In this SAFE SPACE episode we're going to find out what it's like to live with a diagnosis of Schizophrenia so we can understand it better and help reduce some of the stigma surrounding this mental wellbeing issue.

Jess sits down with 45-year-old Phoebe Kingston who has a lived experience of mental distress including a diagnosis of Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, and more recently, Dissociative Identity Disorder.

Phoebe openly shares the stigma and discrimination they've faced, which can often be more distressing than the symptoms of the illness itself. You’ll hear first hand what it's like to experience an acute, psychotic and delusional paranoid episode.

There is so much we can learn from Phoebe including the importance of compassionate listening and human connection, while debunking some common myths and misconceptions surrounding Schizophrenia.

Phoebe works in several roles across the mental health sector, and is a lived experience peer ambassador for SANE Australia. Phoebe has a special interest area in advocacy for alternative understandings of mental & emotional distress. So in this conversation you'll hear Phoebe use non clinical language from a carefully chosen framework of understanding and self-identity. Everyone's personal lived experience story is unique, and Phoebe is termed a ‘critical democratic peer worker’ for their overarching perspectives on mental well being.

Content Warning: This episode touches on suicide and you’ll hear some detailed descriptions of what it’s like to experience psychosis. If anything in this story has caused you distress you might like to contact lifeline 13 11 14 or Blue Knot Foundation that deals with childhood trauma

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LINKS:

If you need support or want to learn more about Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective disorder or or you’re looking to connect to other people in this situation Sane Australia

Visit The Warren Academy for more of Phoebe’s recommended resources

If you love what we do, why not follow the show, and rate and review on Apple or Spotify

Is there someone you'd like to hear on the podcast? Send Jess your guest ideas here

CREDITS:
Host: Jessica Rowe
Guest: Phoebe Kingston
Executive Producer: Nic McClure
Audio Producer: Nat Marshall
Digital Content Producer: Zoe Panaretos

The Jess Rowe Big Talk Show acknowledges the Gadigal people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we recorded this podcast, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders peoples here today.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this first episode of the SAFE SPACE series we're going to find out what it's like to live with an addiction to Methamphetamine, also known as Ice. Jess sits down with 51 year old mum Nicole who survived 28 years of drug abuse and has now been abstinent from all substances for seven and a half years.

Nicole shares her experience of living with an addiction, the initial allure of the drug, and the devastating impact it had on her life, relationships, and body. There is so much we can learn from Nicole about what addiction does to your brain, the importance of the words we do or don't use when it comes to drug use, as well as the judgements we can unfairly make when we see people affected by drugs.

Nicole is now a senior peer support worker at Mission Australia and helps guide people through addiction into recovery.

Content Warning: This is a conversation about substance addiction and you'll hear some detailed descriptions of the damage that addiction can do to your mind and body, it also touches on suicide.

Is there somebody you'd like to share this episode with? Just tap the 3 dots above ⬆︎ and pass it on

LINKS:

If you need support or want to learn more about substance addiction the National Alcohol and other drug hotline provides confidential support for people struggling with addiction. You can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 1800 250 015.

Family Drug Support is also available 24/7 if you're dealing with drug and alcohol use in your family and after some support 1300 368 186

And if anything in this story has caused you distress you might like to contact lifeline 13 11 14.

If you love what we do, why not follow the show, and rate and review on Apple or Spotify

Is there someone you'd like to hear on the podcast? Send Jess your guest ideas here

CREDITS:
Host: Jessica Rowe
Guest: Nicole Bowering
Executive Producer: Nic McClure
Audio Producer: Nat Marshall
Digital Content Producer: Zoe Panaretos

The Jess Rowe Big Talk Show acknowledges the Gadigal people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we recorded this podcast, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders peoples here today.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Across the month of August Jess is changing things up with a special mini-series where she opens up the microphone beyond her famous guests, and talks to Australians who are often marginalized, ignored or misunderstood, and don't get a chance to share their stories and perspectives in a SAFE SPACE without judgment.

Over 4 episodes hear Jess speak with women who have a lived experience of Ice Addiction, Schizophrenia diagnosis, Racism as an Asian Australian and Obesity Stigma.

New episodes will publish every Wednesday kicking off tomorrow 6th August.

CREDITS:
Host: Jessica Rowe
Executive Producer: Nic McClure
Audio Producer: Nat Marshall
Digital Content Producer: Zoe Panaretos

The Jess Rowe Big Talk Show acknowledges the Gadigal people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we recorded this podcast, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders peoples here today.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.