Why do you keep doing everything for everyone, even when you're running on empty? That's called overfunctioning: the quiet pattern where being the capable, reliable one slowly wears you down while nobody notices, including you. And it's costing your mental health more than you realise.

This week in the Let's Talk About Mental Health podcast, I'm talking about overfunctioning: the pattern where being the capable and reliable one slowly wears you down while nobody notices, including you. If you carry the invisible labour and the mental load for everyone around you, or if you can't seem to stop even though you're overwhelmed and exhausted, then this episode is for you. I'll explain what overfunctioning actually is, why it's so closely tied to people pleasing, hyper-independence and emotional exhaustion, and why it leaves you carrying too much while quietly losing yourself in the process. More importantly, I'll walk you through how to stop overfunctioning in practical, realistic ways: how to start setting limits, how to name what you're carrying, and how to ask for what you need without everything falling apart.

This is about understanding the pattern underneath the overwhelm so you can find some balance, protect your emotional health, and avoid burnout from invisible labour and emotional labour.

👉 Ready to stop carrying so much and start looking after yourself too? Then let's talk!

💡 TL;DR: If you're the one who holds everything together for everyone else, then who's holding you together? This episode explores overfunctioning, including why you take on so much and how to put some of it down before it breaks you.

Let's Talk About Mental Health with Jeremy Godwin is about practical mental health advice for real life; each week I teach you how to improve your mental wellbeing with simple tips that actually work, drawing on my professional expertise as a counsellor and my personal experience living with anxiety and depression. Welcome and let's talk!

⏱️ Chapters/Timestamps:

0:00 The pattern nobody notices

0:39 What carrying too much costs you

3:33 What overfunctioning actually is

9:23 Why it wears down your mental health

16:33 How to start putting it down

25:43 What I want you to take away

📝 Transcript & show notes: https://ltamh.com/?p=20502

📖 Buy my book 'Life Advice That Doesn't Suck': https://jeremygodwin.com.au/latds/

📍 Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jeremygodwin

➕ Related episodes:

Feeling like a burden (Episode 336): https://ltamh.com/?p=20357

Avoiding a breakdown (Episode 300): https://ltamh.com/?p=18109

Being kind to yourself when struggling (Episode 326): https://ltamh.com/?p=19801

👋 New here?

Hi! I'm Jeremy Godwin, writer and counsellor plus the host of the Let's Talk About Mental Health podcast, your weekly dose of practical advice for better mental health. I share straightforward tips to help you protect your peace and improve your mental health, with new episodes every Sunday.

🔗 Links

Learn more about Let's Talk About Mental Health: https://ltamh.com

Subscribe for free show notes/transcripts in your inbox: https://ltamh.com/subscribe/

My Digital Store: https://ltamh.com/shop/

Buy my Daily Reflection Tool here: https://ltamh.com/product/daily-reflection/

Buy my Daily Affirmations tool here: https://ltamh.com/product/affirmations/

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ltamh

Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ltamentalhealth/

Mental health resources: https://ltamh.com/resources/

#overfunctioning #emotionalexhaustion #mentalhealth #mentalhealthtips #bettermentalhealth #ltamhpodcast #letstalkaboutmentalhealth #ltamh #peaceofmind #findingpeace #emotionalhealth #personalgrowth #mentalwellness #mentalwellbeing #emotionalwellbeing #jeremygodwin #protectyourpeace #mentalhealthpodcast #invisiblelabour #burnout #peoplepleasing #hyperindependence #findbalance #overwhelm #overwhelmed #invisiblelabor #emotionallabor #emotionallabour

Does your mind ever take one worried thought and turn it into a full-scale emergency, leaving you overwhelmed, exhausted and unable to think straight? That's a spiral, and if it's familiar territory, this episode of the Let's Talk About Mental Health podcast is for you. Because what nobody tells you about being in a spiral is this: the things you instinctively do to stop spiralling are often what keep it going.

This week I'm getting into what actually happens in your brain and body when a spiral takes hold, because understanding the feedback loop is the first step to interrupting it. When your thoughts, your emotions and your nervous system all start feeding each other, you can feel completely out of control. I'll explain why spiralling happens, why the responses most people reach for tend to make it worse, and I'll give you practical, realistic tools for emotional regulation that work even when you're already overwhelmed. If panic and anxiety are familiar territory and you're ready to break the cycle rather than just survive it, this one's for you.

👉 Ready to stop spiralling and break the cycle? Then let's talk!

💡 TL;DR: If you've ever felt your thoughts start to spiral and tried everything to make them stop, only to end up more overwhelmed than when you started, this episode will explain why that happens and what to actually do about it.

Let's Talk About Mental Health with Jeremy Godwin is about practical mental health advice for real life; each week I teach you how to improve your mental wellbeing with simple tips that actually work, drawing on my professional expertise as a counsellor and my personal experience living with anxiety and depression. Welcome and let's talk!

⏱️ Chapters/Timestamps:

0:00 When one thought becomes an emergency
0:21 How to calm down mid-spiral
3:04 What a spiral actually is
7:20 Why a spiral hijacks your brain
12:08 How to interrupt the cycle
21:59 What I want you to take away

📝 Transcript & show notes: https://ltamh.com/?p=20475

📖 Buy my book 'Life Advice That Doesn't Suck': https://jeremygodwin.com.au/latds/

📍 Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jeremygodwin

➕ Related episodes:
Overthinking and thought spirals (Episode 321): https://ltamh.com/?p=19518
Fatigue and anxiety (Episode 331): https://ltamh.com/?p=20080
Why overwhelm can make you freeze and shut down (Episode 330): https://ltamh.com/?p=20056

👋 New here?

Hi! I'm Jeremy Godwin, writer and counsellor plus the host of the Let's Talk About Mental Health podcast, your weekly dose of practical advice for better mental health. I share straightforward tips to help you protect your peace and improve your mental health, with new episodes every Sunday.

🔗 Links

Learn more about Let's Talk About Mental Health: https://ltamh.com

Subscribe for free show notes/transcripts in your inbox: https://ltamh.com/subscribe/

My Digital Store: https://ltamh.com/shop/

Buy my Daily Reflection Tool here: https://ltamh.com/product/daily-reflection/

Buy my Daily Affirmations tool here: https://ltamh.com/product/affirmations/

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ltamh

Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ltamentalhealth/

Mental health resources: https://ltamh.com/resources/

#anxietyspiral #stopspiraling #mentalhealth #mentalhealthtips #bettermentalhealth #ltamhpodcast #letstalkaboutmentalhealth #ltamh #peaceofmind #findingpeace #emotionalhealth #personalgrowth #mentalwellness #mentalwellbeing #emotionalwellbeing #jeremygodwin #protectyourpeace #mentalhealthpodcast #selfimprovement #mentalhealthsupport #spiraling #spiralling #inaspiral #nervoussystemregulation #anxietyrelief #emotionalregulation #overthinkinganxiety #anxietysupport #mentalhealthtools

What does better mental health actually look like in real life, and how do you find time to build it when you're already busy, tired, and stretched thin? Because the thing nobody tells you is that better mental health isn't about doing more; it's about focusing on the few things that actually make a difference.

In this episode of the Let's Talk About Mental Health podcast, I'm breaking down the basics of better mental health into practical steps you can actually use without piling more onto your plate. I share a simple framework built around daily habits, weekly check-ins and monthly reflection, so you can strengthen your mental wellbeing one choice at a time. It's honest, realistic mental health advice for anyone who wants to look after themselves more intentionally and finally feel like they're getting somewhere.👉 Ready to build better mental health with more clarity and consistency? Then let’s talk!💡 TL;DR: What if better mental health isn’t about doing more, but focusing on the few things that actually make a huge difference? In this episode, I break down the basics of better mental health with simple and realistic mental health tips for your everyday life.Let’s Talk About Mental Health with Jeremy Godwin is about practical mental health advice for real life; each week I teach you how to improve your mental wellbeing with simple tips that actually work, drawing on my professional expertise as a counsellor and my personal experience living with anxiety and depression. Welcome and let’s talk!________________________________⏱️ Chapters/Timestamps:

0:00 Why doing more isn't working

0:35 What better mental health actually looks like

3:07 What it really takes (it's less than you think)

7:00 Why your mental health is worth the effort

10:14 The few things that actually make a difference

21:26 What I want you to take away

📝 Transcript & show notes: https://ltamh.com/?p=20450 📖 Buy my book ‘Life Advice That Doesn’t Suck’: https://jeremygodwin.com.au/latds/📍 Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jeremygodwin

ℹ️ Mental health resources: https://ltamh.com/resources/

➕ Related episodes:

Setting healthy boundaries (Episode 248): https://ltamh.com/?p=14448 Being kinder to yourself when you’re struggling (Episode 326): https://ltamh.com/?p=19801 How to protect your peace (Episode 300): https://ltamh.com/?p=18109 👋 New here?

Hi! I’m Jeremy Godwin, writer and counsellor plus the host of the Let’s Talk About Mental Health podcast, your weekly dose of practical advice for better mental health. I share straightforward tips to help you protect your peace and improve your mental health, with new episodes every Sunday.🔗 LinksLearn more about Let’s Talk About Mental Health: https://ltamh.com Subscribe for free show notes/transcripts in your inbox: https://ltamh.com/subscribe/ My Digital Store: https://ltamh.com/shop/ Buy my Daily Reflection Tool here: https://ltamh.com/product/daily-reflection/Buy my Daily Affirmations tool here: https://ltamh.com/product/affirmations/ Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ltamh Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ltamentalhealth/

#mentalhealthbasics #improveyourmentalhealth #mentalhealth #mentalhealthtips #bettermentalhealth #ltamhpodcast #letstalkaboutmentalhealth #ltamh #peaceofmind #findingpeace #emotionalhealth #personalgrowth #mentalwellness #mentalwellbeing #emotionalwellbeing #jeremygodwin #protectyourpeace #mentalhealthpodcast #selfimprovement #mentalhealthsupport #basicsofbettermentalhealth #howtoimprovementalhealth #selfcaretips #mentalhealthselfcare #mentalhealthawareness #sustainablementalhealth

Physical anxiety symptoms can feel terrifying, especially when anxiety and stress start showing up in your body with chest tightness, nausea, a racing heart, or panic attack symptoms that seem to come out of nowhere. So, we need to talk about how to identify and deal with physical anxiety symptoms... and how to calm them.

In this episode of the Let’s Talk About Mental Health podcast, I explore what happens when anxiety stops feeling like ‘just worry’ and starts showing up physically, as well as why anxiety happens and how the body can get stuck in a feedback loop. We’ll also explore how nervous system anxiety can leave you dealing with heart palpitations anxiety, anxiety nausea, anxiety exhaustion, and other anxiety physical effects that make everyday life feel harder than it needs to. I break down anxiety vs panic attack symptoms, look at what somatic anxiety can actually feel like, and share practical mental health tips to help you respond more calmly, understand the pattern beneath your symptoms, and start finding real anxiety relief instead of feeding the fear. 

This episode is for anyone dealing with anxiety symptoms, a panic attack, an anxiety attack, or the exhausting confusion of wondering whether what you’re feeling is stress, burnout, an anxiety disorder, or something more serious. 

👉 Ready to understand your anxiety symptoms better and find peace? Then let’s talk!

💡 TL;DR: Think your symptoms are random? This episode breaks down physical anxiety symptoms and the link between anxiety and stress, so you can understand what your body is trying to tell you and what to do about it.

Let’s Talk About Mental Health with Jeremy Godwin is all about practical mental health advice for real life; each week I teach you how to improve your mental wellbeing with simple tips that actually work, drawing on my professional expertise as a counsellor as well as my personal experience living with anxiety and depression. Welcome to the conversation!

________________________________

⏱️ Chapters/Timestamps:

0:00 Anxiety symptoms and mental health

0:37 Physical anxiety symptoms

4:28 What anxiety does to your body

10:00 Why an anxiety loop happens

16:03 How to calm the anxiety loop

24:27 Final tips for physical anxiety symptoms

📝 Transcript & show notes: https://ltamh.com/?p=20446        

📖 Buy my book ‘Life Advice That Doesn’t Suck’: https://jeremygodwin.com.au/latds/

📍 Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jeremygodwin 

➕ Related episodes:

Fatigue and anxiety (Episode 331): https://ltamh.com/?p=20080

Emotional regulation when overwhelmed (Episode 327): https://ltamh.com/?p=19866 

👋 New here? 

Hi! I’m Jeremy Godwin, writer and counsellor plus the host of the Let’s Talk About Mental Health podcast, your weekly dose of practical advice for better mental health. I share straightforward tips to help you protect your peace and cultivate better mental health, with new episodes every Sunday.

🔗 Links

Subscribe for free show notes/transcripts in your inbox: https://ltamh.com/subscribe/  

Learn more about Let’s Talk About Mental Health: https://ltamh.com 

My Digital Store: https://ltamh.com/shop/  

Buy my Daily Reflection Tool here: https://ltamh.com/product/daily-reflection/

Buy my Daily Affirmations tool here: https://ltamh.com/product/affirmations/  

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ltamh  

Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ltamentalhealth/        

#physicalanxietysymptoms #anxietyandstress #mentalhealth #mentalhealthtips #bettermentalhealth #ltamhpodcast #letstalkaboutmentalhealth #ltamh #peaceofmind #findingpeace #emotionalhealth #personalgrowth #mentalwellness #mentalwellbeing #emotionalwellbeing #jeremygodwin #bettermentalhealth #findingpeace #protectyourpeace #mentalhealthpodcast #panicattacksymptoms #anxietysymptoms #dealingwithanxiety #anxietyrelief #mentalhealtheducation #somaticanxiety #nervoussystem #panicattack #anxietyattack 

Do you feel like a burden if you need help from others? Do you keep asking yourself whether you’re too much, too needy, or too hard to support? 

In this episode of the Let’s Talk About Mental Health podcast, I’m talking about feeling like a burden when you’re struggling and why that belief can quietly fuel low self worth, self doubt, emotional suppression, hyper independence, trust issues, and the fear of being a burden whenever you need emotional support. 

If you’ve ever talked yourself out of asking for help, felt worthless for having needs, or let your inner critic convince you that your emotional pain is a problem for other people, this episode is for you. I explore where that pattern comes from, how shame and emotional vulnerability can mean you start to feel unsafe quickly, and why asking for help does not make you weak, needy, or broken. I also unpack how overcoming self sabotage and healing trauma, as well as building self compassion, can help you stop treating your needs like something you have to apologise for, so you can find healthier and clearer ways to seek mental health support. 

👉 Ready to ask for support without shame taking over? Then let’s talk!

💡 TL;DR: If you’re struggling with feeling like a burden, low self worth, or the fear of asking for help, this episode will help you understand why it happens and how to seek support without shame running the show.

Let’s Talk About Mental Health with Jeremy Godwin is all about practical mental health advice for real life; each week I teach you how to improve your mental wellbeing with simple tips that actually work, drawing on my professional expertise as a counsellor as well as my personal experience living with anxiety and depression. Welcome to the conversation!

________________________________

⏱️ Chapters/Timestamps:

0:00 Feeling like a burden

0:25 How to stop feeling like a burden

2:24 What it means when your needs feel like too much

6:12 Why needing support can feel unsafe

12:42 How to ask for support without shame taking over

22:09 Final tips for asking for support

📝 Transcript & show notes: https://ltamh.com/?p=20357       

📖 Buy my book ‘Life Advice That Doesn’t Suck’: https://jeremygodwin.com.au/latds/

📍 Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jeremygodwin 

➕ Related episodes:

Being kinder to yourself when you’re struggling (Episode 326): https://ltamh.com/?p=19801 

👋 New here? 

Hi! I’m Jeremy Godwin, writer and counsellor plus the host of the Let’s Talk About Mental Health podcast, your weekly dose of practical advice for better mental health. I share straightforward tips to help you protect your peace and cultivate better mental health, with new episodes every Sunday.

🔗 Links

Subscribe for free show notes/transcripts in your inbox: https://ltamh.com/subscribe/  

Learn more about Let’s Talk About Mental Health: https://ltamh.com 

My Digital Store: https://ltamh.com/shop/  

Buy my Daily Reflection Tool here: https://ltamh.com/product/daily-reflection/

Buy my Daily Affirmations tool here: https://ltamh.com/product/affirmations/  

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ltamh  

Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ltamentalhealth/        

#feelinglikeaburden #askingforhelp #mentalhealth #mentalhealthtips #bettermentalhealth #ltamhpodcast #letstalkaboutmentalhealth #ltamh #peaceofmind #findingpeace #emotionalhealth #personalgrowth #mentalwellness #mentalwellbeing #emotionalwellbeing #jeremygodwin #bettermentalhealth #findingpeace #protectyourpeace #mentalhealthpodcast #selfimprovement #feelingstuck  #emotionalsupport #lowselfworth #hyperindependence #mentalhealthsupport 

Navigating heartbreak and breakup pain can be rough, because there’s no instruction guide on how to get over a breakup… especially when it’s negatively affecting your mental health. So, let's talk about how to survive a breakup without losing your sense of self.

In this episode of the Let’s Talk About Mental Health podcast, I’m talking about how to deal with a breakup in a way that’s honest, practical, and kind to yourself. Whether you’re struggling with heartbreak, breakup anxiety, breakup grief, or the confusing aftermath of a relationship ending, this episode will help you understand why breakup healing can feel like such an emotional rollercoaster and what to do after a breakup if you want to heal without feeding the pain. 

I explore how to get through a breakup when your mind keeps going backwards, why healing after a breakup takes time, how to move on after a breakup without abandoning your self-respect, and why letting go after a breakup is really part of a bigger healing journey. So if you’re stuck in the messy middle part and wondering how to deal with a breakup without losing yourself, this episode will help you protect your dignity and take small steps forward. 

👉 Ready to deal with a breakup without losing yourself? Then let’s talk!

💡 TL;DR: Going through a breakup? Feeling stuck in heartbreak, anxiety, or constant overthinking? In this episode I talk about how to deal with a breakup, so you can calm the chaos and start healing.

Let’s Talk About Mental Health with Jeremy Godwin is all about practical mental health advice for real life; each week I teach you how to improve your mental wellbeing with simple tips that actually work, drawing on my professional expertise as a counsellor as well as my personal experience living with anxiety and depression. Welcome to the conversation!

________________________________

⏱️ Chapters/Timestamps:

0:00 Dealing with a breakup

0:39 How to get through a breakup

3:31 What a breakup really does to you

5:36 Why breakups affect your mental health

10:08 How to deal with a breakup

22:44 Final tips and breakup advice 

📝 Transcript & show notes: https://ltamh.com/?p=20354      

📖 Buy my book ‘Life Advice That Doesn’t Suck’: https://jeremygodwin.com.au/latds/

📍 Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jeremygodwin 

➕ Related episodes:

Finding closure when they won’t forgive you (324): https://ltamh.com/?p=19676 

👋 New here? 

Hi! I’m Jeremy Godwin, writer and counsellor plus the host of the Let’s Talk About Mental Health podcast, your weekly dose of practical advice for better mental health. I share straightforward tips to help you protect your peace and cultivate better mental health, with new episodes every Sunday.

🔗 Links

Subscribe for free show notes/transcripts in your inbox: https://ltamh.com/subscribe/  

Learn more about Let’s Talk About Mental Health: https://ltamh.com 

My Digital Store: https://ltamh.com/shop/  

Buy my Daily Reflection Tool here: https://ltamh.com/product/daily-reflection/

Buy my Daily Affirmations tool here: https://ltamh.com/product/affirmations/  

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ltamh  

Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ltamentalhealth/        

#breakup #breakupadvice #mentalhealth #mentalhealthtips #bettermentalhealth #ltamhpodcast #letstalkaboutmentalhealth #ltamh #peaceofmind #findingpeace #emotionalhealth #personalgrowth #mentalwellness #mentalwellbeing #emotionalwellbeing #jeremygodwin #bettermentalhealth #findingpeace #protectyourpeace #mentalhealthpodcast #selfimprovement #breakuphealing #breakupanxiety #healingjourney #nervoussystemhealing

Feeling stuck in life? Going through the motions? Wondering why life feels empty? It’s time to stop existing and start living more!

In this episode of the Let’s Talk About Mental Health podcast, I explore the difference between existing vs living and what happens when survival mode becomes your normal. If you’ve been feeling numb, flat, disconnected, or like you’re just getting through each day, this episode is for you. I talk about why feeling stuck is often not just a motivation problem, and how to enjoy life more through simple and meaningful shifts that build momentum over time. This is an honest, practical conversation about how to stop feeling numb, how to get out of a rut, how to be more present, and how intentional living can help you change your life in realistic ways. 

So if you’ve been asking yourself how to enjoy life, how to be happy, how to start over, and how to stop existing and start living, or wondering why your purpose driven life feels so far away, this episode will help you understand what’s really going on and how to start re-engaging with your life with more kindness, clarity, and self-respect. 

👉 Ready to start participating in your life more fully? Then let’s talk!

💡 TL;DR: If you’re feeling stuck, numb, or like you’re just existing instead of living, this episode will help you understand why life feels empty and how to start enjoying life more.

Let’s Talk About Mental Health with Jeremy Godwin is all about practical mental health advice for real life; each week I teach you how to improve your mental wellbeing with simple tips that actually work, drawing on my professional expertise as a counsellor as well as my personal experience living with anxiety and depression. Welcome to the conversation!

________________________________

⏱️ Chapters/Timestamps:

0:00 Existing vs living

0:28 It’s time to stop existing and start living

2:43 What is existing vs living?

6:23 Why just existing harms your mental health

11:07 How to stop existing and start living

22:46 Final tips for dealing with manipulation

📝 Transcript & show notes: https://ltamh.com/?p=20316     

📖 Buy my book ‘Life Advice That Doesn’t Suck’: https://jeremygodwin.com.au/latds/

➕ Related episodes:

Focusing on what really matters (Episode 306): https://ltamh.com/?p=18636

Being more present (Episode 287): https://ltamh.com/?p=17264 

Being intentional (Episode 218): https://ltamh.com/?p=12776 

👋 New here? 

Hi! I’m Jeremy Godwin, writer and counsellor plus the host of the Let’s Talk About Mental Health podcast, your weekly dose of practical advice for better mental health. I share straightforward tips to help you protect your peace and cultivate better mental health, with new episodes every Sunday.

🔗 Links

Subscribe for free show notes/transcripts in your inbox: https://ltamh.com/subscribe/  

Learn more about Let’s Talk About Mental Health: https://ltamh.com 

Support me on Patreon for early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/jeremygodwin 

My Digital Store: https://ltamh.com/shop/  

Buy my Daily Reflection Tool here: https://ltamh.com/product/daily-reflection/

Buy my Daily Affirmations tool here: https://ltamh.com/product/affirmations/  

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ltamh  

Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ltamentalhealth/        

#existingvsliving #survivalmode #mentalhealth #mentalhealthtips #bettermentalhealth #ltamhpodcast #letstalkaboutmentalhealth #ltamh #peaceofmind #findingpeace #emotionalhealth #personalgrowth #mentalwellness #mentalwellbeing #emotionalwellbeing #jeremygodwin #bettermentalhealth #findingpeace #protectyourpeace #mentalhealthpodcast #selfimprovement #feelingstuck  #stuckinlife #goingthroughthemotions #livewithintention #enjoylifemore

Feeling manipulated by someone? Manipulation can include guilt tripping, pressure, emotional manipulation, controlling behaviour, and sometimes gaslighting, but the common thread is the same: someone is trying to pull you away from your own needs, wants, and choices.

In this episode of the Let’s Talk About Mental Health podcast, I’m talking about how to deal with manipulation: what manipulative behavior is, and how to approach emotional manipulation in a more assertive way, especially when manipulation tactics make it hard to navigate a difficult relationship. If you’re dealing with manipulative people, toxic relationships, or unhealthy relationships, or if you’re trying to understand the signs of manipulation before you get pulled in too far, this episode is for you. I’ll explore why guilt and manipulation can affect your self-esteem and mental health so deeply, why manipulative dynamics often get worse when you start setting boundaries, and how to say no without over-explaining, apologising, or letting someone else’s pressure make your choices for you. You’ll learn how to recognise manipulation earlier, respond with more self-respect, and practice assertiveness in a way that protects your peace without turning you into someone cold or cruel. 

👉 Ready to recognise manipulation and respond more assertively? Then let’s talk!

💡 TL;DR: If guilt trips, gaslighting, or manipulative behaviour keep pushing you into saying yes when you really mean no, this episode will help you spot manipulation earlier and respond with more self-respect.

Let’s Talk About Mental Health with Jeremy Godwin is all about practical mental health advice for real life; each week I teach you how to improve your mental wellbeing with simple tips that actually work, drawing on my professional expertise as a counsellor as well as my personal experience living with anxiety and depression. Welcome to the conversation!

________________________________

⏱️ Chapters/Timestamps:

0:00 Manipulation and mental health

0:36 Dealing with manipulative people

3:15 What is manipulation?

6:49 Why manipulation harms your mental health

11:21 How to stop being manipulated

23:35 Final tips for dealing with manipulation

📝 Transcript & show notes: https://ltamh.com/?p=20211     

📖 Buy ‘Life Advice That Doesn’t Suck’: https://jeremygodwin.com.au/latds/

➕ Related episodes:

Discomfort (Episode 239): https://ltamh.com/?p=14013

Patterns (Episode 303): https://ltamh.com/?p=18325

Healthier Relationships (Episode 266): https://ltamh.com/?p=15724 

Boundaries/People Pleasing (Episode 322): https://ltamh.com/?p=19518

Difficult People (Episode 325): https://ltamh.com/?p=19737

👋 New here? 

Hi! I’m Jeremy Godwin, writer and counsellor plus the host of the Let’s Talk About Mental Health podcast, your weekly dose of practical advice for better mental health. I share straightforward tips to help you protect your peace and cultivate better mental health, with new episodes every Sunday.

🔗 Links

Subscribe for free show notes/transcripts in your inbox: https://ltamh.com/subscribe/  

Learn more about Let’s Talk About Mental Health: https://ltamh.com 

Support me on Patreon for early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/jeremygodwin 

My Digital Store: https://ltamh.com/shop/  

Buy my Daily Reflection Tool here: https://ltamh.com/product/daily-reflection/

Find me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ltamh  

Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ltamentalhealth/        

#manipulation #manipulativepeople #mentalhealth #mentalhealthtips #bettermentalhealth #ltamhpodcast #letstalkaboutmentalhealth #ltamh #peaceofmind #findingpeace #emotionalhealth #personalgrowth #mentalwellness #mentalwellbeing #emotionalwellbeing #jeremygodwin #bettermentalhealth #findingpeace #protectyourpeace #mentalhealthpodcast #selfimprovement #healthierrelationships #emotionalmanipulation #manipulativebehaviour #toxicrelationships #unhealthyrelationships #boundaries #assertiveness #selfrespect

Ever wondered, “Why am I lonely even when people are around me?” You’re not alone, and loneliness around others is more common that you might think. 

In this episode of the Let’s Talk About Mental Health podcast, I’m talking about loneliness in one of its most confusing forms: feeling alone, unseen, and disconnected even when you’re surrounded by other people. If you feel lonely in friendships, at work, in a relationship, or in social situations that look fine on the outside, this episode is for you. I explore why loneliness is not just about having no friends or being physically by yourself, but about the quality of your connection, the levels of loneliness people can experience, and what may be driving chronic loneliness or that constant thought of “why am I lonely?”. I also look at why you may feel unseen, how to deal with loneliness, what to do when you feel lonely around other people, and how to stop feeling lonely by building connections that feels more real. 

So if you’ve been wondering how to overcome loneliness, how to feel more connected, or why being around people still leaves you feeling alone, this episode will help you understand what’s really going on and what to do next. 

👉 Ready to feel more connected and less alone? Then let’s talk!

💡 TL;DR: If you often feel lonely even around other people, this episode will help you understand why you feel alone, what you need to focus on, and how to start overcoming loneliness and build real connections. 

Let’s Talk About Mental Health with Jeremy Godwin is all about practical mental health advice for real life; each week I teach you how to improve your mental wellbeing with simple tips that actually work, drawing on my professional expertise as a counsellor as well as my personal experience living with anxiety and depression. Welcome to the conversation!

________________________________

⏱️ Chapters/Timestamps:

0:00 Loneliness and mental health

0:32 Feeling lonely when you’re not alone

3:08 What is feeling lonely around others

8:10 Why loneliness affects your mental health

12:55 How to deal with loneliness

22:22 Final tips for dealing with loneliness

📝 Transcript & show notes: https://ltamh.com/?p=20200    

📖 Buy ‘Life Advice That Doesn’t Suck’: https://jeremygodwin.com.au/latds/

➕ Related episodes:

Emotional regulation (Episode 15): https://ltamh.com/?p=848  

👋 New here? 

Hi! I’m Jeremy Godwin, writer and counsellor plus the host of the Let’s Talk About Mental Health podcast, your weekly dose of practical advice for better mental health. I share straightforward tips to help you protect your peace and cultivate better mental health, with new episodes every Sunday.

🔗 Links

Subscribe for free show notes/transcripts in your inbox: https://ltamh.com/subscribe/  

Learn more about Let’s Talk About Mental Health: https://ltamh.com 

Support me on Patreon for early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/jeremygodwin 

My Digital Store: https://ltamh.com/shop/  

Buy my Daily Reflection Tool here: https://ltamh.com/product/daily-reflection/

Buy my Daily Affirmations tool here: https://ltamh.com/product/affirmations/  

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ltamh  

Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ltamentalhealth/        

#loneliness #feelinglonely #mentalhealth #mentalhealthtips #bettermentalhealth #ltamhpodcast #letstalkaboutmentalhealth #ltamh #peaceofmind #findingpeace #emotionalhealth #personalgrowth #mentalwellness #mentalwellbeing #emotionalwellbeing #jeremygodwin #bettermentalhealth #findingpeace #protectyourpeace #mentalhealthpodcast #selfimprovement #feelingalone #dealingwithloneliness #healthierrelationships #emotionalconnection

Are you dealing with fatigue and anxiety, brain fog, and that horrible feeling of being both wired and worn out at the same time? Welcome to one of the most common anxiety symptoms: fatigue.

In this episode of the Let’s Talk About Mental Health podcast, I’m talking about why ‘anxiety exhaustion’ can leave you feeling flat, mentally exhausted, emotionally exhausted, and stuck in survival mode even when you’re trying your best to hold it all together. This episode is for anyone who feels anxious often, keeps pushing through stress and anxiety, and is starting to wonder whether they’re dealing with burnout, mental exhaustion, anxiety symptoms, or just some vague kind of fatigue they can’t explain. 

I unpack how anxiety, stress, and constant internal pressure can quietly drain your system, fuel brain fog, and make ordinary life feel harder than it should, and I explore how to stop anxiety and fatigue feeding each other without piling on more pressure or pretending you can just “power through”. If you’ve ever worried about adrenal fatigue, felt confused by your anxiety symptoms, or wondered why anxiety relief can feel so hard when you’re already worn down, this episode will help you understand what’s really going on and how to begin breaking the cycle in practical, realistic ways. 

👉 Ready to understand your exhaustion and start breaking the cycle? Then let’s talk!

💡 TL;DR: Sick of feeling anxious, exhausted, foggy, and stuck in survival mode? In this episode I unpack the link between fatigue and anxiety so you can understand what’s draining you and how to start changing it. 

Let’s Talk About Mental Health with Jeremy Godwin is all about practical mental health advice for real life; each week I teach you how to improve your mental wellbeing with simple tips that actually work, drawing on my professional expertise as a counsellor as well as my personal experience living with anxiety and depression. Welcome to the conversation!

________________________________

⏱️ Chapters/Timestamps:

0:00 Mental health and anxiety

0:39 Fatigue and anxiety

4:21 What is fatigue and anxiety?

7:20 Why fatigue and anxiety affects your mental health

11:52 How to break the cycle of fatigue and anxiety

22:06 Final freeze response tips 

📝 Transcript & show notes: https://ltamh.com/?p=20080   

📖 Buy ‘Life Advice That Doesn’t Suck’: https://jeremygodwin.com.au/latds/

➕ Related episodes:

Emotional regulation (Episode 327): https://ltamh.com/?p=19866 

👋 New here? 

Hi! I’m Jeremy Godwin, writer and counsellor plus the host of the Let’s Talk About Mental Health podcast, your weekly dose of practical advice for better mental health. I share straightforward tips to help you protect your peace and cultivate better mental health, with new episodes every Sunday.

🔗 Links

Subscribe for free show notes/transcripts in your inbox: https://ltamh.com/subscribe/  

Learn more about Let’s Talk About Mental Health: https://ltamh.com 

Support me on Patreon for early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/jeremygodwin 

My Digital Store: https://ltamh.com/shop/  

Buy my Daily Reflection Tool here: https://ltamh.com/product/daily-reflection/

Buy my Daily Affirmations tool here: https://ltamh.com/product/affirmations/  

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ltamh  

Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ltamentalhealth/        

#anxiety #fatigue #mentalhealth #mentalhealthtips #bettermentalhealth #ltamhpodcast #letstalkaboutmentalhealth #ltamh #peaceofmind #findingpeace #emotionalhealth #personalgrowth #mentalwellness #mentalwellbeing #emotionalwellbeing #jeremygodwin #bettermentalhealth #findingpeace #protectyourpeace #mentalhealthpodcast #selfimprovement #stressresponse #emotionalregulation #nervoussystem #copingwithoverwhelm

Feeling overwhelmed, frozen, or emotionally numb even when you’re still getting through the day? That’s the freeze response in action, which you may know as part of the fight flight freeze response.

In this episode of the Let’s Talk About Mental Health podcast, I’m exploring the freeze response: what functional freeze is, why overwhelm can trigger emotional shutdown, and why feeling overwhelmed and exhausted is not just about motivation or willpower. I talk about what this stress response looks like in real life when you’re feeling overwhelmed, can’t think straight, feel stuck, or notice your nervous system has basically hit a wall. I also unpack why functional freeze can quietly damage your emotional health, affect your emotional regulation, and make coping with overwhelm even harder (especially if you keep piling on pressure, instead of understanding what your system is actually doing). I’ll also walk you through practical mental health tips to help you respond differently: reduce pressure, recognise the pattern underneath the shutdown, protect your limits, and start moving forward. 

If you’ve been dealing with overwhelm, functional freeze, shutdown, or a freeze response that’s leaving you flat, foggy, or disconnected, this episode is for you. 

👉 Ready to understand the freeze response and tackle overwhelm? Then let’s talk!

💡 TL;DR: Overwhelmed, feeling frozen and shut down, and stuck in your own head? In this episode I’m breaking down the freeze response: what functional freeze is, why it happens, and how to start finding clarity when your system is overloaded.

Let’s Talk About Mental Health with Jeremy Godwin is all about practical mental health advice for real life; each week I teach you how to improve your mental wellbeing with simple tips that actually work, drawing on my professional expertise as a counsellor as well as my personal experience living with anxiety and depression. Welcome to the conversation!

________________________________

⏱️ Chapters/Timestamps:

0:00 Overwhelm and mental health

0:40 The freeze response

3:49 What is functional freeze and shutdown?

7:04 Why shutdown affects your mental health

11:39 How to deal with the freeze response

24:24 Final freeze response tips 

📝 Transcript & show notes: https://ltamh.com/?p=20056  

📖 Buy ‘Life Advice That Doesn’t Suck’: https://jeremygodwin.com.au/latds/

➕ Related episodes:

Being kinder to yourself (Episode 326): https://ltamh.com/?p=19801

Emotional regulation (Episode 327): https://ltamh.com/?p=19866 

👋 New here? 

Hi! I’m Jeremy Godwin, writer and counsellor plus the host of the Let’s Talk About Mental Health podcast, your weekly dose of practical advice for better mental health. I share straightforward tips to help you protect your peace and cultivate better mental health, with new episodes every Sunday.

🔗 Links

Subscribe for free show notes/transcripts in your inbox: https://ltamh.com/subscribe/  

Learn more about Let’s Talk About Mental Health: https://ltamh.com 

Support me on Patreon for early ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/jeremygodwin 

My Digital Store: https://ltamh.com/shop/  

Buy my Daily Reflection Tool here: https://ltamh.com/product/daily-reflection/

Buy my Daily Affirmations tool here: https://ltamh.com/product/affirmations/  

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ltamh  

Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ltamentalhealth/        

#overwhelmed #freezeresponse #mentalhealth #mentalhealthtips #bettermentalhealth #ltamhpodcast #letstalkaboutmentalhealth #ltamh #peaceofmind #findingpeace #emotionalhealth #personalgrowth #mentalwellness #mentalwellbeing #emotionalwellbeing #jeremygodwin #bettermentalhealth #findingpeace #protectyourpeace #mentalhealthpodcast #selfimprovement #functionalfreeze #emotionalshutdown #feelingstuck #stressresponse #emotionalregulation #nervoussystem #copingwithoverwhelm