Stand Alone Podcast

Welcome to Stand Alone's podcast! In today's episode, the last of the first official "season" of the Stand Alone Podcast, meet Yasmin.   Born in the Middle East, Yasmin was brought up in Scotland in a conservative Muslim household, and felt as though she didn't completely quite fit into either community.  Yasmin's estrangement resulted from a mixture of expectations of her duties as a daughter, conflicts over mental health issues in the family, and an environment that felt toxic.   And with Ramadan beginning on the 23rd of this month, we dedicated some time to discussing what this time of year means for people who follow the faith of Islam, the challenges of living through this period alone, and how to make the best of religious holidays.     If you are feeling lower than normal or need immediate support with your wellbeing at this time of the year, please call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or make an emergency appointment with your GP.    To find out more about Stand Alone's research, you can do so on our website.   We are such a small charity and we can't give out individual advice. If you want to talk about the podcast, get online and go to our Twitter page @UKstandalone to join the discussion. Remember that Stand Alone has lots of advice on our website as part of our guides: www.standalone.org.uk/guides/   If you want to support the podcast and Stand Alone, please consider donating to us by clicking here.

Welcome to part one of two extra editions of Stand Alone's podcast - offering support and guidance for people estranged from their family in managing your mental wellbeing, your safety, and dealing with the impact that COVID-19 is having in these unprecedented times. Stand Alone's Founder and CEO Becca Bland meets with Monika Greenfield, a Life Coach based in London, to talk about ways to practice mindfulness at home, how to handle emotions effectively, and how to manage core limiting beliefs.   If you are feeling lower than normal or need immediate support with your wellbeing at this time of the year, please call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or make an emergency appointment with your GP.    To find out more about Stand Alone's research, you can do so on our website.   We are such a small charity and we can't give out individual advice. If you want to talk about the podcast, get online and go to our Twitter page @UKstandalone to join the discussion. Remember that Stand Alone has lots of advice on our website as part of our guides: www.standalone.org.uk/guides/   If you want to support the podcast and Stand Alone, please consider donating to us by clicking here. 

Welcome to part one of two extra editions of Stand Alone's podcast - offering support and guidance for people estranged from their family in managing your mental wellbeing, your safety, and dealing with the impact that COVID-19 is having in these unprecedented times. Stand Alone's Founder and CEO Becca Bland jumps on a conference call with Jonathan Stockwell, the support group leader for one of the charity’s six support groups across the UK, based in Edinburgh. We talk through your questions and predicaments about being out of touch with family in this emergency situation.  Together, Becca and Jonathan answer questions which have been sent to them over the past few days by members of the Stand Alone community.   If you are feeling lower than normal or need immediate support with your wellbeing at this time of the year, please call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or make an emergency appointment with your GP.    To find out more about Stand Alone's research, you can do so on our website.   We are such a small charity and we can't give out individual advice. If you want to talk about the podcast, get online and go to our Twitter page @UKstandalone to join the discussion. Remember that Stand Alone has lots of advice on our website as part of our guides: www.standalone.org.uk/guides/   If you want to support the podcast and Stand Alone, please consider donating to us by clicking here. 

In this special edition of the Stand Alone Podcast, our founder Becca Bland meets with Robyn and Emma, a.k.a. the blogging duo "All Up In My Space", who last year started a new initiative called #OthersDay. "If you've lost your Mum, are estranged from your Mum or struggling to be one, Other's Day is here for you, providing a safe space to share and be heard." Having both experienced the loss of their mum - or for Robyn, the loss of her nan who played the mother figure in Robyn's life - they both know from experience how difficult this time of year can be. Join in with the online discussions by using #OthersDay, on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd March. Emma on Instagram - @TheCrapFlat Robyn on Instagram - @Almost_Everything_Off_eBay   If you are feeling lower than normal or need immediate support with your wellbeing at this time of the year, please call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or make an emergency appointment with your GP.    To find out more about Stand Alone's research, you can do so on our website.   We are such a small charity and we can't give out individual advice. If you want to talk about the podcast, get online and go to our Twitter page @UKstandalone to join the discussion. Remember that Stand Alone has lots of advice on our website as part of our guides: www.standalone.org.uk/guides/   If you want to support the podcast and Stand Alone, please consider donating to us by clicking here - and sign up to our newsletter to stay up to date with our campaigns.

Welcome to Stand Alone's podcast! In today's episode, meet Nicola, who has been estranged from her parents for just over a year, and also has a fragmented relationship with her four children and therefore her grandchildren.   In our conversations, Nicola shares about her recent diagnosis of a mood disorder, the difference this has made for her own journey, and her family's reaction to her mental health.   If you are feeling lower than normal or need immediate support with your wellbeing at this time of the year, please call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or make an emergency appointment with your GP.    To find out more about Stand Alone's research, you can do so on our website.   We are such a small charity and we can't give out individual advice. If you want to talk about the podcast, get online and go to our Twitter page @UKstandalone to join the discussion. Remember that Stand Alone has lots of advice on our website as part of our guides: www.standalone.org.uk/guides/   If you want to support the podcast and Stand Alone, please consider donating to us by clicking here.

  Welcome to Stand Alone's podcast! In today's episode, meet Mina - Mina's experience of estrangement from her family began after forming a relationship with her partner, who wasn't accepted into the family due to conflicting religions.   For years following her degree, Mina experienced what she called a "semi-estrangement", before making the decision to cut contact permanently just over a year ago.   If you are feeling lower than normal or need immediate support with your wellbeing at this time of the year, please call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or make an emergency appointment with your GP.      To find out more about Stand Alone's research, you can do so on our website.   We are such a small charity and we can't give out individual advice. If you want to talk about the podcast, get online and go to our Twitter page @UKstandalone to join the discussion. Remember that Stand Alone has lots of advice on our website as part of our guides: www.standalone.org.uk/guides/   If you want to support the podcast and Stand Alone, please consider donating to us by clicking here.    

Welcome to Stand Alone's podcast! In today's episode, meet David - his experience of estrangement from his three children began when he started the process of divorce from his former partner.   Whilst David is in the process of reconciliation and mending the relationship with his two daughters, but remains estranged from his son.   If you are feeling lower than normal or need immediate support with your wellbeing at this time of the year, please call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or make an emergency appointment with your GP.    We are such a small charity and we can't give out individual advice. If you want to talk about the podcast, get online and go to our Twitter page @UKstandalone to join the discussion. Remember that Stand Alone has lots of advice on our website as part of our guides: www.standalone.org.uk/guides/   If you want to support the podcast and Stand Alone, please consider donating to us by clicking here.   To find out more about Stand Alone's research, you can do so on our website.   Click here to find out more about Dr. Joshua Coleman, and his e-newsletter for estranged parents, who we discussed in today's episode.

Welcome to Stand Alone's podcast! Today, we'll meet Aysha. Aysha has been estranged from her entire family for three years now, after her family issued her an ultimatum - to either cut off her engagement with her partner, or to cut off contact with her family.   Looking back to her decision three years ago, having established a new life for herself with her partner, Aysha shares her journey - dealing with strict and uneven family dynamics, growing up as a young Muslim woman, and the stigmas which surround her estrangement.     If you are feeling lower than normal or need immediate support with your wellbeing at this time of the year, please call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or make an emergency appointment with your GP.    We are such a small charity and we can't give out individual advice. If you want to talk about the podcast, get online and go to our Twitter page @UKstandalone to join the discussion. Remember that Stand Alone has lots of advice on our website as part of our guides: www.standalone.org.uk/guides/   If you want to support the podcast and Stand Alone, please consider donating to us by clicking here.

Welcome to Stand Alone's podcast! With two young daughters aged 8 and 12 years old, Pippa vowed to break the cycle of estrangement which she has experienced from other members of her family, and fill the lives of her daughters with love and compassion.   But today’s episode is a bit of a break from the regular - instead of delving into Pippa’s own experience of estrangement, we’ll be finding out more about her collection of writing, “Mother in a Mother”, and her journey to compiling the project from workshops with over 50 women.   If you are feeling lower than normal or need immediate support with your wellbeing at this time of the year, please call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or make an emergency appointment with your GP.    We are such a small charity and we can't give out individual advice. We will be opening registration for next year's support groups in January 2020. If you want to talk about the podcast, get online and go to our Twitter page @UKstandalone to join the discussion. Remember that Stand Alone has lots of advice on our website as part of our guides: www.standalone.org.uk/guides/   If you want to support the podcast and Stand Alone, please consider donating to us by clicking here.   Click here to find out more about "Mother in the Mother".

Welcome to Stand Alone's podcast! Meet Blair - a University student who has been speaking in Scottish Parliament in partnership with Stand Alone on the issues of estrangement, and how it effects people in higher education.   "He's a really inspiration speaker, and has a really clear steer on the inequality of not offering equal support to people who have experienced similar things to those in the care system, who haven't been picked up by that system." - Becca Bland, Stand Alone's founder and CEO.   At the age of 14, Blair came out as gay to his mother - who, religious in a very traditional sense, wasn’t as warmly receptive as Blair had hoped for, and persuaded him to hide his sexuality.  Blair’s mental health deteriorated, until he was able to move away from the family home.   If you are feeling lower than normal or need immediate support with your wellbeing at this time of the year, please call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or make an emergency appointment with your GP.    We are such a small charity and we can't give out individual advice. We will be opening registration for next year's support groups in January 2020. If you want to talk about the podcast, get online and go to our Twitter page @UKstandalone to join the discussion. Remember that Stand Alone has lots of advice on our website as part of our guides: www.standalone.org.uk/guides/   If you want to support the podcast and Stand Alone, please consider donating to us by clicking here.