Thriving not Surviving

Keywords
Compassion fatigue, burnout, nursing, healthcare, emotional resilience, panic attacks, anxiety, mental health, self-compassion, emotional wellbeing, NHS, stress management, resilience training, healthcare leadership, horses, equine therapy, teaching, emotional safety, trauma, vicarious trauma, healthcare professionals, carers, first aid, compassion, wellbeing at work, EF Training, emotional health, thriving, personal growth.
Summary
What happens when the people who dedicate their lives to caring for others forget how to care for themselves?
In this deeply moving episode, Helen is joined by nurse, educator and CEO Jayne Ellis, whose life changed forever after suffering a devastating panic attack while working as a Diabetes Specialist Nurse in the NHS.
Jayne shares the unseen pressures of working in healthcare, the overwhelming guilt she felt after taking time off sick, and how years of chronic stress eventually led her to discover compassion fatigue—a condition affecting countless healthcare professionals, carers, emergency services and anyone working in emotionally demanding roles.
She explains how reconnecting with horses became an unexpected part of her healing journey before creating EF Training, an organisation now helping thousands of professionals understand emotional resilience, self-compassion and the importance of emotional health and safety.
This conversation is filled with powerful insights that apply not only to nurses and carers, but to anyone who spends their life supporting others. If you've ever felt exhausted, emotionally drained, guilty for resting or wondered why "being strong" isn't always enough, this episode is for you.
Key Takeaways
• Compassion fatigue is a real occupational hazard for anyone working in caring professions.
• Panic attacks and burnout rarely come "out of nowhere"—they are often the result of prolonged emotional overload.
• Looking after yourself is not selfish; it's essential if you want to continue helping others.
• Emotional health deserves the same attention as physical health in every workplace.
• We are more than our job titles—our identity should never be defined solely by our profession.
• Small daily resilience practices can have a profound long-term impact.
• Horses and nature can play an incredible role in emotional healing and nervous system regulation.
• Better leadership and workplace culture can dramatically reduce burnout and improve staff wellbeing.
• Understanding our stress responses helps us recognise the warning signs before reaching crisis point.
• Responsible selfishness allows us to keep showing up for the people who need us most.
Resources Mentioned
Book by Adam Kay – This Is Going to Hurt
Connect with Jayne
EF Training – Compassion Fatigue and Emotional Health Training - https://www.eftraining.co.uk
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/11075152/admin/dashboard/
Link to my podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2570870/episodes
Link to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@JayneEllisEFtraining
Connect with Helen
Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk
IG: helens_inspired_healing
FB: Inspired Healing
LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn
WhatsApp: +447971798462
For full transcription, contact: helen@inspiredhealing.co.uk
NB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions
🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios
🎨Cover art: Dave Champagne
For full transcription, contact: helen@inspiredhealing.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keywords
Near-death experience, coma survivor, pneumonia, resilience, women's health, menopause, post-menopause, osteoporosis, osteopenia, lifestyle medicine, holistic health, midlife wellness, grief, healing, infertility, IVF, sobriety, women's circles, meditation, biohacking, health coaching, wellbeing, personal growth, thriving after trauma, Thriving Not Surviving Podcast.
Summary
At just 27 years old, Lisa Daly's life changed forever.
After developing severe pneumonia, she was placed into an induced coma and found herself fighting for her life in intensive care. During that time, Lisa experienced what she describes as a peaceful near-death experience—one that completely transformed her relationship with life and death.
Waking up was only the beginning. Lisa had to rebuild her health, her confidence and, ultimately, her future. Along the way she faced infertility, IVF, grief, menopause, osteoporosis and many other challenges, yet each became another stepping stone towards discovering her purpose.
Today, Lisa is passionate about helping women embrace midlife with confidence, improve their health naturally and realise that this stage of life isn't about slowing down—it's about thriving.
In this inspiring conversation, Helen and Lisa explore near-death experiences, grief, sobriety, menopause, lifestyle medicine, community, resilience and the extraordinary strength we often discover during life's most difficult moments.
This episode is a powerful reminder that our greatest challenges don't have to define us—they can become the very foundation of the life we're meant to live.
Key Takeaways
• Even life's darkest moments can become the catalyst for extraordinary transformation.
• Near-death experiences can profoundly change our perspective on life and remove the fear of death.
• Grief cannot be rushed—it needs compassion, space and time to heal.
• Lifestyle medicine and small daily choices can have a remarkable impact on long-term health.
• Community, connection and supportive relationships are essential for wellbeing.
• Midlife is an opportunity for reinvention, growth and renewed purpose.
• It's never too late to take control of your health and create a life you truly love.
• Thriving isn't about avoiding adversity—it's about discovering the strength that adversity can awaken.
Resources Mentioned
Meditation App: www.headspace.com
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Wild Power: Discover the Magic of Your Menstrual Cycle and Awaken the Feminine Path to Power by Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer
Wise Power: Discover the Liberating Power of Menopause to Awaken Authority, Purpose and Belonging by Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer
Connect with Lisa
IG : holistic_health_by_lisa
FB: Lisa Daly
Website : Lisa-Daly.com
Connect with Helen
Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk
IG: helens_inspired_healing
FB: Inspired Healing
LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn
WhatsApp: +447971798462
NB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions
🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios
🎨Cover art: Dave Champagne
For full transcription, contact: helen@inspiredhealing.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keywords
thriving, self-discovery, embodiment, sexuality, women's empowerment, self-trust, personal growth, healing, intimacy, relationships, somatic healing, pleasure, emotional wellbeing, awakening, midlife transformation, feminine wisdom, consent, self-love, authenticity, resilience
Summary
In this deeply honest and thought-provoking conversation, Helen speaks with Lorna Gale, Story Unweaver, Sex & Spirit Alchemist and Somatic Sexologist.
Lorna shares her remarkable journey from a 30-year marriage in which she felt emotionally and sexually disconnected, to a profound midlife awakening that transformed her relationship with herself, her body and her sense of purpose.
Together they explore the importance of asking the powerful question, "Who am I?", and discuss how many of us lose ourselves through conditioning, people-pleasing and living according to other people's expectations.
Lorna speaks candidly about shame, sexuality, self-trust and the healing that became possible when she learned to reconnect with her body and listen to its wisdom. She introduces her concepts of "Movies, Mirrors and Merry-Go-Rounds" as ways of understanding our life experiences and the stories we tell ourselves.
The conversation moves far beyond sexuality into the realms of self-worth, embodiment, emotional healing and learning to honour our own truth. Helen and Lorna also discuss the importance of self-touch, personal practice, consent and reconnecting with the simple pleasure of being fully present in our own bodies.
This is a powerful episode about courage, authenticity and discovering that thriving begins when we stop abandoning ourselves and start listening to the wisdom within.
Takeaways
• Asking "Who am I?" can be the beginning of profound personal transformation.
• We often lose connection with ourselves when we prioritise other people's needs above our own.
• The body holds immense wisdom when we learn to slow down and listen.
• Shame thrives in silence but loses its power when brought into the light.
• Self-trust is built by learning to honour our feelings, instincts and inner knowing.
• We do not need to make something wrong or bad in order to choose a different path.
• Difficult experiences can become catalysts for growth, healing and awakening.
• Embodiment practices help us reconnect with ourselves and deepen our capacity for joy and pleasure.
• True thriving comes from living in alignment with our authentic selves.
• Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is choose ourselves.
Resources Mentioned
People & Teachers
Betty Dodson
Brené Brown
Marianne Williamson
Gina Croson
Books & Resources
My Stroke of Insight – Jill Bolte Taylor
Connect with Lorna
Reclaiming Eden - Private FB Group for Women https://www.facebook.com/groups/iamreclaimingeden
Trusted Bodywork - Client Testimonials and a “Menu” of offerings https://www.trustedbodywork.com/profiles/lorna-gale
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lorna.gale.108
Orgasmic Wellness - https://orgasmicwellness.com/members/lornalornagale-com/profile/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorna-gale-b-ed-sse-csb-b52bb75/
Connect with Helen
Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk
IG: helens_inspired_healing
FB: Inspired Healing
LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn
WhatsApp: +447971798462
NB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions
🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios
🎨Cover art: Dave Champagne
For full transcription, contact: helen@inspiredhealing.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keywords
Family constellations, generational trauma, ancestral healing, shame, guilt, forgiveness, healing, relationships, emotional wellbeing, trauma recovery, personal growth, self-worth, survivors, thriving, family systems, spirituality, empowerment, healing modalities, emotional healing, thriving
Summary
In this powerful and deeply thought-provoking episode, Helen welcomes Liz Sleeper to the podcast for a heartfelt conversation about survival, healing and the transformational power of Family Constellation work.
Liz shares her journey through difficult relationships, overwhelm, parenting challenges and emotional exhaustion, explaining how discovering constellations completely changed the way she viewed herself, her family and the people around her. Together, Helen and Liz explore how inherited trauma, shame and emotional burdens can travel through generations — often without us even realising.
The conversation dives into themes of forgiveness, people pleasing, the patriarchy, belonging, emotional responsibility and how unresolved family dynamics can shape our lives, finances, relationships and sense of self-worth. Helen also shares deeply personal reflections about her own healing journey and how constellation work helped her understand her parents with greater compassion while reclaiming her own innocence and sovereignty.
Liz beautifully explains how constellations help people “give back” emotional burdens that were never theirs to carry and how this work can move people from victimhood to survival and ultimately into thriving.
This episode is raw, honest, emotional and full of wisdom, offering listeners a fascinating insight into a healing modality that is difficult to explain but incredibly powerful to experience.
Takeaways
Family Constellation work can reveal hidden generational patterns and inherited emotional burdens
Shame is one of the most contracting emotions and often keeps people stuck in survival mode
Healing is not about condoning harmful behaviour but understanding where it came from
Many emotional reactions and beliefs may originate from unresolved ancestral trauma
Forgiveness can become easier when we understand the deeper roots behind people’s behaviour
We can learn to return responsibility and guilt back to where it belongs instead of carrying it ourselves
Representation within constellations can be profoundly healing, even when it is not your own issue being explored
Moving from victim to survivor to thriver is often a gradual but empowering process
People who trigger us can reveal wounds that still need healing
Self-awareness and healing work help us develop healthier boundaries, self-respect and compassion for ourselves and others
Healing ourselves positively impacts future generations as well as those who came before us
Thriving is not about perfection — it is about having tools, support and hope during difficult times
Resources
Bert Hellinger "Love's Hidden Symmetry"
John Payne: The healing of individuals, families & nations"
Ben Cole Ep 46 - Healing through Story & Film
Connect with Liz
WhatsApp: +44 7786 518736
Website: www.sussexconstellations.xo.uk
Events Booking Page: Buy tickets – Liz Sleeper Constellations
FB: (20+) Facebook Liz Sleeper Constellations
IG: Lizsleeperconstellations
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-sleeper-bb0a7b4/
Connect with Helen
Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk
IG: helens_inspired_healing
FB: Inspired Healing
LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn
WhatsApp: +447971798462
For full transcription, contact: helen@inspiredhealing.co.uk
NB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions
🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios
🎨Cover art: Dave Champagne
For full transcription, contact: helen@inspiredhealing.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keywords
Thriving, near death experience, NDE, spiritual awakening, trauma healing, family constellations, Bert Hellinger, life between lives, Michael Newton, soul purpose, soul contracts, signs from spirit, grief, reconciliation, transgenerational trauma, somatic healing, past life regression, consciousness, spirituality, healing journey, survival mode, thriving, forgiveness, ancestral healing, intuition, mediumship, soulmates, karmic healing, resilience, post traumatic growth
Summary
In this deeply moving episode, Helen is joined by Sophia Kramer, whose life has been shaped by five near-death experiences, childhood trauma, grief and profound spiritual awakening.
Sophia shares her first near-death experience at the age of five after contracting typhoid fever, describing leaving her body, encountering angelic beings and connecting with guides who would remain part of her life journey. Returning to everyday life left her feeling different from those around her and searching for deeper meaning and understanding.
Together, Helen and Sophia explore the challenges of growing up with emotional neglect, addiction within the family, violence, abuse and loss, alongside the healing work that helped Sophia transform her life. They discuss therapy, somatic healing, family constellations, hypnotherapy and life between lives regression, and how each contributed to her journey from surviving to thriving.
The conversation also explores ancestral patterns, soul purpose, signs from loved ones after death, intuition, forgiveness, reconciliation and the possibility that even our most painful experiences may hold deeper meaning.
This is a powerful, vulnerable and inspiring conversation about healing, consciousness, resilience, love and learning to trust life, even through its darkest moments.
Takeaways
• Near-death experiences can transform our understanding of life, death and consciousness.
• Healing often involves emotional, physical, ancestral and spiritual layers.
• Family constellations can reveal hidden generational patterns and entanglements.
• Healing ourselves can positively influence future generations.
• Signs from loved ones can appear in many unexpected ways.
• Spiritual experiences do not require external validation.
• Soul purpose often emerges through life's greatest challenges.
• Thriving is about having tools, support, hope and connection.
• Authentic relationships support healing and personal growth.
• Life's difficulties can become catalysts for growth and transformation.
Resources & Links Mentioned
People & Modalities
· Bert Hellinger — Founder of Family Constellations work
· Michael Newton — Creator of Life Between Lives regression methodology
· Brian Weiss — Past life regression pioneer
· Peter Levine — Somatic trauma healing
· Ilana Rubenfeld — Body-centred psychotherapy
· Gabor Maté, Richard Schwartz, Thomas Hübl, Raymond Moody, Bruce Greyson, Pim van Lommel
Books Mentioned
· The Forever Angels by P. M. H. Atwater
· Child of Eternity
Previous Podcast Episodes Mentioned
· Episode 55 — Paul’s Story (struck by lightning)
· Episode 63 — Janna’s Story
· Episode 67 — George’s Story
Connect with Sophia
Website : www.sophiakramer.com
Personal email: sophiakny@aol.com
IG: sophilie13
FB: Sophia Kramer
Connect with Helen
Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk
IG: helens_inspired_healing
FB: Inspired Healing
LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn
WhatsApp: +447971798462
For full transcription, contact: helen@inspiredhealing.co.uk
NB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions
🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios
🎨Cover art: Dave Champagne
For full transcription, contact: helen@inspiredhealing.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.