This month, our Sunflower Conversations Podcaster in Australia and New Zealand, Peta Hooke, interviews Alana talking about schizoaffective disorder, a combination of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Alana discusses her experience with hallucinations and multi-sensory delusion, and how the Sunflower can help in employment and education environments.

Schizoaffective disorder is a combination of two mental illnesses – schizophrenia and a mood disorder. The main types of associated mood disorder include bipolar disorder (characterised by manic episodes or an alternation of manic and depressive episodes) and unipolar disorder (characterised by depressive episodes). For more information, please visit here.

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

The Sunflower Conversations is a Podcast where we explore the experiences of people living with hidden disabilities and what the Sunflower means to them. It’s a space to share your experience and to empower and encourage more people to support invisible disabilities.

A big thank you to Peta Hooke for conducting the interviews with compassion and respect and to Sandee Facy for the beautiful Sunflower song. You can follow Peta's I can't stand podcast here and Sandee Facy's music here.

If you want to share your experience, get in touch with us by emailing us here.

Martin Cornally shares his experience of the rare pituitary disease called acromegaly. Hear firsthand how a pituitary tumour led to excessive production of growth hormone, causing severe physical changes, including osteoarthritis. Despite undergoing two surgeries, Martin continues to fight this chronic and life-long condition, shedding light on the crucial need for early diagnosis and increased awareness among medical professionals.

Explore the differences between acromegaly and gigantism, conditions that, though related, manifest at different stages of life. We discuss this rare disease's emotional, physical, and financial impacts, highlighting the importance of recognising subtle symptoms early on. Martin's symptoms include severe headaches, significant weight gain, and enlarged organs, which underlines the challenging journey of living with acromegaly and the importance of timely, accurate diagnoses.

In this episode, we also delve into the broader challenges of invisible disabilities, and co-host Scott shares how he has coped with having multiple brain aneurysms.

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

For support

• World Alliance of Pituitary Organisations
• The Pituitary Foundation Ireland
• The Pituitary Foundation UK

Hosted by Chantal Boyle and Scott Casson-Rennie, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Music by "The Emerald Ruby" Emerald Ruby Bandcamp and Emerald Ruby website

Our guest is Rachel Bilski from the charity PTSD UK. PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and is typically associated with veterans. However, it isn't only veterans who can develop it – And Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, CPTSD, is less well known and, therefore, can take longer to diagnose.

Rachel's lived experiences of CPTSD contribute to her work as a lecturer and supervisor for the Minded Institute for Yoga Therapy Training Institute. We put your questions to Rachel during this conversation and learned about the differences and nuances between PTSD and CPTSD.

We look into the complexities of emotional flashbacks and the varied manifestations of symptoms that can profoundly impact daily life.

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

For support

• PTSD UK
• Paul's blog (RE "brave")
• Rachel Bilski's blog (emotional flashbacks)
• Down to Earth Yoga Therapy

Hosted by Chantal Boyle and Paul Shriever, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Music by "The Emerald Ruby" Emerald Ruby Bandcamp and Emerald Ruby website

This month, our Sunflower Conversations Podcaster, Peta Hooke, interviews Althea, talking about ADHD and Autism.

The Sunflower Conversations is a Podcast where we explore the experiences of people living with hidden disabilities and what the Sunflower means to them.

It’s a space to share your experience and to empower and encourage more people to support invisible disabilities.


If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

If you want to share your experience, get in touch with us by emailing us here.

Connect with the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower here: Website, Facebook, Instagram.

Our guest is Amy Kelly, Head of Communications and Fundraising at Crohn's & Colitis Ireland. Amy was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease when she was 27 and shares her lived experiences and the impacts and adjustments she has made to her life.

Amy explained that inflammatory bowel disease is an autoimmune disease and how it differs from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Amy walks us through what the symptoms are and shares some interesting statistics about the impacts of IBD on patients.

The 'poo taboo' campaign seeks to encourage and educate what healthy bowel movements are and what they should look and feel like to help spot and seek diagnosis at an earlier stage.

Amy also hosts the "GutCast" podcast – the first podcast for people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Ireland.

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

For support

• Crohn's & Colitis Ireland
• Crohn's & Colitis UK
• GutCast podcast

Hosted by Chantal Boyle and Scott Casson-Rennie, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.

If you enjoyed this podcast please leave a rating and review. Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Music by "The Emerald Ruby" Emerald Ruby Bandcamp and Emerald Ruby website

This podcast was recorded as an Instagram Live.

CONTENT WARNING. The terms suicide and eating disorders are referenced. Please visit your healthcare provider if you are concerned about any issues relating to this topic.

Anna Cooper, co-founder of the Menstrual Health Project, and Dr Rebeccah Tomlinson joined us to answer questions from the Sunflower community about Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD).

In addition to explaining the differences between PMDD and PMS/PMT, they advised on how to seek support and discussed how important it is to track one's cycle.

Questions from the community:

1. What are the common symptoms of PMDD?

2. What’s the tipping point where PMS becomes PMDD?

3. How do people cope with PMDD / what accommodations do people give themselves?

4. Is there a possibility that the symptoms get less severe or even completely stop by itself?

Disclaimer: Any reference that talks about women includes people assigned female at birth.

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

For support

• The Menstrual Health Project

Hosted by Chantal Boyle, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.

If you enjoyed this podcast please leave a rating and review. Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Music by "The Emerald Ruby" Emerald Ruby Bandcamp and Emerald Ruby website


Follow us on socials:

• Instagram
• Tik Tok
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• X

CONTENT WARNING. We touch upon suicide, eating disorders and self-harm. Our guest will talk about her lived experiences, and signposting to charities for support. Please visit your healthcare provider if you are concerned about any issues relating to this topic.

This podcast was recorded as an Instagram Live.

For years, Amani battled with anxiety, rage, suicidal thoughts and attempts, which she attributed to severe CPTSD and the other symptoms she experienced were attributed to endometriosis and adenomyosis.

The turning point arrived after being put into chemical menopause while waiting for a hysterectomy. The suicidal thoughts disappeared, Amani instantly felt better, and that is when she discovered that she had been living with PMDD.

Amani talks about the treatments she had, implantable estrogen and the importance of community.

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

For support

• Amani's Instagram The Empty Uterus Club
• International Association for Premenstrual Disorders IAPMD
• The Menstrual Health Project

Hosted by Chantal Boyle, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.

Want to share your story? email conversations@hdsunflower.com

Music by "The Emerald Ruby" Emerald Ruby Bandcamp and Emerald Ruby website


Follow us on socials:

• Instagram
• Tik Tok
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• X

• Parkinson's UK charity
• Parkinson's Ireland charity
• Eve's Instagram pd_and_me