Straight Talking Mental Health

"I spent 15 months hospitalised in psychiatric wards.'" Episode 90: We're straight talking The Psych Ward with author Peter Vox. Peter is a former teacher in the Bronx who grew up in a family with a history of mental illnesses and is the author of The Psych Ward Notes. Peter tells us how his health anxiety and existential thoughts developed early in childhood and after a suicide attempt he was hospitalised in various psychiatric wards. He discusses schizoid patients, electroconvulsive therapy and if it really is like One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. Allan got sunburned playing golf in Portugal but he's riling over "ripe & ready" avocados while Aisling still has the Keanu Reeves crush from childhood but is bemused at her TikTok profile picture theft. We are finally active on TikTok, you can follow us @stmhpodcast, as is our username on all the social media platforms. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

"Men don't really talk about this, we don't really hear about men in violent relationships.'" Episode 89: It's out monthly check in, no particular theme just what is going in ours and the greater world. We discuss the ongoing case of Johnny Depp & Amber Heard, their toxic relationship, the often unspoken domestic violence on men and Amber Heard's diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder. We have covered men in Abusive Relationships & Borderline Personality Disorder in the past, click the links or check our back catalogue. We return from London - definitely not Aisling's favourite place. Allan quite weirdly is smiling at the traumatic origins of Marvel's Moon Knight but he is most definitely not smiling after being made to watch 50 Shade of Grey by Aisling! We are finally active on TikTok, you can follow us @stmhpodcast, as is our username on all the social media platforms. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

"If you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism'" Episode 88: STMH 2.0 is go! Peter steps out and Aisling steps in. We're straight talking autism with Kella aka Awakened Neurodivergence. We discuss ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and Kella also tells us also about her OCD. We discuss some of the characteristics of autism like stimming, eye contact, social and, sensory issues, the levels of autism diagnosis and we clear up some of the biggest misconceptions. Allan discusses his own experience of being diagnosed and Aisling shares what it's like to be a neurotypical partner of someone that is neurodivergent. As it is the first podcast with Aisling as the brand new co-host, we discuss our background of how we met so it's a bit of a longer episode but that just means more laughs! Aisling is a fantastic new asset to the podcast as she opens up about her experience of anxiety and panic attacks. Find out how people in public think their chemistry is "magnetic" and how they fell in love over inappropriate memes about Allan's mother! We are finally active on TikTok, you can follow us @stmhpodcast, as is our username on all the social media platforms. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

"The man is a devil!'" Episode 87: The second in our check in series! Don't get too attached though as Peter leaves the podcast again! Not to worry though, we'll be continuing on and relaunching STMH 2.0 with a new co-host! Find out all about it on this week's episode. Before Peter goes though, he'll be telling you (sort of) why he is leaving for good this time and why it has him smiling. We also talk about "The Slap" and you can hear why testing positive for covid wasn't even the most exciting thing to happen to Allan on Monday! Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

"Every child is vulnerable to being captured by alcohol or drugs - every child!" Episode 86:  This week we are talking to author Ricahrd Capriola about his book "The Addicted Child." Richard tells us some of the warning signs to look out for with teenagers and substance abuse, some of the underlying issues which can lead to addiction, the impact of drugs on the developing brain and what not to do as a parent if your child is abusing drugs. Allan & Peter discuss the mental health challenges of being a father after a correspondence from a dad who is feeling suicidal, we're riled at the dramatic rise in the cost of living, Peter jumps on the Encanto buzz and Allan has parenting wins and fails. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

"The situation in the Ukraine is breeding a lot of anxiety for people'" Episode 85: Surprise!!! We're back. You wanted weekly, we'll meet ye half way and give you every two weeks. This is our first check in episode, no particular theme but we look at the world as always, through the lens of mental health. We discuss the anxiety the situation in Ukraine is breeding, Allan goes back to the gym and notices the societal shift since he was last there. We also discuss the recent controversy around The 2 Johnnies misogynistic remarks and once again, Peter's horn let's him down but our former co-host Kamron has him smiling. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

"You carry the guilt as a mum, 'Am I affecting them? Am I going to cause damage?'" Episode 84: We're back! This month we're straight talking Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). We talk to Emily who tells us about her history of depression and self harm that goes back to when she was 14, the eating order that developed after putting on weight after the birth of her child, the difficulties of parenting and how MBSR helped her to deal with it all. With restrictions lifting in Ireland, Allan & Peter both plan trips away. Peter is smiling as he hits another parenting landmark (losing the first tooth) but he's suffering "PTSB". Allan's client work has him smiling and riling, as he is saddened by the adults that have suffered throughout their life with undiagnosed autism. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

Episode 83: We're back! This month we're straight talking Narcissism. We discuss the criteria for someone with Narcissistic Personality Disorder, the developmental contributors to what causes it, why narcissists are typically men and why Allan hasn't seen many in his practice. We also look at examples of narcissists in popular culture: Trump, Kanye and Dennis Reynolds from It's Always Sunny in Philadephia. Peter has caught covid since we were last with you but he's smiling as the family get a new car whilst Allan is smiling about the new Peacemaker TV show. As two men we discuss our feelings on women's safety in the midst of the Aisling Murphy murder. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

Episode 82: This week we're straight talking the Xmas craic live! We had a Facebook Live interactive episode on Sunday 19th for our Xmas party with our audience. Listen back and be regaled with tales of Kamron's hangover, see if you can hear as Peter drifts towards "4 Pints Pee" as the beers are flowing and find out why Allan is so tired after being away for a night in a hotel for his anniversary. We have our usual smiles and riles, 2 truths - 1 lie and we discuss how Xmas can be a difficult time for many people. Thank you to everyone for your support during the year. We switch to monthly episodes in the new year and so we'll see you all again on January 25th Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com  

"A lot of people don't understand, it's not just something you see it and you get over it." Episode 81: This week we're straight talking Suicide with Amy. Amy's boyfriend of almost two years killed himself after a drunken argument. We discuss her experience of finding his body, the nightmares/ flashbacks and PTSD symptoms she has experienced since, the various emotions of her grieving experience and the guilt she experienced as she moved on with her dating life. Peter has a family emergency unfortunately and is unavailable for this week's show but Allan calls in some serious favours and recruits his girlfriend Aisling to co-host. She picks right up where Peter & Kamron left off - abusing Allan! Allan's smiling & riling about the F1 final race of the season controversy and Aisling is smiling & riling on the covid front as she is out of isolation after covid in the house but has "covid arm" after her vaccine. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com