How to Reconnect with Your Emotions Feeling emotionally numb—like you’re disconnected from yourself and the world—is more common than you might think. In fact, many people experience this at some point in their lives. It’s often a defense mechanism your brain uses to protect you from overwhelming feelings. While this response can help you survive...
Navigating Rupture & Repair The world in 2024 is fast. There is never enough time. Relationship breakdown can be swift, instantly blocked or ghosted. Or a slow, drawn out, breakdown with much pain. Either way its tempting to avoid conflict rather than confront it. Conflict can feel scary, or outside your control. However it’s...
Anticipatory Anxiety Stress is a normal necessary part of life. You can’t find your car keys, get stuck in traffic, or wait for an important call or text. Will cause some stress but usually manageable and will easily decline. If you are going through ‘something’ (e.g divorce, redundancy, bereavement etc) stress levels will...
The Pain of Parentification As a child, you were growing up too soon if you experienced: Being the peacekeeper and mediating conflict with adults around you Raising siblings Keeping the entire house clean, doing the washing, cooking, ironing, shopping “Stepping up” to take the place of an absent parent Keeping dangerous secrets for a loved...
The best Christmas gift Christmas is a whirlwind. All the planning, preparing, shopping, wrapping, decorating – adding financial and family pressure. There is so much to do; it just doesn’t happen by magic. You have to do it all. Focusing on materialistic traditions, finding the best Christmas gifts, sorting the food, and organising the family....
And why positive thinking is so powerful Thoughts are like a domino effect, where one can topple the next. It sets the stage for a cascade of emotions and actions. It’s fascinating. How a single thought, whether negative or positive, can initiate a chain reaction. Simultaneously influencing your mindset and emotions in profound ways, which...
Three main effects Did you grow up in a dysfunctional family? If you never really talk about growing up. It can feel like a sticky subject. You describe your family as difficult, tricky, or complicated. You may have likely lived with caregivers or parents who experienced generational trauma and may have exhibited chemical dependence, mental...
8 Signs of Post Traumatic Growth Post-traumatic stress is commonly talked about. Understandably. This is the effect of prolonged and complex trauma on our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. And it really leaves its mark if unhealed, as a painful wound affecting every aspect of life. Trying to feel safe when safety may never have...
Building Better Boundaries What are boundaries? These are guidelines, rules or limits you create for things you will accept as reasonable or safe. These limits can be physical emotional time topics The easiest way to think about a boundary is like a property line. With ‘No Trespassing’ signs. Basically very clear and obvious and...
Signs of Emotional Invalidation Do you struggle with expressing yourself? You feel overwhelmed or cry when trying to say what’s going on for you. You wonder why you can’t say how you feel and it leaves you not wanting to share too much. If you find that you say ‘I’m fine’ when asked how you...