Becoming A Butterfly: Recent Episodes
Sarah Loftus
Helping others help themselves by sharing my experiences struggling with Mental Health for 10-12 years, then everything I learnt after.
Not an educational lecture, but a friendly chat. Less highlights, more reality. Instagram: @smollsarahl
S1: a range of topics that played a role in my struggles with Mental Health.
S2: a range of topics that I explored & learnt about in the years following my Mental Health struggles.
S3: recording the topics from S1 with a fresh perspective, after years of learning & growing from my Mental Health struggles.
Everything I say is from personal experience - it may not relate to you, nor may you agree with it. I just hope to be a raw, unfiltered, uncensored, couch friend to anyone who wants to listen.
Modern dating tells us not to care 'too much' or get 'too invested' - wait to reply don't double text, play it cool. But since when was effort a bad thing? In this episode I share my thoughts on games, ghosting, and why genuine effort is the ultimate green flag
In July 2023 I was diagnosed with T1 Diabetes, aged 26, after months of unexplained symptoms. In this episode, I share a letter I wrote to my Diabetes, the reality of daily management, and how I'm still making sense of this part of my life
From the carefree days of 2011 to a sudden descent into eating disorders, depression, and years of struggle - this is my story of mental health. It's raw, vulnerable, and honest - but also about helping, resilience, and the slow return to the little girl I left behind
Five years ago this podcast begun as Becoming A Butterfly - messy, raw, unfiltered. It's grown with me, and now becomes the Sunday Sofa Series. In this episode, I share my story, why I'm starting this new chapter, and what you can expect each week
A very casual chat about feeling vulnerable & lonely, and wondering if actually life is just one weird mind map of conflicting emotions.
An updated version of season 1s popular topic - BOYS! This time reflecting more on what I've learnt from recent experiences.
An absolute ramble shamble. This episode is as much of a rollercoaster as your twenties is. Enjoy the chaos!
Reigniting the podcast means a new intro to what it's all about - a very chaotic ramble updating you & informing you on what 'Becoming A Butterfly' will talk about - enjoy at your own risk :) :)
S3 is all about recording the topics from S1 from a different perspective - after more healing, learning, and growing. Starting with the main topic that changed my life...
Learning to let go, reduce expectations, embrace change, and find the joy in the fact that nothing lasts forever
A short ramble about my new job, what it's like to let go of planning for the future, and being grateful for the present.
A little ramble about how my T1 Diabetes diagnosis triggered some uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and what that taught me.
An insight to what it's really like living with Chronic Fatigue. I struggled with it for around 6 months off the back of long COVID (which reoccured 3 times in 12 months) and glandular fever, leaving my body's immune system on the floor. I was scared to tell people what I was going through due to fears of judgement. Give it a listen and see what you can learn!
Unsurprisingly I can't even remember what I said in this episode - I recorded it impulsively and then left it for a week and now I'm not sure what I'm even talking about (ADHDers will understand). But hey, that's the beauty of my podcast - less highlights, more reality. Welcome to my weird n wonderful self talking about ADHD and how my diagnosis has positively changed my life.
I AM BACK BBY ! With a slight twist from last season, where every episode was a deep chat into the things I've experienced with Mental Illness and more. Today's episode is slightly more lighthearted, with some rambling as I find my feet again in the world of podcasting.
In this short ramble I talk about the stigma of Mental Health and the stereotype of different illnesses. I also discuss people's opinions on tattoos.
In this ramble I talk about the difference between a positive and negative mindset, strengthening your mind as a muscle, being realistic, and utilising your power for change.
In this episode I talk about money! A random topic it seems, but I have always had a lot of anxiety when it comes to earning, spending, and having money. I discuss the difficulties of this and how I've worked on it when travelling and making the most of my time.
In this episode I delve into my experiences at school, what my learning environment looked like, and how that affected my teenage years. I talk about school, friends, sports, teachers, and more.
In this episode I talk about my personal experiences with body image, focusing on body dysmorphia and trying to understand what it is. I also touch on how your body image may be affected and influenced by things, both consciously & subconsciously.
In this weird and wonderful episode I talk about moving to Australia and what life has been like over the past 12 months. It's been just over 1 year since I left the UK, one full rotation round the sun, and 371 days since I last saw any of my family. It's been a huge year in terms of growth; mentally, physically, and emotionally, so I hope you enjoy this ramble.
In this episode I talk about my experiences with injuries and the setbacks I've experienced. I focus mainly on reasons why I've spent lots of money & time on rehab and recovery in order to prioritise my physical health.
In this episode I talk about my turbulent relationship with sleep. Insomnia, being awake at night, loving or hating sleep, and more!
In this episode I delve into my personal experiences with alcohol, which led me to being tee total for 2.5 years. I also talk about why I started drinking alcohol again, what it's like to be sober around all your friends, and more!
I delve into the world of social media, discussing both the pros and cons. Our lives are consumed by technology nowadays and it's difficult to escape this virtual reality.
A conversation about walking, movement, and physical wellbeing. I share my knowledge about The Philosophers of Walking and the importance of physical wellbeing.
An insight into my experience with boys, relationships, flirting, comparison, and the single life. Slightly cringe but very entertaining. Take it with a pinch of salt.
An insight into the reality of having very little body fat and the consequences of Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea.
An insight into the reality of OCD, which is not just about being super organised, and some stories about my experiences with anxiety. Focusing on panic attacks and what it's like to not only go through them but to see someone going through them.
An insight to the darker side of depression where I talk about my experiences with self harm and suicide, aiming to make them less stigmatised and more understandable.
An insight into my experience with Depression and what it feels like, from a personal perspective, on a day to day basis.
An insight into my experiences with Bulimia and Binge Eating, as well as using sport and exercise to help me through these difficulties.
An insight into my experience with Anorexia Nervosa and what happened when I went to The Priory for recovery.
A little introduction about me, the author of this podcast, and a brief insight into what this series will be focusing on.