Mental Notes From My Minivan

Here is a podcast I recorded almost a year ago and never published. I have no idea what it contains so we can hear about it at the same time. I wonder what I will think of it?!! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kirsty-sayer/support

Hi kids! I’m back and getting vulnerable about the grip shame has had on me. I’m offering some unorthodox tips that are working for me to hack ADHD mostly by confronting it’s most debilitating bed partner: SHAME. Why thinking that you have to shame yourself in order to get or stay motivated is a HUGE mistake and how becoming resilience to shame will free up a ton of bandwidth and allow you to use your uncommonly brilliant brain infinitely more effectively. I also talk about PDA (not the fun kind) and how I’m finding hacks to get around that. A tip! If you have ADHD try listening to me 2x or even 3x speed. I speak pretty slowly and ADHD brains tend to focus better on speedy stuff. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kirsty-sayer/support

Emotional Dysregulation is one of the least well understood yet major components of ADHD and can be it’s most serious and debilitating symptom. Today I discuss ADHD and RSD (Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria) one very common and extremely painful manifestation of DESR (deficient emotional self-regulation). *This episode draws from a clinical presentation I did on the topics for my masters program at Northwestern University. I really encourage anyone with ADHD or who loves someone with ADHD to listen. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kirsty-sayer/support

Today I’m talking about identifying limiting beliefs, purging stagnant mindsets and moving beyond our uncomfortable comfort zones. Simple exercises for steadily moving our fears and insecurities out of the driver’s seat of our lives, finding contentment with where we are right now while simultaneously looking forward with joy and enthusiasm. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kirsty-sayer/support

This week I’m talking about things like creating comparison narratives (why is everyone but me so competent/cool; why is everybody mad at me). Why people participate in “pain Olympics” (my trauma is worse than your trauma) and what one single thing allowed me to conduct an effective therapy session under pressure with almost no clinical skills. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kirsty-sayer/support

2023 is that you?! My first episode this year! I’m chatting about my first 6 weeks of grad school. It’s been a damn ride! Things I expected to be hard? Not that bad! Stuff I never expected to struggle with or come up at all? Baptism by fire! Would I recommend it to others like me?! Listen and find out… --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kirsty-sayer/support

Today I talk about curiosity. How it can overcome fear anxiety and overwhelm and break you out of your Discomfort Zone (that place which feels familiar but also unfulfilling and nagging). How engaging purposefully with curiosity took away analysis paralysis and made previously scary and stressful endeavours feel natural and fun. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kirsty-sayer/support

In todays episode I share a recent experience where finally understanding a long-time trigger freed me from nagging anxiety. PLUS! My proven tips for taking on a terrifying/overwhelming task or journey in a way that feels manageable and builds your confidence. **Especially if you have ADHD or other neuroatypical challenges. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kirsty-sayer/support

Do you know what your personal attachment style is? We all have one! In this episode I discuss Attachment Theory and 4 types of relationship attachment styles. Identifying my own has been truly LIFE CHANGING and is making an incredible impact on my ability to stabilise and heal myself and my most important relationships. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kirsty-sayer/support

In today’s episode I talk about how paralysing people pleasing has been in my life. How nobody cares what colour you paint your bedroom and how you can reframe your perception of your reality to create a better one. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kirsty-sayer/support

How was your Summer?! Good? Great! Mine was an emotional rollercoaster mostly a slow disassociated climb ending in a free fall of despair and identity crisis! Wheeee!! Fun! I talk about the dangers of trying to compartmentalise sadness or bad feelings (and why it’s absolutely to be expected that so many of us are still struggling more than we used to) How unhelpful tendency to isolate ourselves when we are drinking from The Cocktail of Bad Feelings and how to find good friends, even if you never leave your house. In part two, I talk about the small shift that got me back on track to feeling a lot more like myself and how your own shift might be so much more attainable than you might imagine. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kirsty-sayer/support

Everyone's favourite Joe Boyle is back. And this conversation has it all. Tragedy, triumph and everything in between.  We talk about Joe's ongoing battle with cancer and where he is now. How the loss of his father and several close friends at the same time as his health took a major turn for the worse right in time for a global pandemic affected him. The devastation of being seen by some as disposable in a COVID precaution weary world, and the dehumanizing burden of becoming a "Brand" when you choose to share your struggles publicly. On the lighter side, we discuss how Joe was able to leverage cancer treatment coping skills into a creating a sense of community, especially for his high-school students and how he found himself authoring a five part book series in the midst of it all. Don't miss this one. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kirsty-sayer/support

My ultimate life hack for when you are feeling stuck unmotivated depressed exhausted numb or frozen. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kirsty-sayer/support

This episode gives 5 reasons why understanding and expressing your needs is an act of mature self love and a radical form of community service. Includes plenty of practical tips and scripts to express your needs in a healthy conflict free way and how to create a safe environment for others to do the same. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kirsty-sayer/support

How to adjust your perspective on the difficult work of recovering from mental illness, grief or/or burnout and respond to your needs the way an excellent friend would. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kirsty-sayer/support

Today I talk about the need for more intentional efforts to create joy in our daily lives through small indulgences, sensory pleasures and intentional luxuries that don’t have to cost any money. How these things can help us to overcome trauma, and also just restore and replenish us for the inevitable difficulties and struggles of life. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/kirsty-sayer/support

In this episode I talk about a recent experience with self betrayal, we look into the patterns of self abandonment what it looks and feels like, why we do it and how we can stop. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kirsty-sayer/support

Do you feel guilty for feeling sad when others have it worse or guilty for being happy when people you love are suffering? Also: how to really comfort people. (Hint: most of us get it wrong) and a bunch of easy bio hacks to help ease stress, anxiety and depression. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kirsty-sayer/support

In this episode I talk about some things I’ve been reflecting on since the recent passing of my friend’s precious son Luke after his brave battle with brain cancer. Includes my thoughts on how to better support people in pain, how to fully sink into (rather than fear or grasp at) those brief beautiful moments of contentment and joy… plus my best method for riding out my most impossible times and the most romantic Valentine’s gift my husband ever gave me. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kirsty-sayer/support

In today’s episode. Talking about my newly famous husband whose work is floating 1 million miles out in space ready to unlock the secrets of the universe (No biggie) and how it’s restoring my faith in humanity. PLUS: How I’ve been stuck in the paralysis of WAIT MODE for 2 years and what I’m doing to deactivate it and rediscover joy and myself. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kirsty-sayer/support