Uncertainty is a fundamental driver of anxiety. We crave certainty, and yet, would you actually want to be certain about what's going to happen in every single aspect of your life? I wouldn't despite how anxiety provoking and awful living with uncertainty can be. In today's episode, Dr. Toni Lindsay, author of The Certainty Myth, reminds us that life isn't always easy, and it was never meant to be, but we can adjust; we can cope. She shares what she's learned about certainty and uncertainty, and...
Mar 21, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 77
Ikigai is often misunderstood- this beautiful Japanese word isn’t easily defined given the spectrum on which we can experience ikigai, and the different ways we can cultivate it. Ultimately, it’s a feeling. It’s different from happiness and is strongly tied to our future. It's tied to meaning and purpose, having a strong sense of self and, crucially, is tied to our values. In this episode Japanologist and Founder of Ikiga Tribe, Nick Kemp, shares the components of Ikigai, why it matters and how ...
Mar 14, 2023•43 min•Season 1Ep. 76
This short and sweet episode is all about a game-changing strategy for anyone whose anxiety says "stop," "don't do it," "it feels too uncomfortable," or "let's put this off for later." This means that this episode is for all of us who live with anxiety! In this episode, I share a strategy called "Opposite Action." I explain what it is, why it's an essential tool in our toolkit, and a practical way to figure out exactly where to start. This strategy helps us put an end to procrastination and over...
Mar 07, 2023•11 min•Season 1Ep. 75
What can you do to help when your child won’t talk? They might be a chatterbox at home, perhaps even confident and loud! But in settings that provoke anxiety, they won’t say a word. This describes selective mutism. It can look different for different children, but every single family that has a child who is a selective mute shares one thing in common; the anguish that comes with not knowing how to help. That’s all about to change, thanks to today’s guest Dr Elizabeth Woodcock; Founder, Director ...
Feb 28, 2023•45 min•Season 1Ep. 74
Today’s guest, Psychologist and renowned media commentator Dr Michael-Carr Gregg hasn’t seen anything like the rates of anxiety in children and teens in decades of clinical practice. Despite the incredible challenge of anxiety for young people and their families, he assures parents that it is treatable; and that parents play an important role in the process. In this conversation Michael explains anxiety just as he would to a family in his clinic, and shares the steps that work to help anxious yo...
Feb 21, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 73
When was the last time you experienced awe? And what’s it got to do with anxiety? Hmmm, it can be a tricky one because we typically think awe comes from big moments, like seeing the Eiffel Tower, visiting the Grand Canyon, visiting Uluru or swimming with Whale Sharks. While each of those experiences is bound to elicit awe, we can actually experience awe in everyday moments, inside our homes or workplaces and outside in nature. In this episode Jake Eagle, Psychotherapist and co-author of The Powe...
Feb 14, 2023•53 min•Season 1Ep. 72
Friendship challenges and finding their place socially can bring about so much anxiety for young people. These are difficult times to navigate and are tricky because friendships mean a lot, and interaction with other people is unavoidable. In this episode, the wonderful Sheri McDonald, a psychologist who works closely with children and teenagers, shares thoughtful and compassionate insights and advice to help us as parents and teachers help our young people problem solve, find their tribe(s) and...
Feb 07, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 71
This is part two of a two part series on school refusal with the Founder of the School Refusal Clinic in Melbourne, John Chellew. John is a world leader in the treatment of school refusal and has so much compassion for the challenges it brings for children, teens and their parents, carers and schools. His work with young people is supported by his therapy dog Max and the clever way he meets young people where they’re at; and how most of the work he does with children and their families is well o...
Jan 31, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 70
School refusal is a tremendous challenge for kids, teenagers, their families and their schools. Often misunderstood, it’s not usually a matter of not wanting to go to school; most want to be back in the classroom with their friends; they just feel so overwhelmed that they can’t. Anxiety is one of the challenges that often underpins the overwhelming discomfort that accompanies walking through the school gate, getting out of the car, or even leaving the house. It’s terribly distressing for the who...
Jan 24, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 69
The agonisising pain of loss is so hard to live with; it’s common to armour up and to try to protect ourselves from ever experiencing that type of hurt ever again. This is the experience of Jenny Wynter after losing her mum at the tender age of five. Jenny spent the next 30 years bracing herself from more loss but, eventually, in the face of losing her other mum, her nan; she realised just how much she needed to let go of the armour and deeply connect, contemplating how decades of bracing came n...
Jan 17, 2023•57 min•Season 1Ep. 68
Nightime fears in children affect the whole family. While they’re developmental to a point, so many children, and even teens, feel anxious and frightened in bed alone and will do all they can to avoid that happening. Fears of intruders, monsters, shadows or something bad happening to their parent/s are just some of the reasons underlying the anxiety that shows up at bedtime. In this episode child and adolescent psychologist Dr Krystal Lewis helps parents understand nighttime fears, signs to look...
Jan 10, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 67
Our time here is limited, that’s not news to anyone of us but it’s not something we often, or like to, think about. Understandably, it’s painful to contemplate not being around but what’s arguably more painful, is going through each day, over years and years, and not doing the things that are important. The things that might scare us, but also light us up. Standing up for what we believe in, and being the type of person we want to be. In this episode I share a handful of questions to help you ga...
Jan 03, 2023•12 min•Season 1Ep. 66
Difficult thoughts, worry and distressing thinking can be very much a part of the anxiety package that makes life miserable at times. While we can’t control what we think, or change what we think, we can change our relationship with what we think using a number of different strategies. In this episode I share a range of ideas that facilitate the process of putting distance between who we are and what we’re thinking. These ideas were a game changer for me and my incessant worry, I hope they do th...
Dec 27, 2022•22 min•Season 1Ep. 65
A change in perspective can transform the way we view the inevitable hurdles and curve balls life throws our way. This episode is jam packed with insights and ideas that can help us all think differently about our challenges, where we are versus where we want to be, sacrifices, discomfort, social anxiety, the power of music and giving. Carly Taylor Website Carly Taylor Instagram Carly Taylor Facebook Carly Taylor LinkedIn Thanks for listening to this episode of “Well, hello anxiety with Dr Jodi ...
Dec 20, 2022•48 min•Season 1Ep. 64
Anxiety has a way of pulling us back, telling us ‘no’, saying ‘stop’ or spilling over and holding us down before we even get a chance to think about what we really want. It’s because our brain is working hard to keep us safe, and yet, these signals keep our world small. They stop us from doing what matters; sometimes in huge ways, sometimes in ways that are small but significant. However anxiety gets in the way for you, this episode is designed to give you a fresh perspective on your life with a...
Dec 13, 2022•15 min•Season 1Ep. 63
The sudden onset of anxiety, OCD behaviours, tics (including blinking, shrugging, snorting, throat clearing), changes in handwriting and bedwetting are tell-tale signs of a relatively unknown disease known as PANS/PANDAS - and occur in the wake of (and sometimes months after) an infection, often strep throat. On average one in 200 children will be affected but, among the medical fraternity, it’s not always easily recognised, which is why my conversation with Dr Leila Masson for this episode is s...
Dec 06, 2022•51 min•Season 1Ep. 62
Social anxiety is so hard to live with and while we all feel socially anxious at times, for many, it closes in the walls of life, impacts personal and professional opportunities and gets in the way of connection. But it doesn’t have to. Really it doesn’t. This episode is choc full of insights, understanding and practical ideas - and what makes my guest Dr Ellen Hendriksen extra special is that she shares her wisdom and strategies from the standpoint of a world leader in social anxiety as well as...
Nov 29, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 61
I put it to you that you that you’ll learn more about alcohol in this 45 minute episode than you will have learned over your whole life. And much of what you learn may surprise you. Please let me know if I’m wrong. As a Grey Area Drinking Coach and Speaker, Sarah Rusbatch is passionate about alcohol and rightly, she asks why so much of what we need to know about alcohol, to make informed decisions, isn’t common knowledge. In this episode you’ll learn how the very thing so many turn to to quell a...
Nov 22, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 60
After listening to this episode you’ll feel so much better equipped and more confident responding to and supporting the young people in your life when anxiety shows up and life’s curve balls come at them. That said, so much of what @marievakakis shares is transferable into all of our relationships. Founder of @ thetherapyhubcounselling Marie is dedicated to supporting adults to have better relationships with the teens and young adults in their lives. She’s an Accredited Mental Health Social Work...
Nov 15, 2022•49 min•Season 1Ep. 59
Exploring the limits of his own potential is what ultimately brought Dr Adrian Medhurst to the wonderful work he does now as a Thought Leader in Performance Psychology, wellbeing science, stress mastery, mindfulness, behavioural change, and innovation. In this episode Adrian tells us exactly what stress is, how the perspective we take when it comes to stress changes our experience of it, and practical proactive vitality strategies we can all adopt to cope better with stress, protecting our menta...
Nov 08, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 58
I get it, change can be hard. And when it comes to anxiety, starting something new, doing things differently, adopting a new routine or habit, well; it can feel a bit overwhelming. That’s why, in this episode, I talk you through the notion that knowing more isn’t enough, and how important it is that we take action if want things to change. That’s what we want, yes? I invite you to choose one insight, idea or strategy, to start small and to adopt a perspective of curiosity. This episode is about ...
Nov 01, 2022•30 min•Season 1Ep. 57
Skin picking is surprisingly common, yet very few people who struggle with this condition seek help. In this episode I share my experiences with skin picking from childhood to now as well as insights for listeners to watch out for (or reflect on) when it’s most likely to begin, who it’s most likely to affect, why tackling skin picking isn’t a matter of will and importantly, practical suggestions that help. If you, or someone you care about, needs support to tackle skin picking, start with your G...
Oct 25, 2022•18 min•Season 1Ep. 56
The experience of my guest for this episodes shines through this entire conversation. Jacqui Cousins, founder of Nursing the Mind, shares with us insights about the importance of, and what to expect when it comes to learning Mental Health First Aid; navigating the maze that is securing the right kind of mental health support from the right places at the right time; finding the right counsellor or psychologist, what you can do in between a referral and getting that elusive first appointment and w...
Oct 18, 2022•58 min•Season 1Ep. 55
This episode touches on suicide, if you or someone you know needs help please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. Shockingly, the number of Australian men who die by suicide every year is nearly double the national road toll. While many men seek help, some men’s mental health challenges go unrecognised for a very long time. A handful of contributing factors, like genetics, past trauma and upbringing aren’t changeable, but there are many that are. Irrespective of what’s happened in the past, understand...
Oct 11, 2022•54 min•Season 1Ep. 54
Attention is the key that unlocks the door of education and yet, it’s a precious resource that’s often not well understood, harnessed, or both. It’s particularly influenced by anxiety, which is a challenge in school communities everywhere. In this episode Dr Shyam Barr, an educational leader, consultant and researcher, shares powerful insights into metacognition, attention regulation and practical strategies educators can use to help students understand, refocus and optimise their attention. Tho...
Oct 04, 2022•53 min•Season 1Ep. 53
In this very special anniversary episode I share my hopes for what every single person who lives with anxiety (or cares for someone who does) should know and understand to live a more meaningful, connected, purposeful and happier life where anxiety comes along for the ride. This episode is a summary of key insights, messages, understanding and empowering skills from the first year of ‘Well, hello anxiety’ episodes; each created to help listeners build psychological flexibility. Thanks for listen...
Sep 27, 2022•29 min•Season 1Ep. 52
Snoring, sheet stealing, temperature preferences, shift work, young kids under the covers, different chronotypes. These are just some of the ways our sleep can be affected. Who we share the bed with most can have a profound impact on our sleep which has powerful knock on effects for our mood, or mental health, our physical health and even our longevity. In this episode sleep doctor, Dr Wendy Troxel helps us understand our sleep from a totally new perspective, and shares practical strategies to m...
Sep 20, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 51
As both a clinical psychologist and parent of an autistic daughter, the wonderful Chloe Porter shines a light on anxiety and autism in a way few could. We know that anxiety tends to go hand-in-hand with children with autism and our conversation for this episode helps explain why. Importantly, Chloe shares what parents can do to look after themselves, help minimise the likelihood of anxiety in their child, recognise it when it shows up and support their child to recognise and regulate anxiety and...
Sep 13, 2022•49 min•Season 1Ep. 50
Anxiety and eating disorders tend to go hand-in-hand. In fact, two thirds of people with an eating disorder also have an anxiety disorder which is why this conversation with clinical psychologist Dr Emma Black is so important. In this conversation Emma explains the link between eating disorders and anxiety, the different types of eating disorders, why living with an eating disorder is so hard, what to look for, how to help someone you love, where to seek professional help and much more. Website ...
Sep 06, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 49
Women rush, all the time and it’s affecting our mental and physical health. Why do we do it? The answer may surprise you. In this episode the wonderful Dr Libby unpacks Rushing Woman’s Syndrome with her trademark compassion, scientific insights and practical advice. We talked about the stress response, which fuel (glucose or fat) the body uses preferentially depending on the state of our nervous system, weight gain, hormones, the relaxation response, the question we can all ask ourselves to answ...
Aug 30, 2022•53 min•Season 1Ep. 48
