Shows
Dóchas Podcast by the Irish Support AgencyDóchas - Reflections on Alcohol; Pt 2
We are returning to further reflect on our relationship with alcohol. Our last episode really seemed to resonate with the community and so as a New Year begins, we wanted to continue this conversation.
Alcohol can not only affect our physical health, but it can also significantly affect our mental health and emotional wellbeing. When the morning after comes, we can be riddled with the ‘fear’ and anxiety, and we ask ourselves, is it really worth it?
Some people may drink alcohol to relax or help cope with daily stresses; however, alcohol is a depressant drug that can cause anxi...2024-02-0650 minDóchas Podcast by the Irish Support AgencyFestive FinancesAs 2023 comes to a close, many of us will be feeling the pinch financially, with the cost of living rising.
So with this in mind, we will be joined by Jessica Brady, a leading licensed financial adviser in Australia and has over 17 yrs experience in the Financial Services industry, working with some of the biggest names in finance including, Macquarie Bank, CBA and Zurich. Recently she launched, The Greenhouse -an online program designed to make accessing affordable financial programs jargon free, stigma free and fun!
We will be exploring why Christmas time induces us to...2023-12-0557 minDóchas Podcast by the Irish Support AgencyTrauma - The Long ShadowThe original recording was a webinar, hence the reference to slides, the audio content is still very worthwhile. If you would like to see the slides used, please go to the Youtube epsiode.
Unresolved trauma can cast a long shadow over our lives, leaving a profound and enduring impact on our emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. The wounds of the past can manifest in various ways, from persistent anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem to difficulties in forming and maintaining healthy relationships. These unresolved experiences may influence our coping mechanisms, leading to maladaptive behaviours such...2023-11-281h 14Dóchas Podcast by the Irish Support AgencySleep is your superpowerHave you ever had a poor night's sleep and you notice your mood, energy and attention span has completed depleted?
Sleep plays a pivotal role in maintaining and promoting good mental health. Sleep is also a cornerstone of good physical health. It serves as the body's natural reset button, allowing the brain to consolidate memories, process emotions, the immune system strengthens, and hormones, such as those that regulate appetite and metabolism, are balanced.
When we consistently get an adequate amount of quality sleep, our cognitive functions are optimised, enabling us to think clearly, make sound...2023-10-1049 minDóchas Podcast by the Irish Support AgencyRelationships- Fostering healthy relationships and demystifying mythsIn this episode of Dóchas, we will be looking at relationships, in particular with a partner. As an expat, often romantic relationships can have additional stresses put on them, so we want to create a safe space where we could talk about the issues that we can face in terms of boundaries, communication and expectations.
We are delighted to be joined by Katie O’Donoghue, originally from Cork, Katie is the resident relationship coach at the online counselling practice 'The Indigo Project', host of the self-help podcast 'Self Explained' and creator of 'Reclamation' a newly launched sel...2023-09-071h 02Dóchas Podcast by the Irish Support AgencyReturning to Ireland: The Personal PerspectiveIn this episode of Dóchas, we will be hearing from members of the community who have made the return home to Ireland.
Everyone has their own story to tell and experience to share. Some have found the move to be exactly what they hoped for, that returning to Ireland has filled a void that was present as an expat. Being close to our loved ones is the driving force behind many people’s choice to return. However, some have found the move quite difficult, logistically and emotionally. Saying goodbye to an established life and friends is nev...2023-09-0741 minDóchas Podcast by the Irish Support AgencyAvoiding the wellbeing overwhelmThe wellbeing movement has seen a huge surge in its following over the past 15 years. From healthy eating, to exercise programs, and self-care strategies, the amount of information that is being shared is vast, but how can we distinguish between fads and trends, and research and science backed approaches?
Join Roisin Trainor, Founder of Mind Yourself, Mental Health First Aid Training and Wellbeing Practitioner and Alan Earls, Project Lead at Sydney Safe Space, as we dive into the changes that have occurred in the health and mental health space, and we learn to separate fact from fiction. 2023-09-051h 04
Dóchas Podcast by the Irish Support AgencyManaging Expectations
Have you ever felt pressure to achieve a certain milestone—a career, marriage, education or motherhood—by a certain age?At some point, many of us will have witnessed how society’s expectations of what we should have in our lives—and by when—affects us. How it demoralises us. How it becomes a driving force in our lives and the inflection point of our decisions.So how can we get a better understanding of what it is we actually want in life, things that align with our values, versus, the expectations that we put on ourselves, through so...2023-08-1042 minDóchas Podcast by the Irish Support AgencySettled: The Irish Emigrant's journey to settlement in AustraliaJoin us as we explore the choice that Irish emigrants make on permanently settling in Australia. We will be chatting with a number of people who have chosen to call Australia home.
Some have lived here longer than others, and some have found the decision easier to make than others, but for their own personal reasons, they chose to emigrate to Australia and permanently settle here.
As an expat, we are often faced with the unbearable decision as to where to spend the rest of our lives. For some, the pull of the heartstrings to...2023-07-041h 06Dóchas Podcast by the Irish Support AgencyCoping with a serious illness living abroadHear from people who have had this experience and a professional's guidance if you find yourself in this situation.
A diagnosis of cancer, or other serious illness can be devastating. But there are ways to cope with the emotional distress and preserve your quality of life.
Many serious health problems seem to develop unexpectedly, upsetting your life out of the blue. You may feel overwhelmed by waves of difficult emotions—from fear and worry to profound sadness, despair, and grief—or just numb, frozen by shock or the feeling that you’ll never be able to cope...2023-01-2750 minDóchas Podcast by the Irish Support AgencyReflections on AlcoholJoin us as we examine our relationship with alcohol, especially during the festive season and how to recognise problem drinking and addiction in ourselves and our loved ones.
The festive season is a good time to reflect on our drinking culture and the way we drink.
Alcohol can not only affect our physical health but it can also significantly affect our mental health and emotional wellbeing. Some people may feel down over Christmas and New Year, and drinking can make this worse.
The relationship between alcohol and mental health is complex. Some people...2022-12-061h 11Dóchas Podcast by the Irish Support AgencySupporting a loved one through a crisis.Supporting a loved one through a crisis is one of the most difficult things you’ll ever have to do, and so often we tough it out alone. We do our best with the skills and knowledge we have, but often we’re fumbling in the dark, unsure of whether we’re on the right track, afraid of doing more harm than good.
While most people have some intuition and the best of intentions when it comes to caring for loved ones in crisis, most people could benefit from some upskilling provided by a mental health professional, alongs...2022-11-1547 min
Dóchas Podcast by the Irish Support AgencyDóchas - Eating DisordersOn Monday 10th October, on World Mental Health Day, we explored eating disorders, in all of their complexity. We were delighted to be joined by Kate Mulray from The Butterfly Foundation. The Butterfly Foundation is the national charity for all Australians impacted by eating disorders and body image issues, and for the families, friends and communities who support them.
We were also joined by Jane Murphy, who has experience of living with an eating disorder and we are entirely grateful to her for sharing her story. We spoke about what eating disorders are, some of the myths...2022-10-1750 min