Behind Closed Doors

Behind Closed Doors is a podcast where I share my personal journey of nearly two decades living with chronic pain, mental health struggles, and sleepless nights. It’s a raw, honest conversation about the realities many of us face but rarely talk about openly. The mission behind the podcast is simple, to create connection and understanding. Everyone has a story, and often the hardest battles happen behind closed doors. By sharing mine, I hope to shine a light on those silent struggles, reduce the stigma around chronic illness and mental health, and remind people they’re not alone.

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Behind Closed Doors

The Quiet Return

August 26, 2025 • Alice Atkins • Episode 7

Episode 7

After everything, years of struggle, heartbreak, searching, and slow healing, this is the chapter where things began to shift. Not in a perfect or final way, but in a quiet, grounded one. In this episode, I reflect on what it means to return to yourself after being lost for so long… and why sometimes, the most powerful progress is the kind no one else can see.

Show Notes

If this episode brought up feelings of anxiety, overwhelm, sadness, or emotional fatigue, please know you're not alone.

Mental health challenges are deeply human, and support is always available.

Here are some gentle steps and resources that might help:

Reach out to your GP or a trusted health professional. They can help guide you toward support that feels right for you.
Talk to someone you trust a friend, partner, or family member. Saying it out loud can be a powerful first step.
Consider therapy. Psychologists, counsellors, or mental health social workers can offer tools, validation, and safe space to unpack what you’re carrying.
Try writing, mindfulness, or body-based practices. Journaling, breathwork, gentle movement, or time in nature can help shift what feels stuck.
Set small, manageable goals. Rest is productive. Healing isn’t linear. Take it moment by moment.

Need to talk to someone now?
Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (Australia, 24/7) for free and confidential support.
If you're outside Australia, please reach out to a local crisis line or mental health service in your area.

And remember:

You don’t need to be doing everything.
You don’t need to have it all figured out.
You just need to keep showing up, gently, honestly, and in your own time.

You are not broken.
You are not alone.
You are deeply worthy of support, care, and inner peace.

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