Beyond Medication: Anxiety & Depression 🧠💙

Can yoga, exercise, mindfulness and meditation help us manage anxiety and depression alongside conventional mental health treatment?

In this powerful episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation, I'm joined by Deepshikha Srivastava, Academic Coordinator at Regent College London, who openly shares her personal journey with anxiety, depression, panic attacks and mental health recovery.

We explore the realities of living with anxiety and depression, seeking psychological support, taking prescribed medication and discovering additional ways to support mental wellbeing.

From yoga for anxiety relief and the mental health benefits of exercise to grounding techniques, mindfulness, meditation and chanting, Deepshikha shares how these practices have helped her navigate difficult emotions and find greater calm.

💬 In this episode, we explore:

• Living with anxiety, depression and panic attacks

• Psychological therapy, medication and mental health support

• Yoga, exercise and movement for mental wellbeing

• Mindfulness, meditation and grounding techniques

• Chanting, emotional resilience and finding inner peace

• Building a personal mental health toolkit

💙 Mental health recovery isn't always about eliminating the struggle. Sometimes it's about discovering new ways to manage it.

🎙️ Watch, listen and connect:

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JamesAlder-003

🎧 Spotify: Search Trauma, Training & Transformation

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformationthroughtraining/

🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@traumatrainingpodcast

❤️ If this conversation resonates with you, please LIKE, COMMENT, SHARE and SUBSCRIBE. Your support helps these important mental health conversations reach more people.

This episode shares personal experiences and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice or treatment.

#Anxiety #Depression #MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #AnxietyRecovery #PanicAttacks #YogaForAnxiety #ExerciseForMentalHealth #Mindfulness #Meditation #MentalHealthRecovery #MentalHealthPodcast #TraumaTrainingTransformation

BIPOLAR, ADHD & AUTISM: THE BATTLE WITHIN

What happens when a military veteran faces a battle that physical strength alone cannot overcome?

In this powerful episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation, British Army veteran and former military Physical Training Instructor Ben “Simmo” Simpson shares his journey of living with bipolar II disorder, adult ADHD, autism and haemochromatosis.

From severe bipolar depression and suicidal thoughts to navigating ADHD, medication, mental health challenges and life after military service, Ben opens up about the realities of living with multiple diagnoses.

We explore how resistance training, physical exercise, daily routines and mental health support help him navigate life's challenges, alongside the loss of military identity and his journey towards finding purpose working for an ADHD charity.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Bipolar II disorder, depression and suicidal thoughts

• Adult ADHD, autism and neurodivergence

• ADHD medication and its life-changing impact

• Exercise, resistance training and mental health

• Haemochromatosis and physical health

• Military transition, identity and belonging

• Finding purpose and rebuilding life after the Army

This isn't just a story about mental illness. It's about resilience, identity, self-understanding and transformation.

🎙️ Listen on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2GNTvzJg4pPFIe8dGrNrEv

▶️ Subscribe on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@JamesAlder-003

📱 Follow the journey:
Instagram: @transformationthroughtraining
TikTok: @traumatrainingpodcast

💬 What role has exercise played in your mental health journey? Share your experience in the comments.

👍 LIKE • SHARE • SUBSCRIBE to support honest conversations about mental health, military veterans, neurodivergence and the power of physical activity.

Content note: This episode discusses depression and suicidal ideation. If you're struggling, please reach out for professional support. In the UK, Samaritans are available on 116 123.

#BipolarDisorder #Bipolar2 #ADHD #AdultADHD #Autism #MentalHealth #ADHDMedication #VeteranMentalHealth #MilitaryMentalHealth #MensMentalHealth #ExerciseAndMentalHealth #LifeAfterTheMilitary #Neurodivergence #MentalHealthAwareness #TraumaTrainingTransformation

When the Final Whistle Blows: Rugby, Identity & Starting Again | Daniel Sarginson

What happens when the sport that gave you identity, purpose and success is no longer there?

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation, former professional rugby league player Daniel Sarginson opens up about the reality behind a successful career in elite rugby — and the struggles that existed beyond the pitch.

Daniel speaks candidly about mental health, vulnerability, identity, anxiety and his battle with addiction, challenging the idea that strength means never showing weakness. He reflects on the highs of professional rugby, the pressures of elite sport, and what happens when your identity becomes inseparable from performance.

But this is also a conversation about starting again.

Daniel discusses learning to be vulnerable, rebuilding his identity beyond rugby, trusting his body, developing emotional resilience and finding a new sense of purpose after professional sport.

🎙️ Season 3, Episode 1 kicks off a new series of Trauma, Training & Transformation: Exploring How Movement Heals the Mind — conversations exploring exercise, trauma, mental health, addiction, recovery, resilience and transformation through lived experience and professional insight.

▶️ Watch, like, share and subscribe:
http://www.youtube.com/@JamesAlder-003

If Daniel's story resonates with you, please share the episode. You never know who might need to hear that vulnerability and strength can exist together.

#DanielSarginson #RugbyLeague #MentalHealth #AddictionRecovery #MensMentalHealth #ProfessionalRugby #AthleteMentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #LifeAfterSport #EmotionalResilience #ExerciseAndMentalHealth #TraumaRecovery #TraumaTrainingTransformation

The Great Outdoors: How Nature, Movement & Adventure Improve Mental Health

Can spending more time outdoors genuinely improve our mental health, resilience and wellbeing?

In this episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation, I’m joined by Dawson Isner from The Great Outdoors to explore the powerful relationship between nature, movement, outdoor adventure and the mind.

From ✈️ flying and 🎣 salmon fishing to 🥾 trekking, Dawson shares what adventure has taught him about overcoming fear, stepping outside your comfort zone, patience, solitude, resilience and being fully present.

We explore why modern life can leave us disconnected from nature, whether controlled risk and physical challenge can help us grow, the difference between solitude and loneliness, and why getting outdoors may offer something increasingly difficult to find in a world of constant screens, notifications and stimulation: space to think, move and reconnect.

We also ask a deeper question: Are we going outdoors to escape our lives—or to understand them more clearly?

If you’re interested in mental health, nature therapy, outdoor exercise, hiking, adventure, resilience, personal growth, stress management, mindfulness, wellbeing or the psychology of movement, this conversation is for you.

🎙️ Trauma, Training & Transformation: Exploring How Movement Heals the Mind

▶️ Watch & subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@JamesAlder-003
🌲 Dawson Isner – The Great Outdoors: http://www.youtube.com/@TheGreatOutdoors26
🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2GNTvzJg4pPFIe8dGrNrEv

👍 If you enjoy the episode, like, comment, share and subscribe. It helps the podcast reach more people interested in the connection between physical activity, psychology and mental health.

“Sometimes we don’t need to escape our lives. We need to step outside long enough to see them differently.”

#MentalHealth #TheGreatOutdoors #Nature #OutdoorAdventure #MentalWellbeing #Resilience #Hiking #ExerciseAndMentalHealth #Movement #PersonalGrowth #Mindfulness #OvercomingFear #NatureAndMentalHealth #OutdoorLife #TraumaTrainingTransformation

Strength & Conditioning: Why Mental Health Matters as Much as Physical Performance

What if becoming a stronger athlete isn’t just about building a stronger body?

In this episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation, I’m joined by Dr Angela Sorensen to explore the powerful connection between strength and conditioning, athlete mental health, sport psychology and physical performance.

We discuss why mental resilience matters in sport, how training and movement can influence confidence and wellbeing, and why coaches need to recognise the person behind the performance.

We explore:

🏋️ Strength & conditioning and athlete mental health
🧠 Mental resilience and psychological strength in athletes
💪 How exercise can support confidence and self-esteem
🏃 Injury psychology, fear and returning to sport
👀 Recognising behavioural changes in athletes
🤝 The importance of the coach-athlete relationship
❤️ Why vulnerability can be a sign of strength
📈 Why progress should be measured by more than wins and performance
🔥 Developing athletes who are physically and mentally resilient

Because strength isn’t just what you lift—it’s also what you can carry mentally.

If you’re an athlete, strength and conditioning coach, sports coach, sport psychologist, student or anyone interested in mental health and human performance, this conversation is for you.

🎙️ Trauma, Training & Transformation: Exploring How Movement Heals the Mind

▶️ Watch the full episode and join the conversation.

👍 Like
💬 Comment
🔄 Share
🔔 Subscribe for more conversations exploring exercise, psychology, trauma, resilience and human performance.

#StrengthAndConditioning #AthleteMentalHealth #SportPsychology #MentalHealth #MentalResilience #SportsPerformance #MentalStrength #AthleteWellbeing #StrengthTraining #SportsScience #ExercisePsychology #AthleteDevelopment #TraumaTrainingTransformation

Running Towards Something: How Endurance Changes the Mind 🏃‍♂️🧠

What does it really take to run 26.2 miles—and what happens to your mind along the way?

In this episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation, I sit down with Chris Baldwin, an experienced marathon runner preparing for his fourth marathon—the Venice Marathon.

We explore the psychology of marathon running, endurance training, mental resilience, discipline, motivation and the reality of balancing marathon preparation with work, family and everyday life. Chris shares what three previous marathons have taught him, why he keeps returning to the challenge, and how running can become far more than physical exercise.

We also discuss the importance of running for mental health and wellbeing, the power of consistency, running communities, overcoming difficult moments during training, and what it takes psychologically to keep moving when your body wants to stop.

Whether you're an experienced marathon runner, training for your first 5K, considering your first marathon, or simply interested in running, psychology, mental strength and human endurance, this conversation explores why the journey can change far more than your fitness.

🎧 Watch the full episode and subscribe:
https://www.youtube.com/@JamesAlder-003

🏃 Follow Chris Baldwin on Strava:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/chrisbaldwin

🇮🇹 Venice Marathon:
https://www.venicemarathon.it/index.php

👍 If you enjoy the conversation, please like, comment, share and subscribe. Every interaction helps the podcast reach more people and continue conversations around movement, mental health and transformation.

26.2 miles tests the body. The journey to get there can transform the mind.

#MarathonRunning #MarathonTraining #Running #VeniceMarathon #MarathonRunner #RunningMotivation #RunningMindset #MentalStrength #Endurance #MentalHealth #RunningPsychology #RunningCommunity #MentalResilience #FitnessMotivation #Podcast

Can golf help rebuild your life after a traumatic brain injury?

In this powerful episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation: Exploring How Movement Heals the Mind, I speak with Iain Miller of Golfing Positives about his extraordinary journey from a life-changing traumatic brain injury (TBI) to rediscovering identity, confidence and purpose through golf.

After a rugby tackle changed his life, Iain was forced to confront not only the physical consequences of brain injury, but the psychological challenge of grieving the person he once was and adapting to a completely different future.

We explore TBI recovery, mental health, disability, resilience, identity, rehabilitation and adaptive golf, and discuss why sport can become so much more than physical activity. For Iain, golf offered challenge, community, achievement and a renewed sense of purpose.

This conversation is ultimately about something much bigger than golf. It's about what happens when life changes without warning—and how movement, sport, connection and purpose can support mental health recovery and help us rebuild our identity.

⛳ In this episode:
• Life after traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• The psychological impact of losing your previous identity
• Mental health and brain injury recovery
• Disability, resilience and adaptation
• Adaptive golf and Golfing Positives
• Finding confidence and purpose through sport
• The importance of accepting support
• Why golf is as much a mental challenge as a physical one

🎧 Listen on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2GNTvzJg4pPFIe8dGrNrEv?si=7BlCqtBOTOuFpM5Edybt4w

🎥 Watch on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@JamesAlder-003

If Iain's story resonates with you, please LIKE, COMMENT, SHARE and SUBSCRIBE. Every interaction helps these conversations reach more people who may need to hear them.

Trauma, Training & Transformation: Exploring How Movement Heals the Mind

#TraumaticBrainInjury #TBI #BrainInjuryRecovery #Golf #AdaptiveGolf #IainMiller #GolfingPositives #MentalHealth #MentalHealthRecovery #Resilience #DisabilitySport #BrainInjury #Rehabilitation #Identity #FindingPurpose

Can we actually slow ageing? Is it possible to extend our lifespan, improve our healthspan, and live healthier for longer—or are we chasing an impossible dream?

In this episode of Trauma, Training & Transformation: Exploring How Movement Heals the Mind, Dr James Alder sits down with Chris Burres, entrepreneur, researcher, and co-founder of MyVitalC, to explore the fascinating science of longevity, healthy ageing, resilience, recovery, and human performance.

Together, they discuss the psychology behind our desire to live longer, the science of Carbon 60 (ESS60), biological ageing, oxidative stress, stress management, movement, exercise, recovery, and how lifestyle choices influence long-term physical and mental health.

This is an evidence-informed conversation that explores where current science stands, what we know, what we don't yet know, and why critical thinking is essential when evaluating new health and longevity research.

• Can we really slow the ageing process?
• What is longevity and why does it matter?
• The difference between lifespan and healthspan
• The science behind Carbon 60 (ESS60)
• How oxidative stress affects ageing
• The relationship between movement, exercise and longevity
• The psychology of healthy ageing
• Why recovery is just as important as performance
• How chronic stress influences biological ageing
• Practical strategies for living a healthier, more resilient life
• Separating scientific evidence from health hype

Whether you're interested in psychology, mental health, exercise science, healthy ageing, resilience, performance, neuroscience, or simply living your healthiest life, this episode provides thought-provoking insights into one of today's most fascinating areas of research.

🎥 YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@JamesAlder-003

🎧 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2GNTvzJg4pPFIe8dGrNrEv?si=7BlCqtBOTOuFpM5Edybt4w

Chris Burres has kindly provided listeners with an exclusive $30 OFF their first MyVitalC purchase.

👉 https://www.myvitalc.com/traumatraining

🌐 MyVitalC:
https://www.myvitalc.com

📘 Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/myvitalc

📷 Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/myvitalc

🎵 TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@myvitalc

💼 Chris Burres on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisburres

▶️ MyVitalC YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@MyVitalC/videos

Trauma, Training & Transformation: Exploring How Movement Heals the Mind is hosted by Dr James Alder—British Army veteran, Chartered Psychologist, researcher, university academic, rugby referee, and coach.

The podcast explores the science and psychology of trauma, mental health, resilience, leadership, performance, recovery, and how movement can transform both mind and body. Through conversations with world-leading psychologists, researchers, clinicians, athletes, coaches, military veterans, and inspiring individuals, the podcast aims to break the stigma surrounding mental health while providing practical, evidence-based insights that help people live healthier, more resilient lives.

If you enjoyed this episode, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE. Your support helps us continue bringing evidence-based conversations on psychology, resilience, movement, and mental health to a wider audience.

#Longevity #HealthyAging #Healthspan #LiveLonger #Aging #Psychology #MentalHealth #Resilience #Exercise #Movement #Recovery #HumanPerformance #Biohacking #StressManagement #Wellbeing #ChrisBurres #MyVitalC #Podcast #TraumaTrainingTransformation

In this episode you'll discover:🎙️ Listen & Follow Trauma, Training & Transformation🎁 Exclusive Offer for ListenersConnect with Chris Burres & MyVitalCAbout the Podcast