A crisis plan outlines what you would like to occur when you are going through a mental health emergency.

It acts as a trigger for action that when implemented, takes you through the steps necessary to get the help that you may need.

I strongly suggest that you make a crisis plan up now - while you are in a good place - so that it is there for you when you are not.

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Black and white thinking, splitting and looking for the worst in people/events are hallmarks of BPD symptoms.

Personally I find this very trapping. I know I am doing it, and don’t want to cause loved ones duress, so I stay silent (thus remaining trapped). It can feel like their is no way out.

In this episode I discuss this trap in detail as well as discuss how I am working through it.

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We are often our own worst critics. Mental illness or a traumatic past can make loving who we are feel seemingly impossible.

But there is a way to change that. To be kinder and more loving to ourselves.

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Topic: By sharing the reality of mental illness, we can hopefully help to reduce the stigma and let people know they are not alone. In this episode I share my recent manic experience, recorded both during and after the event. This is what mental illness really looks like.

Book Chapter: ‘Learn How To Say No’ (00:15:15) of How To Get Your Sh!t Together

“When you say ‘yes’ to others, make sure you are not saying ‘no’ to yourself.” – Paulo Coelho

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Complaining about something does nothing to fix the problem. Unless you realise that you are responsible for your healing and recovery, it won’t happen.

You need to seek therapy, do the meditation, read the books and take the medicine. No one else can or will do it for you!

Two days ago, I experienced the worst PTSD flashback of my life. It was of an intensity that far exceeded anything that I have ever experienced before in my life.

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It wasn’t until I tried writing that I saw major improvements as a direct result of treatment.

Unlike talking therapy, I found that I could express myself far more freely onto a blank page. When I sat down to write, I didn’t have to worry about what the page thought of me. It can’t judge. I could ramble, reiterate and back track without concern for transmitting understanding to someone else.

Despite the fact that 1 in 5 people are currently suffering from a mental illness (1 in 2 over the lifespan), mental illness is highly stigmatised.

In this episode I delve deep into the possible causes and solutions to this stigma. I also talk about dealing with the possibility of ‘attention seekers’ or ‘fakers’ as well as how to best ensure that your family and friends know you will be there for them should they need your support.

Shihan Cameron Quinn has been training Kyokushin Karate for 47 years. He has worked with elite athletes, sporting teams and professional martial artists. He is a best selling author, and does speaking engagements and training seminars around the world …

Ava is a two year old girl who is receiving treatment for Stage 4 high risk Neuroblastoma. This is a very aggressive form of cancer, with a survival rate of 40%. If Ava's chemotherapy treatments are successful, she faces a 75% chance of relapse with in 6 months - unless she receives a trial vaccine…

At 26 years old Toby Carr underwent spinal surgery to address a large disc extrusion at C6/C7 (the base of the neck).

“The worst case scenario is you’ll never walk again … and you’ll have limited use of your arms and hands.” …

It is a real challenge to overcome addiction - it involves far more than simply ‘not using’. In this episode, I elaborate on that challenge as well as provide some advice for those who want to quit (or make any positive change in their life)

The importance of self care cannot be understated. There is no point in working yourself so hard that you have a break down. In this episode, Zachary shares his recent experience of overworking himself to the point of break down, as well as the lessons that he has learnt from the experience.

QOTD: How do you practice self care?

Writing therapy is one of the core components of my ongoing mental health plan. When I feel a build of of mental pressure - I write!

The page listens and does not judge, and therefore you can tell it anything without fear. Writing enables me to collect, organise and express my thoughts. By writing them down, I am able to detach from them and let them go.

"When you open up and start to talk about your traumatic experiences, a few things will happen.

More memories will come flooding in and that may become overwhelming. In addition, people will react differently to what you will expect. Some will be supportive and will share their own experiences, while others will disbelieve what you say..."

"Writing has been one of the most therapeutic things that I have done. I started with poetry, but quickly moved into a longer format of fiction and blogs, culminating with a book ..."

“The midwives wanted to send me home with some Panadol, giving me the instructions to return in two days when the contractions were more serious - the baby was out in six hours” - Maria Phillips.
On meditation, mindfulness and having a 'Calm Birth' ..."

"There is a risk of falling into the trap of defining ourselves based on our trauma. We might relive it over and over again -in our minds, contemplating what happened, wishing it was different.

Or perhaps we are the complete opposite - running and hiding from it, doing everything we can to not accept the event as part of our past. Perhaps we do both..."