Holding On and Moving Forward

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...

The Weight of Suicide: On Both Sides Suicide 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 m...

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, ho...

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 ev...

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 mech...

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...

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 th...

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 qui...

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 h...

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 jou...

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 lo...

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...

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...

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 ou...

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....

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? W...

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 k...

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, h...

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...

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 afte...

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...

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 p...

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...

🎙️ 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...

“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...