Holding On and Moving Forward

We hear so much about healing—about moving on, letting go, and becoming stronger. But what we don’t talk about enough… is what comes after.What happens when you’ve done the work, you’ve walked away, you’ve rebuilt yourself… and you still have moments?In this episode, I’m talking about the reality of being healed—but still being human. The quiet moments where memories resurface, where you feel things you thought you’d moved past, and the confusion that can come with that.Because healing isn’t about forgetting.It’s not about never feeling it again.It’s about learning how to feel… without going back.How to remember… without reopening the door.How to move forward… while still honouring what it meant to you.If you’ve ever questioned your progress because something still hurts sometimes—this episode is for you.You’re not going backwards.You’re human.

There’s a word that gets thrown around casually… but when it lands on someone with a mental illness, it can be devastating: “attention-seeking.”In this episode, I share my own story — struggling with my mental health since I was 13 and hiding it for 16 years — and explore why calling someone attention-seeking can turn an already isolating, lonely experience into something even more painful.We unpack why seeking attention isn’t negative: it’s often a cry for connection, a sign that someone cannot carry their pain alone. And when we label it as a flaw, it stops people from opening up, breaks trust, and can even prevent lives from being saved.This episode is a reminder of why empathy, compassion, and listening matter more than judgment — and why we must never make someone regret reaching out.

So many of us learn to be loved by giving — our time, our energy, our care, our strength — until there’s nothing left for ourselves.In this episode, I talk about what happens when you reach the point of emotional exhaustion and can no longer be everything for everyone. We explore the fear, guilt, and grief that come with stepping back, and the painful clarity that shows you who stayed because they cared — and who stayed because you carried them.This is an episode about burnout, boundaries, conditional relationships, and learning that your worth is not measured by how much you give, but by who you are when you finally choose yourself.

Sometimes we spend so much of our lives performing — for attention, for approval, for validation — that we forget how to be okay without it.In this episode, I explore what it means to let go of the need to be liked, chosen, or praised. We talk about: • The difference between being liked and being truly known • Letting go of the version of yourself built to please others • Finding peace and self-worth without external validation • Learning to sit with silence, stillness, and your own presenceThis episode is for anyone learning that your value isn’t measured by applause — it’s measured by how safely and fully you can stand in your own truth.

This episode is about conditional relationships — the people who loved me when I was easy, and the people who left when I stopped being.I talk about: • The people I met when I had nothing left to give • The people I lost when I had nothing left to give • The ones who came back, then disappeared again • The ones who left when I started taking responsibility • And the ones who loved me through every versionThis episode is also a reminder that relationships of any kind should not come with conditions.And if someone only shows up for certain versions of you,they do not deserve a seat at your table.This is a reflection on how love changes when we change — and what it means to finally choose yourself when others no longer choose you.

When the People You Thought Were Forever, LeaveThere’s a quiet kind of grief that comes when people are still alive, but no longer part of your life.In this episode, I talk about what it feels like to be left behind by people you thought would be in your life forever — how a year later, the smallest moments can still bring them back, and how watching them move on can make you feel deeply alone.I share how my life has changed, how the version of me others loved no longer exists, and how healing can cost you people — even when you’re becoming someone better.This episode is for anyone who has outgrown old lives, lost friendships, or realised that not everyone is meant to walk with you forever.

Healing can be lonely - not because you’re doing it wrong, but because you’re doing it honestly. Healing is often talked about as something that brings clarity, peace, and connection — but there’s a part of it that rarely gets named.Loneliness.In this episode of What About Now? – Holding On and Moving Forward, we explore how healing can quietly distance us from familiar people, places, and patterns. From outgrowing old environments to being honest about what we can and can’t do anymore, this episode looks at the kind of loneliness that isn’t about being unwanted — but about changing.We talk about boundaries, safety, and the grief that can come with choosing yourself, even when no one has done anything wrong. This episode is for anyone who feels like they don’t quite belong where they used to, and who is learning that healing doesn’t always feel comforting — sometimes it just feels quiet.If you’re in that in-between space, you’re not alone.

“Not every struggle has a story. Not every pain has a cause. Sometimes there is no reason - and you’re still allowed to need care” We’re often told that there must be a reason behind our struggles.A reason we feel low.A reason we can’t get out of bed.A reason something inside us feels broken.But what if there isn’t one?In this episode, we talk about the pressure to explain pain — to justify depression, anxiety, exhaustion, and emotional heaviness with a clear cause or past event. We explore what it feels like to struggle without an obvious reason, the shame that can come with that, and why pain doesn’t need an origin story to be real or valid.This is a reminder that not every experience can be traced back to a single moment. Sometimes the brain changes. Sometimes life wears us down. And sometimes things just happen.You don’t need a reason to struggle.You don’t need proof to deserve support.You don’t need to understand everything in order to be gentle with yourself.Sometimes there is no reason — and that’s okay.

“Growth isn’t always joyful. Sometimes it carries grief, loss, and the weight of who we once were.” In this episode, we explore the often unspoken grief that accompanies personal growth. Even as we heal and change, we may find ourselves mourning the versions of ourselves we’ve outgrown, the familiarity of old patterns, and the moments that shaped us. Through gentle guidance and storytelling we unpack:​How to carry the past without living there ​Validate growth even when others may only see the worst in us​Make space for grief without romanticising it​This episode is a safe place to honour your journey, your resilience, and the quiet losses that come with becoming who you are meant to be.

“You can take responsibility for who you were without living there forever”Healing in a world that still sees your old self is an episode for anyone who is doing the work to change - but still feels defined by who they used to be. Maybe in the past you weren’t trustworthy. Maybe you drank or used substances to escape. Maybe you detached, disappeared, or shut people out because you didn’t yet know how to cope. And now, you’re trying to live differently. This episode explores the quiet, often unseen work of healing - and the emotional toll of being treated as though nothing has changed. We talk about shame, accountability, and the grief that comes when people can’t move past your past, even when you have. There is no demand for forgiveness here. No expectation that others must catch up. This is a space to acknowledge responsibility without being trapped by it - and to honour growth that doesn’t always receive recognition. If you’re tired of explaining, proving or being watched for signs of failure, this episode is for you. You are allowed to change. Even if not everyone believes you.

“staying doesn’t always become healing. Sometimes it just becomes quieter.”When Staying Turns into Something Else is a companion episode to I’m Still Here and Some Days That’s Enough. This episode is for anyone who is still surviving - but has start to notice small, unfamiliar shifts. Not relief. Not happiness. Just moments where the noise quiets, the grip loosens, or staying feels a little different than it used to. We talk about the guilt that can come with feeling slightly better, the pressure others place on you when you don’t feel ready for more, and the fear that comes with softness after a long time in survival mode. There is no expectation of progress here. No demand to move forward. No requirement to feel grateful or hopeful. This episode is about allowing survival to evolve at its own pace - and trusting that even the smallest shifts are worth honouring. If staying is all you can do right now, that is enough. And if staying is quietly becoming something else, you don’t have to rush to name it.

Healing isn’t gratitude everyday. Sometimes it’s just staying. We’re often told that healing should feel like gratitude, growth, and moving forward. But for many people, healing doesn’t look like that at all. Sometimes healing is quiet. Sometimes it’s heavy. Sometimes it’s simply staying. This episode is for anyone who doesn’t feel “better”, anyone who feels stuck in the middle, and anyone who is still here without knowing exactly why or how. It’s a gentle, honest conversation about survival without the pressure to dress it up - and why staying, even when it doesn’t feel brave or hopeful, still matters. You don’t need to feel grateful to be healing. You don’t need to have all the answers. Being here is enough.

In this episode, I open up about the moments I’ve tried hardest to forget — the silence, the betrayal, and the heavy truth that I let it happen.It’s a raw reflection on what it means to be blamed, erased, and left behind, while still finding the courage to take back your story.This isn’t about blame. It’s about honesty — the kind that hurts before it heals.If you’ve ever looked back at something that broke you and whispered, “How did I let that happen?”, this episode is for you.

Life can get noisy. Between work, responsibilities, and the constant pull of the world around us, it’s easy to miss the small, quiet moments that truly matter. In this episode, I reflect on the subtle joys, fleeting connections, and overlooked experiences that often slip by when life feels overwhelming. Through personal stories, reflection, and gentle prompts for awareness, we explore how slowing down and noticing the little things can reconnect us to ourselves, others, and the world in ways we often forget.If you’ve ever felt like life is moving too fast to catch the beauty in the everyday, this episode is for you.

In this episode, I open up about something I’ve always struggled with — appearing “okay” on the outside, even when everything inside me is falling apart. It’s easy to convince the world that you’re fine, but behind that mask is a quiet kind of exhaustion that slowly breaks you down.This past week has reminded me how dangerous it can be to keep everything bottled up — to tell people you’re just “unwell” when really, you’re unravelling. I talk about how pretending to be strong can isolate us from the very people who could help us heal, and how the belief that asking for help is weakness couldn’t be further from the truth.If you’ve ever felt like you have to face your battles alone, or like reaching out might be a burden, I hope this episode reminds you that you don’t have to do it all on your own. Because strength isn’t about surviving in silence — it’s about allowing others to stand beside you when the war gets too heavy.💙 Listen now — you never have to go to war alone.

This episode explores one of the most misunderstood parts of healing: why we grieve the very lives, loves, and routines that nearly destroyed us. Leaving a toxic relationship or life doesn’t just bring freedom — it brings emptiness, loneliness, and a strange ache for what once felt familiar.I talk about the quiet grief of walking away, the hollow space healing creates, and the temptation to mistake missing for needing. This isn’t a conversation about weakness — it’s about being human, about learning to hold the ache without running back, and about making peace with the truth that we sometimes miss what hurt us most.If you’ve ever left behind a toxic life and wondered why the grief still lingers, this episode is for you.

We’re told to “just get on with it.” To push through. To smile, cope, and endure without complaint. But what does that actually cost us? In this episode, I explore the heavy toll of always powering through — the exhaustion, the isolation, the anger, and the invisible weight we carry when we bury our pain.It’s raw. It’s honest. And it’s a reminder that real strength isn’t silence — it’s allowing ourselves to feel, to speak, and to be human.Tune in as we uncover the true price of getting on with it and why breaking the cycle is the first step toward real healing.

Sometimes, survival means keeping parts of yourself hidden. In this deeply personal episode, I explore the “art of holding back” — a skill I learned as a teenager and carried into adulthood. From carefully edited truths to protecting others at the expense of my own wellbeing, I share what it’s like to live behind a filter, the cost of internalising pain, and the moments that remind me just how heavy silence can be.This episode dives into real-life experiences, from school and work to life-threatening situations, and reflects on how holding back shapes our relationships, our sense of safety, and our ability to heal. It’s raw, honest, and ultimately about the slow, difficult process of reclaiming your voice.Trigger warning: This episode discusses trauma and emotional suppression.

There’s a growing misconception that ADHD in women has become a trend — a fashionable label, the “in thing” right now. But the truth is very different. For decades, girls and women were overlooked, their symptoms masked, their struggles misunderstood. What looks like a sudden surge in diagnoses isn’t about fashion — it’s about recognition.In this episode, I share my own story of masking, self-blame, and finally finding answers. We’ll explore why women are so often diagnosed later in life, how research and awareness have caught up, and why dismissing these experiences as a trend is not only wrong, but deeply harmful.If you’ve ever wondered why you felt “different” but couldn’t explain it, or if you’ve carried the weight of being called lazy, disorganised, or not enough — this conversation is for you. ADHD in women isn’t a trend. It’s a truth finally being seen.

Recovery isn’t always neat or Instagram-ready. In this episode, I share the messy, unseen side of healing — the setbacks, the quiet victories, and the progress that still counts even when it doesn’t look like recovery.

“Nature vs. nurture” makes it sound like there’s a winner. In my life, both shaped me—and so did a quiet rule I learned young: don’t share, just get on with it. In this episode, I tell the story of how that rule became my armour and my isolation. I carried it into every room—family, friendships, work—until speaking up felt dangerous and staying silent felt like strength. I share the seasons where I thought I’d been chosen, the moment that illusion cracked, and the narrowing that followed: the cold logic that convinced me nobody would care if I disappeared. This isn’t a blame story. It’s a context story—about longing to be wanted without being seen as a problem, and about what it costs to carry everything alone. If any part of this sounds like you, I hope you feel less alone here.Content note: Mentions suicidal thoughts and an attempt (no graphic detail). UK support in notes.Resources (UK): Samaritans 116 123 (24/7) • Text SHOUT to 85258 (24/7) • NHS 111 for urgent mental health help • PAPYRUS HOPELINE247 0800 068 4141 (under 35). In an emergency, call 999.If this episode helped, share it or leave a review to support What About Now?

A reflective, no-checklist conversation about conditional approval and the ache of trying to please people who won’t be pleased. We talk about the whiplash of “I’m proud of you… but,” why hope keeps sending us back, and the relief of stopping the audition for love. Gentle, honest, and human—this one’s about remembering you were never hard to love.

This episode sits with the uncomfortable truth: sometimes our struggles spill over and children end up standing in the puddles. We talk about the moments they shouldn’t have had to know, the times we took our eye off the ball, and why “wise beyond their years” isn’t always a compliment. No to-do list—just an honest, compassionate look at impact over intent, presence over perfection, and the promise to let kids be kids.

In this second episode of the Protecting Your Peace mini-series, we explore a kind of exhaustion that often goes unnoticed — the weight of emotional labour.I share honestly about the invisible work of carrying other people’s feelings, always being “the strong one,” and the way this hidden load slowly builds into burnout.Together, we’ll look at:✨ What emotional labour really looks like — and why it’s so hard to spot✨ How burnout creeps in quietly before you even realise it’s happening✨ Gentle, practical steps to recognise your limits and protect your energy✨ Why you are not failing — you may simply be emotionally exhaustedThis is an episode for anyone who feels drained without knowing why, who dreads small requests, or who silently holds everything together while slowly coming undone.Because protecting your peace isn’t just about boundaries — it’s about learning to put down what was never yours to carry.

In this opening episode of the Protecting Your Peace mini-series, I explore one of the hardest but most necessary parts of healing — learning how to say no without drowning in guilt.We start with an honest check-in about what happens when we fall back into old patterns of people-pleasing and over-giving, and how easy it is to lose ourselves while trying to be “good” for everyone else.Through gentle reflection and lived experience, I unpack why saying no can feel like rejection, how guilt shows up inside the body, and why we so often prioritise other people’s comfort over our own peace.I also share practical, compassionate steps for starting to set boundaries — from asking for time before responding, to reminding yourself that “no” doesn’t mean “I don’t care”.This is a conversation for anyone who feels tired, stretched thin, or quietly resentful — and needs the reminder that protecting your peace is not selfish… it’s essential.

For so many of us, survival isn’t just something we went through — it’s something our bodies learned.Years of stress, trauma, instability or crisis can rewire the nervous system to see danger even when none exists.In this episode, we explore what happens when life finally becomes calm… and it doesn’t feel safe.Why do peaceful moments feel unfamiliar?Why do we keep searching for something to go wrong — even when everything is okay?And how do we begin to unlearn that constant state of high alert?Through honest reflection and gentle prompts, we talk about: • Living in fight-or-flight for years • The discomfort of calm after chaos • How to recognise when your brain is “searching” • Practising safety, rest, and acceptance in real timeIf you’ve ever struggled to relax because things are going well — this episode is for you.

The Weight of Suicide: On Both SidesSuicide is one of the hardest conversations we’ll ever have — but it’s one we can’t keep avoiding.In this deeply personal episode, we explore the reality of suicide from both perspectives: being the one in that place, and being the one left behind. We talk about why it’s so hard to discuss, the messy truth of the aftermath, the myths that cause harm, and the moments that stay with you forever.This is an honest, unfiltered conversation about pain, love, anger, and the complexity of healing — because the only way to break the silence is to speak.

We all have ways of getting through the hardest days — the habits, distractions, or escapes that help us survive. But what happens when the very things keeping you afloat start pulling you under?In this episode, we explore the messy truth about coping mechanisms: how they can protect us in the moment, yet slowly hurt us over time. We talk about why it’s so hard to let go of unhealthy patterns, how to recognise when your “go-to” is causing more harm than good, and what it really takes to build healthier ways of managing life’s pain.This isn’t about shame — it’s about awareness, compassion, and small, brave steps towards change. Because your coping might have kept you alive, but you deserve tools that help you truly live.💬 Trigger warning: This episode discusses trauma, mental health struggles, and self-destructive behaviours. Please listen at your own pace.

Not ill enough.That’s what I was told after trying to end my life.In this deeply personal episode, I share the story behind my new campaign — Don’t Make Me Prove It — and why one chance to ask for help should be enough. From being turned away in crisis to the dangerous message that “next time, do it properly,” I talk openly about the failures in our mental health system that are costing lives every day.This isn’t just my story — it’s the story of countless people who have been told they don’t qualify for urgent help until it’s nearly too late. And it’s time for that to change.I’ll walk you through the uncomfortable truths we need to face, the three urgent demands of this campaign, and how you can be part of the fight for reform.Because our mental health system isn’t a safety net — it’s a coin toss. And too many of us are losing.Content warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide and self-harm. Please listen with care.

In this deeply honest episode, we explore the messy, complicated reality of holding on when life feels heavy. From the quiet exhaustion that comes after crisis to the unexpected confusion of finding safety, this is a conversation about the parts of healing we don’t talk about enough.We talk about the moments when asking for help feels harder than pretending to be okay, the pull of old coping mechanisms, and the strange comfort that chaos can hold — not because it was good, but because it was familiar.If you’ve ever felt lost after leaving survival mode… if you’ve struggled to offer yourself the same compassion you’d give someone else… if you’ve wondered who you are without the battles you’ve fought — this episode is for you.Because even when healing feels slow, even when you can’t be gentle with yourself yet, the fact that you’re still here is enough.

In this deeply personal and powerful episode, I open up about what really happened behind the scenes of my teaching career — the parts most people never saw.This isn’t just a story about burnout or leaving a job. It’s about giving everything to a role you love… and still being made to feel like you didn’t matter the moment you started to struggle.I talk honestly about the years I spent fighting to become a teacher, how hard I worked to stay, and the heartbreaking way it all came to an end. But this episode isn’t just about me — it’s about every person who has been made to feel replaceable, every person who’s been punished instead of supported for being unwell, and every voice that’s stayed silent because they were afraid no one would listen.Because the truth is — this isn’t just my fight. It’s all of ours.🔊 Tune in if you’ve ever felt overlooked, broken by a system you believed in, or are ready to change how we treat mental health in the workplace.

In the final episode of the belonging mini-series, I speak directly to the ones who feel too broken, too complicated, or too much to ever truly belong.We talk about:💬 Why being someone you’re proud of matters more than pleasing others💔 Making peace with your story and your scars🌱 Understanding that healing doesn’t make you “belongable” — you always were🖤 How belonging is often found in the quiet loyalty of the people who stayThis is your reminder that your worth has never depended on being “fixed.” You belong here. You always have.

n this raw and deeply personal episode, I open up about what it’s like to feel left behind — and how I’ve slowly started to rebuild a life where I truly belong.From grieving the life I thought I’d have, to navigating the difference between loneliness and solitude, to discovering the cost (and freedom) of living authentically, this is an honest conversation about the fears, the losses, and the quiet wins along the way.I talk about:💔 Letting go of the familiar life I thought I wanted🌱 Building a smaller, stronger circle based on truth🖤 Facing the fear of being “too different” to fit in✨ Redefining what belonging really meansWith reflection prompts scattered throughout, this episode isn’t just my story — it’s an invitation to think about your own journey of belonging, authenticity, and starting again.

In this powerful and reflective episode, I talk about the painful journey of losing yourself just to belong — and the courage it takes to finally become someone you’re proud of, even if that means standing alone.For so long, I became a version of myself that wasn’t real — someone I barely recognised — just to feel accepted. I acted in ways that didn’t align with who I truly was. And while I may have “fit in,” I was doing so as someone I didn’t even like.This episode is about the quiet strength it takes to rebuild yourself from the inside out — to show up for yourself when no one else does, to become someone you’d choose even if no one else ever does.We explore themes of self-worth, rejection, growing through discomfort, and redefining what it means to be chosen — not by the crowd, but by the right people, and most importantly, by yourself.🖤 It’s okay to lose people when you find yourself.🖤 It’s okay if the old you doesn’t come back.🖤 The goal isn’t to be liked — it’s to be true.

Have you ever felt like you were always there for others — but no one was ever really there for you? Like you’re always an option, never the priority? In this raw and honest episode, we explore the quiet grief of feeling invisible, replaceable, and unchosen. From one-sided friendships to the ache of being forgotten, this conversation unpacks the fear of never being someone’s “person” — and the journey of finally choosing yourself.This is for anyone who’s ever questioned their worth because others didn’t see it — and for those learning to reclaim it anyway.

In this deeply personal episode, I explore what it really means to belong — and what it feels like when you never quite have. From losing myself in order to be accepted, to chasing connection in the wrong places, I reflect on the loneliness, the masks, and the grief that often come with trying to fit in.This is an honest look at the ache so many of us carry — the desire to be seen, chosen, and loved exactly as we are.If you’ve ever felt like you’re always “just there,” like you’ve lost parts of yourself just to be liked, or like you still don’t know where you truly belong — this episode is for you.Because maybe the place you’ve been searching for… is you.🖤 You belong here. Even if it doesn’t feel like it yet.— What About Now?

Healing is often painted as a beautiful, empowering journey — but what happens when it still hurts?In this raw and reflective episode, I explore the side of healing that no one talks about. The contradictions. The confusion. The grief that lingers even as you grow.From feeling proud of your progress while still aching for your old life, to missing the very chaos you had to escape — this episode holds space for the messy middle. The in-between. The place where you’re not who you were, but not quite who you’re becoming.Whether you’re feeling stuck, lost, or just quietly exhausted by your own progress, this is your reminder: you’re not doing it wrong. Healing isn’t linear — and it rarely feels the way we expect it to.You’re not broken.You’re becoming.

What happens when lying becomes second nature?When you lie so often — to others, to yourself — that you forget who you even are?In this raw and deeply personal episode, I open up about the quiet, complicated process of learning to be honest again. After addiction, after shame, after trust has been broken — how do you rebuild? How do you stop hiding? How do you face yourself and start telling the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable?I share what it was like to live behind a mask, how it affected my family, my ex-partner, and how small moments — like being trusted again with something as simple as a bank card — became massive milestones in recovery.If you’ve ever struggled with honesty, self-trust, or carrying the guilt of your past, this episode is for you. You’re not a bad person — but you do have to start being honest with yourself. This is where healing begins.🖤 Read the blog post:Learning to Be Honest Again

In this episode, I’m opening up about what healing really looks like — not the filtered, polished version we often see online, but the messy, painful, beautiful truth. If you’ve ever felt like you’re getting it wrong, falling behind, or not “healing fast enough,” this one’s for you.I share my personal journey through trauma, relapse, and the quiet moments of progress that no one sees — getting out of bed, walking my son to school, choosing to stay. Because healing isn’t a straight line. It doesn’t come with a rulebook. And it definitely doesn’t mean you’re “fixed.”We talk about: • What healing feels like in the early days • Why it often gets harder before it gets easier • The myth of timelines and “closure” • The little victories that matter most • And the truth: you’re not behind — you’re healing.This is a conversation for anyone who’s still fighting, still feeling, and still showing up. You’re not alone.Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions of trauma, self-harm, hospitalisation, and suicidal ideation. Please take care while listening.

I’m telling the truth I’ve carried in silence for far too long. This is not a story about revenge — it’s about reclaiming my voice after betrayal, heartbreak, and the quiet devastation of being the last to know.For a long time, I protected people who didn’t protect me. I let others share their version of what happened while I stayed silent to keep the peace. But that silence nearly destroyed me.This episode is raw, reflective, and real. I talk about the relationship that changed everything, the people who knew more than they ever told me, and the grief of walking away from a whole life I thought was mine.I’ve never had the full truth. But what I do have is my voice — and I’m using it.If you’ve ever felt left behind, misunderstood, or like your story didn’t matter, this episode is for you.Because this time, I’m not speaking for revenge.I’m speaking for me.

Letting go. It sounds simple — but for many of us, it’s one of the hardest things we’ll ever do.In this deeply personal episode, I open up about what it really feels like to walk away — from relationships, patterns, people, or versions of ourselves that no longer serve us.Why do we hold on when we know we’re hurting?Why does the pain of the familiar feel safer than the uncertainty of freedom?Why do we blame ourselves for being betrayed — or for trusting in the first place?This episode explores the emotional weight of letting go, the fear of change, the cycle of self-blame, and the powerful truth that walking away isn’t weakness — it’s self-love.💬 Whether you’re in the middle of a heartbreak, struggling to set boundaries, or just quietly learning to put yourself first — this episode is for you.📌 Highlights:• Why we stay when we know we should go• The grief of leaving behind people or futures we hoped for• Trusting the wrong people — and blaming ourselves• Reframing letting go as an act of love, not loss• A reminder: you’re allowed to choose you🎧 Tune in, take what you need, and remember —Letting go isn’t failure. It’s the beginning of freedom.

In this raw and honest solo episode, I open up about what it’s like to feel worn down by life — even when you’re doing your best to stay strong.“When Life Won’t Give You a Break” is a reflection on those days, weeks, or even years when it feels like everything comes with a fight. From internal battles with your own mind to external struggles against broken systems, I talk about what it means to keep going even when you’re running on empty.This episode explores why the phrase “everything happens for a reason” can feel hollow, why resilience isn’t always about building strength — and how just showing up, especially for others, is a form of courage that often goes unrecognised.Whether you’re in the middle of your own battle or holding space for someone else, this episode is for you.🔊 Listen in for:• Honest talk about burnout, trauma, and mental health• Reflections on systems that fail those who need them most• A reminder that being “still here” is a quiet kind of power• A few words about Archie, of course💬 “You’re not lacking resilience — you’re living it.”

In this deeply personal episode of What About Now? – Holding on and moving forward, we explore the emotional toll of performing for others—wearing a mask to protect those around us while silently struggling inside.Drawing from a recent blog post, I reflect on what it means to “put on an act” in everyday life—why we do it, who we’re really protecting, and what it costs us. This episode is a raw, honest look at how pretending to be okay can become a survival strategy, and how vulnerability might be the bravest thing we can offer ourselves and others.Whether you’ve played the part yourself or loved someone who has, this is a space to feel seen, heard, and held.

In this episode, we explore the invisible nature of mental illness — how easy it is for others (and sometimes even ourselves) to forget that it’s there simply because we can’t see it. Drawing a poignant comparison between mental and physical health, we question why it’s so much harder to call in sick for a day of depression than it is for the flu.This episode is a reminder that asking for help is not a weakness — it’s one of the bravest things you can do. If people forget that you’re struggling, it’s okay to remind them. It’s okay to take space. And it’s more than okay to prioritise your healing.

In this raw and personal episode, I reflect on the devastating consequences of inadequate aftercare — both in my own life and in the lives of others. From a formal complaint that left me feeling unheard, to the heartbreak of a misdiagnosis that shaped my youth, I explore the complex emotions of sadness, relief, and long-overdue clarity. This is a message for anyone who has ever felt abandoned after discharge — and a call to share, relate, and push for change. You are not alone.

In this deeply honest episode, I share what it’s really like to still be struggling while trying to support others.I talk about the anger I carry, the mask I wear, and the shame of not being “better” yet — even though I write and speak about healing all the time.This isn’t a story about how I made it through.This is a story about staying.About showing up anyway.About still learning — even on the hardest days.If you’ve ever felt like a fraud for not having it all figured out, or if you’re carrying more than you can say out loud, this is for you.

In this raw and deeply personal episode, I speak honestly about the fear that came with reaching out for help — and how, instead of feeling supported, I felt judged, watched, and silenced.This isn’t just about mental illness. It’s about being a parent who needed understanding, not scrutiny. It’s about the moments I felt I let my child down — not because I didn’t care, but because the systems in place made me feel like the enemy.If you’ve ever felt scared to ask for help, or like you were slipping through the cracks while trying to hold everything together — this episode is for you.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Amazon/Audible, and Apple Podcasts📲 Follow @whataboutnowthepodcast for more honest conversations💛 Please subscribe and share if this resonates — you’re not alone.#WhatAboutNow #MentalHealthPodcast #ParentingAndMentalHealth #SystemicFailure #LivedExperience #NewEpisode

In this episode, we explore the unexpected friendships, human complexity, and hard truths discovered inside a psychiatric hospital. From the bonds formed in the most unlikely places to raw stories of addiction, relapse, and recovery, this is a reflection on what it means to truly see someone. We talk about broken systems, unseen strength, and the deep need for community beyond discharge.🧠💬This is for anyone who’s ever felt judged, misunderstood, or left behind — and for everyone who believes we can do better.Share your story. Hold space for someone else’s. Let’s challenge stigma, together.— What About Now?

🎙️ New Podcast Episode – “We’re Not All Mad” is now live!This week’s episode dives into the powerful stigma around mental illness — the misconceptions, the labels, and the damage they cause. I share what it’s really like to be treated like you’re “crazy” simply for struggling, and why we need to rewrite that narrative.This one’s honest, reflective, and unapologetically real.🔗 Plus, catch up on our blog and latest updates:https://learningtotalk4.wordpress.com/📲 Follow & share:@whataboutnow25@whataboutnowthepodcastLet’s keep smashing the stigma — because we’re not all mad.#WhatAboutNow #MentalHealthPodcast #EndTheStigma #LivedExperience #WeAreNotAllMad #MentalHealthAwareness #PodcastDrop

“What About Now? – Holding on and moving forward” is officially here.This first episode is raw, honest, and deeply personal — sharing my own experience of being admitted to a psychiatric ward, what happened after, and why I’ve launched this project to support others through the same.💬 It’s not always an easy listen — but it’s real. It’s for anyone who’s ever asked, what happens next?🌱 Listen now, follow along, and join us as we explore stories of healing, hope, and holding on — one step at a time.🎗️ Donate or share: https://gofund.me/a9a5c63a📝 Read the original blog post: www.learningtotalk4.wordpress.com📱 Follow us on social media: Facebook - What About Now? Instagram - whataboutnow25? Or whataboutnowtgepodcast 💌 Contact or share your story: [email protected]