Written by Michael Ritchie, Transformational Coach Michael is a Transformational Coach, Sound Healer, Numerologist & Human Design practitioner, & Sacred Medicine Holder. He is the in-house Healer & Mentor at Harmony P.E.C., leading the sacred healing team & co-facilitating the virtual Universal Foundations and Adept Courses to help seekers better understand their power & unique path. The systems which humanity depends upon within our modern society, are the same systems which control us. We’ve given our power away, which is exactly what the systems were designed to do… The first division (divide and conquer) History History is fiction, illusion written by the winners, with no representation from the other side. A justification marketed to the public as truth, making heroes of villains and villains of the victims. If you wish to get closer to truth, follow the artists, the poets, the song-writers and story tellers, the Shamans and Mystics…, these are the souls plugged into society, not the overlords pulling the strings of deception, calculating fear and control to mold the world into their self-entitled reality. “History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it…” Winston Churchill “History is a set of lies, agreed upon.” Napoleon Bonaparte “History is more or less bunk.” Henry Ford Austin O'Malley: "History is a vast dust-heap of falsehood with a few pennies of truth scattered through it" Science Science is now catching up to metaphysics. "The more I study physics, the more I am drawn to metaphysics." – Albert Einstein Wernher von Braun: "Everything science has taught me, and continues to teach me, strengthens my belief in the continuity of our spiritual existence after death. Nothing disappears without a trace". Modern Physics and Ancient Wisdom: Erwin Schrödinger noted that the dynamic unity and interconnectedness of reality have been known for three thousand years and are being "confirmed by modern physics". Politics Anyone who wishes power should not be allowed anywhere near it… We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. Power is not a means, it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution, one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now you begin to understand me. George Orwell, 1984. Power is the ability to get things done, to mobilize resources, to get and use whatever it is that a person needs for the goals he or she is attempting to meet. In this way, a monopoly on power means that only very few have this capacity, and they prevent the majority of others from being able to act effectively. Thus, the total amount of power, and total system effectiveness, is restricted, even though some people seem to have a great deal of it. However, when more people are empowered, that is, allowed to have control over the conditions that make their actions possible, then more is accomplished, more gets done. Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Men and Women of the Corporation. “The major problem, one of the major problems, for there are several, one of the many major problems with governing people is that of whom you get to do it, or rather of who manages to get people to let them do it to them. To summarize: it is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it. To summarize the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.” – Douglas Adams, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe Who should we elect? None of the above… . Military and police To serve and protect "The police were not created to protect and serve the population... They were created to protect the new form of wage-labor capitalism... from the threat posed by that system's offspring, the working class." – Howard Zinn Historian and Associate Professor of History Sam Mitrani suggests that the police were created by the ruling class to control working-class and poor people, a role they have continued to play. "When the rich wage war, it's the poor who die." – Jean-Paul Sartre (often attributed to). The Danger of Militarization: "There's a reason you separate military and the police. One fights the enemies of the state, the other serves and protects the people. When the military becomes both, then the enemies of the state tend to become the people." – Commander William Adama (fictional, Battlestar Galactica). Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, Ram Dass, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, The Dalai Lama… decided to build a community. As each were centered in their Heart, there was no need for police, military or money. They simply helped one another out of love, compassion and the knowing that we are all one… Economy A system of control the public has been brainwashed into believing is needed. It serves separateness. Separateness = Cancer Money and societal/government control Notable figures have commented on the influence of money on governments and society. Mayer Amschel Rothschild is quoted as saying, "Let me issue and control a nation's money and I care not who writes the laws". Napoleon Bonaparte observed that when a government relies on bankers for money, the bankers hold the power. Thomas Jefferson expressed concern that banking institutions posed a greater threat to liberty than standing armies. Bertrand Russell stated that power ultimately rests with those who control finance. A quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln suggests that financial powers can exploit nations and consolidate wealth, leading to the destruction of a republic. Leo Tolstoy viewed money as a modern form of impersonal slavery. “The few who understand the system will either be so interested in its profits or be so dependent upon its favours that there will be no opposition from that class, while on the other hand, the great body of people, mentally incapable of comprehending the tremendous advantage that capital derives from the system, will bear its burdens without complaint, and perhaps without even suspecting that the system is inimical to their interests.” The Rothschild brothers of London writing to associates in New York, 1863. “It is well enough that people of the nation do not understand our banking and money system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning.” Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Michael Ritchie Michael Ritchie, Transformational Coach Michael holds many skills & among many, he is known as a Transformational Coach, Sound Healer, Numerologist & Human Design practitioner, Sacred Medicine Holder, and Channeler of Energy from the Eternal Creator. In 2011-12 he was told he had 6m to a year to live. Since that day, he has dedicated his life to understanding awakening, enlightenment, and The Great Way. Funny how a death sentence lets you see what’s important, what’s not.

Written by Joanne Louise Bray, Founder of Plantlife Joy Joanne Bray is the proud founder of Plantlife Joy. Her journey began with a deep love of nature and the belief that plants have the power to bring happiness, tranquility, and a touch of magic to our lives. Plantlife Joy specialises in plant knowledge, and our mission is to connect people back to the beauty of the natural world. Across cultures and centuries, women's contributions have been either omitted (simply left out of the record), denied (attributed to men or institutions), or ignored (treated as unimportant, domestic or natural). I don’t think that this is an accident, and there are a few recurring mechanisms: The supporting role trap, where women are the driving force, they do the foundational, intellectual, emotional, logistical, and creative labour, but are often seen as helpers, the assistants, muses, wives, secretaries or just background characters.  The modesty expectation, where women are taught not to take credit, to downplay their expertise, avoid self‑promotion, soften their authority, and credit the team instead of themselves. Patriarchal systems reward visibility, and not contribution, modesty becomes a mechanism of dispossession. This conveniently allows others to take credit. The difficult woman label, where women who assert themselves, have boundaries, expertise, or leadership, are reframed as, emotional, dramatic, ungrateful, abrasive, and uncooperative. It’s a way to delegitimise her voice without ever engaging with her ideas. A classic tactic used to silence women's voices, I might add.  The archival gap, systematic absence, erasure, or under-documentation of certain groups, especially women, people of colour, working‑class people, queer communities, and anyone outside dominant power structures. It’s not that these people weren’t doing things. It’s that their work wasn’t preserved, valued, or recorded. In many cases, it was deliberately destroyed, overwritten, or attributed to someone else. Once you identify the pattern, the next question becomes unavoidable, “Why does this keep happening?” Why do the same mechanisms appear in ancient Greece, medieval Europe, colonial societies, modern workplaces, and even contemporary creative industries? It’s because these mechanisms aren’t random. They serve specific cultural, economic, and political functions, and here are the key forces that drive them:  Control of power and authority - Throughout history, those who control knowledge control society. Women’s expertise in healing, agriculture, midwifery, craft, spirituality, community, and organisations represented independent power, so it was and still is often squashed. Women’s knowledge is not sanctioned by institutions not controlled by men and is not easily taxed, regulated, or absorbed.  Therefore, erasing women’s contributions helped centralise authority in male‑dominated institutions, legitimise those institutions as the “true” sources of knowledge, and maintain social hierarchies. This is why women’s work was often reframed as superstition, domestic instinct, emotional labour, and “helping” rather than leading. It kept authority in the hands of those already in power. Economic competition Many forms of women’s labour were economically valuable, healing, midwifery, textile production, food preservation, herbal medicine, teaching, and community care. When male‑dominated professions such as physicians, clergy, guilds, and universities emerged, women became competitors. Erasure became a strategy to eliminate competition, justify excluding women from paid work, transfer economic value to male professions, and rewrite history to make male dominance appear natural. This is especially clear in the transition from community healers to licensed physicians. Control of reproduction and the body Women who understood contraception, fertility, pregnancy, childbirth, abortion, and postpartum care held the power over the most fundamental aspect of society, who is born, when, and under what conditions. Patriarchal systems have always sought to control reproduction. So, women who held reproductive knowledge were often demonised, criminalised, accused of witchcraft, and pushed out of authority. This and herbalism are some of the deepest roots of the “witch” label. Social expectations and gender norms Cultural norms taught women to be modest, be self‑effacing, avoid conflict, prioritise harmony, support others, and not claim credit. These norms weren’t harmless, they created a perfect environment for erasure. If women don’t claim their work, someone else will, and when women did assert themselves, they were punished with the “difficult woman” label, accusations of emotional instability, exclusion from leadership and reputational damage. The structure of the archive itself The archive is not neutral. It reflects who had literacy, who had access to institutions, who was considered worth recording and who controlled the narrative. It was men who wrote the histories, kept the records, and decided what counted as knowledge. Women’s contributions, often oral, domestic, embodied, or community‑based, didn’t fit the archival model. So, the silence in the archive is not evidence of absence, it’s clear evidence of bias. Fear of women’s autonomy Women who were independent, unmarried, financially self‑sufficient, outspoken, skilled, and unconventional were often perceived as threats to social order. The mechanisms of erasure, especially the “witch” label, were tools to discipline women, enforce conformity, punish autonomy, and maintain patriarchal stability. This is why the same types of women were targeted across cultures. Narrative control Perhaps the most subtle reason of all, if you control the story, you control what future generations believe is possible. Erasing women from history limits women’s sense of lineage, creates the illusion that men built everything, reinforces the idea that women’s contributions are new, marginal, or exceptional, and makes women feel like outsiders in fields they founded. It’s psychological architecture. The threat of women and money When women control money, the pattern shifts. Across history and into the present, women with financial power tend to redistribute resources to families, communities, education, healthcare, and collective well-being rather than hoard wealth for status or domination. This orientation toward circulation rather than accumulation disrupts hierarchies built on scarcity and control. Women who funded movements were rarely remembered as architects. They sustained communities, financed revolutions, kept spiritual movements alive, and built alternatives, yet were framed as helpers, patrons, or moral supporters, while men were cast as founders, leaders, and visionaries. As with intellectual labour, financial contribution was detached from authority. This is why women with money have so often been viewed with suspicion. Independent wealth reduced women’s dependence on marriage, the church, the state, and the employer. It enabled choice, mobility, dissent, and refusal. Systems that rely on women’s unpaid labour and economic dependence responded by moralising women’s spending, questioning their competence, demanding selflessness, or portraying financial autonomy as selfish, dangerous, or unfeminine. The pattern is consistent across time. From widows accused of greed, to healers targeted for economic independence, to modern women criticised for how they earn, spend, or share money, the same logic persists. Women’s financial autonomy destabilises systems built on extraction. Erasure, ridicule, and moral policing become tools to neutralise that threat. How the witch hunts reveal the logic behind women’s erasure The popular image of the witch as a woman who practises harmful magic obscures a deeper historical reality. While beliefs about sorcery existed, accusations of witchcraft were frequently directed at women who held knowledge and authority outside male-controlled institutions. Many, though not all, accused women were midwives, healers, herbalists, or socially marginal figures with practical expertise in plants, fertility, birth, illness, and death. These women were not dangerous because of magic, but because of competence and autonomy. Their authority did not flow through the Church, the state, or emerging professional hierarchies. The figure of the witch became a disciplinary label, applied to women who were too knowledgeable, too independent, too economically self-sufficient, or too difficult to control. The witch hunts did not give rise to modern pharmaceuticals. Rather, they constituted a violent rupture in women’s medical authority. By criminalising and eliminating women-led healing traditions, the hunts cleared the ground for institutional, male-dominated medicine to consolidate power. Over the centuries that followed, this institutional medicine absorbed community-held plant knowledge, stripped it of lineage, and reframed it as sanctioned scientific discovery. Many modern pharmaceuticals are therefore not inventions created in isolation, but refinements of longstanding plant knowledge. Willow bark, used for centuries to relieve pain and inflammation, became the basis for aspirin once its active compounds were isolated and patented. Foxglove, long employed in folk medicine for its effects on the heart, was transformed into digitalis through institutional study. In both cases, the plants did not change. What changed was who was recognised as the authority. The forgotten women who sustained great movements I could provide so many examples of women who have contributed to or sustained great movements, but are either omitted, denied, or ignored. Across history, women appear at the centre of transformation, scientific, spiritual, political, and artistic, yet their names often slip into the margins while the men around them become the story. This isn’t accidental. It’s a pattern shaped by who held the pen, who controlled the institutions, and who was allowed to be remembered. Below are just a few examples that illustrate how consistent this pattern is across time and culture. Rosalind Franklin  Was born in London in the 1920s. She excelled at school in science and maths, but she still had to fight to get a place at university, her own father denied her academic abilities. In 1951, she began research at King's College in London on X-ray diffraction, capturing the first picture of DNA. the now‑famous Photograph 51. Her data was shown to Watson and Crick without her knowledge or permission, and it became the foundation of their model of the double helix. While they went on to receive the Nobel Prize, Franklin’s contribution was minimised, softened, or omitted entirely for decades. She had produced the evidence, but the credit flowed elsewhere. Lise Meitner Was an Austrian-Swedish physicist who played a crucial role in the discovery of nuclear fission, yet her contributions were consistently minimised during her lifetime. She spent over three decades collaborating with Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann. Even after her exile by Nazi Germany due to her Jewish background, she helped them to develop a theoretical explanation that made sense of their experimental results. It was, however, Otto alone who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Lise was often proclaimed to be Otto’s assistant even though she was an equal in intellectual terms.  Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell  Was a Northern Irish physicist who, while conducting research for her doctorate in 1967, discovered the first radio pulsars (pulsating stars that emit beams of electronic radiation). Not only did she analyse data from a newly commissioned radio telescope, but she also helped build the instrument. Her findings were initially dismissed as interference until another telescope picked up the same signal from a different star.  In 1974, the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Antony Hewish and Martin Ryle. It was Jocelyn’s discovery that transformed astrophysics and opened an entirely new way of research. Decades later, she used her platform to lift others, donating 2.3 million when she received the Special Breakthrough prize in Fundamental Physics to fund scholarships for women, refugees, and underrepresented groups in physics. Hypatia of Alexandria Lived in 4th-5th century Alexandria. Hypatia was a mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher at a time when women were rarely educated, let alone allowed to teach. She led the Neoplatonist school, attracting students from across the Mediterranean. Her influence extended beyond scholarship, she advised civic leaders and was respected as a public intellectual.  She was killed by a Christian mob during a power struggle between the governor Orestes and Bishop Cyril. In later retellings, her death was reframed as punishment for “paganism,” a narrative that obscured the political motives and helped justify the violence. Her story became another example of how women’s intellectual authority was erased or recast to fit institutional agendas. Trotula of Salerno  Was an 11th‑century physician associated with the famed medical school of Salerno, one of the earliest centres of medical learning in medieval Europe, who allowed women to study. She specialised in women’s health at a time when female bodies were poorly understood and often treated with superstition or neglect. Her writings, collectively known as The Trotula, covered childbirth, menstruation, fertility, gynaecology, and herbal remedies, offering practical, compassionate guidance grounded in observation rather than fear. Her work was so influential that it circulated across Europe for centuries, yet later scribes and scholars refused to believe a woman could have authored such authoritative medical texts. Portions of her work were attributed to male physicians, her name was Latinised or altered, and in some manuscripts, she was erased entirely. The survival of her writings is the exception that proves the rule, women’s medical knowledge was often absorbed into male‑authored texts, while the women themselves disappeared from the historical record. Even today, women’s medical decisions are still publicly scrutinised. You see it when groups gather outside clinics to shame or pressure women at their most vulnerable, a modern reminder that the policing of women’s bodies never truly disappeared, it simply changed form. Even the bible leaves out the key importance of women who shaped movements. Joanna, the wife of Chuza, a woman of considerable status, funded Jesus’s ministry. Joanna travelled with Jesus and the disciples, financing their work after Jesus had cured her of evil spirits, helping them sustain their ministry. She is also the woman who discovered the empty tomb of Jesus, placing her at the heart of the resurrection story. Despite her presence, her influence, and her witness, Joanna all but disappears from Christian tradition. Her Hebrew name, Yôḥānāh, originally carried the meaning of a “gracious gift,” but even this softened over time into the more generic “God is gracious,” mirroring how her role, and the roles of so many women was gradually diminished in the retelling, the retellings told by men.  None of this makes me sexist, nor does it require me to identify as a feminist. Pointing out historical patterns is not an attack on men, it is an examination of the systems that have shaped our records, institutions, and collective memory. Acknowledging women’s erasure is not about blaming individuals, it is about recognising structural forces that have shaped what we are taught to value. I am not arguing that women are better than men, or that men have no place in these stories. I am simply refusing to pretend that women were absent when they were present, influential, and essential. Naming the pattern is not ideology. It is accuracy. The truth is that progress has always been strongest when women and men worked together, when knowledge was shared rather than controlled, and when authority was rooted in competence rather than hierarchy. We are living in a moment where the old narratives no longer serve us. It is time for a shift, not toward division, but toward partnership. A future where women’s contributions are named, valued, and remembered strengthens everyone. Restoring women to the story is not an act of exclusion. It is an act of completion. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Joanne Louise Bray Joanne Louise Bray, Founder of Plantlife Joy Joanne Bray is a leader in plant life, she has been to the darkest depths of despair with her mental health. Nurturing plants and learning all about them led to her own healing journey. She discovered the immense joy and mindfulness that nurturing plants provides, so she began to write about them within her membership site, create courses, paint parts of nature that she fell in love with, and write books in the hope of sharing her passion and helping others to connect back to the beauty and wonder that nature supplies. Joanne is very passionate about eradicating the use of chemicals in gardening, and so she offers solutions using plants that either attract beneficial insects or deter pests.

Written by Barbara Blum, Energy Conduit & Spiritual Mentor Barbara Blum is an energy conduit and spiritual mentor, specializing in moving cosmic life-force energy and transmitting higher states of consciousness through her energy transmissions. Through a grounded and embodied presence, this work is for the awakening of the individual as well as the healing of the collective and the ascension of humanity. Energy work is steadily moving from the edges of spiritual culture into the mainstream. You may already be familiar with the idea through practices like yoga, acupuncture, or meditation, or perhaps you’ve only encountered it as a vague or mysterious concept. Either way, the growing interest points to something deeply human, our relationship with life-force energy. “Energy work” is a broad term that encompasses many modalities, but at its core, it refers to working with the fundamental force that animates life itself. Every culture throughout history has recognized this force and given it a name, life-force, prana, qi (chi), ki, vital principle. Different words, same essence. Becoming aware of this energy, learning how it moves, and understanding how it shapes our experience has been a central pursuit of spiritual traditions for thousands of years. What’s different now is accessibility. More people than ever are encountering these ideas not as abstract philosophy, but through direct, lived experience. Ancient wisdom, not a passing trend Because energy work is gaining visibility, it’s sometimes dismissed as a modern trend. In reality, it is ancient knowledge resurfacing. Civilizations across the world understood the human being as an energetic system and worked with that system as a means of healing, self-regulation, and spiritual development. Practices like yoga, qigong, acupuncture, and breath-work were never separate from daily life, they were methods of maintaining harmony within the body, mind, and spirit. What has been missing in recent history is not the system itself, but our awareness of it. As that awareness returns, engaging with our own internal energy is becoming less esoteric and more essential to understanding what it means to be human. The human body is an energetic system From both a scientific and spiritual perspective, energy is foundational. Nothing comes into existence or remains in motion without an energetic source. This applies not only to physical processes, but also to thought and emotion. Science has long measured electrical activity in the brain, showing that thoughts and cognition arise from energetic impulses. Emotions, too, are accompanied by distinct physiological and energetic responses. In other words, our inner world is not abstract, it is active, dynamic, and measurable. Spiritual traditions refer to this internal flow as the subtle energy body. It exists alongside the physical body and acts as an interface between our biological functions and our deeper, non-physical aspects of self. While subtle energy isn’t visible in the way muscles or organs are, it can be felt, influenced, and experienced directly. Where life-force comes from Most of us think of energy primarily in biological terms, food, rest, movement. But we also receive energy from sources like sunlight, oxygen, and the natural environment. From a spiritual perspective, all of these derive from a deeper origin, the interplay between consciousness and the primordial formation of energy itself. Mystical traditions across cultures describe existence as consciousness expressing itself through energy, bringing form out of an unmanifest state. From this view, life-force is not something separate from us, it is the same creative energy that animates everything, flowing through and as us. When energy stops flowing freely Ideally, our energy moves continuously, supporting physical health, emotional balance, and mental clarity. But life inevitably leaves its marks. Stress, trauma, suppressed emotions, and unresolved experiences can interrupt the natural flow of energy. When this happens repeatedly or over long periods of time, stagnation can develop. These blockages don’t always show up immediately, but over time they may manifest as emotional reactivity, chronic tension, fatigue, mental confusion, stress or physical discomfort. Many minor disruptions resolve on their own when we process emotions and allow ourselves to feel and integrate experiences. Deeper or unprocessed trauma, however, often remains stored in the system, sometimes outside conscious awareness, continuing to influence how we perceive and respond to life. Why activate the subtle energy body? Working consciously with life-force energy means addressing issues at their root, rather than only managing symptoms. When energy begins to move more freely, it naturally brings awareness to what has been held beneath the surface. This can look like old emotions rising to be felt, sudden clarity around long-standing issues, increased intuition, or physical shifts as the body releases stored tension. While the experience is different for everyone, the common thread is expanded awareness. Greater energetic flow supports greater consciousness. As clarity increases, we gain more choice in how we respond to life rather than reacting from unconscious patterns shaped by the past. Energy work in the modern world As understanding grows, energy work is becoming more widely available through different modalities, sometimes called life-force activation, Kundalini Activation, Pranic Healing, and my work, light-body activation. While the methods and language differ, they all engage in some way with the same fundamental principle, working with the energy that animates life to support healing, awareness, and evolution. As energy work becomes more visible in modern culture, it reflects a broader return to wholeness, an understanding that mind, body, emotion, and spirit are not separate systems, but expressions of a single, intelligent flow. Engaging consciously with life-force energy doesn’t make us something new, it reveals what has always been present. With greater awareness and freer flow, we gain clarity, resilience, and a deeper capacity to meet life as it is, rooted, awake, and connected. To go deeper into this work If this article resonates and you’d like to explore how life-force energy and the subtle energy body relate to your own experience: Explore Barbara Blum’s Energy Transmissions , where her various transmissions of Light Body Activation, Cosmic Consciousness and High Frequency Energy Alignments weave life-force energy with angelic, archangelic, and Elohim frequencies to support expanded awareness and embodied healing. Book a Light Body Activation session to support the opening and integration of your energetic system, allowing energy to move more freely through the body, mind, and emotional field. Group   sessions and private sessions  available. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Barbara Blum Barbara Blum, Energy Conduit & Spiritual Mentor Barbara Blum is an Energy Conduit and Spiritual Mentor, specializing in moving cosmic life-force energy and transmitting higher states of consciousness through her two primary energy transmissions: Light Body Activation and Cosmic Consciousness. Decades of embodied yogic practices and studies of the energy system through the yogic lens brought a personal, experiential understanding of how the human energetic system operates. She is a former Level 2 KAP (Kundalini Activation Process) Facilitator, 700hr Yoga Instructor, and Certified Meditation Instructor offering personal and group energy transmissions in-person and online, holding international retreats and offering facilitator trainings.

Written by Alan Hoey, Chemical-Free Invasive Weed Eradicators Alan Hoey is the Managing Director of two UK National Companies, including the Japanese Knotweed Agency, award-winning specialists in chemical-free invasive weed removal. He pioneers thermo-electric treatment for sustainable, permanent root-kill of Japanese Knotweed and other invasive plants while protecting biodiversity. Japanese Knotweed remains one of the most disruptive and misunderstood invasive plant species affecting property, infrastructure, and land across the UK. For homeowners, developers, local authorities, and commercial landowners alike, the presence of knotweed can stall transactions, delay projects, and introduce long-term financial risk if not managed correctly. At Japanese Knotweed Agency Ltd (JKWA), our mission has always been simple, deliver clear, defensible, and cost-effective solutions to invasive plant problems, without unnecessary chemicals, inflated costs, or vague assurances. As we enter 2026, JKWA has significantly expanded its service offering, giving clients greater choice, faster resolution, and some of the most competitive remediation pricing in the UK. Independent surveys you can rely on Every successful knotweed strategy starts with accurate identification and risk assessment. JKWA provides independent Japanese Knotweed surveys for: Residential property, homeowners, and tenants, including sales and purchases Development and land acquisition Infrastructure and access routes Planning and legal support Our surveys are evidence-based, clearly written, and designed to stand up to scrutiny from: Solicitors Surveyors Lenders Local authorities We do not overstate risk, and we do not underplay it either. Clients receive clear recommendations tailored to their objectives, whether that is treatment, containment, or removal. Thermo-electric treatment: A chemical-free alternative JKWA is the UK’s leading specialist in thermo-electric knotweed treatment, a non-chemical method that uses controlled electrical energy to destroy rhizome systems at depth. This method is particularly valuable where: Herbicide use is restricted or undesirable Sites are environmentally sensitive Long-term guarantees are required Immediate excavation is impractical Thermo-electric treatment forms a key part of our integrated approach and is increasingly requested by clients seeking sustainable, future-proof solutions. Root barrier installation and containment In situations where full removal is not required or appropriate, JKWA designs and installs root barrier systems to prevent rhizome spread and protect neighbouring land, structures, and future development. Our barrier installations are: Depth-specific and site-engineered Compatible with development works Supported by clear documentation This approach is particularly effective for boundary protection, phased developments, and constrained urban sites. Expanded excavation services, faster, cheaper, controlled In 2026, JKWA formally expanded its excavation, digging, and removal services, allowing us to deliver direct off-site disposal of knotweed-contaminated soils at a lower cost than many traditional providers. By controlling: Labour Plant Supervision Waste logistics We remove unnecessary layers of cost, while maintaining full compliance with controlled waste regulations. This means: Fewer delays No re-handling or on-site stockpiling Transparent pricing Extremely competitive fixed price solutions For many clients, excavation is now quicker and more affordable than long-term treatment, particularly where development timelines matter. One agency, multiple solutions, clear advice What sets Japanese Knotweed Agency Ltd apart is not a single method, but the ability to choose the right method for each site. We are not tied to one solution. We are not incentivised to oversell. We are focused on outcomes, compliance, and value. Whether you need: A survey to support a sale as a buyer or seller A non-chemical treatment strategy Physical containment Or full excavation and removal JKWA provides clear advice and delivers what we say we will. Expanding access through multilingual communication As part of our continued commitment to clarity and accessibility, Japanese Knotweed Agency Ltd has expanded its media and news platform to include Chinese language content. This development reflects the increasingly international nature of UK property ownership, investment, and development. By making key guidance, updates, and educational content available in Chinese, we aim to support overseas investors, landlords, and stakeholders who require accurate information on invasive plant risk, compliance, and remediation options within the UK market. Clear communication is essential when dealing with regulated environmental issues such as Japanese knotweed. By broadening language access across our news and blogs section, JKWA is helping ensure that advice is understood correctly, risks are properly assessed, and decisions are made on the basis of fact rather than fear or misinformation. This initiative forms part of our wider goal to raise industry standards, improve transparency, and ensure responsible land management is accessible to all. Establishing a National Register for accountability and clarity In parallel with expanding our practical services, Japanese Knotweed Agency Ltd has introduced a National Register designed to bring greater structure, transparency, and accountability to how Japanese Knotweed cases are recorded and managed. Now in its fourth year of growth, it includes 76,515 records. The National Register provides a centralised reference point for documented knotweed activity, treatment, containment, and remediation works. Its purpose is not to stigmatise land, but to promote accurate record keeping, continuity of information, and informed decision making across property transactions, land management, and development planning. Too often, knotweed risk is misunderstood or exaggerated due to a lack of reliable, accessible information. By establishing a formal register, JKWA is helping shift the conversation from fear-based assumptions to evidence-led assessment, supporting surveyors, solicitors, developers, and property owners alike. This initiative reflects JKWA’s broader commitment to raising industry standards, encouraging responsible long-term land stewardship, and improving confidence in how invasive plant issues are disclosed and managed. While the register aims only to give an indication of the number of reported sightings, we still have a long way to go and rely on surveyors, volunteers, and members of the public to report sightings to us. Looking ahead As awareness of invasive species grows, and as clients become more informed, the industry is moving away from fear-based pricing and towards measured, evidence-led remediation. Japanese Knotweed Agency Ltd is proud to be part of that shift. 2026 is about clarity, control, and cost-effective action. We are social, check us out on YouTube  and X . Did you know, in 2025 Alan Hoey & Japanese Knotweed Agency were recognised as one of the BRAINZ 500 Global Award Leaders. Follow me on Facebook , LinkedIn , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Alan Hoey Alan Hoey, Chemical-Free Invasive Weed Eradicators Ex-military intelligence, Alan leads from the front as Managing Director of the Japanese Knotweed Agency, the UK’s Leading Authority on its number one invasive weed. An innovative industry disruptor, he was the first in the UK to adopt thermo-electric technology for chemical-free invasive weed removal and has positioned JKWA at the forefront of sustainable Japanese Knotweed eradication. But there's a lot more to Alan that the eyes can see.

Written by Elizabeth Huang, Life Coach & Death Doula Elizabeth Huang is a certified life coach, grief educator, and death doula. Her work emphasizes enhancing emotional literacy, fostering social and emotional learning, and supporting affective development in a world that is becoming increasingly reliant on technology. Most of us like to think we’re open-minded, that we look at facts, and consider nuance. And yet, many of us end up inside echo chambers without even realizing it. And it’s not any one individual’s fault (certainly not yours), it’s the culmination of a number of things, algorithms, human nature, and etc. While we often think of echo chambers as being political, this isn’t about politics alone. Echo chambers shape how we think about: health (physical and mental) relationships grief and healing success and failure what’s “normal,” “true,” or “possible” 10 subtle signs you might be in one, and ways to step outside of it 1. Most of what you see already confirms what you believe If articles, posts, and videos consistently make you think “Exactly!” rather than “Hmm…”, that’s a clue. Why it happens: Algorithms prioritize content similar to what you’ve already engaged with. Try this: Intentionally read one thoughtful piece per week that challenges your perspective. 2. Opposing views don’t just feel wrong, but ridiculous When disagreement feels like an attack or even absurd, curiosity has likely shut down. Try this: Ask yourself: “What life experience might lead someone to this conclusion?” You don’t have to agree to understand. 3. You’ve stopped asking “what if I’m missing something?” Certainty can feel comforting, especially during uncertainty or emotional distress. But comfort can also lead to an echo chamber when the rest of the world continues to operate outside of it. Try this: Replace “Well, that’s obvious” with: “What else might be true?” 4. You follow mostly people who sound like you Shared language, shared values, shared conclusions. Feeling seen and heard is powerful, but it can also narrow perspective. Try this: Follow a few people who: disagree respectfully come from different cultural or generational backgrounds ask better questions than they give answers 5. Information feels like validation rather than exploration If content mainly makes you feel right rather than curious, it may be reinforcing identity more than understanding. Try this: Notice how your body reacts: Tight and defensive? Or open and reflective? Something else? 6. Conversations turn into debates quickly When the goal becomes winning rather than learning, echo chambers are reinforced. Try this: Practice responding with: “That’s interesting, tell me more.” “Help me understand how you come to this view.” These open doors instead of closing them. 7. You assume bad intent from “the other side” Echo chambers tend to live off of cognitive shortcuts: If they think that, they must be ignorant / dangerous / heartless. Try this: Ask: “What value might they be protecting?” Even harmful beliefs often grow from understandable fears. 8. You feel increasingly anxious or angry after consuming content Echo chambers don’t just shape beliefs, but our emotional states. Try this: Take intentional breaks from reactive content (not just from opposing views, but agreeable ones that elicit reactive emotions). 9. You rarely change your mind anymore It’s one thing to be gullible or naive, it’s one end of a spectrum. The other end of the spectrum is to be rigid and distrusting. Both are breeding grounds for echo chambers. Try this: Reflect on the last time you genuinely reconsidered a belief. If it’s hard to remember, that’s information. 10. Your identity feels tied to being “right” When beliefs become fused with identity, questioning them can feel threatening. This is especially common around deeply personal topics, grief, morality, success, etc. Try this: Ask yourself: “Who would I be if I no longer held onto this belief?” How to break out (without losing yourself) Breaking out of an echo chamber doesn’t have to mean abandoning your values. If anything, it likely means you’re strengthening them through nuance. Start small: Read widely, and with humility Prioritize curiosity over certainty Choose conversations over comment wars Let complexity exist without rushing to conclusions And most importantly: Notice when your mind takes over. So, tell me: Which of these surprised you most, or felt uncomfortable to read? That discomfort might be the beginning of a wider view. Ready for deeper support? If this resonates with you and you’re ready to explore a more authentic, nourishing approach to wellness, I’d love to support you. As a life coach and grief guide, I help people soften emotional heaviness, reconnect with themselves, and create a life that feels grounded and real. Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Elizabeth Huang Elizabeth Huang, Life Coach & Death Doula Elizabeth Huang is a certified life coach, grief educator, and death doula dedicated to helping individuals navigate life’s transitions with greater emotional awareness and resilience. Born and raised in California, she was deeply influenced by the American culture’s discomfort with grief and avoidance of death. This inspired her to explore a more intentional and holistic approach to life, loss, and the emotions that shape our experiences. Through her work, Elizabeth guides individuals in processing grief – whether it stems from death, identity shifts, career changes, or other major life transitions.

SoCal Youth Sports, a Southern California–based nonprofit youth development organization, has earned national recognition as the Top Rated Nike Soccer Camp in the USA, a distinction that highlights its evidence-based approach to player development and its growing impact on the youth sports landscape. The recognition places SoCal Youth Sports among the most respected programs within the Nike Soccer Camps network, which is known nationwide for setting high standards in coaching quality and athlete experience. “This recognition reflects our commitment to doing youth sports differently, and doing it better,” said Matt Bambrick, CEO & Founder of SoCal Youth Sports. “Being named the A Top Rated Nike Soccer Camp in the country validates our belief that development-first, research-informed coaching creates not only better players, but better experiences for kids and families.” SoCal Youth Sports operates with a mission to make high-quality soccer programming more accessible, affordable, and developmentally appropriate for players of all backgrounds and abilities. Through their unique nano-sided game formats, guided discovery, and game-based learning models, the organization emphasizes decision-making, creativity, and long-term athlete development rather than early specialization or outcome-driven results. As a Nike Soccer Camp and US Sports Camps-affiliated program, SoCal Youth Sports delivers camps that align with Nike Soccer Camps’ national standards while maintaining a distinct coaching philosophy grounded in modern sport science and pedagogy. This approach has resonated strongly with families, players, and coaches alike, contributing to the program’s top national rating. The national recognition also reinforces SoCal Youth Sports’ broader vision of reshaping grassroots sports by prioritizing learning, enjoyment, and sustainable development over traditional win-at-all-costs models. By combining its NanoSoccer playing models, professional coaching with inclusive program design, the organization continues to expand its reach and influence within the youth sports community. SoCal Youth Sports’ Nike Soccer Camps are offered throughout Southern California and serve players across multiple age groups and ability levels. More information about the program and its nationally recognized camps can be found here. About SoCal youth sports SoCal Youth Sports is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to redefining youth sports through evidence-based coaching, inclusive access, and development-focused programming. Using small-sided games and modern teaching methodologies, SoCal Youth Sports creates high-quality athletic experiences that support long-term player growth, enjoyment, and confidence both on and off the field. Media contact Matt Bambrick, CEO & Founder 323 991-7668 matt@socalyouthsports.com

Written by   Sam Mishra, The Medical Massage Lady Sam Mishra (The Medical Massage Lady) is a multi-award winning massage therapist, aromatherapist, accredited course tutor, oncology and lymphatic practitioner, trauma practitioner, breathwork facilitator, reiki and intuitive energy healer, transformational and spiritual coach, and hypnotherapist. I recently spent some time trying to support someone who, as the result of severe trauma, became addicted to alcohol. This period of time has been probably the second most difficult time in my life, next to losing my children. I didn't have much experience with addiction and I still have much to learn. As much as I wish, at times, that I could have just walked away, it's not really in me to abandon someone who is vulnerable, particularly when I care so much about them as a person. Actually, despite having felt intense pain at being witness to his destruction, this time was also one of the most rewarding stages in my life, that has taught me so much more about myself, my boundaries, and about love and what it really means for me. But it also got me thinking about why so many people do turn their back on those they love who are suffering with addiction. Addiction is often called a family disease, not because it's hereditary, but because its effects ripple outward, touching everyone in an addict's orbit. Yet despite growing awareness that addiction is a medical condition rather than a moral failing, people frequently distance themselves from addicted loved ones. This withdrawal, emotional, physical, or both, occurs across all relationships, parents step back from children, siblings stop answering calls, friends fade away, and romantic partners leave. Understanding why people turn their backs on addicts requires examining a complex interplay of psychological defence mechanisms, societal stigma, emotional exhaustion, and the deeply human need for self-preservation. The persistence of moral stigma Despite decades of research establishing addiction as a chronic brain disease, public perception remains stubbornly rooted in moral judgment.[12] The National Institute on Drug Abuse has repeatedly emphasized that addiction involves changes to brain circuits involved in reward, stress, and self-control, yet surveys consistently show that many people still view addiction primarily as a character flaw or lack of willpower.[1] This moral framing creates a psychological permission structure for abandonment. When we view addiction through a moral lens, the addict becomes someone who is "choosing" their behaviour, repeatedly making the "wrong" choice despite consequences. This framework allows friends and family members to recast their withdrawal not as abandonment of someone who is suffering, but as a reasonable response to someone who refuses to help themselves. The language people use reveals this mindset, "I've done everything I can, but they just won't change" or "They need to hit rock bottom before they'll get help." Research by Corrigan et al. (2009) on mental health stigma demonstrates that when conditions are perceived as controllable, public attitudes harden significantly.[5] Their work shows that unlike diseases viewed as purely biological, conditions attributed to personal choice trigger anger rather than sympathy, and blame rather than offers of help. This stigma operates even among healthcare professionals, with studies showing that medical staff often provide lower quality care to patients with substance use disorders compared to those with other chronic conditions.[11] The trauma of loving an addict Beyond societal stigma lies the raw, personal trauma experienced by those close to addicts. Living with or loving someone with active addiction often means enduring cycles of hope and disappointment, truth and deception, promises and betrayals. Each cycle inflicts fresh wounds, and over time, many people find themselves suffering from symptoms that mirror post-traumatic stress disorder. Family members and close friends of addicts frequently experience what researchers call "secondary traumatic stress" or "compassion fatigue".[4] They remain hypervigilant, constantly scanning for signs of intoxication, relapse, or danger. They experience intrusive thoughts about worst-case scenarios, imagining their loved one overdosing, being arrested, or dying. Sleep becomes difficult. Anxiety becomes chronic. The emotional toll is measurable and significant. Financial betrayal compounds this trauma. Stories of stolen jewellery, emptied bank accounts, forged checks, and maxed-out credit cards are common in addiction narratives. When trust is violated at this fundamental level, when someone steals from their own mother or raids their child's college fund, the relationship sustains damage that can be irreparable. The betrayal isn't just about money, it's about the revelation that the addiction has become more important than the relationship itself. Moreover, many people close to addicts find themselves drawn into enabling behaviours that conflict with their own values and judgment. They lie to employers to cover absences, pay rent to prevent homelessness, or bail their loved one out of jail repeatedly. Each enabling action creates cognitive dissonance, a disconnect between what they believe they should do and what they're actually doing. Over time, this dissonance becomes unbearable, and distancing becomes a way to escape the impossible situation.[9] The unpredictability and chaos Addiction thrives on chaos, and chaos is exhausting. One of the most draining aspects of loving an addict is the fundamental unpredictability. Plans are cancelled. Crises erupt without warning. Behaviour swings from apologetic to aggressive. This unpredictability makes it nearly impossible to maintain normal life rhythms. For family members, especially those with children or demanding careers, this chaos becomes unsustainable. A parent cannot simultaneously manage their own children's needs and continually respond to an addicted adult child's emergencies. A spouse cannot maintain employment while managing constant crises at home. At some point, the arithmetic of life demands a choice, and many people choose stability for themselves and their dependents over continued engagement with the addicted person. Research on caregiver burden in other chronic conditions provides insight here. Studies of family members caring for loved ones with dementia, schizophrenia, or severe physical illness show that unpredictability and behavioural symptoms predict caregiver burnout more strongly than the severity of the condition itself.[10] The same principle applies to addiction, it's not just the severity of the substance use, but the chaos it generates that drives people away. The illusion of control and the fantasy of "Tough love" Many people distance themselves from addicts while believing they're employing "tough love", a concept suggesting that withdrawal of support will motivate change. This idea has deep roots in American culture and in certain addiction treatment philosophies, particularly those emphasizing the need for addicts to "hit rock bottom" before recovery becomes possible. The tough love framework provides psychological comfort to those stepping back. It reframes abandonment as intervention, withdrawal as strategy. "I'm not giving up on them," the thinking goes, "I'm giving them the space to face consequences and choose recovery." This narrative allows people to maintain a positive self-image as caring individuals while simultaneously protecting themselves from further pain. However, research on addiction treatment increasingly challenges the rock bottom myth. Studies show that people can and do recover at various stages of addiction severity, and that earlier intervention generally predicts better outcomes.[13] The notion that addicts must lose everything before they can recover lacks empirical support and may actually increase mortality risk by delaying treatment. Moreover, the tough love approach often reflects a desire for control in an uncontrollable situation. People cannot force someone else into sustained recovery, but they can control their own behaviour, including the decision to step back. This creates an illusion of agency in a situation characterized by powerlessness, which provides psychological relief even if it doesn't actually help the addicted person. Grief for the person who was Another powerful factor in turning away from addicts involves grief. Family members and friends often describe feeling that the person they loved has "disappeared" or been "replaced" by the addiction. They mourn the loss of personality traits, shared interests, inside jokes, and the essential qualities that made their relationship meaningful. This phenomenon resembles "ambiguous loss," a term coined by psychologist Pauline Boss (1999) to describe situations where a loved one is physically present but psychologically absent, or vice versa.[3] With addiction, the person is often still alive and occasionally present, but fundamentally changed. This type of loss is particularly difficult to process because it lacks the closure and social recognition that comes with death. The grief can be profound. Parents mourn the child who was curious and affectionate. Siblings mourn the brother or sister who was their closest ally. Spouses mourn the partner with whom they built dreams. Over time, this grief can calcify into a protective detachment. People create emotional distance to stop the continuous reopening of the wound each time they see what their loved one has become. Doka (2002) discusses "disenfranchised grief", grief that isn't socially recognized or validated.[6] Grieving someone who is still alive but changed by addiction often falls into this category, leaving people feeling isolated in their loss and less likely to seek support. This isolation can accelerate the process of turning away, as people lack the community scaffolding that might help them maintain connection despite the pain. Self-preservation and boundary setting At its core, the decision to distance from an addict often represents self-preservation. Mental health professionals working with families of addicts frequently emphasize the importance of boundaries, recognizing what you can and cannot control, protecting your own wellbeing, and detaching with love when necessary.[2] These boundaries aren't inherently about abandonment, they're about survival. When someone's mental health deteriorates from the stress of the relationship, when their own substance use increases as a coping mechanism, when their physical safety is threatened, or when their other relationships suffer, stepping back becomes necessary for health. Research on co-dependency and family dynamics in addiction shows that enmeshment with an addicted person can be genuinely dangerous to one's wellbeing. Studies document elevated rates of depression, anxiety, and stress-related physical illness among family members of people with substance use disorders.[8] The decision to create distance, while painful, can represent appropriate self-care rather than callousness. However, the line between healthy boundaries and harmful abandonment isn't always clear. One person's necessary self-protection might be experienced by the addict as rejection at their most vulnerable moment. This ambiguity creates moral complexity that haunts many people who step back, leaving them with guilt that persists even when their decision was justified. The role of exhaustion and burnout Perhaps the simplest explanation for why people turn their backs on addicts is sheer exhaustion. Addiction is a chronic, relapsing condition. Watching someone cycle through treatment, relapse, recovery, and relapse again, sometimes over decades, depletes emotional reserves. Each relapse after a period of sobriety brings crushing disappointment. Each broken promise erodes hope a little more. Each crisis demands resources, emotional, financial, temporal, that people have in finite supply. Eventually, for many, there's simply nothing left to give. Research on compassion fatigue among professional caregivers shows that even trained, compensated professionals experience burnout when repeatedly exposed to others' suffering without adequate recovery time.[7] For family members and friends who lack professional training, support systems, or time off from the relationship, burnout arrives even faster. This exhaustion isn't weakness, it's biology. The human stress response system wasn't designed for chronic, unrelenting activation. When someone spends years in a state of heightened anxiety about a loved one's wellbeing, their capacity for empathy and engagement genuinely diminishes. The turning away that results isn't always a choice as much as a collapse, the organism protecting itself from further damage. Conclusion Understanding why people turn their backs on addicts requires holding space for multiple truths simultaneously. Addiction is a disease that deserves compassion, and yet loving someone with addiction can be traumatic and unsustainable. Society's moral stigma toward addiction is unjust and unscientific, and yet individual people's need to protect themselves from chaos and harm is valid. Recovery is always possible and worth supporting, and yet not everyone has the resources to stand by someone through repeated relapses. The people who distance themselves from addicts are not uniformly callous or lacking in love. Many are themselves traumatized, exhausted, and grieving. They've often spent years trying to help, sacrificing their own wellbeing in the process, before finally stepping back. Their withdrawal frequently represents the culmination of a long process of erosion rather than a single moment of abandonment. What remains crucial is to recognize that both the person with addiction and those around them are suffering, and both deserve compassion. Creating systems that provide better support for families, reducing stigma that makes it harder to seek help, and developing more effective treatments might reduce the impossible choices people currently face between their own wellbeing and their love for someone in the grip of addiction. Follow me on  Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Sam Mishra Sam Mishra, The Medical Massage Lady Sam Mishra (The Medical Massage Lady), is a multi-award winning massage therapist, aromatherapist, accredited course tutor, oncology and lymphatic practitioner, trauma practitioner, breathwork facilitator, reiki and intuitive energy healer, transformational and spiritual coach and hypnotherapist. Her medical background as a nurse and a midwife, combined with her own experiences of childhood disability and abuse, have resulted in a diverse and specialised service, but she is mostly known for her trauma work. She is motivated by the adversity she has faced, using it as a driving force in her charity work and in offering the vulnerable a means of support. Her aim is to educate about medical conditions using easily understood language, to avoid inappropriate treatments being carried out, and for health promotion purposes in the general public. She is also becoming known for challenging the stigmas in our society and pushing through the boundaries that have been set by such stigmas within the massage industry. References: [1] Barry, C. L., McGinty, E. E., Pescosolido, B. A., & Goldman, H. H. (2014). Stigma, discrimination, treatment effectiveness, and policy: Public views about drug addiction and mental illness. Psychiatric Services, 65(10), 1269-1272. [2] Beattie, M. (1986). Codependent no more: How to stop controlling others and start caring for yourself. Hazelden. [3] Boss, P. (1999). Ambiguous loss: Learning to live with unresolved grief. Harvard University Press. [4] Bride, B. E. (2007). Prevalence of secondary traumatic stress among social workers. Social Work, 52(1), 63-70. [5] Corrigan, P. W., Markowitz, F. E., Watson, A., Rowan, D., & Kubiak, M. A. (2009). An attribution model of public discrimination towards persons with mental illness. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 44(2), 162-179. [6] Doka, K. J. (2002). Disenfranchised grief: New directions, challenges, and strategies for practice. Research Press. [7] Figley, C. R. (1995). Compassion fatigue as secondary traumatic stress disorder: An overview. In C. R. Figley (Ed.), Compassion fatigue: Coping with secondary traumatic stress disorder in those who treat the traumatized (pp. 1-20). Brunner/Mazel. [8] Orford, J., Velleman, R., Natera, G., Templeton, L., & Copello, A. (2013). Addiction in the family is a major but neglected contributor to the global burden of adult ill-health. Social Science & Medicine, 78, 70-77. [9] Rotunda, R. J., Doman, K., & Tugrul, K. C. (2004). Enabling behavior in a clinical sample of alcohol-dependent clients and their partners. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 26(4), 269-276. [10] Schulz, R., & Sherwood, P. R. (2008). Physical and mental health effects of family caregiving. The American Journal of Nursing, 108(9), 23-27. [11] van Boekel, L. C., Brouwers, E. P., van Weeghel, J., & Garretsen, H. F. (2013). Stigma among health professionals towards patients with substance use disorders and its consequences for healthcare delivery: Systematic review. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 131(1-2), 23-35. [12] Volkow, N. D., Koob, G. F., & McLellan, A. T. (2016). Neurobiologic advances from the brain disease model of addiction. New England Journal of Medicine, 374(4), 363-371. [13] White, W. L., & Kelly, J. F. (2011). Recovery management: What if we really believed that addiction was a chronic disorder? In J. F. Kelly & W. L. White (Eds.), Addiction recovery management: Theory, research and practice (pp. 67-84). Humana Press.

Written by Dr. Hanna Lind, Breathwork Therapist Dr Hanna Lind is a trauma-informed practitioner and Neurodynamic Breathwork® facilitator supporting nervous system regulation, emotional healing, and embodiment. Her work bridges science, somatics, and consciousness. For many therapy-savvy people, insight is not the problem. They can name patterns, track emotional triggers, and explain with precision why they feel anxious, overwhelmed , or stuck. They understand their childhood, their attachment style, and their coping strategies. They have language for their inner world. And yet, their bodies remain tense, reactive, fatigued, or chronically stressed. Despite years of personal work, something still doesn’t shift This experience is especially common among high-functioning, self-aware individuals who have invested deeply in psychological growth. Talk therapy excels at helping us understand why we feel the way we do. It brings coherence to our stories and compassion to our histories. But understanding alone doesn’t always translate into calm, regulation, or embodied safety. The nervous system does not automatically relax simply because the mind has made sense of the narrative. Talk therapy has been deeply valuable in my own life. It gave me awareness, insight, and emotional vocabulary. Yet I began to notice a disconnect. When anxiety surfaced, my body didn’t respond to insight alone. Even when I knew I was safe, my breath would constrict, my chest would tighten, and my system would brace as if a threat were still present. Knowing why I felt overwhelmed did not automatically create ease or regulation in my body. This gap between insight and embodiment is where many people quietly struggle Both Gabor Maté and Bessel van der Kolk offer powerful frameworks for understanding why this happens. In When the Body Says No, Maté explores how chronic stress, emotional suppression, and the persistent overriding of one’s own needs can accumulate in the body over time. When emotions are repeatedly ignored, often in the service of adaptation, caregiving, or belonging, the body carries the cost. Symptoms and illness become the body’s final communication when earlier signals were not met. Van der Kolk, in The Body Keeps the Score, deepens this understanding by showing how traumatic and overwhelming experiences are stored not primarily as conscious memories, but as physiological patterns. Long after an event has passed, the body may continue to respond as though it is still happening. Muscles tighten, breath shortens, digestion falters, and the nervous system remains vigilant. This is not a failure of insight, it is the intelligence of a body designed to survive. From this perspective, it becomes clear why talk therapy alone sometimes reaches its limits. Stress, trauma, and emotional suppression live in the nervous system, the breath, and the tissues, not just in thoughts. We cannot think our way out of patterns that are held physiologically. This is where somatic approaches become essential complements to traditional therapy Somatic work invites the body into the healing process rather than asking the mind to do all the work. By working directly with sensation, breath, movement, and nervous system regulation, we begin to address the level at which stress is actually stored. Healing shifts from understanding what happened to allowing the body to experience safety in the present moment. As a Neurodynamic Breathwork facilitator, I work with breath as a bridge between the conscious and unconscious, the cognitive and the physiological. Breath is one of the few systems that we can influence both voluntarily and involuntarily. When guided intentionally, it can help release long-held tension, support emotional processing, and increase nervous system flexibility. Insight is no longer something we know, it becomes something we feel. This approach aligns closely with what both Maté and van der Kolk emphasize: healing happens when the body is included. When emotions are allowed to move rather than remain stored, the body no longer needs to speak through symptoms. Regulation replaces suppression. Presence replaces bracing. Importantly, this is not about replacing talk therapy. Insight, meaning-making, and relational understanding remain foundational. Rather, it is about expanding the therapeutic field. When the body is included, anxiety becomes more workable, overwhelm less consuming, and change more sustainable. Healing becomes embodied rather than purely conceptual. For those who feel they have “done everything right” in therapy yet still feel dysregulated, exhausted, or disconnected, this is not a failure. It is often an invitation. The next layer of healing may not require more analysis, but more attunement to the body’s language. When the body is finally allowed to participate, healing becomes less about fixing and more about restoring balance. The nervous system learns, gradually and safely, that it no longer needs to hold the past in the present. And from that place, genuine ease and vitality can emerge. If you are curious about integrating somatic therapy and breathwork alongside talk therapy, you are invited to explore Neurodynamic Breathwork. Learn more here and explore current offerings designed to support embodied, sustainable change. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for more info! Read more from Dr. Hanna Lind Dr. Hanna Lind, Breathwork Therapist Dr Hanna Lind is a Neurodynamic Breathwork® facilitator and trauma-informed practitioner working at the intersection of nervous system regulation, emotional release, and conscious leadership. Breathwork supports leaders to lead with presence, integrity, and clarity.

Written by Nadine Bell, Equine Assisted Professional Coach Nadine Bell is an equine-assisted professional coach and a pioneer in Argentina and across Latin America, fostering emotional growth and human potential through her two signature programs: Nadine Bell Coaching with Horses, designed for corporate environments, and Horses for Humanity, dedicated to supporting vulnerable populations. Equine-assisted coaching has emerged as a powerful, experiential approach to emotional healing, resilience, and personal growth for vulnerable populations worldwide. By working alongside horses in a non-judgmental, body-based environment, individuals are offered a unique opportunity to develop self-awareness, rebuild confidence, and regulate emotional responses. This approach reaches people in ways traditional interventions often cannot, creating meaningful and lasting transformation across diverse communities and cultural contexts. What are vulnerable sectors of society? Vulnerable sectors include populations at higher risk of social, economic, and emotional exclusion, such as refugees, immigrants, and individuals living in poverty. Social vulnerability is shaped by unstable living conditions, limited access to resources, and prolonged exposure to stress and adversity. These factors influence not only financial security but also emotional well-being, mental health, and self-perception, laying the groundwork for the emotional challenges explored below. Research and field experience consistently show that individuals living in vulnerable conditions are more likely to experience diminished self-worth, marginalization, chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Without adequate emotional support systems, these challenges can perpetuate cycles of exclusion and disempowerment.   The emotional impact of vulnerability Living under prolonged stress alters how individuals experience themselves and engage with the world around them. Many develop negative self-perceptions, low self-esteem, and a persistent sense of hopelessness. Social stigma and marginalization often deepen feelings of isolation and shame, while chronic uncertainty can lead to anxiety, depression, or trauma-related responses. In some cases, individuals turn to substance abuse as a coping mechanism, and in extreme situations, vulnerability may increase the risk of suicidal ideation. Addressing emotional health is therefore not a secondary need but a fundamental pillar for long-term personal and social transformation.   Why traditional interventions are not always enough While talk-based therapies and social programs play an important role, they may not always reach individuals who struggle with verbal expression, trust, or emotional awareness. Trauma, cultural barriers, and deeply ingrained survival patterns can limit the effectiveness of purely cognitive or verbal approaches. This is where experiential and body-based methodologies offer a meaningful alternative to insight-based approaches by engaging the body in the change process.   How equine-assisted coaching creates real transformation Equine-assisted coaching offers a non-traditional, experiential approach to emotional and personal development. Horses are highly sensitive, intuitive animals that naturally respond to human emotional states. They do not judge, analyze, or label. Instead, they mirror what is present, offering immediate and honest feedback through their behavior. This unique interaction allows participants to become aware of their emotional patterns, internal states, and behavioral responses in a safe and grounded environment.   Key benefits of equine-assisted coaching One of the most significant outcomes of working with horses is emotional awareness. Participants begin to recognize their own emotional states through the horse’s responses, often accessing insights that are difficult to reach through words alone. Because horses rely primarily on body language, participants naturally develop non-verbal communication skills and learn to read subtle cues. This strengthens emotional intelligence and empathy, skills that translate directly into healthier relationships and improved social integration. Equine-assisted coaching also supports individuals in identifying and releasing limiting beliefs by creating a non-judgmental space where fears, insecurities, and self-imposed barriers can emerge without fear or judgment. As participants experience successful interaction with the horse, confidence and self-trust naturally increase. Spending time with horses in natural environments has been shown to reduce stress and promote emotional regulation. Many participants report feeling calmer, more grounded, and more present after sessions. Over time, these experiences foster resilience, leadership skills, assertiveness, and a renewed sense of personal agency.   How the sessions work Sessions take place in a corral or open field alongside a group of calm, trained horses. No riding is involved, and no prior experience with horses is required. Under the guidance of a trained coach, participants observe and interact with the horses, reflecting on their responses, movements, and behaviors. Through carefully designed experiential exercises, participants gain insights into their emotional patterns, communication styles, and internal beliefs. The process encourages self-awareness, emotional responsibility, and conscious choice-making. These programs are adaptable and can be implemented globally wherever equine facilities are available, making them accessible to diverse communities and cultural contexts.   A program designed for impact and inclusion Horses for Humanity was founded to support vulnerable populations by addressing emotional health at its root through meaningful, experiential learning. Equine-assisted coaching is a stand-alone intervention that provides a powerful pathway to self-connection and growth. While it does not replace traditional mental health treatment in severe clinical cases, it serves as a highly effective complementary approach for emotional development and resilience-building.   My journey with equine-assisted coaching My connection with horses began in childhood, inspired by my grandfather, Alec Bell, a renowned polo player and breeder in Argentina. From an early age, I was immersed in horse care and handling, which eventually led me into therapeutic riding and equine-assisted interventions. In 2000, I founded Argentina’s first Equine Therapy Center, followed by the creation of a Mobile Equine Therapy initiative that brought therapeutic programs to underserved communities. Over the years, I have collaborated with NGOs, supported individuals with disabilities, worked in addiction recovery, coached elite athletes and CEOs, and facilitated programs across Latin America and the Caribbean. Becoming an EAGALA Certified Coach deepened my understanding of the profound emotional intelligence of horses and their ability to catalyze transformation. Today, my work continues internationally, guided by a deep commitment to serving vulnerable communities and fostering emotional empowerment through horses.   Transforming lives through connection and awareness Equine-assisted coaching offers more than personal insight by engaging individuals in an embodied, relational process that fosters dignity, self-awareness, and emotional restoration. For those living in vulnerable circumstances, being seen, felt, and responded to without judgment can be life-changing. When emotional well-being is supported, individuals are better equipped to rebuild confidence, make empowered choices, and move toward sustainable change.   Ready to learn more? If you are interested in equine-assisted coaching for vulnerable communities, organizations, or individuals, I welcome the opportunity to explore how this approach can support your specific needs. To learn more, visit here  or reach out to explore how this work can support meaningful, human-centered transformation. Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Nadine Bell Nadine Bell, Equine Assisted Professional Coach Nadine Bell is the CEO of Nadine Bell Coaching with Horses and Horses for Humanity, and a pioneer in Argentina and Latin America as an equine-assisted professional coach applying experiential methods to leadership development and organizational performance. With certifications under NARHA, NAAEPAD, and EAGALA and early horsemanship training influenced by her grandfather, polo player Alec Bell, she combines equine interaction with emotional intelligence and communication effectiveness. She delivers leadership, team cohesion, and wellbeing programs for corporate groups across Argentina, Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, while Horses for Humanity extends her impact through socially inclusive emotional-wellbeing initiatives.

Written by Sarah Dessert, Founder, French Instructor, Coach Sarah Dessert, a native French educator and founder of Sweet French Learning, helps English-speaking adults master French with confidence and joy. With 14+ years of experience in France and Canada, she combines immersive teaching with confidence-building strategies to support authentic, fearless communication. Perfectionism is often praised in professional and learning environments. It is associated with discipline, motivation, and high standards. Yet in many adults, perfectionism is not a strength. It is a stress response to wearing a professional mask. I have seen this pattern repeatedly in learning contexts, workplaces, and coaching conversations. People work harder, prepare more, and demand more of themselves, yet feel increasingly anxious, exhausted, or stuck. Progress slows. Confidence shrinks. Learning becomes tense. This pattern is not a lack of ability or commitment. It is something deeper. I call it the “Good Student Syndrome” (GSS). What good student syndrome really is GSS is not a mindset problem, a lack of motivation, or a character flaw. It is a conditioned identity and survival strategy that develops when a person learns, usually early in life, that being competent, compliant, or “doing things right” is the safest way to receive approval, love, or belonging. At its core, the unspoken belief sounds like this, “If I perform well, if I don’t make mistakes, if I meet expectations, then I am safe, worthy, and accepted.” This belief does not usually form because someone was told it directly. It emerges through repeated experiences, family dynamics, school systems, and cultural expectations, where praise, attention, or emotional safety were tied to performance rather than presence. In that context, becoming “the good student” is not a choice. It is an intelligent adaptation. Over time, this strategy becomes internalized. External expectations turn into an internal pressure system. The person no longer needs authority figures to demand excellence. The demand now lives inside. Common internal rules begin to form, such as: “I shouldn’t rest unless I’ve earned it.” “Mistakes mean I didn’t try hard enough.” “If I slow down, I’ll fall behind.” “What others think matters more than what I feel.” In adulthood, GSS often shows up not as a visible struggle, but as high-functioning tension. People may appear disciplined, reliable, and capable, while privately feeling anxious, exhausted, or never quite “enough.” They may overthink, people please, or hold themselves to standards they would never impose on others. What once served as a way to stay safe quietly becomes a system that limits flexibility, confidence, and self-trust. How it shows up in learning In learning environments, GSS often looks like rigidity rather than curiosity. People may overprepare, avoid speaking until they feel “ready,” or struggle to experiment. Mistakes are experienced not as information, but as evidence of failure. Learning becomes something to perform rather than something to explore. Very common thoughts and beliefs are: “I’ll speak once I’m more confident.” “I need to review everything first before I try.” “I’m not ready yet, I’ll start when I feel more prepared.” “If I can’t say it correctly, I’d rather not say it at all.” “I don’t want to practice until I know I won’t make mistakes.” “Making mistakes means I’m bad at this.” “If I get this wrong, it proves I’m not cut out for languages.” “Others will think I’m incompetent if I make errors.” “Everyone else seems to get it, why don’t I?” “If I can’t do it properly, there’s no point doing it.” Ironically, this blocks progress. Learning requires approximation, feedback, and adjustment. When perfection is the goal, confidence cannot grow because confidence is built through repetition, not flawlessness. How it shows up in feedback and authority dynamics Feedback is another area where this pattern becomes highly visible. A common response is the inability to take in positive feedback. Praise is dismissed or minimized, while all attention goes to what needs fixing. The nervous system focuses on correcting perceived shortcomings in order to restore safety and approval. Rather than seeing feedback as a full picture, it becomes a threat assessment. What do I need to fix to remain valued? What did I do wrong? How do I make sure this does not happen again? In relationships with authority figures, managers, teachers, and leaders, this can lead to people pleasing, difficulty setting boundaries, and an overinvestment in others’ expectations at the expense of one’s own needs. Why perfection undermines confidence Perfectionism is often mistaken for discipline, but the two are not the same. Discipline is grounded in choice and consistency. Perfectionism is rooted in fear, often the fear of losing approval or belonging. Because perfection is an impossible standard, an illusion, it creates a constant sense of insufficiency. Progress becomes invisible. Effort increases, but confidence decreases. Learning, however, is inherently imperfect. No one expects a child to walk without falling. Falling is not failure; it is part of the process. Adults affected by GSS are rarely offered this same permission. Over time, the cost is high: chronic stress, burnout, avoidance, and a loss of trust in oneself. The deeper cost: Loss of self Beyond performance, learning, or productivity, GSS carries a deeper and more damaging cost, a gradual disconnection from the self. Over time, many adults develop what can be described as a constructed self, an identity shaped around expectations, approval, and external demands rather than inner truth. What begins as adaptation slowly becomes adoption. The role replaces the person. In coaching, I have heard clients say things like: “I had to become someone else because that’s what they wanted from me.” “It was the only way to please them.” “I didn’t feel like I had a choice.” These statements are not about laziness or indecision. They reflect a life built around what was expected rather than what was desired. Careers were chosen because they were “safe.” Paths followed because they pleased parents, teachers, or authority figures. Lives that look functional on the outside, yet feel misaligned on the inside. A common misunderstanding in this pattern is the confusion between people caring and people pleasing. Many individuals affected by GSS describe themselves as generous, selfless, or deeply considerate of others. But this is not about empathy. It is about over-adaptation, consistently prioritizing others’ needs, opinions, and comfort while dismissing or silencing one’s own. This is not kindness. It is self-erasure. When approval becomes the compass, boundaries dissolve. Rest feels undeserved. Saying no feels dangerous. Personal needs are postponed indefinitely. Over time, this leads to a profound internal disorientation. Simple questions such as “What do I want? What matters to me? What direction feels right?” become difficult, or impossible, to answer. Life continues, but it is lived through expectations rather than intention. For many adults, this realization is unsettling. Seeing how deeply one has adapted can be painful. Yet naming it is essential. Because what is unnamed remains unquestioned. And what remains unquestioned continues to shape a life from the shadows. A brief personal note This pattern is not theoretical for me. In 2023, I had to consciously let go of an entire belief system shaped by GSS. Releasing it created an unexpected period of disorientation. If I were no longer trying to be perfect, who was I becoming instead? That question did not signal failure, but transition. It marked the point where performance stopped being my compass, and self-trust had to take its place. Recognizing the pattern is the first step GSS is not a personal flaw. It is a survival strategy that once made sense in a specific context. But what once kept someone safe does not have to define how they live, learn, or lead as adults. Becoming aware of the pattern is the first step. Awareness creates distance. In that space, choice becomes possible, and with it, the opportunity to build a relationship with oneself that is grounded not in performance, but in trust and self-acceptance. An essential part of overcoming GSS is relearning that we are just human, imperfect by nature, and that this is enough. This is a long-term process that can be challenging, but it is absolutely possible. Rediscovering oneself may create the path to a brand new life that was secretly desired, but never intentionally built. Where we started does not determine where we will end up. And that realization, quiet and steady, is often where meaningful change begins. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Sarah Dessert Sarah Dessert, Founder, French Instructor, Coach Sarah Dessert is a native French educator, coach, and founder of Sweet French Learning, where she helps English-speaking adults learn French with confidence and ease. Originally from France and now based in Canada, she brings over 14 years of teaching experience. After watching many adults struggle or quit because of fear and past school experiences, she created a different approach. Her teaching blends immersion, personalized guidance, and confidence-building support. Sarah’s mission is to help learners communicate authentically and rediscover the joy of learning French.

Written by Bronwen Sciortino, International Author & Simplicity Expert Bronwen Sciortino is an International Author and Simplicity Expert who spent almost two decades as an award-winning executive before experiencing a life-changing event that forced her to stop and ask the question, ‘What if there’s a better way to live? The first few nights of a holiday rarely feel restful. You toss and turn, half-awake, your mind replaying what might be falling apart while you’re gone. Did you hand that project over properly? Will the team cope? Will the emails pile up faster than you can delete them when you’re back? It takes days, sometimes more, before your shoulders finally drop, before your body starts to believe it’s allowed to exhale. Only then do you remember what real sleep feels like, the kind that doesn’t come from exhaustion but from ease. No alarm. No responsibilities. No one needs something from you every five minutes. And for a fleeting moment, you think: This is how life should feel. But then you go home. And just like that, the version of you who breathes deeply and laughs easily disappears, replaced by the one who survives on caffeine, deadlines, and good intentions. The trap of ‘‘when I have time’’ We tell ourselves the same story every year: “I’ll start looking after myself when things calm down.” “When I’m on leave.” “When life gives me a break.” But life rarely does. And even when it does, even when we get that week in the sun, we still carry the tension with us. The guilt of switching off. The anxiety of what might be waiting when we switch back on. The truth is, we don’t have a time problem. We have a permission problem. We’ve built lives so full that slowing down feels rebellious. We treat well-being like a luxury item, something to be unwrapped on special occasions instead of lived every day. Holiday mode isn’t magic, it’s memory Here’s what most people miss: ‘‘Holiday mode’’ isn’t something that exists out there on a beach or in a mountain cabin. It’s what happens when you stop rushing long enough to meet yourself again.   When your nervous system finally stops scanning for threats, when your mind stops rehearsing the next move, and when you remember what it feels like to be fully here, not half a step ahead of your own life. That clarity, that calm, that steadiness, it’s not created by a destination. It’s revealed by stillness. And yet, we come home and abandon it like it only belongs to the version of us who wear linen and read novels. The cycle that keeps you tired If you only allow yourself to rest when the world stops demanding from you, your body learns one thing: rest is unsafe unless everything else is handled. That’s why the first few nights of a break feel so uneasy. Your system doesn’t trust that stillness won’t cost you something. So, you push, crash, recover, repeat. You come back from holidays vowing to “keep the balance this time.” But the emails creep in, the meetings multiply, and suddenly “next break” becomes the new finish line. It’s not laziness. It’s conditioning. You’ve been trained to equate your worth with your output, and as long as that belief runs the show, no amount of leave will heal the exhaustion. What actually works Start by shrinking the gap between ‘‘holiday you’’ and ‘‘everyday you.’’ Bring one thing back, not as a task, but as a truth. For example: If you love how slow mornings feel, start your day five minutes earlier and don’t touch your phone. If you eat mindfully on holidays, close your laptop when you eat at your desk. If you walk every day when you’re away, take a 10-minute lap around the block between calls. Micro-moments matter because they retrain your body to trust that care isn’t conditional, and you start to live in a way that doesn’t need rescuing. The real goal You don’t need a holiday to feel human again, you need a rhythm that honours your humanity daily. Because the truth is, the version of you who laughs freely, sleeps deeply, and feels light they aren’t only available on vacation. They’re waiting under the layers of ‘shoulds’ and schedules.   And when you stop postponing your health until the world gives you permission, something powerful happens: your life starts to feel like the break you’ve been craving. If you only feel healthy on holiday, it’s not time you’re missing, it’s permission, and permission is something you can give yourself right now.   Bronwen Sciortino is a Simplicity Expert, Professional Speaker, and internationally renowned author. You can follow her on her  website,   Facebook ,   Instagram ,  or  LinkedIn . Read more from Bronwen Sciortino Bronwen Sciortino, International Author & Simplicity Expert Bronwen Sciortino is an International Author and Simplicity Expert who spent almost two decades as an award-winning executive before experiencing a life-changing event that forced her to stop and ask the question, ‘What if there’s a better way to live?’ Embarking on a journey to answer this question, Bronwen developed a whole new way of living, one that teaches you to challenge the status quo and include the power of questions in everyday life. Gaining international critical acclaim and 5-star awards for her books and online programs, Bronwen spends every day teaching people that there is an easy, practical, and simple pathway to creating a healthy, happy, and highly successful life. Sourced globally for media comment as an expert and working with corporate programs, conference platforms, retreats, professional mentoring, and in the online environment, Bronwen teaches people how easy it is to live life very differently.

Written by Veronica Hislop, Founder of Em-Powered Pens As the founder of Em-Powered Pens, author Veronica Hislop aims to empower her readers to heal, grow, and thrive. A trained professional, she is committed to guiding her audience through a transformative journey of resilience and self-discovery, unlocking their full potential. “Can I stop you there?” the instructor asked. “I sense a heaviness around your heart. If you feel comfortable, I’d like to do some brief energy work with you right now, over the phone. Is that okay?” I was surprised. Curious. And quietly skeptical. Still, I agreed. What followed was a short process involving breath, imagery, colour, and focused attention. I couldn’t have explained exactly what she was doing, but I knew what I felt afterward. Something had shifted. I felt lighter than I had in a very long time. What struck me most was not just the physical sensation, but the question it raised. How had she known? She couldn’t see me. We had spoken only briefly. I was thousands of miles away, in another country. And yet she had accurately sensed a level of stress and emotional strain I had barely acknowledged within myself. That moment challenged the limits of how I had been trained to understand stress, pain, and healing. With years of postgraduate education as a trauma counsellor behind me, I realized something essential was missing from the purely logical, left-brain framework I had relied on. There was, quite clearly, a different way of knowing and a different way of understanding trauma and mental health that I had yet to learn. This experience occurred several years ago during an online training program led by an energy healer and business coach. Like many virtual sessions, it was structured, intellectually engaging, and grounded in professional development. Yet this moment became a quiet wake-up call, one that shifted how I understood stress, trauma, and the role of replenishment in healing. Push energy and the limits of effort Much of Western culture, including how we approach mental health, is built on what I now recognise as push energy. Push to understand. Push to explain. Push to fix. Push through discomfort. Push energy is driven by the conscious, analytical mind. It values effort, insight, and control. In many contexts, it serves us well. But when applied to trauma and chronic stress, it often reaches its limits. You cannot push your way out of a dysregulated nervous system. You cannot force the body to feel safe. And you cannot always think your way into healing. Trauma is not held solely as a narrative or memory. It is stored in the body, the nervous system, and the emotional brain. When healing relies only on effort and explanation, people often become exhausted, frustrated, resistant, or stuck, working harder without feeling better. When Western models don’t fully translate I am often reminded of the trauma teams sent to Rwanda after the 1994 genocide. Highly trained Western professionals arrived with well-established therapeutic models and a genuine desire to help survivors process unimaginable grief, trauma, and loss. Yet many of the survivors could not connect with the trauma teams and their approach. Talk therapy, based on verbal catharsis and repeated retelling of traumatic events, did not resonate with many of the Rwandans. For people whose trauma was deeply embodied, this approach intensified distress rather than relieving it. The issue was not a lack of compassion or skill. It was a mismatch of approaches. Trauma is not experienced only through words. For individuals and cultures that are more right-brain oriented, healing often begins with safety, rhythm, connection, and regulation, not explanation. Only in recent years has Western mental health begun to seriously integrate this understanding. Replenishment and the role of the right brain Where push energy seeks to override, replenishment seeks to restore. Replenishment focuses on calming the nervous system first. It creates the conditions for healing rather than demanding outcomes. This is the domain of the right brain. Right brain practices include movement, meditation, breathwork, energy work, journaling, dancing, chanting, drumming, acupuncture, Reiki, EMDR, and tapping. What these approaches share is their ability to bypass the conscious mind, bypass overthinking, and engage the body directly. They slow the system down. They reduce stress activation. They restore a sense of safety. They can help bypass resistance. Rather than demanding insight, replenishment-based practices prioritize regulation. And when the body feels safe again, clarity often follows naturally. Western mental health has slowly begun to fully acknowledge this approach as therapeutic. Somatic therapies, body-based interventions, and nonverbal modalities are now being researched, integrated, and taught. But this shift in thinking and practice is still relatively new. Tapping as a replenishment practice Among the many right-brain approaches I have explored, one stands out for its simplicity and accessibility, Emotional Freedom Technique, commonly known as tapping. EFT is based on principles from traditional Chinese medicine and can be understood as acupuncture without needles. Gentle tapping is applied to specific meridian points on the face and upper body while focusing on an emotional or physical issue. Rather than pushing to “get over” a problem, tapping works by calming the brain’s stress response while acknowledging what is present. It sends a signal of safety to the nervous system, allowing the body to release what it has been holding. Research has shown EFT to be effective in addressing anxiety, trauma, stress, phobias, addiction, and physical pain. It was first practiced with good results with Vietnam vets coping with PTSD back in the sixties. Today, we are using EFT with refugees from war-torn countries such as Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine. It is perhaps the only weapon these people have to fight back against the atrocities they are experiencing daily. It is non-invasive, painless, and easy to learn. Most importantly, it returns agency to the individual. Rather than relying solely on external interventions, people are given a tool they can use themselves any time as necessary. This alone can be deeply empowering. In my own work, when clients become caught in a stressful narrative, I often invite them to tap while they speak. Before we analyze or explain, their bodies begin to settle. Replenishment comes first. Insight follows. Expanding how we understand healing This is not a rejection of Western psychology, science, or reason. Push energy has its place. Insight matters. Understanding matters. Motivation and goal setting are important. But healing is not achieved through effort alone. When we integrate replenishment-based, right-brain approaches into our understanding of mental health and wellbeing, we move toward a more complete, holistic model of healing, one that honours the body, the nervous system, and respects their connection and the intelligence beneath conscious thought. There is a different way of knowing and understanding trauma. There is a different pathway to healing. And for many of us, connecting more to our right brain by learning to shift from push to replenish energy is where the real change begins. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Veronica Hislop Veronica Hislop, Founder of Em-Powered Pens Veronica is a multi-genre author focused on empowering readers to navigate life’s challenges with grace and strength. Whether guiding adults through difficult conversations, supporting men in grief, or nurturing the self-worth of young girls, her work is grounded in emotional intelligence, psychological insight, and real-world application.