Podcasts about beyond your past podcast

In this episode Mental Health News Radio Co-Host Matt Pappas interviews Kelli Gettel. Kelli is an entrepreneur living in the central Pennsylvania area, and a parent of 3 children, including a 4 yr old who also was diagnosed with autism. As you'll hear on the podcast, Kelli has overcome tremendous odds in her life, as so many survivors do, and wants to help others understand life with the challenges she faces. By doing so she wants to educate others that these are not reasons to stay silent, isolated, and living in fear or shame. Rather, by utilizing the power of research and learning about your situation, you can find ways to adapt and overcome, and reach others with a positive, stigma fighting message. Some of her challenges we discuss on the show include: Life as a female, living on the autism spectrum; including when she was diagnosed, the struggles of non-verbal communication with others. How Narcolepsy affects her relationships, and how Narcolepsy can be a form of Dissociation.Sensory Struggles; the challenges of not being able to filter out surrounding sounds and distractions to be able to focus on a single event or conversation.Social Rules & Protocols - how she had to, and continues to learn how to interact in a social setting. Things that come natural to others have to be learned and adjusted too, which can cause struggles in relationships of all types.Her ability to think in pictures; in her mind she sees life in the form of pictures and moving images, so trying to translate that into words and communicate her thoughts can be a huge challenge.We also touch a bit on her life growing up with a parent who had narcissistic tendencies, and how she's learning more about understanding her alters and using the IFS model to help.Matt Pappas is the host of Beyond Your Past Podcast and is a Certified Life Coach, NLP Master Practitioner, and Mental Health Advocate, Matthew Pappas. He is also the founder of SurvivingMyPast.net, a blog in support of all who have survived the Trauma of Abuse.

So what can we do? How can we identify a relationship that is filled with emotional abuse? Is there a way to see it and get out before more damage is done and heal more compassionately and efficiently once it's over? What can we do to help ourselves in the future, to enforce healthy boundaries and not let someone take over our very existence?Liz Goddard returns on this episode of the podcast to dive deeper into healing from an emotionally abusive relationship. Elizabeth is an Author, Spiritual Life Coach, Soul Transformation Therapist, Soul Plan Reader, and Reiki Master Teacher; training with the Holistic Healing College in London. She works with women to help them understand why they attract abusive relationships and helps them heal the ORIGINAL wound. She believes that by healing the original wound you can feel whole, something you may never have experienced and allow you to take charge of your life.During our chat, Liz shares about her upcoming new book, "The A to Z of Emotional Abuse", and how the key to healing lies in understanding. In her new book, she takes the approach of education and learning about what emotional abuse is, in order to not only identify it but also to heal.How cognitive dissonance and gaslighting can go hand in hand in an abusive relationship, and consequently literally damage our brain from the emotional trauma.Understanding who exactly is to blame for the emotional abuse, and working through the urge to self-shame.What role did you play in the relationship, and what you can you learn from it without interpreting the events in a way that causes you to take on all of the blame?What is a manufactured soulmate and how can that mindset keep us stuck in the emotionally abusive relationship? For that matter, the importance of understanding that the toxic relationship itself is a manufactured relationship in the first place?How to recognize if you are in an emotionally abusive relationship; the key to understanding what's happening.Idealization and Devaluation phases of a relationship, and how the toxic partner will use your ideals against you to manipulate you.Learn more about Elizabeth Goddard, her ROAR program to Help Heal from Emotional Abuse, her Free Meditations available, her upcoming book, and more, over on her website ReviveYourSoul.co.ukBe sure and also follow her on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram .If you enjoy these podcasts would you consider doing 3 easy things for us?Share it with one person who might find it helpful.Leave a review on your favorite podcasting app.Follow the podcast on that same app, so you never miss an episode.That’s it…Super Easy and it would mean the world to us.If you want to go a step further, we have a special Thank You just for You! All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above-mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.*Source - https://www.dictionary.com/browse/can-t-see-the-forest-for-the-trees Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

So what does that hope actually look like, what does it feel like? Well, I'm glad you asked because our guest on this episode of the podcast is Monique Koven, Trauma-Informed Recovery & Resilience Coach.I have worked for over 25 years as a social worker where I worked with older adults, many of whom were Holocaust survivors. As a survivor of ongoing, repetitive childhood trauma, I know what it's like to believe that things will never change. I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and chronic PTSD. I was always trying to find the right therapy to provide some relief and finally "fix" me. Over the years, I tried well over 15 therapeutic modalities, but nothing ever helped. I lived with chronic anxiety, fear, and distressing daily PTSD symptoms such as flashbacks, disassociation, and triggering. Waking up with feelings of dread at the thought of a new day and then living it in constant anxiety. Every. Single. Day. I was told that trauma and anxiety were going to be with me for the long haul and that I would have to learn coping strategies to manage my symptoms. I believed it. Until... everything changed.I have found complete freedom and am living my life fully without anything holding me back. I drive wherever I want, I take risks and step into things I never dreamed possible, and I feel at ease in my own body and mind. No more waking up in dread at the thought of another day. And the best part was that I didn’t need any tools or techniques.I can help you step back into your innate power and peace of mind. There is hope. Change is possible.During our chat with Monique, we talk about:Monique shares some of her past and the struggles she felt growing up in an abusive home.How she managed to try and feel safe in an environment full of chaos and violence.As she grew up, the challenges of seemingly having a perfect life but feeling pulled back into her past.Is it actually possible to fully heal from CPTSD and PTSD; and if so, what does that look like?Finding balance during your healing and what it means to go to both ends of the spectrum during healing work.Why is it important to have someone witness and validate your story.If you're interested in learning more about Monique's coaching programs, be sure and check out MoniqueKovenCoaching.com, Facebook & Instagram.If you enjoy these podcasts would you consider doing 3 easy things for us?Share it with one person who might find it helpful.Leave a review on your favorite podcasting app.Follow the podcast on that same app, so you never miss an episode.That’s it…Super Easy and it would mean the world to us.If you want to go a step further, we have a special Thank You just for You! All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above-mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Your survivor story, the way you live it every day, and the way you tell it to others, evolves throughout the various stages of healing. Each version is your truth, as you experienced it in the past and how you live in the present. Each stage of healing represents how you've grown and how much you learn about yourself; and so naturally the details, the way you live each day, and the way you tell it, changes and evolves with you.On this episode of the podcast, we're talking about this very thing; learning how to tell your survivor story, as well as forming relationships with others after your trauma. Rachel Grant, Sexual Abuse Survivor Coach, is a regular on Beyond Your Past Radio, and I'm honored to have her join me today as I share a chat we had recently.Rachel Grant is a Sexual Abuse Survivor Coach, with an M.A. in Counseling Psychology. Her website, RachelGrantCoaching.com features not only her individual and group work with survivors, but also her book “Beyond Surviving”, Facebook Group, Master Class, and free and low-cost Audible Downloads covering topics such as Shame, Boundaries, Abandonment, and much more.It's always a privilege to talk with Rachel on the show; her message of healing is always encouraging and filled with hope for how we can move forward from the trauma and abuse, and be more than a survivor. We can Thrive!If you enjoy these podcasts would you consider doing 3 easy things for us?Share it with one person who might find it helpful.Leave a review on your favorite podcasting app.Follow the podcast on that same app, so you never miss an episode.That’s it…Super Easy and it would mean the world to us.If you want to go a step further, we have a special Thank You just for You! All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above-mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Joanne and I share some thoughts on self-doubt during this episode of the podcast. Her new book, "Ditch Your Doubt" gives you practical insight into how self-doubt is manifested in your life and ways you can overcome it.How is self-doubt presenting in your life? Are there strategies you’ve tried that just don’t work? There’s a reason for that; every event in life is a learning experience for your brain. What we teach ourselves, what we’ve been taught (consciously or otherwise), the people we interact with in daily life, it’s all connected and can all foster this mindset of perpetuating self-doubt and feeling stuck.There is hope, there are ways to work through this and retrain your brain to default to new pathways, new mindsets, and a more positive, authentic outlook on not only who you are, but what your capable of, and the way you see others.Read more on this on the blog post over on BeyondYourPastRadioIf you enjoy these podcasts would you consider doing 3 easy things for us?Share it with one person who might find it helpful.Leave a review on your favorite podcasting app.Follow the podcast on that same app, so you never miss an episode.That’s it…Super Easy and it would mean the world to us.If you want to go a step further, we have a special Thank You just for You! All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above-mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

June is self-worth month here on the podcast. We started off talking with the UK's leading confidence coach and transformational mentor, Amy Rushworth, as she shared some of her story and talked about how finding your voice is in direct relation to self-confidence and developing your self-worth. After that, we shared some thoughts on how you are the one that gets to define who you are, and what you're about; your worth is not dependent on anyone or anything. So if you haven’t checked out those two episodes you’ll want to go back after this one and give em a listen.Continuing on with the self-worth theme, we’re talking with returning guest and friend, Brian Cardoza. Brian is an author, artist, and national speaker, using his platform to help share the message of his survivor story and encourage both men and women to take that first step of seeking help to work through a traumatic past.Brian’s message of hope, presented in such an authentic, genuine, and down-to-earth way, is inspiring because he’s able to relate to the unique struggles that survivors go through, including the silence and shame that keeps them stuck and feeling unable to reach out for help.We talk with Brian about his survivor story and get into a deep discussion about the struggles of survivors who are trying to find their voice and reach out for help. Throughout our chat, with Brian, you’ll notice how we use some well-timed, and improvisational humor to help illustrate that while this work is deep, powerful, difficult, and necessary, there is hope in healing and all of that work hard pays off.Plus, near the end of the podcast, in true Brian Cardoza form, he drops a nugget of wisdom that will result in a future episode on the topic of bringing awareness to "coercive rape" and the pressure that both men and women feel when it comes to intimacy. Believe me, friend, this one will definitely cause you to pause and ponder his take on this delicate subject. Please consider sharing your voice to help shape the direction of the podcast, by taking our Listener Survey. It only takes a couple of minutes and is completely anonymous. All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above-mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

In keeping with the theme of Self-Worth, that we have going right now for June 2019, I wanted to share my thoughts what exactly our self-worth is tied too. It's an interesting question to ponder if you pause and think about it for a minute. What things in your life are you maybe tieing your worth to as a human being?Your Job or CareerGetting a promotionAchieving a particular goalBeing a parentA spouseA hobbyYour house, Your Car, Your Possessions...Insert whatever you want... but consider taking stock of how much of your well being, your personality, your existence, your purpose, you put into those things..and how is that serving you? How does that make you feel, how does that inspire you?How temporary, or volatile are those things...are you always striving to live up to a standard of someone else, and if so, how's that working out for you?I share some thoughts on the importance of tying your self-worth, your reason for being on this planet, to only you. Not allowing anyone or anything to dictate who you are, how you should act, where you focus your time, efforts, and resources. Understanding that relationships, hobbies, friendships, careers, possessions, and the like...are all well and good, there's nothing wrong with any of those things, as long as you always know that you are amazing, worthy, capable, and important just for being you. Thanks for listening, and please consider sharing this episode with 1 person who might benefit from it. All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above-mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

It's funny how things work out in life, and I don't mean funny haha, but more like funny strange, or funny interesting. In this episode of Mobile Musings, sponsored by Beyond Your Past Radio, I look back at an episode I recorded 3 years ago, and wouldn't you know it..it's as relevant today as it was then. The struggles unfolding all around us in government, world violence, a divided nation and really divided world on so many fronts, can take its toll on your emotional health. These volatile times, the same as back then, can very easily steal your joy and bring down your outlook on humanity overall as well as the potential in your own life. For that matter, not even just 3 years ago, but these struggles have been around in various forms for decades, and one can make a case for these things being around since pretty much, forever. Times change, technology changes, and we just don't seem to learn from our past in some areas. You know how that old saying goes, right?So I hope you'll enjoy this look back at my thoughts on embracing the good the people around you, sharing a smile, and finding ways to rid yourself of the negativity in your life so can embrace everything wonderful about you and those around you. If you enjoy these podcasts would you consider doing 3 easy things for us?Share it with one person who might find it helpful.Leave a review on your favorite podcasting app.Follow the podcast on that same app, so you never miss an episode.That’s it…Super Easy and it would mean the world to us.If you want to go a step further, we have a special Thank You just for You! All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above-mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Motivational speaker Jim Rohn famously said that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. This relates to the law of averages, which is the theory that the result of any given situation will be the average of all outcomes. When it comes to relationships, we are greatly influenced — whether we like it or not — by those closest to us. It affects our way of thinking, our self-esteem, and our decisions. Of course, everyone is their own person, but research has shown that we're more affected by our environment than we think.Not only in relationships, but that train of thought can apply to virtually any aspect of your personal or professional life. So the challenge then becomes, not only keeping your individuality (which is a podcast for another time) but also if you are influenced by others to any degree, being selective about the people you hang out with becomes paramount.That is the topic of this Mobile Musing episode, where I reflect back to our chat with Tiffany Toombs, on the power of reframing your limiting beliefs to change your life. During that chat, we talk not only about reframing, and what that is, but also about the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. We discuss the importance of enforcing healthy boundaries and being selective about those who are not only in your inner circle but also in acquaintances and other relationship levels.You may not be able to choose your colleagues, for example, but you can choose how much you own and internalize their comments and how much you allow them to influence your mindsets. If they are a negative influence, if they don't help you feel encouraged and empowered, then perhaps limiting exposure to them outside of the necessary meetings and such, may be something to consider.The same goes with friends and family members, of all levels:Do the people you spend time with make you feel good about yourself?Do they help encourage you in a genuine way? Are their comments uplifting?Are they there to listen and validate your struggles, without having to "fix" you or always give advice?Do you truly feel better about yourself when you're in their company?These types of questions are at the heart of ensuring that you not only feel inspired and encouraged but safe and supported. Of course, not everyone can live up those standards, and not everyone has the ability to relate to every aspect of your life, so it's important to have a diverse group that can be there to meet specific needs at any given time. And, in turn, you can be the very best support person for those in your life. If you enjoy these podcasts would you consider doing 3 easy things for us?Share it with one person who might find it helpful.Leave a review on your favorite podcasting app.Follow the podcast on that same app, so you never miss an episode.That’s it…Super Easy and it would mean the world to us.If you want to go a step further, we have a special Thank You just for You! All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or pSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

So how exactly do we even figure out what this whole "reframing" thing is? How do you figure out who the safe people are and make changes to surround ourselves with them? How do we change all these negative core beliefs that we've been rooted in for so long, so we can build new pathways in our brain and develop a new outlook on who we are and what we're capable of?I'm glad you asked...our guest, Tiffany Toombs is here to help shed some light on this subject and address those struggles and more.Tiffany is a Mindset Coach, and Master Practitioner of Matrix Therapies and NLP. She is the founder of blue lotus mind, a program she developed to help inspire men, women, and children to reconnect and love themselves, unconditionally, from the inside out. Her goal is to create a self-love revolution, where everyone feels empowered to redefine what happiness and love look and feel like, to them.I have experienced first hand what it is like to feel stuck and lost in life. This experience allows me to coach from a deeply personal place, from a place of being broken wide open and diving in to sort out the pieces...and so I want to start a self-love revolution. I want everyone I come into contact with to feel empowered to re-define what happiness and love look and feel like for them. During our chat on the podcast we cover:Self-Love; why do we resist it?Why it's so important to heal negative emotions & experiences from the past.The importance of doing what's best for us, even when others judge and call you selfish.Understand that every behavior has a belief system, and focusing on the behavior alone won't accomplish the goal of healing.Learning not to settle in your career, relationships, or any aspect of life.Taking time to connect with your highest intentions each day to help yourself continually grow and not regress back into old patterns you worked so hard to change.Life is full of ebbs and flows, ups and downs, and not getting too attached to either.We unpack all of this and more during our chat with Tiffany Toombs, so be sure and check out the podcast right here on the Beyond Your Past Radio, or search your favorite podcast app for "Beyond Your Past".Thank you to Tiffany for sharing her incredible insight and wisdom on the power of using Reframing to change your limiting beliefs.You can learn more about Tiffany Toombs, including her coaching programs and online resources, over on BlueLotusMind.com - Be sure and follow her on social media as well:Twitter: @TiffanyNToombs - Facebook: @BlueLotusMind - Instagram: @TiffanyToombs If you enjoy these podcasts would you consider doing 3 easy things for us?Share it with one person who might find it helpful.Leave a review on your favorite podcasting app.Follow the podcast on that same app, so you never miss an episode.That’s it…Super Easy and it would mean the world to us.If you want to go a step further, we have a special Thank You just for You! All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above-mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and dSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Continuing on with our new Mobile Musings podcast series every Thursday here on Beyond Your Past Radio, I'm sharing some thoughts around the topic of Interrupting Anxious Thoughts. How do we actually interrupt an anxious thought in the first place; and why is it important to develop this skill? On that note, it is indeed something that needs to be practiced and fostered over time since we are actually retraining our minds to stop using those old, negative, programmed, default responses that no longer serve us. What about reframing emotional responses? How does anxiety try and use your emotions against you? One reason is that it loves to live in an emotional mind, making it much easier to gain and keep a hold of us, which ultimately perpetuates the very actions, reactions, and mindsets we are trying to change. I talk about a current example in my own life, and how anxiety could very easily take a medical challenge I'm facing, and turn it into a worry-fest. An opportunity for me to stay up all night, overthinking, researching, and worrying myself over things I have no control over. There's a lot more in store in this episode of our new Mobile Musings series, so be sure and check it out and see what you think. If you'd like to send us a message and tell us what you think, we'd love to hear from you. If you enjoy these podcasts would you consider doing 3 easy things for us?Share it with one person who might find it helpful.Leave a review on your favorite podcasting app.Follow the podcast on that same app, so you never miss an episode.That’s it…Super Easy and it would mean the world to us.If you want to go a step further, we have a special Thank You just for You! All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above-mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Welcome to the next installment in the Mobile Musings series here on Beyond Your Past Radio. Each episode is recorded while out walking or driving, with nothing more than a mobile phone. You'll hear my thoughts on life, mental health, making a difference in the world and in the lives of others. So how can we potentially see ourselves, and the world, in a different way? Do we even need to, and if so, why? What kind of difference can it make in our daily life; personal, professional, relationships, everywhere?In this episode, I'm out doing some walking, did ya notice the walking intro too? :) Thinking about how much of a difference it can make if we decide that maybe, just maybe, we can choose to approach our day, or a specific situation, in a new way?Think about how you wake up each day, what is your mindset as you get ready to head out to work? What's going through your mind as you approach that lunch date with a friend? How much do you dread calling back that person you've been avoiding because you're afraid of what they'll say or ask you to do?What if you could take a chance, a calculated risk, and ask youself what it might be like to see that situation differently? How might that look to you?Give this episode a listen as I talk about it on the podcast!Please do let us know your thoughts on this raw, simple format which will begin being released every Thursday. Hit us up anytime at https://beyondyourpastradio.com/contact-us -MattAll conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above-mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Welcome to the return of Mobile Musings! A short weekly podcast sponsored by Beyond Your Past Radio and Beyond Your Past. Each episode is recorded while out walking or driving, with nothing more than a mobile phone. You'll hear my thoughts on life, mental health, making a difference in the world and in the lives of others. This was a segment that originally started a couple of years ago but we ended up getting away from it for no other reason than, well we just did. I really enjoyed recording these and now seems like a great time to bring them back. So welcome back to Mobile Musings, the Reactivation..or the Return..or well, you get the idea. In this episode, I share alittle bit about the back story and also the reason why I decided to bring this format back to be a companion to our full-length episodes which get released every Monday. I share about the importance of knowing your limits, being able to pivot and adjust, and not trying your self-worth to the outcome of a project, or strategy change. I also share why burnout in any area of life is real, and why these episodes will help alleviate that concern. Plus, there's nothing wrong with having a little fun with a podcast right? You'll see what I mean when you listen, and if you enjoy them you'll notice other cool quirks and fun stuff each time that hopefully will bring a smile to your face. Please do let us know your thoughts on this raw, simple format which will begin being released every Thursday. Hit us up anytime at https://beyondyourpastradio.com/contact-us -MattAll conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above-mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Bipolar Barbie, a mental health advocate who shares her life on social media, joins me on this episode of the podcast to talk about this very subject and to share some of her life's story.If you follow B on social media, you know that she is very active on live streams, documenting her life as she continues to learn who she is and along the way inspiring followers from across the globe who resonate with her vulnerable, honest, message. A message of, "be unapologetically you", regardless of what others think.It's ok to struggle, to have bad days, and not have all the answers. It's ok to wake up and have no idea what the day is going to bring and how you'll feel; to be completely unsure of how you're going to manage from one hour to the next. Living with Bipolar, Depression, Anxiety, or anything else doesn't mean you are broken, hopeless, and destined to be something less than that you want to be. It just means, the way you get through each day, and accomplish your goals is going to look different than you originally thought, and that's totally fine. All that matters is that you keep going, keep fighting, and never give up.During our chat, B. shares why she calls herself, Bipolar Barbie, and how she began this life of being a mental health advocate and sharing her story on a global scale.We also discuss: The importance of being able to communicate effectively with a doctor or mental health professional about your diagnosis and the challenges you face every.Educating yourself on your diagnosis so you can take an active role in your treatment, and to help ensure you get the best treatment for you.Why her message resonates with so many people around the world, and why sharing her life so vulnerably and in an unscripted way, allows her to connect on a deep level with her followers.In addition how she also continues to learn about herself and further her own healing by sharing her life.How labeling someone and throwing around words like "mentally ill" in a negative context, only perpetuates the shame and encourages silence rather than seeking help.The importance of just being there for someone who's struggling, without needing to give advice or answers; just listen without judgment.Thanks again to B. for coming on the podcast, especially with the large time-zone difference between our locations. There's a lot more that we didn't get too, and to be honest, what we originally planned to cover wasn't what we actually talked about. That's the beauty of chatting with someone and just letting the conversation flow naturally. Don't worry though, she'll be joining us again later this year as a returning guest.You can follow Bipolar Barbie all across social media:YouTube - Twitter - Instagram - FacebookIf you enjoy these podcasts would you consider doing 3 easy things for us?Share it with one person who might find it helpful.Leave a review on your favorite podcasting app.Subscribe so you never miss an episode.That’s it…Super Easy and it would mean the world to us.If you want to go a step further, we have a special Thank You just for You! All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Our guest on this episode of the podcast has dedicated her life to helping women in particular, and survivors as a whole, to find their voice. To begin to realize that they too have the ability to reach out for help, work through their past moving from victim to survivor, and ultimately from survivor to warrior.Lisa Cybaniak is a Motivational Speaker, Success Coach, NLP Practitioner, and survivor of 10 years of child abuse. Over the last 3 years, her work has been featured on radio programs, podcasts, in magazines, and other media outlets. Her first book, Survivor to Warrior is due out in June of 2019. She outlines on her website, I've developed three healing streams to empower you to build a life of purpose after abuse, wherever you may be on your path to recovery: Reaching Out, Victim to Survivor, and Survivor to Warrior.If you've not had an abusive background, but still suffer from low self-esteem or confidence, impostor syndrome or a lack of fulfillment in your life, you will find many options here for you too. Remember, if you keep doing the same thing, you can expect the same result. If you're ready for a different result, then you're in the right place!During our chat with Lisa, Joanne and I talk with her about her survivor journey and her work with clients:Lisa shares about the multiple types of abuse she suffered at the hands of her stepfather, and how she found the courage to tell someone what was happening.The incredible story of how her mother came to her rescue, validating everything Lisa said was happening and immediately made plans to get her away from the abuse.The challenges of relationships and being able to tell her story to others; only a handful of people knew what happened during her teenage and young adult years.We discuss the importance of tying the validity of your abuse, and survivor story, to the outcome of a court case when filing charges against your abuser.The struggles of using detachment as a coping skill, and how that lead to suicidal thoughts and closing off from nearly everyone in her life.How she is using her life experiences now to work with clients, speak internationally, and continue her own ongoing journey of healing.If you'd like to learn more about working with Lisa, her programs, upcoming new book, and her speaking engagements, just head over to LifeLikeYouMeanIt.com...and be sure and tell her, "Beyond Your Past, sent you". ;)You can follow her on Twitter: @LisaCybaniak , Facebook.com/lifelikeyoumeanit, and Instagram: @Life_Like_You_Mean_It-Matthew Pappas, CLC, MPNLP & Joanne Cipressi, CHt, CNLP If you enjoy these podcasts would you consider doing 3 easy things for us?Share it with someone who might find it helpful.Leave a review on your favorite podcasting app.Subscribe so you never miss an episode.That’s it…Super Easy and it would mean the world to us.If you want to go a step further, we have a special Thank You just for You! All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above-mentioned websites are supplements for or superseSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Joanne recently had the opportunity to spend a few minutes chatting with Abby Johnson; Author, Speaker, founder of "And Then There Were None", and former Clinical Director of Planned Parenthood. Abby has been using her voice in support of the Pro-Life movement since leaving her career in the industry in 2009. Her story has been featured on Fox News, ABC, and many other high profile media outlets as she uses her voice to help encourage women to consider a stance of what she refers to as "pro-love".As outlined on Abby's website: ...We see that every life, from the child in the womb, to the elderly - and in between, including the abortion clinic worker's life, has incredible value, and worth. We believe that abortion strips women of their dignity. We believe that motherhood is empowering. We believe that not conforming and giving into societal pressures when it comes to femininity is empowering.We believe that justice applies to every single human being on this earth. We believe in redefining the pro-life movement to include everyone, every age, race, gender, religion, and every job.During Joanne's chat with Abby, they discuss the movie now in theaters, "Unplanned", which is based on Abby's life experiences in working with Planned Parenthood and the events which transpired that ultimately changed her life; turning in an entirely new direction. Abby shares what the reaction to her movie has been, how important her support system has been to her, and what it's been like in her own life since releasing the movie. We encourage you to consider checking out the movie, regardless of where you stand on this issue.-Matthew Pappas, CLC, MPNLP & Joanne Cipressi, CHt, CNLP If you enjoy these podcasts would you consider doing 3 easy things for us?Share it with someone who might find it helpful.Leave a review on your favorite podcasting app.Subscribe so you never miss an episode.That’s it…Super Easy and it would mean the world to us.If you want to go a step further, we have a special Thank You just for you. All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above-mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Have you ever said to yourself, "if I only knew then what I know now?" It's quite likely you are nodding your head in agreement, as that old saying is timeless. For better or worse, it's one of those things that gets passed down from generation to generation. It comes in especially handy when you're giving advice to a child about what you've experienced and what they can learn from your mistakes. Of course, we all know we've heard that and didn't listen right?..but I digress.Anyway, we wanted to share some of the things that we've learned along the way during times of deep healing in therapy, wisdom shared with us from therapists, friends, and others, or just revelations that come to us in the middle of the night. Don't you just love it when those happen?So what have we learned?Reaching out for help is hard, but necessary.For that matter, it doesn't make you weak when you reach out for support.Gaining a greater awareness of yourself, and knowing your limits.Knowing when to go all in with healing and when to take a break; listening to your body.Focusing on your strengths, rather than "what's wrong with you".How you talk to yourselfSelf-Care as a preemptive strategy to help with burnout in trauma recovery.A few more important ones that you'll have to listen to find out. :) - Matthew Pappas, CLC, MPNLP & Joanne Cipressi, CHt, CNLPIf you enjoy these podcasts would you consider doing 3 easy things for us?Share it with someone who might find it helpful. Leave a review on your favorite podcasting app.Subscribe so you never miss an episode. That's it...Super Easy and it would mean the world to us. If you want to go a step further, we have a special Thank You just for you. All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above-mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Our guest on this episode of the podcast is Leslie Peters, RN. Leslie is a registered nurse, who left a career she loved, to step out of her comfort zone and start following her intuition and her heart, by sharing her story as a speaker, self-love strategist and accountability partner in self-care.Leslie Peters is a woman who has spent a lifetime asking, listening and learning from others. The only person she never listened to was herself; she grew up, married and raised men with addictions. She trusted unhealthy people who loved her more than she trusted herself. Leslie says that this is actually the "Gift of her story". She felt no connection to her parents or husband - being an intuitive she knew she needed to feel connected for her survival. When she was 16, with the freedom of a drivers license, Leslie went in search of connection. She quickly learned that on the other side of the door of her home was a world where she could let her true self-free. The world became her home and the people walking down them her family. She routinely asked strangers thought-provoking questions about themselves; Leslie always found a way to relate. Their answers confirmed that she was not alone in her story and that she was indeed part of something bigger than her own small world - the greater good.During our chat with Leslie, we cover areas including:What is living life with H.E.A.R.T., and how she discovered this way of living is not always easy, but so important.Leslie shares the struggles she experienced in trying to live this way, and how she's been able to work through those challenges.Releasing the shame and anger she was holding onto for allowing herself to becomes something she wasn't, just to make others happy.How the ACES Study, (Adverse Childhood Experiences) plays a key role in all aspects of development; physically, emotionally, and cognitively.Understanding your ACES score and how it affects not only you but others in your life.Leslie's shares her score and what it's meant to her personally and in working with clients to help them understand their score.The healing that comes through neuroplasticity, awareness, education, and being in tune with yourself on a very deep level.If you’re not familiar with ACES, we encourage you to google “aces score” or go to acestoohigh.com and other similar sites for more information on this groundbreaking study originally conducted by the CDC and Kaiser Permanente, and learn more about your aces score.You can reach Leslie at LesliePetersRN.com or email her directly: Info at LesliePetersRN dot comPlease consider sharing this episode with someone who might need it, and don't forget to rate the podcast and leave a review on your favorite podcasting app!If you enjoy listening to the Podcast, why not consider helping to support us AND get a free copy of Joanne's book, Ditch Your Doubt. -Matthew Pappas, CLC, MPNLP & Joanne Cipressi, CHt, CNLP All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above-mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Elisabeth Corey, MSW, and founder of BeatingTrauma.com joins me on the podcast as a return guest to discuss how writing and journaling can be an incredibly beneficial modality of healing. I first had the opportunity to chat with Elisabeth back in episode 38 as we discussed working with our inner parts to help heal trauma. Inner Parts work is a specialty of Elisabeth and continues to be a focus in her work with private clients and in her group sessions, webinars, and other resources created for survivors.During my chat with Elisabeth Corey on this episode of the podcast, we're diving more into those aspects of writing I mentioned earlier:How writing from our inner parts can help us connect with what we don't remember.What exactly are repressed memories, why are they so crucial to healing, and what misconceptions are there surrounding these types of memories?How the idea that writing doesn't come naturally for so many but why it's so important.On that topic, the type of writing that Elisabeth teaches her clients and those in her programs is not supposed to come naturally because of you're diving into areas of your life that you've spent years trying to forget. In addition, the coping skills that served us during traumatic events can be a cause of keeping certain memories repressed.How naturally, or not, do our inner parts take to writing and being given a voice?Which parts are more resistant vs which parts are more open to having a voice?Connecting with your inner child and writing from a place of your inner child's voice and perspective, as opposed to an adults version of their voice.Flashbacks, and how they are not always the overwhelming memories that cause so much turmoil and turn our world upside down.The importance of using these as a learning experience in writing to help uncover repressed memories.This was such an incredible chat with Elisabeth and she dives more in depth to those topics and shares her vast knowledge in a way that is validating and inspiring. I hope you'll consider checking out this episode and sharing it with someone who might find it helpful.Be sure and follow Elisabeth Corey, MSW on Twitter @BeatingTrauma and her website, BeatingTrauma.com, where you can also learn about her programs, webinars, and workshops.Matthew Pappas, CLC, MPNLPAll conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Our returning guest for this week, Kelli Gettel, originally shared some of her story in episode 80, Life with Autism, CPTSD, DID, and Narcolepsy. If you haven't checked out that episode, you'll want to add it to a playlist on your favorite podcasting app and check out more of her story.During our chat today, Kelli gives us an update on how her healing work is coming along, including:How she's learning to interact with her alters, and give them the voice they need.New memories of childhood trauma, including sexual abuse and being subjected to a pedophile ring.The struggles with trust issues, even with a therapist who you've been working with for a long time.The challenges of opening up and sharing, trusting others to hear your story, and how you share.The strain that living with DID and other mental health challenges can put on a relationship.The adjustments her husband is making and how much his support helps her and her family.Taking an active role in your healing, and educating yourself, as well as interacting with the survivor community for support.Kelli lives in the central Pennsylvania area, with her husband and 3 children, including a 4 yr old who also was diagnosed with autism. You can contact her via email, kelligettel at gmail dot com, if you'd like to connect with her.Please consider sharing this episode with someone who might benefit from it, and don't forget to subscribe on your favorite podcasting app.Matthew Pappas, CLC, MPNLP and Joanne Cipressi, CHt, CNLP All conversation and information exchanged on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above-mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Everybody has one, and it follows you around, constantly causing you to second guess your decisions. It creates an element of self-doubt, perpetuates anxious feelings, and generally make your life miserable if you allow it that kind of power. What is it...Your Inner Critic.In this episode, Joanne and I are talking about the importance of not only recognizing it, but also responding to your inner critic This is such an important topic because it affects so many aspects of daily life, from personal to professional, relationships of all types. Virtually any aspect of your life is an opportunity for your inner critic to gain a foothold.I wrote in a previous post on my coaching website about some strategies to deal with your inner critic, and in this podcast episode we take that post a step further and offer more thoughts and strategies that you can use to take back your power from that voice in your head that causes you to doubt yourself and your abilities.What does it mean to be in charge of your inner critic?How can giving your inner critic a name, be helpful and empowering?How your inner critic uses your past against, especially when it comes to struggles or perceived failures?How can you turn down the volume on your inner critic? What does that mean?How can separating yourself from your inner critic be helpful and how do you do it?Remember, your inner critic is not your friend, it does not have your best interests at heart. It's there to make you believe that your best is not good enough, to perpetuate anxiety and unrest in your life, to steal your joy and contentment, and to bring self-doubt to the forefront of virtually every thought you have.You can take back that power, keep your inner critic in check, and live life knowing that your past or present circumstances are not the end all be all definition of who you are.Please consider sharing this episode with someone who might benefit from it, and don't forget to leave us a review on your favorite podcasting app. We would sure appreciate it.Matthew Pappas, CLC, MPNLP & Joanne Cipressi, CHt, CNLPIf you'd like to be a guest on a future episode or have a topic for us to talk about, feel free to contact us. We love hearing from you. All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above-mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

My returning guest for this episode is my good friend, fellow survivor, and advocate for survivors of childhood trauma, Vennie Kocsis.Vennie Kocsis is an author, poet, artist, and survivor of Sam Fife’s Move of God cult. My creativity is the therapy by which I have survived the memories of abuse I suffered in my childhood. There are many caves where memories hideout, and I intend to travel them all in this lifetime. I understand the journey through trauma recovery, and I am here to share it with you.I am a highly-sensitive, embodied Empath and integrated DID carrier. I productively live with the aftermath left over from extreme child abuse. I understand the journey through recovering from the shattering of religious and sexual abuse recovery. I know the work it takes in returning to our original, authentic mind and inner child. It CAN happen for you. It WILL happen for you. You can integrate the dissected pieces of yourself. You can heal. You can tell your story from a place of truth and vulnerability, rejecting critics and owning your own strength. I believe you. I support you. I am cheering you on! During this episode, we are talking about the Physiology of Childhood Trauma, and how sexual abuse affects not only our mental health but also our physical health. These effects can carry over into adulthood and cause not only the physical struggles of chronic illness and pain but the deep wounds created by the trauma create emotional challenges that affect virtually every aspect of our life.Vennie has done a great deal of research on this topic and shares some of that knowledge during our chat, as well as her own personal experiences of the abuse she suffered and the ways she continues to heal herself.We also cover some of the misconceptions of childhood sexual abuse, and how it's not always violent in nature.The connection between the biological DNA change of the body’s bacterial defenses when a child begins to eat the same solid foods as the family AND the nervous system at the end of the spinal cord which runs into the brain.The damage to the physiology of a child when they are so young and how this can lead to misinterpretations of their body as they get older.Vennie and I share this candid discussion because it's the things that not everyone wants to talk about. These are some of the effects of childhood trauma that not only she herself has experienced, but so many others as well, and that's why we are doing this series. To shed light on how being a survivor of childhood trauma affects you as an adult, but also to share the hope in healing and the important research that's being down by leading experts across the globe to better understand not only how is affected but also how we can heal.Be sure and follow Vennie on VennieKocsis.com and Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook.Look for more of our chat and we continue this discussion during part II coming up on March 28, 2019!Matthew Pappas, CLC, MPNLP All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above-mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Recovering from childhood sexual abuse, narcissistic above, emotional neglect, bullying, or any type of childhood trauma is not something you can rush through. It's a long process, full of ups and downs, struggles and triumphs, and virtually every emotion you can imagine.One of the things I struggled with during intense times of healing was the concern of doing too much, too fast, and overextending myself without doing proper self-care. I was all in on my healing, which is not a bad thing at all, but at the same time, I often neglected the signs that I was approaching burn out or at the very least the signs that I just needed to ease off the throttle a bit.The more I healed, the more I learned, and the more I wanted to keep going. That's not to say there weren't times when I just wanted to quit, because believe me those were quite plentiful as well. Still though, I was inspired and driven to learn about trauma recovery and how it affected me and what I could do to help myself. My therapist warned on more than a few occasions to take breaks and not "live, eat, and breath" this stuff so much. Hindsight is 20-20, and if only I knew then what I know now...This episode is a look back at a previous podcast episode, #27, released back in 2017, and is one where I'm reflecting on this very topic of burnout in trauma recovery.It's a good reminder for myself, and perhaps something to consider for you too, that the risk of burnout in healing from childhood trauma, or any type of trauma, is real but there are ways to help ourselves avoid this while still moving forward. After wall, we don't want to quit and undo all the hard work that we've put in.With my co-host, Joanne Cipressi doing some traveling right now, this was a great time to launch this little project of re-releasing some previous episodes. Many of these older episodes are during the early stages of the podcast, and consist of me just sitting down and talking through my survivor journey.I hope you'll enjoy this look back at my thoughts on how I dealt with this, by working through it in my head and with my therapist at the time. And remember, there is no time table in healing except the one you place on yourself. Give yourself the opportunity to heal at a safe pace and embrace the process, because the destination of healing truly is the journey itself.If you'd like to be a guest for an upcoming episode of the podcast, we'd love to hear from you.-Matthew Pappas, CLC, MPNLP All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above-mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Welcome back to the Mental Health Megacast, a semi-regular round table discussion with 3 mental health advocates, podcasters, and survivors of circumstances we’d rather forget, who are trying to find our way through life and make a difference.To that end, the Megacast is the combined collaborative brain powers (more or less) of Wes from AudioRising.com and Mike from MikesOpenJournal.com, and myself. I encourage you to check out and follow them online and through your favorite podcasting platform. Each of these guys has a tremendous message to share and an inspiring and unique way in how they go about it.In this episode, Wes brought up the topic of how we act and react around family members, and those who aren't necessarily active in mental health advocacy circles.We discuss the challenges of living authentically both inside and outside the world of mental health and recovery.What that authenticity looks like with family members vs friends vs colleagues vs those online who we interact with in our advocacy work.The challenges that arise when certain things are considered okay to say or talk about in some circles but not okay in others.The importance of fostering not only relationships with people who understand your struggles and the work you do in healing, but also those relationships that are just about having fun, relaxing, and blowing off steam...how this can be a form of self-care.The comfort level of sharing, and how much to share with those who don't necessarily understand life in recovery or what a healing journey is when they ask you to talk about it. The importance of not judging what we think they may or not understand, before we have a chance to talk with them and find out how interested they are.When to go deeper and share more, vs keeping information at a more surface level.We hope you enjoy this latest episode, and if you do have suggestions for future shows, we are still taking them. One of the best things about these episodes is that that they are completely unedited, unscripted, just us hanging out and having a chat, to which you are always invited to listen in on.Be sure and follow Wes on Twitter @WesA1966 and Mike @Mike_Douglas_ & Open_Journal_ …oh and don’t forget to follow and subscribe to all of our shows on your favorite podcasting app! ----------All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

This podcast focuses on inspiring you to break free from the chains of your past and move forward to experience the world of healing, possibilities, and opportunity that comes with working through past trauma. We wanted to spend some time with you today explaining why this is so important. There are many who feel like they don’t want to let the past go and others that believe they just can't do it even if they did want too. Sometimes we find comfort in holding onto the past because its familiar or we believe that by holding and constantly reminding ourselves of the past pain, we can protect ourselves from future pain so we keep all those memories alive. We come up with countless reasons to justify we doing this is so important; things like “the past is a part of me”, “this is just who I am” and “I don’t know who I’d be if I let that go.”We understand these statements and emotions because both of us, Matt and Joanne, have lived in that mindset for a long time. But, we also understand the amazing benefits of moving beyond that type of mindset -- which is why we do this podcast - in hopes that people will find the encouragement and motivation to move beyond their past so they can reap the benefits of doing so.It can be challenging to know the benefits of something if you have not experienced them yourself. So, today, we wanted to share with you some of those benefits that you can experience when you dedicate yourself to your own journey of healing. Remember, everyone heals in their own way and it doesn't matter how long it takes you, all that matters is that consider the possibility of how much more fulfilling and enjoyable life can be when you make your healing a priority.In addition to 4 primary benefits of healing, we also cover some of the reasons why it's so difficult to even attempt to begin healing past trauma in the first place; including reasons why we focus on the past, why it's hard to let go, and why we tend to focus on the negatives aspects of our life.I hope you'll check out this episode and please consider subscribing on your favorite podcasting app and sharing it with one person who might benefit.We also appreciate feedback too, so reach out anytime and tell us how we're doing!Matthew Pappas, CLC, MPNLP & Joanne Cipressi, CHt, CNLPAll conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Leo Zaccari is a history professor, writer, and author of the psychological thriller ARKHANGEL. He teaches history at Brookdale Community College and loves thrillers, sci-fi, fantasy, and the paranormal. My book is a psychological thriller about a girl learning who she is and it touches on themes of coping with mental illness, isolation, alienation, and schizophrenia. I really hope that this book will help young and old alike feel that they don't have to be alone and that they can identify with a character who shares some of the same problems that they do, and that they can overcome them.During my chat with Leo, he talks more about his first book, which begins a series that will see the main character and protagonist, Raven, begin a journey of self-discovery while confronting her personal struggles in ways she never imaged.How did he come up with the character, Raven, and what was his inspiration for writing the book?The types of research he found himself undertaking and how the research he did helped develop the main character and story.What he's learned most during his research, especially since much of the mental health world was new to him.How this new awareness has influenced him and what he would like to see changed in the mental health world.How does Raven's mental health pose a challenge in the story and how she begins to explore and overcome these challenges.It was great to talk with Leo, not just to learn about his book but also to get his unique perspective of only recently entering the world of mental health struggles and things that people from all walks of life struggle with as a result of past trauma of all types.As someone who spends a great deal of time engaged with the mental health community in many ways, it's important to always be open to new ideas and perspectives. It's often all too easy to be wrapped up in our own world as we see it, and there's certainly nothing wrong with that, but gaining a different perspective allows us to explore this world we are so passionate about, in a different way. Maybe that changes some things, maybe it doesn't but giving yourself the opportunity to explore mental health challenges in a new way can only serve to broaden our horizons and help to remember pause and think outside the box now and then. You never know what you might come up with.Be sure and head over to Amazon and check out ARKHANGEL and also consider becoming a Patreon and join him on the journey of Raven and the adventures which await her during her superhero journey of self-discovery.-Matthew Pappas, CLC, MPNLPAll conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

I originally shared my experience with GBS, in February 2018, in episode #58. That podcast took me quite a long time to record and the blog post even longer to write since it was right in the early stages of healing and I was still coming to terms with what happened. Still, I was compelled to write and speak my story as best I could, mainly because that's one of the ways I cope with things of this severe nature. You can check out that episode and detailed blog post, here.During the last year, I've spoken to a handful of survivors of Guillain Barre Syndrome, and participate regularly in some Facebook groups full of survivors of GBS or CIDP (Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy) who all have varying experiences with this disease and its variants. I've kept in contact with some of them regularly, and inparticular with a person I invited to become a guest with me here on this episode, Mary Catherine (MC).MC is the Founder and CEO of Coffee and Cocktails with MC, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help promote, represent, and support local, family-owned, and small businesses through a variety of media and social opportunities, to help further their exposure. She is also a blogger at MyBlindLife.com, where she documents her new-normal life as a wife, mother, small business advocate and survivor of GBS and a medical incident that left her visually impaired. MC and I talk about our experiences with Guillain Barre, from how things were before the disease hit, how we both contracted it, our treatment experiences, and the ways we've worked through recovery since.We talk about how much we've learned and the attitude and mindset we've had to embrace in order to heal from this dreaded disease. The struggles, the wins, and everything in between have helped shaped our individual lives since and also helped to give us a message to share with others. As you'll hear, and if you're a listener of this podcast you know already, the power of sharing your story can be an amazing means of inspiring and validating. It's something I try to embrace, and MC also is a big believer in finding ways to use her experiences to help others.I hope you'll enjoy this episode, and take heart in knowing that throughout the recovery from this ordeal, one of the similarities you'll hear is that during healing, it's important to surround yourself with a good support system, both in person and online. The power of support is crucial to healing and whomever you can get to help you, virtually or otherwise, will make things so much better...especially during the dark, difficult times that will inevitably come but will also give way, in time, to new possibilities and hope.Be sure and check out Coffee&CocktailswithMC to learn more about the work MC Derin is doing and the ways she is using her experiences to help others.-Matthew Pappas, CLC, MPNLPGuillain Barre Syndrome Survivor.All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above-mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

My guest, Melissa Wilson, is a survivor of bullying and is now a Certified Coach, working with clients who have experienced bullying, and other forms of abuse and childhood trauma to help them get unstuck and move forward toward their goals and dreams. She is also a podcast host of, "The Grass Gets Greener Podcast" where she talks with survivors, professionals, and everyday people who have a story to share and ways to help inspire you to not give up even in the wake of a traumatic past.I had the pleasure of being on Melissa's podcast a few months back, where I shared some of my survivor story of childhood sexual abuse and bullying, and how I've been able to work through those experiences. I hope you'll consider checking it out and sharing it with someone who might benefit from it.The Grass Gets Greener represents hope and optimism. Sometimes you may feel as if other people have a better life than you, that the grass is greener on their side of the fence, so to speak. Well, this site is here to provide you with inspiration and support to help you overcome the effects of what you experienced that can make you feel this way. This site is here to help you become the person you are meant to be. To show you how the grass gets greener for you! During our chat together, Melissa shares the experiences of bullying that she endured and how it affected her life:How and when the bullying began for her in school, when she was the new kid and experienced both physical and emotional abuse from classmates.She shares how the teachers in her school did nothing to stop it, and this helped fuel the fear of reaching out for help from her parents, due to fear of making the situation even worse. Her silence was the only thing she could control.Five years after the bullying stopped, she was finally able to tell her parents, receive the support she needed, and start to pick up the pieces.You'll learn how those experiences she endured help fuel her to learn more about herself, study Psychology, and how the effects of being bullied last well into adulthood.The importance of reaching out and telling someone when you need help, and how staying silent keeps you stuck and perpetuates the idea that you do not deserve help.We discuss the skills that Melissa developed to aid in her healing journey, and how even though she still struggles at times with the after effects, life is so much better because of putting in the hard work of education and healing.Be sure and check out Melissa's Podcast, The Grass Gets Greener, over on her website, and available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. If you're interested in working with Melissa Wilson as your coach, drop her a line, she'd love to hear from you.Please consider sharing this post and podcast with someone who might need it, and don't forget to subscribe on your favorite podcasting app. All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above-mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Since I started this podcast a few years ago, it's been quite an interesting and exciting journey, to say the least. From the very first episode where I sat in front of my laptop, talking about being a survivor and the struggles of daily life, to now interviewing coaches, clinicians, and advocates every week; sharing their work and stories. I enjoy each and every episode and consider it a true honor to be a part of your day as you listen to the podcast.Podcasting has allowed me to take the process of sharing my story to a new level, and as much as it's hopefully helped you as you listen to the episodes, it's helped me grow in my own journey even more. I'm also very grateful to my friends and colleagues at Mental Health News Radio Network, for the opportunity to be among a group of incredible advocates who aren't afraid to talk about the difficult subjects encompassing Mental Health.Now, the next phase of the Beyond Your Past Podcast is about to begin, with the introduction of my new co-host, Joanne Cipressi.Joanne is a Certified Coach and Survivor, experienced in a variety of modalities and skills which have helped her in her own journey as well as her coaching business working with clients, both in personal and business coaching.You might remember when Joanne joined me on episode 107, where she shared some of her survivor story, and the importance of rebuilding trust in yourself and others. Ever since then, we've stayed in touch; supporting each other's work in social media and brainstorming some collaborative ideas, which has lead to her now joining me on the podcast.Joanne Cipressi brings new insight and a new dynamic to the show, which I hope you'll find encouraging, validating, and yes even fun, too! Because hey, let's face it, as I've said many times before, there's no shame in interjecting some well-timed humor into difficult topics to help us cope and understand the challenges of being a survivor and living with mental health challenges as a result of our past.Her experience in the areas of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Hypnosis, Reflexology, Reiki, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Age Regression Therapy, Holistic Nutrition, will surely bring new insight to the conversations we have on this show both as host and co-host, and with the amazing guests who join us each week.Learn more about Joanne, including her survivor story and her work as a coach, by heading over to JoanneCipressi.com and be sure to follow her on Twitter-Matthew Pappas, CLC, MPNLP All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above-mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Licensed Psychologist turned Coach and Speaker helping moms bust the “supermom” myth and become more calm, effective, confident, and joyfully imperfect moms. Dr. Muller is not only a moms’ coach, but she also a mother. As a wife, mother of two, and professional therapist for 17 years I have also struggled with the conflicting and multiple demands of raising a family and being a loving and attentive partner, while also pursuing personal fulfillment through my career. In my work I use my professional skills and personal experiences to teach moms--whether they work outside of the home or dedicate themselves exclusively to their families-- strategies to help them bust the “supermom” myth so they can reduce stress and be more calm, confident, happy and effective mothers.During our, Dr. Muller and I discuss:How she began working with women, and moms in particular, and how her own experiences in life lead her to the decision of helping moms and trauma survivors.Dr. Muller shares her combined approach of trauma work, using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and the TEAM approach, which teaches that the agenda of therapy is not dictated by a therapist, or a diagnosis, but rather by what the client wants to work on.We also discuss exactly what CBT is, because let's be real, the mental health world is full of acronyms and we always want to make sure everyone is informed.What exactly is a "supermom", the pressures of trying to be perfect, and live up to the unrealistic expectations we put on ourselves because of what we see others doing?Key elements that are important in helping to heal from trauma. While Dr. Muller specializes in working with women, these principals are universal for all survivors.Work on your mindsetOperate from OverflowMaster Self-AcceptanceActivate Self-CompassionNurture Your RelationshipsWe talk more about the self-acceptance and self-compassion aspects, and how difficult that is especially for trauma survivors.The most important thing to remember when beginning to work on your trauma and change the supermom or super parent mentality.All this and more during my chat with Dr. Raquel Muller on being a survivor, a mother, and learning to be okay with who you are, and just as you are, and know that you are good enough.To learn more about Dr. Muller, including her work as a therapist, her videos, and more about busting the supermom myth, head over to https://www.joyfulimperfectioncounseling.com/ You can also follow her on Instagram and Facebook by searching for "JoyfulImperfectionCounseling".Be sure and subscribe to Beyond Your Past on your favorite podcasting app and consider sharing this episode with someone who might benefit from it.Matthew Pappas, CLC, MPNLPAll conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Taking a unique approach to personal development, making it your own based on the circumstances you had to overcome and what message resonates with you, is exactly what my guest on this episode of the podcast, Devina Kaur, has done. After all, when you are dealing a history of mental health challenges, the cookie cutter approach isn't always going to resonate, much less be an effective tool for you to utilize.Thinking outside the box is what Devina has done and it's allowed her to become a speaker, published author, and start a movement that encourages you to embrace who you truly are on the inside. Devina Kaur is a fun-loving, flamboyant, straight-talking author, entrepreneur, filmmaker and inspirational speaker. Born and raised in rural India, she fought to reconcile her traditional upbringing with her ambitions. After a lifetime of being told she was too fat, too loud and too ambitious, her world fell apart in her 30s when her arranged marriage ended. Thirty years of desperately trying to be the person everyone else wanted had resulted in loneliness, depression and confusion. During my chat with Devina, we discuss: (chapter time stamps included)How she did not like herself growing up. Her struggles with self-esteem about not only who she was and where she came from, but her weight and other challenges eventually found her sitting on railroad tracks contemplating taking her own life.When the shift happened in her life and the circumstances that allowed her to get to a place of accepting herself and loving herself. You'll learn how she left a secure job in the banking industry; even with all of the success, she was not happy and needed to discover who she was, take care of herself, and gain the courage to discover the direction that would lead her to a new life.How faith, confidence, experience, and your mindset are all key in your transformation. You'll learn how standing in front of a mirror helped her to reframe the language she used to describe herself, which would also change how she presented herself to others. Gaining inner self-confidence that comes from knowing yourself and your authentic gifts. Understanding both your strengths and weaknesses and that all of your parts, even the darkness, deserves love.Coming to terms with embracing brilliance, when she truly began to notice a shift in her life and have the ability to love herself not just accept herself.What can you expect when you visit her website, SexyBrilliant.com , attend one of her events or workshops, and embrace the Sexy Brilliant Philosophy of Personal Development.Devina shares some of her experiences in the dating world, as well as having to overcome several traumatic events in 2018, which resulted in the return of depression and suicidal thoughts. However, of the resilience she's built up, her support system, and having a firm understanding of who she is and what's capable of, empowered her to work through and overcome those struggles.How men view the Sexy Brilliant Philosophy of Personal Development, and respond to her message.Sexy Brilliant - Empowerment from the inside out. Be sure and check out SexyBrilliant.com for more information on Devina Kaur, including upcoming events, her book series, and appearances. Be sure to follow her on Twitter Facebook, and Instagram, all at TheDevinaKaur.All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is inteSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

So...New Years Resolutions. The very thought often brings about an eye roll, anxious feelings, perhaps apathy, just to name a few. If you're like many, you don't even bother with them because you feel like the don't work anyway so what's the point. For others, the start of each new year is an opportunity to try again with a renewed sense of confidence. Either way, you're not alone.On this second podcast episode of 2019 (as you'll hear in the podcast I actually call it the 1st episode), I thought I'd take a few minutes and catch you all up on what's been happening with the show, the direction it's headed, and some other projects I'm working on...just in case you're interested in hearing some updates.If you are..Great, then listen right from the beginning and you'll be all set.However, if getting those news and notes isn't really your thing, that's cool too...just forward to the 6:50 mark of the podcast where I dive in to the New Years' Resolutions, Anxiety, and setting yourself up for success as much as possible with the goals you make for yourself.We'll dive into things like:The worry of not accomplishing goals can stop you from even bother to set any in the first place.Extreme thinking, an "all or nothing" mindset, and catastrophizing can lead to self-shame with your goals.Deciding to make resolutions, or goals, is not a one shot deal, you can have as many do-overs you need.I share a bit more of using this "do-over" mentality to your advantage, not your detriment.Being vigilant about imposter syndrome, and old unhealthy, toxic mindsets that no longer serve you.Consider adding a goal of continuing something you're already doing, it's a great way to set yourself for a win with your goals.Make your goals, S.M.A.R.T.The 3 words, 1 simple phrase, you'll want to add it to every single goal.Remember, whether you decide to set some resolutions or goals, or not...you deserve to put your healing first in 2019. Anxiety has no place in your life, so make this the year that you take your power back from Anxiety...and empower yourself for a change.-Matthew Pappas, CLC, MPNLP All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

My guest on this episode of the podcast, Jeremy Schneider, MFT shares his experience as a survivor of trauma, and his work with individuals and families helped inspire him to write "Fatherhood in 40-minute Snapshots".Jeremy G. Schneider is a marriage and family therapist whose career spans more than 15 years of working with individuals and families, focusing on parenting, relationships and mental health. For his work, he has been a featured in The New York Times, TODAY, and CNN and has been a speaker on panels in New York, Philadelphia, Dallas, and Liverpool, England. Jeremy lives and works in New York City with his wife, Gem, and his son and daughter, Lucas and Dorit.During our chat on the podcast, Jeremy and I dive into some aspects of parenting as a survivor of childhood trauma:At 9 years old, he realized that not only did he have things he needed to work on in his own life due to a traumatic childhood, but that he wanted to be a therapist when he grew up.During grad school he came to a greater understanding of both himself and his family, and that if he was going to help others he also had to learn how to help himself.One of the most challenging things about coming to terms with a traumatic childhood is not only, "this is what happened to us and we had to deal with those events as a child", but also now as adults, "we are the ones who have to do the work to heal".How facing your past allows you to be much more free than if you continually run from it.How the trauma he experienced as a child still causes him to struggle at times today, but even with that ongoing struggle the realization that life is so much better now than ever before because he continues to put in the hard work of healing.Understanding that just because you will struggle as an adult, doesn't mean that we should just not even bother to try to heal.He shares about his inspiration for writing "Fatherhood in 40-minute Snapshots" and how the experience of writing has changed him, and his perspective on life and parenting.My chat with Jeremy Schneider was such a great experience and I'm honored to have the opportunity to share some of his story with you here on the podcast. I hope you'll consider checking out his current book, as well as his memoir due out in mid 2019.Be sure and follow Jeremy on Twitter and Facebook, and on his website, JGS.net. You can pick up your copy of Fatherhood in 40-minute Snapshots, on Amazon.-Matthew Pappas, CLC, MPNLP All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Welcome back to the Mental Health Megacast, a semi-regular round table discussion with 3 mental health advocates, podcasters, and survivors of circumstances we'd rather forget, who are trying to find our way through life and make a difference.Officially, this is Season 2, Ep. 4 - but our numbering system isn't an exact science since this is actually episode 110 of my podcast, while it's also something different for Wes and Mike's shows. Anyways...we're just stoked for each opportunity to come together for an hour and chat about what's been going on in our lives; the struggles, the challenges, the wins and progress, and everything in between.Anyways, just in case you aren’t familiar with the Megacasts, you can check out past episodes here, and also my cohorts platforms as well….To that end, the Megacast is creation of the collaborative brain powers (more or less) of Wes from AudioRising.com and Mike from MikesOpenJournal.com, and myself. I encourage you to check out and follow them online and through your favorite podcasting platform. Each of these has a tremendous message to share and an inspiring and unique way in how they go about it.In this episode, after the usual cheers because we all got signed on at the same time (yes that's a thing we do and celebrate it because the struggle is real with us 3 and time) we begin the focus of this Megacast episode:How things have changed for each of us over the last year, and how our lives have changed in terms of sharing our story and our advocacy work from the time we started, till now.Witnessing the evolution in each of our lives as we have changed over the last couple of years since we began this podcast collaboration.How the awareness of mental health has changed over the years, the availability of resources and help in the US and UK, and the ongoing struggle to speak up and ask for help.Struggles with anxiety and depression, and realizing that finding tools to help combat the those feelings is not a "one size fits all" approach; not everything works for every person, and if a particular skill does not work for you, it doesn't mean anything other than we just find a skill or skills that do work for us. We also share some of the skills that we all use in working through anxiety.Living life in the moment, and using mindfulness and perspective to help in recovery.and much more!We hope you enjoy this latest episode, and yes if you do have suggestions for future shows, we are still taking them. ;) One of the best things about these episodes is that that they are completely unedited, unscripted, just us hanging out and having a chat, and you are invited.Be sure and follow Wes on Twitter @WesA1966 and Mike @Mike_Douglas_ & Open_Journal_ …oh and don’t forget to follow and subscribe to all of our shows on your favorite podcasting app!-Matt Pappas, CLC, MPNLPAll conversation and information exchanged during participation the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Many guests who have joined me on the podcast come from a background of writing about their experiences. This method of coping paved the way, in many cases, to their to where they are today, and continue to aid in their ongoing journey of healing. For some, writing is an exercise in anxiety and simply too difficult an experience to endure because of the painful memories the come rushing back while exploring their feelings in this manner.Writing is usually a solo activity, which in itself can raise the anxiety level to exponential heights; something of course we'd rather not experience any longer. For many however, myself included, blogging offers a way to get those deep-rooted feelings and memories out of our heads and in some ways, make sense of them. At the very least, getting these such thoughts out of heads, can help them seem not so intimidating.My guest on this episode of the podcast, Shirley J. Davis, has spent a large part of her life writing, which has allowed her to exponentially aid her own healing journey from abuse which started at a very young age, and leading to Dissociative Identity Disorder.Shirley Davis shares is a freelance writer, public speaker and grant writer who loves life, and hopes to help others to do so as well. Shirley lives with a severe mental health condition known as dissociative identity disorder but has made huge strides forward through many years of hard work and the help of a wonderful therapist. Her philosophy has become that life is not just an empty journey to simply survive and then die, rather it is a wonderful adventure to savor and enjoy. She writes about healing from complex trauma and DID on her blog, Morgan6062.blog , CPTSDfoundationg.org , and many other outlets including NAMI of Illinois, and the American Psychological Association. During our chat on the podcast, Shirley shares some of her survivor story, which includes abuse that started from birth, and continuing through age 15.Her personal experience in life with Dissociative Identity Disorder, and how she interacts with her alters.What prompted her to seek treatment, and what that treatment looks like for her in an ongoing basis.The process of giving her struggles a name, and how this helped her make sense of her life.Making sense of D.I.D., especially early on in her life when research and resources were not as readily available as they are today.Her daily life as a survivor and sharing how far she's come from the child who was abuse for so long.Making her way to the Fusion stage of D.I.D.Why writing has been such an important part of her life, including getting started with her own blog and CPTSD Foundation.Be sure and follow Shirley J. Davis' work on Morgan6062.blog or simply google her name for the many outlets that share her work. You can also follow her on Twitter @ShirleyDavis18.Please consider sharing this podcast with someone who might benefit from hearing Shirley's story and encouragement for trauma survivors and those with living with D.I.D., you never know the difference it could make. Don't forget to subscribe on iTunes or your favorite podcasting app.-Matthew Pappas, CLC, MPNLPAll conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is iSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Whether you are an advocate, mental health professional, a family member or friend of someone who struggles with a mental health challenge, or you yourself live with your own struggles, we can all agree that raising awareness and doing our part to help erase the stigma of mental health is needed now more than ever.We can all do our own part, using our talents, gifts, and hard work to help make a difference in our local communities. After all, this is where we live, work, and socialize; it's where we spend so much of our time each day. So why not do what we can to make our little corner of the world a place where people can feel empowered to ask for help when they need it, and to not feel ashamed or alone.This is exactly what Cynthia Chazen is doing, with "The Stigma Free Zone", in her local community of Bergen County, New Jersey.The Stigma Free Zone, started by founder, Mary Ann Uzzi, in Paramus New Jersey, has a mission of inspiring public interest and open dialogues about stigma, raising awareness of the local mental health resources available, and breaking down barriers of mental health in local communities.Cynthia and I first met at the HealtheVoices Conference in 2018; she is an enthusiastic advocate who believes everyone can educate about mental health. She is the editor of the Stigma Free Zone News of New Jersey, and has a huge following on Twitter where she shares both local and global news about mental illness. You can subscribe to her newsletter by checking out her Facebook Page, SFZNewsofNJ.During our chat on this episode of the Beyond Your Past Podcast, we talk more about The Stigma Free Zone initiative, including:How the Stigma Free Zone movement started in New Jersey, and is spreading across the country.How you can get involved and create your own chapter in your local community. Get the toolkit here.You don't need to be a mental health professional or have a degree, to make a difference.How mental health education is the area for grassroots organizing.Giving people permission to talk about their own mental health struggles.Some of Cynthia's story of the challenges she faced in her life that inspired her to take action for others.Be sure and follow Cynthia Chazen on Twitter and check out the Facebook Pages for the Stigma Free Zone for more information on how you can get involved where you live.If you'd like to be a guest on a future episode of the podcast, you can contact me anytime. Don't forget to share this episode with someone who might need it; together we can all continue to make a difference.-Matthew Pappas, CLC, MPNLPAll conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Something I learned a long time ago, from both a therapist, and later from a coach, and to be honest more than a few others, is to celebrate the wins, no matter how small they may seem. It's something I encourage clients to do, talk about on the podcast often, and reference in blog posts. It's a regular reminder on the daily recovery support calls, it's something that I have written down right on a post it note on the wall, right behind this monitor.So when I talked to a friend about a week ago, and was sharing just in passing that I was coming up on episode 100 of the Beyond Your Past Podcast, she said to me, so how are you going to celebrate that?Uummmm, what? I replied?"How are you going to celebrate this win, acknowledge this milestone...it's a big deal", she said.I thought about it for a minute and said, well it's funny but this episode kind of snuck up on me, landing at 100; and so I hadn't really thought of doing something special initially. Of course it was then that I got a taste of my own medicine; a reminder that if I'm going to encourage someone to do something good for their journey, I should remember to do it more often too.So...here we are at episode 100 of the podcast and I figured it might be a good idea to take a brief break from the normal routine and just talk with you for a while about what's been happening over the last year including some events over the last 12 months that have changed my life in ways I would have never even thought could happen.As I tossed around some ideas on what to do, I had a brainstorm of making a compilation of highlights from a select number of episodes over the last year. However the more I thought about it, trying to decide which episodes to choose and which sections to use, it became a daunting task that I would never have been able to finish in time for my regular schedule. Plus, each and every guest, and their episodes are equally important and have their own special message, so trying to decide who would make the cut just didn't seem like something I would be ok with doing. So I figured, hey, I haven't done one of those, "talk to you guys" episodes in quite a while, and now just might be a good time to do one again. I'm happy to do just that on this milestone show, number 100...and I'm thankful that you've decided (or at least are considering) giving it a listen. And heck, maybe even share it with someone who might find it interesting as well. *I know, living on the wild side, right!*During this episode, we'll chat about:What is Surviving My Past, how and why did I create it and how does the podcast fit into the blog. For that matter, how did Beyond Your Past form anyway. A look back at earlier episode topics and how the podcast has evolved from earlier show design and topics, to current episodes. The last 12 months of events, both positive and challenging that found me facing:Death of my dadThe marriage of my daughterBirthdays and HolidaysA rare illness that sent me to the hospital and a subsequent ongoing recovery. Continued education and finishing several new certification programsLeaving corporate America after 17 years and striking out on my own, full-time. New opportunities that have developed and a partnership with a friend and mentor, and now colleague.and more. Thank you again to each and every one of you who listens each week and shares the podcast episodes; together we are reaching survivors, practitioners, and advocates all over the world with the message of hope, validation, and inspiration. Remember...celebrate those wins, every single one of them and don't minimize the progress you've made soSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Welcome back to our self-proclaimed, Mental Health Megacast, a semi-regular round table discussion with 3 mental health advocates and survivors who are trying to find our way through recovery.I think we've finally nailed down a proper episode numbering system for these "shows within a show" that the 3 of us are doing. So this one is officially, Season 2, Ep. 3...at least that's what I'm calling it.Anyways, just in case you aren’t familiar with the Megacasts, you can check out past episodes here, and also on cohorts platforms as well….To that end, the Megacast is creation of the collaborative brain powers (more or less) of Wes from AudioRising.com and Mike from MikesOpenJournal.com, and myself. I encourage you to check out and follow them online and through your favorite podcasting platform. Each of these has a tremendous message to share and an inspiring and unique way in how they go about it.In this episode, we talk about how doing not only the Megacast, but also our own individual shows, has influenced our journey of healing. How has talking about mental health encouraged us, challenged us, and forced us to confront some things about ourselves that we never thought we would have. We share the education aspect of doing these shows, as well as the humor; the challenges and the rewards. We also do a bit of catching up, and organically dive into the topic of a fear of failure, not only podcasting but in advocacy, and in our personal lives. The doubts and fears can be very powerful, and if we aren't careful can keep us treading water instead of moving forward.We also....wait for it...actually deciding on a new approach to figuring out what to talk about on these collaborative shows. If you're a regular listener you know that we also mention our struggles with time, and trying to figure out a topic to discuss. To be honest it's not much of a struggle, it's just become something we joke about more than anything else, but at the same time the beauty of this collaboration is that once we start talking, subjects just come up and we run with it. So instead of trying to figure out a gameplan for the next show, we're just going to let it unfold naturally and see where each one takes us...rest assured whatever we discuss it will be with our own unique flair and about mental health.We hope you enjoy this latest episode, and yes if you do have suggestions for future shows, we are still taking them. ;)Be sure and follow Wes on Twitter @WesA1966 and Mike @Mike_Douglas_ & Open_Journal_ …oh and don’t forget to follow and subscribe to all of our shows on your favorite podcasting app!-Matt Pappas, CLC, CPNLP All conversation and information exchanged during participation the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Trauma survivors have literally experienced first hand what many could not even comprehend. A past filled with abusive parents and caregivers, toxic family members and friends, and a childhood full of secrets that, when told, can make your hair on the back of you neck stand up on end! It's a past that none would wish for, yet is more common than we realize. Chances are if are reading this or listening to the podcast, you know someone who is a survivor, or perhaps you are one yourself.What about a different type of trauma though, one where you don't need to experience first-hand, in order to feel its effects. I'm talking about intergenerational trauma, and I'm honored to be talking with expert, author, and coach, Emily Wanderer Cohen about this very subject.Over the 2 years or so that I have been recording this podcast, I've covered many different types of trauma, modalities of treatment and healing, and talked with incredible survivors who have overcome tremendous odds and now share their story to help inspire others. This is the first time I've covered intergenerational trauma, and I learned quite a bit from talking with Emily.Emily Wanderer Cohen is a two-time international bestselling author, speaker, coach, and intergenerational trauma expert.A second-generation (2G) Holocaust survivor, she knows what it feels like to live with transmitted trauma and helps her clients, including second- and third-generation Holocaust survivors; sexual, spousal, and child abuse survivors; and other genocide, natural disaster, and other severe trauma survivors heal from the trauma, move forward with their lives, and stop the cycle of intergenerational trauma.So what exactly is intergenerational trauma is (also referred to as inherited trauma or transgenerational trauma)? As Emily explains, it's described as effects of trauma that the sufferer did not experience first hand. She dives deeper into that explanation during our chat, as well as:Does it only affect descendants of Holocaust survivors or others as well?What are some of the common signs of intergenerational trauma?How can someone stop the cycle of transmission?How do we know it’s real? Are there any scientific studies that you can point to?Emily also shares case studies and information on how those who have experienced this type of trauma often have lower cortisol levels, and therefore can be less equipped to handle this or any other type of trauma than someone who has normal cortisol levels. Intergenerational trauma survivors also have an increased likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease and trauma based chronic illnesses such as Lupus, Fibromyalgia, and more.We cover these topics and more as Emily Wanderer Cohen gives us insight into a type of trauma that can begin to manifest itself without the survivor ever even considering the possibility of its existence in their life.I encourage you to listen to the podcast and do some additional research, including checking out both of Emily's international best selling books: From Generation to Generation, and The Daughter's Dilemma.You can follow Emily Wanderer Cohen on Twitter, Facebook, and her website, TraumaHealingCoach.comI hope you'll consider sharing this podcast on your social media, and maybe even subscribing and leaving a review on your favorite podcasting app! I would definitely appreciate it.-Matthew Pappas, CLC, MPNLP All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is iSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

As fate would have it, divine intervention, or just total coincidence (not that I believe in coincidences), recently on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, I've been talking with guests surrounding the area of men's mental health. Being a guy myself, it's not like I haven't covered this topic before on the show, however given recent events politically and socially, I'm glad that these recent episodes are helping to shine light on the male side of mental health and being a survivor of trauma. We are truly all in this together, regardless of gender, and the more we continue to bring this out into the open, the more we chip away at the stigma and shame of reaching out for help. In episode 89, I talked with Andrea Schneider LCSW about overcoming shame, feeling alienated in regards to the #metoo movement, and reaching out for professional help as a male survivor of trauma.  My guest here on episode 90, fellow podcaster, advocate for men's mental health, and friend Al Levin. "I’m an assistant principal in a public elementary school.  I’ve been in education for nearly twenty years.  I’m married and have four children. I’ve recently completed all of the coursework in working towards a Co-Active coaching certificate through the Coaches Training Institute.  The coaching work has allowed me to support the staff I work with in the public schools, as well as others who are seeking support in reaching their goals or working past challenging times in their lives. I am also a person who has recovered from a major depressive disorder, an illness that was quite debilitating for nearly six months of my life.  Through this experience, I have become very passionate about learning more about mental health and supporting others with a mental illness, particularly men with depression. In addition to this blog, I speak publicly for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and I tweet @allevin18." Al's podcast, The Depression Files, and his advocacy work focuses primarily on men's mental health and specifically with depression, along with encouraging men to open up and seek help when their depression reaches a level where thoughts of suicide begin to surface. Al Levin himself was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and knows first hand what's like to wake up in the middle of night contemplating ways to take his life, feeling like a burden on his family and society, and living life completely consumed by depression. His website, also outlines more of his story of "how everything seemed to be going well, yet everything seemed to come crashing down."  Which is precisely the topic of our conversation on the podcast. I wanted to chat with Al because his story is one that so many men and women today can relate too. A guy who's life was seemingly humming along; good job, hard work paying off with a new promotion, loving wife and family, good friends, yet something lurking in the background and beginning to surface that he didn't expect. During the podcast you'll learn how: In 2010, Al received the promotion he had been working so hard towards, but once he took on the new responsibilities, everything began to change and his was slowly but surely being turned upside down. The stresses of late hours, budget constraints, managing staff, and oversized classes began to take its toll. He was running on adrenaline more often than not, not sleeping well or eating properly,  and not communicating with his wife, family, and friends. How those events translated into seeking help from his family doctor and starting on medications to help with a new diagnosis of depression. As things began to continue spiraling down, affecting his job, family, and friendships, thoughts of suicide began to surface. How waking up in the middle of the night after dreaming of ways to take Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

For all of the progress that has been made in recent years in the area of men's mental health, or male mental health; it's still a subject that can yield a variety of responses based on not only who you talk too, but also the current social media and political climate as well. I can remember back when I was I was in school, (and no the 1980's weren't all THAT long ago) the subject of mental health in general was not something you heard much about, and even less in the area of men's mental health. We didn't have bullying prevention rally's in school, sex education was a 1 semester class in your senior year, and intro to psychology was class you took to study the reactions of other classmates when you asked them certain types of questions. Nowadays, mental health is all over social media, commercials on TV and radio, there are podcasts devoted to all aspects of it, incredible advocacy groups who share knowledge and help inspire change,  and overall the exposure that this previously ignored and taboo topic is getting is encouraging. So why is it then, that for all of that positive movement, there are still so many that feel ashamed to talk about it with a doctor or therapist, much less discuss it around the campfire or weekend cookout? My point is, to reiterate that while we have come a long way, there is still so much work to be done. So much stigma and shame to expose in the area of men's mental health.  I feel it's important to mention that I am by no means minimizing the important of mental health in women, but for the purposes of this podcast with Andrea Schneider, we'll focus more on the male challenges of this topic. Andrea Schneider, MSW, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice in San Dimas, CA. She received her MSW from University of Michigan (the top ranked social work program in the country) and her B.A. in Psychology from UCLA (#2 in the country).  During her 20+ year career, Andrea has counseled thousands of individuals and families covering a broad range of issues and challenges, developing specialties in maternal wellness, narcissistic abuse recovery, special needs parenting, and  grief/loss.  Andrea is EMDR trained, a modality which helps clients dealing with a wide range of concerns in trauma recovery, including PTSD, complex-PTSD, relational trauma, depression, anxiety, grief and loss. She also has experience in helping children and families deal with loss and trauma issues. Not only is she trained in EMDR, but during her Master’s program, Andrea interned at a hospice agency and trained under an art/play therapy program. She uses art intervention in her treatment with both children and adults, and has a Trauma-Informed Expressive Arts Therapy Credential from the Trauma-Informed Practices and Expressive Arts Therapy Institute.  Andrea is also a fellow podcaster on the Mental Health News Radio Network, where you can find her show, The Savvy Shrink. During our chat on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, we discuss some areas surrounding men's mental health including: The man card, and tough guy image that follows males regardless of background Building the trauma language, emotional language, and confidence in opening up to others How men are getting more confident in reaching out, yet still feel ashamed and self-conscious How much political climate and social media affect our confidence in talking about mental health, and how much we share. Bullying and mental health, and the changes from decades ago and now in 2018. Men and the #MeToo movement, including the feelings of alienation that are present even with all of the exposure. Andrea Schneider and I dive more into each of those topics and hopefully shed some light on not only men's mental health, but the importance of reaching oSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Healing and Transformation, something most of us have likely heard about in one form or another. Perhaps it's in regards to mending a broken heart, transforming negative mindsets, or a shift in the way we feel about ourselves in everyday life. When we're talking about healing from trauma, it's all of those ideas and more. When you are working through something that has negatively affected your life on a level that perhaps you don't even fully comprehend yet, your core beliefs are shaken and many times completely twisted so much that you don't even remember who you once were. Or, you have very little idea, if any at all, of being any other way than what you've been groomed to believe and accept. Changing those negative core beliefs is an essential part of healing, and if we're being honest, it's vital to our healing. If we don't learn to transform the very way that we see ourselves in all aspects of life; healing becomes exponentially more difficult. Essentially we are fighting to change something that we aren't willing to or don't know how to change, because it's been so ingrained into our minds over years, decades even. My guest on the podcast today, Christy Maxey, talks about the importance of changing negative core beliefs with 3 key components of healing and transformation. Christy Maxey, MC, LPC, is based out of Arizona, and works with clients locally and virtually in the areas of depression, anxiety, relationships, trauma, self-esteem issues, divorce, and PTSD. She has also branched out into personal development coaching, which you can read more about on her website.  Christy utilizes a method she created and developed, called the Maxx Method, which helps manage emotions, identify the inner critic and find ways to change negative core beliefs, solve the wounds that keep you stuck, give yourself permission to dream and learn how to take action now on your own behalf. You can learn more about her Maxx Method by clicking here. During our chat on the podcast, Christy talks further about the essential components of healing: Awareness Acceptance Self-Compassion As you listen to Christy share about these 3 key areas, you'll learn not only the importance of each and why, but ways that you can implement them into your life. After all, it's good to know about something but it's even more important to learn how to do it. In addition to those key components, we also chat about topics including: The 3 areas that we are all driven by in daily life and in healing Why we can get stuck in one or more of those areas More on the negative core beliefs and how to change them How we judge ourselves, and why that makes it uncomfortable to revisit feelings and events of the past How we are all born valuable, but along the way in life we learn to devalue ourselves There's so much more I could tell you, but hey I don't want to spoil the podcast for ya before you even listen to it, so why not click that play button right here in this post, or listen on your favorite podcasting app and learn more about Christy's work in counseling and coaching, and about the importance of changing our negative core beliefs in order to heal. Don't forget to follow Christy Maxey on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin as well as her website, MaxxMethod.com - Matthew Pappas, CLC, CPNLP All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providersSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Living life day in and day out, as someone who has experienced extreme hardship in areas such as loss, childhood trauma, addiction, eating disorders, and more, is hard enough as it is, but to speak about it publicly as you continue to face your past each day can be even more difficult. After all this is something that we'd probably rather push down into a dark corner of our mind, and never think about again. It's often a source that still has open wounds which are decades old, some of which still feel as fresh as the day they happened. Others, well the scars are there to remind us of what we experienced. Either way, those things that we'd rather forget, can be a source of motivation and encouragement, both for us and for those whom we influence each day, knowingly or otherwise. Charlotte Underwood is an advocate, author, and freelance writer who's dedicated her life to talking about areas of personal struggle in hopes of helping others and instituting the change that she feels is so desperately needed. Her content includes topics including: Anxiety & Depression, Self-Harm, Suicide Loss and Suicidal Ideations, Eating Disorders, Bullying, and more. Bringing her on as my guest for this episode of the Beyond Your Past Podcast, is something I have been looking forward ever since I came across her profile on Instagram and began following her work. As she outlines on her website, CharlotteUnderwoodAuthor.com :  I’m Charlotte Underwood, a young 22-year-old from Norfolk, UK. I am a growing mental health advocate and like to use writing to inform and support. On this blog you can keep up to date with my written work, both self published and through other means. I post a lot about mental health, depression, anxiety and suicide. I want to raise awareness as well as end the stigma. I have been writing professionally for a year now but don’t let that put you off, for though it seems like I have little experience, that is not that case. I have written two E-Books and run my own growing and successful blog, soon I even hope to break my poetry out into the world! I have written over 100 Guest posts, ...and have worked for The Metro, TalkSpace, Young Minds and The Content Wolf. My content is focused on mental health and lifestyle, you can expect candid and thought-provoking content from me. During my chat with Charlotte, you'll learn: When she first felt like something was wrong in her life. What it's been like for her living with a mental illness How her recovery continues to progress Ways that she manages daily life with her mental illness What being an advocate means to her, and why sharing from personal experience is so important. Seeking out mental health assistance in the U.K.; including her personal challenges and ways that she's working to help change that process. Charlotte speaks very candidly, with a perspective that is well beyond her age. Indeed, she's lived through some tremendous adversity, including losing her father to suicide and surviving her own attempt. Her honesty and drive to help others and bring about awareness and inspire change, is inspiring. There's much more I could share about my chat with Charlotte Underwood, but rather than me writing about it, how about I just turn it over to my podcast with Charlotte, and let you find out for yourself :). Please consider following Charlotte on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, where she is very active on a daily basis. Her blog is a great follow as well, and her two eBooks are available for download on her website. Thanks again Charlotte for joining on the podcast, I'm honored to know you and to help share your message! -Matthew Pappas, CLC, CPNLP All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past PodcasSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Living with a mental health challenge of any type, often means that you go through many stages of exploration until you reach a true diagnosis that will allow you and your helping professional to put a plan in place of the proper treatment and self-care routine. Initially these types of changes in our mental health can often lead to having more questions than answers, but in time the new insight gained can be invaluable to our recovery. My guest on this episode of the Beyond Your Past Podcast, John Dickson, lived with Major Depressive Disorder for 40 years, before being officially diagnosed. As he shares on his blog, The3inMe.ga, ...Over the majority of that period, my illness was undiagnosed and untreated. It’s only in hindsight that I can see that I’ve experienced many depressive episodes. Each episode was both darker and longer in duration than its predecessor. The most severe episode culminated in a suicide attempt in September 2014. It was after this attempt that I was diagnosed as having Major Depressive Disorder. More recently I’ve been diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder. Bipolar II Disorder differs from Bipolar Disorder in having a hypomanic state rather than a manic state. Hypomanic simply means less manic. I’m still coming to terms with this new diagnosis and don’t yet fully understand it. I’ll share what I learn in this blog. Depression is the silent killer. This is true especially, among men. Men remain silent and steadfast while they suffer. I was one of those men. I suffered in silence until I succumbed. This lesson has taught me to speak out about the dangers of silence and in this blog, I speak out. I also have a son and family who I love very much. This blog is for them. Here they can see for themselves that I’m recovering. John and I first met at the HealtheVoices 2018 Conference, in Chicago. We struck up a friendship there and have kept in touch since that event. You can listen to some thoughts that I had about the conference on a special edition podcast that I recorded this past spring.  During the podcast, we cover topics including: Why John is so open about sharing his mental health struggles. More about the events that lead to an attempt in taking his own life in September, 2014. How those events lead him into not only his blog writing but advocacy work. Talking specifically with your therapist or counselor about specific diagnosis treatments and options. How his life has changed since the events in 2014, including the new diagnosis of Bipolar II disorder and learning to understand what it means for him, including the hypomanic states that come along with it. Be sure and check out his blog, The3inMe.ga , as he writes weekly about his journey of understanding and healing, both past and present. John's message is one of vulnerable insight... an expression of hope, a declaration of love and a celebration of a life reclaimed. Ultimately, it’s my letter to my son, my apology and my promise. You can follow John on Twitter @Zelandroid009 If you haven't done so yet, please consider subscribing to the podcast, to get notified when I release new episodes each week! I'd sure be stoked to have you on this journey of inspiring others with the power of sharing their stories. -Matthew Pappas, CLC, CPNLP All conversation and information exchanged during participation the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

My guest on this episode of the Beyond Your Past Podcast is Photographer, Digital Artist, Blogger, and Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist, Rob Goldstein. He is also a former guest blogger on Surviving My Past, where he shared some of his story in a post titled, "Life with DID where everything is a trigger". That post has been incredibly helpful and validating for so many who live with dissociative identity disorder, or those who have a loved one who lives with DID. As outlined on his blog, Rob writes: I’m a Certified Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist who became symptomatic with a dissociative disorder in 2010. When I started this blog in late 2013, it was to advocate for myself and other people with trauma related mental health problems. I wrote in my first profile statement that as I evolved the blog would evolve and over time, I learned about photography, digital art and I rediscovered my writing. I call the blog Art by Rob Goldstein but I can just as easily call it life by Rob Goldstein. This is my life as I live it, evolve, process its history, and prepare for an uncertain future. My life is my work and my work is my art. Art by Rob Goldstein is an expression of my emotional and intellectual evolution and an ongoing journal of my psychotherapy. I’m blunt, passionate in my beliefs, and willing to state my mind. If an honest exchange of ideas is what you want you’ve found the right place.  During my recent chat with Rob, we dive into more of his life leading up to getting the true diagnosis of having DID. As you'll hear him describe so eloquently and in detail, there were so many things going on in his life that just didn't add up; people were saying things like, "you aren't the Rob that I knew before". He knew that things going on in his mind and in life were fragmented, but hearing things like that was devastating to him. After all, he'd been living his life for decades knowing that something was going on, but wasn't able to put it all together with a true diagnosis from a professional who understood dissociative identity disorder and was able to get him a proper diagnosis much later on in life. As Rob points out, what drove him to seek the help of a psychiatrist was the realization that his alters had a constant desire to log into virtual reality to have their own lives. This became such a pathological routine that it was consuming all of his time and finally something had to give. Our conversation continues with his experiences in life, 6 months after his psychiatrist referred him to a therapist that specialized in DID. However, it wasn't until about a year and half later, that he finally called and made and appointment with that therapist, because he didn't want to accept that he could have something like dissociative identity disorder, and due to his research, finding out that DID is often caused by sexual trauma. Quite simply, the thought of it all was overwhelming and something he just didn't want to deal with. Rob continues to share more of his story: How things finally started to make sense since he began receiving the help he so desperately needed. He also discusses the challenges of his relationships, and how the evolution of healthy boundaries in all aspects of his relationships was life changing for him and his recovery. You'll learn how something like VR, that was completely taking over his life and becoming nearly toxic to his well being, is now something he is using to help others and himself along his journey. We discuss his view on how DID has truly been a gift for him, as he's lived through all of the challenges in his life to date. There is so much more I could tell you, but I don't want to miss out on this amazing conversation, so I definitely encourage you to check out my podcast witSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

When you've been married for 17 years, you can certainly say that you've seen your share of struggles and triumphs, ups and downs, good times and rough times. Even more, through all of those experiences you can most definitely say that you are dedicated to each other and your relationship. It's that kind of dedication that can help carry you through the challenges that come with mental illness, and also help you celebrate each and ever win in your relationship and advocacy work. That's especially true with my guests on this episode of the Beyond Your Past Podcast, Beka and Joe Lombardo. I first came to know Beka a few years back when I started Surviving My Past, and she offered to be a guest blogger, and share some insight in the area of body image and bullying. Since then we've kept in touch and supported each other's work while building a friendship and mutual respect for the struggles of living with mental health challenges. Beka is a blogger for The Mighty, and an author of her own book, It's Not Your Journey, the true story of one woman that fights a battle inside her mind every single day and attempts to document what she is feeling to help others while she helps herself.  Her ongoing battle is not fought alone, her incredible husband Joe is there with her every step of the way as they navigate daily life in the wake of a troubled past. Their never ending desire to help others is forged not only in blogging and her book, but also with their podcast, Voices for Change 2.0, which I had the pleasure of being a guest on previously. During my recent chat with Beka and Joe, we talk primarily about their relationship and the unique challenges that come with being a suicide attempt survivor and having a mental illness: Did Rebecca explain her mental health struggles before you started a relationship? You’ve been married for nearly 17 years despite the difficulties mental illness brings. What advice do you have for someone entering a relationship with someone with mental illness? The effect that Beka's suicide attempt had on Joe and how he's been able to support her as well as making sure to take care of himself. How and why they started the #KeepTalkingMH hashtag and what it's meant for them and so many who use it on social media. Thanks so much to both Beka and Joe for joining me on the show, and being so open about their struggles so that others can benefit and realize that no matter what they endure, there is hope and that they are surely not alone.  Be sure and check out RebeccaLombardo.com for information about their advocacy work, her book, and the podcast.  Oh, and if you are looking for a guitar teacher, Joe teaches on the weekends and just might be looking for some new students! Please consider subscribing and leaving a review on your favorite podcasting app, I would definitely appreciate it,  and thank you to my incredible sponsors, iNLPCenter.org and Daily Recovery Support. -Matthew Pappas, CLC, CPNLP All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Welcome back to our self-proclaimed, Mental Health Megacast, a semi-regular round table discussion with 3 mental health advocates and survivors who are trying to find our way through recovery. There is some debate as to which episode we are actually on with this particular series, and we've covered that fiasco in previous episodes, so whether or not it's actually episode 82, or episode 9 in the series...well who knows! Anyways, just in case you aren’t familiar with the Megacasts, you can check out past episodes here, and also on cohorts platforms as well…. To that end, the Megacast is creation of the collaborative brain powers (more or less) of Wes from AudioRising.com and Mike from MikesOpenJournal.com, and myself.  I encourage you to check out and follow them online and through your favorite podcasting platform. Each of these has a tremendous message to share and an inspiring and unique way in how they go about it. In this episode, we do a bit of catching up before diving into some more specific topics. As you’ll see, we have a lot of fun and regardless of the between shows, we’re able to pick up where we left off. That’s the beauty of this collaboration, not only is it a mutual respect and admiration for each others work asadvocates, but also the struggle and subsequent resiliency that comes with battling our own pasts. The topic of this episode is one that we've been wanting to cover for quite awhile now, and as luck would have it, and a bit of good timing, we were able to pull together a time to meet to dive into our views on faith and religion and how believing in God, or a higher power, can influence your mental health and specifically your area of struggle; be it addiction recovery, depression, self-harm, trauma survivor, etc. We each have somewhat differing views, but the great thing is,  we chat and debate a bit in way that not only ends up being informative and a humorous, but also so that none of us ever feels like our view is less than the others.  As Wes points out, we can chat and nobody feels like they have to win! To that end, we hope you enjoy this latest episode as we cover this difficult and controversial topic, and if you have suggestions for future shows, please contact us and let us know...but whatever you do, please don't mention the time! ;) Be sure and follow Wes on Twitter @WesA1966 and Mike @Mike_Douglas_ & Open_Journal_  …oh and don’t forget to follow and subscribe to all of our shows on your favorite podcasting app! -Matt Pappas, CLC, CPNLP All conversation and information exchanged during participation the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Every now and then I have the opportunity to chat with a former guest blogger on Surviving My Past, and when I get that opportunity it's always an incredible experience. Not everyone is ready to, or enjoys sharing their story on a podcast, and that's okay. The main thing is that when you are at a point of being able to use your experiences to help others, while continuing to aid your own recovery journey, you do so in a way that feels congruent with you and in line with your values. This episode of the podcast is just such one of those opportunities to chat with a former guest blogger and share more about his story, hearing it in his own voice. Jason Miller, of BipolarisBeautiful.com and @CostlyLoveWins on Twitter joins me for an incredibly moving chat about his life. His submission on the blog, "A Bipolar Life: He spent years making mud pies in a slum, but no more!" was vulnerable and honest as he shares many of the struggles he's endured, in a way that makes you want to keep reading to find out how it all turns out and how he made it through such trauma.  As with so many survivors, you may find yourself not only saddened by their experiences, but cheering them on as they begin to pull themselves out of the depths and into a new world of healing and awareness. On his blog, Jason describes himself as: a grizzled veteran of the roller coaster of this deadly illness, I (barely) survived it for 43 years. But today, I live with it (bipolar disorder). Perpetually on the edge of that cliff of mania or depression, but with the joy and peace of that boy feeding the gentle giraffe. I hope to help you learn how to do the same. It may take years of diligent effort, but if you want a life instead of a miserable existence, the support networks, tools, medications, recovery angels in skin, and spiritual miracles are all there. Throughout our conversation, Jason shares more indepth about some of the struggles in his life in the areas of Living with Bipolar Disorder, Mania, Addiction to Pornography and Alcohol, a traumatic accident at work which left him with severe burns,  as well as these following topics: To what do you attribute your getting into recovery and what tools do you use to stay there? What has been most beneficial to your recovery? Besides working on your own recovery, what do you do within the mental health and addiction community? What are your thoughts on the stigma surrounding mental illness and addiction? What are your thoughts on our broken mental health care system? As you listen to Jason talk, don't be surprised if you find yourself hanging on each word as you hear him recount struggle after struggle, starting over again and again, until finally coming to a place where he could seek out help, surround himself with safe people, and embrace acceptance along his life long journey of healing. Thank you again Jason for coming on the podcast, your story is undoubtedly helping so many and I'm honored to help share your story. Don't forget to check out Jason's post on Surviving My Past, and we hope you'll consider sharing his podcast with those who you feel might benefit from his story. Oh, and don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcasting app, I'd surely appreciate it! Special thanks to my sponsors, iNLPCenter.org and Daily Recovery Support.  If you'd like to be a guest on an upcoming episode of the podcast, just contact me anytime! Matthew Pappas, CLC, CPNLP All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relatioSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

This episode focuses on a topic that I have not yet covered on the blog or podcast to date; autism and being a survivor. So when Kelli Gettel contacted me and wanted to share her story of living with Autism, PTSD, Narcolepsy, and being raised by a Narcissistic parent, I knew this was going to be an episode that would be as educational as much as it will be inspiring. Kelli is an entrepreneur living in the central Pennsylvania area, and a parent of 3 children, including a 4 yr old who also was diagnosed with autism. As you'll hear on the podcast, Kelli has overcome tremendous odds in her life, as so many survivors do, and wants to help others understand life with the challenges she faces. By doing so she wants to educate others that these are not reasons to stay silent, isolated, and living in fear or shame. Rather, by utilizing the power of research and learning about your situation, you can find ways to adapt and overcome, and reach others with a positive, stigma fighting message. Some of her challenges we discuss on the show include: Life as a female, living on the autism spectrum; including when she was diagnosed, the struggles of non-verbal communication with others. How Narcolepsy affects her relationships, and how Narcolepsy can be a form of Dissociation. Sensory Struggles; the challenges of not being able to filter out surrounding sounds and distractions to be able to focus on a single event or conversation. Social Rules & Protocols - how she had to, and continues to learn how to interact in a social setting. Things that come natural to others have to be learned and adjusted too, which can cause struggles in relationships of all types. Her ability to think in pictures; in her mind she sees life in the form of pictures and moving images, so trying to translate that into words and communicate her thoughts can be a huge challenge. We also touch a bit on her life growing up with a parent who had narcissistic tendencies, and how she's learning more about understanding her alters and using the IFS model to help. As you'll also hear how Kelli is so proud of her youngest son, who, diagnosed with autism, taught himself to read before the age of two and is a huge Beatles fan, knowing every song they've ever written and nearly everything about the band. Which also leads into our chat about some of the things that she wants to share about how she's adapting to the daily struggles that multiple diagnoses can bring: Education has been so important to Kelli; especially reading books to help understand what she's experiencing, and make sense of the challenges in her life. She shares some of the books that she has found especially helpful; some of which you might recognize: The Body Keeps the Score - Bessel van der Kolk Neuro Tribes, The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity - Steve Silberman Boundaries - John Townsend & Henry Cloud In Sheep's Clothing - George K. Simon This was such an incredible podcast, and as you'll hear there was no way we could fit in everything that Kelli wanted to share, in just one show. So be on the lookout for future episodes with Kelli as we dive a bit deeper into particular areas of her life. If you'd like to connect with Kelli Gettel, you can reach her on Facebook. If you would like connect with her, she requests that you please be sure and let her know that you found her via the Beyond Your Past Podcast. Thank you again Kelli for joining me! Your story is inspiring, your resiliency is amazing! I look forward to future shows with you. Matthew Pappas, CLC, CPNLP Thank you to my incredible sponsors of the podcast - iNLPCenter.org and Daily Recovery Support All conversation and information exchanged on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

I'm so honored to welcome back returning guest, Julie Coons, to this episode of the Beyond Your Past Podcast. Julie first joined me back in October 2017, to discuss her upcoming book at the time, This Does Not Leave This House. That was an incredible show, and the first time that I was introduced to Julie, and learned more about her amazing and heart wrenching story of being a survivor.  Julie tells us that the inspiration for the title of her book, “This does not leave this house”, comes from being raised in a family where she was told regularly by her father, "what goes on in this house, stays in this house, it was their family secret and nobody’s business but theirs." As outlined on JulieCoons.com -  Raised by an abusive, narcissistic mother (who once tried to trick her into having an abortion), Julie Coons was also raped in college by a stranger and later married an abusive man who threatened to kill her if she ever tried to leave. Suffering from physical and mental torment resulting in very low self-esteem, Julie often felt so completely alone during the many struggles of her life that she tried to take her own life. This book is her true story—telling all the secrets she was never allowed to tell to encourage and motivate others to heal their own lives and break the cycle of abuse. Her story shows that there is hope and life after abuse. Now that the secrets are finally out, Julie has found freedom. So can you. This Does Not Leave This House is a raw, poignant, and secret-revealing memoir written to lead a movement to break the silence of abuse and finally end its vicious cycle. With strength and resiliency, Coons provides a voice for the silent abused, letting them know they’re not alone. Justice and hope can prevail. The abused can become victorious. Read the heartbreaking true story of her journey to triumph above overwhelming obstacles. I wanted to bring her back to see how things have been going since the release of her book, and discuss more of how her life has changed, the struggles she's faced and the trials that she's overcome and used as a learning experience throughout the process. As you listen to our chat, we'll discuss many topics, including: Expecting backlash from her family, and what it was like to not get any at all.  The response of her friends who offered her incredible support and validation. The struggles of being an author and a survivor of childhood trauma, including the memories that resurface while writing.  How writing a book is not necessarily as cathartic as you might think at the time, and in fact can be retraumatizing as old memories resurface and new ones come to light. Dealing with reviews and comments, both positive and negative, and the struggles of not letting those define her or invalidate her story.  Updates on the situation with her mother and where she is now with those challenges.  Her new work of fiction, titled "Why She Lied", is in the works, and Julie shares how that book is coming along and why she's writing it.  All this and much more on this episode of the podcast is waiting for you, so grab those headphones or plug us into your car and join me as I chat with Julie.  I encourage you to check out JulieCoons.com for more information on her story, a link to buy the book on Amazon, and to sign up for her newsletter so you can stay in the know as she progresses on her new book.   Oh, and don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review on your favorite podcasting app...that would be so awesome and I'd sure appreciate it! Special Thanks to my Incredible Sponsors - inlpcenter.org - offering world-class online NLP and life coach training to people in over 70 countries. And to Daily Recovery Support....interactive, daily Group calls in a safe atmSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

On this episode of the podcast, I'm talking with returning guest Erika Reva, of The We in Me. I first met Erika through Twitter, and I reached out to see if she might be interested in writing a guest blog post for Surviving My Past. To this day, that post is still one of the highest viewed pieces of content on the blog, which speaks not only to her ability as a blogger, but her genuine desire to share her story, continue her healing journey, and also help others who live with DID. Since then she has joined me on the podcast, and we've remained in contact through social media and periodic emails following each other's journey. After one such recent email exchange, I learned of a new program she had created, called Living DID. After hearing more about it, I knew I wanted to see if she'd be interested in coming back on Beyond Your Past, to share with us how this program came to be, what it's about, and the feedback she's received from participants who've taken it. As Erika outlines: The feedback has been wonderful and many others with DID & trauma disorders have contributed their stories and journey’s for us to share as various examples throughout the discussion based course. Each week we delve into detailed discussion based lectures that pertain to various topics on DID.  Week 1- intro to us (The We in Me) and the course. Week 2-  Protectors, these parts that are often demonized and feared will be discussed Week 3- Triggers Week 4- Littles, the young traumatized parts that are protected and hidden Week 5- The problems with Docs. Week 6- Therapy, an in depth look on what therapy can/does look like for someone with DID and as the psychologists ways to best help them. Week 7- Relationships & Closing Focus this final week will be on relationships within the system, people such as romantic or friend type relationships as well as the correlation of BDSM & the trauma community that is vastly overlooked. As you'll hear, Erika has fostered collaborative relationships with her local NAMI chapter, and the Chicago Police Department to help educate first responders on how they can prepare for and have a better understanding of, the challenges of walking into a situation involving victims of trauma and those living with DID.  She's also been invited to speak at an event sponsored by #SickNotWeak, not-for-profit corporation started by Michael Landsberg. It's always such a pleasure to talk with Erika, and to discuss Dissociative Identity Disorder with her and others who live with it and have decided to take their story and use it to try to help others. The more light we can share on this topic, the more we continue to educate ourselves and those who are affected with DID. Be sure and follow Erika and her work with Living DID on , TheWeInMe.com - and follow her on Twitter and Instagram @TheWeInMe. Oh, and don't forget to subscribe to Beyond Your Past on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting app! :)  Matthew Pappas All conversation and information exchanged on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

My guest on this episode of the Beyond Your Past Podcast, Lisa Tobe, talks about her struggles with being diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and Complex Trauma. Lisa is a Executive Director of Wildflower Consulting, LLC. - partnering with clients to design, facilitate, and evaluate policy, system, and environmental strategies that improve public health. During our chat, we discuss topics including: The challenges she faced in getting the diagnosed at 27 years old, and the years leading up to the diagnosis that included a hospital stay. The depressions, and suicidal thoughts that plagued her for years before she was able to get a proper diagnosis. Triggers and Flashbacks associated with PTSD and Complex PTSD. How writing helped facilitate healing and understanding of her alters. The power of sharing stories with yourself on a clinical level. Her memoir and starting a non-profit to help women who have survived all types of violence. I always find it so amazing that during a simple conversation on a podcast, you realize you have so much in common with someone. This show with Lisa was no different, especially when she talks about learning about her particular type of DID and how similar that is to Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (DDNOS), which is what I am recovering from. There is safety and validation among survivors and those who get what it means to live daily life with these types of challenges. It's a testament not only to the resilience of the human spirit, but the willingness to reach out and share and help others who struggle. Thank you again Lisa for coming onto the show, I look forward to talking with you again once your book is published. If you'd like to learn more about Lisa, her story, or about her non profit for women survivors of violence, you can email her at lisatobe.consulting at gmail.com or at Wildflowerllc.org I hope you'll consider leaving a review and rating Beyond Your Past on iTunes, Google Play, iHeartRadio, or your favorite podcasting app!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

My guest on this episode of the Beyond Your Past Podcast, Sarah Jane, embodies the dedication, determination, resiliency, and creativity that we can all appreciate. Even for those of us who aren't artistically gifted, seeing someone like Sarah Jane use her talents to help bring hope and encouragement to other survivors, is remarkable. Sarah first reached out to me after seeing a tweet that I made, looking for podcast guests, and after conversing with her through email and checking out her website, I knew I wanted to bring her on as a guest to the show. Anytime I can help someone share their story, it reminds me of the people early on in my journey that helped give me a voice. I know how powerful doing that is, how much healing can come from opening up in a vulnerable way. Sarah Jane is the founder and creator of Mere Objects, an ongoing participatory artwork honoring people who have experienced sexual violence. Her dedication to giving hope and validation to other survivors, using her own talents and gifts in a selfless way, is inspiring to not only myself but to all who take part in Mere Objects. As she writes on her website: The world around me inspires both intense curiosity and profound reverence. My creative responses include site-specific and collaborative works as well as sculptural pieces and mosaics. I am particularly interested in creating art that speaks across cultural, religious, or economic differences. I’ve worked as a university professor, art program manager, and gallery coordinator. I currently live and work at the Grünewald Guild, an intentional arts community in the Cascade Mountains of Washington state. During our chat, we talk about topics such as: Her own history in an abusive relationship, including experiences of sexual violence, financial abuse, gaslighting, being denied medical care, and being a rape survivor. Ways her family & friends inadvertently pressured her to stay in that relationship by placing them on a pedestal as the “perfect couple” and refusing to believe her when I began to reveal the abuse. How church leaders pressured her to stay by emphasizing a narrative of “marriage is hard” and the importance of wives submitting to their husbands. How her friends and current partner have come alongside her in her healing with incredibly faithful presence, patience, kindness, compassion, and generosity. How that healing gave birth to a participatory art piece, Mere Objects, that offers space for others to tell their stories, and to bear witness for one another. What she's learned in the past 18+ months of working on Mere Objects: the astonishing number and diversity of people affected by sexual violence, the depth of our wounds and the fierceness of our resilience, and the incredible healing power of truth-telling and bearing witness. Check out the full writeup on my chat with Sarah Jane, over on http://beyondyourpastradio.com/?p=694&preview=true If you'd like to learn more about Sarah Jane and Mere Objects, please check out MereObjects.org , and follow her on Twitter and Facebook. -Matthew Pappas This podcast is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, or mental health counseling or therapy.  Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Kelly Aiello joins me for a chat about these very topics; living with Bipolar Disorder, being a Mental Health advocate,  and the importance of "telling it like it is" when it comes to living with mental illness. Kelly is a contributor for The Mighty as well as blogger, student, wife, artist and activist. She writes primarily about mental health issues and has currently returned to school to study neuropsychology. She has bipolar type I disorder and borderline personality disorder, and lives with her husband and way too many cats in Toronto, Canada. You can learn more about her by visiting KellyJAiello.ca , including her upcoming novel and maybe send her a message and find out just how many cats she has :)  I originally connected with Kelly on a roundtable discussion coordinated by our mutual friend, author, and advocate Rebecca Lombardo.  After that talk, I knew that I wanted to bring her onto the Beyond Your Past Podcast, to learn more about her life and advocacy work. Kelly shares openly about her life and struggles with Bipolar Disorder, and paints the picture in a very real, authentic way. She talks about the particular spectrum, or level, that she lives with and also the difficulty that she experienced in finally getting the proper diagnosis. We also discuss, is that not every person fits nice and neatly into one of the 4 defined categories. Therein lies the struggle, even with someone who is knowledgeable, in getting the proper diagnosis. Similarly to Dissociation, you don't always have the symptoms of just 1 particular type of Bipolar Disorder. As Kelly shares, it can take years to get the right treatment plan in place; and that's an incredible struggle for the person going through it and for those that help support them in their healing journey. We also talk about her work in advocacy and the importance of sharing what really happens in daily life. Living with a mental illness has become quite a mainstream topic these days, which is good in some ways and not so good in others. The awareness is always a good thing; I think most of us would agree that anything that helps destigmatize mental health challenges is a positive. One of the problems is though that you can't always put a positive spin on it; which is what some of the advocacy groups that Kelly has tried to work with, attempt to do. The tough days when you struggle to get out of bed, to get a shower, and go to work when you'd rather just stay in bed or curl up in a ball in the corner of your room waiting for the emotional struggle of a trigger to pass. Being a survivor of trauma and living with Bipolar or any other mental illness isn't about something positive all the time..it's many times just about just trying to make it through the day. When you share in this real and vulnerable way, you reach an audience that would otherwise feel like they are completely alone. Kelly also shares some tips and insight on what she's learned in the areas of self-care, which also equates to self-love, as you'll hear her explain.  She talks about the importance of setting up a schedule in advance, that you can refer too on a day that you struggle, so you're prepared ahead of time and have a plan in place to take care of yourself and celebrate each win that day. Be sure and check out BeyondYourPast.com for more information about Anxiety and Survivor Coaching, as well as more podcasts and blog posts. Don't forget to subscribe on your favorite podcasting app, and leave a review of the show! I'd would totally appreciate it :) Matthew Pappas, CLC - BeyondYourPast.com Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

My guest on Ep. 60 of the Beyond Your Past Podcast, is Rukshana Triem, and she is certainly no stranger to trials and tribulations that come from a childhood full of trauma. Rukshana is former refugee from Mozambique who came to the United States in 1990s. She overcame childhood sexual abuse during her time in the refugee camp and is now an advocate for parents and child care providers to support them on their healing journey. She is also the C.E.O of her Women's Lifestyle coaching business where she helps women overcome their rough past and create their beautiful life through Nature Retreats and online coaching programs and communities. Rukshana holds a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Human Development and worked as an Early Childhood Teacher, Trainer, Mentor, Social worker, and now a Lifestyle Coach for women. When she's not working she's spending time with her husband, her girls who are currently in college, and volunteering taking women on outdoor adventures, including hiking and backpacking. During our time on the podcast, Rukshana and I discuss things such as: Some of the past of living in the refugee camp, and the trauma that she endured, and how she uses those experiences to help others overcome their past? How did she change her story from Trauma to Success? When did you get to the point that you said its time to change your story from Victim to Victory? How did her journey lead into a career in entrepreneurship? What she would like to share with others who are stuck in their old story? How long did this journey take to heal the Trauma, and what other steps did she take to heal her wounds? For more information on the podcast, or if you'd like to be a guest on the show, please head over to BeyondYourPast.com/Podcasts and contact me. Please consider subscribing and leaving a review on itunes or your favorite podcasting app! Matthew Pappas, CLCSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

In this episode of the podcast, I'm honored to be joined by my friend and colleague, Claire Cappetta. Claire is a Coach, Author, and Speaker, specializing in areas such as helping you break free from the pain of abuse, overcoming guilt, gaining self-confidence, setting and maintaining healthy boundaries, and discovering the authentic you. Her books include, A broken Ring, a journey from abuse. Stalking Liberty, Are you safe? and her latest release, Rekindle Your Inner Sparkle: An Alternative Way to Heal from Trauma and Abuse. You can find all of her books on amazon, and her website, https://www.clairecappetta.co.uk/. Claire joins us to talk about the following topics: -How childhood trauma affects our self-esteem -How growing up with a narcissistic parent can affect our ability to cultivate healthy relationships and healthy boundaries. -Sharing some of her story as a survivor -Her new course - Rekindle Your Sparkle after abuse - A step by step course to regain your self-esteem from a narcissistic relationship. Her involvement with the new Clarified Lifeline device and app, - Understanding your bio-metrics it will alert emergency services for help if you are in a life-threatening situation, record and time stamp what is happening around the wearer. It is waterproof up to 30 feet and will vibrate to let you know your alarm has answered and help is on its way. Understanding your bio-metrics it will alert emergency services for help if you are in a life-threatening situation, record and time stamp what is happening around the wearer. It is waterproof up to 30 feet and will vibrate to let you know your alarm has answered and help is on its way. The app contains Meditation, Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to help you stay calm and lessen potential PTSD and anxiety. We are designing this with Libby Seery, a London Harley Street psychotherapist. Thank you again Claire for joining me on the podcast. I look forward to having you on the show again in the future. For more information on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, or Beyond Your Past Life Coaching, head over to BeyondYourPast.com and check out the blog, and other content...and claim your free 1 hr coaching session! Matthew Pappas, CLC Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

How many times have you said something like this to yourself, or heard someone else say: "I'm just an anxious person by nature, it's all I know", "I've always been anxious about everything in life, I can't ever just relax", or "I was born this way and that's all there is to it". Anxiety can take over your life, and can define how you see yourself if you let it. That's the key right there my friend, "if you let it". Anxiety only has the power that you allow it to have. The sooner we realize and embrace that, the sooner we start to see anxiety for what it is...a liar! My guest on this episode of the Beyond Your Past Podcast is someone who's dedicated their life to helping everyone see anxiety for what it truly is, and overcome it. To empower them with the knowledge that not only is anxiety a liar, but also to equip them with skills to take their life back and live free from the grip of overwhelming anxiety. In her work as a Psychotherapist, Jodi Aman has helped people in the areas of: Anxiety, depression, divorce, chronic pain, illness, eating disorders, abuse trauma, gender identity, relationship issues, as well as military/war trauma. She's also an author of, "You 1 Anxiety 0, Win Your Life Back From Fear and Panic". This incredible resource has helped countless people all over the world realize that there is hope in the fight against anxiety. The main topic of our chat centers around the question of, "is anxiety curable?"...and the short answer is a resounding, YES! I pose that exact question to Jodi and we discuss the 3 reasons why anxiety is indeed curable, and why so many feel that it isn't. We discuss why anxiety keeps us stuck and how we can overcome it. By the way, that's precisely what it wants you to believe, that there is no cure for anxiety and that it's a life sentence of misery, isolation, depression, and living in fear.  So why exactly do so many think that there is no cure? Well, one reason is because someone told you that it wasn't, so therefore you believe it. There are some mental health professionals and coaches that believe there is no cure; that you can only work to manage it, but not completely overcome it. If that's your mindset then it becomes exponentially more difficult to try to make any type of positive change. If you feel like there's no hope, no end goal of healing and feeling better, it's very easy to not work as hard or just give up completely. You eventually begin to define yourself in every negative way possible, so therefore trying to embrace any hope of healing is darn near impossible. Then you emotionally beat yourself up because your stuck, miserable, broken and alone. It's a vicious cycle to say the least. Another reason is that it's just so easy to stay still and not even try. We stay isolated and alone at home, seemingly safe from the outside world. We don't go out with friends, we don't embrace and enjoy what life has to offer. We have such a negative view of our ability to cope, that we figure we're better off alone so we don't set ourselves up for more failure. The third reason is that you've tried everything to cure your anxiety and you still don't like yourself. You still don't feel like you've made any progress, like this whole idea of beating anxiety is a pipe dream and you simply aren't capable enough to pull it off. The key here friends is... We cover these 3 reasons more in-depth on the podcast, so you'll definitely want to give it a listen! Plus, we discuss some strategies that you can put in place to help embrace a positive mindset of completely healing from anxiety.  Fore more info on this topic and to see the full post, head over to BeyondYourPast.com -Matt Pappas, CLC Certified Life Coach, Specializing in Overcoming Anxiety and Working with Trauma Survivors. Twitter: @BeyondYourPast Instagram: @BeyondYourPast Facebook: BeyondYourPastSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

Dr. Baker interviews Matt Pappas, creator of Beyond Your Past Podcast, mental health advocate, coach and author. Matt shares his journey of overcoming his childhood trauma, changing his career, putting himself out there to the world and thriving. He has courageously transformed his life through his commitment to grow, believe in and trust himself. Now he helps others “survive, thrive and conquer.”[Trigger warning: Matt shares about his story overcoming abuse as a child/CSA survivor]You can find Matt here:Twitter: @BeyondYourPastFacebook: Facebook.com/BeyondYourPastLifeCoachingInstagram: BeyondYourPastPeriscope - @BeyondYourPastIf you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to give back to it then click the Donate button at GoFriendYourSelfDoc.com. Thank you! Stay connected with Dr. Baker at: www.GoFriendYourSelfDoc.comFollow Dr. Baker on Twitter: @DrBakerPhDCheck out her Instagram at: GoFriendYourSelfDocFollow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/GoFriendYourSelfRecommending this podcast to others and providing ratings and reviews is always greatly appreciated! Thank you for listening.

Dr. Baker interviews Matt Pappas, creator of Beyond Your Past Podcast, mental health advocate, coach and author. Matt shares his journey of overcoming his childhood trauma, changing his career, putting himself out there to the world and thriving. He has courageously transformed his life through his commitment to grow, believe in and trust himself. Now he helps others “survive, thrive and conquer.”[Trigger warning: Matt shares about his story overcoming abuse as a child/CSA survivor]You can find Matt here:Twitter: @BeyondYourPastFacebook: Facebook.com/BeyondYourPastLifeCoachingInstagram: BeyondYourPastPeriscope - @BeyondYourPastIf you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to give back to it then click the Donate button at GoFriendYourSelfDoc.com. Thank you! Stay connected with Dr. Baker at: www.GoFriendYourSelfDoc.comFollow Dr. Baker on Twitter: @DrBakerPhDCheck out her Instagram at: GoFriendYourSelfDocFollow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/GoFriendYourSelfRecommending this podcast to others and providing ratings and reviews is always greatly appreciated! Thank you for listening.

When we think about bullying, the immediate effects include, but are not limited to, low self-esteem, lack of self-confidence, isolation, depression, loss of trust; but it's important to also realize that the effect that bullying has on our brain and our body, goes far beyond the short-term. I can remember back when I was in late elementary school, and all the way through the end of middle school, I suffered from all of those things in my life, and a few others. Not only was my self-esteem shot and the very thought of going to school each day caused my anxiety to sky-rocket, but I think one of the worst things that I experienced was a feeling of complete loneliness. I felt like there was something wrong with me since I seemed to exist only to be an outlet for others aggression.  That kind of intense pressure on a child or young adult causes serious emotional developmental problems, and likely was one of the reasons that I spent a good deal of time in a learning disability center in school. Looking back, I am grateful to those teachers who helped me, but at the time it also served as yet another target on my back. Even now as an adult and able to take care of myself, I'm not immune to the pangs of childhood trauma memories that surface when I read about a child who's been beaten up at school, or suffers from bullying at the hands of a sibling. This topic has become main stream in the last 10 years or so, with advocacy sites and anti-bullying programs readily available to most anyone who has an internet connection, yet even with all of this access and awareness, this problem still exists. Let's not forget, that with the onset of social media, cyber bullying has taken this problem to an entirely new level. In the US alone, 28% of U.S. students in grades 6–12 experienced bullying, and in a single large study, about 49% of children in grades 4–12 reported being bullied by other students at school at least once during the past month, whereas 30.8% reported bullying others during that time.* Unfortunately, victims of bullying are 7 to 9 percent more likely to consider suicide, according to a study at Yale University**. In addition, children as young as 6-8 years old have taken their own lives as a result.***  Those statistics are staggering, which why it's so important for us understand the long-term effects of bullying and how we can not only help ourselves, but also help others who have experienced this type of trauma. Make no mistake, being bullied is a form of trauma.   To help understand how these effects can last well into adulthood, and how to cope and recover, I wanted to talk to an expert and share not only his experiences of being bullied but also his amazing journey of recovery and the work that he's doing now to help educate youth and their families on this important problem. My good friend and fellow life coach, Alan Eisenberg, recently sat down with me for a chat on this topic, and that is the focus of this episode of the Beyond Your Past Podcast. Alan is the founder of BullyingRecovery.org, and organization who's dedicated to helping those who suffer from the long-term effects of bullying (Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or C-PTSD) to find the help they so desperately need by providing media, materials and support for their recovery. Be sure and check out the rest of the blog post over on BeyondYourPast.com. If you’d like more information on working with a certified life coach, or if you have questions about how working with a life coach might be right for you… go for it and schedule your free intro session! Always remember, You Are Worth It, and there is hope for moving forward from what holds you back.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)