Healing through
Profound Self~Awareness,
Creative Self~ Expression,
Radical Self~Acceptance.
Hi! I'm Trips
Healing perfectionism, people pleasing, chronic pain, insomnia, and severe clinical depression (to name a few) changed my life and I am here to help people heal and change their lives too!
Growing up I was very creative; drawing, needlepoint and writing stories, it was always so much fun and I was very proud of the things I made. All that changed when perfectionism made me critical of everything I did.
From as young as three years old I have had widespread pain. It was a running joke in the family to ask me “what doesn’t hurt”. But the sad truth is I had no idea what pain-free felt like and I did not love myself or my body.
As a perfectionist and high achieving people pleaser, I focused on studying hard, going to University, getting a good job etc. You know, all the "things" that mean you have a good life!
Even though I achieved good grades, I didn’t feel like it was enough, like I was enough, constantly pushing myself and striving for perfection. Feeling unworthy of love from myself and others, people pleasing and neglecting myself. I would go through cycles of burnout and procrastination to try to deal with the unbelievable high expectations.
At 20 years old, I was diagnosed with severe clinical depression and anxiety as well as insomnia, and the widespread pain was getting much worse. I didn’t believe healing was a possibility, I didn’t try, I just kept pushing myself.
After my Master’s degree I got my dream job as an andrologist; a male fertility scientist, and moved to London. I was so excited, but my body and mind had other plans! Getting progressively sicker! I didn’t love myself enough to take care of myself. I continued studying; my second Bachelor’s degree, even though I was working 40+ hours, because I thought having another degree would make me feel worthy. As well as trying to have an active social life. Burning the candle at both ends and in the middle!
I was finally diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue syndromes as well as hypermobility and costochondritis. I was given opiates to manage the symptoms and told I would never heal and only get worse. That I did!
This continued for a few more years; trying to be perfect, constantly pushing myself, burning out and flaring symptoms. So many hospital and doctor visits, tears and anger, and feeling like life was unfair - I was utterly miserable and felt like my life was over. Finally, I had no choice but to move back home to my parent’s house, leaving my job, my friends and my life as I knew it.
I was isolated and depressed more than ever before, often bed bound and still burning myself out! Feeling so inadequate and worthless the perfectionism tendencies started to take over every part of my life. I didn’t know who I was and all I had left were the chronic and mental illnesses.
Finally, I got back into creative hobbies! I started to write poetry to express myself. I began going to art classes (it turns out I have a talent for drawing flowers). I am knitting and baking again, as well as trying out new creative things - like learning to play the drums! Whilst I do still try to be perfect at my art and drumming I have learnt to let go in most other areas of my life.
In 2020 during the first lockdown I was bed bound for weeks at a time with repeated bouts of sciatica. I had had enough and so I decided it was time to make a real change and invested in my healing. I got a therapist, a bodymind coach and a cognitive behavioural therapist and started the deep healing work.
This helped me to unravel the trauma, find root causes behind the symptoms and why they were manifesting, and how perfectionism was a HUGE part of the problem.
Within 6 months I was able to radically change my life
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I learnt perfection is not real and I continue finding ways to reframe how I do things.
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I recognised my self worth is not tied in with how perfect I am, or how others see me.
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I am no longer in chronic pain and have a deep connection with my body and soul.
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I healed the severe clinical depression and anxiety.
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I healed from insomnia (after 20 years!) and now have an amazing relationship with sleep!
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I allowed fun and playfulness back into my life, connecting with my inner child.
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I started to be more creative, learning new skills and I allowed myself to experiment.
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I finally know how it feels to be truly happy and healthy!
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I began reducing medication - I am now completely free from any medication and alcohol after almost 11 years!
I knew I wanted to share this with others. So in 2021 I became a Bodymind Coach and created Inspire Calm.
Since then I have coached a number of clients, trained in NLP (Neuro Linguistic Technique) coaching and found the key to successful healing is having the right support.
With experience from my own healing journey I can help you to heal yourself too
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By becoming self aware through deep inner work,
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Providing a safe space for you to get in touch with and release your emotions
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Learn to creatively express yourself
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Unleashing your true potential
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Develop radical self acceptance and love
I can help you to break free from perfectionism and all the associated behaviours and physical and mental illnesses.