The Happier Life Project

Detached and Disconnected: Navigating Depersonalization & Derealization with Swamy G

Have you ever felt detached from your own life? Disconnected from yourself? Like you were an outsider looking in at your own existence? Going through the motions, emotionally numb, emotionally disconnected from people you care about? Or maybe you've looked at your environment and everything appears foggy? You feel unable to see your surroundings accurately, they lack vividness and coloring? Things don't seem real?Does this get in the way of your relationships and work? Or disrupt other daily activities?
Temporary feelings of depersonalization and derealization are common. About one half of people have felt detached from themselves (depersonalization) or from their surroundings (derealization) at one time or another. But if this is happening more frequently, or becomes a common occurrence; then you may be suffering from depersonalization-derealization disorder. 
Depersonalization-derealization disorder (DP/DR) is a mental health condition where you feel disconnected from your body, your feelings and your environment. It tends to come and go over a long period of time,  causing much distress and anxiety. 
Depersonalization-derealization disorder is thought to be caused by trauma or extreme stress. Adverse early childhood experiences, specifically emotional abuse and neglect, have been linked to the development of depersonalization symptoms. Feelings of depersonalization and derealization are common from significant stress or panic attacks. Individuals may remain in a depersonalized state for the duration of a typical panic attack. However, in some cases, the dissociated state may last for hours, days, weeks, or even months at a time. In rare cases, symptoms of a single episode can last for years.
Swamy G is a counselor who regularly writes about depersonalization (DP) and derealization (DR) at https://acoachcalledlife.com/ Having personally gone through the challenges of DP/DR and overcoming them, he created a comprehensive online program to help others fully recover from DP/DR. In this conversation, you’ll learn how the disorder is more common than you might think, and how and why many of us can struggle from depersonalization and derealization during our life. You’ll also learn all about the symptoms and stress factors, what to do if someone you care about might be suffering from, and how, with time and tools, we can recover. 
To work with Swamy G and/or learn more about depersonalization (DP) and derealization (DR): acoachcalledlife.com
To access Swamy’s comprehensive online DP/DR program: DPDR No More
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: @mypossibleself

10 Effective Ways to find Calm with Rebekah Ballagh

When it comes to improving our mental well-being, practising calm is one of the best places to start. Clarity of mind is extremely important when you are dealing with stress, problems and emotional turmoil. And remaining calm in times of turbulence and chaos, allows us to think more logically and make decisions accordingly.
Rebekah Ballagh is the bestselling author and illustrator of 'Note to Self', 'Note to Self Journal', 'Words of Comfort', 'Be Your Best Self', 'Big Feelings' and 'Let's Go, Flo!' She's a qualified counsellor, somatic and nervous system regulation coach, trainer, speaker and the creator of popular Instagram community @journey_to_wellness_ Rebekah’s latest book '101 Ways to Find Calm - How to use your body to soothe your mind', offers simple, powerful tools to teach you how to safely feel and process your emotions, rewire your brain and nervous system, and how to deeply connect with yourself.
In this episode of The Happier Life Project Becks shares some of her favourite calming exercises from the book, whilst discussing with host Gabby why so many people around the world struggle with finding calm. Rebekah also talks about why it’s so important to complete the stress response and sit with and digest difficult emotions, in order to come to a more peaceful place in the body.
Gabby and Becks also look at the most common reasons why the brain won’t allow us to relax, and what we can do to override or disengage the body’s stress response - when it is unnecessarily activated.
To learn more about Rebekah’s courses, book and membership program: www.journeytowellness.online
To be part of Rebekah’s Instagram community: @journey_to_wellness_
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: @mypossibleself

Hormone Hacks and Working With Your Menstrual Cycle with Chlo Hodgkinson

Hormones are essential for life and your health. They affect everything from blood sugar to blood pressure, growth, fertility, your sex drive, metabolism, and even sleep. Hormones are so important they influence the way we think and act day to day.
The menstrual cycle is regulated by hormones. So if we are having irregular periods, bleed between periods, bleed more heavily than usual, or develop severe pain during our period; this could be an indicator our hormones are out of wack.
Chlo Hodgkinson is a PT and Coach that has learned and trained to work with hormones and the menstrual cycle after recovering from her own journey with disordered eating and relative energy deficiency. After fully rehabilitating and healing her relationship with food and exercise, Chlo turned to social media to raise awareness on amenorrhea (the absence of menstruation). Then went on to become a coach to help clients get back to training after amenorrhea, as well as staying on track with their recovery and supporting them on that journey.
Chlo is passionate in helping females recover from disordered eating, amenorrhea, diet culture and learning to workout with the menstrual cycle. Chlo is also part of The My Possible Self team and creates content for our social channels.
Chlo speaks candidly about her journey with disordered eating habits and overtraining and why losing her period was the catalyst towards her seeking help to heal her hormones and regain her menstrual cycle.
Chlo shares the signs to look out for your hormones may be imbalanced and what steps you need to take to get the help you need. Chlo and host Gabby also talk about the pressures society puts on females particularly when it comes to what is regarded as a ‘healthy’ body image. And Chlo also explains the significant relationship between anxiety, food and exercise.
To follow Chlo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chlohodgkinson/
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: @mypossibleself

Heal Childhood Wounds, Transform Your Relationships with Vienna Pharaon

None of us had a perfect childhood; we are all carrying around wounds and behaviours that don’t serve us. But what if we could break free from unhealthy family patterns to liberate the way we live and love? 
As children we observe and absorb everything around us. And we teach ourselves to behave in a way that helps to make us feel safe. But at what cost? Have we developed coping mechanisms and strategies to try to feel more worthy, prioritized, safe, like we belong? Could we have developed trust issues because we witnessed our parents keep secrets? Do we struggle with perfectionism because our caregivers rewarded our good behaviour and achievements, but punished or ignored us when we didn’t live up to their standards? 
When we start to unpack the significant impact and deep conditioning that our roots and origin wounds have on our relationship patterns - past and present - we start to recognise our triggers and coping mechanisms that might actually be doing more harm than good.But it doesn’t have to be that way, says licensed marriage and family therapist and author of the best selling book ‘The Origins of You’ Vienna Pharaon.
Vienna is a licensed marriage and family therapist and one of New York City’s most sought-after relationship therapists. Vienna has practised therapy for more than fifteen years and is the creator of @mindfulMFT on Instagram where she is helping over 700K people around the world heal their childhood wounds.
Vienna shares the five major origin wounds that most struggle with; consciously or subconsciously. She also explains how the healing journey begins by exploring what we have learned as a child - how to relate to others, ourselves, and the world around us. Host Gabby and Vienna also talk about identifying triggers, which could be unresolved wounds trying to get our attention. And how we can shift our patterns and habits to create a new healthier path for ourselves.
For more on Vienna Pharaon: https://viennapharaon.com/
To follow Vienna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmft/
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: @mypossibleself

Ask The Expert: Tackling Health Anxiety with Cherelle Roberts

Health anxiety is a common condition, diagnosed in 4% to 5% of people. But experts believe that the disorder often goes undiagnosed and may affect more than 10% of the entire population. In this Ask The Expert episode host Gabby puts your questions to ex-health anxiety sufferer.. now relatable health anxiety therapist and social media influencer Cherelle Roberts. 
To follow Cherelle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cherellethinks/
To watch Cherelle's health anxiety videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cherellethinks6398
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: @mypossibleself
To email a question for our next expert: podcast@mypossibleself.com

My Story: The Harsh Reality of Chasing The Perfect Body with Victoria Niamh

This episode is dedicated to hearing the powerful story of the previous episode's guest. Victoria Niamh is a female confidence coach, mentor, social media Influencer and the Founder of ‘The Glow Up Project’ which aims to inspire women to understand that the real glow up is an inside job. Vic advocates for body confidence and breaking stigma around mental health and is passionate about empowering women to unconditionally own and love themselves.
Vic's passion for helping women stemmed from her own harrowing story battling anorexia nervosa, orthorexia and body dysmorphia as she pushed herself to dangerous degrees to obtain the 'perfect body'. First as a dancer and then as a bikini model. 
This conversation contains material of a sensitive and potentially distressing nature involving eating disorders that may be triggering for some individuals. This does not mean the material WILL be triggering; just that it MAY.
Please take care of yourself, and don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it.
To Learn More about The Glow Up Project : https://theglowupproject.co.uk/
To follow The Glow Up project on Instagram: @theglowupproject_
To follow Victoria Niamh on Instagram: @victorianiamh
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: @mypossibleself

Love, Mental Health & The Glow Up Project with Victoria Niamh

The role of love in mental health is significant. When people think of love, they usually think of the positive feelings associated with a deep connection. However, love can encompass more than just happiness and radiate in many different ways. We experience love when we interact with others and ourselves. Science shows that love involves multiple neurotransmitters and hormones that affect our physiology and mental health.
Loving and stable relationships can help improve a person's ability to manage stress and can help to decrease levels of anxiety and depression. But while love and mental health for the most part are positively related, researchers have found some correlation between love and mental illnesses (or mental health conditions) too. The most common being anxiety, depression, trauma and chronic stress. 
Victoria Niamh is a female confidence coach, mentor, social media Influencer and founder of ‘The Glow Up Project’ which aims to inspire women to understand that the real glow up is an inside job. Vic advocates for body confidence and breaking stigma around mental health, and is passionate about empowering women to unconditionally own and love themselves.
As this episode arrives during the week in which Valentines Day falls Vic, with host Gabby, look at some of the different reasons people's mental health suffers around Valentines Day; whilst discussing possible solutions to relieve these struggles. Vic also shares how the love and support from her partner Mike was a huge factor to her own self love and body healing journey. The Glow Up Project founder also explains the driving force behind helping women shine from the inside out, without changing anything externally, so they can find inner happiness and peace. 
To Learn More about The Glow Up Project : https://theglowupproject.co.uk/To follow The Glow Up project on Instagram: @theglowupproject_To follow Victoria Niamh on Instagram: @victorianiamhTo download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: @mypossibleself

Lost & Found: Reconnecting with Who You Are with Dr. Sara Kuburic

'What if I die before I have the chance to exist?'An existential crisis, or existential dread, can be described as persistent negative feelings and emotions linked to questioning the value of your life and how you are spending it. An existential crisis may result from intense feelings of despair as you consider questions like, "What is the point?” or “Why does any of this matter?” And these strong emotions can increase when your questions remain unanswerable. 
An existential crisis can happen to anyone, leading many to question their existence, identity and purpose in life. Experiencing an existential crisis may cause you to feel angry, helpless, lost, panicked and is usually accompanied by dread, anxiety, stress and depression; often to such a degree that they disturb your normal functioning in everyday life.
But it doesn’t have to be a bad thing or something to fear. Experiencing an existential crisis forces you to examine your life and consider “how can I show up in the world that means something to me?”
Dr. Sara Kuburic is an existential psychotherapist, speaker, essayist, columnist, consultant, influencer and author of ‘It's On Me. Accept hard truths, discover your self, and change your life’.
IT’S ON ME is a guide to identifying self-loss, and discovering the freedom that comes from taking responsibility for how we live. It offers an enlightening blueprint to find your own answers to the questions “who am I?” and “why am I here?” 
Known as the millennial therapist online (with over 1.7 million followers on Instagram), Dr. Sara believes that “in order to be who we truly are, we need to shelve who we are not.” Dr Sara talks about how her own existential crisis changed the trajectory of her entire life and put her on the path to a life of alignment, authenticity and purpose. Host Gabby and Dr. Sara also talk about the mental health ramifications of not living a life true to your beliefs and values… and how it’s so easy to get lost in the labels and expectations of family, friends, work and society, so you don’t even realise who you have become isn’t who you are supposed to be. 
Dr. Sara is a passionate advocate for being the leading character of your own life. She believes we need to stop pretending and choose the truth. To all who feel lost, it’s never too late to steer yourself home. 
For all things Dr. Sara Kuburic: https://www.sara-kuburic.com/To follow Dr. Sara Kuburic on Instagram: @millennial.therapistTo download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: @mypossibleself

Ask The Expert: Navigating and Managing Life's Stress with Dr Bernadette Dancy

Stress is a natural part of our lives. Bills, work, relationships, life events, health issues…
A little bit of stress is inevitable, and sometimes that’s a good thing. Stress helps you meet your daily challenges and motivates you to reach your goals, ultimately making you a smarter, happier and healthier person.
But on the flip side. They say stress is the number one killer for a reason. It’s a silent, slow poison which left unmanaged can have catastrophic effects on your physical and mental health. Stress becomes a problem when it starts to take over your life, therefore the key to stress management is identifying the bad stressors in your life and developing healthy ways to deal with them.
Today’s guest, Dr Bernadette Dancy, a stress management specialist, knows all the best ways to manage or combat her clients stress levels. We don’t just have to accept we live a hectic, super stressful life, and ‘that’s life’. Meditation, breathing or a warm bath might help, but it really only scratches the surface. Dr Bernadette uses mindset and lifestyle interventions that get to the root of the stress and in today’s Ask The Expert, she’s getting to the crux of yours.
For all things Dr Bernadette Dancy: https://www.bernadettedancy.co.uk
To follow Dr Bernadette on Instagram: @bernadettedancy_stresscoach
To learn more about Stress Ed: https://stress-ed.co.uk
To take the Stress Ed test: https://stress-ed.scoreapp.com
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: @mypossibleself
To email a question for our next expert: podcast@mypossibleself.com

Pour Decisions: Breaking Free from Unhealthy Habits and Drinking Patterns with Amanda E. White

Let’s get curious about our drinking habits! In this episode of The Happier Life Project we are looking at the role alcohol plays in our life; as a comforter, socializing tool, way to relax, blow off steam, or avoid uncomfortable emotions.
 
Guest Amanda E. White is a licensed therapist and the creator of the popular Instagram account @therapyforwomen Amanda also hosts the podcast “Recovered-ish” and is author of the book “Not Drinking Tonight” and its corresponding workbook.
Not Drinking Tonight isn’t a manuscript to help you stop drinking. Not Drinking Tonight is the first book to help you address the root issues that cause you to reach for a drink, while helping you unpack your relationship with alcohol.
 
Chatting to host Gabby Sanderson, Amanda discusses why you don’t need to hit rock bottom - or label yourself an alcoholic - to review your relationship with booze and make some positive changes to your drinking habits. Amanda also chats with Gabby about some of the most common reasons people turn to the bottle, and why it often tends to be more about the ritual leading up to taking that first sip, such as popping the cork when the girls come over, or kicking back after a long day and pouring yourself a glass, or switching on the match and opening a can, that is the most satisfying part.
 
Amanda also touches upon the effect alcohol plays on our mental health and addresses the myth that a glass of something a day is actually good for us (spoiler alert, research has since dispelled). Gabby and Amanda talk about the pros and cons of taking part in dry (or damp) January and Amanda explains how by removing alcohol, we have the opportunity to build a life we don’t want to escape from.
 
“Alcohol is the only drug on earth you have to justify NOT taking.” Annie Grace
 
Amanda is the founder of the group therapy practice, Therapy for Women Center, based in Philadelphia serving clients across the US. She has been featured in notable publications such as Forbes, Washington Post, Shape, Women’s Health Magazine, and more.
 
For all things Amanda E White visit: amandaewhite.com
To follow Amanda on Instagram: @therapyforwomen
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: @mypossibleself