Reality Tourists

Yes it's a filler episode because I am behind on my editing :P

Today Yvette and Hazel discuss the relitively contriversal topic of medication

welcome to what may well be our most embarassing episode...

In this episode Hazel and Yvette talk about they way sex is veiwed in society, wonder about any differences between the experiences of different genders, and speak of some of their own past experiences with hypersexuality.

It's embarassing but as a relitively common aspect of manic episodes it's a topic that we feel needs to be discussed more

WE'RE BACK!!!

Hi, guys, Reality Tourists is back with a whole new format, now there's 2 of us. Today we are doing a very quicj intro to us and the new format, and then usual service should resume.

As always do get in touch if you have a topic to suggest, request, or if you want to be a guest.

https://realitytourists.wordpress.com/

www.twitter.com/RealityTourists

RealityTouristsPodcast@gmail.com

We are back (or we will be VERY soon) and we are here to talk about the areas of mental illness that are often left out of the conversation. Get in touch with your suggestions and requests for topics, or if you are interested in being a guest

www.twitter.com/RealityTourists

In todays episode I will be taking several online screening tests for psychosis related conditions, just to see what's involved and out of curiosity to see how accurate they are. Ok, yes, it is a filler episode... I hope you still find it interesting though

There is a common misconception that "schizophrenia is multiple personalities" so in todays guest myself and my guest will discuss our experiences of psychosis and dissociation to try to figure out where we are the same and where we differ and work out why people often confuse the experiences.

Today we have a return guest as Tiffany is back from episode 2 "growing up with schizophrenia" 

This episode was meant  to be about the misconception that "schizophrenia is multiple  personalities" but we went off topic and realised that we don't have the  knowledge to do this topic justice 😅 so we ended up discussing stigma,  media portrayal and a bit about our own experiences of dissociation,  voice hearing and general misconceptions around schizophrenia.

Today I am chatting with Mel ( @BipolarNerdGirl ) about her experiences of both bipolar and OCD along with why she started blogging and the difficutlies she's had in gaining support while being deemed as "high functioning"

Mel can be found on twitter here - https://twitter.com/bipolarnerdgirl

and her website with her blogs is here - https://bipolarnerdgirl.ghost.io/

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We are always on the look out for guests to come onto our podcast, if you would like to come on and have a chat about your experiences, or if you would like to come talk to me about a specific area of your life and how mental illness has effectedd it please ger in touch, the easiest way to find me is via my twitter @AnLasair or through the podcasts email RealityTouristsPodcast@gmail.com (though twitter DMs are likely to get a faster reply) 

part 2 of our episode all about being employed with psychosis. In this episode I specifically ask what is it that my two guests feel has enabled them to work and what advice they have for listeners. 

Welcome to part one of our episode all about employment!

Only around 8% of people with psychosis are in employment, so what is the secret of these 8%? What are the barriers faced and what can be done to help?

In todays episode I talk to 2 guests who work despite their psychosis about their experiences and what things have helped them be able to beet the odds and not only gain but also maintain employment.

In this episode I speak with Peter about his experiences of psychosis and his preventative methods. We also touch on the role of medication, society, different mental health systems and even capitalism. A lot of stuff was covered in these 45 minuets!

Links to things referenced in the podcast -

Orygen - https://www.orygen.org.au/

The stability network - https://www.thestabilitynetwork.org/

Today I am speaking with Graham Morgan. Blogger, writer, and heavily involved in policy making for Scotland, Graham has led a fascinating life and also happens to have schizophrenia. In todays episode we discuss his life and what things he finds helpful, as well as talking about his upcoming book Blackbirds Signing

This episode needed to be delayed at the last second so although we are discussing the book as if it has not just come out it actually came out at the start of September 2022 and can now be bought from multiple outlets

Grahams website - https://graeme7052.wixsite.com/gmorgan

Grahams story on our blog - https://realitytourists.wordpress.com/2022/06/30/59-year-old-man-with-decades-of-compulsory-treatment-finds-a-joy-he-never-thought-he-could%ef%bf%bc/

The fledgling press who published Grahams book Start and are publishing his new book Blackbirds Singing - https://www.fledglingpress.co.uk/

In todays episode I am joined by Serenity (note this is their twitter handle not their real name) who in their own words in one of those "rare annoying people who manage to hole down a job"

In this episode we discuss Serenity's experiences around the mental health service, including medical notes getting lost, having to self advocate and the difficulties in being honest with professionals, as well as the fairly big topic of being able to engage in education and employment while having a serious mental illness. We also discover that we both have a similar issue in that being bored can be a huge trigger for us getting ill! 

Serenity has chosen to be anonymous due to the potential effects disclosure could have on their life and career, here at Reality Tourists we fully understand and accept that this level of stigma does exist and is a serious issue. As such we ask that if you know who todays guest is or recognise their voice that you do not out them publicly.  

In todays episode I am talking with Dr Rachel Pruchno, the author of Beyond Madness; the pain and possibilities of mental illness. 

Dr Pruchno is a research psychologist who studies successful aging as her day job, but who has a strong interest and passion for opening up the conversation about mental illness and has written this book as a part of this goal. In it she uses her own experiences with her family as well as several "heroes" to explain the often complex world of mental illness and to distil the research into a way that can be understood by anyone. As she puts it in her book her education taught her a lot about mental health but her family taught her a lot about mental illness

We discuss not only her book but also some of the differences (and similarities) between America and the UK, a few models of care, medication, and even mental illness and violence. 

Beyond Madness on amazon - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Madness-Possibilities-Serious-Illness/dp/1799799514

In todays episode I am joined by Yvette.

Yvette is a journalist and the co-host of the metro podcast Mentally Yours. She also happens to have bipolar disorder, experiencing delusions within her manic episodes. 

Mentally Yours on spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6qCGowS3fs0qFYMlxczxC5

*Spoiler warning for series 4 of Stranger Things*

In this episode I am speaking with Tiffany

Tiffany is diagnosed with schizophrenia, and has experienced the symptoms of psychosis from a very early age. In todays episode I will speak with her about what this was like, how its effected her life, and how she feels about her psychosis.

*Warning - there are references to suicidal thinking, suicide attempts and disordered eating within this episode*

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