Ellie Wildbore: Living with CPTSD, Visible Difference and Breaking Stigma | Life With a Difference Podcast

In this powerful and deeply honest episode, Ellie Wildbore shares her lived experience of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), visible difference from self-inflicted burns, and the journey from shame and stigma to self-acceptance and advocacy.

Ellie speaks openly about her struggles with mental health, the impact of internalised stigma, discrimination from healthcare professionals, and the long road to getting the support she needed. She also highlights the life-changing moment of being accepted by the burn survivor community and the vital role that peer support and charities like Dan’s Fund for Burns have played in her recovery.

We also explore the realities of psychiatric wards, the barriers to trauma-informed care, the misdiagnosis of BPD, and how diagnosis can shape someone’s life for better or worse. Ellie also discusses the therapeutic role of physical activity and how roller skating, hooping, and lived experience work have helped her reconnect with herself and others.

This is a must-listen for anyone interested in mental health, visible difference, trauma, and the power of peer-led advocacy.

🎧 Listen, learn, and share together we reduce stigma by amplifying stories like Ellie’s.

Episode links:
https://balancingontheborderline.home.blog/author/elliewildbore87/
https://dansfundforburns.org/
https://www.changingfaces.org.uk/
https://bigspd.org.uk/

Social media:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lifewithadifferencepodcast/
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@lifewithadifference
Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-collinson/

Please get in touch if I can help in any way

Blog:
https://www.lifewithadifference.info/

buymeacoffee.com/lifewithadifference

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Personal Stories and Visible Differences
14:32 Exploring Mental Health and Self-Harm
18:40 Understanding the Cycle of Self-Harm and Relief
19:10 Experiencing Visible Differences
24:51 Social Media and Self-Representation
30:08 Life in Hospital and Mental Health Challenges
32:08 Reality of Psychiatric Wards
36:34 Understanding Compulsions vs. Impulsions
40:33 Navigating Mental Health Diagnoses and Stigma
52:05 Overcoming Stigma and Seeking Support
55:11 Finding Community and Acceptance
57:55 The Power of Sharing Stories
01:00:54 The Role of Exercise in Mental Health
01:03:51 Navigating Mental Health Services
01:06:53 The Importance of Lived Experience in Research
01:09:56 Practical Advice for Living with CPTSD
01:13:06 Hope for the Future