Stress & Anxiety Recovery Podcast

We all have a moment when we want to give in, and cave to temptation. Whether it's reaching for food, sending the text, scrolling, avoiding something difficult, or falling back into an old pattern, that moment can feel impossible to resist and unbearable. But recovery isn't about never feeling discomfort. It's about learning the skill of staying with yourself through it.  In this ep...

Why does it feel so hard to stop eating, even if you understand what’s happening?  In this episode, I explore what’s really going on in those moments where overeating feels automatic or inevitable. This isn’t just about willpower or discipline. It’s about a shift in your nervous system, and how your body tries to regulate something underneath the surface.  I also share a personal example of how th...

Grief is often associated with sadness or bereavement. But it doesn’t always show up that way.  In this episode, I explore grief from a somatic perspective and how it lives in the nervous system, not just the mind. You might experience grief as exhaustion, heaviness, brain fog, or a loss of motivation, without realising that grief is what’s underneath.  We look at why grief can feel so physical, h...

Cravings aren’t weakness. They’re chemistry. In this episode, I explain what a craving actually is, how urges form through the brain’s reward system, and what genuinely weakens them over time. Not through force. Not through guilt. But through nervous system learning and awareness. This podcast explores emotional eating, stress addiction, unhealthy relationship patterns, and nervous system regulati...

In this episode, we explore dopamine, stress, cravings, the return of natural joy, and why recovery isn’t about willpower. Last time, we explored why insight on its own doesn’t create change. This time, we go deeper.  If you understand your pattern but still find yourself going back - to food, scrolling, overwork, alcohol, a person - this episode explains why.  Addiction and compulsion aren’t abou...

A lot of people feel they understand what’s going on for them… but are frustrated that still nothing actually changes. In this episode, I explore why insight on its own often isn’t enough, especially when the nervous system is already overwhelmed, shut down, or under strain.  January can intensify this pattern. Fatigue, illness, social pressure, comparison, grief, financial stress, and lack of lig...

It's normal for most of us to struggle with procrastination. But if you started a diet or exercise regime in the New Year and now struggle to keep it going, it might be because you didn't understand what was going on for you.  There are reasons for procrastination and it can be stopped! In ​today's podcast​, I'm going to show you how 'failing' can help you. We'll...

Christmas can bring up stress in ways that feel confusing and unexpected. Even when life feels stable, family time can activate old patterns, roles, and emotional responses that belong to much earlier chapters of our lives. In this Christmas episode, somatic psychotherapist Shelley Treacher explores why family stress often intensifies at Christmas, how the nervous system remembers familiar environ...

Feeling overwhelmed is not a sign of weakness or over-sensitivity. It’s your body trying to protect you.  In this episode, I guide you through three easy somatic exercises for overwhelm . Each one helps you regulate your nervous system and feel safe again. You’ll come home to your body and the support beneath you, so you can feel clearer and stronger. You can use this episode when:  • You feel ove...

Learn why early survival patterns repeat in love, and how to reconnect with your true self through somatic awareness. In this episode, Shelley Treacher explains how early survival patterns can quietly take over in relationships. Through the story of a woman who learned to find her voice after years of self-silencing, Shelley explores how somatic therapy helps us reconnect with our bodies, recognis...

Do you often feel anxious or overthink things? In this episode, I share 10 practical ways to cope with anxiety and calm your mind . These tips include ideas from therapy, neuroscience, and everyday life. You’ll learn how to:  Stop anxious thoughts from going in circles Calm your body with easy methods Be kinder to yourself to reduce the pressure of perfectionism Shift your focus from rumination to...

Do you ever catch yourself thinking, “I’m not good enough,” “I don’t belong,” or “I’m useless”? You’re not alone. These thoughts are part of being human. But they’re also tied to the nervous system, early experiences, and the culture we live in. In this episode, we talk about: Why it’s easy to feel bad about ourselves How feelings of shame can come from our past Simple ways to challenge your inner...

Grounding is one of the most powerful ways to calm the nervous system and feel safe in your body. In this short grounding exercise , I’ll guide you through a gentle somatic therapy practice to release tension, reduce anxiety, and find a stable sense of yourself.  This isn’t about doing things perfectly or following strict instructions. Sometimes being told what to do with your body can feel overwh...

Embodied healing for anxiety, emotional eating, and relationships. In this short episode, you'll learn what somatic therapy is, and be guided through a gentle practice so you can experience it for yourself. You’ll hear: How somatic therapy is different from other therapies Why the body is so important in healing How safety and regulation in the nervous system support recovery A quick exercise...

I explore the possibilities and limits of AI in therapy, drawing on my own experience from the inside. A grounded, honest look at what AI can, and can’t, offer for emotional healing. In today's episode: I take you behind the scenes of my own conversations with AI to see whether it can truly offer the depth, empathy, and connection we expect from therapy. We’ll look at its strengths, where it...

Feeling the pressure to be cheerful this Christmas? You’re not alone. In this episode, Shelley takes a heartfelt look at the unspoken challenges of the festive season.  Shelley offers practical tips on how to navigate the holiday stress, such as saying no without guilt, celebrating small wins, and focusing on genuine connections.  Shelley’s anecdotes about her uninvited feline visitor, Henry, add...

Depression can affect your life, but it doesn't have to define it. With understanding, and the right strategies, it is possible to find joy and fulfilment again. In today's episode: The top 3 causes of depression Can being rejected make you depressed? What happens in the body and brain in depression How to pull yourself out of depression Citations Some ideas here were inspired by a Nicab...

Shelley helps you to understand the causes of overthinking and how to relax your mind. This podcast explores signs of overthinking and offers strategies to deal with it. In this podcast: Becoming aware of overthinking Mental, physical and emotional symptoms of overthinking.  Breaking the belief that overthinking is productive. 3 ways that you can challenge overthinking; taking a practical approach...

Today's episode is a deeply personal exploration of pet loss and its emotional toll. Join me as we navigate the intricate layers of grief, eating for comfort, and finding ways to feel better after losing a pet. Let's embark on this heartfelt exploration together. Add your beloved pet to this post To receive my blog post about how I took back control of my eating, get your Comfort Eating...

Nurturing yourself through the pressures of Christmas. Part of the reason we eat so much at Christmas is that it's so easy to do it. Our whole culture makes it easy for us to do so. However, there are many traditions and habits associated with Christmas that can create pressure and obligations. One way to control your eating during Christmas is to politely decline food that you don't rea...

Welcome to the first of three Christmas podcasts, where I talk about the different feelings we have during the holiday season. Today, I focus on how it can be hard to deal with loss during Christmas. It can be tough if someone you love isn't there, if you had a difficult relationship, or if you just feel sad during this time of year. I want to support you and give you permission to feel your...

One of the biggest reasons people seek support from me is the fear of passing on their habits to their children.  According to statistics, children and young people are using food to cope with mental health issues, more than ever before. In this week's podcast, I talk about 5 ways you can help the young person in your care. Your next podcast: How do I Stop Self-Criticism? Citations Office for...

“Today I talk about the biggest mistakes I made when trying to stop comfort eating and lose weight. I now advise against being too hard on yourself and going on strict diet. “ Shelley says it's really important to be kind to yourself and have self-compassion when trying to recover. She also thinks it's helpful to pay attention to your senses while eating, and be aware of how you feel whe...

If you struggle with perfectionism, this episode offers practical insights and encouragement. In this episode, I share a personal story about perfectionism and how it shows up in everyday life, from social situations to personal challenges. I explore the roots of perfectionism, its links to anxiety, shame, and self-criticism, and how it can hold us back. You'll learn a simple three-step proce...

 Today I talk about money and how our thoughts about money affect us. I mention money problems from the past and ask questions to help you think about your own money beliefs and influences. I conclude that it's important to take care of yourself on the inside.  I also talk about overeating on holiday. Citations The Money Panel The Soul of Money 'Reclaiming the Wealth of Our Inner Resourc...