Midlife Stories: Grief, Recovery and Resilience, with Jase Rowe

Unresolved trauma can be incredibly tough to deal with when it shows up. Mental health issues, including serious depression and debilitating anxiety, can be part and parcel of a life filled with traumatic events. But it's not impossible to move past, and with resilience and determination, the second half of life can be rebuilt and reframed as something hugely positive. This week Paul talks to Jase Rowe about a relentless sequence of events that would profoundly impact his mental health for more than a decade. These included witnessing his father survive a devastating drink-driving accident, through major heart surgery and a cancer diagnosis, to eventually losing both parents and a lifelong best friend, all before he was 50. Jase opens up about emotional numbness, panic attacks, grief, counselling and the physical reality of anxiety, including nocturnal panic attacks that left him convinced he was having heart problems. But the conversation is ultimately about hope and recovery. Jase explains how counselling, creativity and many small changes to his lifestyle that slowly reconnected him with the things that once brought him joy, gradually transformed his wellbeing. He speaks candidly about learning to identify triggers, letting go of negative influences and rebuilding a life that felt manageable again. This is an honest, emotional and ultimately uplifting conversation about surviving grief, facing mental health struggles head on and discovering that small changes can slowly lead to profound transformation. --------------- If you’ve found this episode insightful or interesting, you can support the show at www.ko-fi.com/middlemanpodcast I'd love to hear about your experiences, so if you'd like to get in touch email me at [email protected] and let me know what's on your mind or sign up to the newsletter at www.middlemanpodcast.com Middle Man on Instagram: @middleman__podcast