Grief is a universal experience, but one that we navigate alone. It's also one of the most-requested topics for me to cover here at the Wellbeing Lab.So, for the final episode of Season 2 I talk with Andy Langford about grief and bereavement. Andy has worked in this field for over twenty years and is the Clinical Director at the charity Cruse. They help people with bereavement support, information and campaigning and you can find out more about their work here.This is a big topic and there are so many more avenues we could have explored, but I'd be delighted to hear what you thought, or to hear your experiences with grief. The Wellbeing Lab team read all the correspondence that comes in and you can contact the lab on the links below:Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.comThe Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ooh I'm excited to get into this week's topic. It's quite a complicated subject, but it's one of my favourites to discuss... codependency. When I learnt about codependency it was a lightbulb moment and I hope you glean some useful information from it. My guest is counselling psychologist Dr Jane Halsall who has a special interest in addiction.We mention a few resources in the episode:You can find Melody Beattie's 'Codependent No More' herePia Mellody's 'Facing Codependence' can be found at this linkAnd you can get information about your local CoDA group hereAnd we also have a little bonus chat for you this episode, with the inspiring Danny Gray of Just Ask A Question. It's an online platform that brings together world-leading mental health professionals to answer thousands of questions about all kinds of topics related to mental health and wellbeing.Find JAAQ hereAnd find out more about Warpaint For Men hereAs always, let me know about your experiences on anything we've discussed in this episode. You can contact the lab on the links below:Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.comThe Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I welcome back the excellent Jo Stubley. She's a Consultant Psychiatrist in Psychotherapy at the Tavistock Clinic and an expert on trauma, so I invited her back to talk to me about complex post-traumatic stress disorder. We talk about diagnosis, treatment, some of the problems around the naming of these experiences and of course have a few jokes along the way.During the conversation Jo mentions a paper looking at neurotransmitters and depression. You can read that here.She also talks about the audiobook for 'What Happened to You', by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce Perry, which you can find here.And I mention Pete Walker's book 'Complex PTSD: From Surviving To Thriving' which you can find out more about here.As always, let me know what you think about this episode, or any other. You can contact the lab about your experiences on the links below:Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.comThe Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you find it easy to express yourself? If so, how do you like to do it?This week I'm talking to art psychotherapist Charlotte Daley. She works predominantly with children and young people, helping them interpret and express their emotions whilst they create a piece of art. It's a form of therapy that I've benefitted from in the past, so I wanted to bring it to you and discuss some of the theory behind it. So off I went to Crystal Palace in London to meet Charlotte and make some artwork.Follow the Wellbeing Lab social media channels if you want to see my final piece: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter. You can also email hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com with your thoughts and feedback. Or send me pictures of your artwork. I'd love to see them.You can see more from Charlotte on her Instagram, or on her website.The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's episode came from a chance meeting in the sunshine. Each year I attend the Chelsea Flower Show with my mum and this summer one of the gardens was made in partnership with a charity. It's called the Centre for Mental Health and their aim is to reduce mental health inequalities by building research evidence to create fairer mental health policy.I got chatting to Andy Bell, the Chief Executive, and decided to invite him onto the podcast because so much of the work the charity does ties in with the things I discuss on this podcast all the time.I think it's important work and I hope you agree.Please share your thoughts, feelings and feedback on the episode. Here's all the ways you can get in touch with the Wellbeing Lab:Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.comThe Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nobody's perfect*, but striving for perfection can get us into mental health troubles and affect our day-to-day lives.My guest, Thomas Curran, is the world's leading expert on perfectionism and in his book The Perfection Trap, he shares his personal experience of how impossibly high expectations stand in the way of happiness, health, and success. He also talks about why this is a growing problem and what we can do about it.If this episode hits home for you, please share your thoughts, feelings and feedback. Here's all the ways you can get in touch with the Wellbeing Lab:Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.com*Except me and producer Amy at the Wellbeing Lab.The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you perceive hypnosis? Do you fully fathom your subconscious? Well, I'm so excited to bring you this episode because I start to understand those questions and many more.My guest is the hypnotherapist Jessica Boston and she really helped me get to grips with what hypnosis is, how it works and how it can be used to help us move forward if we're struggling with a problem. We also dispel some myths and we laugh along the way too.You can find out more about Jessica on her website by clicking here.I'd love to hear from you if you've tried hypnotherapy, or if anything else you've heard in this episode resonates. You can contact the podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can email hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.comThe Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's topic is one of my favourites to discuss and I explain why with my guest Sarah Calvert. She's a psychotherapist who specialises in psychosexual therapy and relationships. We get deep into the common problems with communication between two people, why we slip into these habits and what we can do about it.Sarah kindly came up with an invitation for you to try if you want to improve your communication, which you can find on her website by clicking here.Please let me know what the results are if you give it a go. Here's all the ways you can get in touch to tell me:Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.comThe Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you feel when you spend time in nature? Have you ever hugged a tree? We all know it's supposed to do us good, so I went forest bathing to find out just what nature can do for our mental health.My guests are Gary and Olga Evans from The Forest Bathing Institute. They're two very dedicated people and they have a lot of knowledge about the science behind forest bathing.I had a really lovely time and I'd love to know your experiences with nature. Here's how you can get in touch with the Lab:Instagram @thewellbeinglabpodcastFacebook @thewellbeinglabpodcastTwitter @thewellbeinglabEmail: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.comThe Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another hotly requested topic for you this week.It's Borderline Personality Disorder, explained and explored by the wonderful Dr Chetna Kang. Dr Chetna makes her return to the Wellbeing Lab to delve into the causes of BPD, the symptoms, the treatments and the misconceptions.If you're looking for information on Marsha M. Linehan, the developer of dialectical behaviour therapy mentioned in the episode, you can find her handouts and worksheets here, plus her memoir, Building A Life Worth Living, here.The Wellbeing Lab team read all the correspondence that comes in, so please get in touch if you have anything to say about this episode, or any other. You can contact the lab on the links below:Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.comThe Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shame can be one of the most painful and difficult emotions to deal with and most of the time, when it arises, we don't even deserve to feel it!It's a complex topic so I called in Dr June Tangney to discuss it with me because she's been working in the field of moral emotions for decades. We talk about what moral emotions are, the difference between shame and guilt and the ways in which society's expectations can sometimes cause us to feel shame.As always, let me know about your experiences. You can contact the lab on the links below:Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.comThe Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Countless people all over the world swear by the ancient practice of acupuncture, where very fine needles are inserted at certain sites in the body for therapeutic or preventative purposes. I've had acupuncture many times and I find it very clarifying.In this episode I speak to Gerad Kite, a Five Element acupuncture master who runs a clinic and a training school in London. He talks about the origins of acupuncture, the philosophy behind Five Element and how acupuncture is best utilised.And, you'll be pleased to hear that after a long time without featuring on the podcast, the dogs return! See if you can catch Domino snoring.As always, let me know what you think about this episode, or any other. You can contact the lab about you acupuncture experiences on the links below:Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.comThe Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm getting scientific this week! I'm delving into the world of epigenetics, which is the study of how our behaviours and environment can cause changes that affect the way our genes work. It's a relatively new field, so I called up the wonderful Dr Chloe Wong to give me the latest. Dr Chloe is a senior lecturer in epigenetics and she works at the Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience within King's College London.One of the questions I ask, thanks to a question from you dear listener, is about whether trauma felt by our ancestors can be passed down to us genetically and the answer might not be what you think.You can follow Dr Chloe on Twitter @ChloeCWong and if you're looking for more information on the studies she mentions you can find them here:The EDGI Eating Disorders Genetic Initiative also on Twitter @EDGI_UKThe Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study also on Twitter @ERiskstudyThe NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre also on Twitter @NIHRMaudsleyBRC and FacebookPlease share your thoughts, feelings and feedback on the episode. Here's all the ways you can get in touch with the Wellbeing Lab:Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.comThe Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all know that exercise is good for us and, usually, makes us feel better, but why? In this episode I learn about the science of what happens when we exercise, how technology can aid our exercise efforts and that everything I thought I knew about endorphins is wrong.My guest is Dr Joseph Firth, a UKRI research fellow at Manchester University, who researches physical health and lifestyle interventions for improving mental health.Please let me know what you thought of the episode. Here's all the ways you can be part of the Wellbeing Lab community:Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.comThe Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I learn about Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, a very severe form of premenstrual syndrome which causes extreme emotional and physical symptoms. My guest is the wonderfully funny Annika Waheed, who is an educator, a patient expert in PMDD and an advocate for those who have it. You can follow her on Instagram @HormonesandheartachePlease take care whilst listening to this episode as it contains a conversation about suicide.As always, let me know what you think about this episode, or any other. You can contact the lab on the links below:Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.comThe Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Self-love can be a difficult goal to achieve and self-hatred isn't a desirable state to be in, so where is the middle ground? Well, acceptance is the antidote to self-hatred, according to The School of Life's book on the subject. I dig into this idea with Sarah Stein Lubrano from The School of Life, discussing the roles of expectations, compassion and friendship, plus we go off on a short tangent about the German philosopher Theodor W. Adorno.I'd love to hear from you if anything you've heard in this episode resonates. You can contact the podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can email hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.comThe Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I've heard people describe the gut as the second brain and if it's important to look after the health of our brain, is it also important to look after our gut health too? Who better to ask than Professor Tim Spector, the epidemiologist and science writer who knows everything there is to know about our guts and the important microbes that live within them. He told me about the link to our immune system, the value of health supplements and the role nutrition plays in keeping our gut microbiome healthy.You can find out more about Tim, his projects and his books here.If you relate to anything we've discussed in the podcast so far I want to hear from you, please get in touch...Instagram @thewellbeinglabpodcastFacebook @thewellbeinglabpodcastTwitter @thewellbeinglabEmail: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.comThe Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode I'm talking about adult-diagnosed ADHD. It's something I've been hearing a lot about recently, so I wanted to find out what it's like to get an ADHD diagnosis as an adult and how that can effect your life going forward. My guest is the amazing Vivienne Isebor. She's the founder of ADHD Babes, as well as being a psychotherapist and a singer... and she's very funny.The Wellbeing Lab team always read all the correspondence that comes in, so please get in touch if you have anything to say about this episode, or any other. You can contact the lab on the links below:Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.comThe Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is there a better job title than neuropsychopharmacologist? I think not and today I'm lucky enough to speak to one. His name is Professor David Nutt and he's an expert on the use of psychedelic drugs to treat things like depression, addiction and anxiety. We cover a lot of ground and get into some deep questions as we explore a very interesting area of study.If you're looking for more information on David's forthcoming book 'Psychedelics' you can find it here.As always, let me know what you think about this episode, or any other. You can contact the lab on the links below:Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.comThe Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome! The hiatus has come to an end, dear listener. I'm back with a fresh batch of episodes of The Wellbeing Lab and the season begins with a biggie.I'm unpacking confidence. How to get it, how to keep it and why it might be lacking in the first place. Many of you have been in touch asking me to cover this, so I settled down for a chat with psychotherapist and Sunday Times bestselling author Anna Mathur, whose book 'Know Your Worth' asks the hard questions about why we feel the way we do.As ever, I'd love to know what you think of the episode. Here's all the ways you can be in touch with me:Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Email: hello@wellbeinglabpodcast.comI'm also delighted to tell you I'm now a Patron of Shout, the UK's first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.The Wellbeing Lab is produced by AudioAF and is part of the Acast creator network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.