Finding Sanctuary

Three hours of video games, but not ten minutes of homework. Sound familiar?

In this episode of Finding Sanctuary, Natalie Moujalli is joined by GP Dr Sarah Nakhel and psychologist Cristie Khoury to unpack ADHD in children and teenagers. Why it so often hides behind anxiety, why the quiet student gets missed, and why it has nothing to do with bad parenting.

You'll learn the signs worth noticing, why an instant diagnosis is a red flag, and where to start if you're worried about your child, or yourself.

Key Takeaways:

It Often Hides Behind Anxiety: The worry or low mood you notice first can sit on top of ADHD, which sometimes only becomes clear once the anxiety settles.

Attention Isn't The Problem, Regulation Is: A child who can game for three hours but stalls on homework is not choosing to ignore you, because their brain struggles to direct attention to things that are important but boring.

The Quiet Student Counts Too: ADHD is not only the child who can't sit still, it can be the well behaved student quietly falling behind on focus, organisation and deadlines.

A Careful Diagnosis Takes Time: A good assessment draws on home, school and history over several sessions, so be wary of anyone who diagnoses in a single appointment.

Not Bad Parenting, Not Bad Kids: Your child is not misbehaving on purpose, and grandparents, teachers and friends can only respond with compassion when they understand that.

Start With A Professional, Not A Search Bar: You don't need a diagnosis or a crisis to ask for help, and your GP or a psychologist is a far better first step than Google or a social feed.

Notable Quotes:

"They've got attention. They just struggle to regulate that attention." — Cristie Khoury
"If you're struggling at school and you're always getting in trouble for interrupting and not doing your homework, you get labelled as the naughty child and that has consequences." — Dr Sarah Nakhel
"A good healthcare professional wouldn't make that diagnosis lightly." — Dr Sarah Nakhel
"Switching lenses from criticism to compassion or empathy and really starting to understand what's going on." — Natalie Moujalli
"These kids are not doing it because they want to do it. They're not doing it because they want to misbehave. They do not like feeling this way." — Cristie Khoury

You and your mental health is important to us. If this episode brought up any heavy emotions, please know you do not need to carry them alone. Reach out to Lifeline, Beyond Blue, or the counselling service at Hills Sanctuary house at hshl.org.au 

Do subscribe to this podcast to get the latest episodes of Finding Sanctuary.

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Your child can count to ten and write their own name. Does that mean they are ready for school? Yvette Abraham, Founder and Director of Skylas, says readiness has far more to do with emotional regulation, language and confidence than it does with letters and numbers. She joins Eddie Reaiche and Natalie Moujalli to unpack the zones of regulation, what to do when your child gets in the car seeing red, and how to recognise a difficulty early without putting a label on your child.

Key Takeaways:

• School Readiness Is More Than Letters And Numbers: The skills that decide whether your child copes in a classroom are communication, emotional regulation and confidence, and those are far harder to teach in the last term before school than counting to ten.
• Teach The Word Before The Feeling: Children learn self regulation faster when you start with something concrete they can picture, like slowing a car in a school zone, rather than asking them to name an emotion they have no vocabulary for yet.
• Anxiety Is Already Present In The Early Years: Yvette sees it regularly and links it to busy lifestyles, technology and the pressure of being accepted by peers, often before a child has the words to explain any of it.
• The Meltdown At Home Is A Compliment: A child who holds it together all day at school and falls apart the moment they walk in the door is telling you that home is the safe place, not that you have done something wrong.
• A Child Does Not Need A Diagnosis To Get Support: A letter from a professional describing which strategies work for your child can do the same job at school as a label, without the label.
• The Child Hardest To Praise Needs It Most: A child with challenging behaviour can hear their own name in a negative sentence dozens of times a day, and turning that around costs a teacher roughly fifteen minutes across an entire day.

Notable Quotes:

1. "What it means is adjusting the settings to suit the environment." — Natalie Moujalli
2. "You're looking at prevention rather than intervention." — Natalie Moujalli
3. "She'll question me. Are you in the yellow zone or are you in the red zone? Come, I'll give you a big hug to calm me down." — Yvette Abraham
4. "The child is a whole person, not a condition." — Eddie Reaiche
5. "Let's say Jimmy has some cheeky behaviours. You're going to hear his name called out in the classroom a hundred times throughout the day. And it's all for doing negative things." — Yvette Abraham

You and your mental health is important to us. If this episode brought up any heavy emotions, please know you do not need to carry them alone. Reach out to Lifeline, Beyond Blue, or the counselling service at Hills Sanctuary house at hshl.org.au 

Do subscribe to this podcast to get the latest episodes of Finding Sanctuary.

Follow us on
Facebook - Christ the Redeemer Maronite Catholic Parish of The Hills
Instagram - @hills_sanctuary_house
Blog - https://hshl.org.au/blog/

Children rarely say they are anxious. They say their stomach hurts. Teenagers slam doors and stop handing in work.

In this episode of Finding Sanctuary, Debbie Draybi sits down with GP Dr Sarah Nakhel and psychologist Christie Khoury to unpack how anxiety presents in children and teenagers, why a diagnosis is an explanation and not an excuse, and how our own anxiety transfers to our kids.

You will learn what to watch for, when to seek help, and the first step to take. 

Key Takeaways:

• Anxiety Rarely Announces Itself: In children it usually arrives as a stomach ache or a headache, and in teenagers as anger, withdrawal or unfinished schoolwork, so the first sign is often something you can see rather than a worry they can name.
• Normal Worry Has A Line: Anxiety is the body's alarm system and everyone needs it, and it becomes worth acting on when it starts costing your child their schooling, friendships or daily routine.
• An Explanation, Not An Excuse: Knowing what a diagnosis is actually for lets it open doors for your child rather than quietly close them.
• Kids Learn From What You Do: The messages that shape an anxious child are usually shown rather than said, which makes noticing your own worry, and the worry you inherited, the place to start.
• Your Job Is To Become Redundant: Every time you let your child try, stumble and recover, you give them something they will need long after they stop needing you.
• Listen Before You Fix: A minute of listening without correcting tells your child it is safe to keep talking, and five minutes in the car or at the kitchen bench counts.

Notable Quotes:

1. "They don't come in saying, I'm anxious or I'm worried or I'm nervous. Usually it's a somatic or a physical symptom." — Dr Sarah Nakhel
2. "I always say to the teenagers I work with, it's an explanation, it's not an excuse." — Christie Khoury
3. "I tell parents all the time, our job as parents is to become redundant." — Christie Khoury
4. "I went to uni for eight years, and that's not where I gained most of my experience and my knowledge. Being a parent, being a wife, being a daughter, being a sister. All of those things have taught me more than eight years doing a degree." — Dr Sarah Nakhel
5. "Because of our own anxiety, we abandon ourself and think that this is too complex. But trust that you know your child." — Debbie Draybi

You and your mental health is important to us. If this episode brought up any heavy emotions, please know you do not need to carry them alone. Reach out to Lifeline, Beyond Blue, or the counselling service at Hills Sanctuary house at hshl.org.au 

Do subscribe to this podcast to get the latest episodes of Finding Sanctuary.

Follow us on
Facebook - Christ the Redeemer Maronite Catholic Parish of The Hills
Instagram - @hills_sanctuary_house
Blog - https://hshl.org.au/blog/

Joy Adan does not answer questions in this episode. She takes the reins and facilitates a live workshop with Debbie and Natalie, and two therapists end up in the client's chair. Joy is an ICF-accredited coach whose story runs through migration, scarcity and a hard season of new motherhood. She introduces concepts from coaching, intentional change, and life design to unpack how to live life from a place of abundance instead of burnout. They name the armour they wear, what it protects them from, and what it has cost. You will learn to read your emotions as information, and how to build a restoration menu you will actually use.

Key Takeaways:

• Armour Is Learned, Not Chosen: The role you play to feel safe, whether that is the strong one, the helper, or the one who never needs anything, was shaped long before you ever agreed to it.
• Every Armour Has A Cost: It almost certainly kept you safe once, and the question worth sitting with is what it has quietly taken from you since.
• Emotions Carry No Moral Verdict: Sadness, disappointment and jealousy are information about an unmet need, not evidence that something is wrong with you.
• Rest Is Not Something You Earn: Refuelling before the tank is empty is not indulgence, it is the only way to keep showing up for the people who rely on you.
• Restoration Is Personal: What restores you will not restore your partner or your best mate, so write your own menu while you still have the energy to think clearly.
• You Were Never Meant To Carry It Alone: Being intentional about whose voice you turn up, and whose you turn down, changes your confidence and your direction.

Notable Quotes:

1. "An armour is heavy. Even though it may have helped us survive in the past, and it might have helped us belong and succeed in the past, I might be able to put some of that away and set it down." — Joy Adan
2. "By the end of my marriage I was completely depleted and I didn't even recognise myself anymore." — Debbie Draybi
3. "Emotions don't carry moral verdicts. I grew up with this unspoken message that if an emotion made me uncomfortable, it was bad." — Joy Adan
4. "Rest is not something I have to earn. I need to refuel before my tank is empty. I should not be waiting for that light to come on." — Joy Adan
5. "I'm known for my hugs. I'm a hug giver. But no, I don't think I've ever asked for a hug." — Natalie Moujalli

You and your mental health is important to us. If this episode brought up any heavy emotions, please know you do not need to carry them alone. Reach out to Lifeline, Beyond Blue, or the counselling service at Hills Sanctuary house at hshl.org.au 

Do subscribe to this podcast to get the latest episodes of Finding Sanctuary.

Follow us on
Facebook - Christ the Redeemer Maronite Catholic Parish of The Hills
Instagram - @hills_sanctuary_house
Blog - https://hshl.org.au/blog/

Episode Summary:

Anxiety is common in our community, and rarely talked about. Family therapist Lisa Makhlouf joins Debbie Draybi and Monsignor Shora to unpack From Anxiety to Anchored, the Hills Sanctuary House programme that brings psychology and faith together rather than setting them against each other. They talk honestly about spiritual bypassing, shame, and why praying harder is not the same as getting help. You will learn what anchored really means, how to spot faith being used as a mask, and why healing rarely happens alone.

Key Takeaways:

• Integrating spiritual practices with psychological insights can enhance mental health and spiritual wellbeing.
• Programs like "Anxiety to Anchored" demonstrate the effective fusion of faith and clinical therapy, fostering community healing.
• Addressing cultural stigmas around mental health within faith communities is vital for encouraging help-seeking behavior.
• Group-based programs provide not only education and support but also create spaces for collective healing and vulnerability sharing.
• There is a pressing need to tailor mental health programs to address specific demographics, such as women experiencing perimenopause-related anxiety.

Notable Quotes:

1. "The movement from anxiety to anchored is the faith. It's the knowing that I am here in this hard time, and yet I am not alone here." - Lisa Makhlouf
2. "When you do sit with someone and you do open up, it's not so complicated. It takes time, but it's a beautiful journey." - Monsignor Shora
3. "It's seeing all of them together and that they work together. They're connected." - Monsignor Shora
4. "I believe in the slow work of God. There is this slow work of God. I am held, I am loved, I am here." - Lisa Makhlouf
5. "Your presence matters for you and for the rest of the community because we benefit from being with each other." - Lisa Makhlouf

You and your mental health is important to us. If this episode brought up any heavy emotions, please know you do not need to carry them alone. Reach out to Lifeline, Beyond Blue, or the counselling service at Hills Sanctuary house at hshl.org.au 

Do subscribe to this podcast to get the latest episodes of Finding Sanctuary.

Follow us on
Facebook - Christ the Redeemer Maronite Catholic Parish of The Hills
Instagram - @hills_sanctuary_house
Blog - https://hshl.org.au/blog/

What you eat changes how you think and feel. Dietitian Claudia Jahjah joins Eddie Reaiche and psychologist Natalie Moujalli to talk about the mental health cost of ultra processed convenience food, why iron deficiency shows up as brain fog and irritability, and what is really happening when we reach for the chocolate at nine at night. Natalie shares her own struggle with food. Claudia never once shames her for it. You will learn what the gut brain axis does, and how to swap without punishing yourself.

About the Guest

Claudia Jahjah is a seasoned dietitian with over 20 years of experience. She works at Westmead and runs a private practice. Claudia specialises in a variety of areas, including diabetes care, weight management, cholesterol reduction, and sports nutrition for children. Her unexpected journey into private practice began with a serendipitous encounter following a job interview, where her faith played a significant role in guiding her career path. Claudia is passionate about using her expansive knowledge to educate and assist clients, making tangible impacts on their health and well-being.

Key Takeaways:

• The Serendipitous Career Path: Claudia Jahjah’s career in private nutrition practice was initiated by a moment of reflection and faith, directing her away from optometry towards dietetics after a lapse in a job interview.
• Nutrition & Mental Health: There is a significant connection between diet and mental health. Eating nutrient-dense foods can vastly influence emotional stability and overall mental wellness.
• Mediterranean Diet Benefits: Recognised as highly beneficial for mental health, the Mediterranean diet's integrative approach—rich in healthy fats, vegetables, and whole grains—serves as a model for nutrition.
• Challenges of Modern Eating Habits: Busy lifestyles lead to increased reliance on fast foods. Claudia highlights the importance of meal planning and simple, practical dietary adjustments to maintain health.
• Emotional Eating Insight: Non-hungry eating and reliance on comfort foods can often indicate deeper emotional issues; swapping out snacks with healthier options can aid in breaking this cycle.

Notable Quotes:

1. "My path to becoming a dietitian and stepping into private practice was marked by faith and an unexpected invitation following a job interview."
2. "The evidence is showing that good gut health and a diet reminiscent of the Mediterranean style can significantly impact mental health."
3. "We see a very big generation shift in the relationship with food. Takeaway meals are becoming a prevalent choice due to time constraints."
4. "By keeping the diet simple, with plentiful fruits and vegetables, one can maintain balance even with a busy lifestyle."
5. "Emotional eating can indicate a misalignment in understanding true hunger, which can be addressed with healthy food swaps and mindfulness."

You and your mental health is important to us. If this episode brought up any heavy emotions, please know you do not need to carry them alone. Reach out to Lifeline, Beyond Blue, or the counselling service at Hills Sanctuary house at hshl.org.au 

Do subscribe to this podcast to get the latest episodes of Finding Sanctuary.

Follow us on
Facebook - Christ the Redeemer Maronite Catholic Parish of The Hills
Instagram - @hills_sanctuary_house
Blog - https://hshl.org.au/blog/

Why does your back give out when life piles up? Chiropractor Theodora Ghali and osteopath Sami Karam join Debbie and Nat to unpack how stress and unspoken emotion show up in the body, from chronic pain to headaches with no medical explanation. Two patient stories reveal just how deeply the body keeps score. You'll learn how your nervous system holds tension, why sleep, diet and exercise are your entry point to recovery, and what to do when stress starts speaking through your body.

About the Guests:

Theodora Ghali: Theodora is a distinguished chiropractor and clinical Pilates instructor with over a decade of experience in her field. She began her educational journey through a love of science, eventually discovering chiropractic studies, which offered her the opportunity to work holistically with the body. She specializes in the interconnection between physical and emotional health, utilizing her expertise in Pilates to enhance body-mind integration and patient wellbeing.

Sami Karam: Sami is a seasoned osteopath with over 20 years of experience in private practice. His approach is deeply rooted in the philosophy of osteopathy, which views the individual as a unit of body, mind, and spirit. He has recently focused on mentoring emerging osteopaths through his initiative, Success in Practice, offering mentorship and training to help new practitioners transition from academic settings into effective practitioners in private practice.

Key Takeaways:

• Theodora Ghali emphasizes the importance of viewing and treating the body holistically, recognizing that stress and emotions can significantly influence physical health.
• Sami Karam notes that the philosophy of osteopathy treats the person as a unit of body, mind, and spirit, focusing on the body's ability to self-regulate.
• The holistic approach in chiropractic and osteopathy aids in identifying underlying emotional issues that manifest as physical symptoms.
• The role of mentorship, as highlighted by Sami, is vital in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application for new practitioners.
• The episode underscores the significance of integrating breath work and personalized exercise regimes, like clinical Pilates, as essential tools for mental and physical health alignment.

Notable Quotes:

1. "As soon as you touch, you feel it. It's not an injury. It's something deeper." – Theodora Ghali
2. "When somebody comes to see me, I just move things out of the way and the body regulates itself." – Sami Karam
3. "Stress isn’t the problem; the problem is not recovering well from a stressful situation." – Theodora Ghali
4. "The body eventually will regulate for trauma and emotional stress, and that plays out." – Sami Karam
5. "The more experience you have with seeing it, obviously it becomes easier. You need to be quite attuned to the patient." – Sami Karam

Resources:

• Theodora Ghali's Practice
• Sami Karam's Mentoring Program: Success in Practice
• Sami Karam's Practice 

You and your mental health is important to us. If this episode brought up any heavy emotions, please know you do not need to carry them alone. Reach out to Lifeline, Beyond Blue, or the counselling service at Hills Sanctuary house at hshl.org.au 

Do subscribe to this podcast to get the latest episodes of Finding Sanctuary.

Follow us on
Facebook - Christ the Redeemer Maronite Catholic Parish of The Hills
Instagram - @hills_sanctuary_house
Blog - https://hshl.org.au/blog/

Ray Younis has spent over thirty years in the fitness industry, and he has watched what really keeps people coming back. It is not the workout. It is the connection. In this episode of Finding Sanctuary, Ray joins Debbie Draybi and Natalie Moujalli to explore how physical activity, community and faith shape our emotional wellbeing. From beating isolation to redefining success, this is a warm, honest conversation about looking after mind, body and soul. Discover why the first step matters most, and how connection anchors a healthy life.

About the Guest:

Ray Younis is a well known professional with a background spanning education, sport, and fitness. He was a schoolteacher and a professional footballer, and he is now the owner and lead trainer at Rush Hour Australia, where he also works in a strength and conditioning role with the Western Sydney Wanderers. He is a father of three and a committed Christian, and he is known for his focus on community engagement and personal development.

Key Takeaways:

• Interconnection of Health: Physical exercise is not merely a function of physical fitness but a conduit for emotional and mental well-being, especially when bolstered by community support.
• Balanced Success: Success should be defined not just by career or financial gains but by achieving a balanced life, prioritizing faith, family, community, and health.
• Approach to Training: While physical training is crucial, it should not overshadow emotional and mental health, suggesting the need for a balanced approach to fitness.
• Community and Connection: Feeling connected and being part of a community is emphasized as a vital part of human well-being, impacting both physical and emotional states.
• Role Modeling: Influencing a community, like Ray Younis has done, can inspire a culture shift towards integrating self-care and fitness in daily life, promoting overall well-being.

Notable Quotes:

• "Connectedness is the anchor point."
• "It's very much an emotional roller coaster."
• "Success is very much a very big umbrella."
• "You either win or you learn."
• "For me, I just want to be the best version of myself that I can."

Resources:

• Rush Hour Australia

You and your mental health is important to us. If this episode brought up any heavy emotions, please know you do not need to carry them alone. Reach out to Lifeline, Beyond Blue, or the counselling service at Hills Sanctuary house at hshl.org.au 

Do subscribe to this podcast to get the latest episodes of Finding Sanctuary.

Follow us on
Facebook - Christ the Redeemer Maronite Catholic Parish of The Hills
Instagram - @hills_sanctuary_house
Blog - https://hshl.org.au/blog/

About the Guests:

Dr. Marie Rose Mouawad supports women facing unexpected pregnancies and postnatal challenges. She is involved with Teresa’s Centre, a MaroniteCare initiative in Sydney that provides emotional, spiritual, and practical support for women experiencing isolation, anxiety, and societal pressure. Dr. Mouawad helps empower women through education and resources.

Dr. Michael Azzi is a practitioner at NaPro Life Centre, specializing in restorative reproductive medicine. Using NaProTechnology, he focuses on fertility struggles and broader reproductive health with a root-cause, non-IVF approach. He is committed to care that reduces anxiety and guilt associated with fertility challenges.

Key Takeaways:

• Naprotechnology offers a natural approach to reproductive health, aiming to restore fertility by identifying and treating the root causes of issues.
• Emotional support and community are crucial for women navigating pregnancy challenges, as well as postnatal experiences.
• Societal pressures and personal guilt often accompany pregnancy-related struggles, underscoring the need for open communication and professional guidance.
• Menopause, while a natural physiological transition, presents diverse psychological and emotional challenges that require understanding and support from both family and healthcare providers.
• Dr. Mouawad and Dr. Azzi stress the importance of not suffering in silence and seeking help and support when needed.

Notable Quotes:

• "We provide fertility care that restores hope." - Dr. Michael Azzi
• "There's a lot of pressure from society…they blame themselves for what happened, for a miscarriage." - Dr. Marie Rose Mouawad
• "I find if one of us opens up and talks about it, then people don't feel so alone." - Joni Raad
• "We have to work through their spouse with this." - Dr. Michael Azzi
• "Speak to a doctor you trust. Come speak to one of us as well." - Dr. Marie Rose Mouawad

Resources:

• Napro Life Center: Focused on holistic care and naprotechnology in Sydney. 

You and your mental health is important to us. If this episode brought up any heavy emotions, please know you do not need to carry them alone. Reach out to Lifeline, Beyond Blue, or the counselling service at Hills Sanctuary house at hshl.org.au 

Do subscribe to this podcast to get the latest episodes of Finding Sanctuary.

Follow us on
Facebook - Christ the Redeemer Maronite Catholic Parish of The Hills
Instagram - @hills_sanctuary_house
Blog - https://hshl.org.au/blog/

About the Guest:

Dr. Michael Azzi, founder of Napro Life Centre and trained in the US in naprotechnology, joins Debbie and Eddie for a deep conversation about women's health, hormones, mental health and fertility. Michael opens up about the loss of his daughter Lily, the cultural weight of suffering in silence, and why your symptoms aren't a sign you're broken. They're your body asking to be heard. Part One of a two part series. You'll learn how to read your cycle, when to seek help, and how holistic care restores hope.

Key Takeaways:

• Holistic Healthcare: Emphasising the importance of a holistic approach to women's health, Dr. Azzi integrates medical treatment with lifestyle changes and spiritual considerations.
• Fertility Awareness and Naprotechnology: Dr. Azzi outlines how fertility awareness methods like the Creighton Model can provide insights into health issues, advocating for understanding the body's signals.
• Impact of Personal Experiences: Dr. Azzi's work is deeply informed by personal experiences, particularly his journey with pregnancy loss, which enhances his empathy and connection with patients.
• Cycle Awareness and Mental Health: There's a distinct interplay between a woman's menstrual cycle and her mental well-being, deserving attention and care rather than dismissal as "normal."
• Stigmas in Women's Health: Addressing the societal stigmas around menstruation and fertility, the episode encourages openness and understanding as part of breaking down these barriers.

Notable Quotes:

1. "Symptoms are a meaningful way to listen to your body calling for help." – Dr. Michael Azzi
2. "It's that kind of approach that, through my training, has always led me to kind of just ask further questions about what's going on." – Dr. Michael Azzi
3. "Sometimes our experiences kind of dictate our behavior, and sometimes we just do things without even knowing what we're doing." – Eddie Reaiche
4. "Your value is not defined by your fertility." – Dr. Michael Azzi
5. "It's all about just having that balance between the two and treating both streams at the same time." – Dr. Michael Azzi

Resources:

• Napro Life Center: Focused on holistic care and naprotechnology in Sydney. 

You and your mental health is important to us. If this episode brought up any heavy emotions, please know you do not need to carry them alone. Reach out to Lifeline, Beyond Blue, or the counselling service at Hills Sanctuary house at hshl.org.au 

Do subscribe to this podcast to get the latest episodes of Finding Sanctuary.

Follow us on
Facebook - Christ the Redeemer Maronite Catholic Parish of The Hills
Instagram - @hills_sanctuary_house
Blog - https://hshl.org.au/blog/