Thinking Outside The Box with Tim and Britt Box

It's been exactly a year since we uploaded the very first episode of Thinking Outside The Box, and what a year it's been! The pandemic is still a thing, anxiety and depression amongst young people is still on the rise and Britt and Tim Box are still doing their podcast. A few weeks ago we put the call out on our socials for you, our beloved listeners to ask us YOUR questions. We got some absolute scorchers! Some were about us as a couple, some were about what we do and some were about mental health in general. In this episode we answer those questions and more. Along the way we hear about Tim's disagreement with a seat belt, Britt makes the claim that she's NOT a psychopath, and we describe in great and perhaps unnecessary detail how we settle arguments in the Box household! Hope you enjoy this one. Keep thinking outside the box! Tim and Britt xx

Envy and Jealousy are powerful emotions that we all experience at some point in our life, but what are the impacts on our mental health when we go too deeply into them? In this episode Tim and Britt draw from their own experiences to offer a slightly different view of envy and why it can be a positive emotion when used correctly. Along the way Tim reveals what he bought with his Xmas vouchers, Britt gives an impromptu ASMR session and we find out who each others' free pass is! Enjoy! Tim and Britt  

We stand poised on the brink of a new year and many of us will be making resolutions and setting our goals and targets for 2022.  However, with all the pressure we receive to be better and do more, what is the potential impact on our mental health and how do we set realistic, achievable and empowering goals for the next 12 months without setting ourself up for the negative emotional impact of potential failure. In this episode we discuss our thoughts on new year's resolutions and give our views on how to do it the right way.  Along the way Britt talks about her desire to crush a water melon between her thighs, Tim explains the value of thinking about thinking about doing things, and Britt resolves to smash the patriarchy. Hope you enjoy this one , and whatever you do, have a restful and happy new year. Keep thinking outside the box!! Britt and Tim.

Do you ever get the feeling you're the most emotional person in the room? In this episode we discuss those times when we feel like our emotions are dialled up to 11, what it means about our mental health, and how we can manage our wellbeing so that we get back in control of our own responses.  As usual we bring our unique blend of (semi) professionalism and personal experience and along the way we explain how to do an Italian accent without talking, and find out what annoys Britt most about Tim being a hypnotist. Enjoy...and keep thinking outside the box! Tim and Britt xx

Here it is! The topic that NOBODY asked us to talk about. Death. Considering it's just about the only thing that everyone on the planet is guaranteed to do at some point it could be viewed as strange that nobody ever talks about it.  However, death represents the fear that all other fears are in the shadow of.  Fear of flying? It's really a fear of crashing and dying. Fear of heights? It's really a fear of falling to our death. Fear of buttons? Well, ok...maybe not that one, but the fact remains that most people do all they can to avoid thinking about death and as a result are likely to experience excessive fear and discomfort when they inevitably have to. Whether it's due to the loss of a loved one or a life threatening illness we will all at some point be unavoidably confronted with our own mortality. In this podcast we start the conversation, and explore some of our many and varied opinions about death and what it means to live an existence that is ultimately finite.  Along the way we discuss past life regression, psychic readings and why Tim doesn't do his own plumbing anymore. Hope you enjoy this one and please remember to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review. Oh...and of course keep thinking outside the box. Tim and Britt.

Today is 10th October 2021 and it's World Mental Health Day, a day to educate, raise awareness and dispel any stigma around positive discussions about mental health. In this episode we talk about the current state of Mental Health Awareness: what we agree with, what we disagree with, and what we feel still needs more attention. We break down the advice of the World Federation For Mental Health and give our own top tips that we use to manage our own mental health every day. Along the way we discuss snowball fights in shorts, Britt's obsession with Back To The Future and how much we both hated PE at school. Hope you enjoy this episode. Let us know your thoughts! Keep thinking outside the box!! Tim and Britt.

When was the last time you unplugged from the matrix? So much of our time is spent instantly and constantly connected to everyone and everything that it can be hard to truly switch off from it all.  On our recent trip away on the Disney UK Staycation cruise, we were put in a situation we weren't sure how to cope with; absolutely no signal or wifi. But, spoiler alert, the world kept turning and nothing of note happened in the time we were physically unable to check our phones.  We wanted to discuss the positive effect of completely switching off from it all had on our mental health and emotional well-being as well as giving our top tips on how to unplug every so often.  As well as this, we discuss Britt's lemon themed prison persona, and why Tim has an issue with Wagamama's. We hope you enjoy this one. Come find us on social media -  @brittmariebox @timboxmindcoach And, as always, keep thinking outside the box.  Britt & Tim.

Suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 50. It seems to be the unspoken truth that while women are more likely to seek help in times of emotional distress, men may not feel as open discussing it. We all manage our mental health, just as we would our physical, but men's mental health specifically is a topic that is thankfully getting more attention in the media in recent years.  In this episode we talk about the negative effects toxic masculinity plays in men's mental health, why 'man up' may be one of the most unhelpful terms in the English vocabulary and how we all have a part to play in helping the men in our lives.  As usual, we go off topic just a touch to lighten the mood as we discuss dinosaurs on the moon, Tim's 'tradesman' telephone voice and Britt likens Adam Driver to a fridge.  We hope you enjoy this one. Come find us on Instagram - Britt - @brittmariebox Tim - @timboxmindcoach Remember to subscribe for weekly episodes and of course... Keep thinking outside the box! Tim and Britt.

Our close relationships can have a huge impact on the state of our mental health. So how do we manage our own emotional wellbeing in the face of a potentially challenging relationship? How do we recognise when a relationship is toxic to our mental health and what can we do about that?  In this episode we talk about all the many and varied lessons we have learnt from going through our fair share of bad relationships and explain what we did differently this time and why we believe our relationship works. Along the way we discuss gaslighting, narcissism and why exactly Britt recorded this episode in her dressing gown. We hope you enjoy this one. Come find us on Instagram - Britt - @brittmariebox Tim - @timboxmindcoach Remember to subscribe for weekly episodes and of course... Keep thinking outside the box! Tim and Britt.

We're back and we've come back BIG! In this episode we discuss Trauma.  We talk about definitions of trauma, what the effects can be and what we actually do about getting past it. Along the way we both share stories of our own personal trauma, including experiences of bereavement, displacement and bullying.   As always we approach the topic in usual TOTB style and do all we can to shine a light rather than simply curse the darkness. We hope you enjoy this one. Let us know what you thought on Instagram: @brittmariebox @timboxmindcoach Or head over to Tim's YouTube channel for videos on all the topics covered in the podcast: Tim Box - Mind Coach Remember to keep thinking outside the box! Tim and Britt Box Note: If you are experiencing the effects of trauma then please reach out to a professional for assistance. 

We all have various barriers and boundaries that dictate what we feel we can comfortably do and where we feel we can comfortably go. These are the beliefs and patterns of thought that in their attempt to protect us just end up holding us back and restricting our growth. So where do these ideas come from and how do we change them? In this episode we highlight what differentiates a barrier from a boundary and how we go about knocking down both so we can take the steps necessary to achieve emotional freedom. Along the way we discuss Britt's newly straightened teeth, the Wombles of Wimbledon Common and the time Tim doggie paddled off a pirate ship. Enjoy... ...and keep thinking outside the box! Tim and Britt xx    

“Thank you for coming to my TED talk.” That's not something either of us said when we actually gave our talks but we both wish we had!!  We gave our TED talks about anxiety (Tim) and depression (Britt) a year apart and to this day they remain amongst our proudest and most challenging achievements. Tim's talk has even passed one million views on YouTube! But giving a TED talk wasn't without its issues. From Britt having a breakdown two days before to Tim's talk potentially not being accepted by TED, it really was a rollercoaster of emotions. In this weeks podcast episode, we discuss our TED journey, what it took to get there, and how we feel about it now. And if that wasn't enough Box content and if you haven't already given the talks a watch, we obviously highly recommend doing so, you can find them on YouTube by searching; Tim Box - How To Stop Feeling Anxious About Anxiety. Britt Whyatt - Courage To Continue.   Let us know what you think!! We hope you enjoy this episode.  Don't forget to subscribe for more and of course... Keep Thinking Outside The Box Tim and Britt xx    

A friend of ours recently recommended we watch a comedy special on Netflix called 'Inside' made by a guy we'd never heard of called Bo Burnham.  What we watched was something much more than a comedy special. What we watched was perhaps one of the most visceral and relatable representations of the struggles many of us have been through in the last 16 months and the effect it has had on our collective mental health.  Yes, it's funny. It's very funny.  It's also shocking, moving, and in many places all too real. In this episode of Thinking Outside The Box we decided to talk about it. It's not a review of the programme (although you will get our opinion on it), and it's not a critique of Bo Burnham as a performer or as an individual. This is just our thoughts on the impact the show had on us and what we feel we can learn from Bo Burnham's 'Inside'. Please find us on socials and let us know your thoughts. Have you seen the show? Did you enjoy it? Did it resonate with you? And as always... Keep Thinking Outside The Box! Tim and Britt. xx @brittmariebox @timboxmindcoach

Intrusive thoughts can happen when we least expect or want them to. They are the unwanted , often disturbing ideas that pop into our head for seemingly no reason that can have us questioning our own mind and sometimes our sanity. In this episode we talk about how common these actually are, what they mean, as well as sharing our own experiences of intrusive thoughts and attempting to give some helpful advice about how to deal with them when they arrive. Along the way Tim talks about bingo in Tunisia, Britt talks about dropping babies and we both have a go at Latin. We hope you enjoy this podcast. Please find us on social media and let us know your thoughts: @brittmariebox @timboxmindcoach And remember... ...Keep Thinking Outside The Box! Tim and Britt.

As the UK emerges from 16 months of lockdown nearly half the population recently reported experiencing escalated levels of anxiety surrounding the prospect of all restrictions on social interaction being lifted. So, as we prepare to be released back into the wild we discuss why we might feel anxious right now, and what we can do about managing and mitigating those concerns. Along the way we discuss such seemingly unrelated topics as wearing pyjamas at parties, what it means to be an accountant on TikTok and the debate about how much water Britt actually drinks continues.  Remember to tag us on Instagram when you're listening and let us know how you'll be dealing with the end of lockdown. Oh...and of course... ...keep thinking outside the box. Britt and Tim.  

After a 2 week break we're back!! In this episode we talk about the importance of celebrating each small win in our lives and the overall effect that can have on our emotional wellbeing and mental health in general. Along the way we learn about the Kaisen effect, the Reticular Activating System, and at some point we both realise neither of us ever received the bumps on our birthday (and only one of us even knows what they are). We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you do please leave us a comment and share the podcast with your friends. Keep thinking outside the box!! Tim and Britt xx

Can you teach an old dog new tricks? Can a leopard change its spots? Can we actually change? In this episode we explore all things to do with personal change including why we sometimes struggle to change, why we often resist change and what are the steps we need to take to make change for the better. Along the way we skim through topics such as Britt's time in prison, the problem with Ace Ventura, and what's the point of Australia? 

In case you hadn't realised it yet, Tim is a professional remedial hypnotist (aka hypnotherapist), and has been for the last ten years. In that time he has helped literally thousands of people change the way they think, feel and behave and dealt with countless issues relating to anxiety, depression, confidence, self esteem, trauma and much more. So what actually is this hypnosis stuff and does it actually work? In this episode Britt asks the questions and Tim does his best to sound like he knows what he's talking about as we take a deep dive into all things hypnosis related. So if you've ever wanted to know more about what Tim does, how it originally brought him and Britt together, and also how Britt once stuck someone to a table in her local pub then this is the episode for you.

Research suggests that roughly 11% of us will at some point in our lives experience a phobia. Whether that be one of the common ones (fear of heights or spiders) or something slightly more unusual such as Xanthophobia (fear of the colour yellow) none of us are immune to the fear response. In this episode Tim and Britt discuss all things phobia related including how we distinguish between a fear and a phobia, how we develop phobias and what we can actually do towards getting rid of them. With topics ranging from tomato ketchup to giant turbo charged rodents few stones remained unturned in this one, so sit back and enjoy as the Boxes confront fear so you don't have to.  xx  

More than half a million people in the UK are registered as qualified mental health first aiders (Nearly 1 in every 100 people). Last week, during #mentalhealthawarenessweek Tim and Britt joined their ranks as they took part in and completed their MHFA training. In this episode they talk about their experiences of the training, what they learnt and what they will find most helpful moving forward. They also give their top takeaways from the day and pass on a few things they believe we would all benefit from knowing. If you would like to train in Mental Health First Aid then get in touch with Andy Campbell at qawah.co.uk who regularly runs FAA accredited certification courses. Hope you enjoy this episode. Please leave us your comments and keep thinking outside the box!  

Research cited by the NHS suggests that 1 in 3 people are addicted to something. Whether it be substances or behaviours, many of us at some point in our life will feel dependent on and over-indulge in some kind of coping strategy to the point where it has a negative impact on our life and happiness. In this episode Tim and Britt discuss what addiction really is, why we become addicted and share their own stories and experiences. From online bingo to rats on heroin, as usual they don't always agree. NOTE: If you currently feel you are dealing with some form of addiction please reach out to someone. There is help available. FRANK https://www.talktofrank.com/ NHS https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/drug-addiction-getting-help/ MIND https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/addiction-and-dependency/addiction-and-dependency-resources/  

The importance of a good night's sleep cannot be underestimated when it comes to our mental and emotional wellbeing.  In this week's episode Britt and Tim talk about all things sleep related (and as usual some things completely unrelated) including why sleep is so important, how we might get a better night's sleep and whether or not David blaine really exists. At some point aliens are mentioned, but only briefly. Please leave us your comments and questions. We love to hear from you, and remember to mention us on social media when you're listening in. @brittmariebox @timboxmindcoach Keep thinking outside the box!  

It's episode 13, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to talk about all things related to superstitions. In this one we break down some commonly held superstitions, where they come from and just exactly what the consequences are if we break them. Before we recorded this episode we put a call out on social media for our listeners to tell us their favourite random beliefs and unsubstantiated notions that they still hold and find themselves adhering to. We were amazed by the wide range of old sayings and rituals that still find their way into our everyday lives... and that's before we added some of our own! Plus of course we take a look at what superstitions say about our emotional and mental wellbeing and how we can ultimately find safety and comfort without relying on or falling victim to a dependency on the desire to control external forces.

After a week away in which we took some downtime to decompress and recharge, we thought entirely appropriate to cover the topic of stress and overwhelm in this next episode. With roughly 80% of the UK population declaring themselves to have at some point this year reached the levels of stress that caused them to feel unable to cope this one will hit close to the bone for many of us. Tim and Britt break down their thoughts on what stress is, what causes us to feel it and what ultimately we can do to reduce and control our stress levels in these challenging times.

It's not just the values of our parents that decide the sort of person we become, it's also the adventures and experiences we go through that inform, shape and mould us into who we are today. In a follow up to episode 6 - Wisdom From Our Parents, Britt and Tim take a deep dive into their past to tell us about the many and varied jobs and careers they have had over the years and the things that they learnt along the way. We've all been stuck in a job that we didn't enjoy or one which we felt was taking us nowhere, however it can often surprise us just how much we learnt about ourself and life in general from that particular chapter of our story. From motorway administrator to children's soft toy party host, who knows what strange experience we will eventually look back on as a valued source of education and inspiration.

What is confidence? Are some people born with confidence whilst others aren't? How do we find confidence in the face of challenge and doubt? In this episode Tim and Britt give us their thoughts and share some stories about their own experiences as they break down exactly what confidence means to them. They also give their top tips for building your own confidence, as well as explaining how and why we all have the ability to remove the deep set insecurities that often hold us back. 

One of the most difficult topics we've broached so far, grief is something every single one of us will at some point experience. Whether it be the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or the loss of a year of our lives to a global pandemic, the emotional response to loss is something we will all go through. In this episode, Tim and Britt in their usual light-hearted style, break down their thoughts about grief and offer some ideas and advice as to how we process the emotional confusion and get through those tough times emotionally intact. 

Social media. Is it a blessing or a curse? In these modern times we are fortunate enough to reap the many and varied benefits the internet has to offer, and one of these is the ability to connect and reconnect with the entire planet at the click of a button. We can also get daily updates on the comings and goings of our friends and family (as well as complete strangers). So what is the effect of this perpetual state of connection on our mental and emotional wellbeing? In this episode Britt and Tim give us their thoughts on the good and the bad side of social media as well as giving us their top tips for managing and moderating the impact it has on our mental health. Lots of strong opinions in this one! #scrollhole

Many of us know people who are currently struggling with their emotional wellbeing and mental health. When we have little or no experience with things like this (or even when we do) it can be hard to know what to say and what to do to be of help to those we care about. In this episode Tim and Britt talk about the lessons they have learnt over the years of supporting each other in the face of emotional challenges, and not only how to support a loved one who is struggling but also how to look after yourself in the process. We upload new episodes every week, so if you enjoy this podcast then please share us on your social media. 

The things our parents teach us play a pivotal role in our emotional path through life. The way we think, feel and behave today can often be traced back to what we learnt many years ago. In this episode we talk about the things we learnt from our parents, both the good stuff and the bad stuff. From the value of half price sandwiches to dodgy home mechanics, we share some favourite tales from our very different upbringings.  We also discuss how we can escape the early programming that shapes us, and become more than purely products of our upbringing.

In episode 3 we heard about Britt's journey with depression. In this one Tim tells us his story and all about his experience of dealing with high levels of social anxiety as he reached his late teens and then on into his twenties and thirties. We'll talk about possible reasons why we might experience anxiety, what it means to feel this way, and most importantly we go into some depth about what we can do to ultimately get control of our anxiety response.

In this episode we break down the importance of taking care of our own mental and emotional wellbeing in these strange times and how we might go about doing that. We also discuss the reason why so many of us neglect our own care, preferring to put others' needs before our own, and why these acts of every day sacrifice often lead us down the path of self destruction. At the end we give our top tips for maintaining and prioritising our own personal wellbeing and how we guard against the common mistake of viewing self care as selfish.   

In our third episode Britt tells us the story of her journey with depression, how her opinion of it has changed over the years, and what she's learnt along the way. Content warning: Britt is very open in this episode and discusses topics such as suicide attempts, eating disorders, self harm and sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised.

With the third official national lockdown seeing us into the new year here in the UK, we discuss the impact the global pandemic is currently having on our mental health. We also give our 7 top practical tips for managing our emotional wellbeing in these strange times.

The first episode of our brand new podcast!! In this one we chat about who we are, why we are doing this and what sort of topics we will be covering in future episodes.