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In this episode of Wellbeing Interrupted, I had the pleasure of speaking with two incredible women, Georgia and Amanda, who share their experiences living with mental health conditions. Both hosts of the podcast Going Loco, they use humour and raw honesty to discuss bipolar disorder and depression. Their approach to mental health is both refreshing and relatable, and this conversation offers a deep dive into how they manage their daily lives and mental health struggles. 

 

Understanding Bipolar Disorder: Georgia’s Journey Through Highs and Lows 

Georgia was diagnosed with Bipolar 1, a condition marked by extreme highs (mania) and lows (depression). She shares the complex and often misunderstood reality of living with bipolar disorder. While mania can feel like an energizing high, Georgia explains how it can also bring racing thoughts, sleepless nights, and overwhelming emotions. 

 

Managing bipolar requires Georgia to use antipsychotic medication to regulate her mood, especially during her high periods, which tend to spike in spring and autumn. Despite the challenges, Georgia finds ways to cope, including strong support from her family and a daily commitment to exercise and self-care. 

 

Depression and Anxiety: Amanda’s Struggle with Persistent Mental Health Challenges 

 

Amanda’s story highlights her experience with depression, a condition that often manifests as anxiety and physical exhaustion. Diagnosed in her early thirties, Amanda describes how depression impacts her ability to get out of bed and the constant cycle of negative self-talk that can take over her life. 

 

For Amanda, medication plays a crucial role in managing her mental health. Despite periods of feeling better, Amanda recognizes that this is because her medication is working—a vital reminder that mental health treatment is often ongoing. She also emphasizes the importance of having a strong support system and allowing herself time to rest when needed. 

 

Managing Mental Health as a Chronic Condition 

 

Both Georgia and Amanda talk openly about the realities of living with mental health conditions that have no cure. For Georgia, learning to manage the unpredictability of bipolar episodes has been key to maintaining her daily life. She reflects on how important it is to accept that mental health is a chronic condition, rather than something that will just “go away.” 

 

Similarly, Amanda shares how depression ebbs and flows, but she now recognizes the warning signs when things start to spiral. By understanding her triggers, such as increased alcohol consumption or obsessive behaviours, she’s able to reach out for help before her condition worsens. 

 

Self-Awareness and Support Systems: Key to Coping with Mental Health Struggles 

 

Georgia and Amanda both stress the importance of being self-aware and seeking help when needed. Georgia’s bipolar disorder requires her to avoid high-stress situations and pull back when she feels her mood spiralling upwards. Amanda talks about how essential it is for her to accept help from friends and family, especially during depressive episodes. 

 

Both women emphasise that accepting help doesn’t mean you’re failing—it’s part of living with a mental health condition. Whether it’s friends offering support or a partner stepping in to help with children, having a strong support system is vital for their wellbeing. 

 

What Mental Health Advocacy Looks Like for Georgia and Amanda 

 

Through their podcast, Going Loco, Georgia and Amanda are breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health. They believe in making mental health struggles visible, so others don’t feel alone in their journeys. Their willingness to be vulnerable and honest about the ups and downs of mental health is helping to change the conversation, not just for those living with bipolar disorder and depression, but for everyone affected by mental health issues. 

 

Conclusion: Embracing Mental Health Conversations 

Georgia and Amanda's candid discussion on living with bipolar disorder and depression offers valuable insights into the daily reality of managing mental health. Their stories highlight the importance of self-awareness, support systems, and the power of open conversations. By sharing their experiences on the Going Loco podcast and beyond, they challenge the stigma surrounding mental health, offering hope and a sense of community for those navigating similar struggles. Their message is clear: mental health conditions may be chronic, but with the right tools and mindset, it’s possible to thrive and continue finding joy and purpose in life. 

Follow Georgia and Amanda on their podcast Going Loco or stay connected with them on social media. Let’s continue breaking down barriers and encouraging open conversations about mental health. 

 

SHOW RESOURCES

• Going Loco podcast
• Welbeing Interrupted Podcast Episodes - Hurdle2Hope Stories Episode 20 and 22

 

Transcript Episode 24: Hurdle2Hope®️ Stories Meet Georgia and Amanda Going Loco 

 

[00:00:00] Teisha: Hey there, Teisha here, and welcome to episode 24 of Wellbeing Interrupted. Today, I am really excited to be sharing an interview I did with two incredible women, Georgia and Amanda. Georgia and Amanda have a podcast called Wellbeing Interrupted. Going Loco. I chuckle because it is such a great podcast.

[00:00:28] Both Georgia and Amanda open their podcast in their trailer saying it's a if you don't laugh you'll cry situation. So they have really um, open conversations about Mental health and their experiences with mental health. They'll share more about it in the interview coming up. So I guess before we begin, please be aware that this episode contains discussions about mental health.

[00:00:58] including topics like depression, bipolar disorder, and suicide thoughts. And that may be triggering for some listeners. But if you decide to listen, yeah, you'll get so much out of this conversation. I know I learned a lot. It's good for me, although I don't have mental health issues, of course I've been through some really dark periods in dealing with MS and stage 4 breast cancer, but as I share my partner Andrew, he has been living with depression all of our relationships are nearly 20 years now, so it's really good for me to gain more insight into what these ladies are going through.

[00:01:47] So enjoy

[00:01:48] this episode.

[00:01:55] Teisha: Welcome to Wellbeing Interrupted, the podcast dedicated to exploring the transformative power of a healing mindset. I'm Teisha Rose, your host and the founder of Hurdle2Hope. If you're on a quest to not just survive, but thrive after a life changing diagnosis, then you're definitely in the right place.

[00:02:18] Living with MS and now. Stage 4 breast cancer has taught me a vital lesson in the face of a life changing illness. Our mindset is everything. Each week I'll share insights, tips and strategies to help you build a happier, healthier, more balanced life. So let's begin your journey from hurdle to hope starting right now.

[00:02:48] Okay. So as I said, welcome everyone. This is a special. Podcast edition of Wellbeing Interrupted. I have two amazing guests of a podcast that I absolutely love, going loco. I love the name. And the two ladies, um, who, yeah, host that podcast are here with us. So welcome Georgia and Amanda.

[00:03:17] So what we're going to do today is the podcast that Georgia and Amanda host is about mental health. And so this is such an important topic. If you're living with a chronic condition, as we know, so many people. Dealing with the relentless nature of a chronic illness. Do experience depression and what, it's really good, I guess, to learn from experts who have lived in that space.

[00:03:48] And that's what I like, real life experts. You know, it's not about necessarily speaking to the doctors or, you know, different psychologists. It's about, we've lived it, we've breathed it, so let's help each other to move. Forward with it. So, um, what we'll do to start with, Georgia and Amanda, I haven't had two guests on at the same time.

[00:04:08] Um, so you two between yourselves, who wants to go first, but quickly just introduce yourself and I know you. deal with two different conditions which have some similarities. Um, but yeah, just explain to us and introduce yourselves to my beautiful audience.

[00:04:29] Georgia: All right, Georgia, you go first. Yeah, I can start.

[00:04:32] Yeah, so my name's Georgia, um, and I have Bipolar1, and bipolar is a mental health condition that has, um, the very high And low, um, period. So you will have the depressive, um, symptoms, which I guess is more probably familiar and easier to understand. And then, um, the flip side of that is experiencing mania, which is actually, um, kind of feeling the best you've ever felt.

[00:05:03] It's

[00:05:04] Georgia: unfortunate it's a disease, but, um, Bit of an oxymoron, like what do you mean I'm sick? Yeah, it is. Um, yeah, basically during those periods, um, it's hard to sleep. You have racing thoughts and you feel very confident and amazing. Um, but yeah, it has to be kind of kept in check with medication to ensure that, um, you kind of don't blow up your life.

[00:05:31] I'll

[00:05:32] teach, I'm going to teach you and I'm just going

[00:05:36] Georgia: That's

[00:05:37] me. Yeah.

[00:05:38] Amanda: Um, hi. Hi. I have depression, which I've, I got diagnosed kind of in my early thirties with it. Um, and it, but it manifests mostly as anxiety or just not wanting to get out of bed ever. Um,

[00:05:59] Teisha: yeah.

[00:06:00] Amanda: So I've had, um, some pretty, pretty big, um, depressive episodes and I am.

[00:06:06] I have been medicated on and off for about, from my kind of maybe mid twenties, even though I had no diagnosis, I've been on and off antidepressants since my mid twenties. Um, yeah, so. Yeah,

[00:06:26] Teisha: that's, that's you, but it's not you. Like, as I always say to people, we're not our diagnoses, you know, um, that, because I feel a bit funny, you know, I am Teisha, I have MS and stage four breast cancer, you know, we're so much more than that, um,

[00:06:48] Amanda: We're always joking that Georgia forced me into, um, coming out basically

[00:06:56] because I was probably I always think of depression in a, it comes and goes, rather than, or had.

[00:07:04] Teisha: Yep.

[00:07:04] Amanda: And I think about it as a, it comes, it goes, and I'm just having some depressive periods in my life, but, um, slowly but surely, I've come to the conclusion that it's probably chronic. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. ab

[00:07:18] Teisha: it's a lot.

[00:07:19] Yeah, absolutely.

[00:07:22] Yeah.

[00:07:23] Teisha: and that's right. And I think that's why it's important and it's good that you are having, we're having this discussion because mental health is, there's no cure that all of a sudden it stops, you know? And you know it is with you. Yeah. And it is, it is a journey, you know how they say, it's a journey, but you know, it is ongoing and the challenges are relentless.

[00:07:47] And although, and we've chatted about this together before, although I've. I haven't been diagnosed with depression and my partner has. And so Andrew, since we've been together, he's been treated for clinical depression and it's, it's scary to watch, you know, and it's, it's really so, My heart breaks for him when he's going through really depressive times because we feel, I feel helpless, um, as to what to do.

[00:08:21] And you want to, and sometimes I can feel frustrated and say, but you know, as a social worker, don't be saying snap out of it. Doesn't work like that. So yeah, so

[00:08:32] no,

[00:08:33] Teisha: no, no. So it's great to have some insights from you guys in terms of your daily life. So what do you guys get up to and how has it impacted you daily?

[00:08:48] Georgia, I think

[00:08:49] Georgia: for me. Um, so I, um, I take antipsychotics to treat the bipolar, so it's sort of like the opposite of antidepressants. , instead of needing to be lifted up, I need to be kind of modulated down a little bit. Okay. Um, and so yeah, basically, I mean, they can be quite, um, like have a quite a sedative effect.

[00:09:11] So, um, you know, getting up in the morning can be. Hard, you know, I've got three kids, um, and a two year old who still wakes up in the night. So, um, yeah, that can be hard with the medication, um, to manage. Um, and, you know, previously my husband has kind of had to step in a bit more overnight to do when we have, you know, Little babies to do the overnight stuff because you know, you can't feed a baby when you're unconscious.

[00:09:44] You really shouldn't, don't do it. I remember you know, when I was sitting in mum's group and all the mums were With my first baby on the roll, so I'm sleep deprived and tired. And I'm just like, I'm not going to say anything because actually I'm not. But these books, they're like, I can't, I'm having like the best sleep of my life.

[00:10:07] Um, but yeah, so. I guess in terms of my daily life, like bipolar, you have long periods of having normal mood. So it's not like a daily thing, but I just have to, over the course of a year, like my bipolar, it's quite, um, predictable. It crops up so spring and that's a common thing across people with bipolar that in the month, the um, time of springtime just seems to set people off.

[00:10:38] That's

[00:10:38] Teisha: amazing. I wonder what that is?

[00:10:40] Georgia: The light or the, the change in, yeah, I don't know. I just really pick up on what the earth is doing there. Yeah, you are a bit woo woo.

[00:10:49] Amanda: I am a bit woo woo. Maybe that's why you hate being woo woo because you have to up.

[00:10:59] Georgia: The other time is autumn. So they're both seasonal, um, that yeah. Common can be very common across bipolar. Um, also stress. I have to be really careful to manage, um, stress in my life because that's when you can episode as well. And I'll always kind of gravitate towards a manic episodes. Um, I definitely have more over the years.

[00:11:23] It's been the mania that has. being more extreme and caused, I've had to manage that harder than the depression. I tend to move through the depression fairly. I wouldn't say it's super quick or easy, but it's, um, yeah, it's not as hard for me as the mania. So, yeah, so

[00:11:45] Amanda: I guess quite a clinical, um, yeah, depression, which has been really interesting because Georgia's depression is Like, yeah, the higher you go, the lower you go.

[00:11:56] Yeah, that's right. Okay.

[00:11:57] Teisha: Yeah. And it's

[00:11:58] Amanda: easy to watch you and how you talk about depression. You're like, Oh, I just know it'll pass. It always passes. Like it's horrendous,

[00:12:05] Georgia: but yeah, it's really uncomfortable, but you go, yeah, like it's, it's going to, it's going to pass. It's going to, it's not going to hang around too long and it'll be, I just have to kind of push, push through it a bit and it will, it will, um, you know, it's hard.

[00:12:20] But it's still

[00:12:20] Teisha: hard. Still, I can't imagine the ups and downs. Like that must be really difficult.

[00:12:28] Georgia: It is challenging. I think probably the most challenging thing is because I have Bipolar 1, so that means, um, it's the more high highs and technically the low lows and also with a few psychotic features. Yeah, just as a bonus.

[00:12:42] This is a bonus. But I find on the way out after, like, I'll have depression and then I'll get what's called disassociation, which is probably worse than the depression because it's the weirdest thing, but you're kind of sitting outside your body, like looking at yourself, like all your thoughts kind of, so when you're manic, everything's like really interconnected and you're like.

[00:13:06] But when you go into disassociation, all your thoughts just go like, like it's like tumbleweeds in between and you can't, you actually feel far away from yourself as a person. It's the most disgusting feeling. And then when I get to that, my husband is always like, well, you know, you're nearly out of it now.

[00:13:26] I'm like, yeah, but it's, it's really, it's kind of like a ringing in your ears. It's like, that's how physical. Okay. Like a ringing in your head, like a numbness. Like, it's quite hard to, it's such an off putting, disgusting feeling. But once I'm there, I know that, okay. I'm, I'm nearly there. I've just got to get through this last bit.

[00:13:49] And, um, yeah, it is, like, um, I definitely have the more harder to manage type of bipolar, like bipolar 2 is by all accounts, tends to be a bit easier to manage, but I, I'm lucky that, um, like I'm able to manage it really well, like I'm always the first one that knows. Kind of what's happening and it's not like I need other people to tell me it like, I'm always the first to know and very on top of medicating it.

[00:14:19] And so, um, manage it well, but it is quite, it is the extreme form. Yeah.

[00:14:24] Teisha: Yeah. That's full on. And so when you say that part coming out of it, how long does that last for?

[00:14:33] Georgia: Depends on the episode. So, um, if it's, Like, I had an episode in spring and that was, it was a few weeks ago. Wow,

[00:14:43] Teisha: that's a long time of feeling uncomfortable.

[00:14:45] Yeah,

[00:14:46] Georgia: yeah, it really is. And after I had my babies, um, cause I had, um, kind of like a birth injuries mania and a bit of I had a little psychosis, um, with the baby. So, um, yeah, it can be weeks, but then I had a smaller episode recently, my autumn episode, and that was a much kind of more muted, like I was only disassociated for about three days.

[00:15:12] Okay. Yeah, so, but I didn't get as high. Yeah. It's all, it's all about how you manage the high. Yeah. Yeah. I feel like MP3'd that episode. Oh, I did. I just smashed it. Yeah, they just cut the highs and the lows. Smashed it out with medication. And that's what I'm, you know, it's been a real learning experience because when you first go through it, you've got no idea, I mean, my sister also had it.

[00:15:36] My mum also, my mum was undiagnosed. Wow. Okay. I've got an uncle that's got a couple of cousins, it's very, yeah, um, um,

[00:15:49] Teisha: yeah,

[00:15:49] Georgia: is

[00:15:50] Teisha: that scary though? Is that scary because you know what's happened to others

[00:15:55] Georgia: before you or? Yeah, we were talking about this just before we logged on actually, so when my sister had her first manic episode when I And she was living away from home and it was a very, so she basically a GP put her on an antidepressant, which you can't do for someone with bipolar because it makes them manic.

[00:16:16] But you know, we didn't know much about the illness, you know, generally the medical community and especially GPs, like there just wasn't that knowledge. So she had a huge manic episode, like was in a, I had to go into a public psych ward for like eight weeks. Wow, that's scary. Talking to her and she's incredibly high.

[00:16:39] Yeah. But then she had to come back home and live in the family home and it, she just never really, it was such a big episode, it cut her out of finishing uni. She wasn't able to sort of link back in with employment and she was kind of, uh, sort of permanently. Disabled by it because it was just such a huge episode.

[00:16:58] And so I looked at her and went, oh my God. Like, and I kind of suspected that I had it because I looked at my Lexi and I was like, yeah, I'm the same . But I terrified because I was like, that's what, if you get bipolar, like that's what it looks like. That's it. Yes. You know, that was the only example. Yeah. I had really, other than mom, which I kind of, we kind of, I kind of hadn't put it together and that she had it as well, but, um.

[00:17:24] Yeah, I was like, that's what it looks like and that's terrifying. Yeah. Um, it took a while for me to realize, oh, no, it doesn't have to look like that. And I guess for me, You know, tragically, Lex did end up taking her own life when I was 25. Um, but it took a long time for me to realise. It's basically on the basis of what she went through that I'm able to learn from, you know, unfortunately, the mistakes that were kind of made in her care and what,

[00:17:55] Teisha: you know,

[00:17:56] Georgia: choices that just weren't, that were taken away from her, I'm kind of able to stand on her shoulders and, Yeah, that's beautiful.

[00:18:03] Like have choices and knowledge and stuff that she just wasn't available to her. Yeah.

[00:18:10] Teisha: And I, I think that's great. And I think for everyone listening as well, it's so scary getting a diagnosis, but it's a good reminder that your experience may be totally different to someone else's.

[00:18:23] Georgia: Yeah. But I was just like, nope, that's what it looks, that's what it's going to look like.

[00:18:27] Yeah.

[00:18:27] Teisha: Yeah. Yeah, no, that's, and it's, um, I think it's great having you on to talk about bipolar because I don't think many people know exactly what it is and it scares some as well and, you know, which you,

[00:18:44] which you can work with that.

[00:18:46] Amanda: Before we started this podcast, no.

[00:18:49] Georgia: But you do, I mean, you do, like I went through, you know, initially I was like, You know, don't tell anyone.

[00:18:54] Even my, my psychiatrist said, do not, when I was first diagnosed when I was 25, do not tell anyone unless you have known them for 10 years or more. Wow. Okay. And it's like, yeah, I didn't tell my work. I didn't, I have now, like, and even because people and friends, even it took me a long time to be open about it.

[00:19:16] People have some Really full on. Yes. People find it extremely confronting. Yeah. It can stop conversation or it can stop conversation. Sometimes people just, yeah, people are, I get that, you know, if it's not your experience and it is a strange thing to kind of. Wrap your head around and it's not helped with like people going, Oh yeah, that's a bipolar and that sort of common usage of the word I think doesn't help.

[00:19:45] And it, look, it is one of the more, you know, it's like schizophrenia. It's like, it's one of the more complex kind of serious. Yes, mental conditions, you know, it's not just, not just depression, but you know, Oh,

[00:19:57] the boring one! You're always playing around with it! But, but it's true. It's

[00:20:05] Amanda: like I'm out and about on the telly all day.

[00:20:08] Exactly! You're being manic and spending money and getting all these ideas, and I'm lying in bed being like, uh, getting out of bed. It's like I'm in bed.

[00:20:20] Teisha: You miss out on all the fun. Exactly. But I think People might be like, Ooh,

[00:20:25] that looks so fun!

[00:20:27] Georgia: But also encourage her! It is a tricky one because it is Fun, but then it's also with heightened mood is like, there's actually quite a lot of heightened anxiety.

[00:20:38] Okay. Yeah. So it's not purely pure. It's not pure fun.

[00:20:43] Teisha: No, no, no, no. There's other ways to have fun, Georgia. But I, I do think these conversations are so important because I was thinking the other day when different things happen and we're seeing that on our news and it's just like, Oh, they had mental health issues.

[00:20:59] And I'm thinking, that scares people. Or that, or that, yeah, it's like, just be careful with that. Like, start a conversation, unpack that. Don't just go, you know, throwing that sort of statements around, do you think, or? Yeah, with the

[00:21:15] Georgia: Bondi issue.

[00:21:16] Teisha: Yeah, yeah.

[00:21:18] Georgia: Because a lot of the news articles were like, he has mental health issues, but then it has come out that he's had schizophrenia.

[00:21:26] So, but yeah, it is kind of thrown around as an answer and it's, it's not, yeah.

[00:21:32] Amanda: I did think the, um, that the, they, Put that, they buried that in the um, article a lot more instead of just being like, you know, I think maybe in the, like 10 years ago, you'd see schizophrenic stabs a whole bunch of people. Like,

[00:21:45] Teisha: yeah,

[00:21:45] Amanda: that's true.

[00:21:46] That's

[00:21:46] Teisha: true. Whereas

[00:21:48] Georgia: 10 years ago, 10 years ago,

[00:21:51] Amanda: they

[00:21:51] Georgia: would

[00:21:51] Amanda: have been running to the Herald Sun.

[00:21:54] Teisha: Yeah, that's true. And I guess for people who don't know what we're talking about in Australia, in Sydney, in Bondi, there was this horrendous shopping centre stabbing. Um, and that's what we're saying the person at the beginning, they talked about mental health and it's like, yeah, you just hope people don't assume then and make this association if, if someone's schizophrenic, that's the outcome, you know, because it's not that it's like very different if they're not being treated.

[00:22:25] Georgia: Yeah, it's, yeah, it's pretty much all hangs in the balance about treatment and. How well you're able to do it, how, how well you're able to manage it or not manage what supports you have in place. Like there's so many things that make up

[00:22:41] Amanda: that. You do manage it so well. And I, when Georgia first told me I was just like, oh.

[00:22:47] Yeah, I'm just surprised because I was like, Oh, cause you're not fucking crazy.

[00:22:50] Yeah,

[00:22:53] Teisha: but that's why it's so important. You know, you're, you've got your three kids, you've got a supportive partner who, and I'd love that you chat to each other about it, because that's what we do. It's like, and part of it living with Andrew, if he's really down, I'm straight up like, are you suicidal?

[00:23:16] What are you thinking? What are you? I don't run away from it. And I'll, I'll be saying, don't think I won't be pissed off if you kill yourself. Like I want you here.

[00:23:25] Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:23:30] Teisha: Yeah, that's right. That's right. But it's like, because I think sometimes in mind is thinking, well, you'd be better off, you know, you wouldn't have to put up with this.

[00:23:38] I'm like, no, that's not the case. I'll be so up. So I think having conversations with everyone, what you're doing on your podcast is so important because we need to make it real for people. You Um, Podcasts and on social media about invisible illnesses and this is invisible, you know, and what you're doing is making it visible, um, and that's really important because we don't want the only visibility, visibility being really bad things in the news, you know, we don't want people associating it.

[00:24:16] Yeah. So, um, so we don't want you to feel left out, Amanda.

[00:24:21] Amanda: I know, with my boring illness.

[00:24:24] Teisha: No, it's not at all. And as you know, I've definitely had insight. And as I've said, I've gone through some low periods in dealing with my conditions, but it's nothing like what I witness Andrew going through. So I guess, can you just share a little bit about that, just to explain?

[00:24:45] Yeah. What it feels like.

[00:24:48] Amanda: Uh, yeah. So I'm probably like Georgia because I'm medicated at the moment. The day to day ness of it is not as present for me at the moment. Yeah. Um, it just manages, manages me slipping into a state where I'm spiraling all the time, loads and loads of negative self talk, um, lots of overwhelm, um, which is a physical feeling.

[00:25:12] Would you? Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Um, which is why, yeah. When I've got to. A diagnosis of depression. I was surprised because I would have called it anxiety because all my symptoms are like quite physical. Like I'm kind of in my throat and yeah, and my brain is busy and it's busy being negative. And yeah, so that's, That's kind of when I'm, when I'm unmedicated and I'm getting unwell, things that let me know that I'm getting unwell is, I'm probably drinking more as well, trying to, I guess, escape

[00:25:50] Teisha: the thought,

[00:25:51] Amanda: which is super unhealthy.

[00:25:53] And does not help the depression, if you can believe it.

[00:25:57] what? Looking after yourself. Really? No. Fill the hole

[00:26:01] Amanda: with why? Yes.

[00:26:02] No, it does help

[00:26:04] Amanda: work. . I'm also often seeking answers. Um, yeah. Okay. Try new things. I wanna, um, you know, I, I need a fix. Yep. Um, the fix that sounded really bad. No, I'm maybe like reading my star signs really carefully.

[00:26:21] Yeah, yeah, yeah. But these are signs to me that I'm actually getting unwell.

[00:26:26] Teisha: Okay, yeah.

[00:26:27] Amanda: Looking for

[00:26:28] Teisha: Externally. So

[00:26:30] Amanda: yeah, yeah, instead of maybe just do it yourself, stop drinking so much. Um, go for a walk, do all those lovely things. Um, And in terms of like how I'm managing it on, on when I'm having that kind of period, often people are like, I'd speak to, obviously I speak to Georgia every week.

[00:26:53] And I speak to family members as well. And I've got really good, really good friends who I'm speaking to all the time. And they're like, I'm worried about you. I'm worried about you. I'm worried about you. Because it actually, which I didn't, you know, probably clock that much. Um, but like I go to ground and it's, it's quite evident when I'm

[00:27:12] Teisha: okay.

[00:27:12] Um,

[00:27:14] Amanda: because it's like that constant,

[00:27:16] Teisha: we can tell, we can tell it's like, are you right? Yeah. I'm all right. I'm fine. I'm like, well, you know, it's fine. Um,

[00:27:24] Amanda: and when it's at its worst, it's descends into suicidal thoughts and then I'm like, all right, meds for the win. And I'm always super, super defeated when I go back on meds.

[00:27:37] Yeah, yeah. I feel like I failed and this is, this is around probably that lack of acceptance that it's chronic. Yeah, yeah. Also, I guess living in fear that it's going to come back. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, it's not, which it isn't like,

[00:27:54] but

[00:27:58] Teisha: it's yeah, awful dealing with that. And I know it's, it's funny with medication because I would never not with my cat, like I do everything I need to.

[00:28:09] And fortunately I haven't had to do much with the cancer that had. Had to go into menopause. But apart from that, you know, I've just had hormone therapy and

[00:28:17] little menopause. Yeah, that's right. But

[00:28:20] Teisha: we're all gonna go through know when.

[00:28:28] But, you know, I know with Andrew, he hates being, oh, he just doesn't want to be in the, he's on all of his antidepressants and he wouldn't not be and he's under a psychiatrist and that's great. But it's, it is, it's hard and it's hard to have something that might dull your feelings. You know, it is different to dulling pain of something you're going through physically.

[00:28:51] So do you, like, you're both, you know, you're both, you know, Medically, you see, you know, doctors and all, are there other things that do to, to help you? Exercise

[00:29:01] Georgia: for me is a big one. Like, I have a big walk every day or else I get ratty as much as in my family. Um, and, um, food is a big one. It's a bit of a challenging one because, um, antipsychotics are associated with a lot of weight gain and I'm not the type, but I find if I am Eating healthy, that actually does have quite a big impact on my mood as well.

[00:29:31] Um, I think also like connections are important, like doing the podcast and having space to talk about it, honestly, cause it's, for me, it's not something I can necessarily always. bring up with people who I have in the past found it hard to. So having that space where we can kind of talk about it is great.

[00:29:54] And so like, I talk about it with my husband as well, but, um,

[00:29:57] Teisha: yeah.

[00:29:59] Georgia: Yeah, there are definitely a lot of other things, not just medication, that kind of keep it. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:30:05] Amanda: Yeah. For me, well, I have, I have to walk my dog every day. I, I probably less better at it than Georgia is, uh, which is, uh, yeah, ironic. But, um, I guess the things that keep me sane is writing.

[00:30:21] Okay, yeah, great. I do a lot of writing, which is fiction writing, um, and rest when I need to. I just go, I actually go to ground when I'm feeling unwell. Like my best friend will, if she hasn't heard from me for a couple of days, she's worried. Yeah. Um, because we speak daily. Yeah. Um, so I probably just, yeah, rest is, is a big one because I'm myrtiful, committing to saying yes to any and everything.

[00:30:51] Yeah. It's still a developing skill for sure. Um, starting to, yeah, starting to actually say I'm not available. Yeah. Or I need a break or I need to pull back from that because I will just pile things on. Attempting to get boundaries, Georgia, which we just podcasted about because

[00:31:12] Georgia: we're not very good at boundaries.

[00:31:13] I find it

[00:31:14] Georgia: a bit too, like if I'm starting to go up, I have to pull back on anything that's going to, Roll me up, basically. That would

[00:31:23] be like the same.

[00:31:25] Georgia: Pulling out of any social obligations and just staying at home and like kind of keeping it quiet. Yeah. Yeah, I find I have to do that if I'm going up. If I'm going down, same as you, like I don't want to see anyone.

[00:31:37] I don't want to hang up. And then at that point, I have to do the opposite. Push against it and drag my carcass out into the world. And you kind of have to do the opposite, like of everything your body wants to do to kind of get at it. Like to not, I'm not saying that everyone has this choice, but for me, it's like I'm getting pulled into that.

[00:32:00] Like you could, you know, Could stay in bed if you, yeah, but I have to really resist that. Yes. Luckily for me, I am able to, but it always feels like I'm just on the edge of like falling into the abyss, but maybe because, um, you know, when you've got three kids.

[00:32:19] Teisha: Yeah,

[00:32:20] Georgia: absolutely. Uh, like, I mean, you know, Stu can pick up the slack a little bit, but at the end of the day, like, you have to, yeah, to feed them, to get them to school, you have to pick them up.

[00:32:31] You just have to keep showing up. Yeah. Yeah. And

[00:32:37] Amanda: then. I'm getting better at asking for help as well. Like, my sister's always, you know, people are always like, is there anything I can do? Or do you want me to come over and help you? If I'm saying like, I'm getting really overwhelmed. I'm like.

[00:32:48] Teisha: Yeah.

[00:32:49] Amanda: I'm running a million miles an hour trying to escape my own thoughts.

[00:32:52] Yeah. Say yes to it. Yes. Actually, please come over because you're right. Like that physical presence of someone else can be quite calming because I live alone. So Yeah. That's hard. A flatmate. But he's a Fifi worker. He's new. He's recent. He's recent. Yeah. But sitting alone, um, you can slip into some negative thoughts pretty quickly and um, it's hard to yourself out.

[00:33:14] Whereas I have more front than Maya, so seeing other people. Actually encourages me to, you know, be active, look after myself better, and, and so someone's like, are you overwhelmed? Do you want some help? I'm like, yes, actually. Right? Yeah. And like my twin sister will come over with Right food and a hug, right?

[00:33:33] Oh, back God .

[00:33:36] Teisha: But it's hard accepting help. It, it really is hard. And I think sometimes it's that whole narrative about. Almost you've lost the battle. You know, if you're accepting help, then you're not coping. And it, whereas it's not that, you know, and it's like, because we would want to help our friends. So we've got to sometimes let others help us, but that's hard.

[00:33:56] I find that hard.

[00:33:58] Amanda: Yeah. But if you're not, um, you're not coping with or without the help, so you might as well get the help. Yeah, yeah,

[00:34:04] Georgia: exactly.

[00:34:04] Amanda: Exactly. And people do want to help. And

[00:34:06] Georgia: you, like when I was having an episode last year and um, Stuart gone away for the weekend, I had a kid's birthday party to attend at a suburban shopping center, like a bit of a nightmare.

[00:34:18] You were like, do you want me to come? And I was like, Actually, yes. Yeah.

[00:34:26] Amanda: do. I can see why you got overwhelmed. Yeah. You had to go into, um, the middle child offered the party and it was in, oh no, it was the old child offered the party and it was in time zone and gosh, gosh, she would've been like, triggered out

[00:34:39] Georgia: And yeah, it was really helpful because, um, you know, to get out in public when you're feeling a alert with three kids, one of Whom's, a toddler, like it was. Overwhelming, but I, I, I committed to going, I said to my child that we were going, so to have, I was like, oh, thank God. And that was a huge thing for me because I just normally,

[00:34:59] Teisha: yeah, that's right.

[00:35:00] Georgia: I probably wouldn't tell people where I'm at.

[00:35:03] Teisha: Yeah. And

[00:35:04] Georgia: to accept to go, yes, I will take you out. Yeah. Yeah. It was

[00:35:07] Amanda: huge. And I was really, On the other end of that, we were really excited that you accepted the help.

[00:35:13] Georgia: Yeah. Because I can

[00:35:14] Amanda: actually be helpful, which is like, everybody loves to be helpful. Like, they genuinely ask, is there anything I can do?

[00:35:21] And if you give them an answer, people will be like, so excited because they don't know what to do or how to help. So if you actually give them the direction and be like, actually, it would be really helpful if you did. A, B, C, or D? Yes.

[00:35:32] Like, oh my God, yes.

[00:35:33] Amanda: Yeah. Amazing. Yeah. Like absolutely. Yeah.

[00:35:36] Teisha: No, I think that's important for all of us, you know?

[00:35:39] Except in how doesn't mean we're not coping well. It's sort of, you know, it, it helps us cope better. That is a hard thing. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:35:47] Georgia: That coping. Yeah. That is where you do feel that is around that implication that you're not coping.

[00:35:54] Teisha: Yeah, that's right. That's right. But I think it's good too, like from the conversation is s.

[00:36:00] It stops us from being people pleasers as well. Like I always say, I'm pushing myself to the extreme. What for? You know, that person, um, you know, whether it's work or whatever, they're not going to be with me in the hospital bed when I'm having a relapse or not well. So it's like, what, what am I sacrificing and pushing, you know, sacrificing my health for?

[00:36:23] Do you find that you're a little bit more like. I've got to look after myself, or do you find that hard to prioritise yourself?

[00:36:33] We've just done an episode, actually, about how we have

[00:36:36] Amanda: no boundaries. No boundaries! Oh, really? I would only do it in the most extreme of cases, I think. Like, bordering on suicidal or suicidal, um, before I would pull back up.

[00:36:52] Because like, the depression is you're not good enough, you should be coping, you're not, you've got a lot of narrative in your head, you're letting everybody down, you're, you know, you're this, you're that, you can't cope, everyone else can cope, why can't you

[00:37:07] cope? Like,

[00:37:07] Amanda: um, so all that, you know, pressure you're putting on yourself, it's not even external.

[00:37:11] But then,

[00:37:12] yeah.

[00:37:13] Amanda: Kind of talking about how with, but if someone else said to me, Oh, I'm just having a bit of a shit one at the moment. And I, I can't face, I can't face whatever we plan. I'd be like, sure. We'd be like, sure, good on you. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Sounds like fun. I'm

[00:37:26] having a bit of

[00:37:26] Amanda: a shit one at the moment

[00:37:27] and I, I can't face, I can't face

[00:37:28] Amanda: whatever we plan.

[00:37:29] Yeah, yeah, and I like boundaries for other people.

[00:37:33] Georgia: Boundaries, I think there's shame too, like with, because it's a mental health condition and the shame, there's, I don't know, yeah, but like when it pops up again you're like, oh god, you know. Even though you know it's chronic and you know this and that, like it still is, I know, you still do get a fair bit of shame about it.

[00:37:53] Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:37:56] Teisha: Yeah. And that's, yeah, so, so your challenge this week is

[00:38:02] Ahhhh! Trying to throw it to me!

[00:38:06] Amanda: Um, really nice, because we were talking about, because George and I are meeting up every week and talking about mental health every week, every time we come up with a topic, Yeah. It's like, um, helping both of us.

[00:38:16] Yeah,

[00:38:17] Teisha: it's good. It iss good. Think

[00:38:18] Amanda: about, um, the aspects of our Yeah.

[00:38:21] Teisha: Instead of absolutely. Instead.

[00:38:23] Yes.

[00:38:23] Teisha: Yeah. And I think it is, it's really important because if you are not looking after yourself, you know, then everything does spiral and then, you know, you can't do what you wanna do anyway. But I know even for me, I don't wanna.

[00:38:37] Use as an excuse, you know, my condition. So it's like, no, I'll keep pushing on. And it's a fine balance, isn't it? Because as you were saying before, it's good to have that push with your kids to get up and keep going and do so you want to still do that. But at the same time, you want to set the boundaries to enable you to prioritise your own wellbeing.

[00:38:59] So it is a real, yeah, it's a difficult balance. And I think For me, having MS at such a young age has helped me now because it's like, yeah, it's helped me prioritize myself a bit more. Um, but again, it's different as I'm told, you know, when we're both tired, it's like, yeah, but you don't understand. Um, you know, my tides are different tides.

[00:39:23] I'm like, I'm trying to understand, but I'm tired too. You're not bad. I'm worse. You know, so we have that.

[00:39:30] Amanda: Yeah. He's like soul tired. It's gold tied as well.

[00:39:35] Teisha: Gold tied, yeah, and tied from all the, um, self talk, you know, that was really interesting, Amanda, an insight into your busy mind, you know, and I think that's what I think happens, what I observe, what happens is all that internal dialogue.

[00:39:53] Amanda: Yeah, it's awful, and it actually makes you, I don't know about you, Georgia, um, makes me shrink from a little bit like myself. Like I just want to, I don't know. I'm feeling the physicality of it now.

[00:40:05] Teisha: Yeah. Yeah. And what helps?

[00:40:08] Amanda: If I'm in bed, I'm like, you know, rolling over to get away from thoughts then.

[00:40:12] Teisha: Okay.

[00:40:13] Yeah. And is that why sleep sometimes is like, I often wonder wanting to stay in bed. Is that sort of like an escape from that or not?

[00:40:22] Amanda: Yeah. Cause you don't have to. Don't have to deal with laughing, or yourself.

[00:40:26] Teisha: Yeah, yeah,

[00:40:27] Amanda: yeah. Is the main one. And I've worked for instance for 10 years. Okay. Which has really helped me to, you know, to your rhythms.

[00:40:36] Work to my rhythms. Yeah, yeah. But also because I've, um, I am a people pleaser. Yeah. I've got deadlines, so I'll meet my deadlines, but I'll go back to bed. Okay. Cool. I've got that thing done and I've managed to get that thing done because, and sometimes I don't. So then we'll stay in the bread and spiral about that.

[00:40:59] Teisha: Yeah. Yeah. And then it gets.

[00:41:03] Amanda: Sorry. Cause you're not nine, cause I'm not nine to fiving.

[00:41:06] Teisha: Yes.

[00:41:07] Amanda: You can find it a bit better, I think. We

[00:41:09] Teisha: just

[00:41:09] Amanda: have a good time.

[00:41:11] Teisha: No, it's a plus. Um, you know, I'm now starting my own business and all, and it is good for my health, but then, yeah, then you're doing a lot of extra hours too, like the flexibility is good, but then you've got to have the boundaries as well.

[00:41:25] So yeah, it can be, can be difficult. So in terms of. You've both been living with your conditions, you know, for a long time. What would the advice be to your younger self, you know, starting off? Like, what's helped? Like, how do you do things differently now? Or what would you be saying to them, you know, to do differently?

[00:41:50] Does anything come to mind? I

[00:41:55] Georgia: think for me, um, I really had to go through it and experience And learn from it that way. Yeah. Like I'd probably say, you know, don't be afraid. It's not as scary as you thought it was going to be.

[00:42:09] Yeah.

[00:42:10] Georgia: Um, but I think I had to just do a lot of trial and error to come to, to learn.

[00:42:18] really how, what it looks like for me and how to, how best to manage it. But I have a confidence in myself and my ability to manage it now that I've only gained through experience.

[00:42:30] Teisha: Yeah, yeah. Um,

[00:42:34] Georgia: so yeah, I think I'll probably tell my younger self that you will learn to live with it. You will be able to tame it and it won't Take over your life and ruin it.

[00:42:45] It won't, it's not, you know, you will be able to integrate it into your life and still live a full and, um, uh, yeah, like still live a life and, and have it not completely rule your day to day. Yeah.

[00:43:01] Teisha: Yeah, yeah, and sorry, just quickly on that too. I mean, it's also, you know, you're doing amazing things now, you know, and you've got three beautiful kids and, uh, you know, uh, you know, I'm putting words in, but given that you're chatting to your partner about things, not really good relationship there.

[00:43:20] So I think it's also, you know, That, I know when I was in my twenties, I was thinking, who's going to want someone with MS and who's going to this and that? And it's like, no, you know, I was never going to meet who I was meant to be with living in South Bank, going corporate, you know, I needed someone who was rounded and you know, the plumber and all the rest, like that was more me.

[00:43:42] So I think it's also given that confidence that you'll continue to learn and grow because I often think, you know, I was worried MS would stop my evolution. You know, I would stop really becoming and evolving as a person. Whereas I've evolved more probably dealing with all this stuff than I thought was possible.

[00:44:02] So I think for younger people in their 20s, it's like, there's still so many amazing experiences you can have regardless, and you'll keep learning and growing. And, you know, Next time something hits the fan, you're prepared for it more, you know, and I'm sure you've got amazing wisdom from all you've been through, um, which is, yeah.

[00:44:25] So, um, what about you, Amanda? What would you be saying?

[00:44:29] Amanda: I would tell my younger self, it's real, what's happening is not normal. Like not everybody goes through

[00:44:38] Teisha: it.

[00:44:40] Amanda: When we talk about depression, often I think people are often talking about very extreme cases. Um, but that day to day not coping is valid. Yeah.

[00:44:50] Like you've medicated. Also that the meds, you feel better because the meds are working. Yes. So if you go with the meds, because that's what the meds are doing. Good message. Yep. Yeah. Yeah. Because sometimes you'll do it like, you know, we have to say, oh, I've got depression. I'm like, no, I don't. I feel fine.

[00:45:06] And then I'm like, I have to remind myself that's because I'm medicated.

[00:45:10] Teisha: When you want to go off.

[00:45:11] Yeah.

[00:45:12] Amanda: Yeah. Yeah.

[00:45:14] Teisha: No, that, that's great. And I mean, It is scary thinking, like sometimes I get really sad about my younger self, what's ahead of them as well. Like, I think, Oh my goodness, there's so much, but. to know.

[00:45:27] And it was funny, I did a, I wrote a piece for a magazine and I said, you know, I also want to tell my younger self, yes, you were, you know, unfortunately there was stage four breast cancer ahead of you. But the good thing is that everything you work so hard at learning and all that trial and error has helped me as a 49 year old.

[00:45:50] And I think that's important as well, that we really recognize our evolution. So, but, you know, we don't want to go too deep. So sorry, I'll change things up. But, um, yeah, so I guess seeing I'm all about Hurdle2Hope, um, what are you looking forward to in the next sort of Yeah, two years, three years, four years.

[00:46:16] Georgia: I think, um, I'm really excited about our creative partnership and what, what might, you know, what we might be able to put together and, um, yeah, what, what may grow from that partnership because, um, yeah, really enjoying the creative process and what we're kind of putting out into the world. So I'm really excited about it.

[00:46:35] What's ahead of the going loco girls? Yeah,

[00:46:39] Amanda: well, Georgia, you stole mine.

[00:46:42] Teisha: Well, unless you're on the same page, you're on the same page. So that's good.

[00:46:49] Amanda: I'm looking forward to only having one job as well, because I currently have two jobs as I'm transitioning. So I'm looking forward to having more headspace.

[00:46:59] Yep, that's good. You

[00:47:01] Teisha: see, that's prioritizing yourself. One job instead of two.

[00:47:06] Amanda: Yeah, it's taken me a long time. That's all right, you got there. To start thinking about what, what will be a better fit for, I guess, for the house. Yeah, because it's from a, um, like a computer office job to a physical job. Because I was like, this is just good.

[00:47:26] I'm going to eat better. I'm going to sleep better. I'm using my body. I feel more satisfied in the day to day, which are all related to how I feel about myself and in my body and in my head.

[00:47:36] Teisha: Yeah,

[00:47:37] Amanda: that's good. That's great.

[00:47:39] Teisha: Excellent. Well, thank you both so much for being vulnerable and, um, yeah, chatting about what you're going through because It makes such an impact to others.

[00:47:52] And I think sometimes people say, Oh gosh, you're so open. Again, I was so private, but I think, how does that help others? You know, we need to be authentic to what we're going through. So others think, well, we're not doing this alone. Um, and as I said in the intro. I love your podcast. It is so good. It's so much fun.

[00:48:14] And I love it that we can go through really difficult, dark times, but still have a laugh. And, you know, and that's authentic because that helps us not only cope, it's not denying what we're going through. It's just like, yep, let's just have a laugh as well. Because That is very therapeutic. And it's not forced.

[00:48:35] It's not, you know, it's just, I just love the natural banter and yeah, you're both, you're both very cool. Um, and I think I said when I was on your podcast, um, how, when we first met, I was like, Oh, I hope they like me. I hope they want me on their podcast. I hope they'll come on my podcast because yeah, you just give that energy.

[00:48:56] And I I just think it is so important in the space of mental health. So for what you're doing.

[00:49:04] Georgia: Thanks Teisha. Thanks Teisha.

[00:49:06] Teisha: You're welcome.

[00:49:12] Okay. So thank you so much for listening to episode 24. I hope you got a lot of insight out of the conversation I had with Georgia and Amanda. As mentioned in the intro. If you found any aspect of this interview triggering, please reach out to your support network, to a mental health professional, or a helpline, because some of these conversations we need to have, but they can be triggering.

[00:49:45] I'm so appreciative of both ladies for being so vulnerable and chatting about, you know, mental health, which for years, lots of people didn't talk about. So I think these conversations are so important because we just don't know what people are going through. And yeah, just getting insight into those daily struggles, um, is so important.

[00:50:13] If you want to keep binging, um, Hurdle2Hope stories, if you haven't listened before, Episode 18, Hurdle2Hope story of Mariah. Mariah in her 20s was dealing with a massive whipples procedure. If you don't know what a whipples is, which I didn't, have a listen to that episode. Then in episode 20, I share the story of Louise Butcher.

[00:50:40] Louise ran the marathon The London Marathon, Topless, Creating awareness of, um, I guess, breast cancer body image and all post her mastectomies. So again, that was a great conversation, gave me heaps of insights, given I also have a Don't run marathons, but have a flat chest, thanks to breast cancer. Um, so there are two good episodes and I'll continue sharing Hurdle2Hope stories because it's so important when we're going through health conditions that we know we're not alone.

[00:51:19] We know other people are dealing with their conditions and still having amazing experiences in their life. So have a good week and we'll chat soon. Bye. Thank you so much for joining me today on Wellbeing Interrupted. If today's episode inspired you, or you think it could help others, please share it by tagging at Hurdle2Hope in your Instagram stories, or just by telling a friend about it.

[00:51:53] To spread our message of healing and hope to those who need it most, your ratings and reviews are invaluable. By taking a moment to rate and review on your listening platform, you help us attract inspiring guests. and create content that empowers all of us to thrive. Don't forget to follow me on at Hurdle2Hope for more insights.

[00:52:18] I'd love to see you there. Always remember to thrive after a life changing diagnosis. Your mindset is everything.