In this episode, Jake S – A.K.A PunkChef41 – opens up about living with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), a chronic illness that causes him to experience tens (sometimes hundreds) of seizures every day.
The condition influences every aspect of his work and family life, and he talks openly about the impact it has on his mental health, and the role his YouTube channel, and the community he’s building through it, play in giving him the structure, purpose, and connection he needs.
Here are the timestamps for each of the core questions we cover in the show:
0:00 Dan’s opener and overview
2:46 Introduction and why Jake decided to share his story
7:59 How was your last week?
10:32 How has your relationship with your mental health evolved?
36:04 What have been the lightbulb moments for you?
50:03 If someone facing a similar problem came to you today, what's the most important thing they can do?
If you'd like to chat with Jake about his experiences, reach out to him via
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Punkchef41
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/punkchef41
Jake’s podcast, ‘It’s Me It’s Me It’s FND’, can be found here on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6RSjTADQCw9tA4Udnutf0L?si=29c481209cd94351
He also mentioned the visible app, which you can find here on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.makevisible.visible
Get all the info you could possibly need about the show here: https://linktr.ee/goodenoughchats
If you have been affected by some of the issues addressed in this conversation, please know that you are not alone and there are some fantastic places you can turn to for help, including (but by no means limited to):
NHS, https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/
The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), https://www.thecalmzone.net/
Samaritans, https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/
Mind, https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/seeking-help-for-a-mental-health-problem/where-to-start/