1 00:00:02,570 --> 00:00:13,160 UU: Listener. We're. Always here for you. 2 00:00:14,930 --> 00:00:18,500 S1: You're listening to Darling Shine, a podcast by myself, LED 3 00:00:18,500 --> 00:00:22,640 S1: Zeppelin and me. Chloe Fisher. A place where we ground womanhood. 4 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:27,170 S1: Unspoken experiences. From grief to fertility and everything in between. 5 00:00:27,170 --> 00:00:30,770 S1: Join us while we transform our pain into power. Encompassing 6 00:00:30,770 --> 00:00:34,340 S1: all emotions, ugly and beautiful. Darlene shine is your chosen 7 00:00:34,340 --> 00:00:37,670 S1: family and your survival kit for the unexpected shit life 8 00:00:37,700 --> 00:00:41,150 S1: throws at you. Hey darlings. So today we're talking about 9 00:00:41,150 --> 00:00:43,910 S1: mental health. So if you're struggling with your own mental health, 10 00:00:43,909 --> 00:00:47,330 S1: there'll be some resources available in the show notes. So 11 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:50,450 S1: Mitch Wallis is not just a mental health expert. He's 12 00:00:50,450 --> 00:00:54,140 S1: a passionate advocate, speaker, and the founder of Heart on 13 00:00:54,140 --> 00:00:57,440 S1: My Sleeve, which is a global movement that encourages open 14 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:01,300 S1: and honest conversations about mental health. Mitch's journey began with 15 00:01:01,300 --> 00:01:04,179 S1: his own struggles with anxiety and depression, and it led 16 00:01:04,180 --> 00:01:07,360 S1: him to share his story and inspire millions around the world. 17 00:01:07,690 --> 00:01:10,780 S1: With a background in psychology and a personal mission to 18 00:01:10,810 --> 00:01:13,510 S1: change the way we talk about mental health, Mitch has 19 00:01:13,510 --> 00:01:15,789 S1: become a leading voice in the field, known for his 20 00:01:15,790 --> 00:01:20,260 S1: raw authenticity and deep compassion. In today's episode, we will 21 00:01:20,290 --> 00:01:23,440 S1: be exploring some strategies in which you can help friends 22 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:27,970 S1: struggling with miscarriage who are grieving some strategies in how 23 00:01:27,970 --> 00:01:31,330 S1: to help yourself. We're going to be talking about postpartum 24 00:01:31,330 --> 00:01:36,340 S1: depression baby blues. So whether you're seeking advice for yourself 25 00:01:36,340 --> 00:01:39,070 S1: or someone that you love, this conversation is one that 26 00:01:39,069 --> 00:01:42,760 S1: you definitely don't want to miss. So without further ado, 27 00:01:42,790 --> 00:01:46,539 S1: let's welcome Mitch Wallace to the show. Welcome, Mitch. 28 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:50,320 S2: Chloe, you're a legend. I'm so stoked to be here. 29 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:54,760 S2: I'm a massive fan of your family. Coop's a good 30 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:57,980 S2: mate of mine, and I just respect his whole demeanor. 31 00:01:58,010 --> 00:02:01,670 S2: Every time I see him, I leave feeling lighter and brighter, 32 00:02:01,670 --> 00:02:03,980 S2: which I just think is such a rare, rare attribute 33 00:02:03,980 --> 00:02:06,830 S2: in people these days. And I followed you and your 34 00:02:06,830 --> 00:02:09,380 S2: journey for a long time. I think your honesty and 35 00:02:09,380 --> 00:02:14,450 S2: vulnerability through your pregnancy journey was inspiring to say the least. Um, 36 00:02:14,450 --> 00:02:17,960 S2: and big fan of Phish's music and him representing us 37 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:21,830 S2: from Down Under here, so it's an absolute pleasure to 38 00:02:21,860 --> 00:02:22,639 S2: be here. 39 00:02:23,090 --> 00:02:27,200 S1: Oh, yay! I'm very excited for this chat. Thanks so much, Mitch. 40 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:31,100 S1: So someone's lost their loved one and you're feeling like 41 00:02:31,130 --> 00:02:32,750 S1: you need to speak to them about it. You need 42 00:02:32,750 --> 00:02:35,660 S1: to ask if they're okay. What is some of the 43 00:02:35,660 --> 00:02:38,330 S1: ways that you can speak to this person without, you know, 44 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:41,840 S1: that just being that texting them saying, are you okay? Or, 45 00:02:41,870 --> 00:02:43,910 S1: you know, how do we delve deeper into that conversation 46 00:02:43,910 --> 00:02:44,870 S1: with these people? 47 00:02:44,900 --> 00:02:48,260 S2: Yeah. Good question. So I've kind of devoted the last 48 00:02:48,260 --> 00:02:52,190 S2: six years of my life to answering that ideally in 49 00:02:52,190 --> 00:02:55,489 S2: the best way possible outside of someone getting a psychology 50 00:02:55,490 --> 00:03:02,500 S2: College degree so that non-clinicians i.e. mums, dads, brothers, sisters, co-workers, people, 51 00:03:02,500 --> 00:03:07,450 S2: managers can be there for important people in moments that 52 00:03:07,450 --> 00:03:11,140 S2: matter most when they're in emotional pain. Shameless plug wrote 53 00:03:11,139 --> 00:03:14,080 S2: a book called Real Conversations A five step Framework to 54 00:03:14,110 --> 00:03:17,200 S2: Connect with confidence, coming out September 3rd in Australia. So 55 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:19,480 S2: get a copy. But I'm going to touch on some 56 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:21,970 S2: of the key concepts from that book in this talk 57 00:03:21,970 --> 00:03:23,770 S2: so that if you can't be bothered reading it, you'll 58 00:03:23,770 --> 00:03:27,160 S2: have what you need to still create actionable difference. So 59 00:03:27,190 --> 00:03:29,890 S2: we're spending more money on mental health services. Charities are 60 00:03:29,889 --> 00:03:32,830 S2: getting more visibility, stigma is reducing, blah blah blah. But 61 00:03:32,830 --> 00:03:37,390 S2: loneliness has never been higher. Suicide stats are soaring and 62 00:03:37,390 --> 00:03:40,990 S2: mental illness is rampant. So there has to be a disconnect. 63 00:03:41,350 --> 00:03:44,230 S2: And I've been lucky enough to study under some of 64 00:03:44,230 --> 00:03:47,950 S2: the leading thought leaders globally who have literally written the 65 00:03:47,950 --> 00:03:52,630 S2: book on attachment style and parenting. Like Harvard professors, psychiatrists. 66 00:03:52,630 --> 00:03:55,460 S2: I as well have a master's degree in clinical psychology 67 00:03:55,460 --> 00:03:58,250 S2: from Columbia. And I've struggled with this for 20 years, 68 00:03:58,250 --> 00:04:02,540 S2: and I kind of went back and thought to myself, well, 69 00:04:02,540 --> 00:04:05,690 S2: what has been pivotal in my journey? And then what 70 00:04:05,690 --> 00:04:08,870 S2: does the research say? And without a doubt, the single 71 00:04:08,870 --> 00:04:12,350 S2: greatest influence to my own well-being and the reason that 72 00:04:12,350 --> 00:04:15,410 S2: I chose to stay here on earth was because of 73 00:04:15,410 --> 00:04:20,240 S2: my mum. My mum is my guardian angel. Such a 74 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:23,240 S2: rock solid human. And I tried to work out well. 75 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:26,839 S2: What was she doing so well that potentially other people 76 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:31,940 S2: don't have a natural inclination for? Not by virtue of malice, 77 00:04:31,940 --> 00:04:34,880 S2: but by just a lack of education. And what did 78 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:39,380 S2: she happen to get lucky with and do right? And 79 00:04:39,380 --> 00:04:42,590 S2: it turns out that what she did well is also 80 00:04:42,620 --> 00:04:46,190 S2: what the research says works the most, and that is 81 00:04:46,190 --> 00:04:50,960 S2: that human relationships are without a doubt the single greatest 82 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,820 S2: influence to our wellbeing Being outside of genetics, who you 83 00:04:54,820 --> 00:04:57,099 S2: have in your life is the number one predictor of 84 00:04:57,100 --> 00:05:00,969 S2: happiness and the number one predictor of unhappiness. Harvard did 85 00:05:00,970 --> 00:05:04,510 S2: a longitudinal study, and they looked at tons of people 86 00:05:04,510 --> 00:05:07,450 S2: across the lifespan, 85 years plus. And they tried to 87 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:13,120 S2: boil down the most impactful variable to when someone's on 88 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:15,820 S2: their deathbed. They said, I've lived a good life. And 89 00:05:15,820 --> 00:05:18,520 S2: it was the quality of their relationships more than their 90 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:22,210 S2: socioeconomic status and everything else that was the driver of happiness. 91 00:05:22,510 --> 00:05:25,030 S2: On the other side of the coin, when they tried 92 00:05:25,029 --> 00:05:27,339 S2: to look at, well, what is the best thing that 93 00:05:27,339 --> 00:05:30,400 S2: we can do to buffer against the inevitable shit that 94 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:34,480 S2: life is going to throw us? And it was supportive relationships. 95 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:38,350 S2: It literally was the difference between two people seeing this 96 00:05:38,350 --> 00:05:42,880 S2: same traumatic event, one person being highly symptomatic later in 97 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:46,210 S2: life and others not being so badly affected was how 98 00:05:46,210 --> 00:05:52,100 S2: connected they felt through it. There's no doubt That humans 99 00:05:52,130 --> 00:05:55,760 S2: need each other more than anything else, and our longevity 100 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:59,270 S2: as a species and our ability to reverse this worrying 101 00:05:59,270 --> 00:06:02,900 S2: mental illness trend is going to be made or broken 102 00:06:02,930 --> 00:06:08,750 S2: on our ability to have real conversations. However, the biggest 103 00:06:08,750 --> 00:06:12,170 S2: thing I've found is that people have the wrong definition 104 00:06:12,170 --> 00:06:16,580 S2: of helpful when they're trying to support someone in emotional pain. 105 00:06:16,610 --> 00:06:20,960 S2: Up until now, we've walked around with kind of one 106 00:06:20,990 --> 00:06:24,589 S2: hammer in our tool belt, expecting that that's going to 107 00:06:24,589 --> 00:06:27,830 S2: be the solve for every conversation that we have. And 108 00:06:27,830 --> 00:06:32,479 S2: I call that a transactional conversation whereby our intention is 109 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:36,320 S2: to fix and solve. And it makes sense. Right? Because 110 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:40,220 S2: all of school, we are incentivized for how good we 111 00:06:40,220 --> 00:06:42,169 S2: can be at solving problems. And then we're going to 112 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:47,570 S2: university and the workplace, and we're promoted and compensated on 113 00:06:47,570 --> 00:06:51,170 S2: how smart we are at making problems go away. So 114 00:06:51,170 --> 00:06:53,690 S2: that's all well and good. But the problem is, is 115 00:06:53,690 --> 00:06:56,960 S2: that thinking one tool will handle every situation is like 116 00:06:56,990 --> 00:06:59,840 S2: expecting that you can assemble a house with just that instrument. 117 00:06:59,839 --> 00:07:03,350 S2: It's not going to happen. If something is practical, it's 118 00:07:03,350 --> 00:07:06,680 S2: fine to fix the problem. If something is emotional, your 119 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:10,820 S2: goal is to understand the person. Now that might seem 120 00:07:10,820 --> 00:07:15,410 S2: very small, but in practice it has massive consequences. 121 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:18,500 S1: It's so interesting that you say that because I remember 122 00:07:18,500 --> 00:07:21,980 S1: back maybe two years ago when I was really struggling 123 00:07:21,980 --> 00:07:25,340 S1: and we did a podcast episode on like Helping Friends. 124 00:07:25,340 --> 00:07:28,310 S1: What to say when your friend is going through like 125 00:07:28,340 --> 00:07:31,490 S1: fertility struggles. And the number one thing that I said 126 00:07:31,490 --> 00:07:36,560 S1: was educate yourself. Actually going away and educating yourself on 127 00:07:36,590 --> 00:07:40,340 S1: that topic or educating yourself around miscarriages, for example. And 128 00:07:40,340 --> 00:07:43,340 S1: for that person who is struggling to listen to the 129 00:07:43,340 --> 00:07:45,980 S1: friend that's gone out of their way, given their time 130 00:07:45,980 --> 00:07:50,270 S1: to try and understand and educate themselves around that. It's 131 00:07:50,270 --> 00:07:53,030 S1: so touching. Even though it's not going to help really 132 00:07:53,030 --> 00:07:56,990 S1: fix your problem, to have an understanding of your friend 133 00:07:56,990 --> 00:07:59,930 S1: that's trying to do help outside of just like I'm 134 00:07:59,930 --> 00:08:02,630 S1: thinking of you or are you okay? It's like it's 135 00:08:02,630 --> 00:08:03,830 S1: so special. 136 00:08:03,980 --> 00:08:07,580 S2: And what you're touching on there, Clay, is that what 137 00:08:07,580 --> 00:08:11,929 S2: that symbolizes is that they care, right? And so, so care. 138 00:08:11,930 --> 00:08:15,980 S2: It's the active ingredient in a real conversation. It's advice 139 00:08:15,980 --> 00:08:18,800 S2: is not the thing that gets people better. So I'll 140 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:21,140 S2: use one more bit of research, and then I'll stop 141 00:08:21,140 --> 00:08:23,840 S2: being a nerd and talk from the heart. But um, 142 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:28,190 S2: different people have different learning styles on listening to pods, 143 00:08:28,190 --> 00:08:32,000 S2: so if you're data driven, then geek out for one 144 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:35,000 S2: more minute before I switch gears. But when I was 145 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:37,850 S2: writing the book, I tried to find in the literature, 146 00:08:37,850 --> 00:08:41,840 S2: why does psychotherapy work? Like when you go to a 147 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:44,420 S2: counselor and you talk about your feelings and stuff, why 148 00:08:44,420 --> 00:08:48,250 S2: do some people get better and others don't. And what 149 00:08:48,250 --> 00:08:51,850 S2: was proven in a meta analysis, which means basically studies 150 00:08:51,850 --> 00:08:57,640 S2: of studies was it didn't really matter whether someone did 151 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:02,800 S2: cognitive behavioral therapy or dialectical behavioral therapy or whatever intervention 152 00:09:02,830 --> 00:09:07,360 S2: a therapist uses. The main predictor of a therapeutic outcome 153 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:11,860 S2: was the quality of the relationship formed, i.e. how seen, heard, understood, 154 00:09:11,860 --> 00:09:16,360 S2: and cared about. Because the patient has a natural healing 155 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:20,410 S2: mechanism inside themselves, the therapist's job is not to fix 156 00:09:20,410 --> 00:09:25,360 S2: something that's broken, but to enable the self-healing capacity to 157 00:09:25,390 --> 00:09:31,360 S2: come back online. And that most pain emotionally is not 158 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:35,140 S2: the problem. It's the shame. It's the shame, loneliness, frustration 159 00:09:35,140 --> 00:09:39,040 S2: and guilt. It's not the problem itself when you're having 160 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:42,729 S2: a real conversation, if all you do is hold back 161 00:09:42,730 --> 00:09:46,440 S2: on giving advice and you what we call in in 162 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:48,930 S2: our world. Sit in the mud with someone instead of 163 00:09:48,929 --> 00:09:52,860 S2: trying to drag them out of it. They will feel better. 164 00:09:52,890 --> 00:09:53,280 S2: That's so. 165 00:09:53,309 --> 00:09:54,930 S1: True. Yes. So? 166 00:09:54,929 --> 00:09:58,620 S2: So what is understanding a person and sitting in the 167 00:09:58,620 --> 00:10:02,880 S2: mud actually look like in practice, versus trying to fix 168 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:05,220 S2: their problem and take them out of the mud. So 169 00:10:05,250 --> 00:10:08,160 S2: there's there's five things to avoid. And I'm going to 170 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:10,439 S2: put a character name on them. Right. So let's assume 171 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:13,650 S2: that someone's just had a miscarriage. The first mistake to 172 00:10:13,650 --> 00:10:17,640 S2: avoid is being a magician. So that is thinking that 173 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:20,400 S2: you can wave a magic wand and just take someone's 174 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:24,450 S2: problem away. A magician would say something like, you should 175 00:10:24,450 --> 00:10:28,709 S2: talk to Monash IVF. They're an amazing fertility vendor and 176 00:10:28,710 --> 00:10:30,900 S2: they'll be able to get you back on track. And 177 00:10:30,900 --> 00:10:33,479 S2: you just need to use an embryo instead of an egg. 178 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:35,700 S2: And has Paul gone and got tests to make sure 179 00:10:35,700 --> 00:10:39,270 S2: that he's fertile? All this stuff, when you're actually just 180 00:10:39,270 --> 00:10:41,520 S2: grieving the loss of a life and you do not 181 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:43,690 S2: want to hear that shit right now, There is a 182 00:10:43,690 --> 00:10:46,990 S2: time and a place to pick up and move forward. Absolutely. 183 00:10:46,990 --> 00:10:50,949 S2: We're not talking about wallowing, but if the first thing 184 00:10:50,950 --> 00:10:54,250 S2: you do is jump straight to a solution, that person 185 00:10:54,250 --> 00:10:57,820 S2: will feel like something that's broken in need of repair. 186 00:10:57,820 --> 00:11:02,140 S2: And you won't actually attend to the swelling, which is 187 00:11:02,140 --> 00:11:06,280 S2: a broken heart. So it doesn't mean you can't give advice. 188 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:08,559 S2: It just cannot be straight off the bat that you 189 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:12,849 S2: try and wave this magic wand and clue. People all day, 190 00:11:12,850 --> 00:11:17,620 S2: every day don't even realize they've switched from a practical 191 00:11:17,620 --> 00:11:23,170 S2: conversation to an emotional one. Like, for example, your partner 192 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:26,290 S2: gets home from work and says, I'm feeling really distant 193 00:11:26,290 --> 00:11:28,870 S2: from you at the moment. And you go, oh, this 194 00:11:28,870 --> 00:11:32,020 S2: is a practical conversation. Okay, well, let's go for dinner 195 00:11:32,020 --> 00:11:36,610 S2: on Saturday night, when actually, that was an emotional conversation. 196 00:11:36,610 --> 00:11:39,609 S2: And what they wanted to hear was, shit, how long 197 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:42,540 S2: have you felt that? What do you think's is driving that? 198 00:11:42,660 --> 00:11:46,679 S2: And getting curious around the person? Not the problem. 199 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:49,319 S1: You're just banging on everything right now. That makes so 200 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:52,980 S1: much sense. I think I'm getting better at asking the, 201 00:11:53,010 --> 00:11:57,750 S1: you know, diving deeper into the conversations. But naturally, as humans, 202 00:11:57,750 --> 00:12:00,180 S1: I feel like we just try and mask the problem 203 00:12:00,179 --> 00:12:03,120 S1: and sort of like divert the attention to something else. 204 00:12:03,150 --> 00:12:07,080 S2: Yeah, yeah. And as I said, it's really natural because 205 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:09,630 S2: that's the way our society is structured. That's the way 206 00:12:09,660 --> 00:12:12,569 S2: our brains are hardwired. We've kind of part of the 207 00:12:12,570 --> 00:12:15,270 S2: reason we're in such a shit show mentally, is that 208 00:12:15,270 --> 00:12:17,670 S2: we've lost a lot of heart. We've just we operate 209 00:12:17,670 --> 00:12:21,090 S2: so much from the head nowadays, but we are a social, 210 00:12:21,090 --> 00:12:23,760 S2: emotional species that has learned how to think, not the 211 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:27,059 S2: other way around. And we've forgotten a big part of 212 00:12:27,059 --> 00:12:30,600 S2: who we are, and we don't like seeing people in pain. 213 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:32,849 S2: So we go back to our traditional tool, a hammer, 214 00:12:32,850 --> 00:12:35,910 S2: and we try and exchange information. But what people are 215 00:12:35,910 --> 00:12:39,700 S2: looking for is, is connection, which is to feel understood. stood. 216 00:12:39,700 --> 00:12:44,320 S2: So mistake number one, don't offer a solution straight away 217 00:12:44,620 --> 00:12:46,720 S2: and let them ask for it as an adult if 218 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:50,439 S2: they want your input and advice. Second mistake people make 219 00:12:50,470 --> 00:12:54,640 S2: is being a thief. Again, no shame around these mistakes. 220 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:58,540 S2: I do them all the time. So the thief jumps 221 00:12:58,540 --> 00:13:03,069 S2: in with a same or a me too and steals 222 00:13:03,070 --> 00:13:06,640 S2: the focus. So let's say you approached a friend and 223 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:08,110 S2: said I just had a miscarriage and they go, oh 224 00:13:08,140 --> 00:13:12,130 S2: my God, I had a miscarriage three years ago. Bless, right? 225 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:14,680 S2: They want to be like, no, you don't need to 226 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:17,859 S2: feel alone or exposed or vulnerable. I'm right there with you. 227 00:13:17,860 --> 00:13:21,220 S2: I get it so much because I it happened to me. 228 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:25,720 S2: The problem, though, when that happens again straight off the bat, 229 00:13:25,750 --> 00:13:30,429 S2: is you steal that person's opportunity to be validated for 230 00:13:30,429 --> 00:13:34,000 S2: their pain, and then it becomes a competitive bidding war 231 00:13:34,030 --> 00:13:37,930 S2: around who's felt worse. And the person in pain now 232 00:13:37,929 --> 00:13:41,130 S2: feels like they need to support you when they don't 233 00:13:41,130 --> 00:13:44,280 S2: have any capacity right now to even support themselves. 234 00:13:44,309 --> 00:13:45,990 S1: I feel like this is the biggest one. 235 00:13:46,020 --> 00:13:49,710 S2: It's it's a big one for sure. It's a silent 236 00:13:49,710 --> 00:13:57,030 S2: connection killer because we forget that people do genuinely want 237 00:13:57,030 --> 00:14:00,870 S2: that moment to be understood before we make it about 238 00:14:00,870 --> 00:14:04,620 S2: someone else. Just to reiterate, as you said, Chlo, we 239 00:14:04,620 --> 00:14:07,380 S2: can see ourselves in a lot of these. And it's 240 00:14:07,380 --> 00:14:10,950 S2: not to shame. It's just not helpful when you're having 241 00:14:10,950 --> 00:14:16,200 S2: an emotional conversation because it's most helpful for them to 242 00:14:16,230 --> 00:14:19,950 S2: feel understood. Have you had instances where someone has shifted 243 00:14:19,950 --> 00:14:22,440 S2: the focus away from you during your hardest times? 244 00:14:22,470 --> 00:14:25,350 S1: Oh, definitely. And I think as well I can take 245 00:14:25,350 --> 00:14:27,540 S1: a note out of this book too, because I think 246 00:14:27,570 --> 00:14:30,239 S1: even sometimes when I'm talking to Paul about things like, 247 00:14:30,270 --> 00:14:32,850 S1: I'll say something to him or he'll say something to me, 248 00:14:32,850 --> 00:14:36,330 S1: and then you immediately talk about yourself or give an 249 00:14:36,340 --> 00:14:40,210 S1: example of. Oh yeah, well, yesterday I wanted to get 250 00:14:40,210 --> 00:14:41,740 S1: this done, but I didn't get to get it done 251 00:14:41,740 --> 00:14:44,050 S1: because you were doing it and they're like, well, why 252 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:45,670 S1: are you flipping this on you? I'm trying to tell 253 00:14:45,670 --> 00:14:48,610 S1: you that I'm struggling with this, but now you're making 254 00:14:48,610 --> 00:14:51,370 S1: me feel bad because you didn't get to do it yesterday. Yeah, yeah. 255 00:14:51,370 --> 00:14:52,780 S2: We're in a comparison war. 256 00:14:52,810 --> 00:14:55,150 S1: It's really difficult. And I and I think as well, 257 00:14:55,150 --> 00:14:58,420 S1: for exactly the example that you just made in the 258 00:14:58,450 --> 00:15:03,310 S1: miscarriage world, it's so common for people to they think 259 00:15:03,310 --> 00:15:06,520 S1: that you're helping them out by telling them that you've 260 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:09,370 S1: had a miscarriage and, and then all of a sudden 261 00:15:09,430 --> 00:15:11,950 S1: the roles flipped and you're trying to help this person, 262 00:15:11,950 --> 00:15:14,020 S1: but you're deep in it, and often it's actually quite 263 00:15:14,050 --> 00:15:17,950 S1: triggering to I find sometimes. Yeah, don't take this the 264 00:15:17,950 --> 00:15:21,370 S1: wrong way. Anyone and I don't want to sound like rude, but, 265 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:23,590 S1: you know, I might be in these scenarios where I'm 266 00:15:23,590 --> 00:15:27,460 S1: at a nightclub trying to enjoy myself. And I've had 267 00:15:27,460 --> 00:15:30,490 S1: this when I've had a miscarriage previously and I've just 268 00:15:30,490 --> 00:15:33,700 S1: had it. I've spoken about it on the podcast. I'm 269 00:15:33,700 --> 00:15:36,490 S1: out having a good time trying to take my mind 270 00:15:36,490 --> 00:15:39,130 S1: off things and some will come straight up to me. 271 00:15:39,220 --> 00:15:42,730 S1: Trauma dump on you. And it's. I find I feel 272 00:15:42,730 --> 00:15:46,870 S1: so selfish saying that. But that is so difficult when 273 00:15:46,870 --> 00:15:50,500 S1: someone comes up to you, like this whole conversation that 274 00:15:50,500 --> 00:15:53,950 S1: we're having right now. I'm kind of like shooting myself 275 00:15:53,950 --> 00:15:55,570 S1: in the foot here because it's very much like, how 276 00:15:55,570 --> 00:15:57,220 S1: can you talk to these people and how can you 277 00:15:57,220 --> 00:15:59,650 S1: start these conversations? And that is a way that people 278 00:15:59,650 --> 00:16:04,450 S1: do start these conversations. But it often upsets you even 279 00:16:04,450 --> 00:16:07,270 S1: more because then you feel like you need to comfort them. 280 00:16:07,270 --> 00:16:11,080 S1: And it's like this whole cycle and I struggle. I 281 00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:13,480 S1: actually struggle with that really hard. And I still struggle 282 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:15,790 S1: with that. And I know I'm a massive advocate in 283 00:16:15,790 --> 00:16:19,150 S1: the miscarriage space. I'm the member, like on the board 284 00:16:19,150 --> 00:16:22,720 S1: of the Pink Elephant Support Network. And you'd think that 285 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:26,230 S1: that I would be a poster girl for people to 286 00:16:26,260 --> 00:16:28,600 S1: come up to and talk to about that, but it 287 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:32,800 S1: actually is really, really triggering still and really upsets me 288 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:35,380 S1: when I do have to talk about these experiences. So 289 00:16:35,380 --> 00:16:36,970 S1: I don't know. I'm actually stuck in a bit of 290 00:16:36,970 --> 00:16:39,490 S1: a pickle there, but I feel that in so many 291 00:16:39,490 --> 00:16:41,830 S1: levels on both sides as well. 292 00:16:41,860 --> 00:16:44,080 S2: Can I just like, reflect back on that? Because I 293 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:47,380 S2: think it's a really important point. And I want to say, 294 00:16:47,380 --> 00:16:49,900 S2: which is a good segue to actually mistake number three. 295 00:16:49,930 --> 00:16:53,230 S2: Don't be a blind optimist. You are a role model 296 00:16:53,230 --> 00:16:56,200 S2: for so many people in a similar situation. And I 297 00:16:56,200 --> 00:16:59,080 S2: don't know about you, but at least in my life, 298 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:02,080 S2: the answer is never found in black and white. It's 299 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:06,730 S2: somewhere in the middle. So using this example, we're not 300 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:09,010 S2: like I have a charity called Heart on My sleeve 301 00:17:09,010 --> 00:17:12,130 S2: that I founded. I am the biggest advocate for people 302 00:17:12,130 --> 00:17:15,310 S2: speaking up when they're not okay. But just like you, 303 00:17:15,340 --> 00:17:18,760 S2: when I'm out getting coffee every morning or when I'm 304 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:21,520 S2: just finished a massive keynote talk and walk off stage 305 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:23,590 S2: in front of a thousand people where I've just told 306 00:17:23,590 --> 00:17:26,439 S2: my demons, I have a line of people that are 307 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:28,780 S2: waiting to come up to me and tell me their 308 00:17:28,780 --> 00:17:33,389 S2: most traumatic moments. So you might say, well, you hypocrite, 309 00:17:33,390 --> 00:17:35,730 S2: you started a charity and now I'm doing the thing 310 00:17:35,730 --> 00:17:39,990 S2: you've asked me to do. Yes. With context though, right? 311 00:17:39,990 --> 00:17:42,060 S2: We have to put a reasonable layer on some of 312 00:17:42,060 --> 00:17:45,420 S2: this stuff. We don't want to swing too far either way. 313 00:17:45,420 --> 00:17:49,500 S2: If everyone's talking vulnerably with no safety constraints at any 314 00:17:49,500 --> 00:17:53,219 S2: point in time to anyone, in any environment, that's not good. 315 00:17:53,250 --> 00:17:56,190 S2: But we also don't want people to walk around rigid 316 00:17:56,190 --> 00:18:00,720 S2: and in silence either. We're looking for people to get 317 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:05,609 S2: conscious around how to have conversations that are helpful. Again, 318 00:18:05,609 --> 00:18:07,950 S2: the reason why I'm passionate about this work that I'm 319 00:18:07,950 --> 00:18:11,760 S2: doing is it gives you the nuances to make sure 320 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:15,570 S2: it's helpful and not hindering. Yeah, that person at the 321 00:18:15,570 --> 00:18:18,990 S2: right time coming to you when you're in the headspace 322 00:18:18,990 --> 00:18:22,260 S2: to be able to hold that space. What an incredible 323 00:18:22,260 --> 00:18:25,109 S2: connection you guys would have had. But it's on them 324 00:18:25,109 --> 00:18:29,430 S2: to also be conscientious of where you're at, too. Yes. 325 00:18:29,700 --> 00:18:34,210 S1: Nailed it. It's hard. It's so hard to find that 326 00:18:34,210 --> 00:18:37,630 S1: sweet spot and exactly what you just said. I am 327 00:18:37,630 --> 00:18:40,600 S1: not great at it either. And I'm learning. And I 328 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:42,880 S1: feel like that this podcast has been such a great 329 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:46,209 S1: platform for myself and Elody to learn too, because there's 330 00:18:46,210 --> 00:18:48,910 S1: so much that we go through and there's so much 331 00:18:48,910 --> 00:18:51,129 S1: that we put out there and we try and help 332 00:18:51,130 --> 00:18:54,910 S1: so many people, but often we're actually making the mistakes 333 00:18:54,910 --> 00:18:58,180 S1: first to come and bring it out to you guys 334 00:18:58,180 --> 00:19:01,990 S1: to find answers and solutions to better help not just us, but, well, 335 00:19:02,020 --> 00:19:04,900 S1: not just you guys, but actually ourselves. 336 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:08,500 S2: Correct. I think the best type of expert is an explorer, 337 00:19:08,530 --> 00:19:11,860 S2: not an authority figure. You know, it's someone who's like, 338 00:19:11,859 --> 00:19:14,560 S2: I'm fucking rolling around here figuring it out as I go. 339 00:19:14,590 --> 00:19:18,730 S2: You're welcome to come along versus I have all the answers, 340 00:19:18,730 --> 00:19:21,730 S2: even the things I'm talking about. Now. This is stuff 341 00:19:21,730 --> 00:19:24,639 S2: I've learned in my own life. I've then validated in research, 342 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:26,770 S2: and I try and do my best every day. Totally. 343 00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:29,160 S2: But perfection is not the way to go. 344 00:19:29,190 --> 00:19:30,930 S1: I love that even in the lead up to this chat, 345 00:19:30,930 --> 00:19:33,960 S1: I'm like, oh my God, I'm so nervous. Like every chat, 346 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:36,270 S1: I get so nervous. And you know, some people I've 347 00:19:36,270 --> 00:19:38,430 S1: they've written reviews. A few people have come like, you 348 00:19:38,430 --> 00:19:41,100 S1: guys are shit podcasters. And I'm like, oh my God, 349 00:19:41,100 --> 00:19:43,980 S1: I am not a professional speaker. I am not really 350 00:19:43,980 --> 00:19:47,010 S1: a public speaker. I'm just getting on here and I'm 351 00:19:47,010 --> 00:19:50,129 S1: doing my best. I'm trying to ask the questions that 352 00:19:50,130 --> 00:19:51,719 S1: I want to know, and that you guys are going 353 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:54,870 S1: to get helpful. And we don't have to be perfect. Like, 354 00:19:54,869 --> 00:19:57,480 S1: let's get on there. Let's get on here and make 355 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:00,900 S1: a mess of this because no one is perfect. And 356 00:20:00,900 --> 00:20:03,000 S1: if you were perfect, it would actually probably be pretty 357 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:04,230 S1: boring to listen to. 358 00:20:04,260 --> 00:20:07,830 S2: Amen. And I think that's such a good metaphor for 359 00:20:07,859 --> 00:20:10,710 S2: having these real conversations. Let's get in there and make 360 00:20:10,710 --> 00:20:13,260 S2: a mess of it. I couldn't have said it better myself. 361 00:20:13,590 --> 00:20:16,380 S2: Where things go wrong is where you come into these 362 00:20:16,380 --> 00:20:19,379 S2: scenarios thinking that you need to solve it. For someone 363 00:20:19,410 --> 00:20:22,109 S2: thinking that the grief of a miscarriage is now on 364 00:20:22,140 --> 00:20:25,860 S2: you as a supporter to extract from their soul. Of course, 365 00:20:25,859 --> 00:20:29,450 S2: that's an overwhelming and impossible task if it's framed like that. 366 00:20:29,450 --> 00:20:32,419 S2: But really all people are asking you to do is 367 00:20:32,420 --> 00:20:34,160 S2: to sit in the mess with them for a little 368 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:38,119 S2: bit so that they feel like they're going through it together. 369 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:41,090 S2: We can get through anything so long as we go 370 00:20:41,090 --> 00:20:44,750 S2: through it together. They're looking for your ear, not your advice. 371 00:20:44,780 --> 00:20:45,470 S1: Yes. 372 00:20:45,470 --> 00:20:49,760 S2: So mistake three is what we call the blind optimist, 373 00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:54,320 S2: where we overly sugarcoat it and silver line it to 374 00:20:54,350 --> 00:21:00,140 S2: avoid going toward the hard, dark, uncomfortable truth. And you 375 00:21:00,140 --> 00:21:02,689 S2: know that you're you know, you're a magician if you 376 00:21:02,690 --> 00:21:04,970 S2: say should or shouldn't too much, you know you're a 377 00:21:04,970 --> 00:21:07,250 S2: thief if you say same or me too, too much. 378 00:21:07,250 --> 00:21:09,560 S2: And you know that you're a blind optimist if you 379 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:12,770 S2: say at least so a textbook one. 380 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:13,460 S1: At least a. 381 00:21:13,460 --> 00:21:18,080 S2: Textbook one in your space is at least you know 382 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:21,260 S2: you can get pregnant. Yes. And isn't that a dagger 383 00:21:21,260 --> 00:21:23,720 S2: to the heart when you're like, I just lost a 384 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:26,910 S2: fucking life. Stop trying to tell me to see the 385 00:21:26,910 --> 00:21:29,129 S2: fucking bright side. Fuck. 386 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:33,180 S1: You are just all over this chat, I swear to God. You, like, 387 00:21:33,210 --> 00:21:36,420 S1: take the words straight out of my mouth. Like everything 388 00:21:36,420 --> 00:21:40,800 S1: that you're saying, it's like, aha! Yes. The words at 389 00:21:40,830 --> 00:21:44,100 S1: least are so bad. I mean, it's not. It doesn't 390 00:21:44,100 --> 00:21:47,340 S1: even relate to miscarriage. Yes, it absolutely sucks. That one 391 00:21:47,340 --> 00:21:50,280 S1: sentence is probably the worst sentence you can say to 392 00:21:50,310 --> 00:21:55,859 S1: anyone when they've gone through a miscarriage, but in Lee's case, 393 00:21:55,859 --> 00:21:58,710 S1: for example, she's lost the love of her life and 394 00:21:58,710 --> 00:22:02,670 S1: she was able to retrieve Champy's sperm. And then someone's like, 395 00:22:02,700 --> 00:22:04,320 S1: you know, at least you got mini out of it. 396 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:07,170 S1: It's like, no, no, no, no, I lost the love 397 00:22:07,170 --> 00:22:10,230 S1: of my life, I love Minnie. Minnie is the best 398 00:22:10,230 --> 00:22:13,890 S1: thing that's ever happened to me. But I would take my, my, 399 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:16,200 S1: the love of my life back at any point. So, like, 400 00:22:16,230 --> 00:22:19,440 S1: just don't ever let those words come out of your 401 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:22,320 S1: mouth in any situation. I just think that they need 402 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:25,850 S1: to be removed from the dictionary because they actually make 403 00:22:25,850 --> 00:22:29,750 S1: you feel much, much, much worse. They're never good. They're 404 00:22:29,750 --> 00:22:35,930 S1: never good. I don't think we've here, I mean. 405 00:22:42,500 --> 00:22:44,840 S2: Here's a real clue. I don't know if this resonates 406 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:46,460 S2: with you, but I try and live by it. And 407 00:22:46,460 --> 00:22:50,090 S2: that's I will only ever help someone see the bright side. 408 00:22:50,090 --> 00:22:53,000 S2: When I've earned the right first by sitting with them 409 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:56,840 S2: in the darkness. Yes. So unless I fully fucking know 410 00:22:56,840 --> 00:23:01,280 S2: their pain, unless I have gone to extreme lengths to 411 00:23:01,310 --> 00:23:03,680 S2: meet them where they are, I'm not going to tell 412 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:06,830 S2: them where they should be. Again, not putting a black 413 00:23:06,830 --> 00:23:09,170 S2: and white approach here, looking at the grey because life 414 00:23:09,170 --> 00:23:13,760 S2: is grey. That doesn't mean that you should or can 415 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:18,860 S2: never prompt people to see different perspectives in life. But 416 00:23:18,859 --> 00:23:23,040 S2: it does mean when you contrast what could be against 417 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:26,670 S2: the direct pain that they need to grieve and feel. 418 00:23:26,700 --> 00:23:29,340 S2: You're going to get them to deny and avoid their 419 00:23:29,340 --> 00:23:32,160 S2: own pain if you just keep getting them to go 420 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:35,639 S2: elsewhere internally. Coming back to your original point, when we 421 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:39,840 S2: started this pod, it's not about you getting them to 422 00:23:39,869 --> 00:23:42,690 S2: see the bright side is often not for them. It's 423 00:23:42,690 --> 00:23:44,550 S2: that you don't want to sit in the mud right now. 424 00:23:44,550 --> 00:23:47,310 S2: It's fucking awkward hanging around in this negativity. Let's change 425 00:23:47,310 --> 00:23:49,530 S2: the vibe. So let's look at all this stuff and 426 00:23:49,530 --> 00:23:52,500 S2: it's like, no, as a supporter, that's your shit. I'm 427 00:23:52,500 --> 00:23:55,440 S2: actually okay here. I need to be here right now, 428 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:59,399 S2: in Elodie's case, remembering my the love of my life. 429 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:01,680 S2: But if you don't want to be in this, then 430 00:24:01,710 --> 00:24:03,240 S2: you can go elsewhere. 431 00:24:03,510 --> 00:24:05,580 S1: I think as well. That's like a really good point. 432 00:24:05,580 --> 00:24:07,800 S1: And I was thinking about that and it might come 433 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:10,380 S1: across as quite selfish, but you know, everyone's going through 434 00:24:10,410 --> 00:24:13,710 S1: shit at different times in their life. The shit pile 435 00:24:13,710 --> 00:24:17,610 S1: is bigger and sometimes the shit pile is not so big. 436 00:24:17,609 --> 00:24:21,320 S1: But you know, if your head deep in shit, for example, 437 00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:24,650 S1: and your friend is also head deep in shit. It's 438 00:24:24,650 --> 00:24:27,709 S1: quite hard for yourself to be like, how can I 439 00:24:27,740 --> 00:24:31,550 S1: give myself to that person when I'm actually really, really 440 00:24:31,550 --> 00:24:35,840 S1: struggling myself? Because often you do have to peel back 441 00:24:35,869 --> 00:24:38,300 S1: the like the layers of the onion with them, and 442 00:24:38,300 --> 00:24:40,100 S1: you have to sit in their shit and you have 443 00:24:40,100 --> 00:24:42,649 S1: to go through it with them. But sometimes you don't 444 00:24:42,650 --> 00:24:46,280 S1: want to make that move because you're like, where do 445 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:49,580 S1: I even find the capacity to help them when I'm 446 00:24:49,580 --> 00:24:53,030 S1: really struggling to help myself? And I mean, for us, 447 00:24:53,030 --> 00:24:55,280 S1: for L and I, often we it's a bit of 448 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:58,220 S1: a clusterfuck all over and we're all we're both going through. 449 00:24:58,250 --> 00:25:00,379 S1: We I mean, we're pretty good at that where we 450 00:25:00,380 --> 00:25:04,340 S1: just sit in each other's, like, craziness. Like we're like, 451 00:25:04,369 --> 00:25:06,830 S1: oh my God, if we only had a TV show 452 00:25:06,859 --> 00:25:10,220 S1: on this, it would be like a number one viewed 453 00:25:10,220 --> 00:25:12,920 S1: show because there's just so much shit going on constantly. 454 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:16,580 S1: But I find that really hard. And we're probably I've 455 00:25:16,580 --> 00:25:18,620 S1: probably taken a bit of a left turn here, but 456 00:25:18,660 --> 00:25:22,710 S1: I think that that is like probably a reason why 457 00:25:22,740 --> 00:25:26,010 S1: people don't sit in other people's shit because they're going 458 00:25:26,010 --> 00:25:28,590 S1: through their own. Is that do you think that that's true? 459 00:25:28,619 --> 00:25:31,230 S2: 100%. You know, you said the word capacity. It's a 460 00:25:31,230 --> 00:25:34,560 S2: really good word in that, in that instance. So it's 461 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:37,050 S2: just being honest in those moments. I think with people 462 00:25:37,050 --> 00:25:39,719 S2: when it's really hard and you're like, right now I 463 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:43,080 S2: can't get right down into the pit because I'll lose 464 00:25:43,080 --> 00:25:45,690 S2: my footing to, are you okay? If you're patient with 465 00:25:45,690 --> 00:25:48,360 S2: me as I go on a process of supporting you, 466 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:50,729 S2: and I'm going to be trying my best to to 467 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:53,310 S2: understand with the capacity that I have right now. 468 00:25:53,340 --> 00:25:55,170 S1: Yeah, it's a hard one. 469 00:25:55,170 --> 00:25:58,860 S2: It is a hard one. Which leads us to number four, 470 00:25:58,890 --> 00:26:04,260 S2: the helicopter. The helicopter freaks out or freezes up when 471 00:26:04,260 --> 00:26:08,190 S2: someone brings them any type of emotional distress and kind 472 00:26:08,190 --> 00:26:13,710 S2: of loses themself in that person. Often correlated with an anxious, 473 00:26:13,710 --> 00:26:17,159 S2: preoccupied attachment style, which a lot of people have. And 474 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:19,280 S2: there's no shame in that. You don't. You didn't get 475 00:26:19,280 --> 00:26:22,310 S2: a choice over it. It's from our parents anyway. Um, 476 00:26:22,310 --> 00:26:27,740 S2: and it's hardest when we care the most. So, parent 477 00:26:27,770 --> 00:26:30,590 S2: to child, when your child is not okay and they 478 00:26:30,590 --> 00:26:35,869 S2: bring you some pain, you almost don't separate that as theirs. 479 00:26:35,869 --> 00:26:40,490 S2: It's now ours. And, um, but there is a reason 480 00:26:40,490 --> 00:26:45,290 S2: why yin and yang are separate but together. An adult 481 00:26:45,290 --> 00:26:49,760 S2: always needs to remain in their sovereignty in order for 482 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:51,920 S2: other people to be able to hang on to them 483 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:56,150 S2: as a stable object. Emotions are scientifically proven to be 484 00:26:56,150 --> 00:27:01,460 S2: contagious up to like three degrees of separation. So if 485 00:27:01,490 --> 00:27:05,659 S2: you imagine when someone's presenting their heart to you and 486 00:27:05,660 --> 00:27:10,399 S2: it's ripped apart, you, you're standing there with a glass 487 00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:14,060 S2: of water and a glass of gasoline. Like choose wisely. 488 00:27:14,330 --> 00:27:18,480 S2: You can add to the contagion of pain by becoming 489 00:27:18,480 --> 00:27:21,660 S2: a tornado of their pain and not staying in that 490 00:27:21,660 --> 00:27:25,800 S2: really anchored position. Now people mishear me on this one 491 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:28,500 S2: and they think, what? So I just have to be 492 00:27:28,500 --> 00:27:31,050 S2: strong all the time. And the answer is absolutely fucking 493 00:27:31,050 --> 00:27:36,420 S2: not again. I created a charity of being vulnerable. But 494 00:27:36,450 --> 00:27:41,400 S2: if you want to be helpful in that conversation as 495 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:45,869 S2: a supporter while you're wearing that hat in that moment, yes, 496 00:27:45,869 --> 00:27:48,960 S2: you need to fucking anchor down. If that's what you 497 00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:51,780 S2: want to be is helpful. You need to find something 498 00:27:51,780 --> 00:27:54,659 S2: in you that you can stay stable on so that 499 00:27:54,660 --> 00:27:56,850 S2: other people can come to shore using you as a 500 00:27:56,850 --> 00:28:00,420 S2: life raft. Then if five minutes after that conversation ends, 501 00:28:00,420 --> 00:28:04,950 S2: you need to fall apart. Fall apart? This whole system 502 00:28:04,950 --> 00:28:07,530 S2: is just a series of dominoes where we're falling apart 503 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:11,159 S2: on each other. But like, you know, you travel a 504 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:14,929 S2: lot with with what you and Paul do and the 505 00:28:14,930 --> 00:28:17,750 S2: lifestyle you lead. I don't know about you, but when 506 00:28:17,780 --> 00:28:21,440 S2: the when the planes got turbulence, I look to the 507 00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:24,320 S2: flight attendant to see if they're relaxed or not. That's 508 00:28:24,320 --> 00:28:27,619 S2: how I know whether I should be scared. Mhm. Is 509 00:28:27,650 --> 00:28:31,040 S2: like what's their reaction? Humans are doing that all day, 510 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:33,649 S2: every day with their emotions. They're like, I'm feeling anxious. 511 00:28:33,650 --> 00:28:36,080 S2: Should I be feeling anxious? I'm going to check the 512 00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:39,590 S2: emotional regulation of everyone else. So one of the greatest 513 00:28:39,590 --> 00:28:42,110 S2: gifts you can give to other people you're trying to 514 00:28:42,110 --> 00:28:46,460 S2: support is work on your own shit so that the 515 00:28:46,490 --> 00:28:50,719 S2: washing machine is relatively clean, by no means perfect or fixed, 516 00:28:50,720 --> 00:28:54,410 S2: but relatively clean, so that when they bring you dirty laundry, 517 00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:56,540 S2: you don't give them dirty clothes back. 518 00:28:56,660 --> 00:29:00,020 S1: I'm loving the analogies. It's so it's. Yeah, we love 519 00:29:00,020 --> 00:29:04,460 S1: a metaphor. It's so it's so, so true. And as 520 00:29:04,460 --> 00:29:07,280 S1: well for on the other hand, I when I was 521 00:29:07,280 --> 00:29:10,550 S1: just recently in hospital trying to ask for help to 522 00:29:10,580 --> 00:29:13,060 S1: it's like, actually let me get you, let me, let 523 00:29:13,060 --> 00:29:15,700 S1: me get let you get the last. The last tip out. 524 00:29:15,730 --> 00:29:17,020 S1: Last one. Let me get the last one out. And 525 00:29:17,020 --> 00:29:18,310 S1: then I'm going to flip it. I'm going to flip 526 00:29:18,310 --> 00:29:19,570 S1: the conversation. Yeah. 527 00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:24,910 S2: So last one is the ostrich. The ostrich is kind 528 00:29:24,910 --> 00:29:28,090 S2: of the opposite of the helicopter. The. Oh no, it's 529 00:29:28,090 --> 00:29:31,270 S2: the I'm going to pretend that I didn't even see that. 530 00:29:31,300 --> 00:29:36,490 S2: I assume that person's not okay. But this isn't my bag. 531 00:29:36,520 --> 00:29:38,710 S2: You know, this isn't my jam. The whole emotional thing. 532 00:29:38,710 --> 00:29:42,880 S2: It's usually from a dismissive attachment style. Again, no shame 533 00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:46,270 S2: in that we probably weren't modeled healthy vulnerability as a child, 534 00:29:46,270 --> 00:29:49,150 S2: if that's the way we're operating as an adult. And 535 00:29:49,180 --> 00:29:53,590 S2: ostriches usually doubt their own ability to be helpful in 536 00:29:53,590 --> 00:29:59,560 S2: those moments, or they're phobic and petrified of feeling any 537 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:03,730 S2: type of awkwardness. Now, the reality is, you got to 538 00:30:03,730 --> 00:30:07,780 S2: get better at sitting in uncomfortable shit and feeling awkward. 539 00:30:07,780 --> 00:30:11,050 S2: If you want to be a human being that is 540 00:30:11,060 --> 00:30:14,720 S2: in any way, shape or form emotionally helpful and supportive, 541 00:30:14,960 --> 00:30:20,240 S2: and that the first sign of tension or when someone's crying. 542 00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:23,810 S2: For example, when I did my master's degree, I was 543 00:30:23,810 --> 00:30:27,380 S2: so fascinated to learn that the worst thing you can 544 00:30:27,380 --> 00:30:31,250 S2: do when someone's crying other than like, you know, be 545 00:30:31,250 --> 00:30:35,480 S2: abusive is hand them a tissue. Because what it signals 546 00:30:35,510 --> 00:30:39,830 S2: is clean yourself up and hurry up. So the best 547 00:30:39,830 --> 00:30:44,150 S2: tissue in the world is three words take your time 548 00:30:44,150 --> 00:30:48,740 S2: and then shut up. Then just stop. Do less. Let 549 00:30:48,740 --> 00:30:52,400 S2: them paint the walls with their pain. Because crying is 550 00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:56,540 S2: the nervous system's way of purging. It's trying to heal 551 00:30:56,540 --> 00:30:58,640 S2: and you're trying to stop the healing. 552 00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:00,080 S1: I just got goosebumps. 553 00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:02,270 S2: And I'm going to link it back to your beautiful 554 00:31:02,270 --> 00:31:04,790 S2: comment at the start. It's not about you. That tissue 555 00:31:04,790 --> 00:31:08,810 S2: is about the supporter. I'm uncomfortable. I need a prop. 556 00:31:08,890 --> 00:31:14,230 S2: Now lean in, say take your time and then be 557 00:31:14,230 --> 00:31:17,020 S2: in what it is to be human. Which is it's 558 00:31:17,020 --> 00:31:19,150 S2: fucking shit right now. Mhm. 559 00:31:20,260 --> 00:31:23,050 S1: And even if you just sit and say nothing. Is 560 00:31:23,050 --> 00:31:24,100 S1: that helping? 561 00:31:24,250 --> 00:31:29,110 S2: Abso fucking lutely. It is like there's so much I 562 00:31:29,110 --> 00:31:31,150 S2: posted about this on Instagram the other day. I was like, 563 00:31:31,150 --> 00:31:35,050 S2: when did care become negligent? And what I mean by 564 00:31:35,050 --> 00:31:37,540 S2: that is in so many conversations, we walk away and 565 00:31:37,540 --> 00:31:39,820 S2: we're like, I wish I could have helped. I had 566 00:31:39,820 --> 00:31:43,150 S2: no advice to give. And I was like, but you 567 00:31:43,150 --> 00:31:47,200 S2: loved them just then, right? You loved them hard. And 568 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:49,390 S2: you got in there and you listened and you tried 569 00:31:49,390 --> 00:31:53,230 S2: to understand them. That was your only job. If you're 570 00:31:53,230 --> 00:31:57,490 S2: having a real conversation, you must get better at leaving 571 00:31:57,490 --> 00:32:02,920 S2: that conversation knowing that you scored 100% success. And the 572 00:32:02,920 --> 00:32:07,840 S2: problem is still 100% the same if that person feels 573 00:32:07,850 --> 00:32:12,920 S2: totally fucking heard and supported. Yeah. So the equivalent in 574 00:32:12,920 --> 00:32:15,290 S2: the grief, just to round out that analogy that we've 575 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:18,620 S2: kind of flushed through all the mistakes, um, a helicopter 576 00:32:18,620 --> 00:32:21,200 S2: in the grief is like, well, I don't even know 577 00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:22,910 S2: how you're dealing with this right now. I would be 578 00:32:22,910 --> 00:32:27,800 S2: such a mess. And you and the ostrich would cross 579 00:32:27,800 --> 00:32:29,750 S2: the other side of the road when they saw you 580 00:32:29,780 --> 00:32:33,080 S2: walking toward them, because they wouldn't even know how to 581 00:32:33,110 --> 00:32:39,200 S2: ask about your miscarriage. So this is the best summary 582 00:32:39,200 --> 00:32:41,390 S2: of everything we've spoken about on how to make the 583 00:32:41,390 --> 00:32:49,220 S2: transition toward a real conversationalist. The single most helpful thing 584 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:53,840 S2: you can do with someone experiencing grief is to say, 585 00:32:53,840 --> 00:32:57,410 S2: what do you miss about that person the most? Um, 586 00:32:57,440 --> 00:33:01,490 S2: or if they're not earthside say, what does this loss 587 00:33:01,490 --> 00:33:07,210 S2: mean and represent to you? I.e., you go Directly toward 588 00:33:07,210 --> 00:33:10,510 S2: the eye of the storm. That's so scary. Is there 589 00:33:10,510 --> 00:33:11,890 S2: that we get better. 590 00:33:11,980 --> 00:33:15,280 S1: Even you just saying that just then. I'm just thinking. Shit, 591 00:33:15,310 --> 00:33:17,410 S1: how do you even. How do you even do that? 592 00:33:17,410 --> 00:33:21,100 S1: That's such a scary thought to to go straight towards 593 00:33:21,100 --> 00:33:22,600 S1: the eye of the storm of the problem. 594 00:33:23,380 --> 00:33:25,480 S2: It is. Huh? It is. 595 00:33:25,480 --> 00:33:30,400 S1: So in like context of talking miscarriage. I've just had 596 00:33:30,400 --> 00:33:33,220 S1: a miscarriage. What? What? And you've just found out. What 597 00:33:33,220 --> 00:33:34,600 S1: are you going to what? How are you going to 598 00:33:34,630 --> 00:33:35,650 S1: approach this? 599 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:39,070 S2: So. So some of your listeners right now might be thinking, 600 00:33:39,070 --> 00:33:42,340 S2: God right after a miscarriage, saying, what does that represent 601 00:33:42,340 --> 00:33:45,340 S2: to you might be too hard, and you should use 602 00:33:45,340 --> 00:33:49,450 S2: your own discretion and put relationship context, you know, into 603 00:33:49,450 --> 00:33:54,040 S2: the mix here. But a principle that might help guide 604 00:33:54,040 --> 00:33:58,750 S2: your sequencing is the bigger the bomb, the bigger the 605 00:33:58,750 --> 00:34:03,370 S2: paddock it needs to explode. So what I mean by 606 00:34:03,370 --> 00:34:06,890 S2: that is like the the heaviest something is, the less 607 00:34:06,890 --> 00:34:09,620 S2: you should try and fix it or even be involved 608 00:34:09,620 --> 00:34:13,640 S2: verbally or like brainstorming it out or any of that shit. 609 00:34:13,670 --> 00:34:16,310 S2: Like I had a friend the other day just tell 610 00:34:16,340 --> 00:34:21,500 S2: me that they have been diagnosed with cancer. Nothing I 611 00:34:21,500 --> 00:34:24,739 S2: can say next is going to make that better. I 612 00:34:24,739 --> 00:34:28,250 S2: just hugged them and I just breathed and we sat 613 00:34:28,250 --> 00:34:31,460 S2: there for a few minutes, just in silence. And that 614 00:34:31,460 --> 00:34:35,330 S2: silence was doing so much heavy lifting. We didn't get 615 00:34:35,330 --> 00:34:36,979 S2: to do it at the top of this segment, but 616 00:34:36,980 --> 00:34:40,400 S2: usually you start this with a shine and a shit, right? 617 00:34:40,790 --> 00:34:44,960 S2: I think that's the name of the segment. And my dad. 618 00:34:44,989 --> 00:34:47,930 S2: I just got home from America to to my dad 619 00:34:47,960 --> 00:34:54,080 S2: being hospitalized for suicidal ideation last Sunday. And that's a 620 00:34:54,080 --> 00:34:56,270 S2: lot for, you know, it's the first time this has 621 00:34:56,270 --> 00:34:59,210 S2: ever happened. And I went in to the clinic and 622 00:34:59,210 --> 00:35:00,800 S2: I saw him and he looked me in the eyes 623 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:02,930 S2: and said, the only reason I'm not taking my own 624 00:35:02,930 --> 00:35:07,750 S2: life is because of you. That is awesome. As a son, 625 00:35:07,750 --> 00:35:11,290 S2: that is the shine. But it's also shit to have 626 00:35:11,290 --> 00:35:15,520 S2: your hero at his knees wanting to take that away 627 00:35:15,520 --> 00:35:19,180 S2: from them. But I knew that all I could do 628 00:35:19,180 --> 00:35:22,090 S2: is just sit there with him. There is a time 629 00:35:22,090 --> 00:35:24,580 S2: and a place for us to talk about medication change 630 00:35:24,580 --> 00:35:26,620 S2: and his sleep apnea, and the effect that that's having 631 00:35:26,620 --> 00:35:29,830 S2: on his ability to self-regulate and all this other shit. 632 00:35:29,830 --> 00:35:33,040 S2: But in that moment, he just needed to know I 633 00:35:33,040 --> 00:35:34,899 S2: love him. And I held his hands and I looked 634 00:35:34,900 --> 00:35:37,060 S2: him in the eye and said, I love you, and 635 00:35:37,060 --> 00:35:41,890 S2: just stopped. And there was a turning point in his 636 00:35:41,890 --> 00:35:45,550 S2: eyes there. He knew I had his back. He trusted that. 637 00:35:45,550 --> 00:35:47,290 S2: I know he's going to get through this and will 638 00:35:47,290 --> 00:35:49,479 S2: work out the details later, but that was a big 639 00:35:49,480 --> 00:35:51,850 S2: bomb and I'm going to let that land. So if 640 00:35:51,850 --> 00:35:54,520 S2: someone's just had a miscarriage, you might not go straight 641 00:35:54,520 --> 00:35:57,009 S2: to what did that represent. But I'm sure if someone 642 00:35:57,010 --> 00:36:00,219 S2: like Elodie said that to you, even the day of. 643 00:36:00,250 --> 00:36:02,690 S2: What does this mean to you, Chlo? What's the hardest part? 644 00:36:02,719 --> 00:36:06,500 S2: Right now, someone that safe. It's actually probably relieving to 645 00:36:06,530 --> 00:36:10,640 S2: put some of that really, really deep emotional baggage somewhere else. 646 00:36:10,670 --> 00:36:11,090 S3: Mhm. 647 00:36:11,480 --> 00:36:16,069 S1: Yeah. Totally. And I there, there is like I guess 648 00:36:16,070 --> 00:36:18,800 S1: like we've just gone kind of gone through and firstly 649 00:36:18,800 --> 00:36:21,650 S1: I'm actually really sorry to hear about your dad. Um, 650 00:36:21,650 --> 00:36:23,720 S1: and that's probably the wrong thing to say. 651 00:36:24,110 --> 00:36:26,960 S2: No I don't want you to be petrified now to 652 00:36:26,989 --> 00:36:31,190 S2: say the wrong thing either. The care translated right. And 653 00:36:31,190 --> 00:36:34,190 S2: I think what a perfect thing for us to, to 654 00:36:34,219 --> 00:36:38,120 S2: to dance on right now. After all that, it really 655 00:36:38,120 --> 00:36:41,030 S2: doesn't matter what you say, so long as you just 656 00:36:41,030 --> 00:36:45,950 S2: deeply fucking care. And you just you acknowledged it. First 657 00:36:45,950 --> 00:36:47,420 S2: of all, you're not going to be like, at least 658 00:36:47,420 --> 00:36:50,359 S2: he's in getting treatment or. Yeah, you just went there. 659 00:36:50,360 --> 00:36:53,089 S2: I'm sorry for the pain. You acknowledge the pain and 660 00:36:53,090 --> 00:36:54,230 S2: that's all that matters. 661 00:36:54,260 --> 00:36:57,169 S1: And I think as well, with you saying that with 662 00:36:57,170 --> 00:36:59,000 S1: what Elody is saying, what does this mean to you 663 00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:02,020 S1: and exactly it needs to be context like in context 664 00:37:02,050 --> 00:37:05,080 S1: with the person and how deep, how well you know them. 665 00:37:05,080 --> 00:37:08,500 S1: But I think that that question as well, if that 666 00:37:08,500 --> 00:37:12,730 S1: was being asked to me, that's actually really touching, because 667 00:37:12,730 --> 00:37:15,730 S1: you then get to talk about your experience and, you know, 668 00:37:15,760 --> 00:37:18,370 S1: what does this mean to you? It's like that baby 669 00:37:18,370 --> 00:37:20,859 S1: meant everything to me. I've worked so hard, and it 670 00:37:20,860 --> 00:37:25,360 S1: really triggers that conversation for the person who's suffering to 671 00:37:25,390 --> 00:37:28,660 S1: be able to share as little or as as much 672 00:37:28,660 --> 00:37:30,489 S1: as they would like. And that's what I love about 673 00:37:30,489 --> 00:37:34,120 S1: this podcast. We get in here and it's almost therapeutic. 674 00:37:34,120 --> 00:37:37,270 S1: And do you get up there and everything that you've 675 00:37:37,270 --> 00:37:40,239 S1: been through, do you find it therapeutic to talk about things? 676 00:37:40,270 --> 00:37:42,910 S2: Yeah for sure. I mean, this space gives back more 677 00:37:42,940 --> 00:37:46,000 S2: than it takes, but it's a lot, right. And I yeah, 678 00:37:46,030 --> 00:37:53,110 S2: I've had to build incredibly, um, present boundaries, knowing how 679 00:37:53,110 --> 00:37:55,570 S2: far to lean in and when to to lean out, 680 00:37:55,570 --> 00:37:58,950 S2: as I'm sure you have to navigating your journey now 681 00:37:58,950 --> 00:38:02,220 S2: as a mama and a podcaster and a wife and 682 00:38:02,219 --> 00:38:03,870 S2: all the other hats that you wear. 683 00:38:03,900 --> 00:38:08,040 S1: Yeah, we've spoken a lot in this chat about helping 684 00:38:08,040 --> 00:38:10,650 S1: others go through their struggles and how to kind of 685 00:38:10,680 --> 00:38:13,410 S1: dive deeper into those conversations, but I want to kind 686 00:38:13,440 --> 00:38:15,629 S1: of put the shoe on the other foot. And yeah, 687 00:38:15,660 --> 00:38:20,310 S1: as an example, I've just had a baby. Obviously, it's 688 00:38:20,310 --> 00:38:23,520 S1: something that I've wanted for my whole life. We've tried 689 00:38:23,520 --> 00:38:27,330 S1: for five years, and I went through a fairly traumatic 690 00:38:27,330 --> 00:38:30,300 S1: experience post birth with a lot of blood loss, and 691 00:38:30,450 --> 00:38:35,310 S1: I remember getting back to my hospital room after being 692 00:38:35,310 --> 00:38:38,250 S1: released from ICU and getting in there with Paul and 693 00:38:38,280 --> 00:38:41,790 S1: like looking at my baby and just literally bawling my 694 00:38:41,790 --> 00:38:44,550 S1: eyes out. Like it actually makes me like teary thinking 695 00:38:44,550 --> 00:38:51,180 S1: about it. And I spent like the first week of post-birth, 696 00:38:51,210 --> 00:38:55,200 S1: swear to God, like crying and crying and crying and crying. 697 00:38:55,200 --> 00:38:57,219 S1: And I would speak to people on the phone and 698 00:38:57,219 --> 00:39:00,700 S1: family and friends, and I would be like, oh my God, 699 00:39:00,700 --> 00:39:02,860 S1: I am so obsessed with my baby. She's the best 700 00:39:02,860 --> 00:39:05,560 S1: thing in the world. But I literally cannot stop crying. 701 00:39:05,560 --> 00:39:09,400 S1: And I think, obviously there's this whole massive hormonal shift 702 00:39:09,400 --> 00:39:14,980 S1: that women go through post-birth. But I felt like this weird. 703 00:39:15,219 --> 00:39:18,190 S1: In my mind. I was just thinking, this is all 704 00:39:18,190 --> 00:39:21,940 S1: you've ever wanted. Like, you should be so freaking happy 705 00:39:21,940 --> 00:39:25,030 S1: right now. Why am I so sad? Like, why can't 706 00:39:25,030 --> 00:39:28,240 S1: I stop crying? And you know, everyone wants to help. 707 00:39:28,239 --> 00:39:31,000 S1: And everyone was there to put their hand out and say, 708 00:39:31,030 --> 00:39:33,640 S1: you know, let's talk about this. But from my point 709 00:39:33,640 --> 00:39:36,100 S1: of view, I was like, yes, I knew I needed 710 00:39:36,100 --> 00:39:38,080 S1: to speak about it, and yes, I knew I needed 711 00:39:38,080 --> 00:39:42,669 S1: to get help. But when you're in that moment, you're like, 712 00:39:42,670 --> 00:39:46,960 S1: I couldn't fucking think of anything worse than having to 713 00:39:46,989 --> 00:39:49,930 S1: deal with other people right now when you're so deep 714 00:39:49,930 --> 00:39:52,240 S1: in that yourself. I don't know if that makes any 715 00:39:52,239 --> 00:39:54,130 S1: sense at all, but I guess it was. 716 00:39:54,160 --> 00:39:54,640 S2: Like a ton of. 717 00:39:54,640 --> 00:39:56,580 S1: Sense. I guess it was like I was going through 718 00:39:56,580 --> 00:39:58,530 S1: a bit of a bout of baby blues, and I 719 00:39:58,530 --> 00:40:03,330 S1: completely empathise with people that suffer from postnatal depression, because 720 00:40:03,540 --> 00:40:06,480 S1: I never really understood it when I didn't have a baby, 721 00:40:06,480 --> 00:40:11,250 S1: because I was always like, you've got the baby. So like, 722 00:40:11,250 --> 00:40:14,670 S1: how could you have depression? Or how could you be 723 00:40:14,670 --> 00:40:18,150 S1: sad when you've got this miracle? And it fricking happened 724 00:40:18,150 --> 00:40:21,780 S1: to me and you know it. I even said to Elody, 725 00:40:21,780 --> 00:40:24,090 S1: I was like, I think I'm depressed. Like, I think 726 00:40:24,090 --> 00:40:27,750 S1: I'm actually depressed. I'm going through this. I don't I 727 00:40:27,750 --> 00:40:31,290 S1: actually don't know what's wrong with me. Um, and I 728 00:40:31,290 --> 00:40:34,350 S1: think from understanding, when I put out saying that I 729 00:40:34,350 --> 00:40:36,030 S1: was going to talk to you and, and I was 730 00:40:36,030 --> 00:40:38,819 S1: saying to people, have you got any questions in the 731 00:40:38,820 --> 00:40:45,029 S1: mental health space? And I am so sad looking at 732 00:40:45,030 --> 00:40:48,930 S1: how many women have come to me to ask questions 733 00:40:48,930 --> 00:40:53,130 S1: about postnatal. Not even it's not actually the person trying 734 00:40:53,160 --> 00:40:55,780 S1: to what we've just spoken about trying to help someone 735 00:40:55,780 --> 00:40:58,750 S1: with postnatal depression or baby blues or any of that. 736 00:40:58,780 --> 00:41:03,729 S1: It's actually women asking, how the fuck do I help myself? 737 00:41:03,850 --> 00:41:06,220 S1: And like, can we talk about this? 738 00:41:06,310 --> 00:41:09,160 S2: Well, first of all, what came up for me as 739 00:41:09,160 --> 00:41:13,150 S2: you were sharing that experience was when you said, crying, crying, crying. 740 00:41:13,150 --> 00:41:15,460 S2: I heard grieving, grieving, grieving. 741 00:41:15,610 --> 00:41:15,850 S3: Mhm. 742 00:41:17,080 --> 00:41:23,500 S2: I heard your nervous system crying out with relief that 743 00:41:23,500 --> 00:41:28,300 S2: this fear, this battle, this nightmare is over. Right. When 744 00:41:28,450 --> 00:41:31,870 S2: my friends and Olympian and I said, what emotion occurred 745 00:41:31,870 --> 00:41:33,970 S2: when you crossed the line and you won gold. And 746 00:41:33,969 --> 00:41:36,760 S2: I was expecting it was to be like ecstasy, joy, elation. 747 00:41:36,760 --> 00:41:40,360 S2: And it was relief. It was the removal of negative, 748 00:41:40,390 --> 00:41:45,310 S2: not the presence of positive that shone brightly in that moment. Right. 749 00:41:45,310 --> 00:41:49,089 S2: So what? Before your body and your brain and your 750 00:41:49,090 --> 00:41:53,939 S2: heart can be happy, it first needs to celebrate the 751 00:41:53,940 --> 00:41:58,320 S2: pain that's been removed. So what? That those tears were 752 00:41:58,350 --> 00:42:02,130 S2: was like a someone winning Olympics. This is my whole 753 00:42:02,130 --> 00:42:05,640 S2: life has been geared. The sacrifice that you did with the, 754 00:42:05,670 --> 00:42:08,160 S2: you know, leading up to that, the hormones, the tension 755 00:42:08,160 --> 00:42:11,040 S2: that put on the relationship with Paul, I imagine, and 756 00:42:11,040 --> 00:42:14,910 S2: your family and your career planning and your future and 757 00:42:14,940 --> 00:42:18,210 S2: all that shit culminates when you hold this child and 758 00:42:18,210 --> 00:42:21,000 S2: you say, finally, I am blessed with this miracle, and 759 00:42:21,000 --> 00:42:24,840 S2: it was worth it. But there's still so many parts inside, 760 00:42:24,840 --> 00:42:29,880 S2: you know, that were holding the fucking tent together with 761 00:42:29,910 --> 00:42:34,740 S2: fucking elastic bands and band aids, whilst you had to 762 00:42:34,770 --> 00:42:37,109 S2: go and be an adult and deliver this baby. And 763 00:42:37,110 --> 00:42:39,450 S2: it's like, okay, now we can fall apart. 764 00:42:39,480 --> 00:42:41,820 S1: Yeah. And I think that's just that it being an 765 00:42:41,820 --> 00:42:43,860 S1: adult and delivering this baby, and then all of a 766 00:42:43,860 --> 00:42:49,050 S1: sudden you're just so broken and so like exactly what 767 00:42:49,050 --> 00:42:51,220 S1: you just said. Relieved. But then you're like trying to 768 00:42:51,250 --> 00:42:55,720 S1: care for this newborn. But there's still so much going on, 769 00:42:55,719 --> 00:42:58,420 S1: and I think I even am getting teary talking to 770 00:42:58,420 --> 00:43:00,640 S1: you about it because, like, it's bringing back so many emotions, 771 00:43:00,640 --> 00:43:03,879 S1: just going, why was I like that? And I still 772 00:43:04,120 --> 00:43:07,900 S1: it must be that I still have so much underlying 773 00:43:07,900 --> 00:43:12,879 S1: grief from the miscarriages and from like, I don't know, 774 00:43:12,910 --> 00:43:16,120 S1: I just just like exactly what we were just saying, 775 00:43:16,120 --> 00:43:17,799 S1: how it's like created a bit of a mess. And 776 00:43:17,800 --> 00:43:20,500 S1: I think that like, it's this whole conversation is like 777 00:43:20,530 --> 00:43:23,319 S1: muddled my waters a little bit because I'm like, fuck, 778 00:43:23,350 --> 00:43:25,600 S1: I have really just like pushed this all down and 779 00:43:25,600 --> 00:43:28,390 S1: you don't really have time to, like, let this stuff surface. 780 00:43:28,390 --> 00:43:31,150 S1: As a mother, when you are caring for a newborn 781 00:43:31,150 --> 00:43:33,580 S1: because it really is full time. But you do have 782 00:43:33,580 --> 00:43:36,100 S1: these moments in these conversations and like what I'm having 783 00:43:36,100 --> 00:43:39,009 S1: with you right now, just going, nah, fuck. I have 784 00:43:39,010 --> 00:43:42,400 S1: gone through a lot, actually. And you have. There's so 785 00:43:42,400 --> 00:43:45,310 S1: much still. And do you think it's important for people 786 00:43:45,310 --> 00:43:48,100 S1: like myself or not even just people that haven't gone 787 00:43:48,100 --> 00:43:50,700 S1: through a lot? Do you think that it's important to 788 00:43:51,360 --> 00:43:57,660 S1: put everything aside sometimes and do some work on yourself constantly? Like, 789 00:43:57,690 --> 00:43:59,430 S1: do you think that that's important? 790 00:44:00,600 --> 00:44:03,660 S2: Look, I this is going to be the lamest answer 791 00:44:03,660 --> 00:44:05,430 S2: because I'm going to keep coming back to the answer 792 00:44:05,430 --> 00:44:07,350 S2: is going to be somewhere in the middle. I think 793 00:44:07,350 --> 00:44:09,990 S2: there's a time in life where you need to compartmentalize, 794 00:44:09,989 --> 00:44:13,049 S2: put shit aside and press on. Yeah. Um, like as 795 00:44:13,050 --> 00:44:15,120 S2: much as I'm a fan of, like, I'm the heart 796 00:44:15,150 --> 00:44:19,230 S2: on my sleeve guy, I'm fucking more emotions based than 797 00:44:19,230 --> 00:44:22,380 S2: most dudes I know. But still, I'm also one of 798 00:44:22,380 --> 00:44:24,360 S2: the most resilient people I know. And when I need 799 00:44:24,360 --> 00:44:27,000 S2: to drive, I'll drive hard. I also think there's a 800 00:44:27,000 --> 00:44:29,700 S2: time when you need to put reality, and all the 801 00:44:29,700 --> 00:44:33,720 S2: practical shit and the job and everything aside, and heal 802 00:44:33,719 --> 00:44:36,210 S2: so that you don't bleed on people that didn't cut you. 803 00:44:36,239 --> 00:44:41,910 S2: First and foremost, and for yourself and your own worthiness 804 00:44:41,910 --> 00:44:45,120 S2: to feel happy, you need to do some deep healing 805 00:44:45,120 --> 00:44:47,650 S2: at times. And I think it's knowing which season am 806 00:44:47,650 --> 00:44:49,900 S2: I in? Am I in like get shit done season 807 00:44:49,900 --> 00:44:53,530 S2: right now or am I in like slowing down and 808 00:44:53,560 --> 00:44:57,790 S2: like tying some loose ends? It's not summer always. You know, 809 00:44:57,820 --> 00:45:01,420 S2: there's reasons why the universe goes through four different cycles, 810 00:45:01,450 --> 00:45:03,730 S2: like so much of life is a rhythm, and it's 811 00:45:03,730 --> 00:45:07,510 S2: about finding equilibrium between two sides. And what I think 812 00:45:07,510 --> 00:45:10,930 S2: is coming up for you now is you've had the baby. 813 00:45:10,960 --> 00:45:13,510 S2: A lot's happen. The pod, you're still traveling, you're in 814 00:45:13,510 --> 00:45:17,950 S2: another country right now and and your nervous system is like, cool, 815 00:45:17,950 --> 00:45:20,860 S2: we can do that. We can push. So long as 816 00:45:20,860 --> 00:45:24,490 S2: you also give me time to feel and grieve. And 817 00:45:24,489 --> 00:45:27,790 S2: it doesn't mean that that that moment says that you're 818 00:45:27,790 --> 00:45:31,600 S2: now in a sad chapter again, it's just releasing some 819 00:45:31,600 --> 00:45:37,569 S2: of those stored memories and and heartaches that parts of 820 00:45:37,570 --> 00:45:40,719 S2: you are still holding to be true. And it's kind 821 00:45:40,719 --> 00:45:43,870 S2: of like updating the software to say it's time to 822 00:45:43,900 --> 00:45:46,469 S2: let go now, because we've been blessed with a new 823 00:45:46,469 --> 00:45:48,000 S2: reality that we can live in. 824 00:45:48,030 --> 00:45:48,480 S3: Mhm. 825 00:45:48,510 --> 00:45:50,640 S1: Yeah. It's because I think I used to be so 826 00:45:50,640 --> 00:45:55,200 S1: good at it. I really prided myself in helping myself, 827 00:45:55,230 --> 00:46:00,330 S1: you know, in after, before Bobby came along. That's what 828 00:46:00,330 --> 00:46:02,880 S1: I really, you know, I want to get out there 829 00:46:02,880 --> 00:46:05,550 S1: to help people. I want to have these hard conversations. 830 00:46:05,550 --> 00:46:08,430 S1: I'm going I'm doing a lot of self-care. I'm meditating, 831 00:46:08,430 --> 00:46:11,940 S1: which I haven't meditated once since Bobby was born, and 832 00:46:11,940 --> 00:46:15,480 S1: I was. So he'd be stoked. He would be. He 833 00:46:15,480 --> 00:46:18,210 S1: wouldn't be. He would not be happy with me saying that. 834 00:46:18,210 --> 00:46:21,450 S1: But yeah, I was like that. I was so good 835 00:46:21,450 --> 00:46:24,120 S1: at that in the past. And I feel like now 836 00:46:24,120 --> 00:46:26,700 S1: that I've got Bobby and I feel like a lot 837 00:46:26,700 --> 00:46:30,239 S1: of other women out there could probably resonate. Your whole 838 00:46:30,239 --> 00:46:33,300 S1: life is just like dedicated to them in a way, 839 00:46:33,300 --> 00:46:36,150 S1: and you've really put yourself aside. And I, I genuinely 840 00:46:36,180 --> 00:46:39,780 S1: hand to my heart, don't know where right now I 841 00:46:39,780 --> 00:46:44,750 S1: would find the time to do me if I was real. Like, 842 00:46:44,900 --> 00:46:47,570 S1: I feel like I've evolved and I've, like, grown a 843 00:46:47,570 --> 00:46:50,600 S1: lot and I've. And I'm so much better than I 844 00:46:50,600 --> 00:46:55,160 S1: was immediately post-birth right now. So I'm actually feeling okay. 845 00:46:55,190 --> 00:46:56,570 S1: I think that I was just had a little bit 846 00:46:56,570 --> 00:47:01,250 S1: of a moment just then, but, um, yeah. Where like 847 00:47:02,510 --> 00:47:05,390 S1: if I was still in those trenches where I was 848 00:47:05,390 --> 00:47:08,270 S1: a few weeks ago, and you do have this newborn 849 00:47:08,270 --> 00:47:10,760 S1: and you do have a chaotic life, and I'm trying 850 00:47:10,790 --> 00:47:12,529 S1: to slow down a bit now that I'm here in 851 00:47:12,530 --> 00:47:15,380 S1: Ibiza and I do have time to slow down, but 852 00:47:15,380 --> 00:47:19,759 S1: some women don't have that. And I'm like, how? How 853 00:47:19,760 --> 00:47:22,520 S1: do these women, what are some ways that these women 854 00:47:22,520 --> 00:47:26,300 S1: can help themselves in amongst this chaos? Like, you know, 855 00:47:26,330 --> 00:47:30,020 S1: you talk about human connection and having these conversations like 856 00:47:30,050 --> 00:47:33,140 S1: who are they going to? I actually had this conversation 857 00:47:33,140 --> 00:47:36,890 S1: with a girlfriend the other day who had had a 858 00:47:36,890 --> 00:47:38,810 S1: baby a few weeks before me, and I said, you know, 859 00:47:38,840 --> 00:47:40,969 S1: how are you going? And I'd only just had the 860 00:47:40,969 --> 00:47:44,160 S1: capacity to even ask her how she was going, because 861 00:47:44,160 --> 00:47:47,790 S1: I was just in this like, trench and she was 862 00:47:47,790 --> 00:47:50,220 S1: just boundaries. She was just like, oh my God, it 863 00:47:50,219 --> 00:47:54,089 S1: was so hard. My partner wasn't even able to take 864 00:47:54,120 --> 00:47:57,120 S1: time off work. I didn't have any family or friends around. 865 00:47:57,120 --> 00:47:59,489 S1: And I was just thinking, oh my God, I'm the 866 00:47:59,489 --> 00:48:03,569 S1: worst fucking friend for a start. How lucky am I 867 00:48:03,600 --> 00:48:05,910 S1: that I did have family and friends around me? How 868 00:48:05,910 --> 00:48:08,879 S1: the fuck would I have coped without my tribe around me? 869 00:48:08,880 --> 00:48:11,370 S1: And this poor friend did that all alone. And I'm 870 00:48:11,370 --> 00:48:15,240 S1: just thinking, oh my God, that is just it is 871 00:48:15,239 --> 00:48:20,190 S1: so sad and I just have so much like, I 872 00:48:20,219 --> 00:48:22,920 S1: guess empathy is the word for women and families that 873 00:48:22,920 --> 00:48:26,040 S1: go through this without the help. But I guess where 874 00:48:26,040 --> 00:48:28,020 S1: I was going with that question at the start, like 875 00:48:28,020 --> 00:48:30,780 S1: how do women, where do they go for help? How 876 00:48:30,780 --> 00:48:32,580 S1: do they ask for help? Who are they going to 877 00:48:32,610 --> 00:48:36,210 S1: for help? Like help me help them right now? 878 00:48:37,440 --> 00:48:40,680 S2: Yeah. Well, seeing as you asked, I will give advice 879 00:48:40,700 --> 00:48:45,110 S2: because usually I would just land that and say, yes, 880 00:48:45,110 --> 00:48:47,509 S2: you are. You have a lot on and that's that's 881 00:48:47,510 --> 00:48:50,360 S2: a lot. And I can see that you're feeling confused 882 00:48:50,360 --> 00:48:53,390 S2: and you're working through it. And that would be enough, 883 00:48:53,390 --> 00:48:57,259 S2: because I trust in your ability to know that you 884 00:48:57,260 --> 00:48:59,479 S2: will work through this. This is a new thing. Just 885 00:48:59,480 --> 00:49:01,759 S2: like any new thing, you will find your feet. I 886 00:49:01,760 --> 00:49:05,270 S2: have absolutely no doubt. And given the values of and 887 00:49:05,270 --> 00:49:10,310 S2: the behaviors you've demonstrated previously of tenacity and perseverance and care, 888 00:49:10,340 --> 00:49:15,110 S2: you will thrive in terms of how other people do that. Look, 889 00:49:15,140 --> 00:49:17,510 S2: my my heart bleeds for them as well. I think 890 00:49:17,510 --> 00:49:23,480 S2: sometimes I get in a loop around how is life fair? Like, 891 00:49:23,510 --> 00:49:28,069 S2: I still keep in touch with my ex-girlfriend and something 892 00:49:28,070 --> 00:49:31,400 S2: happened with her recently that was just so unfair, and 893 00:49:31,400 --> 00:49:34,130 S2: watching my dad be brought to his knees when he's 894 00:49:34,130 --> 00:49:37,940 S2: a good guy and doesn't deserve that. It's unfair. And and, 895 00:49:37,969 --> 00:49:41,280 S2: you know, watching the wars break out. And there are 896 00:49:41,280 --> 00:49:47,100 S2: times when I personally struggle with the existential acceptance that 897 00:49:47,100 --> 00:49:50,820 S2: life can be fucking cruel sometimes. I deal with that 898 00:49:50,820 --> 00:49:53,730 S2: by trying to turn as much pain into meaning and purpose, 899 00:49:53,730 --> 00:49:56,520 S2: by giving back to others as I can. But there 900 00:49:56,520 --> 00:50:00,120 S2: are some things that are just shit, and so I 901 00:50:00,120 --> 00:50:04,350 S2: think it's first, if you are in that position, letting 902 00:50:04,350 --> 00:50:08,490 S2: yourself feel whatever you need to feel about that, whether 903 00:50:08,489 --> 00:50:11,820 S2: that's I'm angry that I'm doing this on my own. 904 00:50:11,910 --> 00:50:14,279 S2: You don't have to be in your full, rational mind 905 00:50:14,310 --> 00:50:16,680 S2: all the time to be like, no, but I'm also 906 00:50:16,680 --> 00:50:19,350 S2: grateful for this. That's going to come next. Right. You 907 00:50:19,350 --> 00:50:22,170 S2: can go tidy up the mess in a second. I 908 00:50:22,170 --> 00:50:25,110 S2: had a friend to use a story. She had such 909 00:50:25,110 --> 00:50:30,090 S2: bad autoimmune issue that she would spend six plus months 910 00:50:30,090 --> 00:50:33,330 S2: a year in hospital, and this has been happening since 911 00:50:33,330 --> 00:50:37,320 S2: she was a teenager. She's unfortunately no longer with us, 912 00:50:37,350 --> 00:50:39,210 S2: but I would go in to visit her in hospital 913 00:50:39,210 --> 00:50:44,130 S2: and I'd ask like, how do you fight? Aren't you tired? 914 00:50:44,160 --> 00:50:47,729 S2: And she's like, yeah, I'm fucking tired. But I have 915 00:50:47,730 --> 00:50:50,910 S2: a pity party. Every so often I'll throw my fucking 916 00:50:50,940 --> 00:50:53,280 S2: toys out of the cart. I'll look up at God 917 00:50:53,280 --> 00:50:55,050 S2: and be like, you're not fucking real, because no one 918 00:50:55,050 --> 00:50:57,450 S2: would let this happen. Because I'm actually an ambulance driver 919 00:50:57,480 --> 00:50:59,850 S2: outside of this, and I'm sitting here in a hospital. 920 00:50:59,850 --> 00:51:03,719 S2: This is just not okay. And then I once I 921 00:51:03,719 --> 00:51:06,960 S2: felt it, I get up in bed again and I 922 00:51:06,960 --> 00:51:09,330 S2: push on and I take an inventory of what strengths 923 00:51:09,330 --> 00:51:11,190 S2: I do have, and I focus on the positive and 924 00:51:11,190 --> 00:51:13,140 S2: I go, that's the yin to the yang. You know, 925 00:51:13,170 --> 00:51:17,190 S2: you allow yourself to have a moment of whatever that 926 00:51:17,190 --> 00:51:20,730 S2: moment looks like so that your nervous system can purge. 927 00:51:20,730 --> 00:51:23,489 S2: Then you have space and capacity to come back into 928 00:51:23,489 --> 00:51:26,940 S2: the wise mind and kind of pave a way forward. 929 00:51:26,940 --> 00:51:30,510 S2: So don't deny yourself of what's true, I think, is 930 00:51:30,510 --> 00:51:34,350 S2: the first step. Second step is reaching out to people 931 00:51:34,350 --> 00:51:36,660 S2: who you trust, and that can have a real conversation 932 00:51:36,660 --> 00:51:39,239 S2: with you and hold that space. And they're not scared 933 00:51:39,239 --> 00:51:43,500 S2: of hearing the darkness and that they'll sit with you 934 00:51:43,500 --> 00:51:45,930 S2: in it. And if you don't have one of those people, 935 00:51:45,930 --> 00:51:49,710 S2: then thankfully there are resources like lifeline and and therapy 936 00:51:49,710 --> 00:51:53,190 S2: that can help you work through that. The third thing 937 00:51:53,190 --> 00:51:57,390 S2: I would say is be patient, especially in that example 938 00:51:57,390 --> 00:52:01,469 S2: of of postnatal, as someone who's researched it and, and 939 00:52:01,500 --> 00:52:03,779 S2: has have friends in it, by no means is this 940 00:52:03,810 --> 00:52:07,890 S2: my specialty, but chemistry is going to have a massive 941 00:52:07,890 --> 00:52:12,360 S2: part to play here that will normalize with time, and 942 00:52:12,360 --> 00:52:16,259 S2: it may or may not also require medical interventions and help. 943 00:52:16,260 --> 00:52:20,310 S2: But I'm sure you can relate to you know, you 944 00:52:20,310 --> 00:52:23,550 S2: alluded to perhaps a mild version of it when you're 945 00:52:23,550 --> 00:52:26,910 S2: in it, whether it's this or something else, you swear 946 00:52:26,910 --> 00:52:29,580 S2: it's going to last forever and that you can't see 947 00:52:29,580 --> 00:52:32,400 S2: the clouds for the sky. You know, it now feels 948 00:52:32,400 --> 00:52:34,520 S2: like the clouds have always been the sky. And now 949 00:52:34,520 --> 00:52:36,860 S2: it's forever going to be like this. And I think, 950 00:52:36,860 --> 00:52:40,940 S2: if nothing else, just know this too shall pass. 951 00:52:40,969 --> 00:52:43,550 S1: I say that a lot. I say that a lot. 952 00:52:43,550 --> 00:52:46,279 S1: And it's really it was really hard to be in 953 00:52:46,280 --> 00:52:48,980 S1: that position because I did. I have known a few 954 00:52:48,980 --> 00:52:52,160 S1: people with postnatal depression when I was trying to conceive, 955 00:52:52,160 --> 00:52:54,410 S1: and I was always just like, I just don't get it. 956 00:52:54,410 --> 00:52:58,340 S1: Like how you've got you've got everything, you've got your baby, 957 00:52:58,370 --> 00:53:00,950 S1: you've got a home, you travel like I've known a 958 00:53:00,950 --> 00:53:02,509 S1: few people that are like that. And I'm like, how 959 00:53:02,510 --> 00:53:06,350 S1: can you actually be depressed right now? But it's so 960 00:53:06,380 --> 00:53:11,029 S1: weird when you say it. That's a chemical situation happening. 961 00:53:11,030 --> 00:53:14,660 S1: I fully believe that now because like, I essentially was 962 00:53:14,660 --> 00:53:17,420 S1: that person. And I also am finding it really difficult 963 00:53:17,420 --> 00:53:20,089 S1: to have these chats on this podcast because a lot 964 00:53:20,090 --> 00:53:24,650 S1: of our listeners are trying to conceive and I feel like, yeah, 965 00:53:24,680 --> 00:53:30,680 S1: I feel so guilty talking about being so sad post 966 00:53:30,710 --> 00:53:34,590 S1: having a baby when I was always like, I would 967 00:53:34,590 --> 00:53:38,130 S1: always see people online, you know? And I'd be like, 968 00:53:38,130 --> 00:53:40,680 S1: don't ever complain. Don't ever complain about having the baby 969 00:53:40,680 --> 00:53:43,350 S1: because there's so many people out there that are, um, 970 00:53:43,380 --> 00:53:48,450 S1: trying to conceive. And I just feel like the biggest hypocrite. Like, literally, 971 00:53:48,450 --> 00:53:52,380 S1: I it breaks my fucking heart. No, it doesn't break. Well, 972 00:53:52,380 --> 00:53:54,450 S1: it does break my heart, but it also, I feel 973 00:53:54,450 --> 00:53:59,069 S1: so fucking guilty saying this in this space when I 974 00:53:59,070 --> 00:54:02,580 S1: know there's so many of you out there that are like, own, 975 00:54:02,610 --> 00:54:05,280 S1: that listen to us because they're struggling. And then here 976 00:54:05,280 --> 00:54:08,790 S1: I am. I've struggled, I've done this struggle, I've had 977 00:54:08,790 --> 00:54:11,160 S1: the baby and now I'm on the other side going, 978 00:54:11,340 --> 00:54:16,110 S1: this is really hard. And I'm I'm not coping that well. 979 00:54:16,110 --> 00:54:19,650 S1: And I've got the baby. I don't know, it's so weird. 980 00:54:19,650 --> 00:54:22,020 S1: It's and I yeah. And I am so sorry to 981 00:54:22,050 --> 00:54:24,420 S1: those people out there listening just going, you're a fucking 982 00:54:24,630 --> 00:54:28,050 S1: you're shit. I can't believe you're doing this because it's. 983 00:54:28,050 --> 00:54:29,879 S2: I don't think anyone's thinking that. 984 00:54:29,880 --> 00:54:32,780 S1: I'm just trying to be honest and try to be like, 985 00:54:32,810 --> 00:54:36,469 S1: this happens like, fuck, it's wild. 986 00:54:36,500 --> 00:54:39,830 S2: Look, it makes sense that you're that you're feeling guilty, right? 987 00:54:39,860 --> 00:54:43,070 S2: Because you were in those shoes for so long and 988 00:54:43,070 --> 00:54:45,020 S2: and you would have given anything to be there. And 989 00:54:45,020 --> 00:54:47,630 S2: now that you are here and you're feeling what you 990 00:54:47,630 --> 00:54:51,259 S2: didn't expect to, you're coming to terms with how you 991 00:54:51,260 --> 00:54:55,340 S2: reconcile being honest with also being grateful in a role 992 00:54:55,340 --> 00:54:59,210 S2: model for what you needed at the time. Full stop. 993 00:54:59,210 --> 00:55:00,950 S2: We're on a podcast, so I'll go on to give 994 00:55:00,980 --> 00:55:05,690 S2: advice like my $0.02. Um, my $0.02 there is that like, 995 00:55:06,080 --> 00:55:08,930 S2: you know, Brene Brown, who's someone I respect a lot. 996 00:55:08,930 --> 00:55:12,200 S2: She talks about comparative suffering and how it doesn't serve anyone. 997 00:55:12,230 --> 00:55:15,620 S2: You know, you're allowed to feel whatever you have and 998 00:55:15,620 --> 00:55:19,250 S2: also be grateful for what you know. They don't have 999 00:55:19,250 --> 00:55:22,190 S2: to cancel out each other. There's not this like, you know, 1000 00:55:22,219 --> 00:55:25,070 S2: zero sum equation where I can only feel that or 1001 00:55:25,100 --> 00:55:27,740 S2: that if someone else is happy, therefore I can't be 1002 00:55:27,739 --> 00:55:31,410 S2: as happy or no, fuck that. It can all be true. 1003 00:55:31,440 --> 00:55:39,060 S2: You can feel different to how you expected. Happy, sometimes. Sad, guilty. 1004 00:55:39,060 --> 00:55:42,810 S2: And all those things at the same time. And I 1005 00:55:42,810 --> 00:55:46,140 S2: think what people value the most is honesty around integrating 1006 00:55:46,140 --> 00:55:48,060 S2: all those different perspectives. 1007 00:55:48,840 --> 00:55:51,780 S1: Yeah, it's so hard. It's so hard to try to 1008 00:55:51,810 --> 00:55:56,670 S1: learn that juggle and. Yeah, and I do. I probably 1009 00:55:56,670 --> 00:55:59,219 S1: shouldn't apologise, but I do apologise for all those women 1010 00:55:59,219 --> 00:56:01,830 S1: out there because I definitely I know that I was 1011 00:56:01,830 --> 00:56:04,710 S1: always saying so much stuff about don't ever complain and 1012 00:56:04,710 --> 00:56:08,549 S1: here I am, so here we are. But that this 1013 00:56:08,550 --> 00:56:12,240 S1: chat has been so amazing and I think it's helped. 1014 00:56:12,270 --> 00:56:14,910 S1: So it's going to help so, so many people because 1015 00:56:15,120 --> 00:56:19,290 S1: this chat and from opening up the the chats on 1016 00:56:19,320 --> 00:56:23,520 S1: our socials last night, I've really become aware of you 1017 00:56:23,550 --> 00:56:25,380 S1: kind of just get lost in your own world for 1018 00:56:25,380 --> 00:56:27,629 S1: a second and you forget about other people and other 1019 00:56:27,630 --> 00:56:31,400 S1: people's struggles. And I did want to close this podcast 1020 00:56:31,400 --> 00:56:36,230 S1: out by answering a dear darlings for you all. And 1021 00:56:36,680 --> 00:56:43,160 S1: there are so many really important questions and topics that 1022 00:56:43,160 --> 00:56:45,319 S1: have been asked, and I think that we might do 1023 00:56:45,320 --> 00:56:49,910 S1: a bit of a part two bonus episode, um, for 1024 00:56:49,910 --> 00:56:52,700 S1: you guys at a later date, but let's just. Are 1025 00:56:52,700 --> 00:56:55,790 S1: you okay to answer two questions right now? Absolutely. That 1026 00:56:55,790 --> 00:57:00,319 S1: I think this one actually stood out to me the most. 1027 00:57:00,320 --> 00:57:04,580 S1: And and this person has said, what do you do 1028 00:57:04,580 --> 00:57:08,509 S1: when you're going through something really big, like cancer and 1029 00:57:08,510 --> 00:57:11,030 S1: a lot of friends disappear or don't acknowledge what you're 1030 00:57:11,030 --> 00:57:11,930 S1: going through? 1031 00:57:12,980 --> 00:57:17,810 S2: Yeah. Gosh, isn't that like a poetic place to, um, 1032 00:57:17,840 --> 00:57:21,230 S2: start to journey into the end of this, um, this 1033 00:57:21,230 --> 00:57:23,930 S2: chat because it picks up on so many threads that 1034 00:57:23,930 --> 00:57:26,890 S2: we've hit on. Right? It's not about you like that? 1035 00:57:26,920 --> 00:57:30,669 S2: If you're ghosting someone for a cancer diagnosis, you need 1036 00:57:30,700 --> 00:57:36,160 S2: to look in the mirror. Because we must be able 1037 00:57:36,160 --> 00:57:38,500 S2: to build the capacity to be there for people in 1038 00:57:38,500 --> 00:57:40,900 S2: moments where no one deserves to be alone. And if 1039 00:57:40,900 --> 00:57:45,730 S2: we can't, then we've got to go figure out how. Like, 1040 00:57:45,760 --> 00:57:48,100 S2: of course, there are times in our life where we 1041 00:57:48,130 --> 00:57:52,600 S2: are absolutely maxed out. And you mentioned one before. I'm 1042 00:57:52,630 --> 00:57:56,410 S2: kind of constantly ebbing and flowing between being like, if 1043 00:57:56,410 --> 00:57:59,620 S2: I go and help another person, I'm going to go 1044 00:57:59,620 --> 00:58:02,710 S2: off the deep end, so I need to pull back. 1045 00:58:02,710 --> 00:58:06,430 S2: But if if someone feels ghosted, whereby a whole network 1046 00:58:06,430 --> 00:58:10,690 S2: of people are opting out, that's like if that's considering 1047 00:58:10,690 --> 00:58:13,000 S2: that some people are having a bad day, everyone's not 1048 00:58:13,000 --> 00:58:15,130 S2: having a bad day and is at full max capacity. 1049 00:58:15,160 --> 00:58:18,280 S2: It means that their network is being really rigid and 1050 00:58:18,280 --> 00:58:21,880 S2: closed down, and so walk up to the mate with 1051 00:58:21,880 --> 00:58:24,890 S2: cancer and say, I don't know what to say, I'm 1052 00:58:24,890 --> 00:58:28,940 S2: fucking sorry this has happened. Here's a bench. I'm here 1053 00:58:28,940 --> 00:58:31,760 S2: to listen, and I won't say a word if you 1054 00:58:31,760 --> 00:58:35,270 S2: don't want me to. That's like. That's fucking courage. And 1055 00:58:35,270 --> 00:58:38,720 S2: that person would respect that 100 times more than you 1056 00:58:38,750 --> 00:58:42,020 S2: not having the perfect thing to say. Just be honest 1057 00:58:42,020 --> 00:58:44,540 S2: and say I give a fuck and you're not alone. 1058 00:58:44,570 --> 00:58:48,080 S2: Like ghosting someone because of your own insecurities when you 1059 00:58:48,080 --> 00:58:51,680 S2: have capacity to give is not acceptable in my opinion. 1060 00:58:51,980 --> 00:58:55,460 S1: And being the person with cancer, how do they go 1061 00:58:55,460 --> 00:58:58,430 S1: about this when their friends are kind of ghosting? Do 1062 00:58:58,430 --> 00:59:01,880 S1: you think that they should reach out to them, or 1063 00:59:01,880 --> 00:59:05,630 S1: should they look elsewhere? And you know, they've got their 1064 00:59:05,630 --> 00:59:07,790 S1: core friendship group? I mean, I'm just making this as 1065 00:59:07,790 --> 00:59:10,130 S1: an example, but if they've got their core friendship group 1066 00:59:10,130 --> 00:59:12,530 S1: that aren't serving them, where else do they go when 1067 00:59:12,530 --> 00:59:15,080 S1: they really fucking need someone to talk to or a 1068 00:59:15,080 --> 00:59:16,160 S1: shoulder to cry on? 1069 00:59:16,190 --> 00:59:20,300 S2: Yeah, I think then if I was in that situation, 1070 00:59:20,300 --> 00:59:24,250 S2: I would go to specific support groups for that issue, 1071 00:59:24,250 --> 00:59:28,840 S2: because if you're feeling that isolated, alone and misunderstood, you 1072 00:59:28,840 --> 00:59:33,340 S2: need to quickly remedy that and overcorrect to like hyper understanding. 1073 00:59:33,340 --> 00:59:36,850 S2: So I would go then to a cancer support group. 1074 00:59:36,880 --> 00:59:37,300 S3: Yeah. 1075 00:59:37,330 --> 00:59:39,550 S1: Yeah, I actually leant on a lot of that when 1076 00:59:39,550 --> 00:59:42,910 S1: I was going through my fertility struggles going. There's so 1077 00:59:42,910 --> 00:59:46,690 S1: many Facebook groups out there that they get it and 1078 00:59:46,690 --> 00:59:49,390 S1: they talk about it 24 over seven. And even if 1079 00:59:49,420 --> 00:59:51,760 S1: you don't want to be asking the questions, I can 1080 00:59:51,760 --> 00:59:54,700 S1: guarantee you someone else is going to ask the question 1081 00:59:54,700 --> 00:59:57,970 S1: very quickly on there because it constantly they're evolving. And 1082 00:59:57,970 --> 01:00:01,120 S1: then there's so many comments and people trying to, you know, 1083 01:00:01,150 --> 01:00:04,060 S1: help and offer advice. And yeah, I think that that's 1084 01:00:04,060 --> 01:00:07,510 S1: a really good one as well. Okay. The last question 1085 01:00:07,510 --> 01:00:11,170 S1: that someone's written in was how do I answer the question, 1086 01:00:11,170 --> 01:00:14,320 S1: how are you? When I'm struggling with my mental health. 1087 01:00:14,350 --> 01:00:16,390 S1: I'm in the fertility trenches, but I don't want to 1088 01:00:16,390 --> 01:00:18,910 S1: burden my friends and family. I really want to be 1089 01:00:18,910 --> 01:00:22,640 S1: honest with the struggle and explain why I've been so withdrawn, 1090 01:00:22,640 --> 01:00:24,440 S1: but I'm not sure how. 1091 01:00:24,470 --> 01:00:27,650 S2: Yeah. Great question. So for this one I'd say person, 1092 01:00:27,650 --> 01:00:31,010 S2: place and time. So check in with yourself and be like, 1093 01:00:31,040 --> 01:00:35,060 S2: is this someone person wise that can genuinely hold space 1094 01:00:35,060 --> 01:00:38,660 S2: for more than just a tick the box answer? Can 1095 01:00:38,690 --> 01:00:43,670 S2: I truly get real? Second is, is this the right place? 1096 01:00:44,030 --> 01:00:46,939 S2: Third is is this the right time? And you need 1097 01:00:46,970 --> 01:00:50,420 S2: three of three. And in those moments, if someone says, 1098 01:00:50,420 --> 01:00:53,450 S2: how are you and you feel fraudulent, saying, I'm good 1099 01:00:53,450 --> 01:00:57,110 S2: if you're not. Say, there's some stuff going on, now 1100 01:00:57,140 --> 01:01:01,040 S2: is probably not the right time. If you are interested 1101 01:01:01,310 --> 01:01:04,190 S2: and you have capacity, then we'd love to check in 1102 01:01:04,190 --> 01:01:06,560 S2: with you. When we both have some headspace to be 1103 01:01:06,560 --> 01:01:10,760 S2: able to get into it properly. But I'm, I'm I'm 1104 01:01:10,760 --> 01:01:12,890 S2: seeking support and I'm doing okay for now. 1105 01:01:13,730 --> 01:01:15,590 S1: And then what happens if they do want to talk 1106 01:01:15,590 --> 01:01:16,580 S1: about it though? 1107 01:01:16,610 --> 01:01:19,190 S2: And if you are also happy to talk about it 1108 01:01:19,190 --> 01:01:22,420 S2: with them and you consent to that, then allow them 1109 01:01:22,420 --> 01:01:26,080 S2: to organize that time and place, and you be an 1110 01:01:26,080 --> 01:01:28,360 S2: active member in participating in that. Yeah. 1111 01:01:28,390 --> 01:01:31,960 S1: Oh, yeah. The questions are so hard. But like you said, 1112 01:01:31,960 --> 01:01:35,230 S1: you've got to be a big boy and just go 1113 01:01:35,260 --> 01:01:39,520 S1: go in for the the eye of the storm. It's scary. 1114 01:01:40,510 --> 01:01:43,570 S1: And I think as well, in answer to this person's question, 1115 01:01:43,570 --> 01:01:47,620 S1: just from my experience, how they're saying, how do you 1116 01:01:47,620 --> 01:01:49,990 S1: answer that question? How are you when you are struggling? 1117 01:01:49,990 --> 01:01:53,650 S1: I think you don't actually have to be strong, like 1118 01:01:53,680 --> 01:01:56,080 S1: you don't have to be withdrawn. And I think I 1119 01:01:56,080 --> 01:01:59,320 S1: know that naturally you want to be away. It's super important. 1120 01:01:59,320 --> 01:02:01,450 S1: And from my experience and like, I don't want to 1121 01:02:01,450 --> 01:02:03,490 S1: be flipping this on me, but I'm just trying to 1122 01:02:03,520 --> 01:02:06,190 S1: give an example like, yeah, please, you do need to 1123 01:02:06,190 --> 01:02:09,700 S1: find that person. And for that person for me is 1124 01:02:09,700 --> 01:02:13,840 S1: generally elody sometimes it's not even Paul. Elody is like 1125 01:02:13,840 --> 01:02:18,710 S1: my rock. She's like my emotional support animal. Vice versa. 1126 01:02:19,160 --> 01:02:23,900 S1: We we definitely deal with things completely differently like she will. 1127 01:02:24,020 --> 01:02:28,010 S1: A lot of the time, bottle things up and keep 1128 01:02:28,010 --> 01:02:31,130 S1: things internal because that's how she copes and that's her 1129 01:02:31,130 --> 01:02:34,820 S1: coping mechanism and sometimes her bucket. And like what Cooper 1130 01:02:34,820 --> 01:02:37,670 S1: likes to say, he's your bucket gets full and full 1131 01:02:37,670 --> 01:02:39,650 S1: and full and full until it to the point where 1132 01:02:39,650 --> 01:02:42,050 S1: you do need to sit down with someone and you 1133 01:02:42,050 --> 01:02:46,190 S1: are at the verge of breaking. Whereas me personally, I 1134 01:02:46,190 --> 01:02:49,490 S1: like to get it out straight away and she's my person. 1135 01:02:49,490 --> 01:02:51,530 S1: That if I'm not doing well, I don't even need 1136 01:02:51,530 --> 01:02:53,540 S1: to say anything to her. Like I'll pick up the 1137 01:02:53,540 --> 01:02:56,630 S1: phone and I'll just end up in tears. And she's like, okay, 1138 01:02:56,630 --> 01:02:59,360 S1: let's sit down what's going on? And I'll let her 1139 01:02:59,390 --> 01:03:05,090 S1: know straight away. So it's it's all relative to the 1140 01:03:05,090 --> 01:03:09,050 S1: context and how you're feeling at the time and finding 1141 01:03:09,050 --> 01:03:11,600 S1: that one person. And like you said earlier, like if 1142 01:03:11,600 --> 01:03:14,510 S1: you don't have that one person, there are so many 1143 01:03:14,510 --> 01:03:17,770 S1: places that you can go for help. There's help lines 1144 01:03:17,770 --> 01:03:20,860 S1: will actually list. I'll list a bunch of them in 1145 01:03:20,860 --> 01:03:22,870 S1: the show notes. So if you are listening and you 1146 01:03:22,870 --> 01:03:26,830 S1: don't have your person, please reach out and get help 1147 01:03:26,830 --> 01:03:30,460 S1: from these different. There's hotlines, there's chats. If you don't 1148 01:03:30,460 --> 01:03:32,620 S1: want to speak to someone on the phone, there's there's 1149 01:03:32,620 --> 01:03:35,110 S1: so many different ways that you can get help and 1150 01:03:35,110 --> 01:03:39,460 S1: feel heard and people with experience to help you back. Um, 1151 01:03:39,460 --> 01:03:43,990 S1: so I just really want to say thank you so much, Mitch, for, 1152 01:03:44,020 --> 01:03:45,520 S1: by the way, I'm going to get your book. I 1153 01:03:45,520 --> 01:03:48,280 S1: haven't read it, but I would love to read your book. 1154 01:03:48,310 --> 01:03:49,390 S3: We'll get you a copy for sure. 1155 01:03:49,510 --> 01:03:50,440 S1: To get it on my Kindle. 1156 01:03:50,470 --> 01:03:51,220 S3: Absolutely. 1157 01:03:51,340 --> 01:03:53,050 S1: Um, I will also put a link in our show 1158 01:03:53,080 --> 01:03:56,260 S1: notes as well. For anyone that wants to read Mitch's book, 1159 01:03:56,290 --> 01:03:59,440 S1: you can follow him on Instagram. We'll link his Instagram. 1160 01:03:59,440 --> 01:04:04,030 S1: It's at Mitch Dot Wallace w a l l I s. 1161 01:04:04,060 --> 01:04:07,390 S1: He's also got a podcast. You can listen to his podcast, 1162 01:04:07,390 --> 01:04:10,360 S1: but I've linked everything in the show notes and I really, 1163 01:04:10,360 --> 01:04:13,630 S1: honestly appreciate you so much. Mitch. And I knew this 1164 01:04:13,630 --> 01:04:17,030 S1: conversation was going to be great, but I think it's 1165 01:04:17,030 --> 01:04:22,160 S1: it's over exceeded my expectations. And yeah, I really appreciate 1166 01:04:22,160 --> 01:04:24,320 S1: you coming on here. So thanks so much. 1167 01:04:24,350 --> 01:04:28,460 S2: My absolute pleasure. And thanks for being such a authentic 1168 01:04:28,460 --> 01:04:31,670 S2: and bright spirit in the world. I think we need 1169 01:04:31,670 --> 01:04:33,919 S2: more people like you, and it's been an honor to 1170 01:04:33,950 --> 01:04:35,720 S2: to hang out with you for an hour or so. 1171 01:04:35,750 --> 01:04:40,490 S1: Oh, you're amazing. And I will definitely come back to this, everyone. 1172 01:04:40,490 --> 01:04:42,290 S1: And if you have any other questions that you would 1173 01:04:42,290 --> 01:04:45,860 S1: like us to touch on, please email us. Probably get 1174 01:04:45,860 --> 01:04:50,120 S1: lost on Instagram. So email me at hello darling Shine.com 1175 01:04:50,120 --> 01:04:51,860 S1: and we'll make sure we add that to our list. 1176 01:04:51,860 --> 01:04:54,860 S1: And thank you guys or thank you Mitch and we 1177 01:04:54,890 --> 01:04:56,750 S1: hope you guys really enjoyed that chat. 1178 01:04:58,280 --> 01:05:03,140 UU: Oh we're always.