Hurt to Healing

On today’s Healing 101 episode, I’m joined by doctor, mental health advocate, and bestselling author Dr Alex George for a conversation about what it really means to be “normal.”Together, we explore why normality is often a misleading lens for understanding ourselves, the difference between impulsivity and compulsivity, and the many hidden ways OCD can show up beyond the stereotypes. Alex shares personal reflections from his own experience, alongside compassionate insights on intrusive thoughts, rumination, and learning to gently redirect attention.This episode is a powerful reminder that our quirks, sensitivities, and differences are not flaws to fix, but parts of ourselves to understand - and sometimes even our greatest strengths.Thank you to INGENIOUS for sponsoring this episode. INGENIOUS is on a mission to be the voice of truth in the collagen world. Their approach is simple: clinically tested formulas, ingredient transparency, and science-backed results you can trust. They’re offering listeners 20% off with the code HEALING20 at https://ingeniouslife.com/Find Alex:Website: https://www.dralexgeorge.co.uk/Instagram: @dralexgeorgeBuy His New Book "Am I Normal?": https://amzn.eu/d/aoEqbLDListen to Stompcast: https://www.dralexgeorge.co.uk/podcast

Today I’m joined by Dr Marc Berman, a leading researcher on how nature impacts the brain, attention, and mental health.Marc explains the difference between directed (voluntary) attention and involuntary attention, why so many of us feel depleted by modern life, and why time in nature can genuinely restore focus - even if you don’t “feel like it.” We talk depression, anxiety and ADHD-like symptoms, the surprising links between green space and behaviour (including stress and aggression), plus practical ways to get your “dose” of nature and even bring some of its benefits indoors.Thank you to INGENIOUS for sponsoring this episode. INGENIOUS is on a mission to be the voice of truth in the collagen world. Their approach is simple: clinically tested formulas, ingredient transparency, and science-backed results you can trust. They’re offering listeners 20% off with the code HEALING20 at https://ingeniouslife.com/Find Marc:https://psychology.uchicago.edu/directory/marc-g-bermanBuy Marc's book: https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/305368/marc-berman

On today's Healing 101, I’m joined by broadcaster, author, and psychology expert Claudia Hammond, whose latest book, Overwhelmed, explores why so many of us feel like life has simply become too much.In this episode, we unpack what overwhelm actually is, when stress shifts from helpful to harmful, and the subtle signs that your mind and body may be under strain. Claudia shares practical, research-backed tools for managing information overload, protecting your attention, and building small daily habits that guard against burnout.We also explore simple ways to reset your nervous system — including breathing techniques and cultivating moments of awe — and why feeling better is often less about doing more, and more about choosing more wisely.Thank you to INGENIOUS for sponsoring this episode. INGENIOUS is on a mission to be the voice of truth in the collagen world. Their approach is simple: clinically tested formulas, ingredient transparency, and science-backed results you can trust. They’re offering listeners 20% off with the code HEALING20 at https://ingeniouslife.com/Find Claudia:Website: https://claudiahammond.com/Buy her new book 'Overwhelmed': https://amzn.eu/d/b9YY7DX

In this episode, I’m joined by Will Dobud, therapist, researcher, and author of Kids These Days, to explore why so many young people are struggling - and why more intervention doesn’t always mean better outcomes. We talk about his outdoor, solution-focused approach, the unintended harm of over-diagnosis and over-medicalisation, and why engagement, connection and doing more of what already works often matter more than labels or techniques. This conversation is grounding, challenging, and surprisingly hopeful with takeaways that apply just as much to adults as they do to kids.Read Kids These Days: https://www.kidsthesedaysbook.com/

Today we’re talking about something that so many people silently live with: high-functioning anxiety - that feeling of looking like you’ve got it all together on the outside, while inside you’re paddling furiously just to keep afloat. I’m joined by Dr Lalitaa Suglani, psychologist and author, and we unpack why “high functioning” isn’t the same as “fine” - and how perfectionism, people-pleasing and constant doing can be a way of keeping ourselves safe, even when it’s slowly burning us out.In this conversation, Lalitaa shares the signs to look out for, how high-functioning anxiety differs from generalised anxiety, OCD and even overlaps with sensitivity and ADHD, and why so much of it comes back to self-worth, shame, and nervous system regulation. We also get into rejection sensitivity, attachment styles, and what healing actually looks like - not a sudden switch-off, but learning to come back to yourself with intention, boundaries, and self-trust.Find Lalitaa:Website: https://drlalitaa.com/Instagram: @dr.lalitaaOrder Her Book: https://drlalitaa.com/lalitaa/highfunctioninganxiety

In today’s HEALING 101 episode, I’m joined by Jamie White, a life coach and business mentor who works closely with entrepreneurs navigating stress, burnout, and the hidden emotional costs of success.Jamie shares his own journey from early entrepreneurial success into severe burnout, and how chasing achievement to fill an internal void eventually caught up with him. We talk about why business and personal wellbeing are inseparable, the loneliness so many founders experience, and how slowing down, taking responsibility, and rebuilding self-worth from the inside out can radically change both life and work.Find Jamie:Instagram: @jamiewhiteWebsite: https://jamiewhite.com/

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Jan Gerber, founder of Paracelsus Recovery in Zurich, for a deeply honest conversation about burnout, depression, and what those experiences can really feel like when they hit, often suddenly and without warning.Jan shares his own recent journey through depression, how it showed up for him, and what helped him begin to recover. We also explore Paracelsus Recovery’s highly personalised approach to mental health, why there’s rarely a single “fix,” and how healing is often more like building a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle - slowly, patiently, and differently for everyone.Find Jan:Website: https://jangerber.com/Instagram: @gerber_jan

In today’s Healing 101 episode, I’m joined by Julia Bradbury for a deeply grounding conversation about what mental wellbeing really means - beyond diagnoses, labels, or the absence of anxiety and depression.We talk about balance, self-awareness, and why understanding your triggers, values and support network is just as important as managing symptoms. Julia shares powerful reflections on connection, nature, preventative health, and the mind–body link, alongside gentle, realistic ways to care for your mental and emotional health before you reach breaking point. This episode is calm, compassionate, and a reminder that wellbeing isn’t about perfection - it’s about learning how to look after yourself, consistently and kindly.Find Julia:Instagram: @juliabradburyWebsite: https://juliabradbury.com/Hack Yourself Healthy Book: https://amzn.eu/d/3yZMlBo