Survival Stories with Jacqui

Chronic illness can manifest itself both physically and mentally; typical symptoms may include joint and muscle pain, exhaustion, and depression.  In this episode, we discuss one alternative approach to relief of the symptoms and how this might assist on the road to a fulfilled life.

Julie Armstrong struggled to express herself in her childhood and this led to bouts of anxiety and an eating disorder. In this episode, she discusses the effects on her life and the strategies which helped her to recover and rebuild herself.

When this podcast was launched, the intention was to give a voice to those people out there who have experienced trauma in their lives and give them a voice. Season 1 has demonstrated the level of help that is out there for others and perhaps most of all, people's willingness to share in order to help others to manage their life. In this episode, we look back through pivotal moments of the season and some of the learning points.

Sue Booth had been in business very successfully for several years. Whilst she had great financial success, she lost 5 babies before having her greatly loved daughter. She was surprised one winters night to have a sudden heart attack which changed her approach to life considerably.

Robert Garcia began life in a chaotic household. He describes it as being raised by drug addicts and alcoholics. This lifestyle led him to be out of school and his home by the age of 19. Where one would expect this to lead him to a life of merely living, he describes his decisions which took him to become a Doctor of Education and living a dream life of freedom and choice.

Lori Reising discusses the heartbreak and trauma she experienced after the stillbirth of her daughter. This was felt even more due to her having been abandoned at birth and later adopted. This episode is both thought-provoking and emotional in content as we explore deep-seated feelings that may be buried but are brought to the fore after an event.

The trauma that can affect a mind can present itself in different forms. In this episode, Ed Leshin explores his feelings from having a close relationship with his father to being present when he passed. We explore the feelings of guilt that ensued due to having albeit limited medical experience at the time as a Chiropractic Student. He provides excellent insight into understanding the brain in the healing process.

Nancy Allen began her life in a seemingly respectable upper middle-classed family home. She had both parents resident and her father worked in the medical profession. Nancy describes him as a loving father but controlling in the way that he related to his family. It was this control that would affect the direction of her life and that of her family. Nancy tells us a moving and sometimes harrowing story that is emotional and inspiring.

The dream of achievement of success in the corporate world is one held by many in their younger years; with this achievement will come status and all of the things seen as essential to happiness. Dan McPherson achieved this success and rose to the top as an executive. It was after working at this level for a number of years that Dan was to realize that he was in fact deeply unhappy and that a change was needed. His difficulty was in the choices he was to make whilst in that state of mind.

A story of a child experiencing upsets within the home which ultimately lead to decisions that had the potential to change the direction of her life. An open and honest conversation with Erika Danelle as she takes us on a journey which she struggled with but fought back to overcome.