Podcast appearances and mentions of matthew pappas

How much time a day do you spend ruminating over the past, or fretting about something coming up in the future? Be honest. Most people find it difficult to let the past go, especially when it didn’t turn out the way we had expected. And that increases our worry about the future – what if we are in a similar situation? Surely, we need to be prepared for that, right? And the more prepared we are the less anxiety we’ll feel, correct?No! That’s the scare tactics and manipulation of anxiety talking, playing off the fear of your past experiences.Today we’re talking with Life Coach, NLP Master Practitioner, Podcast Host and Survivor Advocate, Matthew Pappas, about the anxiety gremlin that sits on your shoulder, affecting every aspect of your life, and the steps you can take to stop allowing it to define and control you.Get links to Matt's website, podcast & socials, as well as to my free Moving Forward after Abuse webinar, 30-Day Challenge, and Audio Books Now, in the show notes.

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.

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)

I'm honored to welcome back returning guest, Vennie Kocsis, as we continue our conversation on how childhood trauma manifests itself in your life, both physically and emotionally. In particular, we're discussing the effects on dating and romantic relationships.We had originally intended to dive into more areas, beyond relationships alone, during this episode but as often happens, there is so much to cover that we thought it best to focus our time on this important part of survivor life. While relationships can be difficult to understand and navigate for anyone, the unique struggles that childhood trauma brings into the equation, add a dimension that not everyone can understand.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.During this episode of the podcast, Vennie and I discuss some of the struggles for survivors and relationships:The importance that "no means no" regardless of the tone of voice you use to verbalize it.Understanding the fear aspect, and how "the way we say no" to someone, can be based on your past experiences of sexual abuse.How dissociation can take over when you are in a romantic situation with someone, even if they are completely safe?Understanding why survivors tend to try and justify the actions of others because of the grooming that affected our self-worth.Healthy boundaries: not only the importance of having them in the dating and relationship world, but also the struggles of trying to find a way to implement and enforce them.Being in a healthy relationship that ends, and the challenge of not going down the road of self-shame and self-blame for the reasons it ended.Can a little bit of hypervigilance be healthy in the dating world?Even in a seemingly safe social situation, triggers can arise that make us feel unsafe, and why it's okay to remove yourself and not feel bad about it.The trial and error that is part of dating and relationships for everyone, but especially for trauma survivors and knowing that even if you do something that you regret, it's not the end of the world and you can learn from it and move on without self-shame.This is such an important topic, and we hope you'll share this episode with someone who might benefit from it. After all, everyone can use alittle validation and encouragement in this area, right?Be sure and follow Vennie on VennieKocsis.com and Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook.-Matthew Pappas, CLC, MPNLPSupport 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)

Our guest on this episode of the podcast discovered that his place of peace, of inspiration, of solace, was in the kitchen working as a chef. Spencer Gorman-Prow is the author of Solace in Chaos, a Chef's Memoir, which can be purchased on Amazon, both in paperback and in Kindle form.An Executive Chef's memoir of how he was able to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds of child sexual abuse and tragedy and forgive himself in order to achieve success. Chef Spencer relates his journey to health, happiness and healing - all found within the chaotic nature of the professional kitchen. Prepare to be inspired and perhaps even find your own coping strategies within the context of your professional passion.Spencer reached out to us to continue his journey of inspiring others by coming on the podcast to talk more about his story, including:How the childhood sexual abuse he experienced changed his life, and when he was able to begin working those memories as an adult.The lack of support available to him and how he navigated most of his healing journey alone until he met his wonderful wife.Why he initially turned to alcohol as a coping strategy and a way to numb the pain of those memories.Working through the trust issues, relationship struggles, as well as the self-blame that he internalized as a way to make sense of what happened.How he began to find peace in the kitchen, and what cooking offered him as a place of peace amidst so much pressure.How journaling helped paved the way for Solace in Chaos to become a reality.The challenges of speaking out as a male survivor, and the importance of sharing your truth to not only aid in your own journey but also to help inspire others.Be sure and check out Solace in Chaos, on Amazon. A resource that will surely inspire you to speak your truth, explore your passion, and not be ashamed of who you are and what you went through.You can also follow Spencer on Twitter: @ChefSpencer68Please consider sharing this episode with someone who might benefit from hearing Spencer's message, and don't forget to subscribe to Beyond Your Past on your favorite podcasting app.Your Hosts,Matthew Pappas, CLC, MPNLP & Joanne Cipressi, CHt, CNLP 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)

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)

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)

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)

Anxiety and survivor coach Matthew Pappas is a survivor of childhood trauma and, because of this, struggled with food, body image issues, and relationships throughout most of his life. A “light bulb” moment in a therapy session enabled him to recognize how what had happened to him as a child had led to many of his problems. Matthew recounts how he was able to turn his life around. He has now dedicated himself to helping others who have survived trauma in their lives do the same. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here's How » Join the Dr. Carolyn Coker Ross Show Community today: carolynrossmd.com Dr. Carolyn Ross Facebook Dr. Carolyn Ross Twitter Dr. Carolyn Ross YouTube

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)

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)

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)

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)

Living in today's volatile and controversial world can take its toll on anyone. With so much violence happening around the world, discord among not only world leaders across the globe but certainly in the US, and the phrase "mentally ill" being tossed around in context to some of the most heinous crimes in recent history, and it's no wonder we can feel unsettled. For survivors, it's tough enough navigating daily life in the wake of a traumatic past, but add in all of the pressures of being bombarded with news and current events 24/7, and the struggle gets exponentially more difficult. I too struggle with my own thoughts and even my most trusted coping strategies are taxed to their limits at times trying to stay grounded while "fighting the good fight" as it were, to raise awareness and get involved in areas that I'm passionate about. It feels like an uphill battle that gets steeper and steeper, even with the best plan and self-care strategies in place. That's why I wanted to spend some time chatting with friend, colleague, and returning guest to the podcast, Rachel Grant. From the very first time that we collaborated back in the earlier episodes of the show, we've developed a friendship and mutual respect for each other not only as advocates and survivors, but as everyday people just trying to find our way in this world and make a difference while we continue to heal. 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. Some of the topics that Rachel and I discuss on this episode include: Feelings of Shame and Triggers that can arise in regards to the mass violence and political climate across the world. "Mentally Ill" labels being tossed around in negative and stigmatizing ways in regards to school and church shootings, gun control, world leaders, and those who suffer with depression. Getting involved in causes that we believe in, and trying to do too much. Looking at labels in a different context, as a way to help feel inspired and educated, and provide direction towards treatment and resources. Learning to pause, think before we speak and react, when it comes to highly charged situations, reducing anxiety, and in everyday life. Using "service" to help get out of our heads, reduce burnout, and re-energize for not only our own journey but our involvement in causes we are passionate in. Thank you again Rachel from coming back on the podcast and sharing your insight and heartfelt message for survivors. I've learned so much from you and I look forward to our collaborative work in the future. Be sure and check out RachelGrantCoaching.com and follow her on Twitter: @CoachRachelG. -Matthew Pappas, CLC, CPNLPSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

When you think about how you view yourself, your inner world...what comes to mind? Is it compassion, kindness, self-love, and contentment...or do things like, self-criticism, shame, broken, and hopeless come to mind? For so many. those positive views seem like a pipe dream; something we wish we could do but yet never feel like are achievable because of the past. We see others who exhibit those qualities, or we think that they do, and that leads to even more shame, blame, and resistance to change because "we could never be like that, we're too broken". How you view yourself, your inner world has a profound influence your life as a whole, and how you see others. Your romantic relationships, your job, friends, even what you do for fun can all be influenced by our view of what we're capable of and what we think we are worthy of trying to achieve. Beth Rogerson has dedicated her life to helping others see their true inner self with a different lens. A lens that allows you view your inner world differently, giving you opportunities to not become overwhelmed by the emotions that flood your mind and your life on a daily basis. Beth has a Ph.D. in Counseling and is licensed in the United States as a Marriage and Family Therapist and Counselor, and has completed training with The Center of Self Leadership with Internal Family Systems therapy, and the Gestalt Institute in Cleveland, Ohio.  Residing  in Stockholm, Sweden,for most of the year, she provides individual and couples counseling services over a video-conferencing service as well as in person. She's also the creator of her own incredible podcast, The Therapy Spot, which is dedicated to people like you who want to help your Self and live a better, more balanced life.  I had the privilege of being on The Therapy Spot podcast in April of 2018, discussing Anxiety and Trauma Recovery. During her time on Beyond Your Past, Beth and I discuss the Internal Family Systems model, which was developed by Richard C. Schwartz, Ph.D (1995), which describes your inner world as being like a family.  It's a gentle kinder view of your inside world.  A new frontier for you to know your self differently, and connecting kindly with respect toward yourself  from the inside out. The basic idea is that we have a family of parts inside of us as well as an abundance or self energy.   Self is best described in qualities.  It has the qualities of Calm Curious Compassionate Clarity Confidence Connection Courageous and Creative. The 8 C’s   We all have them within us, but they can get blocked when our parts take over and we feel, act, or react only from a part or parts of ourselves.   Beth sees the Internal Family Systems model of therapy really as a lens we can all have.  It is like putting on a new pair of glasses and not even knowing you couldn’t see until you see better. I want others to have this lens.  It is not a secret.   The IFS lens of viewing our own personality is that we are multiple in how we think and feel and all these different ways of thinking and feeling are different aspects or parts of ourselves. The nature of our personality is to have different parts with our Self as the leader of our system, however, problems happen when one parts gets to strong or large and hijacks our system and we have a dictator.   We talk more about the Internal Family Systems model and how the IFS approach to personal development teaches you how to cultivate your Self Qualities for greater happiness.The 8 Self qualities are: Calm Compassion Curiosity Courage Creativity Connection Confidence Clarity We cover these 8 qualities, the IFS model, and much more, so be sure and check out the show and also don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! -Matthew Pappas, CLC 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)

Dissociation, a topic that has fascinated me as much as it’s frustrated me ever since the first time I ever learned what in the world it even was.  For all of the research I've done on this topic, it never ceases to amaze me how the brain takes over during trauma to remove us from being fully present in order to protect us.  Of course, long after the trauma has ended, the effects can still linger on. I can remember sitting in a therapists office years ago, when I first came to terms with the fact that I was a survivor of trauma. She caught me staring out into space, while looking right at her. She noticed when I would tune out during a conversation that was particularly troubling for me to have. Even when the topic wasn’t anything particularly difficult to discuss, the ease with which I transitioned out of being fully present to “never never land” was a clear sign of Dissociation. Some time ago I reached to guest blogger and friend, Erin Fado, to see if she wouldn’t mind coming on to do a podcast and share her experience of living with dissociation and dissociative identity disorder. Erin has written extensively on SMP and on her own blog, You Will Bear Witness, about her experiences of being a survivor of trauma and now living with dissociative disorders. She uses her experiences to help validate others and encourage survivors to keep fighting; to never give up on themselves. Erin joins us from Australia, where she is now medically retired after working as a Professor of Sociology and lecturer at the University of Wollongong in Sidney.  She lives with her husband in the countryside, and undergoes extensive EMDR therapy to help with her DID. Some of the topics that Erin and I discuss on this episode of the Beyond Your Past Podcast: What is dissociation? Do you usually go to the past, present of future:? How long does it tend to last for? Is it usually triggered by something? How does dissociation impact your everyday life? Have you found treatments/solutions useful? Be sure and subscribe to the podcast on itunes, buzzsprout, spreaker, stitcher, or your favorite podcasting app...and if you could be so kind as to leave a review, that would be awesome! Matthew Pappas, CLC BeyondYourPast.comSupport 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)

In this episode, I take on a topic that has never been discussed before here on the podcast. I'm not even sure there's been much said about it on podcasts at all, period. Today i'll be sharing with you an experience that has recently changed my life, one that took me from the status quo, going about my business to a complete pause. This recent health concern, and really scare if we're being honest here, took everything that I had been doing in life, and all of the plans that I'd been working on for the last few years and made me reassess a great many things about my life. As you'll hear, what I thought was nothing more than a chest virus or some kind of flu like symptoms, turned into a possible stroke diagnosis, then possible Bells Palsy, finally winding up with a week long hospital stay and a diagnosis of Guillain Barre Syndrome. In the midst of all the things that were going on in life at the time: Life Coach working with clients Working on a new book Blogging Podcasting Working a full time day job Being a parent and many other things that occupied my time, the events of the last 6 weeks have made me realize a great many things. Join me on the podcast as I talk about the events leading up to the diagnosis, what life was like then and what it's like now. The fire, the passion, the desire for all of those things is still there, and will always be, but the importance of taking better care of myself in the process, and drawing closer to my creator has been monumental. It's my hope that this podcast will reach you with a message of hope and encouragement, and validation that you are not alone, in your struggles in life. Thanks so much for listening and please consider leaving a review and a rating on itunes, soundcloud, or whatever podcast platform you enjoy listening on :) Matthew Pappas, CLC BeyondYourPast.comSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)

For my guest on this episode of the podcast, Laura shares some of her story about one woman’s struggle to overcome a childhood of abuse at the hands of her cruel, bullying brother. Laura is an author and survivor,  currently living in Ontario, Canada with her husband of twenty-two years, her twenty-year old son and two rescued dogs. She is a successful entrepreneur, and passionate about her business and an avid animal lover.  When I was first contacted by Laura about coming on the show, I checked out her website, MyCourageToTell.com, and was immediately interested in learning more about this amazing survivor and her book, My Courage to Tell, Facing My Childhood Bully and Reclaiming My Inner Child. Her story is exactly what the podcast is all about, talking with people who've overcome incredibly difficult circumstances and are now using their story to help inspire others. Laura shares with us her inspiration for deciding to end her silence and write about her personal story; memories of this abuse remain deeply buried until an aunt dies in Manhattan, leaving an estate that Laura must settle with her estranged brother. As she tries to administer the estate, she is plagued by symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Suppressed memories start to rise to the surface as Laura begins to remember, and she now realizes that she has to face a childhood of psychological and physical abuse. Laura and I cover topics including: Can you share what kind of bullying you had as a child? Where were your parents when all this was going on? Can you talk about psychological and emotional abuse and how harmful it is? What is psychological abuse? What will a child experience who has been abused psychologically? How did you work out your PTSD symptoms? Check out the full post over on Beyond http://beyondyourpast.com/coaching-blog/ If you enjoy these podcasts, I hope you'll consider rating my show in itunes or your favorite podcasting app and leaving a review. That would be so awesome! -Matthew Pappas, CLC BeyondYourPast.comSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sPH8pMZ)