Big Feels At Work: a podcast for mental health workers

Today’s ep: part two of my conversation with the awesome Erandathie Jayakody. When Erandathie first took a job at one of Australia’s biggest mental health not-for-profits, she never would have guessed that a decade later she’d be on the board of directors. Back then, she was just trying to survive the working week. Check out part one for that story. Here in part two, we cover more of the nuts and...

“[Hardest thing about working in mental health?] Feeling different from my colleagues. Feeling like I'm too high strung, anxious, or worried about things they aren't worried about.” – Big Feels At Work survey response In this new ep, I share a few thoughts on feeling like you don’t belong at work. Topics covered: Feeling like you don't belong at work Wondering if you’re any good at this (even when...

Self-professed 'recovering high-achiever' Katie Cowan on how to navigate big work systems as a sensitive soul. Imagine you’re a high-achiever, kicking goals in a stressful career, but something just isn’t right. You do your best to change the system you’re working in, for others and for yourself, but it doesn’t seem to change anything. Then one day you realise: I can’t do this anymore. So what now...

You’re an early career clinician, just learning the ropes. You loved your study, the rich philosophy of the work, but when the work begins, you struggle in ways you didn’t expect to. The work affects you emotionally. But here's the thing. Your colleagues don’t seem to be having the same reactions (at least as far as you can tell). Feedback from clients and colleagues tells you you’re good at your...

"I just remember thinking, who was I to work alongside and support folk and have the answers when I had no clue what I was doing with my own messy, messy stuff?" -- Ant, Social Worker Picture this: You're in your first week studying to be a social worker, carrying years of your own messy mental health stuff, but keeping it well under wraps. And you’re suddenly convinced of one simple truth. You do...

Finally, we catch up with erstwhile Big Feels At Work host Gareth Edwards, who's been travelling the world - but as you'll hear, it hasn't all been smooth sailing... Topics covered: -- Where IS Gareth anyway? -- Leadership in mental health (as distinct from management) -- Looking after ourselves (and one another) -- Taking the long (I mean really long) view of our work Host: Graham Panther. Guest:...

Erandathie Jayakody's story begins with two mental health breakdowns that derailed her law career, leaving her wondering: am I just not cut out for this whole ‘high-powered career’ thing? A chance encounter led to her first job in mental health, as a junior lived experience worker. Back then she was just trying to make it through each working week. But fast forward over a decade, and Erandathie ha...

In this episode, we talk with Australian Mental Health Prize Winner Honor Eastly about an 'aha' moment in her own recovery. The point at which she realised: all this therapy I'm doing, some of it's helping, but some of it's making me feel even more stuck! We cover: -- How the things you look for from a clinician can change over time -- How being the one always asking for help can knock your confid...

Episode 25 of "Big Feels At Work" -- an audio resource for mental health and addictions professionals dealing with their own big feelings. Topics we cover this ep: -- Starting a new job when you're having a total breakdown -- What it's like to work somewhere where everyone from the CEO on down is crazy too -- The challenge of doing frontline support work day in, day out, even when you love it -- W...

Episode 24 of "Big Feels At Work" -- a podcast for mental health and addictions workers dealing with their own big feelings. Topics we cover this ep: -- Can you really ‘compartmentalise’ your work and home life (and what do we lose when we do this)? -- Why do we think being “professional” means “not being emotionally affected by the work”? -- The difference between work-life balance and “life-work...

Episode 23 of "Big Feels At Work" -- a podcast for mental health and addictions workers dealing with their own big feelings. On this ep, more listener questions, like: — How to handle the fear of being judged by colleagues for having lived experience — The weirdness of sharing “your story” when your story is very much still in progress — The “vulnerability hangover” after sharing at work Host: Gra...

Episode 22 of "Big Feels At Work" -- a podcast for mental health and addictions workers dealing with their own big feelings. The one and only Gareth Edwards returns as we answer some listener questions about how to tell your colleagues you're struggling (without losing your job). Links of things mentioned: -- Alt2Su, that grassroots peer model of support -- https://alt2su-nsw.net -- The ongoing Bi...

Episode 21 of "Big Feels At Work" -- a podcast for mental health and addictions workers dealing with their own big feelings. My guest Mary O'Hagan is Victoria’s first ever Executive Director of Lived Experience at the Department of Health. She leads a brand new team at the Department all with lived experience. (Wait, they’re letting us in the public service!? Eek!) For Mary this big new role is re...

“Pain, like love, is simply something to surrender to. It’s a holy space we can enter with people only if we promise not to tidy up.” -- Glennon Doyle What do you do when someone's in pain, and you know you can't really help? Episode 20 of Big Feels At Work - our podcast for mental health and addictions workers with big feelings of their own. Hosts: Graham Panther and Gareth Edwards. Keen to join...

Episode 19 of "Big Feels At Work" -- a podcast for mental health and addictions workers dealing with their own big feelings. ***Search 'Big Feels At Work' to listen in your podcast player*** What’s it like to be a CEO… and still have impostor syndrome? How do you go from being a peer worker to sitting in the big chair? And when you get those fancy three letters in your title (C. E. O.) how do you...

Episode 18 of "Big Feels At Work" -- an audio resource for mental health and addictions professionals dealing with their own big feelings. Host: Graham Panther. What is this thing? More info here: www.bigfeelsatwork.com Who made this thing? www.bigfeels.club

Episode 17 of "Big Feels At Work" -- an audio resource for mental health and addictions professionals dealing with their own big feelings. Hosts: Graham Panther and Gareth Edwards. What is this thing? More info here: https://www.bigfeelsatwork.com Who made this thing? https://www.bigfeels.club

Episode 16 of "Big Feels At Work" -- an audio resource for mental health and addictions professionals dealing with their own big feelings. Hosts: Graham Panther and Gareth Edwards. What is this thing? More info here: bigfeelsatwork.com Who made this thing? bigfeels.club

Episode 15 of "Big Feels @ Work" -- an audio resource for mental health professionals dealing with their own big feelings. Hosts: Graham Panther and Gareth Edwards. What is this thing? More info here: bigfeels.club/big-feels-at-work Who made this thing? bigfeels.club/

Episode 14 of "Big Feels @ Work" -- an audio resource for mental health professionals dealing with their own big feelings. Hosts: Graham Panther and Gareth Edwards. What is this thing? More info here: bigfeels.club/big-feels-at-work Who made this thing? bigfeels.club/

Episode 13 of "Big Feels @ Work" -- an audio resource for mental health professionals dealing with their own big feelings. Host: Graham Panther Guest: Heather Pickard, CEO of SHARC What is this thing? More info here: bigfeels.club/big-feels-at-work Who made this thing? bigfeels.club/

Episode 12 of "Big Feels @ Work" -- an audio resource for mental health professionals dealing with their own big feelings. Hosts: Graham Panther and Gareth Edwards. What is this thing? More info here: bigfeels.club/big-feels-at-work Who made this thing? bigfeels.club/

Episode 11 of "Big Feels @ Work" -- an audio resource for mental health professionals dealing with their own big feelings. Hosts: Graham Panther and Gareth Edwards. What is this thing? More info here: bigfeels.club/big-feels-at-work Who made this thing? bigfeels.club/

Episode 10 of "Big Feels @ Work" -- an audio resource for mental health professionals dealing with their own big feelings. Heads up. This one is about the 'S' word. Suicide. When you’re afraid someone might try to end their life, it can be hard to stay present. Understandably, we’re often so focused on keeping them safe, we sometimes don’t get to simply sit and really listen, to witness their pain...

Episode 9 of "Big Feels @ Work" -- an audio resource for mental health professionals dealing with their own big feelings. What do you do when you’re a seasoned psychologist, and all of a sudden you’re the one having the breakdown? When you have such a rough time that you lose faith in your own profession, and end up leaving altogether? Where do you go from there... and how do you come back? --- Wh...