30. Trying to Feel Good Enough | Dr. Jennifer Paxton
Dr. Jennifer Paxton acknowledges that her feelings of inadequacy had always been there but were amplified during the transition to motherhood. She opens up about an interaction with an empathetic colleague that shocked her into seeking support. TW/CW: Themes of suicidal ideation
A Senior Lecturer in Anatomy, PI of a tissue engineering lab, wife and mother, Jennifer opened up in the last episode about parenting as an academic during COVID-19. This is the second part of her story.
If you find this episode valuable, and have some spare change, please consider supporting the podcast!
Resources:
Jennifer’s blog piece – ‘Return of the Mummy – the trials and triumphs of a life post maternity leave.’
Paxton Lab website
Jennifer’s lecturing profile
Helpful health and wellbeing books
Reasons to Stay Alive – Matt Haig
Notes on a Nervous Planet – Matt Haig
Full transcript of the podcast is available here, with many thanks to Dan Ranson. If you find these transcripts useful, please consider supporting accessibility!
Mental health support: please contact your GP or use the appropriate support for your country at https://checkpointorg.com/global/
Recorded: 10/09/2021.
Sound: Theme music is “Mindset” by Ketsa; podcast edited by DanPatricksAudio.
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29. Parenting as an Academic during COVID-19 | Dr. Jennifer Paxton
Senior Lecturer, PI, wife and mother, Dr. Jennifer Paxton, opened up about feelings of embarrassment, guilt, anger and acceptance in response to professional contacts seeing her home life in online meetings and lessons. She highlighted specific frustrations of being a parent in Academia. She also courageously opened up in the final 15 minutes about her decision making process for having a child. She, like many of us, was putting off major personal milestones because of the pressure of academia.
If you find this episode valuable, and have some spare change, please consider supporting the podcast!
Resources:
- Jennifer’s blog piece – ‘Return of the Mummy – the trials and triumphs of a life post maternity leave.’
- Paxton Lab website
- Jennifer’s lecturing profile
- Helpful health and wellbeing books
Reasons to Stay Alive – Matt Haig
Notes on a Nervous Planet – Matt Haig
Full transcript of the podcast is available here, with many thanks to Dan Ranson. If you find these transcripts useful, please consider supporting accessibility!
Mental health support: please contact your GP or use the appropriate support for your country at https://checkpointorg.com/global/
Recorded: 10/09/2021.
Sound: Theme music is “Mindset” by Ketsa; podcast edited by DanPatricksAudio.
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28. Preventative Care for PMDD | Elana Gloger
5th year Health Psychology PhD Candidate and creator of the Dear Grad Student podcast, Elana Gloger, chats about maintaining wellness - creating space between where you’re at, and your tipping point to becoming unwell. She encourages leaning in to your unique needs and remembering that ‘you’re not other people.’
Elana opened up previously, in episode 27, about how premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) impacted her life and PhD before it was well managed.
CW: swearing, sexual references
This episode touches on:
- Running through the woods, reality TV, and the desire to be a mother
- Alleviating fears of medication
- Accepting that seeking external help is not a weakness
- Impacts of unmanaged PMDD on a partner
- Common treatment options for PMDD
- Selecting an appropriate and affordable provider
- The annoying fact that exercise actually helps
If you find this episode valuable, and have some spare change, please consider supporting the podcast!
Resources:
Dear Grad Student Podcast
- Twitter: @deargradstudent
- Instagram: @deargradstudentpod
- Facebook: Dear Grad Student
- Website: deargradstudent.com
- Mental health podcast episodes: deargradstudent.com/mental-health
PMDD resources
- @iapmdglobal (twitter) and iapmd.org (website) provides evidence-based information about PMDD.
- Tory Eisenlohr-Moul studies menstrual cycle effects on PMDD
YouTube: ‘Your cycle in 3 minutes’ – contemporary dance interpretation of the impacts of the menstrual cycle
App: Flo – for learning about and starting to track your menstrual cycle
Full transcript of the podcast is available here, with many thanks to Dan Ranson. If you find these transcripts useful, please consider supporting accessibility!
Mental health support: please contact your GP or use the appropriate support for your country at https://checkpointorg.com/global/
Recorded: 14/01/2022.
Sound: Mindset by Ketsa
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27. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and a PhD | Elana Gloger
Emily chats with Elana Gloger, who opens up about how premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) impacted her life and PhD before it was well managed.
TW/CW: Suicidal ideation, swearing
This episode covers:
- Elana’s favourite, I mean F-A-V-O-U-R-I-T-E video game, her childhood likeness to Angelica from the Rugrats, and being a child of divorce
- A description of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and premenstrual exacerbation (PME)
- How Elana’s diagnosis of PMDD unfolded
- An explanation of the menstrual cycle!
- The moment Elana decided to get support for mismanaged PMDD
- The potential future clash between PMDD medication, pregnancy, and applying for tenure track
- The impact of unmanaged PMDD on Elana’s PhD
- First steps to take if you think you might have PMDD
If you find this episode valuable, and have some spare change, please consider supporting the podcast!
Resources:
- Dear Grad Student Podcast
- Twitter: @deargradstudent
- Instagram: @deargradstudentpod
- Facebook: Dear Grad Student
- Website: deargradstudent.com
- Mental health podcast episodes: deargradstudent.com/mental-health
- PMDD resources
- @iapmdglobal (twitter) and iapmd.org (website) provides evidence-based information about PMDD.
- Tory Eisenlohr-Moul studies menstrual cycle effects on PMDD
- YouTube: ‘Your cycle in 3 minutes’ – contemporary dance interpretation of the impacts of the menstrual cycle
- App: Flo – for learning about and starting to track your menstrual cycle
Full transcript of the podcast is available here, with many thanks to Dan Ranson. If you find these transcripts useful, please consider supporting accessibility!
Mental health support: please contact your GP or use the appropriate support for your country at https://checkpointorg.com/global/
Interested in being interviewed? We’d love to hear from you. Please submit this brief form.
Recorded: 14/01/2022.
Sound: Mindset by Ketsa
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26. Challenging Intrusive Thoughts | Dr. Andy Fraass
Emily chats with Dr. Andy Fraass, who opens up about support for anxiety that comes from his wife and daughters, improved sleep hygiene, and challenging intrusive thoughts.
Andy opened up previously, in episode 25, about social anxiety, learning he couldn’t trust his own self-perception, and the impacts of academia on family life.
This episode covers:
- Self-educating about indigenous cultures, science fantasy, and achieving the bucket list goals of professorship and family.
- Family support systems
- Meditation and improved sleep hygiene
- Methods of overcoming negative thought patterns
- The role parenting can play in encouraging self-care and self-management of symptoms
- The importance of supervisors being forgiving and understanding with students
- The surprising value in group therapy for those with social anxiety
If you find this episode valuable, and have some spare change, please consider supporting the podcast!
Resources:
App: Calm – for improving health and happiness, and for sleep stories
Andy’s blog about anxiety in academia
Full transcript of the podcast is available here, with many thanks to Dan Ranson. If you find these transcripts useful, please consider supporting accessibility!
Mental health support: please contact your GP or use the appropriate support for your country at https://checkpointorg.com/global/
Interested in being interviewed? We’d love to hear from you. Please submit this brief form.
Recorded: 19/11/2021.
Sound: Mindset by Ketsa
*ON A BREAK* Researchers from around the world open up about their mental health within academia. They might laugh, cry, or say things you disagree with. But this is lived experience - not professional advice. It's to reduce stigma and help people feel less alone. Each month, PhD Candidate and host, Emily King, chats with a different guest and releases fortnightly episodes. First - the story of mental ill-health. Second - the tale of recovery, with coping strategies that might help you too! Join us as we talk about all the things you thought you had to hide!
www.voicesofacademia.com
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