sidekick stories

In this episode we speak to Liam Stretton. Liam is a local builder from Cheltenham who originally shared his mental health journey on the Blindside documentary series about a group of people who found solidarity and camaraderie through playing rugby.

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In this episode we speak to Tizzy Philp about her experience with anxiety and panic attacks. Tizzy is the Global Director of Content for Valtech, a global digital agency.  

Tizzy began to suffer from panic attacks several years ago. She describes them vividly and tells us about her diagnosis of Generalised Anxiety Disorder. The attacks started on the tube and then progressed to all public transport and then even at home; culminating in an event at night where her mind was telling her to get out of bed, go downstairs and hurt herself.   

Tizzy sought help from a therapist to understand the root cause, after previously struggling with NHS talking therapies. A book called 'Jog On'' by Bella Mackie really helped her feel like she wasn’t alone and that other people understood how she felt. She now runs regularly for her mental health and sees this as part of a strong structure and routine to keep her centred when life’s challenges hit. 

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In this episode we speak to Jack Middlemore. Jack’s a rugby player who originally shared his mental health journey on the Blindside documentary series, about a group of people who found solidarity and camaraderie through playing rugby.

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In this episode we speak to Stephanie Harrison. Steph is an expert on happiness and wellbeing and the founder of the New Happy, a philosophy based on academic studies and original research to help you to find lasting happiness.  

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In this episode we talk to Georgie St Claire about digital wellbeing. Georgie is a digital wellbeing coach, artist and founder of swapthescroll.com helping people to use digital devices more mindfully.  

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In this episode we talk to Dr Eloise Crush about resilience. Elle is a psychologist whose research has focussed on psychological resilience.  

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In this episode we talk to Gwen Jones about social anxiety. Gwen is the founder of the Inspired Narrative - a website focussed on positive news, inspiring stories and personal development - giving a voice and a platform for others to share their stories and inspire others. Gwen is also a support worker at the UK charity Mind in Bath.

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In this episode we talk to Abby Rowe about writing to help yourself. Abby is an author and multi-passionate creative focussing on all things mental health.

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In this episode we talk to Naomi White about telling your story. Naomi is a PR coach & consultant and helps product and service-based businesses to get noticed, be heard, and become known, through the power of PR.

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In this episode we speak to Nikki Peterson. Nikki is a change, loss and grief coach who helps people to find a way to live with their grief. Through Nikki’s tragic own experience, a lot of her grief-work focuses on baby loss.  

Nikki tragically lost her first child at 6 days old. She talks about the grieving process and the importance of grief-focused counselling that helped her cope, feel more positive and eventually have another child.  

We discuss the sad statistics of miscarriages and the likelihood of mental health issues after someone has suffered a miscarriage. We also cover the lack of empathy and support from health services and employers that many experience after miscarriages, as well as how important exercise and journaling is when dealing with grief.  

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In this episode we talk to Andrew Embling about individual empowerment. Andrew is the Director of Wye Dean Wellbeing, a community interest company that provides wellbeing support to local communities in the west of the UK. 

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In this week's episode we talk to Marco Ricci, the founder of the platform 'Talking Mental Health' - which aims to make talking about mental health part of everyday conversations.

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In this week's episode we talk to Rachel Strivelli about breastfeeding & mental health. Rachel is a writer and an intuitive coach helping people to address feelings of guilt, imposter syndrome and inner-criticism.

2:31 Growing up with low-level anxiety and depression

5:10 Dealing with suicide of a friend

6:02 Getting help from a counselor to deal with panic attacks in college and at Rachel's first job

8:13 Identifying as a highly sensitive person

9:03 Taking in too many stimulants (coffee, tobacco) increased Rachel's panic attacks

12:24 Seasonal Affective Disorder and living in a rainy climate

14:18 Being willing to find a counselor who is a good fit - don't take it personally if the first counselor you have doesn't work for you

16:43 Receiving counseling is an investment in yourself and in your quality of life

18:48 Mental wellbeing as a new parent

21:46 Breastfeeding and Dysmorphic Milk Ejection Reflex (D-MER)

32:41 The relationship between lack of sleep and postpartum depression (PPD)

34:24 How I prioritize my mental health over other lifestyle choices

36:58 Supplements that I take that support mental wellbeing

38:22 Big picture encouragement & advice for new mom's around their wellbeing

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In this week's episode we talk to Cornelia Lucey about positive psychology. Cornelia is an author and an award-winning Leadership Consultant and Psychologist, delivering transformational positive psychology for large scale multinationals, SMEs and start-ups.

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On this week’s episode of sidekick stories, we’re speaking to Estelle Keeber, founder of Immortal Monkey, a support platform for business owners from startup to level up. 

From a young age, Estelle faced mental health struggles. Medication was prescribed, but as we know, medication is only part of the solution. Estelle found support in physical exercise, meditation and breathing exercises. These have helped her control her anxiety and feelings of overwhelm. 

In 2000 following the collapse of her business, she found herself collapsing too. With the right tools to support her mental health and the right mindset, she was able to found Immortal Monkey. 

A fantastic episode highlighting the importance of resilience and finding the right tools for your mental wellbeing. 

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This week we’re welcoming Bethany Robinson to sidekick stories. Bethany is a teacher, mental health advocate, CrossFit athlete, vlogger and blogger, and was a recruit on season 5 of the TV show, SAS: Who Dares Wins. And, in our opinion, she’s an all round role model!

In today’s episode, we talk about her mental health journey, which revolves around bipolar disorder, depression and an abusive relationship.

Bethany is a strong advocate for body positivity, and loving your body. This stems from her personal struggles with eating disorders and body dysmorphia. She has an inspirational story of losing 40kgs in just one year and changing her life, from being morbidly obese to an inspirational CrossFit athlete. 

Diet, exercise, relationships and sleep are the key ingredients in supporting Bethany’s positive mental health. She’s here to share her learnings and insight. Don’t miss it! 

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This week we’re speaking to none other than Danielle North. Danielle is the founder of Pause Global, a retreat and coaching company that inspires people to slow down and pause. In addition, she has written four books on mindfulness and meditation - helping her readers to prioritise mindfulness, calm and positive energy.

Danielle grew up in an environment with mental ill health surrounding her; in the form of eating disorders, violence and psychological abuse. Like many others, she realised that only she could take control of her feelings, and started her spiritual journey. This took her across the world - travelling, working, finding herself and developing herself. 

As always, we discuss what’s in her mental health toolkit - psychotherapy, meditation, nature, exercise and a healthy dose of courage. 

To find out more about Danielle’s retreats or to purchase her books, visit www.pauseglobal.com

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In episode 42 of sidekick stories we are talking to Ella Greenwood. Ella is a filmmaker, a mental health activist and an ambassador for stem4, a teen mental health charity.   

We welcome Ella on to our show and discuss her life. During her teen years, something changed and a shift happened in her mental health. Like many of us, she faced long waiting times for professional support. This formed her new way of thinking - the only one who can support her, is herself.   

Now a filmmaker, Ella takes the lessons learnt from work, proactiveness, into her mental health. Taking a proactive stance on your mental health, thoughts and feelings helps to identify triggers, aids understanding and ultimately will help lay the foundation of a better mental health.  

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Trigger warning: Please note this episode contains content about suicide. 

Teachers are instrumental in our society. Not only do they educate our children, they help to shape dreams and build confidence. However, it’s no secret that teaching is quite possibly one of the hardest jobs out there. 

This week we’re speaking to Ellie Frith. Ellie is a teacher and the founder and host of the Chewy Head podcast, a mental health psychology podcast based on her own mental health journey. 

Ellie found herself hospitalised after a breakdown caused by the results her pupils received. This breakdown had a severe impact on her self-worth and ultimately caused suicidal feelings. 

In this truly honest and eye-opening conversation, we focus on the importance of self-worth, taking care of yourself and how to achieve a more fulfilling life. 

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Suicide&Co, a charity that supports those bereaved by suicide, was set up by Amelia and Emma after they both suffered loss at the hands of suicide. And this week we’re joined by both to hear more about their story.

We learn more about the importance of talking, and sharing experiences. Amelia and Emma both experience catastrophic thinking as a result of their bereavement and share their tools with us. Breathing exercises, aromatherapy and journaling are their chosen coping mechanisms.

Suicide and suicide prevention are such crucial, yet difficult and dark topics, however the energy and colour Suicide&Co bring to the table really does make it an accessible and safe topic.

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This week we are talking to not one, but two incredible frontline workers, Dr Erica and Dr Linda. Dr Linda works as a NHS Emergency Medicine Doctor in A&E and Dr Erica is a NHS Primary Care Doctor. Together they founded ‘Afternoon Tea with Docs’ and set out to empower everyone to enjoy good health by bringing health experts to the table, over a hot cup of tea!

Being Board Certified Lifestyle Medicine Physicians, they introduce us to the holistic approach to medicine. We discuss some simple things that each and every one of us can do to support our mental health - aligning closely to our sidekick values with tools and tips to add to your mental health toolkit.

Recognising that prescribed drugs are crucial in treating mental health and supporting the symptoms, we start to look at the underlying problems that we as a society are not doing enough of. And more importantly, what we need to address to find a better solution to the ever-growing numbers.

This episode is a fantastic opportunity to hear from our health heroes on the frontline; getting their advice and wisdom to support our mental health conversations.

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Entrepreneurship is often glamourised in the media and many successful entrepreneurs have had their stories turned into Hollywood movies. But the reality is that it’s an incredibly difficult journey and one that undoubtedly has a significant impact on the mental health of the entrepreneur.

This week we are speaking to Shilpa Panchmatia, a successful entrepreneur who suffered from burnout whilst striving to continually perform at the highest level. She describes it as something that creeps up on you if you’re not careful and of the need to be constantly aware of how you’re feeling as you go through an entrepreneurial journey.

We discuss the importance of taking time every day to reflect and do activities that bring you joy, which for Shilpa is daily yoga practice, walks outside and journaling.

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Bullying can have a long term effect on your mental health, long into adulthood. There is still a lot of education required around bullying, and today’s episode provides some valuable insight into the impact and effects of bullying. 

This week we are speaking to Chloe Metzger, who was bullied at a young age. This had a huge impact on her self-confidence and self-esteem. Luckily she found support through mentoring and counselling, which provided her with the tools and medication she needed to lift her mood. 

We also discuss an accident during her time at university, which resulted in Fibromyalgia. Chloe struggles with this chronic pain everyday, and currently there is no cure. Throughout it all, Chloe is doing her best to remain positive and has found relief and comfort in reading and music. This is a must-hear episode for anyone who has experienced bullying, or has seen friends, family or loved ones go through it.

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Sleep... Many of us struggle with it, but do we really understand its impact on our mental and physical wellbeing? This week we’re speaking to Chris Bundell, a Strength and Conditioning Coach. In addition to helping his clients reach their sport and fitness goals, he also provides sleep advice to improve their athletic performance. 

In order to effectively train, you need to understand how you are feeling both physically and mentally and a big part of this, is maintaining good sleeping habits. In today’s episode we take a look at coping strategies and how we can build resilience and confidence to help us achieve our performance goals. If you’re looking to improve your performance, physically or mentally, then today’s episode of sidekick stories is for you!

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Are you struggling with anxiety? Then this week’s episode is a must for you! Heather Rider is an anxiety specialist who helps high achievers suffering from anxiety and perfectionism find the peace and emotional balance they want and need. Allowing them to live their life with confidence, stability and ease.

Having had high-functioning anxiety and perfectionism herself, Heather shares her journey with us. Suffering with a severe autoimmune illness, Heather realised that traditional medicinal approaches weren’t working and so she started to look at different ways and methods to treat and ease her anxiety.

Journaling and reiki are now a key part of her mental health toolkit and have truly transformed her recovery and mindset.

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This week we’re talking to Flo and learning about her history of coping with multiple mental and physical illnesses, and how this has shaped her daily routines.

Flo is a mental health campaigner, who we have been lucky enough to include on our blog! She is also a website content creator and an ambassador for MQ Mental Health, a UK charity that champions and funds world-class research to transform the lives of everyone affected by a mental health condition. It’s fair to say that Flo is a fantastic person!

At the young age of 8, Flo suffered a physical and mental breakdown which impacted her significantly. In total, she has been unfortunate enough to have been faced with 4 mental illnesses and 2 physical illnesses, which meant she was home-schooled and struggled with a lack of social interaction and friendships.

Flo has a really inspirational story and shows how with the right medication, exercise and long walks she has been able to build her resilience. We’ll be sharing more of Flo’s story on our sidekick blog this week - keep your eyes peeled!

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This week we’re talking to Roman Mironov. Roman suffered from depression for 2 years, after which he immersed himself in self-help books to develop better relationship skills following his divorce. 

Using his learnings, he is now a relationship coach. Helping his clients find and keep love in their life. Supporting his clients to bring passion and joy into their relationships and where sadly the relationships are over, he helps them recover and come out of the situation stronger. Something which sounds easy in practice, but takes time to perfect. 

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This is a special episode to celebrate International Women's Day 2021. One of our wonderful sidekick volunteers Heather chatted to Thalia from Botany&Books on Instagram Live this week - where they discussed mental health, sidekick, being a woman and books! Plus they revealed the exciting news that sidekick and Botany&Books are partnering for a very special book and candle collaboration to celebrate Mental Health Week in May.

This interview was recorded live on Botany&Books' Instagram channel on International Women's Day 2021. Botany&Books provides beautiful reading experiences to escape your worries into another world - https://www.botanyandbooks.co.uk/

Former paralegal Lisa Oglesbee, changed her career after going through severe OCD, anxiety and depression. Lisa is now a Life Coach for women who suffer from perfectionism and anxiety and the podcast host of ‘Love this Bitch’ and ‘Vibrant Life Allies’. Anxiety about her health had a severe impact on her life following a gallbladder removal surgery. We talk to her about the therapies and support provided and how eventually Life Coaching transformed her life; her mental health, her career and her future.

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After an awful horse riding accident, international dressage rider Suzanna Hext was left paralysed from the waist down. We discuss the impact of her accident on her life, her parents and her future. 

Watching the London Paralympics from her hospital bed, her stubbornness kicked in. Suzanne is now a Paralympic athlete, competing in para-dressage and para-swimming. She won a triple gold medal at the European Para-Dressage Championships in 2017 and a silver and bronze at the World Para-Swimming Championships in 2019. We can’t wait to see what she does in Tokyo this year! 

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For some people a sugary treat is just that; a treat that is enjoyed in moderation and on their own terms. For others, sugar can be an addiction like drugs and alcohol - a coping mechanism to deal with and mask emotions such as sadness, loneliness or boredom.

This week we’re talking to Melissa Rohlfs, who after experiencing a tragic event at a young age started a downward spiral of emotional eating and sugar bingeing that lasted throughout her childhood.

Luckily Melissa came to realise the impact food was having on her physical and mental wellbeing and changed her relationship with food for good. After realising how many people shared her struggles she founded free2bcoaching, offering help to women to end emotional eating and sugar bingeing so that they can feel comfortable and confident in their bodies and be set free from their food struggles.

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Does the thought of cold water give you immediate chills? Cold water therapy is on the up and becoming a well-known tool for mental wellbeing. This week we’re talking to personal trainer Jason Farr about his experiences with cold water exposure, based on the work by Wim Hof. By the end of today’s episode, you’ll be on your way to the beach!

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Unpacking your life experiences and dealing with the accompanying feelings can sometimes take years. This week we speak to Michael Simon, the founder of a brand new service, The Men Toolbox. We talk about the pressures of being a man, a father or a partner, and the expectations that come with it, that can have profound effects on men’s mental health.

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Choosing to turn her passion into her career, Carly Victoria took the step from a job she loved, into the unknown. Launching her life-coaching and journaling business last year, Carly shares with us the impact of stress on her mental health and how journaling can support a healthier mindset and living.  

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Bipolar can be a very daunting diagnosis, even if you have two degrees in Psychology. This week we are joined by Frenchaire Gardner, our first overseas guest. We discuss her diagnosis, the ups and downs of bipolar, the role history and community plays on our mental health, and finally the success of her business and how bipolar has had a positive impact on her creativity.   

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Have you ever wondered what it feels like to compete at a professional level? To be surrounded by world-class athletes? What it takes, mentally and physically to be on the international sporting stage? It’s time to find out! 

This week we are truly honoured to share an open conversation with Lauren Quigley. Lauren is a competitive swimmer who has represented Great Britain at the FINA World Aquatics Championships and England at the 2014 Commonwealth Games - winning three silver medals. Lauren now runs a mentoring organisation, Quigley Sport, to mentor the next generation of athletes.

Following in the footsteps of her aunt and mother, Lauren took to competitive swimming at the age of 10. With the guidance of her family, she quickly made a name for herself on the swimming scene. 

Competing at a professional level can come with a price - long days, nutrition regimes and an impact on your mental health. Lauren faced her first mental struggles after she was made to feel that she wasn’t good enough, despite winning three silver medals. As time progressed her struggles grew, until in 2016 she finally broke down and confided in her family.

With the love and support of her family, friends and coaches, Lauren has found a way through the darkness, and now lives by the motto “celebrate everything”. And we for one, can truly get behind that!

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Your mind is stronger than you’ll ever know. You can overcome anything, as long as you put your mind to it.  

This week we are talking to Ashley Davis. Ashley works for Papyrus, supporting suicide prevention, with a focus on people under the age of 35. In addition to the incredible work he does, Ashley has faced one of life’s greatest challenges.  

When Ashley was 19, one decision changed the course of his life. Following a catastrophic accident, he spent 14 months in the hospital learning how to live again. In this raw and honest conversation, we learn the impact his accident had on his family and Ashley’s experiences with his nurses and medical staff, and not unsurprisingly his mental wellbeing.  

We discuss his mental health struggles after leaving the hospital, and his coping mechanisms which include friendship, sport, and family.   

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In order to believe in your body - its strengths and its capabilities, the first step is to begin to understand it.

At sidekick, we believe in shining a light on subjects that are taboo, or perhaps still face a lot of stigmas - subjects that certainly don’t deserve that label. The more we speak up and share our stories, the easier it becomes for many others.

This week, we’re speaking to Lucia Fontaina-Powell about women’s health and the severe impact this can have on mental health. Lucia is a community lead at Daye, a research and development company that’s just launched the world's first CBD tampon.

Roughly 50% of the world’s population struggle with complications or side effects as part of their menstrual cycle. Whether this is hormonal, medication-induced, or more complex conditions such as endometriosis. The impact this has on a large amount of the population often goes unnoticed, or is considered a taboo.

In addition to Lucia’s mental health journey from university to relationships, we discuss another topic facing stigma - grief. After losing her father earlier this year to Covid-19, we learn how grief and coping mechanisms helped shape Lucia’s mental wellbeing. 

If you have been affected by a sudden bereavement during this crisis and need support, advice, and guidance - please call Sudden Bereavement Help on 0800 2600 400. Alternatively, you can call Grief Talk on 0808 802 0111.

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For those that are new to the show, here is a trailer showcasing some moments from our first 15 episodes that featured video guests. 

The sidekick stories podcast is a platform for people to share their stories to reduce the stigma around mental ill-health and encourage more people to speak out. The show features raw, honest conversations with guests about their mental health journey.  

We are a community creating tools, organising information and encouraging positive conversations about mental health. Download our free sidekick app, connect with us on Instagram and join the community. 

sidekick. boost your mental wellbeing. 

sidekick.org.uk

Understanding and accepting your identity is key to finding confidence and strength in yourself. 

In this week's episode, we're speaking to Hakeem S. Allen. Hakeem is the Founder of The Anti-Racist Social Club which works to create spaces and resources for education and open dialogue with White people and non-Black POC about becoming anti-racist (www.theantiracistsocial.club). In this role, he spends countless hours sharing his lived experiences through original content and the workshops he leads in organisations and businesses. 

As a gay Black male, growing up in a conservative military suburb in America led to a mixture of confusion, bullying, anxiety, depression, and ultimately loneliness. Looking back at the memories that shaped his childhood, we discuss the emotional scars that shape our mindset and identity in our later years. In this fascinating episode we discuss growing up without a sense of belonging, the long-term damage bullying causes, the importance of vulnerability (especially in men), how language shapes us, and embracing your identity and celebrating your true self. A must-listen for anybody struggling to come to terms with or communicate their true identity. 

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What if one phone call could change the whole course of your life? 21 years ago, one sentence brought Philip’s life to a screaming halt, bringing him back down to earth. One phone call, that to this day plays a pivotal role in his everyday life, changed the whole course of his life. 

For over 12 years, Philip faced an addiction to alcohol. Able to keep up a façade and continue his professional career, it took one friend to confront him for the realisation to kick in.

Sharing his experiences of recovery from addiction, the impact of alcoholics anonymous, and finding the right mental health tools - Philip brings to life a community of support and fellowship that frankly, we could all benefit from. 

Through this episode, we realise that no matter the mental health challenges you are facing, the three key takeaways remain the same: gratitude, mindfulness, and self-reflection.

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Philosophy, mindfulness, and meditation. A reflection on how the world around us, impacts our wellbeing. This week, we welcome Andy Hix to our podcast. Andy runs Wellbeing Capital Partners, specialising in providing mental health support to the financial services industry. He is also a qualified mindfulness trainer - educating companies, students, and prisoners about the importance of mindfulness. 

Reflecting on his youth and his strong activist stance on the world, he now recognises behaviours and emotions that he was oblivious to at the time. We learn how this has shaped him today, and his coping mechanisms to get through negative thoughts. Andy also introduces us to his experiences with meditation, and how mindfulness has found a place in his day to day life.

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sidekick. boost your mental wellbeing.

https://sidekick.org.uk/

Acknowledging and working through your mental health is a tough ask. It’s daunting to dig deeper and understand where your triggers are coming from. Learning to have a relationship with yourself, and most importantly, loving yourself, is key when wanting to understand and improve your mental health.

Jamie Clements, the host of the Man Down podcast, joins us this week to discuss his mental health journey. After his parents split up, he started noticing a change in his behaviour and outlook on life. Your childhood and upbringing set you up for your adult life. Often we don’t realise the severity of this impact until it’s too late. Jamie explains how his adult relationships have been impacted by a fear of abandonment, and how he has come to accepting and improving this. 

Investing in his mental health, Jamie has spent the last two years learning breathwork. It now forms part of his mental health toolkit. Sharing the origins and techniques with us, it might be exactly what you need to calm and connect to your inner self.

Listen and subscribe to the sidekick stories podcast on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.

Download our free app, connect with us on Instagram and join the community.

sidekick. boost your mental wellbeing.

https://sidekick.org.uk/