The Speak up podcast

In this episode I speak to clinical psychologist Silvia who opens up rather candidly about her health experiences with alcohol and talks about her work at Unconscious Moderation - a company developing an app that helps people moderate their drinking. Silvia is Head of Psychology Content at UM and is developing the content, making sure it is scientifically robust and effective for users. If you'd like to find out more about the app please access the following links:Website: https://um.app/Apple Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/drink-less-alcohol-with-um/id6471595788?mt=8 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mydryjourney&referrer=af_tranid%3DPMHHQhpl6uyJz-rwDUJ3Qw%26c%3Dwebsite+home+page+button%26pid%3Dwebsite+home+page+button&pli=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/um_app_/ Remember if you are struggling there are organisations out there to help you:UK: Samaritans 116 123USA: 988 National Suicide and crisis lineCanada: 988Australia: 13 11 14- - - -PODCAST LINKSWebsite: https://tsup.co.uk/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5DhAEcEE07jsp2JjKLYeDvFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087974033840Please like share and comment across all our channels guys if you liked this content! Thank you.

Episode synopsisIn this quick raw and real expose I share with you my struggles with alcoholism. Did you know up to 71% of people in rehab have an existing mental health condition? It's a staggering statistic and one that highlights the link between addiction and mental health very well. Alcoholism isn't a funny deal and it can destroy lives, if you or anyone are suffering with an addiction please seek medical attention asap. For me, what helped in my recovery is an organisation called Horizon's who gave me tips and tricks to remain abstinent off alcohol. Sources of informationhttps://www.drinkaware.co.uk/tools/drinking-check/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22298792539&gbraid=0AAAAAD6s1rB_ry9OyrdKHogTnX0HzP8g8&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_8rBBhCFARIsAJrc9yDEhUDNiBYCrISVXXfui8oPHw6ZbHWnVGoIEbKAYE78FfnEiB2qLdAaAmvkEALw_wcB#/respondent-agehttps://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support/addiction-what-is-it/#:~:text=Getting%20help%20for%20addictions&text=You%20could%20see%20your%20GP,drug%20addiction%20supporthttps://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/coping-with-life/drugs-and-alcohol/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22211015404&gbraid=0AAAAADk6C8ccLS5j6YhtAhQsI76u76y7T&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_8rBBhCFARIsAJrc9yDrKkOebAjlu6pHnJyLEqwc-0eVlEBVbdafp4X39SxNhM2TzQmieN4aAg09EALw_wcBhttps://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support/drug-addiction-getting-help/https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/five-action-steps-for-quitting-an-addictionhttps://www.bupa.co.uk/newsroom/ourviews/addiction-types-and-supporthttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/substance-misuse-treatment-for-adults-statistics-2022-to-2023/adult-substance-misuse-treatment-statistics-2022-to-2023-report#:~:text=Over%20two%2Dthirds%20(71%25,groups%20needed%20mental%20health%20treatment.Links for further information about this podcastWebsite: ⁠⁠Home- The Speak Up Podcast⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@thespeakuppodcast⁠⁠Spotify: ⁠⁠TheSpeak up podcast | Podcast o⁠⁠nSpotify⁠

Episode synopsisIn this whistlestop tour I talk about Psychosis, define what it is, the hallmarks of the condition such as hearing voices, seeing things, and delusions. I then give my best tips on how to support a loved one through it. Be sure to tune in to this informative episode.Sources of information⁠⁠https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/psychosis/overview/https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/understanding-psychosishttps://medicine.yale.edu/psychiatry/step/psychosis/https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/psychosis/helping-someone-whos-experiencing-psychosis/Links for further information about this podcast:Website: ⁠⁠Home- The Speak Up Podcast⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@thespeakuppodcast⁠⁠Spotify: ⁠⁠TheSpeak up podcast | Podcast o⁠⁠nSpotify⁠ 

Episode synopsisIn this quick episode I talk briefly about my first therapy experiences and then dive into the advantages and disadvantages of public and private therapy. I then provide 4 different ways to find a therapist in the UK towards the end.Sources of informationhttps://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/https://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/https://www.bacp.co.uk/search/TherapistsLinks for further information about this podcastWebsite: ⁠⁠Home- The Speak Up Podcast⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@thespeakuppodcast⁠⁠Spotify: ⁠⁠TheSpeak up podcast | Podcast o⁠⁠nSpotify⁠

Episode synopsisIn this quick episode we take a whistlestop tour and talk about Delusional Disorder a rare yet debilitating psychiatric illness where one experiences delusions. This isn't the same as Schizophrenia in that the person experiences only delusions without the presence of hallucinations or voice hearing. So in other words, a person suffers delusions alone. These can differ by topic and nature, but most sufferers cling to these 'false fixed beliefs' with tenacity and often get easily offended or sensitive when challenged. These are hallmarks of the condition alongside seeing events as significant to the delusion.I have personal experience with this disorder so I illustrate this with an example in the episode. Sources of information⁠Delusional Disorder - Harvard Health⁠⁠Delusional Disorder: Causes, Symptoms, Types & Treatment⁠⁠Delusional disorder - Wikipedia⁠Links for further information about this podcastWebsite: ⁠Home - The Speak Up Podcast⁠Facebook: ⁠Facebook⁠YouTube: ⁠www.youtube.com/@thespeakuppodcast⁠Spotify: ⁠The Speak up podcast | Podcast on Spotify

Here I introduce the episode topic of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), I talk about the features of the condition, symptoms and how it impacts behaviour. We then talk to Jeff a sufferer of this condition in the full episode.I briefly touch on treatment and medications. Please note, we are not a medical podcast and it is for educational purposes only. Please consult your GP for professional advice. Four main strands of symptoms for PTSD:- Intrusive thoughts, emotions and feelings (flashbacks, smells, and tastes for example from a traumatic event)- Avoidance - avoiding triggers or stressful stimuli.- Change in moods or psychological wellbeing; depression, anxiety, little appetite, difficulty sleeping.- Hyperarousal; been jumpy, irritable, and panicked. Hyperactive nervous system response. Insomnia.Medications; SSRI's / Anti depressantsTherapy: CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) or EMDR (though is lesser known or used on the NHS it is a specialist trauma focussed therapy)If you like this trailer be sure to stay tuned for the full episode on release where I interview Jeff a sufferer of PTSD, and I ask him some questions about what its like to live with the condition.

In this short trailer I introduce BPD (commonly known as EUPD - Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder). Before I interview Dave, a sufferer of BPD. This trailer forms part of a segment of the upcoming episode.I talk about what it is, the symptoms and features of BPD including "Splitting" which is sometimes known as black and white thinking. Putting people on a pedestal and by contrast devaluing people.I also go over how the disorder impacts on behaviour. I cover briefly treatment and medications for the condition although bare in mind we are not a medical podcast. DISCLAIMER: This does not constitute professional medical advice, and is only for educational purposes. SOURCES OF RESEARCH:What is borderline personality disorder (BPD)? - MindOverview - Borderline personality disorder - NHSBorderline personality disorder - Wikipedia

Bringing to you The Speak Up Podcast trailer 2025! Please like and share this across all your social media platforms to show your support! #podcasting #mentalhealthwww.tsup.co.uk https://open.spotify.com/show/5DhAEcEE07jsp2JjKLYeDv

Hello and welcome to season 3 ep. 1 of TSUP! In today's episode I talk about some of the new changes you may have noticed on the podcast - including our new intro/outro sequence. Main topic includes talking about the governments welfare reforms to PIP and Universal credit.Key points raised: - The government had pledged to help and support disabled people into work. Although it isn't clear into what jobs and where these jobs are going to come from.- Economic activity and growth has been slow. - PIP and UC cuts may plunge people into more poverty because they rely on these funds for support. I give you this and my own personal opinion in this episode. Tune in to find out more.If you like listening to the podcast why not like, share and comment across your social media this helps our podcast grow! You can also keep up-to-date and find out more about us on our website at www.tsup.co.uk

In this interview I talk to Charles about his journey with both physical and mental health difficulties; he explains to me the moment he came to a crossroads with his mental health - tired of repeating the same patterns of behaviour - Charles talks about how Cognitive Behavioural Therapy helped him break-free from "obligations" and self imposed expectations of other people and himself. He mentions how to find your baseline and start from there with good intention. Charles also shares some mantras of his including "Energy is currency" you have to be mindful how you spend it and on whom! Also its not what's been done to you, its what you choose to do about it that matters. Everybody has a choice in how they react to events in life, and Charles goes on to say this is what makes you who you are.

In this episode I interview Nikita who has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). There are many different forms of the condition; such as the stereotype of been overly clean. Nikita has a form of OCD that means she is constantly checking things. She states that OCD is about much more than the myth of someone been overly clean which is a misconception, and that it isn't a 'quirk', but it is an illness that can be unpleasant to deal with. Nikita talks to us about her crafts business Sissy & One, and tells us what she would most like to change in the world, in addition to her favourite idols. I hope you all get something valuable out of this episode guys and I look forward to having you on the next one! Disclaimer: We are not a medical podcast, please do not use this information as a substitute for proper medical advice from your GP or doctor. USEFUL LINKS: https://ocdaction.org.uk/ https://rethink.org/ocd

In this interview I talk to former universal credit agent and whistleblower Alan McClemont, who shares with us his experiences, as we explore the relationship between the benefits system and public mental health. #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #podcast #DWP #government Disclaimer: The views expressed herein are not necessarily the opinion of the podcast platform or author. We are not a medical podcast so please do seek advice from your GP or suitable medical practitioner.

In this short episode I go through some of the avenues to get help for your mental health - both in crisis and non-urgent. Please note - some of this information applies only to North Yorkshire and North-East regions of the UK. If in doubt, please Google your area and 'mental health helpline' for your nearest resource. NON URGENT RESOURCES Book an appt with GP - Your doctor must be your first point of contact. Make an online urgent appt request! Self refer to IAPT - Improving Access to Psychological Therapies - for those with mild to moderate anxiety, depression and/or wellbeing. You can self refer here: https://northyorkshiretalkingtherapies.co.uk/online-referral-form/ North Yorkshire only. Ask your GP for a referral to your local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT). This may take a couple of weeks to months depending on the severity of your case and NHS backlogs. Email Samaritans - jo@samaritans.org USEFUL COMMUNITY RESOURCES Scarborough Survivors Mental Health Resource Centre, 01723 500222 www.scarboroughsurvivors.org.uk CRISIS RESOURCES Samaritans Call 116 123 (24/7 helpline) Mental Health Emergency Helpline 0800 0516 171 (County Durham, Darlington, Teeside, North Yorkshire and York only.) If immediate risk to life ring 999

DISCLAIMER: We are not a medical podcast so if you have any concerns about your health please consult your doctor. We are not a substitute for proper medical advice. In this episode I present you with my roadmap to recovery. Recovery is never linear or straightforward. There will be setbacks and highs and lows. That been said there are things you can on the way to recovery to positively impact you on the way. I give you my five tips that have helped me on my own journey, and also present the news on the next episode - all exciting stuff! Want to watch more episodes like this? Why not visit our linktree: https://linktr.ee/thespeakuppodcast for more great content and to keep abreast of all our channels.

Season Two is here! In S2 Ep.1 I discuss Mental Health Medications and my own personal journey of trying different types of antidepressants. Did you know there are different classes of antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs to treat mental illness? I talk about my struggles to find meds that work; and I also talk about Psychosis, what it is...and Antipsychotic medications to treat it. We talk about Psychosis what it is, what it isnt, and the medications licensed to treat it, as well as some of the other conditions that feature psychotic symptoms. Throughout this episode I draw on credible sources of information that I have collated for this episode, see reference list at the end. DISCLAIMER: We are not medical professionals and all information shared is for educational purposes only. We believe people need to be informed to make the right choices. The information I share is not intended to replace your doctors advice, and I am not trying to make decisions for people. I cannot be held liable for how you use this information. Where possible all efforts have been made to supply and use credible, up to date, and publicly available information from public bodies and health care authorities. REFERENCES Overview- Psychosis (nhs.uk, 2019) https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/psychosis/overview/ Overview - Anti-Depressants (nhs.uk, 2021) https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/medicines-and-psychiatry/antidepressants/overview/ Guidance - Anti Psychotic Medicines (Gov.uk, Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, 2005) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/antipsychotic-medicines-licensed-products-uses-and-side-effects/antipsychotic-medicines About Anti-Psychotics (Mind, 2020) https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/antipsychotics/about-antipsychotics/ USEFUL TO LOOK AT National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) https://www.nice.org.uk/ British National Formulatory (BNF) https://bnf.nice.org.uk/

Howdy Folks! The Speak Up Podcast returning to you very soon for season 2. In this segment I talk about what’s in store for the podcast. Including the new series Untold: Mental Health Medication Stories; a new segment that will feature stories around mental health medication from others experience. I will also talk about my own experiences with different psychiatric drugs. Disclaimer: this is for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your doctor. We publicise this for awareness only. We also will be continuing our usual broadcasts Meet The Experts & interviewing individuals about their own experiences of mental health.

Special Episode: Meet The Experts Series. In episode 8, we meet Dr Shoshana Bennett Ph.D a Clinical Psychologist with a special interest in Post-Partum Depression and an expert on maternal mental health; she has authored several books including the Dummies Guide to Post Partum Depression amongst others. She talks with us about how to tell the difference between ordinary blues as a parent and PPD; and when it crosses the line. Dr Shosh talked about her stance on medication as well as her take on Covid and the post-pandemic societal mental health. She also reflected on her career and how her own struggle with PPD culminated in a career as a Psychologist having never considered this career path before. TRIGGER WARNING: She also shares with us her personal health journey with Cancer; we realise this was difficult to share and we thank Dr. Shosh for bravely sharing this, she mentioned that there is always something to learn out of these situations; however difficult and we thank her for this courage and wisdom. Here are some signs that your depression may have crossed over into PPD; if symptoms are beyond mild and 2 weeks after baby delivery; Anxiety, Anger/Short Temper, Insomnia, Doom & Gloom feelings, Hopelessness, inability to slow your mind, obsessive worry or rumination on what ifs/buts. Unable to be reassured or gain perspective that this won’t be forever. Feeling like the worst Mum in the world “anybody can do this better than I can”, taking things personally. **DISCLAIMER: These are some of the general signs of PPD - this isn’t a definitive list and you should not assume you have PPD from this; always seek the professional medical advice of your own GP or primary care doctor. **This is for educational purposes only. Special thanks to our guest Dr. Shosh for contributing to our platform. You can find further information about her work at drshosh.com please like, share, comment or subscribe across all our channels. Thanks again folks and I look forward to having you on episode 9.

In episode 7, I talk to Natalie about her diagnosis of Bipolar disorder (type 2) & ADHD. She talks about getting her Bipolar diagnosis around age 18 and bravely shares with us that she was later hospitalised. Natalie discusses her opinions around unaccredited mental health advice; TikTok etc, and pseudo-science that discourages medication. We discuss the misconceptions of bipolar & how this contributes to misunderstanding, and finally the positive aspects of ADHD; in her case been able to “hyper focus” for productivity purposes. Natalie states that she would recommend therapy to anybody regardless of if you have a diagnosis or recognised illness or not; since most people at some point in their lives needs support. Special thanks to Natalie for been so open about her experiences. Disclaimer: we’re not a medical podcast. Please do not use any information on this podcast as substitute for professional advice from your doctor.

In this episode, I speak to Virginia based Realtor Bob Thompson, who discusses his experiences with depression as a man in his 50s. He describes his life before depression as been one without mental illness; and this has taught him that it can impact anyone! Bob credits his positive mindset and stoicism as been part of the reason for recovery; but also reflecting on the effects this had on those closest. He wants to support more men to come forward and talk about their mental health and believes far too often we “put a bumper sticker” on mental health. We talk about things without addressing the real issues. In the episode Bob discusses generational differences and how we view mental health; and the need to shift perspectives and respect each other’s viewpoints. Outside of real estate he likes to dabble in film; having held small roles in films like Thanksgiving with The Carters 2 & Christmas with The Carters. Some of these are available on Amazon Prime. You can find more information about Bobs’ film credits at: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm5677120/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm - - Bob also shares with us some nuggets of wisdom of which helped him. Speaking about things and been honest. I thank Bob for coming on and talking on the podcast and I hope this will help some people on their own journey. - - Disclaimer - - As always folks just to empathise we are not a medical podcast and we do not intend for any information herein to substitute any professional advice from your doctor. Please always seek your doctors opinion.

In this episode I speak with Leah, who runs US based Life & health coaching business “Living Healthy With Leah”. She is a certified advanced EMT, and has previously worked in a Jail as a Nurse. She reflects on her experiences of been exposed to mental health patients in the prison; feeling as though she wants to make a difference. Her business takes a holistic look at well-being through the mind-body lens; as one interconnected relationship. We discuss the body, nutrition, fitness and how hormones play a part in psychological wellbeing; before considering medication. Leah speaks of the importance in loving yourself and affirms that “you are worthy of been loved”, as been a powerful motivator for her clients. Sharing some personal family stories of mental health along her journey; she hopes to qualify as a doctor of organic medicine. Finally in the latter stages I ask Leah to give me an interesting fact about Tennessee, and we chat about her home state! You can find more information about her business at: https://www.livinghealthywithleah.com/ I thank Leah for her time, and honest contribution for the podcast! I had great fun recording with her.