Your Amazing Mind

Have you felt the foreboding an persistent cloud that makes life more difficult?

In our final episode of the season, we heard Ellie's story about her difficult and emotive experience of how she experiences depression, before Dr Dom Thompson joined Michael and Ellie to speak about her work in the field of mental health and depression, and even talk about mental health in nature for Mental Health Awareness Week.

Depression is a persistent feeling of sadness that can last for weeks, months and more. It is often misunderstood by those not experiencing it. There are many forms and symptoms of depression, including low mood, low self-esteem, guilt, irritability, phases of mania, the inability to make decisions, absence of motivation, anxiety and more. Some people lose the experience of pleasure altogether. There are ways to treat depression, and one of the first steps is to see a doctor. Medication, getting temporary support do deal with life changing events, and talking therapies are ways some people are able to move through depression.

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Resources

Information on depression from the NHS here; and from Mind here

If you're a student at the University of Bristol you can request support here

For 24 hour support from the Samaritans: call 116 123 for free, or visit Samaritans.org

Dr Dom Thompson: Twitter @drdomthompson / webpage here

Host Michael Pearson: Twitter @YAM_Pod / Insta yam_pod / LinkedIn

An 18Sixty Production for the University of Bristol

Producer: Rowan Bishop

Ever felt the loss of a bond and a relationship, and the painful steps it takes to recover and live life without someone?

In this episode hear Lin’s story about her personal and emotional account of how she experienced bereavement, before Stephanie Owens from charity Dying Matters/Hospice UK joined Michael and Lin to speak about her experiences of bereavement.

Bereavement and grief happens to the majority of us. We all experience it differently, although there can be some more common symptoms, such as anger, denial, sadness, shock, exhaustion and guilt. The way we process these symptoms can be different again. Some people can bury feelings until they are able to process them later in life, other people may self-medicate, seek numbing activities, or will need professional help. Bereavement and grief can have a huge and long lasting impact on us, particularly at key points in our life. Seeking help, talking about and processing grief, and working towards acceptance, can be important way that many of us to begin living and functioning with loss.

Resources

For support with bereavement check out Bereavement UK, Cruse, Hospice UK

If you're a student at the University of Bristol you can request support here

For 24 hour support from the Samaritans: call 116 123 for free, or visit Samaritans.org

Stephanie Owens Dying Matters/Hospice UK @DyingMatters

Host Michael Pearson: Twitter @YAM_Pod / Insta yam_pod / LinkedIn

An 18Sixty Production for the University of Bristol

Producer: Rowan Bishop

Have you been treated differently because of colour, because of clothing, because of assumptions about culture and faith?

In this episode hear Khadija's sincere and sometimes challenging experience of how she has lived through marginalisation and how she is embraces faith and culture to heal and empower her, before Councillor Asher Craig (Deputy Mayor of Bristol) is joined by host Michael, and Khadija, to talk about marginalisation and mental health.

Marginalised individuals, groups and communities, who are made to feel less important than the rest of society, experience greater rates of mental health issues. Minority ethnic groups, and in particular black people from African and Caribbean heritage, are more likely to experience serious and enduring mental health issues in the UK. Systemic racism has a huge impact on mental health. Health systems that are designed around Western/White cultures aren't always able to meet the needs of many marginalised communities. Identity, culture, faith and community can be integral in an individuals recovery, opposed to individualism and self-directed care.

Resources

For Black, Asian and Minority Ethic led support, check out charity Nilaari

UoB's support of Black Lives Matter and more information here

Resources and events from Black Lives Matter here

If you're a student at the University of Bristol you can request support here

For 24 hour support from the Samaritans: call 116 123 for free, or visit Samaritans.org

Cllr Asher Craig - @CllrAsherCraig

Host Michael Pearson: Twitter @YAM_Pod / Insta yam_pod

An 18Sixty Production for the University of Bristol

Producer: Rowan Bishop

Did you grow up feeling different maybe bullied, rejected, having to search for role models and representation?

In this episode hear Ruth’s open and reflective experience of how she explored sexuality, gender and identity, and the impact that feelings of difference can have on mental health, before Dr Myles-Jay Linton (Young People's Mental Health expert) is joined by host Michael, and Ruth to, share and compare experiences from their unique perspectives.

The LGBTQ+ community is more likely to develop mental health issues including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, low self-esteem and more. Being LGBTQ+ does not cause these issues. Things like stigma and discrimination, isolation, having to navigate coming out, challenging home environments and much more can cause and worsen mental health issues. Intersections of LGBTQ+ can create further issues when individuals experience further discrimination, marginalisation and oppression. Learning to have a healthy relationship with our sexuality and identify, to manage and reduce feelings of shame, to feel empowered and proud, and to find a rich community to belong, to are some ways we can improve our wellbeing and mental health.

Resources

For information on mental health and the LGBTQ+ Community, checkout Stonewall

Find LGBTQ+ specific mental health services through Mind

If you're a student at the University of Bristol you can request support here

For 24 hour support from the Samaritans: call 116 123 for free, or visit Samaritans.org

Dr Myles-Jay Linton - @Myles_Wellbeing

Host Michael Pearson: Twitter @YAM_Pod / Insta yam_pod

An 18Sixty Production for the University of Bristol

Producer: Rowan Bishop

Ever struggled to look in the mirror because you’re unhappy with what you look like?

In this episode hear Pip’s eloquent and honest account of how she has lived through some really challenging times with body image issues, and how she has learnt to manage them, before hearing from Dr Phillippa Diedrichs, world-renowned psychologist and specialist in body image.

Body image is essentially how you see yourself when you look in the mirror or at an image, or when you visualise yourself in your mind. This includes how we physically imagine ourselves, how we feel about our body, and how we think about its functioning. Societies, cultures, religion and lots of other external influences can change how we think about our body. Body image is also heavily gendered; many more women, and those that identify as women, and girls have body image issues, but this does not exclude others from having body image issues. Having a healthy body image might mean we are comfortable with how we look and function.

Resources

National Eating Disorders: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

If you're a student at the University of Bristol you can request support here

For 24 hour support from the Samaritans: call 116 123 for free, or visit Samaritans.org

Dr Phillippa Diedrichs: https://people.uwe.ac.uk/Person/PhillippaDiedrichs

Host Michael Pearson: Twitter @YAM_Pod / Insta yam_pod

An 18Sixty Production for the University of Bristol

Producer: Rowan Bishop

Ever felt that pounding pulse, the tightness in your chest, the dread and fear that everything is about to fall apart?

In this episode hear Brian’s heartfelt story about how he has struggled with, recovered from, and still lives with, anxiety before Miz Cracker, star of RuPaul's Drag Race joined Michael and Brian for a chat and shares her experiences too.

Anxiety is a natural reaction to adverse situations. Anxiety can be different for everyone. Some people experience it alone, others when around people, or when imagining things that might go wrong; generally people experience an elevated heart rate, sweating, feelings of concern/worry/fear, and the sense that something is going to go wrong. This can be mild to very intense, and for some people can induce a panic attack. As scary as panic attacks can feel, they are generally physically harmless and will end after a short amount of time. Anxiety can be really helpful in highlighting your unmet needs, such as wanting to feel safe and secure. Eventually we can work with our anxiety to better understand ourselves.

Resources

Mind have more information on anxiety

If you're a student at the University of Bristol you can request support here

For 24 hour support from the Samaritans: call 116 123 for free, or visit Samaritans.org

Miz Cracker: Twitter @miz_cracker / Insta @miz_cracker

Host Michael Pearson: Twitter @YAM_Pod / Insta yam_pod

An 18Sixty Production for the University of Bristol

Producer: Rowan Bishop

Are you a student experiencing feelings of anxiety, body image, LGBTQ+ issues, marginalisation impact, bereavement or depression? Your Amazing Mind is here to help you realise you’re not the only one.