EPISODE 8: Almost Married Off at 12 with Angie McLachlan

What kind of life must you have lived, when friends ask mutual friends if everything you say about your life is actually true?
I invited my wife, Angie to the podcast, not because Ang is my wife, but because having lived with Ang for 14 years, I see the other side of having lived that interesting life which makes people ask such questions. The lives that challenge us are also the lives that aren’t seen because people don’t quite believe your truth.
Ang grew up with an absent father and a mother with manic depression. Add neurodiversity and being gay in there too and you start to appreciate the challenges, the grace, the opportunities, the wisdom that Ang holds.
Angie talks candidly about her childhood, how it’s impacted their adult life and important relationships, plus offers us an opportunity to reflect upon our own hardships to see if we can see them through new eyes.
In this Episode:
- Navigating disability and mental illness
- The importance of your ‘safe people’ in life
- The power of objects for triggering memory
- When your wounds help others towards emotional freedom
- Reframing a childhood with adult eyes
Trigger Warning
The podcast includes mention of a golly doll. The doll was given to Ang by her father in recognition of her African childhood, which is very dear to her heart. We acknowledge that the use of the word also represents outdated cultural depictions and advise listener discretion.
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Episode information
Music by Grant McLachlan
Resources
UK
Menopause Support UK – Support and information
NHS Menopause – Information
The Menopausal Expats – Facebook community for support and information
International Menopause Society – Promoting education and research
Samaritans – FREE Help – Tel: 116 123, E: jo@samaritans.org
The British Psychology Society – Find a Psychologist
Australia
International Menopause Society – Promoting education and research
The Australasian Menopause Society – for medical professionals + the public
HealthTalk Australia – Resources and information
The Menopausal Expats – Facebook community for support and information
Mensline – help, support, referrals and counselling for men
Beyond Blue – Mental health support
The Black Dog Institute – Medical health resources, services and research
SANE Australia – Counselling support, Tel: 1800 187 263 (10am – 10pm)
USA
International Menopause Society – Promoting education and research
Office on Women’s Health – Government website (info, support, treatments)
The Menopausal Expats – Facebook community for support and information
American Psychologist Association – Psychologist Finder
OR contact medical services in your country.