C.A.R.E News & Blog

For many people in midlife, the relationship with a parent remains a source of both love and pain. Those with a history of early trauma or inconsistent caregiving may find themselves emotionally overwhelmed in the presence of a parent, even after decades of personal growth. This often reflects disorganised attachment, a pattern formed when a caregiver was both a source of comfort and fear. The result is an internal conflict: the longing for closeness is met with the expectation of harm. Individuals with this attachment style may find themselves reverting to old emotional patterns, becoming reactive, withdrawn, or hypervigilant during even minor interactions with their parents.

They may feel ashamed for still being affected, but this is not immaturity, it’s unhealed trauma. Healing does not require changing the parent; it requires creating a sense of safety within. Therapy, emotional boundaries, and compassionate relationships can help rewrite the body’s understanding of connection. Most importantly, recognising these patterns without blame can be a powerful act of self-liberation. Disorganised attachment is not a life sentence; it’s a wound that can be understood, grieved, and eventually healed.

Living with progressive illness is not just a physical journey; it’s an emotional one marked by resilience, vulnerability, and courage. For patients and families, each diagnosis, remission, and relapse becomes a chapter in a much longer story of hope, loss, and endurance. Yet too often, the emotional toll remains invisible, with Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) quietly taking root. True care means seeing the whole person and their family members, not just the illness, offering support from the first diagnosis, through every uncertainty, every victory, and every setback. It means building systems of care that heal both the body and the spirit. At the heart of progressive illness is a profound need: to be seen, heard, and supported, not only at the end, but every step of the way.

Being a ‘yes’ woman may seem like a noble act of kindness, but beneath the surface lies a silent struggle that takes a toll on mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Rooted in patriarchal conditioning and societal expectations, women are often pressured to prioritise others' needs at the expense of their own. This relentless pursuit of approval doesn't just lead to burnout—it’s linked to anxiety, depression, and even inflammatory disorders like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, which disproportionately affect women.

It’s time to challenge these norms and reclaim your voice. Saying “no” is not a weakness—it’s an act of self-respect and a step toward freedom. In this blog, I explore how people-pleasing impacts women and provide actionable strategies to break the cycle. Because the most powerful “yes” you can ever say is to yourself.