Category: Episode

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#15 Stress, Drugs and Rigmarole, Epilepsy At Work With Kyle

epilepsy at work mental health podcast

Grand mal epileptic seizures are a serious business, often leaving someone on the floor convulsing. They’re scary for people around them and very dangerous for those who experience them. Kyle’s been living with them for nearly 20 years. Despite that length of time, it’s only recently he’s to come to terms with the fact that epilepsy at work is a condition you need to take seriously and manage carefully.

Listen To Episode 15

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:36 — 25.4MB)

Show Notes

Kyle’s resistance to managing epilepsy isn’t through a lack of knowledge. For example, his mother has it and his two sisters take medication as a precaution against it.  The resistance comes from something deeper, the resistance we all have to admitting that there’s some part of us that doesn’t work right. That’s something that we must eventually learn to accept to begin the healing process.

In this episode of Silent Superheroes, we hear about Kyle’s first grand mal seizure and what triggers them. In addition to his triggers, Kyle shares what it’s like to experience a seizure, and how long it takes him to recover.  And he also reflects on different places he’s worked and how some have been better and many have been worse for managing epilepsy at work.

Links

About Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder in which abnormal brain activity can cause a variety of symptoms, for example seizures, unusual sensations, or sometimes loss of awareness. Anyone can develop epilepsy and it affects men and woman of all races, ethnic backgrounds and ages.

Seizure symptoms can vary widely. Some people with epilepsy simply stare blankly for a few seconds during a seizure, while others repeatedly twitch their arms or legs. Most people with epilepsy can be treated with medication or surgery. Some people with with epilepsy require lifelong treatment to control seizures. For others, the seizures eventually go away.

Getting Support

Remember, the people you hear on Silent Superheroes are sharing their opinions about mental health and mental illness. They are not giving advice. For that reason, please consult with your care provider before making a change to your treatment approach.

It’s important to take your mental health seriously. Consequently, if you need to speak to someone you can call 1-800-273-8255, or text crisistextline.org on 741741. Both provide 24×7 confidential counseling to people in the United States. Worldwide visit http://iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/

Because you listened to the  podcast, you can help others find it by leaving us a review on iTunes. Or if you don’t use iTunes, leave a review on your favorite podcasting service.

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#14 Drums, Depression and a Dog, with Kristina Schiano

depression Kristina Schiano mental health podcast

Kristina Schiano is a professional drummer who at 23 years old has built a following of more than 750,000 subscribers to her Youtube channel. Her most popular video has been watched more than 10 million times.  These are remarkable achievements and even more remarkable when you consider periods of anxiety as a teenager left her housebound. In a fan Q&A session, one of her fans asked about her mental health which lead Kristina Schiano to reveal her depression to her fans.

Listen To Episode 14

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:52 — 24.1MB)

Show Notes

In this episode of Silent Superheroes, we’ll hear about Kristina’s on again, off again relationship with treatment. She’ll explain how anxiety and depression mix with a life lived on camera and social media. We’ll hear how Kristina Schiano manages her depression and anxiety, and she’ll share practical advice for getting through the more difficult times.

Links

About Depression

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. This disorder is also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression. Depression affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. Because of those problems, you may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn’t worth living.

More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn’t a weakness and you can’t simply “snap out of”. Depression may require long-term treatment but don’t get discouraged. Most people with depression feel better with medication, psychotherapy or both. People fare best when they commit to working with depression.

Getting Support

Remember, the people you hear on Silent Superheroes are sharing their opinions about mental health and mental illness. They are not giving advice. For that reason, please consult with your care provider before making a change to your treatment approach.

It’s important to take your mental health seriously. Consequently, if you need to speak to someone you can call 1-800-273-8255, or text crisistextline.org on 741741. Both provide 24×7 confidential counseling to people in the United States. Worldwide visit http://iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/

Because you listened to the  podcast, you can help others find it by leaving us a review on iTunes. Or if you don’t use iTunes, leave a review on your favorite podcasting service.

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#13 When A Good Night’s Sleep Isn’t Enough – Narcolepsy At Work

narcolepsy at work mental health at work

As Shannon read the driving direction, she fell asleep again. This wasn’t the first time, in fact, she’d done it after every direction. Her inability to stay awake had become a problem, and she finally to finally see a doctor. The doctor informed her she has narcolepsy. It hadn’t just affected road trips with her boyfriend. She’d also been wrestling with narcolepsy at work.

Listen To Episode 13

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 46:28 — 26.1MB)

Show Notes

Narcolepsy is a rare neurological condition that disrupts sleep patterns. Disrupted sleep leads to sleep attacks, the sudden need to sleep during the day. It can also cause sleep hallucinations and sometimes cataplexy, which is sudden loss of muscle control.  These symptoms all make it challenging to manage narcolepsy at work.

In this episode of Silent Superheroes, we’ll learn what narcolepsy and how it’s different than feeling sleepy a lot.  Shannon explains how and why she got diagnosed, and the surprising preferred way she manages narcolepsy at work. Shannon will share her experiences working with narcolepsy and share a few simple things that a business can do to support a narcoleptic employee.

Links

  • Geniuslink, the company Shannon co-founded (business)
  • The Research Is Clear, Long Hours Backfire (article)
  • Xyrem Patent Dispute (article)

About Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder in which sufferers have overwhelming daytime drowsiness and sudden attacks of sleep. People with narcolepsy often find it difficult to stay awake for long periods of time, regardless of the circumstances. Narcolepsy can cause serious disruptions in your daily routine. Sometimes, narcolepsy can be accompanied by a sudden loss of muscle tone (cataplexy), which can be triggered by strong emotion, for example laughing.

Narcolepsy is a chronic condition for which there’s no cure. However, medications and lifestyle changes can help you manage the symptoms. Also, support from others — family, friends, employers, teachers — can help cope with narcolepsy.

Getting Support

Remember, the people you hear on Silent Superheroes are sharing their opinions about mental health and mental illness. They are not giving advice. For that reason, please consult with your care provider before making a change to your treatment approach.

It’s important to take your mental health seriously. Consequently, if you need to speak to someone you can call 1-800-273-8255, or text crisistextline.org on 741741. Both provide 24×7 confidential counseling to people in the United States. Worldwide visit http://iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/

Because you listened to the  podcast, you can help others find it by leaving us a review on iTunes. Or if you don’t use iTunes, leave a review on your favorite podcasting service.

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#12 Purgatory in Paris – The Road To A Mental Health ERG

mental health ERG mental health podcast

Max was 20, in an unfamiliar neighborhood in Paris, thousands of miles from home, desperately unhappy and in tears. More than a decade later he was founding a mental health ERG. This is his story.

Listen To Episode 12

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 54:14 — 31.0MB)

Show Notes

Depression can take a grip on anyone, at any time. Imagine being a 20 year old student, doing an internship in a foreign country that involves calling hairdressers all day and asking them how much a haircut costs. In addition to a boring internship, your family, friends and new girlfriend are thousands of miles away, and your host family is mainly in it for the money. These are the circumstances that overwhelmed Max and lead him to wander the streets of Paris in his depression. Fortunately, Max is the son of a clinical psychologist and he recognized the signs of depression. On returning to the US, he sought care and began a program of treatment.

In this episode of Silent Superheroes, Max tells the story of his internship in Paris that lead him to seek treatment for depression and anxiety. Because he’s tried many medications, he’ll talk about some of the more serious side effects he’s experienced with them. He’ll also talk about some of the questionable therapists he’s worked with and we’ll discuss the complexity of mental health care under the US healthcare system. Max will share his plan for his Mental Health ERG (Employee Resource Group) at Limeaid.

CORRECTIONS : Max asked to correct two things he said in the recording. Klonopin is a Schedule IV drug, not Schedule I as he said in the recording. In addition to that correction, Gregory Peck was chairman of the American Cancer Society.

Note. If you organize a mental health ERG at your workplace I’d love to talk to you. Please reach out at [email protected].

Getting Support

Remember, the people you hear on Silent Superheroes are sharing their opinions about mental health and mental illness. They are not giving advice. For that reason, please consult with your care provider before making a change to your treatment approach.

It’s important to take your mental health seriously. Consequently, if you need to speak to someone you can call 1-800-273-8255, or text crisistextline.org on 741741. Both provide 24×7 confidential counseling to people in the United States. Worldwide visit http://iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/

Because you listened to the  podcast, you can help others find it by leaving us a review on iTunes. Or if you don’t use iTunes, leave a review on your favorite podcasting service.

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#11 The Monster Behind You – Living And Working With BPD

working with bpd mental health podcast

“It’s not you, you just don’t see the giant monster behind you that I’m reacting to”

Kellie Wagner, CEO @ Collective

What do you know about Borderline Personality Disorder? The answer to that question for most people is “not a lot”. So, why do we know so little compared to other mental illnesses like anxiety and depression? One reason is that BPD only occurs in around 1% of the population, so you’re less likely to run into someone who has it. The more likely reason is that that people working with BPD don’t speak up.

Listen To Episode 11

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:54 — 31.9MB)

Show Notes

Popular culture likes to portray BPD in the most extreme way possible, for example, Glenn Close boiling a pet rabbit in the movie Fatal Attraction. If that was the first thing someone might remember if you said “I have BPD”, would you go around telling people?

In this episode of Silent Superheroes, Kellie shares some of her personal experiences working with BPD, the tools she uses to manage it, and some of the ways it’s affected her career. Above all, we’ll learn that working BPD is manageable, and is compatible with forging a successful career.

Links

  • Collective D&I Consultancy (website)
  • NIMH Overview of Borderline Personality Disorder (resource)
  • I Hate You, Don’t Leave Me by Jerold J Kreisman (book)
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (resource)
  • BPD Family (organization)
  • Kellie’s social (LinkedIn)

About Working With BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder)

Borderline personality disorder is a mental health disorder that impacts the way you think and feel about yourself and others. It causes problems functioning in everyday life, for example, problems with self-image, difficulty managing emotions and behavior, and a pattern of unstable relationships.

People with borderline personality disorder, you have an intense fear of abandonment or instability, and may have difficulty tolerating being alone. On the other hand, inappropriate anger, impulsiveness and frequent mood swings may push others away.

There is an age component to Borderline personality disorder. Firstly, Borderline personality disorder usually begins by early adulthood. Secondly, the condition seems to be worse in young adulthood and may gradually get better with age. In conclusion, many people with this disorder get better over time with treatment and can learn to live satisfying lives.

Getting Support

Remember, the people you hear on Silent Superheroes are sharing their opinions about mental health and mental illness. They are not giving advice. For that reason, please consult with your care provider before making a change to your treatment approach.

It’s important to take your mental health seriously. Consequently, if you need to speak to someone you can call 1-800-273-8255, or text crisistextline.org on 741741. Both provide 24×7 confidential counseling to people in the United States. Worldwide visit http://iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/

Because you listened to the  podcast, you can help others find it by leaving us a review on iTunes. Or if you don’t use iTunes, leave a review on your favorite podcasting service.

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#10 Healing From PTSD and the Trauma of Sexual Assault

healing from ptsd mental health podcast

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in five women will be a victim of rape at some point in their lives. If that number shocks you, it’s because many victims of sexual assault and rape cope with their trauma in silence. In 2017, the silence broke as women started speaking out on social media through the #metoo movement. Now the healing from PTSD can begin.

Listen To Episode 10

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:31 — 29.2MB)

Show Notes

In this episode of Silent Superheroes, we meet Lauren, a software engineer from Australia who was a victim of rape as a teenager, leaving her with PTSD. Unable to tell anyone for more than a year, Lauren dropped out of high-school and struggled with panic attacks. Eventually, her journey of healing from PTSD began by writing a letter about her experience to her mum. Lauren has come to terms with her trauma through psychologists offices, medication, and with the support of family, friends and now colleagues. While coming to terms with her trauma, she studied to be a software engineer, and is now forging a successful career in technology.

Links

  • Finding a psychiatrist in Australia and New Zealand (resource)
  • National Sexual Violence Research Center (resource )

About PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

People who go through traumatic events may have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping. Fortunately, with time and good self-care, they usually get better. If the symptoms get worse, last for months or even years, and interfere with your day-to-day functioning, you may have PTSD. In that case, it is important to get effective treatment after PTSD symptoms develop. Getting treatment can be critical to reduce symptoms and improve function.

Getting Support

Remember, the people you hear on Silent Superheroes are sharing their opinions about mental health and mental illness. They are not giving advice. For that reason, please consult with your care provider before making a change to your treatment approach.

It’s important to take your mental health seriously. Consequently, if you need to speak to someone you can call 1-800-273-8255, or text crisistextline.org on 741741. Both provide 24×7 confidential counseling to people in the United States. Worldwide visit http://iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/

Because you listened to the  podcast, you can help others find it by leaving us a review on iTunes. Or if you don’t use iTunes, leave a review on your favorite podcasting service.

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#9 Accepting Yourself and Accommodating Employees – ADHD

accommodating employees with adhd

“I don’t want to be anybody else, I want to be me.” – Scott

Scott is part of an active ADHD community on Twitter, focusing on ADHD advocacy in the UK.  It was while working as an online bingo presenter a colleague suggested he might be on the autistic spectrum, and that suggestion put Scott on his path to his ADHD diagnosis.  Now, Scott is no longer content with “fitting in” and isn’t going to apologize for his ADHD. Because of this, Scott advocates on behalf of the ADHD community for greater acceptance of the condition and the people who live with it.

Listen To Episode 9

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:58 — 24.4MB)

Show Notes

In this episode, Scott walks us through his journey from disruptive kid, through cruise host, online bingo caller and customer service in a call center. We also talk about the US and UK mental health care systems, concluding that they’re different and neither is good.  Scott tells us about his movie “Misunderstood”, currently in development, about a character with ADHD. Finally, Scott and I discuss his communities answer to the question “How could employers do a better job of accommodating employees with ADHD?”

Links

About ADHD

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic condition that affects millions of children and often continues into adulthood. ADHD includes a combination of persistent problems, such as difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior.

Children with ADHD may also struggle with low self-esteem, troubled relationships and poor performance in school. Symptoms sometimes lessen with age. However, some people never completely outgrow their symptoms and experience ADHD at work. But they can learn strategies to be successful.

While treatment won’t cure ADHD, it can help a great deal with symptoms. Treatment typically involves medications and behavioral interventions. Early diagnosis and treatment can make a big difference in outcome.

Getting Support

Remember, the people you hear on Silent Superheroes are sharing their opinions about mental health and mental illness. They are not giving advice. For that reason, please consult with your care provider before making a change to your treatment approach.

It’s important to take your mental health seriously. Consequently, if you need to speak to someone you can call 1-800-273-8255, or text crisistextline.org on 741741. Both provide 24×7 confidential counseling to people in the United States. Worldwide visit http://iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/

Because you listened to the  podcast, you can help others find it by leaving us a review on iTunes. Or if you don’t use iTunes, leave a review on your favorite podcasting service.

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#8 Getting Men’s Mental Health Out of The Shadows

men's mental health podcast

Competitive, adventurous, life of the party, a rock.

All things friends might have said about Reid before, through the course of a year, he experienced a series of setbacks: a close friend died, he was laid off and he broke his arm while snowboarding.  Those setbacks put him in a depression that robbed him of his interest in family, friends and getting up into the mountains.

Listen To Episode 8

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 51:07 — 29.5MB)

Show Notes

Armed with a diagnosis, Reid tackled depression like any injury: repair, rehab and build the muscle that reduces the risk of further injury.  Now, as a result of directing the video “Shadows : A Conversation About Men’s Mental Health”, Reid has become a mental health advocate. He encourages men to share their experience of struggling with mental health.

In this episode of Silent Superheroes, Reid and I discuss why men aren’t good at talking about their feelings.  We make the case that mental and physical health are the same. Reid shares the support he got for mental health at the tech company he works for, and gives a template for the experience everyone should have managing mental health at work.

Links

About Depression

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. This disorder is also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression. Depression affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. Because of those problems, you may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn’t worth living.

More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn’t a weakness and you can’t simply “snap out of”. Depression may require long-term treatment but don’t get discouraged. Most people with depression feel better with medication, psychotherapy or both. People fare best when they commit to working with depression.

Getting Support

Remember, the people you hear on Silent Superheroes are sharing their opinions about mental health and mental illness. They are not giving advice. For that reason, please consult with your care provider before making a change to your treatment approach.

It’s important to take your mental health seriously. Consequently, if you need to speak to someone you can call 1-800-273-8255, or text crisistextline.org on 741741. Both provide 24×7 confidential counseling to people in the United States. Worldwide visit http://iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/

Because you listened to the  podcast, you can help others find it by leaving us a review on iTunes. Or if you don’t use iTunes, leave a review on your favorite podcasting service.

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#7 Resoul Revolution – Anorexia and Working With Depression

working with depression mental health podcast

Meet Rachel. She’s a coach and the founder of the Resoul Revolution, a transformational retreat for women in leadership.  Rachel is one of millions of people working with depression. In this episode, Rachel tells us about the dark force she experienced as a child but because she didn’t understand it, she described it as a curse that followed her into her adult life. The dark force came and went without obvious cause and she didn’t know what it was. The dark force showed itself in different ways, for example anorexia, bad relationships and getting laid off from work.

Listen To Episode 7

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:51 — 26.1MB)

Show Notes

Rachel tried to escape the dark force by making jewelry and becoming a coach, but when it didn’t go away she turned to face it. Following that experience, she now calls it by a different name, depression. She coaches other people working with depression. Then, she tells us how working with depression influences her as a coach, and introduces her new project, the Resoul Revolution.

Links

About Depression

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. This disorder is also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression. Depression affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. Because of those problems, you may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn’t worth living.

More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn’t a weakness and you can’t simply “snap out of”. Depression may require long-term treatment but don’t get discouraged. Most people with depression feel better with medication, psychotherapy or both. People fare best when they commit to working with depression.

Getting Support

Remember, the people you hear on Silent Superheroes are sharing their opinions about mental health and mental illness. They are not giving advice. For that reason, please consult with your care provider before making a change to your treatment approach.

It’s important to take your mental health seriously. Consequently, if you need to speak to someone you can call 1-800-273-8255, or text crisistextline.org on 741741. Both provide 24×7 confidential counseling to people in the United States. Worldwide visit http://iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/

Because you listened to the  podcast, you can help others find it by leaving us a review on iTunes. Or if you don’t use iTunes, leave a review on your favorite podcasting service.

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#6 Living In The Time of Not Enoughness – Depression

how to manage depression at work mental health podcast

Throughout his career, Kent always tried to help people understand the “why” for their work. That desire lead him to be a recruiter and then an HR leader. It was while leading an HR team that the competing demands of “the system” of work and his own “why” came into conflict. Frozen by the side of the road on his way to work, Kent found himself at the edge of oblivion.  He reinvented himself as an Agent of Evolutionary Change. Now he works with individuals, leaders and organizations, helping them navigate the increasing speed and complexity of modern work through continued personal and professional development. And, while the depression hasn’t left him, he’s learned how to manage depression at work by treating every moment of joy or sadness as a workout. That workout is helping him build the muscle that keeps depression at bay.

Listen To Episode 6

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:34 — 28.4MB)

Links

  • WHO Report “Depression Is The Leading Cause of Disability” (article)
  • David White “The Three Marriages: Reimagining Work, Self and Relationship” (book)
  • Deloitte 2018 Human Capital Report “The Symphonic C-suite” (article)
  • Lenny Kravitz – Dream (song)

About Depression

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. This disorder is also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression. Depression affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn’t worth living.

More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn’t a weakness and you can’t simply “snap out of”. Depression may require long-term treatment but don’t get discouraged. Most people with depression feel better with medication, psychotherapy or both. They can learn how to manage depression at work.

Getting Support

Remember, the people you hear on Silent Superheroes are sharing their opinions about mental health and mental illness. They are not giving advice. For that reason, please consult with your care provider before making a change to your treatment approach.

It’s important to take your mental health seriously. Consequently, if you need to speak to someone you can call 1-800-273-8255, or text crisistextline.org on 741741. Both provide 24×7 confidential counseling to people in the United States. Worldwide visit http://iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/

Because you listened to the  podcast, you can help others find it by leaving us a review on iTunes. Or if you don’t use iTunes, leave a review on your favorite podcasting service.