Trauma, Truth, and the Nervous System | With Dr Brian Tierney

A Mother’s Story of Losing Her Son to Overdose | with Margaret Martin

If you’ve ever lost someone to overdose, or loved someone who kept chasing a feeling that scared you, you know grief does not arrive neatly. In this episode, Paris sits down with Margaret Martin, a Western Australia-based social worker and counsellor, to talk about losing her son Ethan to an MDMA overdose at 25. But this is not just a conversation about how Ethan died. It is about who Ethan was. A cheeky, philosophical, risk-taking young man. A chef. A head chef far too young. A father to two little girls. A son whose life was bigger than the worst day of it. Margaret speaks about the police knock, the shock, the move to Geraldton days later, and the strange protection of being somewhere no one knew her story yet. She also talks about drugs, harm reduction, undiagnosed ADHD, the hospitality industry, parental guilt, the coroner’s process, and the kind of grief people often pull away from because they do not know what to say. What you’ll hear in this episode: • What Ethan was like before overdose became the headline • The moment Margaret found out her son had died • Why “addicted to the feeling” can change how we understand substance use • The grief spiral of “should have, could have, would have” • Why Margaret supports drug testing at festivals and clubs • What happens when overdose grief becomes socially uncomfortable • How My Condolences helps people support someone who is grieving If you’ve ever loved someone through addiction, feared that knock at the door, or felt abandoned after a loss people did not know how to talk about, this one’s for you. About Margaret Martin Margaret Martin is a Western Australia-based social worker and counsellor. After losing her son Ethan to an MDMA overdose at 25, Margaret began creating spaces for grief conversations that are honest, practical and less terrifying to have. Through My Condolences, she offers live workshops and one-on-one grief support sessions for people who are grieving or supporting someone through loss. She is also working on projects around parental estrangement and an upcoming podcast titled Unspeakable. Margaret Martin’s website: www.mycondolencesworkshop.com [http://www.mycondolencesworkshop.com] Email: info@mycondolencesworkshop.com [info@mycondolencesworkshop.com] Thank you to our Season 4 sponsors: ⁠⁠⁠Coach Carly⁠⁠⁠ [https://coachcarly.com/] – Life & mindset coaching | ⁠⁠⁠Elevate Beyond Co.⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.elevatebeyondco.com.au] – Disability support services | ⁠⁠⁠Your Recovery⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.yourrecovery.au] – Addiction recovery support Thank you to our Production Team: Video/Audio Editing: ⁠⁠⁠Nevverland Studio⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/nevverlandstudios/] | VA - ⁠⁠⁠Lyn Ebon⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.lynebon.com/] Australia Wide Directory of Services: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.myservices.org.au/⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.myservices.org.au/] Western Australian AOD Services: ⁠⁠⁠https://wanada.org.au/greenbook/⁠⁠⁠ [https://wanada.org.au/greenbook/] National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline: 1800 250 015 Lifeline: 13 11 14 | Suicide Call Back: 1300 659 467 | Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 | Mind Spot: 1800 61 44 34 | Head to Health: 1800 595 212 | Mens Line: 1300 78 99 78 | 13YARN: 13 92 76 | Thirrili: 1800 805 801 |QLife: 1800 184 527 | Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 | Headspace: 1800 650 890 Follow The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠www.shtsfcked.com⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.shtsfcked.com] | ⁠⁠⁠Donate Here |⁠⁠⁠ [www.shtsfcked.com/donate]⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ [instagram.com/shtsfcked] | ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ [facebook.com/shtsfckedthepodcast] | ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ [youtube.com/@ShtsFckedThePodcast] | ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠ [tiktok.com/@shtsfcked]

The Hidden Crisis in Men's Lives | With John Rich

If you’ve ever wondered why so many men stay silent until everything is already falling apart... this conversation is for you. In this episode, Paris sits down with John Rich, Chairperson of Men’s Health and Wellbeing WA [https://menshealthwa.org.au/], to talk about men’s mental health, suicide risk, relationship breakdown, domestic violence, connection, and the quiet pressure so many men carry. John Rich has spent years working across addiction, domestic violence, prison re-entry, counselling, men’s groups, family mental health, Aboriginal emotional wellbeing, and community support. Before that, he spent 30 years in engineering and large scale industry. That shift gave him a rare view into the world so many men are trained to survive in. One where you provide, compete, earn, stay strong, and keep the emotional stuff hidden. This is not a conversation about telling men to “just open up.” It is about why so many men were never taught the language for what they feel in the first place. What you’ll hear in this episode: * Why men often do not ask for help until they are already in crisis * The “guy code” that teaches boys to stay strong, useful, competitive, and quiet * How relationship breakdown can become a major risk point for men * Why work can become a hiding place * How men’s sheds, peer support, and lived experience create safer ways to connect * Why shame does not stop violence * How the HALT check in can help someone pause before things spiral If you’ve ever loved a man who shuts down, disappears into work, or says “I’m fine” when he clearly isn’t... this one’s for you. About John Rich John Rich is Chairperson of Men’s Health and Wellbeing WA, a peak body advocating for the health and wellbeing of men and boys across Western Australia. His background includes counselling and group work in alcohol and other drugs, domestic violence work with survivors and perpetrators, family mental health, Aboriginal emotional wellbeing, prison re-entry, parenting men’s groups, and community support. John’s work focuses on connection, practical support, relationship skills, and helping men access support before they reach crisis point. John Rich’s organisation: www.menshealthwa.org.au [http://www.menshealthwa.org.au] Bloke’s Book: www.menshealthwa.org.au [http://www.menshealthwa.org.au] Men’s Directory [https://menshealthwa.org.au/directory/] Thank you to our Season 4 sponsors: ⁠⁠⁠Coach Carly⁠⁠⁠ [https://coachcarly.com/] – Life & mindset coaching | ⁠⁠⁠Elevate Beyond Co.⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.elevatebeyondco.com.au] – Disability support services | ⁠⁠⁠Your Recovery⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.yourrecovery.au] – Addiction recovery support Thank you to our Production Team: Video/Audio Editing: ⁠⁠⁠Nevverland Studio⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/nevverlandstudios/] | VA - ⁠⁠⁠Lyn Ebon⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.lynebon.com/] Australia Wide Directory of Services: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.myservices.org.au/⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.myservices.org.au/] Western Australian AOD Services: ⁠⁠⁠https://wanada.org.au/greenbook/⁠⁠⁠ [https://wanada.org.au/greenbook/] National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline: 1800 250 015 Lifeline: 13 11 14 | Suicide Call Back: 1300 659 467 | Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 | Mind Spot: 1800 61 44 34 | Head to Health: 1800 595 212 | Mens Line: 1300 78 99 78 | 13YARN: 13 92 76 | Thirrili: 1800 805 801 |QLife: 1800 184 527 | Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 | Headspace: 1800 650 890 Follow The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠www.shtsfcked.com⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.shtsfcked.com] | ⁠⁠⁠Donate Here |⁠⁠⁠ [www.shtsfcked.com/donate]⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ [instagram.com/shtsfcked] | ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ [facebook.com/shtsfckedthepodcast] | ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ [youtube.com/@ShtsFckedThePodcast] | ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠ [tiktok.com/@shtsfcked]

PTSD in the workplace, and the Sh*t Employers Get Wrong | with Lisa Irving

Ever been told trauma just takes time to heal? What if time alone was never enough? In this episode, Paris sits down with Lisa Irving, clinical psychologist, founder of Revive Health and Happiness in East Perth, and the brain behind Virtuosa, an AI report writing tool built specifically for Australian psychologists. Lisa has spent years working with frontline workers navigating workplace PTSD; prison officers, nurses, teachers, paramedics, firefighters, police, and the employers who too often make things worse. Paris also shares her own complex PTSD diagnosis for the first time on the podcast; what it actually feels like when your body reacts before your mind even registers what's happening, and why she spent years doing drugs and drinking rather than facing what was underneath. This one goes deep into the science, the system, and what actually helps. What you'll hear in this episode: * What PTSD actually is and why it's not just something war veterans get * How workplace PTSD shows up across frontline roles: prison officers, nurses, teachers, firefighters, support workers, paramedics, police * The one thing employers do that isolates injured workers most, and it's not what you think * Why "time heals all wounds" is complete rubbish when it comes to PTSD * What EMDR actually is, how it works, and why Lisa calls it the closest thing to magic * The flash technique; a gentler alternative for people who find EMDR too intense * Trauma logic; why your brain applies past danger to present moments that feel similar * Why Lisa prefers the word "reminder" over "trigger" — and why that shift changes everything * Paris's own complex PTSD, what it feels like when your body reacts before your mind catches up * Meet Millie, Lisa's therapy dog and the real star of the episode If you've ever felt your body go into panic before you even understood why, this one will finally give you the language for it. About Lisa Irving Lisa Irving is a Perth-based clinical psychologist and founder of Revive Health and Happiness [https://www.revivehealthandhappiness.com.au/] in East Perth, specialising in PTSD and workers compensation trauma claims. She has built practical online PTSD training courses for employers and injury management professionals, and is the founder of Virtuosa [https://www.virtuosa.com/], an AI report writing assistant helping Australian psychologists produce complex reports in a fraction of the time. Website: revivehealthandhappiness.com.au [revivehealthandhappiness.com.au]Virtuosa: virtuosa.com [virtuosa.com]Instagram: @revivehealthandhappiness Thank you to our Season 4 sponsors: ⁠⁠Coach Carly⁠⁠ [https://coachcarly.com/] – Life & mindset coaching | ⁠⁠Elevate Beyond Co.⁠⁠ [https://www.elevatebeyondco.com.au] – Disability support services | ⁠⁠Your Recovery⁠⁠ [https://www.yourrecovery.au] – Addiction recovery support Thank you to our Production Team: Video/Audio Editing: ⁠⁠Nevverland Studio⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/nevverlandstudios/] | VA - ⁠⁠Lyn Ebon⁠⁠ [https://www.lynebon.com/] Australia Wide Directory of Services: ⁠⁠https://www.myservices.org.au/⁠⁠ [https://www.myservices.org.au/] Western Australian AOD Services: ⁠⁠https://wanada.org.au/greenbook/⁠⁠ [https://wanada.org.au/greenbook/] National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline: 1800 250 015 Lifeline: 13 11 14 | Suicide Call Back: 1300 659 467 | Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 | Mind Spot: 1800 61 44 34 | Head to Health: 1800 595 212 | Mens Line: 1300 78 99 78 | 13YARN: 13 92 76 | Thirrili: 1800 805 801 |QLife: 1800 184 527 | Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 | Headspace: 1800 650 890 Follow The Podcast: ⁠⁠www.shtsfcked.com⁠⁠ [http://www.shtsfcked.com] | ⁠⁠Donate Here |⁠⁠ [www.shtsfcked.com/donate]⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ [instagram.com/shtsfcked] | ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ [facebook.com/shtsfckedthepodcast] | ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ [youtube.com/@ShtsFckedThePodcast] | ⁠⁠TikTok [tiktok.com/@shtsfcked]

The Hidden Reality of Mums in Addiction | with Karen from Luma

If you're a mum who's ever reached for a drink just to get through the witching hour... this one's for you. And if you've ever judged a mother in addiction, this one's for you too. In this episode, Paris sits down with Karen, senior counsellor and AOD programs officer at Luma; one of the largest and longest-running women's health services in Australia. Karen brings her own lived experience as the daughter of an alcoholic, the sister of drug addicts, and a mother who suffered severe postnatal depression in silence for years. She's also one of the most refreshingly straight-talking people in the sector. Together they get into the reality of motherhood and addiction; the shame that keeps women from asking for help, the mum wine culture nobody wants to call out, what actually happens when a pregnant woman is still using, and why the question is never "don't you love your children enough to stop?" What you'll hear in this episode: * Why mothers are held to a standard that's genuinely inhumane, and how that drives addiction underground * The truth about mum wine culture and when "it's not a problem until it's a problem" becomes a problem * What really happens when a pregnant woman is still using, and why fear of Department of Children Protection stops women getting help * The Wanda's Clinic at King Edward Hospital; a program Karen describes as unlike anything she's ever seen * Why shame thrives in secrecy and why shaming people never creates lasting change * Karen's own postnatal depression experience, and what it cost her to stay silent * Why it's never a choice between the substance and the child * The one thing Karen wishes the public understood about mothers in addiction If you've ever felt like you're holding the weight of the world together while falling apart silently... this one's for you. About Karen Karen is a senior counsellor and alcohol and other drugs programs officer at Luma [https://luma.org.au/] in Perth, Western Australia. She brings her own lived experience as the daughter of an alcoholic and sister of drug addicts alongside a master's degree in counselling and six years of frontline work supporting women and families navigating addiction and recovery. She runs drop-in groups, one-on-one counselling, and the beloved Coffee Talk, a weekly Monday morning Facebook Live on the Women's Recovery Community page [https://www.facebook.com/womensrecoverycommunity]. Website: ⁠luma.org.au [http://www.chameleonrecovery.com.au] | Email: support@luma.org.au | Phone: (08) 6330 5400 Thank you to our Season 4 sponsors: ⁠Coach Carly⁠ [https://coachcarly.com/] – Life & mindset coaching | ⁠Elevate Beyond Co.⁠ [https://www.elevatebeyondco.com.au] – Disability support services | ⁠Your Recovery⁠ [https://www.yourrecovery.au] – Addiction recovery support Thank you to our Production Team: Video/Audio Editing: ⁠Nevverland Studio⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/nevverlandstudios/] | VA - ⁠Lyn Ebon⁠ [https://www.lynebon.com/] Australia Wide Directory of Services: ⁠https://www.myservices.org.au/⁠ [https://www.myservices.org.au/] Western Australian AOD Services: ⁠https://wanada.org.au/greenbook/⁠ [https://wanada.org.au/greenbook/] National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline: 1800 250 015 Lifeline: 13 11 14 | Suicide Call Back: 1300 659 467 | Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 | Mind Spot: 1800 61 44 34 | Head to Health: 1800 595 212 | Mens Line: 1300 78 99 78 | 13YARN: 13 92 76 | Thirrili: 1800 805 801 |QLife: 1800 184 527 | Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 | Headspace: 1800 650 890 Follow The Podcast: ⁠www.shtsfcked.com⁠ [http://www.shtsfcked.com] | ⁠Donate Here |⁠ [www.shtsfcked.com/donate]⁠Instagram⁠ [instagram.com/shtsfcked] | ⁠Facebook⁠ [facebook.com/shtsfckedthepodcast] | ⁠YouTube⁠ [youtube.com/@ShtsFckedThePodcast] | ⁠TikTok [tiktok.com/@shtsfcked]

Psychosis & The Cracks In Care | With Tom Darley

Ever seen someone in public acting strangely and assumed they were just on drugs? What if they weren't... and how you reacted made it worse? In this episode, Paris sits down with Tom Darley, psychosocial recovery coach and founder of Chameleon Recovery in Perth, to talk about what psychosis actually is, what it looks and feels like from the inside, and what most people get completely wrong about it. Paris also shares her own experience of drug-induced psychosis for the first time on the podcast; the hallucinations, the terror, and the absolute certainty that what she was experiencing was real. Tom brings years of frontline experience supporting people through severe mental illness, dual diagnosis, and a system that keeps dropping the ball at exactly the moment people need it most. What you'll hear in this episode: * The three things that define a psychotic episode: hallucinations, delusions, and disorganised thinking, and why each one changes everything * What it actually feels like to be inside drug-induced psychosis (Paris shares her own experience for the first time) * How to de-escalate someone having a psychotic episode in public, and what most people do that makes it significantly worse * Why assuming a public psychotic episode is drug-related can be dangerous, and what serious mental health conditions trigger the same experience * What happens when meth use and schizophrenia collide, and why the system isn't built to hold both If you've ever stood helpless watching someone in crisis, or lived through psychosis yourself and never had anyone explain what was actually happening to you... this one's for you. About Tom Darley Tom Darley is a psychosocial recovery coach and founder of Chameleon Recovery [https://www.chameleonrecovery.com.au/], a Perth-based service supporting people navigating severe mental illness, psychosis, and dual diagnosis. He brings his own lived experience of anxiety and depression alongside years of frontline community support work. Website: www.chameleonrecovery.com.au [http://www.chameleonrecovery.com.au] | Email: tom@chameleonrecovery.com.au | LinkedIn [linkedin.com/company/chameleon-recovery⁠] Thank you to our Season 4 sponsors: Coach Carly [https://coachcarly.com/] – Life & mindset coaching | Elevate Beyond Co. [https://www.elevatebeyondco.com.au] – Disability support services | Your Recovery [https://www.yourrecovery.au] – Addiction recovery support Thank you to our Production Team:Video/Audio Editing: Nevverland Studio [https://www.instagram.com/nevverlandstudios/] | VA - Lyn Ebon [https://www.lynebon.com/] Australia Wide Directory of Services: https://www.myservices.org.au/ [https://www.myservices.org.au/] Western Australian AOD Services: https://wanada.org.au/greenbook/ [https://wanada.org.au/greenbook/] National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline: 1800 250 015 Lifeline: 13 11 14 | Suicide Call Back: 1300 659 467 | Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 | Mind Spot: 1800 61 44 34 | Head to Health: 1800 595 212 | Mens Line: 1300 78 99 78 | 13YARN: 13 92 76 | Thirrili: 1800 805 801 |QLife: 1800 184 527 | Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 | Headspace: 1800 650 890 Follow The Podcast: www.shtsfcked.com [http://www.shtsfcked.com] | Donate Here | [www.shtsfcked.com/donate]Instagram [instagram.com/shtsfcked] | Facebook [facebook.com/shtsfckedthepodcast] | YouTube [youtube.com/@ShtsFckedThePodcast] | TikTok [tiktok.com/@shtsfcked]