Mental Health Warrior & Neurospicy Mama

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**Title: Avantika's Journey: Understanding and Managing Bipolar Disorder**
**Description:**
In this transformative episode of "Advancing With Amy / Mental Health Warrior & Neurospicy Mama," Amy sits down with the inspirational Avantika to delve into her personal journey with mental health, specifically her diagnosis and management of bipolar disorder. Diagnosed at the tender age of 17, Avantika opens up about the initial shock, denial, and eventual acceptance of her condition.
Listeners will learn about:
- Avantika's family history with bipolar disorder and how it influenced her awareness and understanding of her own symptoms.
- The challenging but crucial process of finding the right psychiatrist and therapist.
- Avantika's comprehensive treatment regimen, including medication, therapy, mindfulness, and peer support.
- The pivotal role peer support groups have played in her mental health journey.
- Avantika's mental health organization, Beautiful You, and its mission to advocate for mental health through various platforms, including a podcast and recently published ebook.
Both Amy and Avantika share powerful advice for young individuals who may be noticing signs of bipolar disorder in themselves, emphasizing the importance of patience, education, and self-compassion.
Whether you're someone living with bipolar disorder, a caregiver, or simply someone interested in mental health advocacy, this episode offers invaluable insights and support. Tune in to hear Avantika’s inspiring story and her message of hope and resilience.
**Links:**
- **Avantika's Instagram:** @AvantikaB02
- **Beautiful You Instagram:** @[BeautifulYou](https://instagram.com/BeautifulYou)

📣 **Connect with Avantika:**
Follow Avantika on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/avantika.bo2 and explore more about her work and her organization, Beautiful You, which is dedicated to advocating for mental health through multiple mediums. You can also listen to her show, Beautiful You Podcast on Spotify . She also has a Link Tree you can check out.

Join us for this heartfelt conversation and remember that every step forward is a step towards better mental health. Keep on Advancing Warriors

P.S. If you've ever wondered how to make money with freebies, check out my affiliate link for a great deal on a course that shows you how to make that money. Click here.

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## Show Notes: Advancing With Amy / Mental Health Warrior & Neurospicy Mama

### Episode Title: Exploring Breathwork to Tackle Stress and Boost Mental Health, with John Hall

**Host:** Amy
**Guest:** John Hall

### Episode Highlights:

1. **Introduction to Belly Breathing**:
- John Hall introduces the concept of belly breathing as a method to signal safety to the body, differentiating it from chest breathing used in dangerous situations.

2. **Breathing Exercise Demonstration**:
- John demonstrates a calming breathing exercise: inhale through the nose for 5 seconds, then exhale through the mouth for 7 seconds. This helps tell the body it is safe.
3. **Influence of Physical Posture**:
- Discussing the impact of physical posture on mindset, John cites studies showing how smiling or adopting power poses can improve decision-making and confidence levels.

4. **Incorporating Breath Techniques**:
- John details his use of breath techniques with clients:
- **Tactical Breath** for immediate stress relief.
- **Strategic Breath** for regular practice to expand stress tolerance.
- **Transformational Breath** to challenge and dissolve limiting beliefs.
- He shares a personal story of using breath work to address his own limiting beliefs.

5. **Democratizing Breathwork**:
- John aims to democratize breathwork, sharing its benefits with a wide audience, not just entrepreneurs and executives.

6. **Physiological Aspect of Stress**:
- Stress is presented as a full somatic experience. The episode dives into how stress affects the body, and John introduces his BPM (breath physiology mindset) technique for redirecting stress responses.

7. **Understanding Stress Responses**:
- John outlines the two types of stress responses (hyper arousal and hypo arousal) and specifies that they are suitable in particular situations.
- He discusses a UK study showing that forcing a smile for ten minutes can be as effective as Prozac for clinical depression.

8. **Impact of Stress on Body Functions**:
- High stress can shut down non-essential functions like digestion and advanced critical thinking. John explains how chronic stress can lead to distress and harm health.

9. **Types of Stress**:
- The episode categorizes stress into neutral stress, healthy stress (Eustress), and unhealthy stress (distress).

10. **Utilizing Breath Work to Signal Safety**:
- Breath work techniques are highlighted for their ability to signal safety to the brain via the vagus nerve, promoting calmness and lowering stress levels.

11. **Challenging Limiting Beliefs**:
- John discusses the importance of examining and challenging limiting beliefs and the long-term health benefits of changing the way we breathe.

12. **Resources and Further Learning**:
- John introduces his course "Breathe Easier" available on his website for more comprehensive information.
- Visit [JohnHallCoaching.com](http://JohnHallCoaching.com) for contact, one-on-one sessions, and course details.

### Conclusion

Amy appreciates the rich conversation with John and encourages listeners to rate, review, and subscribe to the show.

**Don’t miss this informative ep

Support the show

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Want to be a guest on Advancing With Amy / Mental Health Warrior & Neurospicy Mama? Send Amy Taylor a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/advancingwithamy

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**Show Notes: Advancing With Amy: Mental Health Warrior – Magan Outlaw Bundles.mp3**

Welcome back to another episode of Advancing With Amy, your go-to podcast for mental health, neurodiversity, and life strategies! This week, we are excited to have a special guest, Magan Outlaw, founder of The Real Raw Outlaw, who joins us to discuss neurodiversity and budgeting. Amy and Magan dive into practical advice and personal experiences that will resonate with many of our listeners.

**Episode Highlights:**

1. **Introduction to Magan Outlaw and The Real Raw Outlaw (00:00:29 - 00:01:33)**
- Magan shares the origin and evolution of her company, The Real Raw Outlaw.

2. **Importance of Neurodiversity (00:01:56 - 00:02:36)**
- Magan discusses her personal connection to neurodiversity, detailing her family's experiences and challenges.

3. **Challenges and Strategies for Budgeting with ADHD (00:02:45 - 00:04:24)**
- Magan talks about her journey from struggling with ADHD and impulsive spending to mastering budgeting and improving her financial stability.

4. **Transformative Impact of Budgeting (00:04:24 - 00:04:52)**
- The positive effects on Magan’s marriage and overall financial situation after adopting budgeting.

5. **Client Services and Budgeting Tools (00:05:39 - 00:06:15)**
- Different services Magan offers, including budget audits and long-term consultations through Zoom.

6. **The Best Summer Ever Bundle (00:06:23 - 00:09:57)**
- Amy and Magan discuss the value-packed Best Summer Ever Bundle, featuring contributions from 148 creators, including both Amy and Magan's own contributions.

7. **Financial Education for Children (00:10:14 - 00:13:46)**
- Practical tips Magan employs to teach her children about budgeting and money management, showing the long-term benefits of financial discipline.

**Call to Action:**

Don't miss out on the incredible resources available in the Best Summer Ever Bundle! The bundle is available from June 10th to June 13th and includes amazing products worth thousands of dollars that are yours for free with the bundle. Click on the link in the show notes to get access before time runs out.

**Subscribe and Share:**

If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe to Advancing With Amy and share this episode with your friends and family. Your support helps us continue to bring you inspiring and informative content.

**Links & Resources:**
- **Best Summer Ever Bundle**: https://www.faithmariahevents.com/bse-waitlist
- **Magan Outlaw - The Real Raw Outlaw**: Visit [The Real Raw Outlaw](http://www.therealrawoutlaw.com)
- **Follow Magan on Social Media**: @therealrawoutlaw

Thank you for tuning in, and remember, small changes can equal big results!

https://www.faithmariahevents.com/bse-waitlist

P.S. Be sure and check out my good friend Sage's Happy Here & Now: Modern Mindfullness Meditations with my affiliate link at

Support the show

Sign up for Amy's newsletter at https://www.advancingwithamy.com

Want to be a guest on Advancing With Amy / Mental Health Warrior & Neurospicy Mama? Send Amy Taylor a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/advancingwithamy

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**Trigger Warning:** This episode includes discussions about mental health struggles, grief, loss of a child, and thoughts of suicide. Listener discretion is advised.

In this powerful episode, Alma, an ordained minister, author, stroke survivor, and motivational speaker, joins Amy to share her profound experiences with mental health, grief, and resilience, particularly in the context of the black community.

**Key Points Discussed:**
- Alma's personal journey of surviving a stroke and the tragic loss of her only child.
- The challenges of dealing with mental health within the black community and the black church, where therapy and medication are often stigmatized.
- Alma's advocacy for mental health awareness and breaking the silence that often surrounds these issues in her community.
- How Alma's faith and her role as a minister have intertwined with her own mental health struggles and recovery.
- The therapeutic power of sharing her story and how it has helped her and can aid others in their healing processes.

**Mentioned in This Episode:**
- Alma's reflections on the critical importance of seeking professional help and the benefits of therapy and medication in managing mental health conditions.
- Alma’s inspiring metaphor of the carnival clown, emphasizing resilience and the ability to bounce back from life's challenges.
- The overwhelming community support Alma received after her son's passing, which highlights the incredible power of community in times of grief.

**Alma's Books:**
- Alma discusses her books, including a Bible study book and a personal journal detailing her recovery from a stroke, which are both grounded in her faith and personal experiences.

**Connect with Alma:**
- Follow Alma on Facebook under **[Alma Thomas](#)** or on Instagram at **[@AlmaThomas830](#)**.
- Keep an eye out for her revamped website where her books will soon be available for purchase.

**Support Our Podcast:**
- If you found value in this conversation, please follow **Advancing With Amy / Mental Health Warrior** on your favorite podcast platform.
- Don’t forget to share this episode with friends or anyone who might benefit from Alma’s powerful testimony and insights. Your support helps us grow and continue to bring meaningful content to our listeners.

### Call to Action:
**Connect with Alma:**
- Follow **Alma Thomas** on [Facebook](#) to stay updated on her latest talks and publications.
- Check out her daily inspirations and posts on Instagram at **[@AlmaThomas830](#)**.

**Follow and Support Our Podcast:**
- Please follow **Advancing With Amy / Mental Health Warrior** and share this episode with your network to help spread awareness about mental health challenges and the power of resilience.

Let’s keep the conversation going and continue to support each other in our journeys toward mental wellness. Thank you for listening, and we look forward to bringing you more inspiring episodes.

In today's episode with Alma, we touched on incredibly powerful themes about the struggles and triumphs of mental health, particularly in the context of grief and recovery. If Alma's story resonated with you, or if you find yourself facing similar challenges, remember, you're not alone. Help is just a call or text a

Support the show

Sign up for Amy's newsletter at https://www.advancingwithamy.com

Want to be a guest on Advancing With Amy / Mental Health Warrior & Neurospicy Mama? Send Amy Taylor a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/advancingwithamy

### Show Notes: Advancing With Amy - Mental Health Warrior & Neurospicy Mama

#### Episode: **23**

**Best Summer Ever Bundle**: https://www.faithmariahevents.com/bse-waitlist

**Episode Overview:**

In today's episode, we dive into the fascinating world of neurohacking with expert Marcelle Siegel, founder of Brainrise. Marcelle shares her inspiring personal journey and the science behind various neurohacks designed to reduce stress and improve mental health. We explore techniques like red light therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), neurofeedback, metabolic interventions, and much more.

**Key Topics:**

1. **Introduction to Neurohacking**

- Marcelle's background and inspiration for Brainrise.

- What neurohacking is and how it differs from biohacking.

2. **Red Light Therapy**

- Benefits for the brain and overall health.

- How it reduces inflammation and boosts cellular health.

3. **Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)**

- Treatment for neurological effects, especially post-Covid.

4. **Neurofeedback**

- Training your brain to relax using personal devices.

5. **Metabolic Interventions**

- Impact of metabolism on mental health.

- Innovations in metabolic psychiatry.

6. **Special Bundle Offer**

- Details about the Best Summer Ever bundle and available resources.

- Marcelle's VIP Radiance Pack in the bundle.

**Special Offer:**

Don't miss out on the **Best Summer Ever Bundle**! It's packed with hundreds of amazing digital resources covering wellness, mental health, personal development, hobbies, business, finances, relationships, and more. Upgrade to the VIP option for just $19 (price goes up to $29 on Monday) and receive Marcelle’s Radiance Pack, valued at $157, along with other exclusive resources.

Sign up now to take advantage of this incredible offer: **[Best Summer Ever Bundle](#)**.

**Call to Action:**

- **Subscribe and Share:** If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share it with your friends and family.

- **Feedback:** We love hearing from you! Leave us a review or send us your thoughts on the episode.

**Best Summer Ever Bundle**: https://www.faithmariahevents.com/bse-waitlist

**Connect with Us:**

- **Follow Marcelle Siegel and Brainrise:** Learn more about Marcelle’s work and get access to her neurohacking tips and techniques at brainRISEgo.com and follow her at https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcelle-a-siegel-ph-d-a06b2a26a, https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindfulbrainwellness/, and https://www.instagram.com/brainrisers/

**Next Episode:**

Stay tuned for our next episode, where we'll continue to explore innovative techniques and strategies to improve mental health and well-being.

Check out my friend Sage's Here and Happy: Modern Mindfullness Meditations at https://sagegrayson.mykajabi.com/a/2147801938/MgcaNLDD

Keep Advancing Warriors!