Show Notes
Shantelle had always wanted to be a mother. Growing up as one of 18 siblings, family held a special importance to her. But when her twins arrived, she felt no connection to them. She was terrified by thoughts of hurting them.
Approximately one in six new mums experience postnatal depression. Shantelle never thought she’d be one of them.
This is an episode about a proud Barkindji woman who found recovery by connecting with her culture on a deeper level and finding peace on the Jiu-Jitsu mat.
Not Alone is a Beyond Blue podcast hosted by Marc Fennell, produced by Sam Loy and executive produced by Darcy Sutton and Sarah Alexander. It was recorded by Ryan D’Sylva with mixing and sound design by Que Nguyen. Our theme song is Sense of Home by Australian artist Harrison Storm. You can access resources related to this episode, including support service information on the Beyond Blue episode page: bb.org.au/postnatal See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
More from Not Alone
Milli had always wanted to live and work overseas. But when she finally made it over to London, she found herself unemployed and homesick. Struggling with the pressure to get a job and ‘live the dream’ she started experiencing panic attacks. She had no idea what was happening. She thought she was having a medical emergency. It wasn’t until she found a website about anxiety that things started to click into place. With the right support, time and patience, Milli was soon able to enjoy her time in London. When she moved to Melbourne, she was worried about it happening again. This time round however, she knew what she needed to do to look after herself and stay well. Hear Milli talk about what her panic attacks felt like and the steps she took to manage them. This episode of Not Alone was produced by Audrey Hughes and narrated by Thomas Milana. Sound design by Jan Wong. Our theme song is Friends with Feelings, written and performed by Alice Skye, and produced by CAAMA music. You can access resources related to this episode, including support information at bb.org.au/panic-attacks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As a kid, Nicole was loud, bubbly and dancing. It was her dream to be a professional dancer. And one she worked towards every day. When she was a teenager, Nicole went through a traumatic experience and dancing became her way to cope. To express herself. To help her manage these emotions she was struggling to control. After suffering an injury, Nicole struggled to deal with the impact of losing her dream and greatest outlet. Seeing a GP and sharing what she was going through with her friends and family made all the difference. Hear Nicole talk about how letting go – and letting people in – can help us heal.
Catriona Bisset is an Olympian and the fastest Australian woman to ever run the 800m. But for a decade, she left the sport she loved. Anxiety became a constant companion and centred on one thing she couldn’t outrun – her body. Through therapy, she is learning to accept anxiety and depression as part of who she is. And to replace fear with self-compassion. This episode of Not Alone was produced by Darcy Sutton and Nick Budicin, and narrated by Tom Russell. Sound design by Jan Wong. Our theme song is Friends with Feelings, written and performed by Alice Skye, and produced by CAAMA music. You can access resources related to this episode, including support information at bb.org.au/friends-with-anxiety See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
For Geoff, mental health was something briefly touched on in medical school as something to be aware of in patients. Not himself. Doctors don't get sick. So when the stresses of work started to catch up with him, Geoff didn't know what to do. And it was a long time before he sought help. Hear Geoff reflect on his experiences at medical school and in the field, how he manages his mental health today, and his dreams for the medical industry. This episode of Not Alone was produced by Darcy Sutton and narrated by Margot Moore. Sound design by Jan Wong. Our theme song is Friends with Feelings, written and performed by Alice Skye, and produced by CAAMA music. You can access resources related to this episode, including support information at bb.org.au/depression-at-work See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
At 20, Sandi lost her brother to suicide. In 2018, her long-term marriage broke down, and she found herself living alone. Slowly, Sandi’s friendships began to deteriorate, and she was eventually hospitalised with major depression. Moving into a retirement village at a relatively early age, Sandi realised how important spending time with others was for her mental health and wellbeing. Sandi’s story is about overcoming grief and understanding the power of connection with others. This episode of Not Alone was produced by Nick Budicin and narrated by Thomas Russell. Sound design by Jan Wong. Our theme song is Friends with Feelings, written and performed by Alice Skye, and produced by CAAMA music. You can access resources related to this episode, including support information at bb.org.au/overcoming-grief. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.