S1E194: 194| The Wellness Woman

REPLAYED CONTENT: Rebecca Hopkins talks about how she found herself going through early menopause in her early 30’s and this affected many aspects of her life, including her ability to have children. She had her children using an egg donor and whilst she was raising her small children she found herself in the midst of quite intense menopausal symptoms. Her doctor put her on hormones to combat early osteoporosis. This meant that her sex drive shot through the roof and she became rather rampant. She was also super moody and explosive, so she tried different methods of administering the hormones until she found the one that was most conducive to her having minimal menopausal symptoms and less mood swings.  Rebecca talks about bone density, ugly crying and egg donation. Stay tuned for All Out of Eggs: Part 2 where Rebecca goes into detail about egg donation, IVF and what she has learned throughout the whole process. A Listener Note: If you feel you need support, please visit your local GP, a counsellor or contact the Samaritans in Hong Kong on 28960000. If you live in another country, please contact your local GP for support. Rebecca Hopkins: http://www.livebraveworkshops.com/rebecca-hopkins/ Rebecca’s Blog: http://alloutofeggs.com/ Hong Kong Confidential Details Email: [email protected] Network: https://www.auscastnetwork.com/home/hong-kong-confidential Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hongkongconfidential/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/juleshannaford/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hongkongconfidential/ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, YouTube and anywhere you find your podcasts.    Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/hongkongconfidential?alert=2See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

REPLAYED CONTENT: Rebecca Hopkins talks about how she found herself going through early menopause in her early 30’s and this affected many aspects of her life, including her ability to have children. She had her children using an egg donor and whilst she was raising her small children she found herself in the midst of quite intense menopausal symptoms. Her doctor put her on hormones to combat early osteoporosis. This meant that her sex drive shot through the roof and she became rather rampant. She was also super moody and explosive, so she tried different methods of administering the hormones until she found the one that was most conducive to her having minimal menopausal symptoms and less mood swings.  Rebecca talks about bone density, ugly crying and egg donation. Stay tuned for All Out of Eggs: Part 2 where Rebecca goes into detail about egg donation, IVF and what she has learned throughout the whole process. A Listener Note: If you feel you need support, please visit your local GP, a counsellor or contact the Samaritans in Hong Kong on 28960000. If you live in another country, please contact your local GP for support. Rebecca Hopkins: http://www.livebraveworkshops.com/rebecca-hopkins/ Rebecca’s Blog: http://alloutofeggs.com/ Hong Kong Confidential Details Email: [email protected] Network: https://www.auscastnetwork.com/home/hong-kong-confidential Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hongkongconfidential/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/juleshannaford/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hongkongconfidential/ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, YouTube and anywhere you find your podcasts.    Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/hongkongconfidential?alert=2See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

REPLAYED CONTENT: Aaron Stadlin-Robbie suffers from panic attacks and anxiety. He talks about when he first realised that he was suffering from panic attacks after experiencing the most frightening event of his whole life. Eventually, he saw a psychiatrist and got to the bottom of what he was going through and began to receive treatment and support. He recognised that he experienced several red flags that he initially ignored which led to his panic attacks taking hold. He feels that dealing with anxiety is a battle and without the support of friends, family and professionals, he felt very alone. He acknowledges that it can be more difficult for men to discuss more personal issues with each other and he wants people to understand that every time he discussed his anxiety, it was a weight off his mind. Aaron is a rugby player and he found that when he opened up to his mates about his anxiety, they were very supportive and did not judge him. Aaron decided to start his own podcast ‘Talking Mental’ which will be released on Apple Podcasts on the 22nd of January. He began this podcast to start conversations about anxiety and mental health issues in general in a bid to help improve his own mental health and also to benefit his listeners who may also be struggling with similar issues. Aaron explains that ‘anxiety is like a wet blanket on top of you that you’re trying to get off.’ He hopes that by sharing his story, that he will inspire others to open up and seek support. Talking Mental: https://www.talkingmental.com/ A Listener Note: Some of the topics discussed in this podcast raise some issues for listeners. If you feel you need support, please visit your local GP, a counsellor or contact the Samaritans in Hong Kong on 28960000. If you live in another country, please contact your local GP or crisis line for support. Hong Kong Confidential Details Email: [email protected] Network: https://www.auscastnetwork.com/home/hong-kong-confidential Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hongkongconfidential/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/juleshannaford/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hongkongconfidential/ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, YouTube and anywhere you find your podcasts.    Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/hongkongconfidential?alert=2See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

REPLAYED CONTENT: Vishal is my ex-student who suffered from mental health issues as a teen and I tried my best to support him. He was diagnosed as Bipolar at the age of 25. He talks to us about his mental health journey and explains how he was very pessimistic and lacked motivation for many years. He also suffered from anorexia as a teen and he shares how he faced this diagnosis. Vishal’s mental health went downhill at university and he found himself feeling suicidal. He could not overcome the shame he felt which was an underlying theme during his struggles. Finally, Vishal sought help and developed the tools that he needed to change the way that he was thinking. He turned his negative thoughts into reasonable thoughts as trying to make them into positive thoughts was too difficult. With medication and CBT, Vishal was able to turn his life around and is now in the happiest place that he has ever been. Vishal is a writer and a poet, and he shares some of his work with us. One of his poems was a real surprise to me and it made me cry. This is a beautiful podcast with a wonderful young man who I am so proud of. WARNING: Listener discretion is advised as we discuss topics which may be triggering, such as suicidal ideations and mental health. Hong Kong Confidential Details Email: [email protected] Network: https://www.auscastnetwork.com/home/hong-kong-confidential Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hongkongconfidential/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/juleshannaford/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hongkongconfidential/ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, YouTube and anywhere you find your podcasts.    Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/hongkongconfidential?alert=2See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

REPLAYED CONTENT: Our resident sexpert, Valentina Tudose talks about infidelity. Valentina is a Dating and Relationship coach who shares her insights into why people have affairs, how this can impact people and why infidelity can be an opportunity for growth in relationships. Valentina proposes some ways we can re-frame infidelity as an opportunity for self-discovery and personal development.  Valentina: https://happyeverafter.asia/ Hong Kong Confidential Details Email: [email protected] Network: https://www.auscastnetwork.com/home/hong-kong-confidential Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hongkongconfidential/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/juleshannaford/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hongkongconfidential/ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, YouTube and anywhere you find your podcasts.    Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/hongkongconfidential?alert=2See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

REPLAYED CONTENT FOR PRIDE MONTH: Dennis Philipse talks to us about Hong Kong’s successful bid to win the Gay Games in 2022. This is the first time that the Gay Games will be hosted in Asia and it is a very exciting milestone in the history of the games and also for Hong Kong. Dennis walks us through the bidding process and the excitement the team felt when they won then bid. We explore how this wonderful event will “build lighthouses of hope” in the LGBTQ community, and the positive impact that the Gay Games will have on both Hong Kong and Asia. Everyone is welcome to participate in the games regardless of your age, race, culture, religion, gender or sexuality. Dennis shares some heartwarming and inspirational personal stories of love and hope. He reminds us that the goal of the Gay Games is to not only be inclusive but to “celebrate diversity and to connect people in the spirit of sport.” The Gay Games webpage: https://www.gaygameshk2022.com/ Hong Kong Confidential Details Email: [email protected] Network: https://www.auscastnetwork.com/home/hong-kong-confidential Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hongkongconfidential/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/juleshannaford/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hongkongconfidential/ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, YouTube and anywhere you find your podcasts.    Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/hongkongconfidential?alert=2See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

REPLAYED CONTENT FOR PRIDE MONTH: Jason Masters was a married father of two children who discovered later in life that he was gay. Jason discusses his journey of understanding his sexual identity and how he had to come to terms with this and aligned his Christian faith with his acceptance of himself. Jason shares the experience of seeking therapy and then having to come out to his wife and how they worked through this significant event as a family. Jason talks about how there is a gap in the support available for teens who discover that they have a gay father and he feels his kids would have benefited from this kind of support in the early days when he told them he was gay. Jason reveals that he was bullied as a child and had an explosive father, and this coupled with his suppression of his sexuality, led to some mental health issues. He praises the support that he had from medical professionals and also from his church community. Jason has become an accidental activist in the Uniting Church and wants to add value to the community. He is a youth worker in his church and is also working to elevate social justice issues in both the executive world and the local community. He is a wonderful role model for any LGBTQ+  people in the Christian community and his story is inspirational and thought provoking. A listener note: If you feel you need support, please visit your local GP, a counsellor or contact the Samaritans in Hong Kong on 28960000. If you live in another country, please contact your local Lifeline or Crisis Centre in your area. Hong Kong Confidential Details Email: [email protected] Network: https://www.auscastnetwork.com/home/hong-kong-confidential Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hongkongconfidential/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/juleshannaford/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hongkongconfidential/ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, YouTube and anywhere you find your podcasts.    Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/hongkongconfidential?alert=2See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jules talks about the hiatus that she will take from Hong Kong Confidential podcast. After nearly four years of creating a weekly podcast, Jules is going to take a break. She will replay some of her favourite episodes from the past each fortnight for the next few months. Please stay subscribed as Jules hopes to return to interviewing amazing people in Hong Kong in August this year. Thank you so much for listening and for all your support of this podcast. Hong Kong Confidential Details Email: [email protected] Network: https://www.auscastnetwork.com/home/hong-kong-confidential Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hongkongconfidential/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/juleshannaford/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hongkongconfidential/ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, YouTube and anywhere you find your podcasts.    Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/hongkongconfidential?alert=2See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bentia Perch, ND, Managing Director and Naturopathic Physician at IMI- Integrated Medicine Institute shares a wealth of wellness wisdom with us. Having discovered naturopathy when she became sick while studying medicine, she is on a mission to help people take charge of their health and well-being the natural way. She set up IMI Corporate because she and her team had seen a huge increase in professionals struggling with stress, burnout and chronic health issues as a result. She leads the Superwoman Syndrome workshops to help women thrive in work and life. Benita Perch: https://www.imi.com.hk/benita-perch-naturopathic-physician-homeopath-hong-kong Hong Kong Confidential Details Email: [email protected] Network: https://www.auscastnetwork.com/home/hong-kong-confidential Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hongkongconfidential/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/juleshannaford/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hongkongconfidential/ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, YouTube and anywhere you find your podcasts.    Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/hongkongconfidential?alert=2See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cristina Rodenbeck, is an Executive Coach, Mindfulness Practitioner, Iridologist, Crystal Healer, Kirtan Facilitator and Bach Flower Remedy Practitioner. Cristina's goal is to help her clients create a meaningful, healthy and rewarding life. From work, lifestyle choices and health, she helps others explore and address the areas that impact an individuals confidence, well-being, energy levels and performance so her clients can live their best life. Having experienced the lows that come with losing her personal identity and sense of purpose, she is on a mission through her company Manipura Wellness Practice to ensure people feel emotionally healthy, balanced and aligned with their purpose. Cristina Rodenbeck. www.manipurawellness.com Hong Kong Confidential Details Email: [email protected] Network: https://www.auscastnetwork.com/home/hong-kong-confidential Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hongkongconfidential/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/juleshannaford/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hongkongconfidential/ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, YouTube and anywhere you find your podcasts.    Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/hongkongconfidential?alert=2See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.