Our Extraordinary Stories with Dr Devika Patel

Shocka, aka Kenneth Erhahon, is rapper and mental health advocate from Tottenham, London. He gained recognition for being one/third of Grime collective Marvell alongside Double S and Vertex. After dealing with mental health issues leading to a diagnosis of schizophrenia and being sectioned 4 times, Shocka became a Mental health advocate to help those suffering from their own problems with his music. He has since aimed to raise awareness of mental issues and has been a speaker on TED and a guest on numerous talk shows. His October 2018 single, Self Love reflects his personal journey with mental health issues and how he has come to terms with these difficulties. Shocka believes self love is part of the cure for mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety and low self image. By teaching someone how to love and appreciate themselves - no matter what their background or identity is - he believes it will drastically improve their ability to go through life positively.

Trigger warning: reference to suicidal thoughtsHi everyone. And welcome to another episode of our extraordinary stories. My name is Dr. Patel, and I'm the host of this podcast. I am an NHS junior doctor specializing in psychiatry. So that means I help and support people with mental illness from their point of crisis and diagnosis right through to recovery. So on today's podcast, I have a very special guest. This podcast is all about exploring that whole mental health spectrum going from. A mental health crisis, mental health illness, all the way up to recovery and a state of human flourishing. . I believe that at any point in our lives, we are on one part of the spectrum. So on this podcast I generally have people with lived experience of   mental health difficulties, and then I also try to bring on people that work within  the mental health sector.And today's guest, Panisha actually does both and I think, the reason that she's does the job that she does and is able to do it so well and has such good insight into  it, is because of  her own lived experience. So when I first started the podcast  last year she was one of the first people to reach out. And that's exactly what I wanted from this podcast. It wasn't about that person with 20 K 50 K followers that are already talking about their stories, but  to be for everyday people that are just getting on with life and we don't know, what their journey has been, and for that journey to inspire you and make you feel like, actually, I can learn so much from this person's story, or I want to share my story with my friends or family so that they don't feel so alone in their journey as well. And Panisha's been really. Brave and courageous to give her some insights into what she's been through and how she's got through that.Through a lot of things she has implemented really by herself rather than from external sources like mental health services, GP and medication, all those things. And that's really what I want to focus on. And we will do that as we get to the, to the latter part of the conversation. A little bit about Panisha:I'm currently an Emotional Health & Wellbeing Practitioner in the Northwest of England. I work with children, families, and schools to support with issues around mental health and wellbeing. I work using the community, family unit, and individuals as an eco system to promote good mental wellbeing. I am an advocate for holistic therapies such as meditation, yoga & mindfulness.Follow me on Instagram @drdevikapatel to continue engaging in this conversation!

Welcome to my podcast, Our Extraordinary StoriesMy name is Dr Devika Patel I am a junior doctor working in the NHS specialising in psychiatry, which means I work with people who need support and treatment for severe mental illnesses.In this podcast, I explore people’s personal stories from along the spectrum of severe mental illness all the way to a state of human flourishing. Too often, these are seen as separate conversations when I see them as part of one spectrum. For example, today I might be living my highest purpose, practising as a doctor, and in a few months, I may be a patient mental illness requiring treatment. As I'm currently on maternity leave I have had limited time to interview guests I have decided to do some solo podcasts. As it is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week I decided to reflect on my pregnancy, birth and postpartum period- acknowledging the highs and the lows. I also discuss some mental illnesses that can occur in the perinatal period and briefly touch on the support available. Connect with me on Instagram @drdevikapatelHere are some links for further support:https://www.app-network.org/ Action on  Postpartum Psychosishttps://pandasfoundation.org.uk/ Post natal depression awareness and supporthttps://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/ Support for traumatic birthhttps://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/ Breastfeeding networkhttps://maternalocd.org/ Maternal OCDhttps://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/postnatal-depression-and-perinatal-mental-health/about-maternal-mental-health-problems/ Perinatal mental health MIND episode

My husband is back on the podcast by popular demand. On this episode we discuss how we implemented intentional living practises to create a life we wanted, over the last year. The topics we cover include: - Raj's career change.- Our pregnancy journey- Navigating my diagnosis of PCOS-Health and fitness- How we prepared to become parentsWe hope you enjoy this candid, casual conversation. Connect with me on Instagram @drdevikapatel. 

Hi everyone, welcome to my podcast Our Extraordinary Stories. My name is Dr Devika Patel I am a junior doctor working in the NHS specialising in psychiatry, which means I work with people who need support and treatment for severe mental illnesses.In this episode, I speak to my dearest friend from university Dr Krishan Parekh. We both went to medical school together and became friends in 1st year. Krishan chose to specialise in anaesthetics- to become a doctor who work in theatres and ITU and completes complex life-saving procedures on seriously unwell patients. They were the doctors looking after the most unwell patients during the pandemic. Krishan gives a small insight into working during the pandemic and how it made him take the decision of taking a year out of training. Trigger warning: COVID-19, pandemic, ITUIn this podcast we cover: Working during COVID in ITUMaking a decision to step away from Medicine for a year. Taking the plunge- how (f)unemployment really feels and the initial doubtsHow Krishan rebuilt his working life, based on his preferences.Making wellbeing a priority to guide career choices. Doctors and mental health stigmaHow can doctors change the culture in the NHSHow do systems need to change to improve doctors wellbeingHow to make small changes to improve your workplace wellbeingDon’t forget to like, share and subscribe so you get notified every time a new episode is released! I aim to release one every month so stay tuned. If you’d like to be a guest you can get in touch via my Instagram @drdevikapatel. 

I am so excited (and nervous)  to release my first solo episode. The topic I've chosen is Love and Psychiatry and I explore the 6 areas below where I find love and mental health come together in my day-today work as a psychiatrist. I discuss: - Delusions of love, as a sign of mental illness.- Difficulty forming and maintaining loving relationships, as a feature of mental illness- Abuse disguised as love, and it's impact on mental health.- Compassion- focussed therapy, love as the centre of a talking based (psychological) therapy.- Love as part of the treatment for mental illness.-Love as my motto for giving compassionate and dignified care.I would love to hear your feedback. Please connect with me @drdevikapatel on Instagram so I can produce more episodes you'd find useful.A reminder, these podcasts are for educational purposes and not to be used as medical advice. They are also brief explanations of very complex topics, therefore not to be used to self-diagnose.If you have difficulties with your mental health please see a healthcare professional and seek emergency help.

In this episode, I’m joined by Adam Lubbock, more well-known as PT Lubbs, who is a  personal trainer and has founded his own gym alongside his lovely wife, Rose. The basis of the gym is to provide a holistic framework and foundation for health. We recorded this podcast in March/April 2022 so it has been a long time coming! It’s been so long since the recording that he has become a married man and a father! Here’s what we discussed:His intentional journey from being a school kid who didn’t enjoy school to successfully owning a value-based gym with his wife.The influence of open-minded parents on shaping children’s futures. Being aware of your privileges and using it to give back.Why Lubbs’ gym only runs morning classes?Why stopping drinking is the first step to improving your health.How we can create a safe space to allow people to stop drinkingWe recorded this in April 2022 and Lubbs continues to fly his flag on Instagram you can follow him @ptlubbs. Since our conversation in April 2022 I continued with reducing my alcohol and can confirm I am now teetotal and will be continuing on this journey. There have been some factors involved in making this decision and I’ll be sharing more in future podcasts. As always share this link with someone you think would find it useful and share your thoughts around the dinner table, when seeing friends let’s challenge our thoughts to move towards better well-being, both physical and mental. I hope this extraordinary story has inspired you to bring about some change in your life and move towards your highest potential. If you need support with stopping alcohol here are some useful links:https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.ukhttps://al-anonuk.org.ukhttps://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/

I’m kicking off the re-release with an episode with my sister, which I recorded all the way in July 2022! I was joined by my older sister Jaineesha, who has been kind enough to share her fertility journey with listeners. She is a bridal make-up artist, by profession and has an active Instagram following where she initially shared her story and, after getting quite a good reception, wanted to tell her story in a conversational format on the podcast.IVF and difficulty with conceiving remain a taboo topic, so hopefully, listening to this conversation, it can help you feel less alone in sharing your own struggles and to support others going through it. As a warning, it talks about pregnancy and IVF treatment, if you are going through your own difficulties, you may need to decide whether it is the right time to listen- everyone is different, and some may find the content triggering. We recorded this podcast when she was 34 weeks pregnant, she gave birth to my beautiful nephew Khush via a C-section at 40 weeks. In this podcast we explore:Jainee’s IVF journeyWhy she decided to go for IVFHow to talk about pregnancy or difficulty conceiving in sensitive ways. The pregnancy journey is personal to every person- avoid giving unsolicited advice!Mindset, diet and exercise in planning for healthy pregnancy and beyond. Importance of finding your support circle and talking to others. The book mentioned in the podcast is “Trying to get pregnant and succeeding” by Marisa Peers.You can follow Jaineesha’s story on her Instagram @jaineesha_

Philip McGweon is a 47-year-old Paediatric doctor (Children’s doctor) and spoke to me about his journey from having depression, through to recovery. These are exactly the conversations I want to put out there, to remind everyone, that you are not alone, there is a name for what you are feeling, and recovery is possible. These are some of the topics we covered:Mental health and wellbeing in the NHS 20 years ago. The landscape of junior doctor training in the 2000’sThe insidious nature of depressionTaking anti-depressants and seeing a psychiatrist. Medication stigma amongst doctors.Engaging with CBT.How Philip tried to manage by “pushing through” but this led to further deterioration. Problem with presenteeism.Journey of recovery through CBTImportance of sleep for recovery.Lifestyle measures- nutrition, nature, connection, and movement as part of a holistic recoveryCold water swimming for recoveryPost-traumatic growth state.The beautiful relationship and understanding he has with his daughter.The power of peer support groups and his experience with them.Stigma-sharing is the way to stop it. His plans for the future- getting back into work, staying well, and making sure others get the help. If you need support please check out these groups below which are for doctors and nurses. Book an appointment with your GP to explore talking therapies, antidepressants or an onward referral to a Psychiatrist. Men's peer support group:Humen Monday 6:30pm https://www.wearehumen.orgSupport for Health professionals:YouOkayDoc Huddle every Wednesday 7pm: https://youokaydoc.org.uk/huddle/ YouOkayNurse https://youokaynurse.org.ukDoctors in Distresshttps://doctors-in-distress.org.ukRoyal Medical  Benevolent Fund https://rmbf.orgTo connect with Philip:https://linktr.ee/Dr.mental.wealthInstagram  @dr.mental.wealthTwitter @DMentalWealthE-mail:  atom95149@gmail.comDonate for his next Sea Swim 5K in July for Great Ormond Streethttps://www.facebook.com/donate/1027984667824773/?fundraiser_source=external_urlDisclaimer: This podcast is not intended to substitute or serve as medical advice. These are my own opinions and experiences of my guests. Please see your own medical practitioner for support. 

Rachel is an Ayurvedic health coach and founder of Ramaveda, a UK based Ayurvedic natural preventative health company. Ramaveda's vision is to create a world where people are more connected to their bodies and emotions and feel empowered in their health. We believe that through Ayurvedic medicine we can all get well, and stay well, as we get older.This was an educational episode for me. I am taught one way of looking at mental illness and disease, through the l Western Medicine. I think episode my mind was opened to the idea of Ayurveda, which was an almost alien idea for me. I urge you to listen with curiosity, there’s nothing to lose and so much to learn. You will find so much of today's lifestyle medicine (diet, exercise, mindfulness, mindset) is based on core principles of Ayurveda. Rachel is taking on new clients and before releasing this episode I booked onto her programme. I hope to have her back so we can reflect on my experience and we can cover even more topics. These are some of the topics we covered in this episode:An introduction to Ayurveda as preventative medicine.3 Doshas explained., Colonialism and Ayurveda ANYTHING and EVERYTHING in your life can be medicine or poison to your life. How new beliefs by the nature of being new are difficult to believe. Leading with curiosity rather than for proof. Epigenetics and AyurvedaTrauma presenting as mental and physical health symptoms.Making pain your purpose.How Doshas translate into mental illness when in excess, or as wellness when in balance.Writing as a form of medicineHow mental illness can be understood as an imbalance Vata Dosha.How to use routine and journalling to re-balance DoshasImportance of 'mental digestion'How lifestyle medicine can be seen as originating from leading an Ayurvedic lifestyle.How Western and Eastern medicine can sit alongside each otherThe danger of not acknowledging the need for both Eastern and Western medicineThe pain of not living your purpose.Book mentioned in the podcast:Vasant Lad- Ayurvedic Home Remedies (https://www.ayurveda.com)How to connect with Rachel:Instagram @rachelramavedawww.rachelram.wixsite.comIf you would like toc connect with me:Instagram: @drdevikapatelhttps://www.drdevikaandrajiv.comhttps://www.drdevikaandrajiv.com/collections/all Join my course "Making Life Happen"There is a limited 50% off offer on all courses, until June 2023, so sign up to kick start your transformation journey. To keep updated with this podcast, don’t forget to follow/subscribe. Share it with a friend who would find it useful. 

In this episode, I'm joined by the incredible Matthew Bayliss. Although the episode is titled workplace wellbeing, as always, we cover so much more!After spending over eight years in the corporate world of senior HR/operations management Matt found himself climbing the wrong ladder, burnt out both physically and mentally ignoring his own values on prioritising his own health and wellbeing."A former competitive athlete focusing on my own health to be at its best was my number one focus. Then came the expectations of professional working life and the 50/60hr weeks to climb to whatever I defined as success."This led Matt to create "Designed by you" to unlock the potential of well-being to allow everyone to thrive both professionally and personally. This workplace well-being company is changing the culture of our workplaces. These are the topics we cover in today’s episode:-Practical workplace wellbeing -Wellbeing in the NHS-Wellbeing for the sake of wellbeing-Getting a “real” job, as defined by society-Climbing the wrong career ladder-Re-finding your true essence by exploring your childhood passions-Growing up as 90s baby and the scarcity mindset-Importance of play and joy in your career.-Working from a place of curiosity, rather than fear. -Exercise as a lifestyle change, rather than for an aesthetic goal-Taking small steps every day to improve your physical and mental health.If you would like to connect with Matt, see below:Instagram: @designedbyyou @mattbaylissptWebsite: www.designedbyou.co.uk Email: info@designedbyyou.co.ukMaking Life Happen: intentional living programme:If you would like to join the intentional living programme mentioned in this podcast, you can find more details here. Want to stay connected sign up to our newsletter for updates.There is a limited 50% off offer on all courses, until June 2022, so sign up to kick start your transformation journey by entering code EARLYBIRD50To keep updated with this podcast, don’t forget to follow/subscribe. Share it with a friend who would find it useful. 

This is a special bonus episode I recorded for Mothers Day. It's in Gujarati with, a few bits of English where I got stuck!In this episode we just talk about her life journey, the ups and downs and reflect on the power of sharing stories, and what happens when we don't. I want this episode to be heard by women across the world who speak Gujarati, so they can feel heard, talk to their daughters and sons about their life experiences and reflect on the beliefs they hold. We can only progress when we question and debate these interesting topics. I hope it inspires more conversation and sharing. It has inspired me to improve my Gujarati speaking skills and make sure the art of this language is not lost. Forgive me for my poor grammar, use of slang and poor pronunciation. The topics we briefly touch on our:- getting married- life changes after having children-parenting for immigrant parents-SEX-periods-relationships with in-laws-creating a life after the marriage of your children- sharing storiesDeciding to learn my mother tongue is one step in my journey of living intentionally. Check out our website www.drdevikaandrajiv.com where we talk about living life intentionally in all aspects of our lives.Join our free workshop on Sunday 10th April to find out more, on how to be the best version of yourself.https://www.drdevikaandrajiv.com/pages/making-life-happen-free-workshop

Seema De Jorge-Chopra was born and bred in London; she is a mother, a movement coach and a kathak dancer. She is passionate about helping women to connect with their physical & mental health and promotes the benefits of strength training for all. \In this episode, we take a journey through womanhood. These are the topics we cover:Birth trauma, C-sections, birth plans, hypnobirthing.Transitioning from womanhood to motherhood.Generational patterns and pressures.Motherhood during the lockdown.Returning to work after giving birth.COVID allows for rest and reflection.The perimenopause and the menopause.Exercise for the menopause.Adapting exercises to your menstrual cycle.The menopause and HRT.Being aware of the different phases in your cycle.Being at peace with your period and changing cultural periods. My personal experience of the oral contraceptive pill.Expectations of roles in parenthood and careers.Gender roles in a marriage.The true essence of YOU.Here are some useful links related to the topics we have discussed. Birth better- https://www.makebirthbetter.orgMenopuse-  https://www.newsonhealth.co.uk/resources/#factsheetsExercise for depression: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/exercise-for-depression/ Menopause and exercise: https://www.balance-menopause.com/menopause-library/055-exercise-the-menopause-janette-cardy-dr-louise-newson/ If you want to connect with Seema, follow the links below:@seemadejorgechopra www.seemadejorge-chopra.comJoin our Making Life Happen Workshop:Sign up to the workshop on Sunday 10th April using this link.Learn 5 steps to create your 12 month action planCreate meaningful intentionsDiscover the why behind your actionsMake those dreams into your reality.Start living life, for YOU.www.drdevikaandrajiv.com

In this episode I spoke to Sajni who bravely shared her story of recovering from anxiety and panic attacks. We covered:AnxietyPanic attacksSeeking helpTriggersGrounding techniquesUsing reflectionWork place cultureSmall step to manage anxiety. On episode 2, Rajiv my husband and I spoke about a new offering for this community. We hosted one very successful workshop and will be doing one more free workshop on Sunday 10th April to get to thinking differently about life, and live life intentionally. It’s for everyone willing to take honest look at their life and ready to make small steps.  Sign up here.This is what others had to say about out workshop:"Feeling refreshed and intentional about areas of life that are important to me.""Was lovely session, and a great introduction to what an intentional life can look like.""Very focused & inspiring.""Excellent well thought out workshop that has challenged my usual mindset.Read more reviews here. If you want to join the membership programme, use code EARLYBIRD50 till 24th April for 50% off every package. Check out what's included here.For any queries email us on hello@drdevikaandrajiv.comIf you require any help for your mental health, seek support from your GP, mental health professional or call Samaritans on116 123Disclaimer: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

This is a super exciting episode, as I get to interview my husband but also share about our small business  we are launching. It's been a few months in the making and you can hear more about it in the episode. It's all about living your life with intention, on your terms, with frequent reflections. Not living the life society dictates for us or we've been taught to believe is good for us. To celebrate the launch of our business we are hosting a free workshop, to introduce what we will be offering. Details below!Making Life Happen: Free introduction workshopDate: Sunday 6th MarchTime: 10:30amLocation: VirtualTo register click here .Our website is live, check it out here. You can subscribe to our newsletter and updates to stay connected.You can listen to the rest of the podcast directly on the website too, by following this link.We are so excited to have you join us on our journey. Episode 3 will be with amazing guest Sajni, who generously shares her experiences of overcoming anxiety. 

In this first episode, in conversation with my Dad, Yashwant Patel, we explore his early life experiences and how it has shaped his career. He is a transformation coach but his career started as a youth worker, then progressed to provide training for social services. He has used these experiences to develop his own business over the last 35 years, helping people tap into their highest potential. Whether that's overcoming physical or mental illness, or helping them thrive at work, in relationships or in difficult times in their lives. He shares stories from clients he has worked with, to show you, we all have the power to self-destruct and self-build. From trauma, there is both growth and disorder, how we harness these experiences, can help us give back  to society, or pull back from society. He ends the conversation with some simple exercise you can try, which can transform how you lead your life. Answer these 3 questions by reflecting on them for 3-4 weeks. 1) Who have I outsourced my life to?2) What brings me joy?3) What is the key contribution I want to make to humanity?Secondly, write 18 positive words to describe yourself. I hope you enjoyed this conversation as much as I did. These were the typical conversations we had on the commute to school, which I dearly miss, but now I get to share them with you all. Website: www.yashwantpatel.comWe will be back with a part two. Share and leave a review. Send it to someone who needs to hear this. Connect with me on Instagram @drdevikapatel

I've kept this episode nice and simple, but also quite vague.  I don't want to be limited by the content I will discuss, but in short it will cover the spectrum of severe mental illness to human flourishing. I am a Psychiatry training, working in the UK and I hope you can learn from these deep insightful conversation, where people shared their lived experiences of mental illness, to mental flourishing. We are all living extraordinary lives everyday, let's use this platform to share. If you the like the sound of this, follow with your friends and family. If you'd like to be a guest, connect with me on Instagram @drdevikapatel.I will be releasing a new episode every month. Thank you for your encouragement and support!