Well Enough

Is "toxic positivity" ruining your mental health? In this episode, we speak to former UK government Youth Mental Health Ambassador, Dr. Alex George, and psychotherapist and author Anna Mathur to dismantle the pressure to be happy all the time and explore the science of finding joy in the small things.We discuss the difference between dopamine hits and true happiness, why we wear "masks" to hide depression, and the biology behind stress and joy. Plus, Dr. Alex and Anna share actionable tools - like Alex’s brilliantly simple “2 minute rule” and cognitive reframing techniques - to help you build mental fitness, manage ADHD, and combat loneliness.More from Well Enough: Follow Well Enough on Instagram hereFollow Emilie on Instagram here Subscribe to the Well Enough newsletter hereTimecodes00:00 The Role of Negative Emotions00:51 Is Happiness Just Hormones?01:29 Why Stress Blocks Joy (Fight or Flight)02:14 Cortisol vs Serotonin02:52 Dopamine Hits vs True Joy03:41 The Dangers of Toxic Positivity04:08 Depression and Wearing the "Mask"05:27 Dr. Alex on ADHD & Vulnerability06:55 Antidepressants and Breaking Stigma08:05 The Loneliness of Hiding Feelings09:28 Men's Mental Health & Fear of Abandonment11:42 Mental Fitness vs. Mental Illness13:43 Childhood Trauma & Suppressing Emotions16:47 Neuroplasticity: Can We Rewire Our Brains?18:32 Motivation vs. Discipline19:55 Overcoming Self-Sabotage22:26 Letting Go of Perfectionism24:17 Combatting the Loneliness Epidemic27:32 Decision Fatigue & Social Media Burnout28:44 The Problem with Gratitude (And How to Fix It)33:14 The 2-Minute Rule (ADHD Hack)34:55 How to Build Healthy Habits (The Snowball Effect)36:26 Reframing: "I Have To" vs. "I Get To"39:20 Wellness Non-Negotiables: Rest & NatureMore from today’s guests:Dr Alex’s new book ‘Happy Habits’ | https://www.amazon.co.uk/Happy-Habits-Steps-Build-Life/dp/0241771463Anna’s new book ‘The Good Decision Diary’ | https://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Decision-Diary-making-decisions/dp/0241707226

Over 500 million people follow the #fitness hashtag on Instagram — but behind the workout videos, transformation posts, and motivational reels, what’s it really like to be a fitness influencer?In this episode of Well Enough, Emilie Lavinia is joined by two leading voices in online fitness: Alice Liveing and Shakira Akabusi.Alice Liveing has half a million followers on Instagram and shares positive advice on staying fit, in a sustainable way. But that wasn’t always the case. She began her online career as ‘Clean Eating Alice’ - an approach to nutrition which ultimately caused an eating disorder and even affected her menstrual cycle. Today, she opens up on what that lifestyle was like, sharing tips from her brand new book. Shakira - AKA Strong Like Mum - has fitness in her veins. You’ll know her as a resident fitness expert on ITV’S Lorraine.More from Well Enough: Follow Well Enough on Instagram hereFollow Emilie on Instagram here Subscribe to the Well Enough newsletter hereTimecodes00:00 Introduction02:45 Why Lifting Weights Is Empowering For Women04:00 "Influencer" vs Personal Trainer06:50 The "Thinness" Trap & Misinformation12:55 Best Self vs Thinnest Self14:25 Performance Goals over Aesthetics16:30 The Ozempic Era18:30 Why We Hated PE at School23:00 The Dangers of Viral Challenges25:25 "Boring" Basics - Exercises That Work Best27:30 Pros & Cons of Online Fitness Access29:40 Gen Z, Longevity & Aesthetics34:35 New Era of Female Sports Role Models38:55 Cleaning Up Your Social Feed40:05 Guide: Starting Fitness in Perimenopause40:55 What is Progressive Overload?42:15 Why Posture is Critical44:55 Tips for Gym Anxiety48:50 Wellness Non-NegotiablesMore from today’s guests:Alice’s new book ‘Give Me Strength’ Follow Shakira’s ‘Strong Like Mum’ Instagram 

Millie Mackintosh hit our TV screens in the early 2010s on reality show Made In Chelsea. Since then, she’s made the life changing decision to quit drinking. Now, she loves her sober lifestyle and supports a huge sober curious community online. In this emotional episode, she shares her alcohol free journey with world-leading authority on alcohol and drug science, Professor David Nutt. Together, they discuss the normalization of binge drinking culture, why Gen Z is rejecting alcohol and bust a common myth about tequila.You’ll hear strategies from Millie’s book ‘Bad Drunk’ - which she co-wrote with NHS GP Dr Ellie Cannon - charting her sober journey and documenting the profound mental and physical health benefits she experienced by quitting booze. Professor David Nutt will help you make informed decisions about your own alcohol consumption with an evidence-based look at how alcohol affects the body and brain. More from Well Enough: Follow Well Enough on Instagram hereFollow Emilie on Instagram here Subscribe to the Well Enough newsletter hereTimecodes00:00 Millie Mackintosh: My Life-Changing Decision to Quit Drinking 01:07 The Normalization of Binge Drinking Culture02:12 Why We Drink: Alcohol as a Social Lubricant03:30 The Stigma of the "Problem Drinker"04:30 Understanding Shame and Dependency05:15 Does Tequila *Actually* Make You Happy?06:15 Why Gen Z is Rejecting Alcohol07:22 The Immediate Benefits: Weight Loss and Clarity09:20 Natural Dopamine Hits10:35 Why Non-Alcoholic Wine Often Fails11:30 The Science of "Functional" Alcohol Alternatives14:35 How to Quit Alcohol16:20 Navigating Pubs When You Don't Drink19:00 Handling Peer Pressure and Social Cues20:25 Losing Friends When You Get Sober21:40 How to Tell If You Are Drinking Too Much23:15 Helping a Friend: How to Talk About Drinking25:40 Alcohol and Cancer Risk26:45 Is Any Amount of Alcohol Safe?28:05 The True Economic Cost of Hangovers33:50 Advice for Partners 38:00 Sobriety and ParentingMore from today’s guests:Millie Mackintosh’s book ‘Bad Drunk’ here David’s book ‘Drink?: The New Science of Alcohol and Your Health’ here

Jules Von Hep spent 20 years as a celebrity spray tanner, working with Hollywood actors and Victoria's Secret models. What did he learn? That every single person, no matter how "perfect," apologised for their body. Joined by expert Consultant Clinical Psychologist Dr Brendan J Dunlop, this episode explores the staggering impact of beauty standards on mental health.This episode tackles the body image crisis, exploring why we are all conditioned to dislike how we look. We explore the drivers - toxic masculinity, social media algorithms, and stagnant marketing and discuss the shocking stat that 48% of men are struggling in silence with body image problems. Jules shares his powerful journey from body dysmorphia to true body confidence, and Brendan gives practical tips for mindset shifts to love your body. This episode will teach you how to normalize the "body wobble," reframe exercise as self-love, and finally build a better relationship with the person in the mirror.More from Well Enough: Follow Well Enough on Instagram hereFollow Emilie on Instagram here Subscribe to the Well Enough newsletter hereTimecodes:00:00 How Body Dysmorphia Shaped My Life 01:05 Launching a Body Confidence Brand 02:15 Expert Opinion: Are Male Body Image Issues Common? 03:09 48% of Men & Boys Struggle With This05:10 Spray Tanner's Secret: Everybody Has Body Doubts 06:30 Common Body Image Triggers 08:00 Where Do Male Beauty Standards Come From? 09:35 How the Social Media Algorithm Feeds Body Image Insecurity 10:30 The Truth About Men's Underwear Models 12:10 Wellness Culture and the "Homogenization" of Looks 13:30 Why the Male Body Standard is "Stagnant and Boring" 14:20 Ozempic, Steroids & the Warped View of the Male Body 16:20 Internalized Phobia: Body Image in the Queer Community18:05 Strategy: How to "Flip the Script" on Negative Self-Talk20:55 "Don't Punish, Nourish" Your Body23:10 The RuPaul Rule for Self Compassion25:05 The "Drip in the Ceiling": An Analogy for Mental Health 30:15 Mindset Shift: Confidence is a Journey, Not a Destination 32:00 Two Practical Tips to Build Self-Love TodayMore from today’s guests:Jules’s book ‘The Confidence Ritual’ here Brendan’s book ‘The Queer Mental Health Workbook’ hereResources:Been There - Been There is a charity with an app that connects people aged 18 and over with a vetted and trained Mentor to help with any body image issues they may be experiencing.Young Minds Body Image support here

Why are 12 million men in the UK suffering in complete silence?Men and boys are told to "man up," but suicide is still the biggest killer of men under 50. To mark Men’s Mental Health Awareness month, we’re joined by therapist to Lewis Capaldi and Sunday Times Bestselling author Owen O’Kane, and broadcaster and mental health campaigner Matt Johnson. Together they discuss the most common symptoms of anxiety and depression that men, their colleagues, family and friends can look out for - and share simple tools for addressing the men’s mental health crisis.Follow Well Enough on Instagram hereFollow Emilie on Instagram here Subscribe to the Well Enough newsletter hereTimecodes:00:00 This is What Good Therapy is About 00:30 Defining Depression & Anxiety 01:15 Matt Johnson: My Experience with Severe Depression02:20 The Hidden Symptom of Men's Depression03:38 When To Seek Help for Depression04:26 The Exhaustion of "Faking It" (Matt's Story)05:27 A Therapy Technique: How to Relate to Your Depression06:42 My Suicide Attempt: Learning Self-Compassion08:12 The "Grim" State of UK Men's Mental Health Services09:59 Has 'Diagnosis Culture' Become a Problem?11:00 The 3 Parts of You: How To Rescue Your Inner Child13:32 Why Men Struggle with Therapy (Wanting a Quick Fix)15:30 The Problem with "Alpha Culture" and Self-Optimization17:37 Toxic Masculinity: A Therapist's Personal Story21:38 Men ARE Ready to Talk (But We Have a Problem with Teens)23:13 Breaking Free from "What a Man Should Be"29:22 "I Don't Want to Do The Feeling Stuff" - Why Men Fear Therapy39:12 Free Tools to Use When You Can't Afford Therapy44:43 The Practical Power of Hope (Even in Palliative Care)50:47 The Dangers of the "Big Wellness" IndustryResources if you’re in need:Mind Charity | Useful contacts – suicidal thoughtsCampaign Against Living MiserablyContact a Samaritan 

Social media insists your hormones need "balancing." But what if that term is just a marketing-fueled myth? We’re sold expensive powders, trackers that spike our anxiety, and restrictive diets, all while chasing a state of "balance" that doesn't medically exist. This confusion is taking advantage of our insecurities, promising a quick fix for symptoms that are often caused by the stress of modern life itself.Imagine finally cutting through that noise. This conversation, featuring insights from a GP and a nutritionist, dismantles the "balancing" trend and replaces it with a far more powerful concept: homeostasis. Discover the practical, foundational pillars that actually support your hormones—why eating breakfast is a non-negotiable, how a 30-second mindfulness trick can break the stress cycle, and the truth about supplements like berberine.If you’re ready to stop guessing and start supporting your body’s incredible, intricate design, this is the clarity you’ve been looking for.Dr Zoe Williams is a familiar face on our TV screens as resident doctor on ITV’s This Morning. She’s also a practising NHS GP. Hannah Alderson is a nutritionist, PCOS specialist and author of ‘Everything I know about hormones’. Follow Well Enough on Instagram hereFollow Emilie on Instagram here Subscribe to the Well Enough newsletter hereTimecodes:00:00 What Does "Hormone Balancing" Actually Mean?01:25 Why "Hormone Balancing" is a Marketing Term02:05 Are "Hormone Balancing" Supplements a Marketing Ploy?04:00 The Dangers of Health Trackers & Metric Anxiety06:50 Subtle Signs of a Hormone Imbalance (Thyroid, Iron)08:45 The One Question You Must Ask Your Doctor10:50 The 6-Step Plan to Create an Optimal Hormone Environment13:10 Meet Your Hormones: Estrogen (Superwoman) & Progesterone (Chill)16:45 The Problem with At-Home Hormone Testing (Cortisol & Timing)18:45 Pillar 1: How Poor Sleep Disrupts Your Hormones20:30 Pillar 2: A 30-Second Hack to Stop the Stress Response22:50 The "Four Ps" of Toxins Harming Your Hormones25:55 Pillar 3: The First Step to Eating for Hormone Health29:20 The #1 Nutrition Tip for Women: Eat Breakfast!32:10 Should You Take Myo-Inositol & Berberine for Hormones?40:25 The 30 Plant Points Hack (Simple Swops)43:10 The Big Debate: The Contraceptive Pill45:20 The Pill: Symptom Relief vs. Root Cause Treatment52:05 The Hidden Risk: How The Pill Can Mask Endometriosis56:40 The Panel's One Wellness Non-Negotiable

The longevity boom has us all thinking harder about our long-term health.However, the more we think about living forever, the more we tend to obsess over our behaviours. Brands are encouraging us to track a raft of metrics using their wearable technology and to take their expensive supplements. Longevity influencers and biohackers are leading us to believe we’re failing ourselves if we’re not up at 5am taking a dip in an ice bath. Perhaps our health anxiety has never been higher? Longevity expert and award-winning aesthetic doctor Dr Sophie Shotter joins us to explain the science behind anti-ageing beauty regimes. Nadine Baggott, ITV’s resident beauty expert, brings her expertise on the changing face of the beauty industry.Follow Well Enough on Instagram hereFollow Emilie on Instagram here Subscribe to the Well Enough newsletter hereTimecodes:00:00 Live BETTER not LONGER00:41 'Longevity': Just Anti-Ageing Repackaged?01:03 Health Span vs. Lifespan02:22 Skin Vitality vs. Skin Vanity03:23 Our Cultural Fear of Ageing05:48 Celebrity’s Secret Undetectable Treatments07:55 The 4 "Unsexy" Skincare Basics09:07 Dangers of DIY Aesthetics09:48 US vs. UK: Extreme Treatments13:14 Teens & Anti-Ageing17:18 Is Biohacking Just "Male Longevity"?18:46 Why "Women Are Not Small Men"21:13 The Unregulated Wellness Industry23:50 The Dangerous Anti-Sunscreen Trend26:20 SPF & Retinoids ARE Biohacking29:20 Menopause, Misogyny, and HRT41:26 The Best FREE Biohacks44:55 Experts' Wellness Non-NegotiablesMore from our guests:Follow Nadine on Instagram Listen to Dr. Sophie’s ‘Age Well’ podcast

Feeling burnt out despite trying every self-care trend? You're not alone. The constant pressure to perform 'wellness' is exhausting, and it’s time for a different approach.Today we’re joined by two experts: NEOM Wellbeing founder Nicola Elliott, who turned her own anxiety into a wellbeing empire, and author of Radical Self Care, Rebecca Moore. They reveal why true self-care has been lost to social media buzzwords and how we can get it back.This episode is your ultimate guide to thriving this autumn. Discover a powerful, practical toolkit of free rituals to reduce stress, build resilience, and create a routine that genuinely restores you.Follow Well Enough on Instagram hereFollow Emilie on Instagram here Subscribe to the Well Enough newsletter here00:00 Is Self-Care Becoming Too Complicated?00:22 Meet The Self-Care Experts: Nicola Elliott & Rebecca Moore00:53 What Is Self-Care, Really?01:54 Connection vs Consumerism02:48 Unpacking 'Wellness Washing'03:26 NEOM Founder's Burnout Story & The Start Of A Wellness Brand06:33 Why Your Self-Care Rituals Must Be Personal To You08:40 The Toxic Side of 'Self-Care' Culture09:27 The Difference Between 'Soft Love' and 'Tough Love' In Self-Care11:07 Self-Care Isn't Surviving, It's Thriving12:20 Is Self-Care Gendered? A Look At Men's Wellness14:10 Wellness vs. Wellbeing: What's the Difference?15:35 The Invisible Labour of Women & The Need for Self-Care18:50 Practical Takeaways: How Scent Affects Your Mood22:28 How Yoga & Breathwork Can Change Everything24:48 Overcoming The Barriers To Self-Care: Time & Money28:32 How To Practice Self-Care This Autumn (For Free!)31:50 Simple Self-Care Tips: Journaling & Sleep Routines34:28 Why Do We Need To Be Taught Basic Wellness?37:20 Our Experts' Non-Negotiable Wellness HabitsRebecca’s book Radical Self CareExplore NEOM’s collection here

What if burnout isn’t just about working too hard? Today, we ask whether exhaustion is an inevitable side effect of modern life, or a warning sign that something deeper needs to change.Dr. Amos Ogunkoya - GP, Premier League doctor, and familiar face from The Traitors - has seen how stress eats away at both body and mind, from the pitch to the surgery room. And Zoe Kalar, the force behind sustainable social platform WeAre8, reveals how her own crash-and-burn in the tech world forced a radical rethink of what success actually looks like.This conversation pulls apart our obsession with productivity and the story we’ve been sold about “hustle” and asks: what’s the real cost of constantly pushing for more?Follow Well Enough on Instagram here | https://www.instagram.com/wellenoughFollow Emilie on Instagram here | https://www.instagram.com/emilielaviniaukSubscribe to the Well Enough newsletter here | https://www.independent.co.uk/health-and-fitness/well-enough-newsletter-emilie-lavinia-b2818570.htmlTimecodes:00:02 What is Burnout? 02:42 The Doctor's Diagnosis: Emotional Exhaustion04:53 Hidden Red Flags: Signs You're On the Edge06:46 Burnout Prevention Toolkit 08:42 The Social Media Detox: A Digital Lifeline 11:22 How Big Tech Keeps Us Hooked13:23 Toughness vs. Kindness: Finding the Balance16:34 Resilience: Building a Mental Muscle18:02 The Disconnect: Why Online Life Is So Draining21:23 A Tale of Two Worlds: The Online Self vs. The Real You24:47 Unlocking Tough Conversations: A Guide to Authentic Dialogue29:04 The Power of Listening and "Soul Pain"35:34 Building a Kinder Social Media40:42 The Profit-Driven Burnout Machine: A Sobering Revelation44:42 The Freedom to Choose Life: One Name, One Lesson46:12 The Illusion of Control: Why We're Addicted to the Chaos51:57 The Magic of Collective Consciousness 55:03 The Golden Rule of Wellness: Your Non-Negotiable56:07 Move Your Body, Heal Your Mind: Dr. Amos's RuleMore from our guests:Dr. Amos Ogunkoya on Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr_amoss/?hl=enZoe’s social platform WeAre8 | https://www.weare8.com/