Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness
Elise Dolinar
- 19
- Episodes
- 2021
- First episode
About Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness
Podcast Launch: Feb 22, 2022!! (2-22-22) This podcast is about living and thriving with a mental illness. It will also be about finding people who understand what you’re living with, discovering different things that might help with symptoms and seeing a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel. You can expect mental health stories, shared experiences, inspirational and informational tidbits as well as interviews with individuals living with a mental illness and those in the mental health profession each week on this podcast.
- Publisher
- Elise Dolinar
- Category
- health & fitness
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 27 Oct 2021
- Latest episode
- 1 Oct 2023
Latest episodes
19 episodes in the feed.
1 Oct 2023
Don't Settle When it Comes to Your Self-Worth- Ep. 18
Hey everyone, Elise here. This episode was a little difficult for me to sit down and record and I don't even think I said everything I wanted to or articulated it in the best way because it was a bit of a raw subject for me at the time of recording. I focus on self-worth and not letting people- friends, family, relationships, define your worth. Don't let them cause self doubt and destruction. I feel better about the situation that prompted the episode, the feelings aren't as raw, but it still hurts to talk about and it may for a while. And that's OK. I was mad about not getting over feelings and not moving on fast, but it's OK if it takes time. I learned I need to sit with the feelings and acknowledge them. That will lead to healing. The point is, don't let someone put a price tag on your self-worth. Thank you all for tuning in being a part of the mental illness conversation. Be sure to subscribe to the Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness podcast as well as follow me on Instagram and join the private Facebook group to continue the conversation! This is a prerecorded episode. -Elise
30 Jun 2023
Diving into Bipolar Disorder ft. Matt MacLean -Ep.17
Hey everyone, Elise here. This episode has been a long time in the making and it is finally here! I had the chance to talk with Matt MacLean of "The Recombobulated Life" Podcast on his struggles and journey of living with Bipolar Disorder. I love that we also had a chance to talk about the current stigma on mental illness in society. Thank you all for tuning in being a part of the mental illness conversation. Be sure to subscribe to the Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness podcast as well as follow me on Instagram and join the private Facebook group to continue the conversation! This is a prerecorded episode. -Elise
24 May 2023
Don't Wish Your Life Away- Ep.16
Hey everyone, Elise here. You all know how I like to read inspirational and informative quotes and phrases, well this was one I had to share. In this episode, I talk about how I more or less wished my life away because of my depression, or at least large chunks of it. I was always looking forward to things like events, family visiting, etc. in order to cope; it's what I felt would help me survive. Have you ever felt this way? Now, I am trying to reflect and focus more on the present. Work in progress here, so I am still a long way from my goal! Thank you all for tuning in being a part of the mental illness conversation. Be sure to subscribe to the Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness podcast as well as follow me on Instagram and join the private Facebook group to continue the conversation! This is a prerecorded episode. -Elise
26 Feb 2023
Dealing with Anxiety Part 2 ft. Hannah Brennan-Dolinar- Ep. 15
Hey everyone, Elise here. Get ready for part two of the anxiety chat I had with my sister-in-law, Hannah. In this episode, which is a little shorter this time, we briefly take about generational trauma, how anxiety is sometimes tied to depression and more! Hannah is currently studying for her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and I hope to have more conversations on what she's learned in future episodes! Thank you all for tuning in being a part of the mental illness conversation. Be sure to subscribe to the Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness podcast as well as follow me on Instagram and join the private Facebook group to continue the conversation! This is a prerecorded episode. -Elise
30 Nov 2022
Dating and Depression Don't Mix- Ep. 14
Hey everyone, Elise here! In this episode of Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness, I talk about my struggles with dating and dealing with depression. Relationships have not been my forte most of my adult life and a big part of that has been due to my depression. My depression was always there to tell me I wasn't good enough or enough of anything. More recently, I've noticed a pattern of my depression getting worse when I liked someone. That's when the "you're not good enough" voice was loudest. This episode was a little hard for me to record, but hopefully you can relate to the struggle. Thank you all for joining me for this episode and being a part of the mental illness conversation! Be sure to subscribe to the Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness podcast as well as follow me on Instagram and join the private Facebook group to continue the conversation! This is a prerecorded episode. -Elise
29 Sept 2022
Clutter, Cleaning and How They Impact Your Mental Illness- Ep. 13
Hey everyone, Elise here! In this episode of Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness, I talk about how cleaning can help you manage symptoms of your mental illness! What? Yep, you heard me! I've noticed that when things get too cluttered, my anxiety and depression start to kick into high gear. I start to relax when things get tidied up! You should give it a try! Tune into the episode for a few more tips and some of my experiences. Thank you all for joining me for this episode and being a part of the mental illness conversation! Be sure to subscribe to the Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness podcast as well as follow me on Instagram and join the private Facebook group to continue the conversation! This is a prerecorded episode. -Elise
27 Aug 2022
Dealing with Dysthymia ft. Joanne VanderVies- Ep. 12
Hey everyone, Elise here! In case you missed the message last month- moving forward, OSS podcast episodes will be published once a month. Working 40+ hours a week has left me with less time to record and edit episodes more often. Thanks for your understanding and support! In this episode of Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness, I had the opportunity to talk with fellow podcaster Joanne VanderVies about Dysthymia, which is also known as persistent depressive disorder or low-grade, chronic depression. This has been my favorite interview so far with the podcast because I heard so much of my mental illness story in her's. This episode truly made me feel less alone simply by hearing so much commonality in our stories; I found someone else who knows exactly how I feel and gets it. I felt understood for the first time in my life and that was a big moment. Be sure to check out Joanne's Podcast, The Sun Rises, on your favorite podcast platform! And drop her a message on Instagram @great_aunt_jo! Thank you all for joining me for this episode and being a part of the mental illness conversation! Be sure to subscribe to the Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness podcast as well as follow me on Instagram and join the private Facebook group to continue the conversation! This is a prerecorded episode. -Elise
16 Jul 2022
Give Yourself Grace- Ep. 11
Hey everyone, Elise here! Quick update- moving forward, OSS podcast episodes will be published once a month. Working 40+ hours a week has left me with less time to record and edit episodes more often. Thanks for your understanding and support! In this episode of Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness, I found another quote that spoke to me. I usually won't talk about quotes unless I have this feeling in my heart or feel like it is something I 100% relate to. This month, I want you to give yourself grace. When we live with a mental illness, we are hard on ourselves especially when we've been working on getting better and only have small achievements. I want you to celebrate those small achievements because they are just as important as big ones! You are making progress and you've got this! Take the time to look at where you are now and where you were a week ago, a month ago, a year ago. I guarantee you've come a long way and are not the same person. Celebrate that. Know that it took a long time for your mental illness to root itself; it's going to take just as long to get better. So again, give yourself grace! Thank you all for joining me for this episode and being a part of the mental illness conversation! Be sure to subscribe to the Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness podcast as well as follow me on Instagram and join the private Facebook group to continue the conversation! This is a prerecorded episode. -Elise
18 Jun 2022
Handling ADHD and BPD ft. Artist Lori Laskowsky- Ep. 10
Hey everyone, Elise here! Quick update- moving forward, OSS podcast episodes will be published once a month usually on the second Saturday of the month. Working 40+ hours a week has left me with less time to edit episodes more often. Thanks for your understanding and support! In this episode of Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness, I got the chance to chat with my friend, fellow podcaster and artist extraordinaire, Lori Laskowsky about her upcoming podcast "The Feel Good Home" podcast, living with ADHD and other family members living with a mental illness. You can find out more about Lori and her podcast through her Instagram page @lorilaskowskyart. Thank you all for joining me for this episode and being a part of the mental illness conversation! Be sure to subscribe to the Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness podcast as well as follow me on Instagram and join the private Facebook group to continue the conversation! This is a prerecorded episode. -Elise
28 May 2022
Maybe It's a Broken Heart, Not a Broken Brain...- Ep.9
Hey everyone, Elise here. This week on Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness, I wanted to share some quotes I found related to mental illness. They are thought provoking and make you wonder if maybe it's a broken heart and not a broken brain that causes depression, and maybe anxiety is an expression of societal imbalances, not just chemical imbalances... Thank you all for joining me this week and being a part of the mental illness conversation. Be sure to subscribe to the Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness podcast as well as follow me on Instagram and join the private Facebook group to continue the conversation! This is a prerecorded episode. -Elise
14 May 2022
Dealing with Anxiety Part 1 ft. Hannah Brennan-Dolinar- Ep. 8
Hey everyone, Elise here. This week on Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness, I was able to sit down an chat with my sister-in-law, Hannah, about anxiety and her studies to get a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. We talk about her experiences, ways she's coped with her anxiety and a little about her current studies. Thank you all for joining me this week and being a part of the mental illness conversation. Be sure to subscribe to the Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness podcast as well as follow me on Instagram and join the private Facebook group to continue the conversation! This is a prerecorded episode. -Elise
30 Apr 2022
Feeling More Isolated During the Pandemic- Ep. 7
Things have improved greatly since the start of the pandemic, but at its peak, everyone was driven into some form of isolation and for those of us living with a mental illness who already live parts of our lives in isolation, it made things even worse. In this episode, I talk about my experience of living with my depression and how the lock down impacted my mental health. Thank you all for joining me this week and being a part of the mental illness conversation. Be sure to subscribe to the Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness podcast as well as follow me on Instagram and join the private Facebook group to continue the conversation! This is a prerecorded episode. -Elise
16 Apr 2022
Me, Myself and I: My Worst Enemy- Ep. 6
Living with a mental illness means living with this other part of you that can be your worst enemy. This week I wanted to talk about that voice, that part of us we deal with that never seems to want to give us a break and bring us down whenever possible. For those who don't struggle with a mental illness, I think this is something helpful for you to understand what we have to deal with on a daily basis. Thank you all for joining me this week and being a part of the mental illness conversation. Be sure to subscribe to the Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness podcast as well as follow me on Instagram and join the private Facebook group to continue the conversation! This is a prerecorded episode. -Elise
29 Mar 2022
When Things Go Bump in the Night- Ep. 5
Hey everyone, Elise here! This week we are talking about how a lot of times symptoms of a mental illness increase at night. I don't know about you, but I have always experienced my lowest lows at night... and it looks like there are reasons as to why this happens. Do you experience worse symptoms at night? As always, I'd love to hear from you! Please feel free to reach out on Instagram or join the private Facebook group named Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! This is a prerecorded episode. -Elise
15 Mar 2022
If Only Overthinking Burned Calories...- Ep. 4
Hey everyone, Elise here. This week I talk a little bit about overthinking when you live with a mental illness. We already have that voice telling us things and bringing us down, then adding overthinking on top of it all makes for a mess. Be sure to subscribe to Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness so you never miss an episode and find the Our Secret Self page on Instagram for more content and the private Facebook group to continue the mental illness and mental health conversation! This is a prerecorded episode. -Elise
8 Mar 2022
The Struggles of Reaching Out- Ep. 3
Hey, everyone! This week I wanted to focus on the struggles of reaching out to people for help when you live with a mental illness. It has certainly been a struggle for me over the years. As always, if you'd like to continue the conversation of the day, please feel free to find me on Instagram at Our Secret Self or join the private Facebook group, Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness. Thank you for wanting to be a part of the conversation! This is a prerecorded episode. -Elise
1 Mar 2022
The Physical Side of Mental Illness- Ep. 2
This weeks episode talks a little about the physical symptoms a lot of us face living with a mental illness. From my experience with depression, energy levels and exhaustion have been major physical symptoms I've had to deal with. I offer some of the things I've tried to help with energy levels, so maybe there is something that might help you too! If you experience other physical symptoms, I'd love to learn more about other mental illnesses, so please feel free to join the private Facebook group (Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness) and let's continue the conversation there! You can also reach out on Instagram too! This is a prerecorded episode. -Elise
22 Feb 2022
A New Journey-Ep. 1
Potential trigger warning: I do briefly share my experience with suicidal thoughts. If that is something you are triggered by, please skip this episode. Hi everyone! I am so excited to have you start this journey with me! I felt that sharing a bit of my mental health and mental illness story would be the appropriate way to kick off the podcast. This new journey is a little out of my comfort zone, but I hope to be able to share more and open up more in future episodes. This podcast is going to be messy, like my life, but I'm glad your here and open to the journey! Thank you for wanting to be a part of this mental illness conversation. It is important to break the stigma surrounding mental illness and I think we can do that together. In this episode, I also offer some things I've tried to battle my depression. I'm not a doctor so I don't have a bunch of medical answers, but I have my experiences and what I've tried and hopefully there is something from those that can help you too. :) This is a prerecorded episode. -Elise
27 Oct 2021
Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness Podcast Trailer
Hi! I'm Elise Dolinar a former broadcast professional, holistic health junky and mental health advocate and this is Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness. As someone who has dealt with depression for more than half my life, I’ve really struggled to find people to confide in because most of them just don’t get it. Don’t get me wrong, I love my family and friends and I’ve talked with therapists, but I feel like they truly don’t understand what’s going on. This podcast is about living and thriving with a mental illness. It will also be about finding people who understand what you’re living with, discovering different things that might help with symptoms and seeing a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel. You can expect mental health stories, shared experiences, inspirational and informational tidbits as well as interviews with individuals living with a mental illness and those in the mental health profession each week on this podcast. I started this podcast because I’ve felt like I don’t fit in, that people misunderstand me, that I’m not good enough and that life will always be hard and I know there are others who feel the same. With everything going on in the world, people have never felt more isolated. We all need someone who understands what we are feeling and why. I’m not a doctor, I don’t have a cure, my life is messy and I don’t have an answer for everything, but I hope I make you feel seen, accepted and validated after listening to this podcast. Will you come on this journey with me? Be sure to subscribe to Our Secret Self: Living with a Mental Illness so you never miss an episode and join our group on Facebook for more conversation. In the meantime, I want you to take a deep breath, give yourself grace and believe in the possibility of tomorrow.
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