Thriving not Surviving

Keywords

Liam Virgo, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), disability advocacy, resilience, recovery, hope, invisible illness, thriving after adversity, trapped inside your own body

Summary

Imagine being trapped inside your own body, unable to move or speak, while the world carries on around you.

At just 13, Liam Virgo suddenly lost his ability to walk and talk after developing severe Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). Following months in hospital, he spent around three years bedbound, feeling trapped inside his own body and cut off from the world around him.

But Liam’s story doesn’t end there. Through a long and challenging journey, he began to regain his abilities, achieved his dream of visiting London and is now learning to walk again. Today, he uses his lived experience to raise awareness of FND, challenge misconceptions about disability and help others feel less alone.

In this moving conversation, Liam shares the reality of losing his teenage years to illness, the emotional scars of isolation and the determination that has helped him reclaim his life. His message is simple but powerful: just because you can’t see it, that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. And even when something feels impossible, never give up hope.

Key Takeaways

• Life can change in an instant. At 13, Liam went from being non-disabled to suddenly losing the ability to walk and talk.
• Recovery can happen one small step at a time. From lifting his head to sitting in a wheelchair and standing unaided, every milestone mattered.
• Invisible illness is real. People living with FND can face the additional burden of feeling misunderstood, disbelieved or isolated.
• Disability doesn't define a person's future. Liam is determined to keep exploring, travelling and pursuing his dreams, despite setbacks.
• Awareness creates connection. By sharing his story, Liam has reached people living with FND and other conditions who recognise parts of their own experiences in his.
• Hope can carry us through our darkest days. Liam reminds us that progress may take time, but we should never underestimate the power of a goal and the determination to keep going.

Resources Mentioned

• Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) - NHS Inform: Read about FND - information about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and support.
• FND Action: www.fndaction.org.uk - information and support for people affected by FND.

Connect with Liam

Instagram: @liamloveslondon — follow Liam’s adventures, goals and disability advocacy work.

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Helen

Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk

IG: helens_inspired_healing

FB: Inspired Healing

LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn

WhatsApp: +447971798462

NB: This episode was made possible due to Elena my dear friend who leant me her front room, with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trusta Charity helping those struggling with addictions

🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨Cover art: Dave Champagne

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

KEYWORDS

Krista Parsons, When the Healer Breaks, And Still… Movement, identity loss, chronic pain, life-changing injury, self-worth, grief, healing, resilience, people pleasing, boundaries, finding purpose.

SUMMARY

What happens when the career you love, the identity you've built and the life you imagined are suddenly taken away?

Canadian nurse and author Krista Parsons shares how a car accident in 2018 led to chronic pain, surgery, unexpected health challenges and an identity crisis. Having spent her life caring for others, Krista began questioning her worth when she could no longer work as before.

From this experience came her book, When the Healer Breaks, and the “AndStill… Movement”, supporting people navigating life-altering change.

Helen and Krista explore grief, relationships, accepting help, saying no and the belief that our value depends on productivity.

Thriving doesn't mean everything is fine. It means finding meaning, connection and joy, even when life looks nothing like you expected.

Because you are worthy simply because you are here. And still, there is more.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Your worth is not your productivity. Illness, injury or changing circumstances never diminish your value.
• Give yourself permission to grieve. Moving forward means accepting that you may not return to who you once were.
• Let people love you. Accepting help isn't being a burden; it allows others to show up for you.
• Talk to each other. Honest conversations help couples navigate changing needs, fears and pain.
• Learn the power of no. Boundaries protect your energy and help you care for yourself and others.
• Take a sacred pause. Before agreeing to something, check your body, diary and genuine capacity.
• You cannot control everything. Change what you can, accept what you cannot and release the need to please everyone.
• You can find a new purpose. Losing your old life doesn't mean losing your ability to make a difference.
• Thriving isn't toxic positivity. Acknowledge the pain while remaining open to meaning and possibility.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Serenity Prayer : God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

Author: Gabor Mate

Connect with Krista

When the Healer Breaks — Krista's memoir about the life-changing events, health challenges and identity struggles she has experienced. Available in paperback, hardcover and Kindle formats, with a companion journal also available.

Websites: www.whenthehealerbreaks.com www.andstillmovement.com Listeners can find the amazon links to my book on my “When the Healer Breaks” webpage. I welcome anyone to reach out to me to share their story, share ideas of what the “AND STILL… Movement” should look like as we build that community together.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krista-parsons-rn-bscn-mal-h-che-93a241121/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575352795005

Instagram: krista.parsons.author

Connect with Helen

Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk

IG: helens_inspired_healing

FB: Inspired Healing

LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn

WhatsApp: +447971798462

NB: This episode was made possible due to Elena my dear friend who leant me her front room, with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions

🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨Cover art: Dave Champagne

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

KEYWORDS

Bullying, confidence, resilience, childhood trauma, communication, self-worth, identity, family relationships, healing, thriving.

SUMMARY

What happens when the people you believe are your friends turn out to be the ones causing you pain? For Kalini Kent, childhood bullying left deep scars, undermined her confidence and made her question where she belonged. But her story didn't end there.

In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, Kalini shares how she transformed painful experiences into a mission to help children, families and adults build confidence, strengthen communication and understand the lasting impact of bullying. From the importance of speaking up and finding your voice to navigating identity, unexpected life changes and physical setbacks, we explore what it really means to move from surviving to thriving.

Kalini also challenges us to think about how we listen, how we treat others and whether we make the people around us feel seen, heard and understood.

Her message is beautifully simple: don't let your past define you, don't face life's challenges alone, and do what makes your heart beat faster.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Your past does not define your future. Difficult experiences can shape you without determining who you become.
• Bullying can leave lasting scars. Its effects can reach far beyond childhood, influencing confidence, self-worth, relationships and our ability to trust.
• Find your voice. Speaking up, asking for help and advocating for yourself are skills that can be learned and strengthened.
• Everyone has a role to play. Parents, teachers, friends, colleagues and witnesses can all help challenge bullying and create safer, kinder environments.
• Confidence and communication go hand in hand. Listening without interrupting, seeking to understand and showing genuine interest can transform relationships.
• Identity can change throughout life. Cultural differences, changing circumstances, career transitions and unexpected setbacks can all prompt us to rediscover who we are.
• Be kind to yourself. Speak to yourself as you would speak to your best friend. You deserve the same compassion you offer others.
• Find your people. Shame and isolation can keep us silent, but reaching out to someone who cares can be the beginning of change.
• Make room for joy. As Kalini reminds us, do what makes your heart beat faster. It doesn't have to be something extraordinary; the little things matter too.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• The Body Keeps the Score — Bessel van der Kolk.
• Visit the Anti-Bullying Alliance.
• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Kalini discusses how childhood experiences can affect wellbeing throughout life. Explore ACEs resources from Dr Nadine Burke Harris.
• Letters to My Teenage Self. The book in which Kalini contributed a chapter about her experience of bullying. A direct link to the specific edition wasn't identified.
• Cygnets — Cheshire Youth Group for New and Emerging Talent on Stage. Kalini's inclusive performing arts group, based in the Macclesfield area, uses theatre to help young people develop confidence, creativity and self-expression. Visit Cygnets.
• Stephen R. Covey — The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Connect with Kalini

Connect with Kalini

IG: Kalini.Kent

LinkedIn: Kalini Kent LLB, DipLP | LinkedIn

FB: https://www.facebook.com/kalini.kent

Connect with Helen

Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk

IG: helens_inspired_healing

FB: Inspired Healing

LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn

WhatsApp: +447971798462

NB: This episode was made possible due to Elena my dear friend who leant me her front room, with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions

🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨Cover art: Dave Champagne

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keywords

surviving to thriving, freedom, courage, authenticity, spirituality, faith, resilience, community, purpose, self-discovery, trusting the universe

Summary

What would you do if everything looked perfect on the outside — a good career, money, status, relationships — but inside you were falling apart?

Simona’s extraordinary story takes us from Romania to Canada, Japan, Nepal, the Indian Himalayas and Turkey as she repeatedly walks away from the life she is “supposed” to want in search of something deeper: freedom, meaning and herself.

Along the way she faces poverty, fear, abusive relationships, illness, uncertainty and moments when she has nothing left to fall back on. Yet again and again, when she steps into the unknown, someone or something appears to help her take the next step.

This is a powerful conversation about trusting your heart, finding courage when you are terrified, accepting help, discovering purpose and understanding that thriving isn’t about having a perfect life.

It’s about knowing you can meet life as it comes.

Key Takeaways

• A life that looks successful on the outside can still leave you deeply unhappy inside.
• Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is admit: “This isn’t working for me anymore.”
• Fear doesn’t necessarily mean you’re making the wrong decision — sometimes it simply means you’re stepping into the unknown.
• We are not meant to navigate life entirely alone. Community, connection and asking for help are part of our toolkit.
• When you let go of what no longer fits, you create space for unexpected people, opportunities and experiences to appear.
• Thriving doesn’t mean everything is wonderful all the time. It means knowing you have the tools, wisdom and support to keep going.
• Your heart may know what you need long before your rational mind is willing to admit it.
• Sometimes the greatest growth happens in the darkest chapters of our lives.
• Be honest with yourself about what makes you happy, what gives you purpose and who you really are.
• Life is a journey, not a destination — we keep learning, growing and becoming.

Resources Mentioned

Kundun – Martin Scorsese’s film about the life of the Dalai Lama. Simona describes it as a film she returned to when she was depressed or had lost her way.

HeartMath Institute – Mentioned by Simona in relation to the relationship between the heart and brain, and her interest in the scientific understanding of spirituality and coherence.

Thriving Not Surviving – Episode 48 –Beverly, who appeared in Episode 48 and introduced Simona to her.

Connect with Simona

Facebook: Ayurveda In Istanbul

IG: https://www.instagram.com/ayurveda.in.fethiye/

Website:

Email: [email protected]

WhatsApp: +905515897115

Day Spa in Turkey: Rejuvenate at Our Fethiye Ayurvedic Spa | Ayurveda In Fethiye

Connect with Helen

Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk

IG: helens_inspired_healing

FB: Inspired Healing

LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn

WhatsApp: +447971798462

NB: This episode was made possible due to Elena my dear friend who leant me her front room, with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trusta Charity helping those struggling with addictions

🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨Cover art: Dave Champagne

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

KEYWORDS

Liz Baitson, High Net Connect, authenticity, good girl archetype, ADHD, masking, boundaries, shadow work, spirituality, business, relationships, consciousness, thriving

SUMMARY

What happens when a life that looks incredibly successful from the outside feels completely wrong on the inside? Liz Baitson, founder of High Net Connect, joins me for a gloriously honest and wonderfully wild conversation about breaking free from the “good girl” archetype, discovering the power of boundaries, embracing our shadow and learning to live in our own authenticity.

From investment banking and business highs and lows to relationships, spirituality, ancient Egypt, consciousness and her vision for House of AKH, Liz shares the experiences that have forced her to repeatedly shed old versions of herself and become more fully who she is.

And underneath it all is one simple, powerful message: you are not alone.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• A successful life on the outside doesn’t necessarily mean we are thriving on the inside.

• People-pleasing, masking and constantly trying to be “good” can take us further and further away from our authentic selves.

• Learning to say a genuine, unequivocal “NO” can be one of the most liberating forms of self-respect.

• Sometimes we have to let an old version of ourselves fall away before something new can emerge.

• Our difficult experiences can become initiations rather than simply things that happen to us.

• Authentic relationships require honesty, clarity and integrity — including being honest about what we actually want.

• Liz explores the idea that awareness may be everywhere, while consciousness emerges through relationship and connection.

• Thriving isn’t about having a perfect life. It’s about being able to meet whatever comes and knowing, “I’ve got this.”

• Perhaps most importantly: whatever you are going through, you are not alone.

RESOURCES MENTIONED – not mentioned elsewhere

• The Power of Now – Eckhart Tolle

• Sunshine Letters – a monthly letter subscription created around connection, creativity and joy. The Sunshine Letters

• Hekate – Nikita Gill’s verse novel exploring the Greek goddess Hekate, her journey through darkness, loss and transformation. Hekate by Nikita Gill

Connect with Liz

High Net Connect (HNC) – the networking community founded by Liz Baitson. High Net Connect

House of AKH

Relational Field Theory – Liz’s Paper

Facebook to Contact Liz - Liz Baitson

IG: LizBaitson

Connect with Helen

Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk

IG: helens_inspired_healing

FB: Inspired Healing

LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn

WhatsApp: +447971798462

NB: This episode was made possible due to Elena my dear friend who leant me her front room, with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions

🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨Cover art: Dave Champagne

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen with Care ❤️

This episode explores some very difficult experiences, including childhood abuse, sexual abuse, trafficking, Satanic Ritual Abuse, trauma and healing. Jenny shares her personal experiences openly, but without going into graphic detail. If any of these subjects are difficult for you, please listen with care and look after yourself.

Keywords - trauma healing, forgiveness, faith, Jesus, love, hope, identity, inner healing, fragmentation, transformation, healing journey

Summary - What happens when memories buried for decades begin to surface? In this deeply moving episode, Jenny shares an extraordinary story of surviving childhood trauma and the long, challenging journey that followed.

For Jenny, healing wasn't simply about changing thoughts or behaviours. It came through new experiences of love, forgiveness, safety and connection — and, most profoundly, through her relationship with Jesus.

We talk about trauma, fragmented parts, shame, self-protection, forgiveness, faith and the possibility of coming home to ourselves after experiences that once seemed impossible to survive.

Jenny's message is ultimately one of hope: however dark life may feel, there can still be light, love and transformation.

Key Takeaways

• Healing can involve more than changing our thoughts or behaviours — sometimes the deepest transformation comes through new experiences of safety, love and connection.

• What once protected us can sometimes continue to shape how we experience ourselves and the world long after the original danger has passed.

• Jenny describes learning to meet the wounded or overwhelmed parts of herself with compassion rather than fear or rejection.

• Forgiveness became an important part of Jenny's healing journey — not as denial of what happened, but as a way of releasing what she had been carrying.

• Supportive relationships matter. Jenny speaks movingly about the friends who stayed alongside her throughout the hardest parts of her journey.

• Healing is a journey rather than a destination. Jenny describes it as an ongoing process of discovering and experiencing what love, safety and freedom can feel like.

• Her ultimate message is beautifully simple: you are loved, there is hope, and even after profound darkness there can be a way towards the light.

Resources Mentioned

• A United Heart: Coming Home to God and Myself after Satanic Ritual Abuse: Amazon.co.uk: Hewett, Jenny: 9781966462101: Books – Jenny’s newly released book.

PLEASE NOTE: AUDIBLE, KINDLE, HARD & SOFT COVER VERSION OFTHE BOOK AVAILABLE HERE - A United Heart: Coming Home to God and Myself after Satanic Ritual Abuse: Amazon.co.uk: Hewett, Jenny: 9781966462101: Books

• Guided visualisations and meditations - sign up here and you will be emailed when the audible is available

• Loved Into Life by Susan Wright https://lovedintolife.org/

Connect with Jenny

Website: Identity and Destiny Coaching | Life Coach | Bath, UK

FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568367146098

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

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jenny.hewett/

Connect with Helen

Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk

IG: helens_inspired_healing

FB: Inspired Healing

LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn

WhatsApp: +447971798462

NB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions

🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨Cover art: Dave Champagne

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keywords

Psychosis, spiritual crisis, trauma, ancestral healing, sovereignty, boundaries, forgiveness, sacred union, death and rebirth, victim consciousness, Egypt, Natalie Rose

Summary

What if the darkest chapter of your life isn't the end of your story — but the doorway to who you are becoming?

Natalie Rose joins me for an extraordinarily honest conversation about surviving psychosis, ancestral trauma, family rupture, grief and the terrifying edges of spiritual crisis. She shares how losing her relationship with her sister became an unexpected catalyst for creating her work, and how learning to recognise victim consciousness, reclaim sovereignty and take responsibility for her own patterns transformed her life.

We explore the power of forgiveness, why boundaries are essential to sovereignty, how our relationships can become mirrors for our deepest healing, and why Natalie believes our relationship with death profoundly shapes our relationship with life.

And, we talk Egypt, Sacred Union, Mary Magdalene, Isis and Osiris — and why Natalie believes Egypt can become a powerful place of initiation, death and rebirth.

This is a deep, vulnerable and at times challenging conversation about what it really means to move from surviving to thriving.

Key Takeaways

• Our darkest experiences can become doorways to profound transformation — if we are willing to meet what they are showing us.
• Sovereignty means reclaiming our power — including knowing our boundaries, what is acceptable to us and when we need to say no.
• Moving beyond victim consciousness can be incredibly challenging — and incredibly liberating. Taking responsibility isn't about blaming ourselves for what happened; it's about recognising where we have power to choose differently.
• Forgiveness doesn't mean condoning what happened. Saying sorry can be an act of truth and integrity, whether or not the other person is able to forgive us.
• Our relationships can become powerful mirrors. Rather than blaming the other person, we can ask: What is this showing me about myself?
• Death and rebirth aren't only physical experiences. We experience many deaths of identity, relationships, beliefs and old versions of ourselves throughout our lives.
• Sometimes we have to grieve people who are still alive — and that grief can be just as profound as grieving someone who has died.
• There is power in telling our stories. Natalie describes writing a memoir as a kind of death portal — releasing the past and creating space for something new.
• And perhaps the biggest invitation of all: don't be afraid of the shadows. They may contain some of your greatest teachers.

Resources Mentioned – not mentioned below

The Magdalen Manuscript – Tom Kenyon & Judi Sion - The Magdalen Manuscript – official Tom Kenyon page

Ho'oponopono - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb4BzcQHj0U

Connect with Natalie

Sisters of the Rose - Sisters of the Rose

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

Insta https://www.instagram.com/p/CiCXTYrLAQn/

You tube https://www.youtube.com/@SistersOfTheRose444

Book doula project for elders - https://hellosistersoftherose.systeme.io/roseauthorprogramme-elders

Egypt Sacred Union Retreat - https://hellosistersoftherose.systeme.io/unionretreat

Egypt video https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-ejrwy7mPc&pp=iggCQAE%3D&ra=m

Connect with Helen

Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk

IG: helens_inspired_healing

FB: Inspired Healing

LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn

WhatsApp: +447971798462

NB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trusta Charity helping those struggling with addictions

🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨Cover art: Dave Champagne

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

KEYWORDS

Identity, ADHD, neurodivergence, sensitivity, self-worth, perfectionism, people pleasing, healing, intuition, boundaries, community, purpose, transformation

SUMMARY

What if the things you were criticised for were actually your gifts?

Alison Kerr shares her powerful journey from feeling “too much” and “not enough” to understanding who she really is. We talk neurodivergence, sensitivity, perfectionism, people pleasing, healing, intuition, boundaries and the search for belonging.

Alison’s story takes her from a chaotic childhood and years of trying to fit in, through relationships, motherhood, corporate life and burnout, into a deeper exploration of herself through Reiki, NLP, Theta Healing and Family Constellations.

And at the heart of it all is one beautifully simple realisation: “I like myself. I value myself.”

We also explore what happens when an old identity falls away before the new one has arrived — and why sometimes you’re not falling apart at all. You’re simply in the chrysalis.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• You are not necessarily who you learned to be.

• “Too much” can become your greatest gift.

• Perfectionism can be exhausting — letting go can be liberating.

• You don’t have to prove your experience to everyone.

• Boundaries create healthier, more reciprocal relationships.

• Find your people — community matters.

• You don’t need to know what comes next.

• Sometimes you have to become “goo” before you become the butterfly.

• Thriving can be as simple as: “I like myself. I value myself.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

The Power of Now — Eckhart Tolle

Scattered Minds — Gabor Maté

The Power of Positive Thinking is Dr Norman Vincent Peale

The Three Waves of Volunteers and the New Earth — Dolores Cannon (2011)

 Connect with Alison

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/EmpowermentPath

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alisonkerr.empowermentpath/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-kerr-4775b23b/

Email - [email protected]

Link to Join Alison’s Online Constellations WhatsApp group - https://chat.whatsapp.com/IKJoPoYJBE566AEGoR2CPE

Connect with Helen

Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk

IG: helens_inspired_healing

FB: Inspired Healing

LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn

WhatsApp: +447971798462

NB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions

🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨Cover art: Dave Champagne

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A GENTLE NOTE BEFORE LISTENING

This episode includes honest conversations about domestic abuse, coercive control, emotional, financial and sexual abuse, intimidation and non-fatal strangulation. Some of the content may feel difficult to hear, so please take care of yourself while listening.

KEYWORDS

Domestic abuse, coercive control, emotional abuse, financial abuse, sexual abuse, survivor story, LGBTQ+ abuse, men and domestic abuse, warning signs, healthy relationships, recovery, asking for help

SUMMARY

In this powerful and honest episode of Thriving Not Surviving, Helen talks to Josh Munro, a domestic abuse advocate and survivor, about his personal experience of abuse and the work he now does supporting others.

Josh shares how emotional, financial and sexual abuse can develop gradually, often making it difficult to recognise what is happening while you're living through it. Together, they explore coercive control, manipulation, isolation, love bombing, breadcrumbing and the warning signs that a relationship may be becoming unsafe.

They also discuss domestic abuse affecting men and LGBTQ+ people, the challenges faced by support services, and why asking for help doesn't always mean you're ready to leave.

Above all, this is a conversation about hope, resilience and finding yourself again. If something in your relationship doesn't feel right, you don't have to wait until things become worse before reaching out. You deserve love, respect and to feel safe.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Domestic abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, sexuality or background.

• Abuse isn't always obvious. It can begin with criticism, manipulation, control and a gradual loss of confidence.

• Love bombing and breadcrumbing can create a confusing cycle of affection, disappointment and hope.

• Isolation from friends and family is a major red flag, particularly when your partner is influencing who you see or how often.

• Financial control, sexual coercion and intimidation are all forms of abuse — physical violence isn't the only warning sign.

• If you're constantly walking on eggshells, changing your behaviour to avoid your partner's reaction or feeling afraid, something isn't right.

• You don't have to be ready to leave before you ask for help. Sometimes the safest option is to gather information and make a plan.

• Trust your instincts. You deserve a relationship where you feel safe, respected, loved and free to be yourself.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Women’s aid- national domestic abuse helpline- 08082000247

NCDV- National centre for domestic violence- contact for non-molestation and occupation orders (will also do legal aid paperwork) 0800 970 2070

Men- Mankind Initiative- 01823 334244 & ASK MARC- midlands- 0121 289 6402 [email protected]

LGBT- Gallop- national- 0800 999 5428 - [email protected]

Birmingham LGBT- west midlands- [email protected]/ 0121 643 0821

Stonewall housing- national- 0800 6 404 404

Clare's Law -Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme

Bright Sky - App discussed as a way to record incidents, keep a diary and document evidence such as photographs and injuries.

Connect with Helen

Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk

IG: helens_inspired_healing

FB: Inspired Healing

LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn

WhatsApp: +447971798462

NB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions

🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨Cover art: Dave Champagne

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keywords

Piers Day, mental health, suicide prevention, anxiety, depression, hypnotherapy, unconscious mind, negative self-talk, self-worth, self-love, reframing, NLP, personal development, asking for help, men’s mental health, emotional wellbeing, hope, resilience, EFT, tapping

Summary

In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, Piers Day shares the life-changing experience that led him from property development into a career helping people struggling with anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts.

Piers talks openly about losing three friends to suicide, the devastating guilt that followed, and the moment in Australia when his own thoughts took him to a very dark place.

Helen and Piers explore the power of the unconscious mind, childhood programming, negative self-talk and the language we use with ourselves. They discuss why changing “I should” to “I could” can create a sense of choice, and why breaking overwhelming problems into smaller, manageable pieces can make them feel possible.

Most importantly, they talk about asking for help — and why it can be one of the bravest things we ever do.

Key Takeaways

• You are not your depression, anxiety or current circumstances.
• Our unconscious beliefs can influence how we think, feel and behave.
• The way we speak to ourselves really matters.
• Reframing negative thoughts can change the way we experience situations.
• “I should” can become “I could” — giving ourselves choice rather than pressure.
• Big problems become more manageable when we break them into smaller pieces.
• Asking for help is a sign of courage, not failure.
• Notice when a difficult period is becoming a persistent pattern.
• Mental health deserves regular care and attention, just like physical health.
• There is hope, even when you cannot see a way forward.

Resources Mentioned

Life Talks with Piers Day - Piers’ existing podcast.

Heard Not Hushed - Piers’ new podcast focusing on powerful stories of survival and people who deserve to be heard.

The Four Agreements – Don Miguel Ruiz

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse – Charlie Mackesy

Alan Carr - Easy way to stopping smoking.

The Brave Man Project - mentioned in relation to encouraging men to talk openly about their mental health.

Connect with Piers

Facebook and Instagram: @piersday

LinkedIn: Piers Day | LinkedIn

Website - piersday.com

New project - thelivinggame.co.uk

Connect with Helen

Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk

IG: helens_inspired_healing

FB: Inspired Healing

LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn

WhatsApp: +447971798462

NB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions

🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨Cover art: Dave Champagne

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

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