Work Stress Anxiety | Burnout Prevention & Work Anxiety Help

Staying in a job that’s crushing you can look like grit from the outside, but inside it can feel like slow erosion. Cheryl sits down with Dr Vanessa Labode-Richman, a clinical neuropsychologist, to separate true resilience from unhealthy tolerance and to name the moment when “pushing through” stops being brave and starts being costly.

We get honest about what burnout can actually feel like when your nervous system finally taps out, and why so many high performers stay in toxic workplace culture, impossible workloads, or poor management because change feels like failure. Dr Vanessa explains the brain’s bias for the familiar, why anxiety spikes when you consider a career change, and why waiting for the “perfect time” to act often keeps you stuck longer than you want.

Then we move into tools you can use right away: the “brain dollars” concept for managing your mental energy at work, what chronic stress and cortisol do to focus, memory, and your body, and a simple decision framework to frame any stressor as something you fix, face, or forget. You’ll leave with clearer language, practical next steps, and a gentler truth to hold onto: your brain and body are built to get through hard things, even when you don’t feel ready.

If this helped, subscribe, share it with someone who’s running on empty, and leave a review so more people can find support for work stress, anxiety, and burnout.

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The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

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Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/abgwblog

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

Burnout recovery isn't just about rest—it's about re-entry. When you step back into work after time off (or take on a bigger role), your nervous system reads it as a threat. In this episode, we explain why your work anxiety spikes, show you the real cost of pushing through, and share nervous-system-reset tactics that stop re-entry from becoming your next burnout cycle. You're not overreacting. You're paying attention.

Your brain is paying for everything you ask it to do and the bill may be higher than you think. When you feel wiped out, unfocused, and strangely numb even after a weekend “off,” it can be a sign you’re running low on what our guest DrVanessa Labode-Richman calls Brain Dollars: the finite mental resources that fund focus, coping, sensory input, relationships, and the daily stress of work.

Cheryl and Dr Vanessa unpack how withdrawals add up and why chronic stress charges interest. A difficult boss, a toxic dynamic, or even the dread of Monday can drain your account on days you never step into the office. We talk about why this slide happens so gradually that you adjust to less energy, less joy, and less clarity until you hit a confusing zero point where even helpful habits feel impossible to start.

We also get practical about deposits that actually work in real life: micro-breaks, deep breathing, grounding your body, connection, movement, and small moments that reset your nervous system between demanding tasks. Dr Vanessa explains the default mode network and why a 15-to-20-minute break is not a luxury, but a refuel that restores concentration, supports emotional processing, and can even spark creativity. We also explore why acts of kindness can be a high-return deposit because self-esteem is built through action.

If you’re trying to prevent burnout, reduce workplace anxiety, or rebuild your energy without vague advice, this conversation gives you a clear framework and realistic tools. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s running on empty, and leave a review with the deposit that helps you most.

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The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/abgwblog

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

Burnout prevention for managers starts with recognising the trap. Leslie, a high-functioning manager, lies awake at 2:15 AM believing her team depends solely on her. Work stress expert Cheryl Paris reveals how the need to be indispensable creates exhaustion—and how the Wizard of Oz teaches us the path to nervous system recovery. Real stories, nervous system regulation, actionable steps.

Every leader says they want a team with initiative, but what happens when your systems quietly train people to wait for permission? We start with Leslie, a talented manager awake at 2:15 a.m., replaying staffing problems, customer complaints, and supplier decisions, all because “nothing can happen unless Leslie responds.” It sounds like dedication until you feel the toll: work stress, anxiety, resentment, and the kind of burnout where you take a sick day just to avoid being needed.

We use a vivid metaphor from The Wizard of Oz: the booming, all-powerful wizard is really one anxious person behind a curtain pulling levers to manage appearances. That is what micromanagement can become, not always from ego, but from fear. When a manager steps in, changes decisions, or treats “different” as “wrong,” teams adapt for psychological safety. They stop taking ownership and start making requests. The leader then gets more proof that the team “can’t decide,” the backlog grows, and everyone feels stuck in a dependency loop.

Then we pivot to solutions that uphold high standards without trapping you in a cycle of constant approval. We talk about structured trust, separating decisions that truly need authority from those that just became habit, and running small, low-risk delegation experiments. We also explore a simple reframe (the ABGW method): if people can handle more without me, my leadership is working. If you want calmer leadership, better decision-making, and less workplace anxiety, listen through to the end, then subscribe, share it with a manager who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

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The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/abgwblog

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

Your team keeps checking in, avoiding decisions, waiting for permission. High-functioning anxiety isn't just yours—it's contagious. In this episode, Cheryl Paris and funeral director Jamie uncover why your burnout recovery starts by shifting your own nervous system, not fixing your team's hesitation. Discover the leadership anxiety mirror and practical stress recovery techniques that reset how your team takes initiative.

Burnout prevention for female managers often starts with a hard truth: your team's hesitation to use initiative mirrors your own high-functioning anxiety. Jamie, a funeral director, has a conscientious team—yet they keep checking, waiting, and avoiding decisions. In this conversation with Cheryl Paris, discover why words like 'professional' and 'use your judgment' carry hidden meanings that freeze your team's nervous system. Learn how decoding your own workplace stress and perfectionism gives your team permission to think and lead.

Your team isn’t “lacking initiative” if they’re busy trying not to get punished by surprise standards. We tell the story of Jamie, a 32-year-old funeral director who cares deeply about families and holds high professional standards, yet feels exasperated when her team double-checks everything, waits for approval, and seems afraid to make decisions.

We dig into the real culprit behind so much workplace stress and anxiety at work: expectations that sound clear but aren’t. Words like “professional,” “warm,” “sensitive,” and “use your judgment” can feel obvious to the person speaking because they come with a full mental picture. But when the picture stays in a manager’s head, the team can only guess. After a few rounds of “That’s not what I meant,” people learn that the safest move is to ask first, copy the boss on every message, and avoid the risk of being wrong.

From there, we map the cycle: high stakes make control look like care, retroactive corrections create fear, fear produces overchecking, and overchecking becomes “evidence” that the team can’t be trusted. We also bring in professional reflection, not as self-blame, but as a leadership tool to ask: what pattern am I part of, and what am I creating through my habits?

You’ll leave with a simple practice you can use today: make one important standard visible before the work starts so initiative becomes safe again. If this hits close to home, subscribe, share the episode with a colleague, and leave a review so more leaders can replace anxiety with clarity.

Send us Fan Mail

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/abgwblog

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

Work anxiety management can become another full-time job—constant monitoring, techniques, and self-optimisation that keeps your nervous system locked in high alert. In this episode, we explore why high-functioning anxious women often miss the biggest recovery tool: permission to stop managing. You'll learn the nervous system reset that matters most, how to recognise when anxiety management is draining you further, and the counterintuitive truth about sustainable stress recovery for burnt-out leaders.

Anxiety at work can hijack your whole day, and the worst part is how quickly “managing it” becomes another job you never applied for. Cheryl sits down with psychotherapist Elke to make calming down simpler, more physical, and far more realistic, especially for busy people who do not have time to overthink every symptom. We focus on what helps your nervous system feel safer, not on chasing a perfect routine.  

We dig into practical, body-based stress and anxiety tools you can use anywhere: hydration as a baseline, breathing that actually feels doable when you are already activated, and why the vagus nerve matters when anxiety shows up as tension, nausea, a tight throat, or a racing heart. Elke also explains havening, a gentle touch technique that sends a nonverbal “you are safe” message to your system when words like “relax” do nothing. From there, we build a personal “calm list” so you have steps to follow even when your mind is spinning, plus the idea of layering supports when you need “heavy artillery” to bring your stress level down.  

We also get honest about gratitude: not as a cheesy slogan or toxic positivity, but as science-backed attention training that can reduce perfectionism and grow real joy over time. If you want practical workplace anxiety strategies, nervous system regulation ideas, and a simple daily practice that saves time and energy, you will leave with a clear plan. Subscribe, share this with someone who is carrying too much, and leave a review with the one tool you want to try first.

Send us Fan Mail

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/abgwblog

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

High-functioning anxiety often masquerades as productivity. Your body sends distress signals—tension, racing heart, exhaustion—while your mind insists you're fine and in control. With guest Elke Scholz, we explore why high-achieving women experience this body-mind disconnect and share a powerful nervous system reset you can use at your desk in 2 minutes. Stop ignoring what your body is telling you about work stress before it becomes burnout.

Your body can be in full panic while your mind insists you’re okay, and that disconnect is one of the most confusing parts of work stress anxiety. Cheryl sits down with Elka to trace anxiety back to its less obvious roots, especially for high-functioning women juggling careers, caregiving, and the pressure to be “good” at everything. Instead of treating anxiety as one big problem, we treat it like a set of clues and start narrowing it down.  

We dig into physical drivers that often get missed: caffeine tolerance, alcohol rebound anxiety, sugar crashes, dehydration, and the way sleep debt can wreck your emotional resilience after just a couple of nights. Elka shares how food sensitivities can trigger a body-based anxiety attack even when you feel mentally fine, plus why hormones and blood markers matter. If your finances are fine, your relationship is solid, and you still feel like you’re “freaking out”, we talk about why thyroid issues and iron deficiency are worth checking with a professional.  

Then we zoom out to modern overstimulation and the stress of constant inputs. Phones keep us in FOMO and alert mode, and Elka describes the striking difference between frantic scrolling and the calm that comes from quiet, nature, and gentle sensory grounding. We also name the “shoulds”, perfectionism, and self-doubt that push high standards into chronic anxiety, and we touch on high sensitivity, memory triggers, and trauma held in the body.  

If you want practical coping tools, Elka offers a free two-page PDF you can pick from, plus Cheryl shares a playful idea for a movement-ready playlist to help refill your cup. Subscribe for more conversations on work anxiety and nervous system regulation, share this with someone who’s quietly carrying too much, and leave a review so more listeners can find the support.

Send us Fan Mail

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/abgwblog

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

Why does work anxiety feel like it appears out of nowhere? In this episode, Cheryl Paris talks with Elke Scholz about high-functioning anxiety, the difference between fear, stress, worry, and anxiety, and how your body uses the anxiety scale and physical signals to ask for attention. Learn why shame isn't the answer—and what your nervous system is actually trying to tell you.

Anxiety can hit during the most ordinary moment and that’s exactly what makes it so unsettling. We’re talking about the mystery of “random” anxiety and why it often isn’t random at all once you understand how your nervous system stacks small stressors. I’m joined by Elka, who brings a grounded, practical lens to work stress and anxiety, especially for high-functioning women who keep ticking the boxes while feeling uneasy inside.

We unpack the difference between fear, anxiety, and stress in plain language. Fear is the immediate alarm that pushes you to act, while anxiety is often anticipatory, your mind scanning ahead for what might happen next. Elka shares a memorable story that makes this distinction click, then we explore how anxiety can actually be useful information: a signal to check your finances, your health, or your environment, instead of spiralling into repetitive worry.

From there we get very practical. We talk about why anxiety can flare up when you’ve done something safely a hundred times, how dehydration can raise anxiety first thing in the morning, and why reaching for coffee before water can make things worse. Elka also introduces a simple 0–10 scale to track your anxiety level, find your slippery slope, and set clearer boundaries at work before you hit overload.

If you want calmer mornings, better self-awareness, and tools for stress management that don’t require fancy gear, press play. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s been silently coping, and leave a review so more people can find support.

Send us Fan Mail

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/abgwblog

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

High-functioning anxiety and perfectionism can make you feel like nothing your team does is ever good enough. But here's the truth: the problem isn't their work—it's your nervous system running on overdrive. Learn how burnout disguises itself as impossible standards and what to do about it without lowering your impact.

A team can look “high performing” on the surface while quietly losing its nerve underneath. I’m Cheryl Paris, and I’m telling the story of Isabel, a capable new manager who wants to do a great job and ends up doing something many of us do under pressure: fine-tuning competent work until her team starts working for her approval instead of working from their own judgment. The work isn’t wrong, unsafe, or off-brief, but it keeps getting adjusted because it isn’t quite how she would have done it. That difference between preference and principle is where work stress and anxiety begin to grow. 

We unpack what this pattern does to a team: people stop asking “Is this good work?” and start asking “Will Isabel like it?” They rehearse minor decisions, re-check messages, and avoid initiative because the standard seems to change after the task is finished. Then we flip the lens to the manager’s side. When you step into a bigger role, the gap between responsibility and direct control can feel like an exposed nerve. Perfectionism and micromanagement can become a way to feel safe, even when it costs trust, speed, and psychological safety. 

I share two practical tools to break the loop without “lowering standards.” First is the Cola Principle: good, better, best, matched to purpose, risk, and time. Second is a quick decision filter before you edit: is it wrong, is it risky, or is it simply different? Different is allowed to be irritating, but it’s not an emergency. You’ll also hear how to set clear outcomes and boundaries upfront so competent people can deliver quality in more than one way. 

If this resonates, subscribe for more practical ideas on leadership, work stress, anxiety, and healthier standards, share it with a manager who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one “different but fine” choice you’ll stop correcting this week?

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The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/abgwblog

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

If you’ve ever gone home and realised your mind is still “on shift,” you’ll relate to Ella. She’s a lead electrician on construction sites, responsible for ensuring safe and compliant work, and she has a strong team around her. However, she keeps finding reasons to double-check, answer one more question, and verify what her deputies have already confirmed.

 While this may seem like dedication, it gradually transforms her into a human fuse box through which every decision must pass. That’s where work stress and anxiety begin to take their toll.

We explore a common leadership trap that appears in both construction and corporate environments: confusing high standards with high involvement. High standards represent the goals we strive to achieve, while high involvement reflects the personal control we exert to ensure those goals are met.

 When these two concepts become tangled, delegation can feel risky, leading the team to rely on the leader’s confidence rather than developing their own. As team members hesitate, the leader intervenes more frequently, and both sides gather “proof” that this pattern is necessary.

We then propose a practical alternative: structured trust.

Instead of simply suggesting leaders “trust more,” we outline a system that makes trust tangible and measurable through clear standards, evidence of competence, defined decision-making rights, established review points, and transparent escalation procedures.

 We also introduce the ABGW method (Awareness, Balance, Growth, Well-being) to help leaders remain accountable without being constantly on call. We conclude with a simple three-question exercise for you to try this week.

If you find this helpful, please subscribe, share it with a colleague who might be feeling overwhelmed, and leave a review so that more people can discover the show. What’s one decision you could delegate to a capable team member today?

Send us Fan Mail

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/abgwblog

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

High-achieving women often push harder to manage stress—but what if the real stress recovery strategy is play? Join Cheryl Paris and Zander Phelps as they unpack why nervous system regulation through play isn't a distraction, it's a leadership tool. Discover how making work feel safer and more playful actually cuts stress and rebuilds resilience.

Productivity advice usually sounds like more discipline, more pressure, and one more system to follow. We go the other direction: what if the simplest way to improve performance is to make work feel safer and more playful?

 I’m Cheryl Paris, and I’m joined by Zander  Phelps to unpack why play at work is not a distraction. It is a stress-reduction tool that helps teams think clearly, collaborate better, and stay creative when deadlines hit.

We talk leadership and workplace culture head-on: the “fish rots from the head” problem, why psychological safety matters more than perks, and how a team’s mood often mirrors what leaders tolerate. 

Zander shares practical ideas that leaders can introduce with almost no budget, from small recurring games to a one-minute dance party that resets energy without derailing the day. We also get real about resistance: how rigid workplaces can punish lightness, and why cultural change needs visible permission from management.

If you need language that lands with decision-makers, we map out a constructive way to pitch play using outcomes leaders care about: productivity, creativity, burnout prevention, and employee retention. We also dig into the neuroscience of stress and play, including cortisol, fight-or-flight, and how the brain finds solutions faster when it is relaxed.

 Finally, you’ll get a realistic daily “prescription” for busy adults, including laughter practice, simple movement, and quick vagus nerve calming techniques you can use anywhere.

If this sparked an idea for your team, subscribe for more conversations on work stress and anxiety, share the episode with a colleague, and leave a review so more leaders find it. What is one playful reset you would actually try at work?

Send us Fan Mail

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion?

https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Connect with Cheryl Paris

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/abgwblog

Shared stories are anonymised.

This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice.

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.