Beth and Noel’s Mental Health Journey – Part 1: Surviving the Storm

*** Trigger Warning: *** 

This episode contains personal stories involving eating disorders, suicidal ideation, self-harm, and hospitalization for mental health crises. Listener discretion is advised. If these topics are triggering for you, please consider skipping this episode or listening with support.

Welcome to Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads, where we talk honestly about what mental health really looks like — messy, real, and deeply human. In this powerful two-part series, we sit down with Beth and Noel to hear their shared story of survival, love, and resilience.

We are incredibly proud to share that Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner for Health, and was named Best Mental Health Podcast by the 2024 Women in Podcasting Awards. With over 2 million downloads, we’re honored to keep bringing conversations like this into the light.

We're also nominated in two categories for the 2025 Podcast People's Choice Awards — the Adam Curry Legacy Category and the Health Category.
🗳️ Please vote for us before July 31, 2025, at:
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This is Part 1 of a 2-part episode. Part 2 will be released on Thursday, July 31st, 2025.

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Mental Health Quote of the Episode:

"You don’t have to act on every emotion. Sometimes, noticing the storm is enough to survive it."

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Episode Description:

In this emotionally raw and eye-opening episode, Beth shares her mental health journey, spanning childhood trauma, eating disorders, misdiagnoses, and suicide attempts. She opens up about growing up in a volatile household, dealing with body image and control issues, and finding hope in therapy later in life.

Her partner, Noel, joins to reflect on his role as both a loving spouse and a caregiver, offering a rare perspective on what it means to support someone through mental health crises. Together, Beth and Noel tell a story of heartbreak, hospitalizations, and ultimately, healing.

This episode focuses on:

• The experience of living with an undiagnosed mental illness
• The emotional toll of caregiving in a long-term relationship
• The differences in mental health support systems in the UK vs. Australia

SEO Keywords: mental health, eating disorders, suicide survival, caregiver mental health, borderline personality disorder, DBT, UK mental health system, Australia mental health services, trauma healing, mental illness recovery

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Meet Our Guests:

Beth is a microbiologist and survivor who has overcome severe mental health challenges with the help of DBT, supportive care, and her determination. Her honesty and insight make this a truly moving story.

Noel is a musician and podcast editor (and the one who makes us sound good!). He has spent more than two decades by Beth’s side — a caregiver, partner, and advocate — often quietly holding things together when everything else fell apart.

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Key Takeaways:

1. Recovery is non-linear — Beth’s healing came with setbacks, detours, and growth across decades.
2. Caregivers are deeply affected — Noel’s experience shows how supporting someone through mental illness takes an emotional toll.
3. Getting the right help matters — The difference in care between the UK and Australia was life-changing.

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Actionable Items:

1. Don’t wait for a crisis — Seek therapy or support early, even if things feel manageable.
2. Check on caregivers — Partners, family members, and friends supporting someone may be suffering in silence.
3. Explore DBT — Dialectical Behavior Therapy gave Beth the tools to regain control of her life.

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Chapters / Timestamps:

• [00:00] Welcome & Introductions Meet Beth and Noel and learn why this episode is so personal for the hosts.
• [03:00] Childhood & Trauma Beth reflects on growing up with emotional instability and disordered eating patterns.
• [13:00] University Collapse An inside look at her breakdown during gr