Written by: Jessie RM Pandya, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. As I write this article the season has changed, winter is coming and the clocks have gone back an hour here in the UK. I’m listening to one of my favourite songs written by the famous American singer/songwriter Sam Cooke called “A Change Is Gonna Come”. The chorus of the song states “It's been a long A long time coming, but I know A change gon' come, Oh yes, it will”. Some changes are inevitable during our lifetimes. However, when we think about change or hear the word change, we feel something emotionally and are often triggered into a state of panic. Neuroscience teaches us that we are hardwired to resist change because change represents uncertainty. The part of the brain that’s called the amygdala interprets uncertainty and change as a threat. During moments of threat it releases the hormones associated with fear, fight or flight as a way of preparing us and protecting us from uncertainty and change. The brain’s primary job is to keep us safe and alive. It perceives uncertainty and change as a life or death situation and works at protecting against it. Research shows that change creates a painful experience in the brain, much like breaking a bone or being punched. This is why so many of us would rather avoid change at all costs. Further studies have shown that any significant change, even one we welcome, triggers high levels of stress within our bodies. However, it is often change that brings clients to seek therapy. These changes can include relocation, starting a new job, starting or ending a relationship, dealing with the loss of a loved one, being diagnosed with or dealing with a life limiting illness, or beginning a new phase of life in some form. I will share how an unexpected change occurred in my own life, how it created an upheaval in both my personal and professional life, and led me to seek help from my own therapist. Five months ago, I experienced an abrupt ending within a business coaching relationship. My one-to-one coach, who was assigned to me for twelve months, within a coaching container that I’d invested a significant amount of money in, suddenly announced that, “due to personal reasons” she would be terminating the coaching relationship and leaving. As you can imagine, this came as a huge shock and it had a detrimental impact on me, making it difficult for me to stay focused, grounded and present, especially when it came to working on my business. As humans we’ve evolved a fight or flight response, and change often triggers a stress response in our bodies. We will typically experience one of four physical reactions: fight, flight, freeze or fawn. Least well known is the fawn response. It is, a trauma response where one tries to please and appease others whilst abandoning one’s own boundaries and needs. It is important to remember that these responses are survival responses and, therefore quick and automatic. These are pre-cognition and cannot be halted by trying to think one’s way into behaving differently. Even though I was informed that I would be provided with a new one-to-one coach, reassured that she was highly skilled and I would be able to continue to work on my business goals with her, I still couldn’t think or rationalise my way out of feeling ‘stuck’. So, as an integrative somatic trauma therapist I sought the help of my own therapist to support me in creating a different somatic narrative to the ‘stuck’ place I found myself in. I worked with my therapist on the survival responses, emotionally and physiologically, allowing them to cycle their way out of my body. With the fight response I felt stressed, angry, irritated, frightened, and hurt; physiologically I felt my heart racing as the primitive instinct to attack kicked in. I attended to the fight response by voicing my dissatisfaction in an email to the lead coach and to my new coach. When my numerous requests for a partial refund were denied, I cried, punched pillows, shook and danced. The flight response kicked in emotionally, I felt anxious and worried. I avoided coaching calls, over-thought, asked to leave on numerous occasions and felt a sense of numbness setting in. I sat with the flight response by taking deep breaths, using some grounding techniques and taking power walks. The freeze response showed up emotionally as I felt withdrawn, devastated, empty, shut down and lacking in motivation; physiologically I felt a lack of connection and immobilisation within my body. I tended to the freeze response by taking deep breaths, consciously checking in with my body, shaking my body and dancing. The fawn response manifested emotionally with feelings of apathy and overwhelm. Physiologically, I struggled to connect with myself and my own needs. I addressed the fawn response by shaking my body, checking in with and sharing my feelings and needs with my new coach and creating boundaries to further look after myself. This unwelcome change, like all changes, provided an opportunity for me to bring the survival responses into an embodied awareness. By allowing them to cycle through my body, I created space to grieve the loss of my coach, be open to the present and focus on what is important for me and my business. I felt empowered to celebrate the gift of a blessed, beautiful and transformative coaching relationship with my previous coach, one I will be forever grateful for and to be reassured by Sam Cooke’s words, “It’s been a long, long time coming but I know a change is gonna come”. Visit my website for more info! Read more from Jessie! Jessie RM Pandya, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jessie RM Pandya, is a U.K. registered Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapist & Coach (MBACP), with over 25 years of experience in the Health, Wellness & Lifestyle industry. Jessie is a dedicated Trauma specialist, with a background in Nursing and Coaching. She is passionate about helping clients to address the root causes of Anxiety, Depression, Burn out, P.T.S.D, and Stress, which might be the result of a past or current traumatic event. Jessie has helped many clients to break free from the Trauma cycle and live to their fullest potential, without years of therapy. Jessie has undertaken further intensive Somatic Trauma Therapy training with world renowned author and trainer in the field of trauma Babette Rothschild. Jessie is passionate about transforming lives, through healing Trauma.

Written by: Aisha Saintiche, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. You have ever been driving and your mind wanders, but then you need to quickly get back into focus because you’re about 7 seconds from hitting the car ahead of you – and so you slam on your breaks hearing the screeching sound of your tires gripping the road to stop. I feel like that is the visual to the feeling some may be having as they read the title of this month’s article! Welp, buckle up cause I’m about to add a bit of oil to the road so things may get a bit slippery! Like many people my age (I am 43 years young now), I got my first job at 16. I will never forget the excitement I felt to tell my parents that I landed my first job at Smart Set. I mean who wouldn’t be happy. First job in a clothing store at the age of 16 years old – like hello. Sure, the minimum wage was $6.25/hour which meant I needed to work at least 5 hours to afford one top, but I didn’t care. I was going to show up to work happy and excited to do my job every single shift. Now I’m not going to toot my horn (ok maybe I will a little) but I was a great employee with a solid work ethic. I always showed up on time, didn’t go past my allotted break times, assisted where I was needed, went the extra mile to help my colleagues and customers never stole (I’m also the child of West Indian parents, so no shirt or pant or fake earring was worth their punishment and disappointment), and the list goes on. Honestly, I would hire me too. That type of work ethic, if I can be honest, has stayed with me throughout my life and it remains something I pride myself in ‒ but the motivation for doing so has completely altered. You see, when we enter the workforce, we are given a bit of a template on what it means to be a good worker. Being on time, a team player, supportive, adaptable and all the other core competencies in the HR handbook of ‘what a good employee looks like’ is a narrative we have been fed for a long time. Now I do not dispute these important characteristics as they are important and foundational for a well-functioning workplace (in all aspects) but is our individual goal or focus to be on how we show up to work every day, or rather how we show up for ourselves (which by proxy impacts how we show up to work). Let’s discuss this further shall we. Every single day, millions of people get up and go to work. Whether you go into an office, building, hospital, agency, home office, you are going to work somewhere. Whatever your job, there is an expectation that you will provide or deliver on the identified outcomes as outlined by your job description. Simple. Because we are responsible beings, whether we love or loathe our job, most of us at a minimum will show up to work and do what we are required to do. But what does that mean from a personal perspective? How does that show up in your work or your interactions with colleagues, staff and/or clients? Are you connected to the work you’re doing or just outputting the minimum requirement so that you don’t get called into HR? Let me be clear. There is nothing wrong with just showing up to work, doing what you need to do and clocking out. But considering the hours we spend outputting OUR energy in the name of an organization or business's bottom line, redefining your energy output is an important discussion to be had. You see to show up to work (and this is only my opinion) means that the entire 7, 8, 9, 12 or 16 hours you spend at work (and yes there are many individuals in various professions who work such hours) is to meet the demands of whatever you are paid to do. Are you overly committed to the end game of a project? Perhaps. Do you care if anyone is better off? Minimally. If the business, program or service doesn’t meet their target, are you concerned? Most likely not. I mean let’s be real here. When we show up to work…in most cases, and as I said before, we’re just trying not to get called into HR. So, what does show up for myself look like? Showing up for myself means that I seek out opportunities to sharpen skills that I can see will be useful in the future. Showing up for myself, permits me to engage in dialogue openly and authentically with others ‒ no matter the position – because their perception/assumption of me doesn’t impact the view of myself. Showing up for myself means that I will create my own table if I recognize that I am not welcome at other tables. Showing up for myself means that I will ONLY use my valuable energy on people, places and things that enhance my development, support my purpose and are in alignment with my goals. Do you see the difference? Sure, I clock into work every day and get through my list of responsibilities and tasks that I am paid to… but the truth is my goal every single day is to elevate personally and professionally so that the next day I show, I got people asking what a girl ate for breakfast…lol. Listen, if you’ve been following me or reading my articles or had a chance to read my book…there is a recurring theme that is the basis of how I coach and how I live. To give unto yourself…to pour energy into your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being…to see yourself as the catalyst of all greatness experienced in your life… to take up space (free of guilt and without permission) and to live unapologetically is to show up for yourself. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Aisha! Aisha Saintiche, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazin Aisha Saintiche is a certified Health Coach and the founder and owner of MetoMoi Health. With over fifteen years of experience in Mental Health, Accessibility and Diversity and Inclusion, Aisha has used her experience as a strategic advisor and health coach to understand the complexity and intersectionality of the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual barriers that keep people from achieving their optimized health and wellness. Aisha also holds a Masters in Public Policy Administration and Law, as well as a certification in Change Management, Advanced Crisis Intervention and Counselling and Health Coaching. She is also an Integral Master for the Canadian Olympic Committee of Canada, and most recently she became a Published Author. Always seeking opportunities to bring about change, she is also an active member and Board of Director for the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto (WomanACT) and the Board Chair for Afiwi Groove School. https://linktr.ee/Metomoi

Written by: Sibora Halili, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Executive Coaching Sydney helps leaders and managers succeed in all areas of their lives by combining powerful Transformative Coaching with relaxing Hypnosis. What is an Executive Coach? Executive coaches work with clients one-on-one to help them improve their professional performance in management positions. Leadership skills are crucial for success in any business role, and that's where executive coaches come in. They will: discuss strengths and work on developing new skills, get a better understanding of behavior/patterns, create action plans for success, and finally, take the steps necessary to reach pre-determined goals. Executive coaches help leaders achieve their goals through tools such as: one-on-one conversations goal setting feedback sessions problem-solving assessments, and more. Why hire an Executive Coach? If you're feeling any of the following, an Executive Coach could help: The pressure to succeed Making decisions quickly Difficulty managing anger Anxiety due to high expectations Achieving a healthy work-life balance How does Executive Coaching Sydney with Natalia differ from other Executive Coaches in Australia? Natalia Yusenis is an Executive Coach in Sydney who helps those with high-pressure jobs to overcome challenges. She understands what it's like firsthand, as she held a leadership position in Marketing before working in Mental Health. Natalia is different because she addresses all aspects of your life - not just one issue ‒ to help you improve your overall mindset. Natalia is a Transformational Coach and a qualified Clinical Hypnotherapist. She uses Hypnosis to help you reach the power of your subconscious. Do you know that voice inside your head? The one that tells you what to do or how to feel? That's your subconscious mind. And it can be a powerful ally in achieving success ‒ if you know how to access it. Hypnosis is one way to do just that and alleviate various issues, including: Breaking negative thinking cycles Freeing yourself from limiting beliefs Overcoming self-doubt and fear of failure Improving sleep quality Managing chronic pain Living with purpose and meaning Achieving a relaxed state of mind How does Clinical Hypnotherapy work? Clinical Hypnotherapy employs Hypnosis as a way to help patients. In the state of relaxation known as Hypnosis, people are more likely to accept suggestions from the therapist. With time, these therapeutic suggestions can help change negative thinking patterns and problem behaviors. Hypnosis is considered a safe and effective way to help people move forward. Hypnotherapy for Relaxation and Stress Relief High-performers are under much stress, so it's essential to find a healthy balance and take time for self-care. Our physical health issues are often directly tied to our mental state. Though we might relax our bodies with activities like warm baths, reading, or working out, these things don't necessarily lead to the relaxation of the mind. With Hypnosis, though, we can enter into a state of deep relaxation, guided away from everyday troubles and concerns. The experience is deliberating and provides relief from symptoms related to stress. Hypnotherapy for Anger Management Anger is a normal emotion, but it can become a problem when it's out of control. When anger is left unchecked, it can lead to destructive behaviors that damage relationships, careers, and even physical health. That's why it's so essential for leaders to learn how to manage their anger healthily. Hypnotherapy is an effective anger management tool because it helps people understand and change the thought patterns contributing to anger. Hypnotherapy can also help people to relax and let go of the built-up tension that often leads to anger. Therapy for Executives: How to prevent a Burnout? In today's fast-paced business world, it's more important than ever for executives to take care of their mental health. That's why Therapy for Executives is becoming increasingly popular. By attending therapy sessions, executives can learn how to cope with stress healthily and prevent Burnout. Symptoms of Burnout can include: Fatigue Irritability Difficulty concentrating Sleep Deprivation Changes in eating habits Hypnosis for Success The idea of using Hypnosis to achieve success is not novel. Many entrepreneurs, celebrities, and coaches have done this to access their subconscious and harness their potential power. With Hypnosis, you can reach a deeply relaxed state, allowing your mind to become quiet and focused. You will learn what truly makes you happy or sparks joy. These pieces of information are usually hidden deep within your subconscious. By using specific techniques such as affirmations and visualization, you can rewire neural pathways in the brain that will lead to positive behaviors and attitudes. Hypnosis can also be a powerful tool for leaders. With Hypnosis, they can access their subconscious minds and understand what drives them: their talents, values, and strengths. This self-knowledge can help them manage their teams more effectively and support sound decision-making. What Executive Coaching Sydney Can Teach Us About Effective Marketing for Hypnotherapists It is essential to be clear in marketing about what you are offering. For example, Executive Coach Natalia has "Executive Health" as her priority, making it immediately apparent whom she wants to help. Her website (Executive-Coaching.Sydney) focuses on women leaders and the various difficulties they may face with their work or career, such as: How to become a better leader How to be more assertive at work How to ask for a pay rise with confidence How to start a new career if needed How to De-Stress and prevent Burnout Advertising Hypnotherapy It can be challenging for therapists to market themselves since they try to remain open and help as many people as possible. If you are a Hypnotherapist who struggles with advertising, check out my free and comprehensive Marketing guide. If you need professional help to find your niche in Hypnotherapy, sign up for an audit here. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Sibora! Sibora Halili, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sibora Halili (short: Sibi) is a Hypnotherapy Marketing Expert. She first discovered Hypnotherapy from a client's perspective when she transitioned into motherhood. Experiencing the power of Hypnosis firsthand was a game-changer for Sibi. Now she helps Hypnotherapists find a profitable Hypnotherapy Niche. There is a lot of Myth and Misconception around Hypnosis. Sibi designs unique positioning strategies to overcome them. While everyone else jumps on Social Media, she focuses on Google Power Search. She helps Hypnotherapists reach untapped client pools and secure long-term business success. Sibi has a Master's in Digital Media Technologies and founded the Seabee Design Studio in 2015. Also, she's been teaching at the St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences. Her story began in Vlorë, Albania. When Sibi was a toddler, her artistic family moved to Austria. Later, she lived in Ireland, Portugal, Slovenia, and Norway. Today she's settled in the Austrian Alps with her family. Being multicultural, she loves working with clients worldwide.

Written by: Aleksandr Iurev, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. You have an idea for a startup. You want to move to the United States, but you’ve only heard of Silicon Valley, New York and Boston. Yes, those cities are the top three hottest spots for startups in North America. But they’re also the most expensive and are highly competitive in every way. It’s easy to get lost in the crowd in those cities. So, if your budget can’t support plans to set up shop in one of those major high-priced cities, What to do and Where to go? Here’s the answer— a list of 7 affordable and awesome cities that many tech entrepreneurs now call home because of their pleasant standard of living and the local opportunities for launching a business. Austin Austin consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in the U.S. based on affordability, job prospects and quality of life. The Texan city is a magnet for the North American counter-culture and all those who think outside the box. This is why it’s home to many artists, as well as tech entrepreneurs. According to TechCrunch, Austin closes the second-highest number of funding rounds in VC deals in the southern United States. In general, Texas ranks as the top state for business development. It has lots of cheap energy, as well as a very mobile, educated and flexible workforce. Ryan Wuerch, founder and CEO of the advertising platform and cash-back app Dosh, told CNBC: "We've been able to attract [to Austin] some of the smartest people from cities like San Francisco and Seattle because they want to live in a family-friendly, affordable and active city, with a diverse culture. Austin is the epitome of that.” Atlanta There’s another major competitor for the title of 'the Silicon Valley of the South’. Atlanta is home to world-class universities such as Georgia Tech, as well as tech startups such as MailChimp, and Ionic Security, which is a leading data security platform that helps businesses enforce access and privacy requirements. Also, the city has more than 70 video game developer companies. There’s a tremendous energy and buzz in Atlanta that has spurred the population (in the metropolitan area) to double in size since 1990, reaching almost 6 million today. “Atlanta attracts a super-young workforce that’s diverse and creative," says Rob Frohwein, CEO of the fintech company, Kabbage, which was founded in the city in 2011 and counts Reverence CapitalPartners and SoftBank Capital as investors. Chattanooga Chattanooga in the state of Tennessee has one of the fastest-growing tech sectors thanks to a robust start-up ecosystem. It was the first U.S. city to roll out a citywide gigabit network in 2010, and it also created an Innovation District, a 140-acre section in the downtown that has become a cluster for startups, nonprofits, and government entities. "The affordability for starting a business here is great, and the cost of living is better," said LukeMarklin, CEO of Bellhops, the moving company that was founded in the city in 2011, and which operates in more than 50 cities nationwide. "This helps Bellhops attract the right people and retain talent in a competitive industry.” Cincinnati Many young entrepreneurs are launching startups in this city in the state of Ohio. Among them is Lisnr, which provides device connectivity using sound waves. Founded in 2012, Lisnr’s major investors include Visa, Intel, and Mercury Fund, raising $35 million over the past 7 years. As is well known, a big part of successful funding is having access to potential investors. You often need to be in the right circles to get that access. If you're an outsider, do you think that you can simply fly to Silicon Valley or New York City to meet investors? Of course not. You have to know the right people. Well, if you live in Cincinnati, then it can be surprisingly easy to meet serious investors. Since it's a smaller city, but still a major hub, there are local wealthy investors who are looking for deals in new technology. Here, you can get access to the 15 right people and have a better chance to get funding. Detroit This city in Michigan, on the Canadian border, has long had a spirit of invention and ingenuity. Unfortunately, today we often hear about Detroit’s decay ever since the auto industry collapsed in the 1980s. Despite the urban blight, Detroit’s small business scene is coming back, and there are hundreds of tech startups in the city. In fact, Detroit has the nickname, “Start-up City, USA.” Why are startups flocking to Detroit? There’s lots of empty space. Vacant lots, and even skyscrapers, are available to purchase or rent for a small fraction of the cost in major cities. Also, the low cost of living and a large pool of educated talent make Detroit fruitful soil for startups. For example, PetramData connects businesses of all sizes with data and AI-driven insights, offering a view into how homeowners are spending their money. Navv Systems works with hospitals and warehouses to implement indoor navigation and positioning technology to streamline operations and guide traffic through spaces. Seattle With plenty of green space and magnificent vistas, Seattle is a nature lover’s dream. A few decades ago, some of the biggest startups in the world found fertile soil in Seattle, such as Amazon and Starbucks. Known as the ‘Emerald City’ in reference to “The Wizard of Oz”, Seattle is the perfect place to start a business. The area received$3.8 billion in funding between 2019 and 2021. This includeMotherDuck, a serverless analytics service built for “lightweight” use cases. To date, MotherDuck has total funding of $47.5 million, including a $35 million Series A round led by Andreessen Horowitz. Also, the University of Washington is located in Seattle, and that has helped to generate a deep talent pool. The cost of living is higher than in places such as Detroit and Chattanooga but still lower than in New York and San Francisco. Raleigh, Durham, and ChapelHill These three cities in the state of North Carolina form the so-called Research Triangle. In close proximity to each other, these cities have much to offer startups in terms of new talent and highly-educated specialists. There are many top-ranked universities nearby, including Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill. Also, the area has an excellent quality of life that is affordable. The Research Triangle also has a particular strong focus on sustainable energy, and has attracted many startups in the cleantech industry. For example, 8 Rivers has pioneered clean hydrogen and ammonia technology. It’s also the inventor of a zero-carbon power generation system commercialized by NET Power, in which 8 Rivers is a co-owner. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Aleksandr! Aleksandr Iurev, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Aleksandr Iurev is a serial entrepreneur, with many years of experience in launching startups. His most recent is Pocketfied, which will radically disrupt the mobile app development industry with its highly innovative technology and service. Overall, Mr. Iurev has 20 years of experience in the IT sector, as well as in DevOps, and Information Security. He cut his teeth in Tech working in IT security for the largest banks in Russia, as well as for top IT companies. That experience protecting clients from hacker attacks is one reason why he attaches top priority to building secure systems so that users can be certain they're protected.

Written by: Natasha Zo, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Do you enjoy craft hobbies such as knitting, sewing, or woodworking? Have you ever thought about monetizing your hobby by turning it into a passive income stream? It may be easier than you think. Our expert is Jav Sid — a digital entrepreneur who started her business being a school girl on borrowed WiFi and reached a 6-figure income working less than 20 hours a week. Jav Sid didn't have an easy childhood. She was born in Saudi Arabia and came from a modest background. Despite that, she attended private school and dreamt of entering Ivy League College. But life brings changes, and Jav has chosen a different, but not less challenging, way to reach her goals. Her first steps as a digital crafter were made when she learned to design digital sewing patterns all by herself. Eventually, selling those patterns on her blog led to a subtle but consistent income stream. Being a self-made crafter, Jav experienced a lack of professional knowledge, so enrolling in an online blogging course was one of the best decisions of her life. With some professional help, Jav could develop her sewing blog to make significantly more money right away. Jav's experience and business intuition allowed her to catch the moment and redirect the effort to selling SVG files for cutting machines. In fact, it was her Cricut blog and SVG shop that made this remarkable lady rich. Jav Sid says: "If I could do it back then, anyone can do it," — and helps crafters to become wealthy and free. Here are her top tips on how to turn your craft hobby into a source of passive income. Take inventory of your time Before you start, assessing how much time you have daily to devote to your craft business is crucial. This will help prevent you from taking on too much and burning out later. As busy crafters, it can be easy to add more and more tasks to your to-do list without realizing how quickly time is flying by. Whether you are a busy mom, student, or working professional, it is important to oversee your time to make the most of your business. Setting realistic goals and prioritizing your tasks can ensure you don't get overwhelmed or distracted from what's really important. With careful planning and self-discipline, you can succeed as a busy crafter while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Find out what's in demand In order to run a successful craft business, it is essential to do market research and determine what products are most in demand. This will help you identify gaps in the market that you can fill with your own creative and high-quality products. Whether launching a brand new business or looking to develop an existing one, staying up-to-date on current market trends and consumer needs is key to success. So spend some time carefully researching current trends so that you can give people exactly what they need and want. Then, with the proper market knowledge, you can create products that truly meet the demands of your customers and build a thriving craft business that generates income and satisfies your audience. Learn the skills you need to succeed Once you have found where you want to stand and what you want to do, it's time to master the skills required to create professional-quality digital products that will lead to high demand and lucrative opportunities. This can be done by finding an expert in the field and learning from them so that you can avoid common mistakes and move forward with confidence. Whether you are interested in a specific niche or in creating high-quality digital products that will lead to success, an expert can teach you the strategies and techniques you need to master. It can be a blog, a coach, a mastermind group, or an online course – find someone with the skills you need and learn from them to create amazing products that will set you up and capture the hearts and thoughts of your audience. Double down on SEO What is a value of a perfect product if no one can find it? Proper SEO is crucial for driving traffic to your site and getting customers to discover your offers. Whether you're just setting up your shop or have been running it for a while, be sure to focus on strong SEO practices that can help you stand out from the clamorous crowd. This involves adapting your site with the right keywords and incorporating other best practices, like using relevant meta tags and creating quality content optimized for search engines. Do not be scared of tech words — it isn't that bad in practice — with the right roadmap, time, and effort, you can build strong SEO into your store, driving more visitors and increasing sales over the long term. Don't forget social media Once your shop is up and running, it's crucial to use social media's power to increase your store's traffic. You need to bring in as many people as possible. Whether you're posting on Instagram, collaborating with popular accounts on TikTok, or sharing your creations on other platforms, there are many ways to get your shop in front of a large and engaged audience. Use people's curiosity to your advantage by finding ways to show them the process behind what you do, which will, in turn, bring more traffic to your site. With some careful planning and effective use of social media, you can build an involved following that will help grow your craft business and make sales. So start focusing on creating great content, engaging with your audience regularly, and leveraging the power of social media to drive traffic and build a thriving business. The right mindset and approach make everything possible. So read up on these tips from Jav Sid and try them out for yourself – you never know what magic may come from it! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Natasha! Natasha Zo, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Natasha Zo is a former journalist from Siberia turned international media relations specialist. She is a founder of Cosa Famosa media – a boutique PR agency on a mission to amplify messages of conscious leaders, health, and wellness entrepreneurs through earned media. Known for her connector skills, she guided a number of authors to Amazon bestseller status, booked national TV, top-tier media, and over 400 podcast interviews.

Written by: Arantxa De Dio , Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Menopause is a period of huge change for a woman; they need consistent and compassionate support. However, before you can do that , first things first. You must fully understand what menopause is and how it can affect different aspects of your woman's lives. Only then can you be by her side, showing your support in the way she needs. What is Menopause? Menopause . That word that all women know, many dread, but about which only a few speak. That phase of life through which every female passes is full of myths and false 'facts', one of which is to wrongly associate it with old age. Let's start with the basics. Menopause is a natural and normal process. It usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. At this time, the ovaries stop producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone, resulting in the end of the menstrual cycle and the fertile stage. It is important to understand that menopause can – often does – produce changes such as: Regular mood swings and irritability Concentration issues e,g. "brain fog", forgetfulness, and sleep problems A reduction in sexual urges More uncomfortable sexual intercourse and vaginal dryness Hot flushes or hot flashes (one of the most well-known indicators). A propensity to gain weight Painful joints and limbs Changes in skin Depression and anxiety Hair thinning or loss Although symptoms like the above can inevitably be difficult to accept, bringing sadness and anger, there is no reason for a menopausal woman to feel shame. Like every phase of life, the experience is better if accepted for what it is, embraced, and lived to the full. Menopause is also not something that occurs one day out of the blue. Rather, it is a gradual process with distinct stages involving distinct changes and symptoms, the final one being menstruation disappearing definitively. The first stage is called (premenopausal) perimenopause . It can appear up to five years before menopause, as estrogen levels begin to drop little by little. During this stage, menstruation may be a bit irregular, starting outside a woman's normal cycle without warning or defined pattern, sometimes lasting weeks, and other times only a few days, sometimes heavy and other times very light. It's important to note that during this stage it is still perfectly possible to become pregnant. A woman can be said to have finished this initial phase and entered menopause when she has experienced between six months and one year without having her menstrual period (as mentioned above, this is because the ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone). The final stage is post-menopause, occurring several years after a woman has entered the menopause phase. Any symptoms of menopause cease, although other symptoms (such as bone weakness and weight gain) may appear. So, how can I help the woman I love? Now that you have a bit more knowledge about menopause, you can learn strategies to help her (and you!) cope with this situation, providing the support she needs and thriving despite the challenges. The good news is that these are mostly common sense and easy to do. As with any tough and uncertain moments, it is most important that you are super available to the menopausal woman in your life, showing her that you are available and ready to listen and support her. Be proactive in this so it is crystal clear; let her know that she is not alone. That small gesture alone will make a big difference. Also, tell her how you're feeling, to encourage her to open up so she does not feel it is all about her. Your listening and support will be even more valuable if you are knowledgeable about the subject. If you understand the 'big picture' related to menopause, you are more likely to find words and actions which will resonate and help. Promote and encourage a healthy lifestyle that you can do together. A balanced diet and regular exercise or movement will reduce the physical and mental symptoms of menopause as well as generally boost energy levels in both body and mind. It's also quality time together! Be even more generous with the gestures you make. This does not mean spending a small fortune bombarding your menopausal woman with luxurious gifts; it means thoughtful words, actions, and small details consistently that show your love, admiration, and respect. Nice little touches authentically speak volumes about how much value she has to you (and will help her value herself more). If she is comfortable with this, accompany her to her medical appointments . Not only will this strengthen and calm her, but it is also a perfect opportunity for you to understand more about menopause, ask questions of the doctor, and find out where you can get involved to be of the greatest assistance. So, now you know a bit more about menopause, and what you can do to support the menopausal woman in your life, what are you waiting for? It's time to get started! Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Arantxa! Arantxa De Dios, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Arantxa is a UK based Hypnotherapist, NLP practitioner and Transformational Coach. She works with individuals to help them successfully overcome the challenges stopping them from achieving true happiness, developing and maintaining healthy relationships and reaching their full potential. Arantxa has worked with hundred clients from all walks of life, successfully helping them to process and come to terms with traumatic events, overcome anger, stress, anxiety, fear, phobias, grief and addiction, work on confidence building and releasing negative emotions that keep them feeling stuck. She's Spanish and multi-lingual, fluent in English, Spanish, French and Italian. Her mission: Be your best version.

Written by: Katie Scott, Business Reporter Among the pledges being made at the global environmental gathering - COP27 - was an agreement by 65 global companies - including Microsoft - to use their purchasing power to help low-carbon technologies thrive. The First Movers Coalition has made the commitment “to collectively purchase $12 billion of nascent low-carbon products and services by 2030 to help suppliers develop their offerings and scale up”, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Coalition explains that its aim is to decarbonise “seven “hard to abate” industrial sectors that currently account for 30 percent of global emissions”. These are aluminium production: aviation; chemicals; concrete; shipping and steel and trucking. It is also working to champion “innovative Carbon removal technologies”. It writes: “For these sectors to decarbonise at the speed needed to keep the planet on a 1.5-degree pathway, they require low-carbon technologies that are not yet competitive with current carbon-intensive solutions but must reach commercial scale by 2030 to achieve net-zero emissions globally by 2050.” The initiative was launched at last year’s COP gathering in Glasgow. After the event, in May, Microsoft joined the ranks of Volvo and General Motors in the coalition. Brad Smith, vice chairman and president of Microsoft said: “It’s just extraordinary in my view to see the continuing diversification of efforts, the large companies that are making real and very important practical commitments.” Microsoft committed to spend $200 million on long-duration carbon removal. The First Movers Coalition has grown from 25 to 65 members in a year, and this includes both companies and governments.

Street and world-renowned artist Banksy has hit out on social media accusing fashion brand Guess for using his artwork without permission. In an Instagram post, the artist calls for shoplifters to go to the Guess store on London’s Regent Street. The artist writes: “They’ve helped themselves to my artwork without asking, how can it be wrong for you to do the same to their clothes?” The artist currently has 11.8 million followers. According to The Art Newspaper, Guess has not responded to the post; but did close the store and has obscured the artwork - Banksy’s iconic Flower Thrower. The display is as a result of a collaboration between Guess and Brandalised, a company that licences recognisable graffiti designs. Copyright lawyer Liz Ward, founder of Virtuoso Legal, told BBC News that Guess "appear[s] to have legitimately sourced the Banksy artwork via a third party, namely Brandalised, who say they have rights to commercialise and use Banksy's artwork on goods.” She added: "It isn't known if Banksy approved or even knew about this deal. If he did know about it, then perhaps his comments are there to create some kind of guerrilla marketing campaign. If he didn't know about it, then he must be quite annoyed, especially as such mainstream companies and brands don't accord with his anti-establishment views.”

Written by: Laura Perkes Many business owners are looking to become an authority in their industry. And rightly so, it’s a huge accolade that positions you above your competitors, giving you the edge when it comes to sharing your message, being positioned as a credible expert and speeding up the know-like-trust factor with your ideal customers and clients. But when everyone else seems to be doing the same thing, how do you stand out? The answer you’re looking for lies within Public Relations, or the art of being seen in the media. Public Relations is often seen as an outdated modality that’s been pushed to one side by social media, when in fact, the opposite is true. The very nature of PR allows brands and business owners to communicate their key messages to their ideal customers and clients. PR allows you to build your credibility and share your values, your mission and your ethos, to attract your tribe into your business. Public Relations is the ultimate tool for driving traffic into your business, whether that’s to your website or your social media channels. Let’s face it, the business landscape has evolved exponentially in recent years, increasing your competitors and creating lots of noise. This makes it even harder for you to stand out and get noticed. Social media is an incredible tool, but it’s not the only one in the toolbox. It’s not the only way to drive traffic into your business. In fact, the whole essence of social media is to be sociable. It’s to involve your followers and fans in the growth of your business and to help you strengthen your brand voice, as well as the development of future products and services. But when there are billions of people promoting their business on social media, how do you obtain the share of voice that you deserve? One again, that’s where Public Relations comes into play, as it allows you to be seen as a trusted voice and as a person of influence. Over time, you’ll naturally become an authority in your industry. But it’s not just about being seen in the media It’s about being seen in the media outlets that are consumed by your ideal clients and customers. It’s about being seen in the media outlets that align with your mission and values. It’s about building trust and credibility with journalists who have the power to catapult your business to the next level. As technology evolves, ‘the media’ now extends further than the traditional media channels that we think of when we hear people talk about ‘the media’. When I first started in the PR industry in 2004 we only had access to print media, TV and radio. Fast-forward to 2022 and we now have access to digital and online publications and TV channels, podcasts, YouTube and of course, social media, along with traditional media outlets. Opportunities to be featured in the press are plentiful, but with so many different outlets to choose from, how do you know which ones will help you? How do you then know how to stand out from the crowd? To answer these questions, I’ve provided my top tips on how you can position yourself as an authority in your industry Tip No.1 Decide what you want to be known for This may sound ridiculously obvious, but you need to make sure that your ideal customers and clients know exactly who you are and what you do. This means that your message needs to remain consistent throughout. If you’re a financial advisor, for example, you want to make sure that everything you do in the media refers back to your expertise in the finance industry. You don’t want to be seen sharing financial tips in an online article, but then you’re interviewed as a mortgage broker on a podcast. That’s going to confuse your audience and a confused buyer never buys. Choose what you want to be known for, stick in your lane and focus only on gaining a reputation for that one thing. Once people get to know you, you can start to talk about topics related to personal finance, or financial advice as your tribe will already know that they can trust you. Tip No.2 Stay focussed There are many ways for you to be featured in the press. Journalists are always looking for people to be interviewed, or share their personal stories, but they’re also always looking to raise the profile of experts, by sharing tips and advice, or offering expert quotes in articles and features. If you’re looking to become an authority in your industry, there’s no point offering advice on how to find cheap flights if that’s not what your business does. Too many business owners fall into the trap of believing that having their name in the press is a PR win. It’s not. Unless there’s a direct link between you and your business, having your name in an article isn’t going to raise your profile or entice people to visit your website. You’ve simply helped a journalist finish an article on time. Tip No.3 Find out what content your ideal customers and clients are consuming Not sure what your ideal customers and clients are reading, watching or listening to? Ask them! This is the perfect opportunity to bring social media into your PR efforts. Take advantage of polls on LinkedIn, Facebook and in Facebook Groups. Encourage interaction in your Instagram and Facebook Stories, or even on TikTok. Not only will you be obtaining vital information that will help you to stay focussed on the media outlets that matter, you’ll also be making your followers and fans feel like they’re part of something bigger. Once you know what they’re consuming, you can then start to research each outlet to see where you fit in, and to see what topics their audience loves. From here, you can then create and pitch ideas that you already know they’ll be interested in. If you’re serious about becoming an authority in your industry then you need to be making connections and building relationships with those who can make it happen. If you want to be interviewed on a podcast, email the host and put yourself forward. Explain what you can offer to their audience and why it will matter to them. To earn your stripes as an authority figure you need to focus on a media outlet's audience first. PR is never, ever about you. It’s always about the end user and what you can do for them. About the author: Laura Perkes is a PR Strategist, Brand Storyteller and the Founder of PR with Perkes. She’s also the author of the best-selling book ‘How To Get PR’. As an authority in the PR industry, Laura offers a bespoke PR Concierge Service to brands who want to do things differently. She also teaches entrepreneurs and business owners how to secure their own PR, inside The PR Portal www.prwithperkes.com www.linkedin.com/in/laura-perkes www.facebook.com/PRwithPerkes www.instagram.com/PRwithPerkes

Written by: Stephanie J Ford, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Investing in real estate has always been a lucrative and wise investment decision. If you look at some of the wealthiest people in the world, Donald Trump, Bill Gates, & Oprah Winfrey, real estate investing has been a big part of their wealth. It’s no wonder that the masses are starting to fall into this direction. For the past nineteen years, I have invested in real estate in all different forms. I have acquired wealth through selling real estate to others as a Realtor as well as investing in my own properties. This is one of the only careers that I know gives you so much freedom to make your own schedule and that you can make your own rules. One valuable thing to know that this is not only a career but it is a business. It’s a business that can become a family business. There are countless real estate investors that have purchased properties and have brought their children and other family members in the business. Real estate investments can help to diversify your income. It can be a great retirement fund or a main source of income. You can work this business part-time or full time or you can use it as a great income supplement. The good thing is that you can use your real estate investments however you see fit and it can be used to cater to your lifestyle. Wealth building through real estate includes becoming a landlord, selling real estate, managing a rental portfolio for others or investing in a real estate investment trust. Five ways to build wealth through real estate 1. Build a Rental Portfolio One of the oldest ways to acquire wealth through real estate is by building a real estate rental portfolio. This can be done by paying cash or obtaining a mortgage for the properties. Whether the transaction will be cash or financing the cap rate has to make sense. The cap rate is defined as the net operating income divided by the market value. A cap rate of 1o% or better is considered a good investment in real estate. Remember that even if the cap rate is good, there are other determining factors in the property being a good asset. You will have to look at the overall picture such as the appreciation potential, mortgage payment (if financed), potential repairs, insurance cost, etc. A cash purchase does not exclude these factors. If the property is financed, make sure the potential rent will cover the mortgage payment and occasional repairs. When acquiring a new real estate property, always make sure that the risks outweigh the rewards. 2. Wholesale Real Estate Properties Wholesaling properties has become increasing popular among real estate investors in recent years. The act of wholesaling real estate is when a property is purchased for one price and then is sold to another investor quickly for a profit without renovating the property. Typically the acquisition investor puts an asset under contract then finds an end buyer to complete the purchase. The best way to wholesale any property is to have your own funding to purchase the asset then to attempt the sale later. The latter has a lot less headache involved. This wholesaling method works for residential as well as commercial properties. When wholesaling commercial properties there is a lot more paperwork involved however the return is greater. Savvy business people buy assets in order to sale them later because they know a good deal when they see it. A big percentage of my real estate wealth has been through wholesaling as detailed in my book, She-Vestor: Building My Real Estate Empire. If you're looking to learn more about Wholesale Real Estate, I encourage you to explore the strategies outlined in my book. 3. Invest in a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Real estate investment trusts (REIT) are not new to the real estate investment world however they have become popular with real estate investors. When you invest in a REIT, you are diversifying your risks. A REIT owns and, in some cases, operates many income producing commercial assets such as apartments, office buildings, retail centers, etc. Some REITs even operate in real estate financing. A REIT is a way for you to diversify your assets and not rely on one asset to build wealth. Typically, there is a minimum investment required when you join a REIT. You can also start your own. A REIT is a way for an investor to not take on the risk of an investment solely. 4. Fix and Flip Real Estate Properties Typically, when people hear about the term real estate investor, a fix and flip investor comes to mind. The term fix and flip means that an investor buys a property at a discount, renovates it and resells it for a profit. Next to wholesaling real estate properties, this is the quickest way to build wealth through real estate. Often a real estate investor can make $25,000 plus on a residential property sale that they resell after renovation. Normally when this happens an investor purchases a property and reinvests their profits to buy the next property. Driven and successful investors, repeat this cycle time and time again. This type of real estate investing works for both residential and commercial properties. 5. Manage a Rental Portfolio An indirect way to build wealth through real estate is by managing a property management portfolio. Typically, this portfolio is a combination of investments owned by others. A property manager makes money from monthly management fees, late fees, and application fees. A property manager can also make money from rental repairs. The money made from managing a property management portfolio is residual. This type of business can be willed to your children and can create generational wealth. This is a great alternative if you don’t have the money to invest in real estate for yourself. Real estate investments create long-term wealth and income. However, if you don’t have the right investments, it can be a nightmare. Before you start in any investment strategy, please do your research. A bad investment can cause havoc on your finances. Great investments can make things better in the long run for you and your family. So please choose wisely. A real estate investment coach or mentor can help guide you in making wise investment decisions. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more about our real estate coaching program and how we can help you get started. You may also join our free Facebook group for real estate investors to gain valuable insight about whether or not this is the right career/business for you. To learn more about She-Vestor Coaching and real estate strategies, visit our website. Stephanie J Ford aka She-Vestor Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Stephanie! Stephanie J Ford, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Stephanie Ford, a real estate veteran has mastered the art of real estate through real estate investing, coaching and construction. A college marriage left her in $60,000 in debt. Her only way to rebuild herself was through a career as a realtor. Years later she obtained her Real Estate Brokers license, homebuilders license and started a career as a real estate investor. Stephanie talks about her experiences in her book, “She-Vestor: Building My Real Estate Empire.” Stephanie never lets anything hinder her from obtaining what she wants and she excels in whatever she puts her mind to. Her motto is “There are not any failures in life, just opportunities to improve yourself before the next journey.”

Hi, I’m Deanna Goodson, a certified and credentialed life coach. I attended Rhodes Wellness College and the Institute of Integrative Nutrition (IIN). I am a mom of two kids who are now adults – they’re 25 and 20 respectively. I have been married to my husband, John, for 21 years as of October 20th. I am also a proud doggie mama to Yogurt and speak four languages – Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and of course, English. I guess it’s five if you could Latin. Deanna Goodson, Mental Health Coach & Nutritional Counselor How do you help your clients? Well, I help my clients in a variety of ways. As a health coach, I work with them on getting healthy and fit. I am also a mental health coach and assist clients with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. I have don’t both as a patient and a practitioner, so it gives me unique insights into these modalities. I have bipolar disorder and I used to weigh over 400 pounds. I leverage my personal experiences to aid my clients in improving their lives through habit-based change. What kind of audience do you target your business towards? I target my business towards people who have struggled with eating disorders or need to lose a significant amount of weight. I also work with individuals who are struggling with mental disorders to give them proactive tips and strategies to improve their day-to-day functioning. What are your current goals for your business? Currently, I have a contract gig with an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), so I work with clients from a variety of organizations. I also have a private practice where I help folks from all walks of life. I recently began a course in Hormone Health with my alma mater, IIN. I expect to finish in May of 2023 and hope to offer more targeted assistance to women who struggle with hormonal imbalances. I have a lot going on, but I love what I do and would love to do more of it. What would you like to achieve for yourself and your business in the future? In the future, I’d love to provide programs in hormone health, nutrition and emotional eating psychology. This is truly my passion. I also am planning to write a book about my personal experiences called “Eat Like a Toddler”. It’s about intuitive eating, something I am extremely passionate about. I often joke with my friends and family that I’d like to be an author and speaker on nutrition-based topics. I have a lot of ideas and am also working with a partner on fleshing out a program which assists women to become advocates for their health. I feel the medical community sometimes dismisses women’s health concerns and wants to tip the scales so to speak in our favor. I also would love to do a TedEx talk at some point. Who inspires you to be the best that you can be? I find inspiration everywhere. My friends and family inspire me to do more and be better every day. I truly believe that we should always be improving (ABI). It’s kind of my personal philosophy. I am also inspired by my clients because I see them do amazing work and am so proud of the progress they make. I love to prepare folks for the day they don’t need me anymore. As for public figures, I am inspired by strong women like Oprah and Michelle Obama who are not afraid to speak their truth and assist others in the process. What is your work inspired by? My work is inspired by my personal journey to health and wellness. It is a work in progress, of course. My highest weight was 444 lbs. With the assistance of a bariatric doctor and my nutritionist as well as solid intuitive eating principles, I was able to take off more than 200 lbs. I’m still working towards my goals, but I think that sets me apart from other people in the field of nutrition. I walk the walk and don’t just talk the talk. I am also inspired by family members who struggled with their health because they didn’t pay attention to the good principles of nutrition and became infirm and even passed away from diseases like cancer and diabetes. It had a huge impact on me and informed my decision to improve my own health. I want to be able to chase after my grandchildren the way I couldn’t with my own. Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today. In December 2016, I tore my meniscus. I was close to 400 pounds at the time and went to see an orthopedic surgeon. I will not name him because he’s pretty prominent in my hometown of Austin, TX. He basically told me that I had to learn to cope with the pain because I was too fat for surgery. I was devastated but decided to find a new doctor and work on losing the weight that had plagued me since childhood. To date, I have lost over 200 pounds and avoided surgery because the stress on my knees has been significantly reduced. I have seen other health benefits such as being able to no longer be dependent on my CPAP machine. My sleep apnea disappeared as I shrunk in size. My personal journey and my family encouraged me to study nutrition and assist others in the process. I wanted my story to have meaning and do meaningful work. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Deanna!

Written by: Nadija Bajrami, Senior Level Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Let’s talk about trauma, how it can be defined, how it affects our life and who we are, and how hypnosis and hypnotherapy can help to manage symptoms of traumatic experiences. Traumatic events can happen at any age and can cause long-lasting harm. Everyone has a different reaction to trauma. Although trauma can occur at any age, it has particularly debilitating long-term effects on children’s developing brains. Some recent studies show that over 70% of people worldwide experienced lifetime traumas. Trauma healing is a journey and can get complicated when we do not have the resources to help us cope with the symptoms resulting from the traumatic experience. Trauma is also very personal and never compare yourself and your trauma to anyone else’s. Some of my clients tell me that they are quite fortunate as what happened to them was not as bad as what other kids experienced. We are allowed to feel what we feel and should not compare our pain to someone else’s and undermine our own pain and trauma. What is trauma? The word trauma comes from the Greek trauma (τραύμα) meaning wound. Trauma is the response to a deeply distressing or disturbing incident or series of events that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope, causes feelings of helplessness, affects their sense of self and their ability to feel a full range of emotions and experiences. These incidents or events can be emotionally disturbing or life-threatening with lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, and/or spiritual well-being. Dr. Dan Siegel, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, and the founding co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA, provides us with a simple yet powerful definition of trauma: "Any experience that overwhelms our ability to cope." Traumatic experiences and events include Physical, sexual, and emotional abuse Childhood neglect Separation from a loved one Loss of a primary caregiver or a close loved one Living in an environment affected by mental health or substance use disorders Dysfunctional family dynamics Accidents (for example, road accidents, car crashes…) War and conflicts. And many more… The different types of trauma 1. Acute Trauma It mainly results from a one-off distressing event, such as a car crash, physical or sexual assault, natural disaster, or the sudden death of a loved one. The event is extreme enough to threaten the individual’s emotional or physical security and their ability to cope. The event creates a lasting impression on the individual’s mind. If not addressed through proper medical and therapeutic help, it can affect the way the person thinks, feels, and behaves. Acute trauma generally presents in the form of: High level of anxiety Irritability Trust issues Feeling misunderstood and disconnected from people around us Sleep related disorders Concentration issues Lack of self-care and even neglecting oneself 2. Chronic trauma It can arise from multiple, long-term, and/or prolonged distressing, traumatic events over an extended period of time. It can develop in response to persistent bullying, neglect, abuse (emotional, physical, or sexual), domestic violence, and exposure to extreme situations, such as a war and conflicts. The symptoms of chronic trauma can often appear years after the event occured. The symptoms are deeply distressing and may manifest as unpredictable emotional outbursts, anxiety, extreme anger, flashbacks, fatigue, body aches... Chronic trauma can also affect an individual’s relationships or career. 3. Complex trauma It can arise from experiencing repeated or multiple traumatic events from which there is no possibility of escape. The events are generally within the context of an interpersonal (between people) relationship. It may give the person a feeling of being trapped. Like other types of trauma, complex trauma can affect an individual’s sense of safety in the world and push them to be hypervigilant, and constantly monitoring of the environment and on the lookout for the possibility of threat. This can be truly exhausting and debilitating for individuals affected by complex trauma. 4. Secondary or vicarious trauma It arises from exposure to other people’s suffering and can affect those in professions such as physicians, health care professionals, first responders… In these types of situations, other people's trauma can become their own. Over time, such individuals are at risk of compassion fatigue, whereby they avoid investing emotionally in other people to protect themselves from experiencing distress. 5. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Adverse childhood experiences are difficult situations and potentially traumatic events that occur before a child reaches the age of 18 and before they have developed effective coping skills. Such experiences can interfere with a person’s health, opportunities, and stability throughout their lifetime. The loss of a primary care giver, neglect, emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, and divorce are among the most common types of Adverse Childhood Experiences. The effects of trauma on the body Several parts of the brain play an important role in understanding how the brain and body function during a traumatic experience. They include the forebrain, or the prefrontal cortex, the limbic system, which is located in the centre of the brain, and the brain stem. When a person experiences a traumatic event or experience, adrenaline rushes through the body and the memory is imprinted into the amygdala, which is part of the limbic system. The amygdala holds the emotional significance of the event, including the intensity and impulse of emotion. The amygdala stores the visual images of trauma as sensory fragments, which means the trauma memory is not stored like a story, rather by how our five senses were experiencing the trauma at the time it happened. The memories are stored through fragments of visual images, smells, sounds, tastes, or touch. Consequently, after trauma, the brain can easily be triggered by sensory inputs, reading normal circumstances as dangerous. For example, a door being slammed is just door being slammed, but now it sounds like an explosion. The sensory fragments are misinterpreted, and the brain loses its ability to make the difference between what is threatening and what is normal. The front part of our brain, known as the prefrontal cortex, is the thinking brain or the rational part where consciousness lives. When a trauma happens, people enter into a fight, flight, or freeze mode, which can result in the prefrontal cortex shutting down. The brain becomes overwhelmed because of the trauma, while the body goes into a survival mode and shuts down the reasoning structure of the brain. This causes the traumatic energy to be stored in the surrounding muscles, organs and connective tissue. Whenever we store trauma in our tissue, our brain disconnects from that part of the body to block the experience, preventing the recall of the traumatic memory. Any area of our body that our brain is disconnected from won’t be able stay healthy or heal itself. The predictable effect of stored trauma is degeneration and disease. Trauma healing and recovery Healing from traumatic experiences is an individual experience. What works for one person may not for another. Below are some options that may help you move towards healing, but the path is certainly not the same for everyone. Face it, don’t avoid it! As tempting as it may be to try to ignore or completely erase a traumatic event, it’s crucial to learn to be ok with your memories of it and the things that trigger them without trying to avoid them. Never try to suppress what you feel. Facing your feelings head-on is important because you want to be able to take care of them in a way that helps you move forward. Seek professional help The stress that comes with a traumatic event can be crippling. If you feel lost or overwhelmed by an experience and feel like there is no way out, please seek help and professional guidance from qualified behavioural and mental health providers and therapists as they will be a valuable resource to help you find your way and manage the symptoms of your traumatic experiences. Help from a qualified professional is necessary to make you recover from the distressing symptoms. Whatever be the type of trauma, if you find it difficult to recover from the distressing experiences, you must seek timely psychological help. A qualified and accredited professional can help you with a traumatic experience and help you toward leading a fulfilling life. Exercise As trauma disrupts your body’s natural balance, exercise and movement can help repair your nervous system. Exercising for half an hour or more helps improve physical and emotional well-being. It does not have to be all at once either. So, get out and move. Experts say it’s one of the most effective ways to handle the aftereffects of a traumatic event. Deep breathing, gentle stretching, and walking are all good choices. Never force things and be too hard on yourself. If you’re tired, it’s absolutely fine to take it easy and rest. Practice meditation and mindfulness Even if you’re unfamiliar with meditation, going within and quieting the mind works very well to ease stress. Breathing exercises like deep breathing or focusing on your exhale can help ease your mind and relax you. Focus your attention on breathing or on parts of your body while you meditate. That can keep your brain from thinking about your stress. You can also create a mantra or affirmations that resonate with you and of course learning to live in the present moment by practicing mindfulness is also a great way to help you find your calm. Connect with others and join support groups Making a connection is also a part of healing. Try to pursue doing “normal” activities, to divert your thoughts from traumatic memories and experiences. Socializing can also help you feel better. Support groups can also be a great resource. Indeed, talking over what you’re going through with others who have had the same experience, or are still going through it, can be helpful after a traumatic experience. Get back into your routine Your everyday life can be interrupted by a traumatic event. A goal for those trying to get past the stress of trauma is to return to a day-to-day schedule as soon as possible. Getting your groove back can help you re-establish a sense of normality and regain a sense of control over your life. How can hypnosis help with traumatic memories? As an award-winning, fully qualified, and accredited hypnotherapist, I can say that hypnosis is a very powerful modality to help you with the symptoms of traumatic experiences. Hypnosis is a safe and natural state of relaxation with an increased level of awareness during which you are not asleep and are fully in control. You will experience a pleasant state of mind with increased attention and focus. The hypnotic state is similar to some moments in your life when you are daydreaming or fully absorbed in a specific activity like reading for example. There is absolutely nothing to fear as therapeutic and clinical hypnosis is totally different from stage and entertainment hypnosis and as you remain in control, you will never be asked to do anything foolish or against your will. For the hypnotherapy session to be successful, the hypnotherapist must have your consent, collaboration and full commitment as the purpose is to help you reach a feeling of being more in charge and in control of your life. While in a relaxed state of mind, new information can make its way into the subconscious which transforms old beliefs and thought patterns. Hypnosis delves into your subconscious mind to plant positive thoughts and suggestions, which can create meaningful and lasting changes in your thought process. Hypnosis replaces the old with the new. Changing your thinking will change your beliefs, fears, desires, habits, and anything that creates resistance when achieving new things. It is not a passive process. You are actively participating by communicating your goals and what has previously held you back in the past. These goals are to be truly yours, no matter what you desire to obtain or achieve. If you are trying to satisfy social pressure, then hypnotherapy will not help you. The process is about you, your cooperation, your consent, and your participation. More and more of us are beginning to understand how important the subconscious mind is in both helping and sabotaging our efforts to change and be happy. It is widely accepted that most of what we do and what we think is directed by the subconscious. In effect, we spend most of the day on autopilot, our past experiences shaping our responses, moment to moment. When working with a qualified hypnotherapist, you will learn to reframe your thoughts and feelings around the traumatic experiences you went through. As a hypnotherapist, I believe I work in a profession which is fantastically placed to help people align with what they really desire in life, appreciate themselves and see their true potential. The memories of the traumatic events and experiences we went through can be extremely painful to deal with and can be really debilitating. Our brain tends to work as a coping mechanism and store these traumatic moments deep within our subconscious. Hypnosis cannot help you completely delete these bad memories. When you face a trigger that brings you back to a traumatic experience or event, you become faced with the hugest urge to get it out of your head. However, the harder you try, the more the memories end up coming back into your conscious mind. It is during these tough moments that we would like to just delete these memories. As previously mentioned, hypnosis and hypnotherapy cannot free you of these traumatic memories, but they are very powerful tools and modalities to help you heal from these traumatic memories and move forward so you don’t have the symptoms that the traumas created. What your mind does as its own form of coping mechanism is it takes your negative, emotionally charged memories and pushes them into your subconscious as a means of protecting you from re-experiencing the pain and trauma. This is what is commonly known as repression. As we may know from experience, the emotions from these memories can be resurfaced from a trigger, which often causes a rollercoaster of emotions and can also create complete paralysis in our minds. When you force yourself to suppress a recent painful memory, the memory is recalled. You then add more importance to the memory as the emotions are being re-triggered. Hypnosis will help manage those memories in a more productive and healthier way. Memories, with their associated thoughts and emotions, are adaptable and flexible, making us open to suggestions and more able to accept small changes to some of their original meaning. You can change what a particular memory means to you, how you feel about it, and how you respond to it when you create and attach new pairs and associations and narratives to that memory. Hypnotherapy is your reframing tool to change and “re-edit” the memories in your mind and your negative pairs and associations with a memory. Hypnotherapy will help you change how you remember rather than the “raw” memory itself, by releasing the emotional response to the memory you release the symptom. And remember that you are not an unfortunate victim of you past circumstances but an ingenious survivor. Hope this gives you a better understanding of what trauma is, how it affects our life and who we are, and how hypnosis and hypnotherapy can help you manage symptoms of traumatic experiences. Interested in what you just read? Book a discovery call with Nadija here! Follow Nadija on her Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website for more info. Read more from Nadija! Nadija Bajrami, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine French by birth, Nadija has lived in Scotland for 7 years and has traveled the world. After recovering from some serious health issues, Nadija had a wake-up call and came to Ireland to find her path. She has been living in Dublin since 2017. Nadija is a multi award winning trauma, empowerment specialist and holds a double diploma in Hypnotherapy, Mind Coaching, and online therapy. She is dedicated to helping her clients get empowered, supercharge their confidence and self-esteem, overcome their limiting beliefs as well as manage anxiety, and symptoms of traumatic experiences and help people on their grief and healing journey through her therapy, coaching, and spiritual work.