Episode 37

EP037: Special Guest Saskia Lightburn Ritchie talks about living with Bipolar

Saskia Lightburn Ritchie has a collection of hidden and chronic conditions and came on the Happiness Hub to share her experience and how she manages her symptoms and mental health daily.

Saskia talked mainly about her diagnosis of Bipolar but also how this led her to be diagnosed with other conditions such as diabetes and ulcerative colitis.

Saskia's story will help anyone with a chronic or mental health condition, the things that Saskia does daily to help manage her symptoms and take care of herself will help anyone living with a hidden disease.

Saskia talked about The Spoon Theory and how it's a useful way to describe your energy levels or lack of to others when you live with a chronic condition and how the book An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jameson really helped her understand her own Bipolar condition.

Saskia is also the CEO of a local domestic abuse charity called Cheshire Without Abuse. The charity is dealing with twice the amount of people needing their support at the moment due to COVID.

Visit their website if you would like more information about the services they offer and if you'd like to help, support or volunteer for the charity too.

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About the Podcast

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The Happiness Hub
How to be happy, get happy and stay happy with chat and laughter from Kedren Elliott and Liz Parkin

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About your hosts

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Kedren Elliott

My name is Kedren, yes Kedren (my name is a bit strange, like myself).

I'm currently finishing my final year's training to become a counsellor and work at North Staffs Mind.
I'm also someone who has struggled with my mental health and lived with friends and family who have also faced challenges.

Through the happiness hub, I really want to help as many people as I can to find ways to live happier. It doesn't have to be complicated, there are little things we can do every day to help with our mental health and feel happier.

So that's a bit about me, but you can find out more by listening to our Hub Podcast!
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Liz Parkin

I'm Liz, Kedren's podcasting side-kick, close friend and gin-buddy for over 10 years.

My mental health challenges started in my early teens and continued through a rather traumatic year in 2004.

It was at this point that I discovered Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) which quite literally changed my life - or maybe my perception on life...

In this podcast I will share with you some of the tips and techniques that I learned whilst training for my NLP Practitioner and then Master Practitioner over 14 years ago. NLP got me through some very dark times and given me a bag of mindset tools and strategies to help me keep my mental health, well... healthy!
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Nantwich Buddies

Nantwich Buddies is a volunteer organisation set up at the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Formerly known as RedShift Radio, the online community radio station and podcast network closed during lockdown and Buddies ramped up their support of the community. Helping with shopping, befriending and supporting the mental health of Nantwich residents.
The podcasting continues as Nantwich Buddies and podcasters are welcome to join our network as long as they meet the criteria: Engaging, Uplifting or Inspiring and support the wellbeing or learning of our community.