There are times in our lives when we feel isolated. It can be due to a relationship breakdown, friendship breakdown, moving cities or becoming a new mum.

It can feel like you’re alone in those moments, but really it’s the story we tell ourselves.

We might be on our own but we are not alone.

Today I talk about my own experiences with feeling lonely and some of the ways I got through those feelings, like:

• Learning to enjoy being by yourself
• Getting out of the house and interacting with strangers
• Joining groups or clubs
• Just being around people, like a cafe
• Calling a support line like Friendline https://friendline.org.au/

📸 Follow on IG @anita_carr

We all know the basics of first aid, and what to do in an emergency, but do we have the skills and tools to administer first aid for our own or someone else’s mental health?

Today I talk to Sarah McQuillan from Healthy Minds who teaches mental health first aid across WA.

We talk about how everyone is qualified to care. We don’t need to have a step by step manual on how to have a conversation with a friend, colleague or loved one if you are worried about them. You care, and that’s enough.

How being curious not judgemental is a skill we were never taught but is important to learn no matter what your age.

We go through some things you can do if you notice you are struggling with your own mental health which includes:

💛 Noticing how long you’ve been feeling this way (If it’s over 4 weeks, you might want to consider consulting a professional)

💛 Knowing who your 5 emotional support people are that you can reach out to in a time of need

You can find Sarah on Instagram @healthyminds_co and on her website https://healthyminds.com.au/

There are some amazing helplines and resources at the below organisations. Don’t ever be afraid to reach out to one of them for yourself or for someone you are worried about.

Lifeline 13 11 14

https://wa.lifeline.org.au/

https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

1800 RESPECT

https://1800respect.org.au/

📸 Follow on IG @anita_carr

⭐️ I wasn’t sure what part was ADHD and what part was me? ⭐️

A diagnosis of any kind can throw us. For me, an ADHD diagnosis questioned my reality of who I was and the role my ADHD played in shaping my personality, or were they one on the same? I really didn’t know.

In today's episode, we explore what ADHD is, how it can create an identity crisis and what helped me embrace the ADHD in me:

🔥Knowing what works for you

🔥Sensory Profile

🔥Acceptance

🌱 RESOURCES

Von Willebrand Disease is a genetic bleeding disorder.

Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder, caused by a deficiency or defect in von Willebrand factor (VWF), a protein crucial for blood clotting. Symptoms include easy bruising, prolonged bleeding from cuts, heavy or long menstrual periods, and frequent nosebleeds. Diagnosis is made through special blood tests, and treatment varies depending on the type and severity, ranging from medicines and hormones to simply monitoring symptom

https://www.bleeding.org/bleeding-disorders-a-z/types/von-willebrand-disease

I understand ADHD as having less neurotransmitters than a neurotypical person which means we don’t make enough or it or it’s not delivered effectively. This is my personal understanding but there are plenty of other more detailed and scientific, explanations that are really interesting.

If you want to look into it more, here are few links I’ve found useful.

The Attention Deficit Association explains the differences in an ADHD brain and a neurotypical brain. https://add.org/adhd-brain/

https://www.mentalhealthacademy.com.au/blog/adhd-vs-neurotypical-brains-implications-for-therapists

📸 Follow on IG @anita_carr

⭐️ So often women don’t have the energy or the resources to really consider the glue that holds them together ⭐️

We can find it difficult to get really clear on what our self identity is outside of certain roles, outside of people pleasing or outside of performing certain tasks.

In this episode we explore ways to claim yourself back again, including:

🔥 Your own version of meditation

🔥 Finding your core values

🔥 Dating (Controversial, but it helped me)

🌱 RESOURCES

Value Sort Cards:

https://www.motivationalinterviewing.org/sites/default/files/valuescardsort_0.pdf

Instructions:

Print, cut out and sort into piles of Very Important to me, Important to me and Not important to me. The Very important to me list, place in order of importance, and there you will find your top 5 values to live by daily.

📸 Follow on IG @anita_carr

⭐️ Nobody blows up their life on a whim ⭐️

Sometimes you get to a fork in the road of life. And in these moments you need to listen to what your body is telling you, or in my case was screaming at me! I wasn’t happy in my marriage, I had done everything possible to hold on to the family unit as I knew it, but it was time to let it go.

It led to disappointment and a change in dynamics from family and friends which felt confusing and lonely.

To push through these feelings and honour the desire to want more for my life, I did these three things..

🔥 Concentrated on how I wanted to feel

🔥 Sought information and advice from professionals

🔥 Noticed moments of joy

This episode is for anyone who feels they want more for their life, whether it is a separation or just a big life change, but is scared of the repercussions for themselves and/or their family.

📸 Follow on IG @anita_carr

⭐️ Welcome to the very first episode of Further. More! ⭐️

Have you ever felt like the life you are living isn’t the life you should be living? Because I did.

Five years ago, I knew something needed to change but I was stuck in self doubt. This episode I explore why I felt this way, how self doubt can keep you stuck and what I did to slowly pull myself out.

🌱 RESOURCES

I highly recommend getting yourself a copy of Glennon Doyle’s Untamed, which was a book that gave me the validation about my feelings that I needed to take action.

📸 Follow on IG @anita_carr