Recovering from mental illness, with Jo Love

In this episode, I talk to Jo Love, an award winning Mental Health Advocate and campaigner. She shares her experience of mental illness including depression, anxiety and burnout alongside evidence-based strategies that helped her recover and go into a career of helping others feel less alone in their suffering.    4:12 Jo's painful story of mental illness 7:12 Suicidal thoughts and postnatal depression 9:09 Realisation and diagnosis 10:12 Going to the GP 12:41 Ongoing recovery - flourishing vs languishing 14:12 Warning signs before pregnancy - type A personality 20:52 Jo’s purpose - post-traumatic growth 24:52 Medication as a sticking plaster or a catalyst 26:00 Jo’s experience with CBT and talking therapy 27:51 The slow sunrise of recovery 29:10 Feeling like herself again 31:12 Figuring out which therapies work best for individuals 33:26 Thoughts that came from depression 35:17 Law and people pleasers 37:12 Re-examining childhood values 41:47 Average equating to failure 44:24 Perfectionism in motherhood - a ‘good enough’ mother 47:07 Holding standards loosely  48:06 Teaching vulnerability to our children   Find Jo at https://www.jolove.co.uk/ And on Instagram @jo__love__ and @therapyismagic   If you have been affected by any of the subjected covered in this podcast, please refer to the links below -  Mind provides advice and support on a range of mental health subjects, and details of local help and support in England and Wales. 0300 123 3393 (weekdays 9am - 6pm) Visit the Mind website The Samaritans are available 24/7 on 116 123 Visit the Samaritans website You can find my free download at www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/calm  This episode was edited by Emily Crosby Media