In this 5 part series host Andy Fermo chats with registered psychologist Stuart McKenzie exploring PTSD and navigating a map to Post Traumtic Growth.
Having met through a veteran telehealth service during COVID Stuart brought to light his work on refining the Map of Resilience and how people suffering grief, loss and mental health issues will at (many points) visit the places on the map.
In this episode the duo explore the emotional rollercoaster of relationship changes. Stu introduces the "resilience map" illustrating this journey, emphasising that while anticipated changes can be navigated smoothly, unexpected ones can lead to emotional turmoil.
They stress the importance of acknowledging and expressing emotions, outlining steps for effective management: acknowledgment, expression, and acceptance. Avoiding emotions can lead to numbness or prolonged anger.
The recovery phase, symbolised by a "forest of hope," allows for rest and energy renewal. The hosts highlight the significance of emotional resilience and invite listeners to the next episode on maintaining emotional well-being in relationships.
Key Takeaways from their chat:
1. Acknowledge emotions to begin the healing process.
2. Expressing emotions is crucial for emotional movement and healing.
3. Accepting emotions helps in managing and overcoming them effectively.
4. Avoidance of emotions can lead to emotional numbness.
5. Navigating intense emotions involves acknowledging, expressing, and accepting them.
6. Emotional resilience is built through the continuous process of managing emotions.
7. The "forest of hope" phase is essential for energy recovery and regaining strength.
8. Sudden, unforeseen changes can lead to severe emotional distress and require careful navigation.
9. Anger can often be a projection of deeper, unacknowledged pain.
10. Emotional well-being in relationships requires ongoing effort and self-awareness.
Part 6: Post Traumatic Growth - Living LIfe by Design
The power of the Map of Resilience and Unleash Your Inner Strength is the learning and the psychoeducation that you get from the whole picture, understaning this psychological journey and landscape.
We visit the Forest of Hope and learn about the power of self compassion. It's in this place on the map where exploring self compassion and learning to integrate self compassion into our lives is an essential piece of work.
The Rocky Paths challenges us to ask; What is it that I want? Life is short, Life can take on more of a sense of opportunities. Who is it that I want to be? What are my values and what are my character strengths and where, when I look at the compass of my values and the superpower of my character strengths, where is it that, what direction is that compass pointing in now that I know that, where is it prompting me to go so that I can live a life that is more meaningful, more more purposeful, more connected.
2 Jun 2024
Part 5: Navigating Anger, Guilt and Avoidance. Grief and Suicide.
A bit of a trigger warning we are going to be talking about suicide and how it's affected people who, or those who were left behind after a suicide in this first portion of the podcast, there's a bit heavier content, but I think it gives the map of resilience context about what we're talking about.
There is no escaping the process of grief, and that grief redefines who we are. There is no therapy that's going to fix you. The Map of Resilience at least gives you a sense of where you are and the hope that you will continue to grow. Your life will continue to grow around this grief. And that there is a landscape and map that gives you the direction and an understanding of what might be coming next. We discuss the risks of getting caught in anger, guilt and avoidance.
Life is constantly changing. We're constantly changing our relationship with people, with things, with ourselves. We're growing all the time. But sometimes something really big comes along and knocks us out! THis episode addresses just such catastrophes.
2 Jun 2024
Part 4: The Swamp of Feelings - Managing Distress
We hit the swamp of feelings if we have had a sudden and unexpected tradgedy in our lives. We are in essence swamped by our feelings and the risk is that we will sink down under that water into the depths of depression. This episode addresses the strategies one needs to cope with big feelings, the skills required to get to the surface of the swamp, stay afloat and swim.
Help seeking is everything if we are sinking into the depths of the swamp. We risk getting caught in the anger and guilt mudflats or getting out of the swamp at such high speed we end up in the avoidance marshes.
Journey with us as we continue exploring the places on the Map of Resilience.
2 Jun 2024
Part 3: Stuart's Personal Story of trauma, PTSD and Growth
In this episode Stuart shares a personal story of a life altering experience that left him traumatised, suffering bouts of anxiety, panic and depression. Setting the scene for the episodes outlining the Map of Resilience, a critical tool he has used to rebuild himself in the wake of tragedy.
2 Jun 2024
Part 2: Navigating Relationships and Catastrophe
"Welcome to the Podcast, a beacon of hope and healing for veterans, first responders, and their support networks navigating the complexities of post-traumatic stress. Through the power of shared experiences, our mission is to foster meaningful connections and provide actionable insights for self-care. Join us as we delve deep into the lived stories of peers, support staff, and clinicians, uncovering the map of resilience and guiding listeners through grief, trauma, and the journey towards inner strength, resilience and growth.
In each episode, we'll flip the script on mental health, exploring themes of resilience, disarming trauma and rebuilding lives. Stuart McKenzie, a registered psychologist and author of 'Unleash Your Inner Strength,' as we embark on a series unpacking the map of resilience. From acknowledging pain to reclaiming hope, our discussions aim to illuminate the path towards healing and empowerment and Post Trumatic Growth.
So, buckle up as we navigate the twists and turns of the human experience. A word of caution: the stories shared may serve as triggers for PTSD. If you need immediate support, please reach out to Lifeline on 13114. Now, let's dive into today's episode with Stuart McKenzie."
2 Jun 2024
Part 1: Introducing the Map of Resilience - Your guide to Post Traumatic Growth
In this introductory episode - Stuart McKenzie - gives an introduction to the Map of Resilience and his new book 'Unleash your Inner Strength'. The Map of Resilience is a geographical and journey metaphor of a psychological landscape through grief and loss, trauma recovery, building the skills of resilience and post traumatic growth.
Come on a journey through relationship highway, catastrophe bridge, the swamp of feelings, the anger and guilt mudflats, avoidance marshes, the forrest of hope, rocky paths and the seemore mountains.
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