This short video explains how to use an online PDF document editor that can be used by children and adults. I thought I would share this as it can reduce the amount of printing time (and costs!) for parents home schooling during the coronavirus lockdown.

Not just single mums, but for those mums everywhere in difficult circumstances, however caused, a message that you are not alone. Anxiety disorder, panic disorder, often overlapped with other conditions, too often trauma related, can be aggravated by hormonal changes or by new pressures and challenges. These can even generate anxiety and panic, among others, that you previously had not experienced.

Stay strong, believe in you.

For tips on staying well see my Ayurveda Guidance blog from my registered Ayurveda nutritional consultant practice. Advice can be given on general health including anxiety, depression, emotional and general wellbeing. See the Ayurveda - Natural Home Remedies page for more on this.

Thank you to everyone who cam along to what was to be the first and last "Understanding Dissociation & Trauma" CPD event of 2020 - for a while at least.

Here is some feedback received, overall graded "excellent". If you attended this session and would like to make any further comment, you are welcome to share this in the comments section below.

"Very informative - learnt about behaviour - brain responses. I will be able to apply to my practice".

"Reminder of a lot of things I knew plus a lot of new things which I will be able to use to develop our service response to children in schools. Very impressive".

"I feel I have developed my udnerstanding of dissociation and how to work with a person who has experienced trauma. Really liked the practical ideas bit looking at grounding techniques."

"Informative lived experience of dissociation and trauma with useful tips such as grounding techniques."

"I benefitted very much. Very informative compared to the time we have. Very honest and inspiring."

"Review of previous training. New info about NLP. Further reading - Linda Graham & Dan Siegel. Hearing Julie Anne's account was most helpful."

"I feel this has helped fill in gaps in my knowledge and the survivor experiences were very informative. I am grateful for the references because I want to learn more and look at research into dissociation."

"It was very informative. Julie-Anne is clearly very knowledgeable and it was good to hear personal experiences.

"Great insight into thought processes. Actions and reactions. Looking at triggers and the whole picture not just how a person presents at that particular time."

"Gave me useful insight and tools to use in my practice."

I will try and post some resources for adults and children, both of whom need to be mindful of their overall wellbeing at this time. Life seems to be turned upside down and over the last few days we have been doing all we can to get into a whole new routine, or way of life, one could say.

Here is a resource a client forwarded to me giving ideas for all with links to sites and organisations as well as SEN and autism specific links. Hopefully these will come in useful to someone.

I now have a wellbeing page and blog on this site offering advice on staying healthy using natural home remedies and promote natural wellbeing, something we need to be physically and mentally "up for it" right now! The main page is Natural Home Remedies - Ayurveda and the tips and advice page is A

Comment below was received from this weekend session held with some volunteers from York Mind. I much appreciated Darrin's (lead counsellor) having organised this and the invitation. Also, the commitment of the volunteer counsellor's who not only gave up part of their weekend to attend but dedicate their time to helping many others over the course of each week.

"This event opened my mind to many things I hadn't thought of before. It was a very information intensive course. Thank you for such honest and brave sharing of your personal experience"

In January 2020 I was awarded the Diploma in Ayurveda with Distinction. Ayurveda was born from the enlightenment of ancient Indian sage physicians who developed in-depth knowledge of the environment and, along with that, since all living things developed from that environment, in-depth knowledge of what it is to be human.

This understanding of nature and its direct impact on the human body and mind became a lifestyle that follows the flows of the natural environment and seeks to prevent ill-being. 

By relating the natural human system to the laws of nature, balance is ensured throughout the bodily systems. Where there is internal imbalance in any one area, ill-being can occur impacting on other areas of the body and mind. Ayurveda therefore considers the interconnectedness of the mental and physical (and spiritual) to ensure ill-being is avoided and health (equated to happiness) is maintained.

During this course of study I have adopted this lifestyle and dietary knowledge, and employed the natural remedies, in my everyday life and overcome or reduced many adverse trauma responses such as anxiety or panic attacks. Not only this, but the use of natural resources has resulted in minimal consumption of pharmaceutical products to treat common ailments, which has translated into an overall feeling of improved health.
Of many benefits which will be imparted during workshops or to those who enquire, adopting these practices is neither complicated nor costly. For instance, the natural remedies I refer to above are not rare items to be purchased from specialist vendors but herbs and spices, available from even "budget" supermarkets during the regular shop. This doesn't mean additional spending every week either as dried/powdered spices, for example, will last a considerably long time in your cupboard.

I am eager to share my experiences and knowledge in this field and events will be open to everyone with a genuine interest and open mind.

For instance, did you know that something as simple as getting out of bed perhaps half an hour earlier in the morning can improve your alertness and avoid that afternoon slump many of us have experienced? Think of the improved productivity! It can even reduce or prevent depression. Or that certain common foods should never be combined as they create toxins in the body which can aggravate and unbalance our system? Just because two things are healthy individually does not mean they are doubly healthy when consumed together!

With Ayurveda we learn to trust ourselves, our own instincts and internal voice over the media advertisments that tell us the latest time-saving packaged product is what we need to be whatever it is we want to be. Does a one-size-fits-all product really exist to meet all our unique needs?

More to come. In the meantime, I am happy to answer any queries. Contact me here.

Note, however, I am not a medical practitioner nor must any recommendations received be taken as a substitute for seeking professional clinical advice or prescriptions. The skills and techniques practiced work on the basis that essentially prevention is better than cure and therefore healthy choices to improve or maintain good health, suited to our individual constitution is beneficial and possible.