Are we talking about mental health more than ever, yet understanding it less? Consultant clinical psychologist, Times columnist and broadcaster Prof Tanya Byron thinks so. She joins Trish & Lorraine to talk about her new book, You Are Not a Diagnosis: The Therapy-Speak Trap and the Lost Art of Listening to Ourselves. In their warm & helpful conversation she explains how to cope with ordinary distressing emotions, the difference between a mental health ‘experience’ and a mental health ‘condition’ & when seeking a diagnosis is genuinely useful for you, your child or another loved one. She also shares her tried & tested practical tools for the ‘messiness of being human’ when you feel overwhelmed, overstretched and emotionally exhausted.

Plus: find out how Trish ended up all at sea with the Brazilian navy & why Lorraine is pushing her husband out of an aeroplane!

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Surrounded by people but still feel lonely? Bestselling author Meg Mason (Sorrow and Bliss) joins Lorraine and Trish to talk about how she wrote her new novel Sophie Standing There, a story of love, loneliness and life after divorce. Meg shares her own feelings of acute loneliness and the shame that comes with it for many women, as well as what saved her. She also reveals how midlife wisdom has made her more compassionate towards herself, why she is finally able to ask for what she wants in life and what she really thinks of her readers getting Sorrow And Bliss tattoos.

Plus: Lorraine’s empty nest surprise & how the universe conspired this week for Trish

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Meet Dr Sam Bunting, the leading dermatologist who says you don't need facials, a silk pillowcase or have to drink gallons of water to get bright, glowing skin after 40. As well as busting midlife skincare myths, the author of Flawless: Your Ultimate Guide to Bright, Clear Skin, tells Lorraine & Trish about the science behind her four step simple & cost effective daily routine & answers listeners’ questions about rosacea, adult acne, fine lines, SPF, Botox, fillers, pigmentation & menopausal changes. Listen now if you want to find out whether your skincare routine is on the right track & know how to separate the products that work from those that are a waste of money.

Plus: Pole dancing in your fifties & what to do if a looming big birthday is getting you down

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TV’s Julia Bradbury was diagnosed with breast cancer at 51. Then she went on a mission to give herself the best shot at a long, healthy life. The mum of three joins Lorraine and Trish to share the screening tests worth having, how she quit alcohol and tamed her sugar addiction, and the free daily habits any midlifer can follow, all without overwhelm, guilt or shame. Because sometimes, you just have to eat the goddamn cake!

Julia's book, Hack Yourself Healthy, is out now in paperback.

Plus: Trish got scammed (find out how), second-time-round wedding dressing, and six things to look forward to this autumn.

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Trish & Lorraine are joined by the author of hit novel & TV drama Trespasses to talk about her new book Stations & what it feels like to write a best seller & start a whole new career in midlife. Former chef Louise opens up about the impact of fleeing Belfast as a child during the Troubles after her grandmother’s pub was bombed, the anxiety that followed her through life from that point, the friend who lured her to a writing group & what happened on the night she had a glass too many with Gillian Anderson!

Trish and Lorraine also tackle listener questions on parenting twenty-somethings who have moved back home in a warm, honest episode for women navigating midlife, family life and reinvention.

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Lorraine & Trish are back for Season 19 of Postcards from Midlife! In this opener, they catch up on their summer — from Cornwall staycations and David Byrne concerts to accidental Ted Lasso interviews and lake-swimming mishaps — & share why midlife women so often feel guilty about resting (hello, Gen X work ethic).

They also give you a first look at this season's brilliant guest lineup, including:

• Julia Bradbury on her new book Hack Yourself Healthy and the longevity tips actually worth trying
• Rose Ferguson, nutritionist, on her four-week reset plan and the MJMB Protocol for more energy
• Dr Sam Bunting, dermatologist, on midlife skin changes, skincare routines, and cosmetic procedures
• Professor Tanya Byron on her new book You Are Not a Diagnosis
• Novelists Louise Kennedy (Stations) and Meg Mason (Sophie Standing There)

Plus: navigating a full-again "empty nest," the British Heart Foundation Strong Women Challenge, book & telly recommendations for autumn, & stories from the Postcards from Midlife Facebook community.

Nature's Best Pea Protein link: https://tidd.ly/3UWJpSZ

Use code LIFE30

• Got a question for Julia, Rose, Sam or Tanya? Email hello@postcardsfrommidlife.com
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Lorraine & Trish meet Dr Julie Smith, clinical psychologist, multi-million selling author of ‘Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before’ & one of the most trusted mental health advisors on social media. Discover how to be your own coach to manage midlife plate spinning, shake off your inner critic, shift your thoughts from judgement to curiosity & tune into all your emotions to understand what your brain & body are trying to tell you. Julie also shares how she adopted a ‘predator’ mindset to face her own fears following a breast cancer diagnosis & has reassuring advice for parents about what children really need to support their mental health & wellbeing.

Plus: Season finale round up: all the best advice from this season’s fabulous guests!

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Trish & Lorraine speak to divorce coach Nawal Houghton who explains step by step what to do from the moment you think things aren’t right in your marriage, to initiating proceedings, navigating mediation, negotiating finances & thinking about what you need to build your new future. Nawal, who specialises in high conflict divorces, also shares how to cope if things turn toxic, what to do if you’ve been kept in the financial dark, the importance of creating a small support group & the question you must ask yourself if you think it’s best to stay for the children. Plus, how to talk to your kids about what’s happening & supporting their emotional needs now & in the future.

Plus: Post work dinner panic? Quick, easy & tasty things to make in a hurry

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