucial for addressing burnout

The conversation delves into the complexities of ADHD diagnosis, the differences in ADHD presentation in women and adults, and the diagnostic processes followed by psychologists and psychiatrists. It also explores the impact of societal factors on ADHD diagnosis and the importance of family history in understanding vulnerabilities. The conversation covers the use of stimulant medications as the first line treatment for ADHD, the effects of stimulants on the ADHD brain, and the role of GPs in diagnosing and prescribing ADHD medication. Non-medication strategies for supporting ADHD are also discussed, emphasizing the importance of education, good sleep patterns, regular exercise, and nutrition.

Takeaways

• ADHD diagnosis is a complex process
• ADHD presents differently in women and adults compared to children Stimulant medications are the first line treatment for ADHD, with short-acting and long-acting options available.
• Non-medication strategies for supporting ADHD include education, good sleep patterns, regular exercise, and nutrition.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to ADHD and Diagnostic Process
• 25:12 Understanding Stimulant Medications for ADHD
• 32:12 Explaining the Effects of Stimulants on the ADHD Brain
• 40:01 Role of GPs in Diagnosing and Prescribing ADHD Medication

The episode features a conversation between Sarah Wills, a psychologist, and her guest, her sister Dr. Kate, a psychiatrist.

They discuss late career transitions, family dynamics, societal norms, and the value of lived experience in their respective fields. The conversation highlights the challenges and rewards of pursuing passion and purpose later in life. The conversation covers topics such as simplifying medical jargon, understanding mental health professions, navigating the health landscape, the difference between psychologists and psychiatrists, the role of general practitioners, psychological strategies vs. medication, referral to psychiatrists, treatment resistance and psychotherapy, access to psychiatrists, cost and Medicare rebates, collaboration between psychiatrists and psychologists, multidisciplinary team in mental health, and challenges in the mental health system. The speakers also discuss the expectations from the podcast.

Takeaways

• Late career transitions bring unique perspectives and lived experiences to professional roles.
• Challenging societal norms and overcoming shame are essential in pursuing career changes. Simplifying medical jargon for patient understanding
• Understanding the roles of psychologists and psychiatrists

Chapters

• 00:00 Introducing the Host and Guest
• 07:09 Influence of Family and Career Choices
• 12:32 Passion for Film and Career Transition
• 17:34 Navigating the Health Landscape
• 23:21 Access to Psychiatrists
• 29:29 Expectations from the Podcast

The podcast episode covers a range of topics related to parenting, relationships, and family dynamics. It explores the challenges of navigating different parenting styles, addressing barriers to parenting alignment, educating partners on parenting, discussing critical conversations on parenting beliefs, understanding neurodiversity in families, managing the mental family load, and addressing infertility struggles in marriage.

Takeaways

• Navigating different parenting styles can be challenging and may require critical conversations and education for alignment.
• Addressing the mental family load and infertility struggles in marriage may require open communication, support, and seeking professional help.

The podcast episode delves into the impact of stress and hormones on sex drive in relationships. It begins with an introduction and a recap of previous episodes, followed by a discussion on sex in relationships and low sex drive. The episode then explores the impact of hormones on sex drive and concludes with a focus on stress and its impact on sex drive.

Takeaways

• Impact of stress on sex drive
• Role of hormones in sex drive

The podcast episode delves into the dynamics of relationships, focusing on the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse as patterns of behavior during conflict. It explores the impact of these patterns and provides antidotes to address them, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and addressing these behaviors in healthy relationships.

Takeaways

• Recognizing the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in relationships
• Understanding and implementing antidotes to address negative relationship patterns

Chapters

• 00:00 Navigating Relationship Challenges
• 08:00 The Second Horseman: Contempt
• 19:54 The Third Horseman: Defensiveness
• 30:06 Antidotes to the Four Horsemen

In this episode, Sarah Wills discusses the challenges faced by middle-aged women and the importance of normalizing these experiences.

She also delves into the topic of couples work, communication, and reconnecting in relationships. The episode explores the concept of the Sound Relationship House, love mapping, bids for connection, and turning toward rather than away in relationships.