My Possible Self

The holiday season (the period between Thanksgiving until the New Year) is supposed to be a joyous time, full of celebrations with family and friends. But for many people, "the most wonderful time of year"... tis’ the season to feel stressed and anxious. It's normal to feel stressed or lower than usual at Christmas, especially if it's a time of year that brings back difficult memories or heightens or worsens any ongoing problems you may be going through. But there are things we can do to ease the stress and take the pressure off ourselves and there is no better guest than anxiety expert Joshua Fletcher to help us do this. Joshua Fletcher is a psychotherapist and best-selling anxiety author, based in Manchester, specialising in the field of anxiety disorders and stress management. Chatting to host Gabby, Josh explains why we need to stop trying to create ‘the perfect Christmas’ and pleasing people when it compromises our own happiness. Josh also advises how we can deal with difficult relatives at family get-togethers and shares some tips on how to overcome anxiety at Christmas parties. He also stresses why it’s just as important to carve time out for ourselves, as it is to carve out the Christmas turkey. For more on Joshua Fletcher: https://schoolofanxiety.com/ To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast  

Anyone can experience a mental health problem. But those who identify as LGBTQIA+ are more likely to develop problems like low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, self harm, suicidal feelings, post-traumatic stress disorders and substance abuse.  Being LGBTQIA+ doesn't cause these problems. But the struggles and challenges commonly faced such as homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, stigma and discrimination, difficult experiences of coming out, social isolation, exclusion, bullying and rejection are significant factors as to why so many suffer greatly with their mental health.  In this special one off episode of the My Possible Self podcast host Gabby is exploring sexuality and the impact it has on a person's mental health. She is joined by reality TV star, social media influencer, personal trainer and mental health ambassador Charlie King and activist, entrepreneur, head of social impact and a 2022 LinkedIn Top Voice within the LGBTQIA+ community Chloe Davies.  This is a podcast that everyone should listen to no matter how they identify. On the 50 year anniversary of Pride month we dedicate this episode to all who have suffered at the hands of injustice. And to those who fought, and continue to fight, for the opportunity to live authentically in a world where everyone is treated with equality and love.  

Recent studies suggest that bullying in adolescence and childhood can have worse long-term effects on young adult‘s mental health than being subject to maltreatment during childhood. According to a report gathered by The Diana Award’s Anti-Bullying Ambassador Programme; 22% of young people aged 12-20 in the UK say they have experienced bullying behaviour in the past 12 months, 27% of young people say they have witnessed bullying behaviour in the last 12 months, and 36% of young people aged 8 to 22 are worried about experiencing bullying behaviour at school, college or university. In the final episode of My Possible Self’s trilogy of podcasts looking at how Bullying can effect a person’s mental health and what we can do about it, host Gabby is joined by a passionate panel of experts on the subject. NSPCC Head of Local campaigns and Childline spokesperson Helen Westerman, business strategist and anti-bullying campaigner Lisa Johnson and Lucy Howard Head of Content and Media for the UK anti-bullying charity BulliesOut. For more information and advice on this subject matter head to https://bulliesout.com/ In the UK, you can also call Childline for free on 0800 1111. For the rest of the world: Child Helplines - Child Helpline International

Bullying and harassment is behaviour that makes someone feel intimidated or offended. And when it takes place at work, it can make your working life miserable, subsequently losing faith in yourself and your abilities. It can also leave you feeling ill and depressed, vulnerable, isolated and challenging to motivate yourself to work.   In the second installment of My Possible Self’s mini-series on bullying, host Gabby talks to Julie Dennis, Head of Diversity and Inclusion for ACAS, the workplace expert for England, Wales and Scotland. ACAS gives employees and employers free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practices.   Julie and Gabby discuss what steps to take if you or a colleague is experiencing bullying behaviour at work, and what are some of the more subtle signs to look out for if a colleague is making your working life unpleasant.   For more information from ACAS about bullying and mental health in the workplace go to:​​ https://www.acas.org.uk/discrimination-bullying-and-harassment https://www.acas.org.uk/supporting-mental-health-workplace  

In the first of 3 bonus episodes looking at how bullying can effect a person's mental health and what steps we can take to prevent, report and stop it as quickly as possible, host Gabby talks to Alex Holmes about the complex world of cyber bullying. Alex is a leading anti-bullying campaigner, Founder of Anti-Bullying Ambassadors and Deputy CEO of The Diana Award. He is also a Trust & Safety advisor to Twitch/TikTok/Twitter/Yubo/Instagram and the Home Office and is on the Barnardo's and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Advisory Board. Alex has had first hand experience of bullying behaviour and shares some practical and helpful tips on what to do if you or someone you know is being abused online.

International speaker and best selling author of ‘The Magic of Surrender’, Kute Blackson, joins host Gabby to close season 1 of the My Possible Self podcast. In this episode Kute explains the importance of allowing ourselves to feel our feelings and not suppress our emotions. Why letting go, trusting and surrendering to what is and can not be changed, no matter the circumstance or situation, can ultimately lead us quicker down the path to peace of mind. And why we must remember that feelings aren't facts, or good, or bad, they are just energy. Kute also shares his daily none negotiable practices when it comes to mindfulness and meditation for mental health. 

While the stigma surrounding mental illness affects people of all genders, research shows that men tend to have an even harder time admitting they need help. In England, around one in eight men has a common mental health problem such as depression, anxiety, panic disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)... although these are only the reported cases. Society's expectations and traditional gender roles play a role in why men are less likely to open up or seek help for their mental health problems, so My Possible Self has taken action, launching a series of content aimed at men to help them to address, open up, and overcome mental health issues. To support and run alongside, this episode of the podcast is zooming in on Men’s Mental Health. Joining host Gabby is John Belton, Head coach and owner of No.17  Personal Training and men's mental health campaigner and host of the honest bloke podcast James Walsham. Together they have an insightful, thought-provoking and vulnerable conversation discussing the challenges and emotional issues men often face. 

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings. People with bipolar experience both episodes of severe depression, and episodes of mania – presenting in ways such as overwhelming joy, excitement, happiness, huge energy, a reduced need for sleep, and reduced inhibitions. Dr Nick Prior is a psychiatrist and co-creater of the app Minderful, who has lived with bipolar type II for over a decade. ​​Working as a NHS doctor specialising in mental health, whilst living with bipolar, gives Nick a rare 360 degree view into the world of Mental Health. This episode is for anyone wanting to have a better understanding of this complex mental health illness and also for those who have bipolar disorder seeking reassurance and further insight.

We are beginning to understand that exercise is important to help us manage our mental health, working wonders for depression, anxiety and stress relief in particular. But how and why does the magic happen? And what else is going on behind the scenes in our brains when we work out? Andrew Wade, founder and CEO of Case Specific Nutrition, also a registered dietician and fitness expert, has many of the answers. In this episode Andrew talks about the importance of the major stress hormones, what types of movement work best for our moods and emotions, the best supplements to help support our bodies movement and mental health journey, and how to use mindfulness to get our body in the mood to move.

‘Quality Sleep, Sound Mind, Happy World’ is the campaign slogan for this year’s World Sleep Day on March 18th 2022. And not without good reason as sleep and mental health are intrinsically linked. Lack of sleep is related to many psychological conditions such as depression, anxiety, ptsd and psychosis. And those suffering with mental health problems are likely to have insomnia, suffer from sleep disturbances, or other sleep disorders. It’s a vicious cycle that can be difficult and frustrating to break.  My Possible Self welcomes renowned sleep specialist Dr Allie Hare who breaks down and explains why sleep is so important to us; physically, mentally, and emotionally. Dr Allie, a consultant in sleep and respiratory medicine at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London and Secretary of the British Sleep Society, also shares what happens to our brain when we dream, why naps are best avoided, the daytime habits to avoid sabotaging your sleep and what we can send signals to our body that it’s slumber time.