The Umbridge Effect: Evidence, Confidence, and Identity at Work

Burnout on the Horizon? Why Tapping Could Help You Pause Before Stress Takes Over

Contact us by whatsapp on +447485622662- let us know what you think of this episode. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2286309/fan_mail/new] With Amy Vincze A panic spike at your desk can feel like it comes out of nowhere, and then suddenly you cannot think straight, your body is tense, and your inner critic gets loud. We sit down with Amy to unpack Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT tapping) in a way that is practical, evidence-informed, and easy to try during a real workday without turning it into a big production. We talk through what EFT tapping actually is: a blend of acupressure points (think acupuncture without needles), cognitive therapy language (saying what is true right now), and somatic therapy (getting out of your head and back into your body). Amy explains the biology of stress, including the amygdala’s threat response and the cortisol surge that can knock your prefrontal cortex offline. When you understand that mechanism, “calming down” stops sounding like a moral failing and starts sounding like nervous system regulation. You will also hear a simple, desk-friendly approach you can use immediately: first, feel where the stress sits in your body for about 90 seconds, then use a short one-minute tapping sequence (eyebrow, side of eye, under eye, under nose, under mouth, collarbone, top of head) with grounding phrases that honour the emotion instead of fighting it. We also address scepticism head-on, share research outcomes discussed in training studies, and explain why stress is not just “in your head” but a whole-body response you can shift. If this helps, subscribe, share the show with someone who is carrying work stress, and leave a review so more people can find practical anxiety relief tools like EFT tapping.  As an EFT specialist myself, I was especially keen to explore this with Amy in a grounded, practical way for people dealing with work stress, anxiety and emotional overwhelm.  Amy references research and statistics These should be attributed to Amy About Amy Vincze Amy Vincze is an EFT tapping coach with more than 16 years of experience and the founder of the Soar with Tapping App. She helps people use tapping as a practical self-regulation tool for stress, anxiety, emotional overwhelm and recurring emotional patterns.  Amy joins Cheryl to explore what tapping is, how it may help people steady themselves during workplace stress, and how repeated work-anxiety triggers can be approached with more curiosity, safety, and choice.  Website: https://soarwithtapping.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-vincze-1a86063 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soarwithtapping/ Guest Resource Soar with Tapping App Podcast Special Listeners can visit the podcast special page to find a code for 50% off the first year of an annual subscription to the Soar with Tapping App. https://soarwithtapping.com/podcast-special/  The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers [http://herguru.uk/disclaimers] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2286309/support] If this episode helped, please share it with someone who needs a calmer five minutes: https://followthepodcast.com/workstressanxiety [https://followthepodcast.com/workstressanxiety] If you'd like to support the podcast, leaving a review genuinely helps other overwhelmed humans find it without having to survive another "10x your mindset" podcast first: https://lovethepodcast.com/workstressanxiety [https://lovethepodcast.com/workstressanxiety] Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion? https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety [https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety] Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®. Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™ Connect with Cheryl Paris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abgwblog [https://www.facebook.com/abgwblog] Shared stories are anonymised. This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice. Disclaimer: https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/ [https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/] © Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

The Kolher Principle: Good, Better, Best: Finishing Well

Contact us by whatsapp on +447485622662- let us know what you think of this episode. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2286309/fan_mail/new] If you’ve ever looked at something you created and thought, “It’s fine… but it doesn’t look impressive enough,” you’re not alone. I’m Cheryl Paris, and I’m exploring a common thread that ties together work stress, anxiety, and perfectionism: our tendency to value polish over truth. A polished presentation, a neatly crafted email, a confident reply, or an attractive wellbeing program can all give the impression of quality. However, presentation is not the same as substance, and when we confuse the two, we start doubting our own judgment and reward appearances instead of true value. We examine how “high standards” can trap us: rewriting, rehearsing, checking, and then doing the invisible second job of making everything appear effortless. This shifting goalpost keeps you in a constant state of work without allowing you to truly land or succeed. I also delve into the fears underlying perfectionism—the belief that if you can achieve perfection, you can ensure your safety. The issue is that you can be fully prepared and still face criticism; not all criticism reflects your true worth. Then, we move into practical territory with a simple framework that you can start using today: good, better, best. These are not measures of your self-worth but levels of investment based on time, energy, and the needs of the situation. I share four questions to help you choose the right standard, along with the ABGW method: Awareness, Balance, Growth, and Wellbeing. This approach aims to alleviate the pressure of work feeling like a judgment of your value. If this resonates with you, please subscribe, share it with a friend who might also be over-polishing their work, and leave a review. What’s one task you’re ready to finish at “good” today? The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers [http://herguru.uk/disclaimers] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2286309/support] If this episode helped, please share it with someone who needs a calmer five minutes: https://followthepodcast.com/workstressanxiety [https://followthepodcast.com/workstressanxiety] If you'd like to support the podcast, leaving a review genuinely helps other overwhelmed humans find it without having to survive another "10x your mindset" podcast first: https://lovethepodcast.com/workstressanxiety [https://lovethepodcast.com/workstressanxiety] Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion? https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety [https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety] Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®. Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™ Connect with Cheryl Paris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abgwblog [https://www.facebook.com/abgwblog] Shared stories are anonymised. This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice. Disclaimer: https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/ [https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/] © Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

The Umbridge Effect: Evidence, Confidence, and Identity at Work

Contact us by whatsapp on +447485622662- let us know what you think of this episode. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2286309/fan_mail/new] One email can undo a week's worth of solid work, and it's not because you've suddenly become “bad at your job.” We share the story of Roberta, a capable bus driver who remains professional through difficult incidents and even saves a life with her emergency first aid skills, yet finds her confidence diminishing under a manager’s selective attention. When your biggest achievements are overlooked and your smallest mistakes are highlighted in public, it alters your perception of what constitutes evidence about your performance. We explore the underlying mechanics of workplace stress and anxiety: how “email theatre” turns feedback into a public display, how language becomes vague when the team fails but painfully specific when an individual slips, and why control can often appear friendly, cloaked in rules, procedures, and performative concern. Most importantly, we address what’s happening within your body. The nervous system doesn’t analyse paragraphs; it scans for danger. After facing repeated scrutiny, your brain begins to predict the next blow, leading you to rewrite messages, rehearse explanations, and monitor yourself before anyone else even speaks. Next, we provide practical tools for rebuilding informed confidence without disregarding the validity of criticism. We differentiate between what actually happened and what was implied, use quick grounding techniques to signal safety to the body, and create a “full evidence record” to ensure your true competence isn’t edited out of the narrative.  If this pattern continues to negatively affect your health, we will also discuss the importance of seeking support rather than shouldering it alone. If this resonates with you, please subscribe, share the episode with someone who could benefit, and leave a review. What’s one win you’ve achieved recently, even if it wasn’t perfect? The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers [http://herguru.uk/disclaimers] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2286309/support] If this episode helped, please share it with someone who needs a calmer five minutes: https://followthepodcast.com/workstressanxiety [https://followthepodcast.com/workstressanxiety] If you'd like to support the podcast, leaving a review genuinely helps other overwhelmed humans find it without having to survive another "10x your mindset" podcast first: https://lovethepodcast.com/workstressanxiety [https://lovethepodcast.com/workstressanxiety] Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion? https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety [https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety] Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®. Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™ Connect with Cheryl Paris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abgwblog [https://www.facebook.com/abgwblog] Shared stories are anonymised. This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice. Disclaimer: https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/ [https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/] © Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

Sherlock Holmes and the Art of Confidence: When Evidence Becomes Overthinking

Contact us by whatsapp on +447485622662- let us know what you think of this episode. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2286309/fan_mail/new] You can know the right answer and still feel unsure the moment you have to act.  That single gap between knowledge and trust is where work stress and anxiety loves to live, especially for conscientious people who carry responsibility and want to do a good job. We share the story of Caroline, a 25-year-old newly qualified pharmacist who reads a prescription, understands what to do, then checks and checks again.  She isn’t unsafe or careless, but her delays start to appear uncertain to others.  From managers rewriting emails to teachers second-guessing lessons, we explore why overthinking at work is so common among smart, capable professionals, and why “just be more confident” misses the point. The turning point comes with a Sherlock Holmes lens: great detectives gather evidence, but they also stop.  Overthinking is often not a lack of ability, but evidence gathering with no finish line.  We talk about how training, exams, and constant assessment can condition your nervous system to behave as if you’re still being marked, long after you’re qualified.  Then we introduce a practical way to end the mental loop by chairing the “committee meeting” inside your head, deciding which protective voice gets the casting vote. You’ll leave with a simple three-question exercise to separate facts from assumptions and fear, and a clearer definition of confidence as timely professional judgment.  If you know someone stuck in reassurance seeking, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, or decision paralysis, share this with them.  Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what decision you’re ready to close the case on. The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers [http://herguru.uk/disclaimers] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2286309/support] If this episode helped, please share it with someone who needs a calmer five minutes: https://followthepodcast.com/workstressanxiety [https://followthepodcast.com/workstressanxiety] If you'd like to support the podcast, leaving a review genuinely helps other overwhelmed humans find it without having to survive another "10x your mindset" podcast first: https://lovethepodcast.com/workstressanxiety [https://lovethepodcast.com/workstressanxiety] Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion? https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety [https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety] Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®. Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™ Connect with Cheryl Paris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abgwblog [https://www.facebook.com/abgwblog] Shared stories are anonymised. This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice. Disclaimer: https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/ [https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/] © Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

Why Sleep Is the Ultimate Act of Self-Respect

Contact us by whatsapp on +447485622662- let us know what you think of this episode. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2286309/fan_mail/new] You can spend thousands chasing better health and still feel worn out, snappy, foggy, and stuck in your own head at night. We keep buying the tools, but we keep postponing the most powerful recovery process we already have: sleep. And if work stress or anxiety is running your evenings, that postponement starts to look less like “productivity” and more like self neglect. We tell a story about Ella, a high achieving counsellor who supports everyone else all day, then quietly bargains away her own rest each night. It starts with good intentions and ends with midnight, scrolling, one more email, one more task, and then the lights go out and her brain starts the night shift. From there, we push back on the cultural badge of honour that says exhaustion equals commitment, and we borrow a surprisingly sharp lesson from Bagpuss: when work is finished, rest without guilt, then wake fully when it is time. We also break down a crucial sleep myth: nothing is happening while you sleep. Your body is repairing tissue, balancing hormones, strengthening immunity, sorting memory, and regulating emotions. When you cut sleep short, you do not just lose rest, you interrupt the very system that makes patience, clarity, and resilience possible. We end with a simple seven night experiment: a five minute “landing strip” before bed that signals safety and closure to your nervous system, without turning bedtime into another impossible wellness routine. If this resonates, subscribe, share it with someone who is burning the candle at both ends, and leave a review. What is the one thing that most often steals your sleep? The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers [http://herguru.uk/disclaimers] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2286309/support] If this episode helped, please share it with someone who needs a calmer five minutes: https://followthepodcast.com/workstressanxiety [https://followthepodcast.com/workstressanxiety] If you'd like to support the podcast, leaving a review genuinely helps other overwhelmed humans find it without having to survive another "10x your mindset" podcast first: https://lovethepodcast.com/workstressanxiety [https://lovethepodcast.com/workstressanxiety] Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion? https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety [https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety] Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®. Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™ Connect with Cheryl Paris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abgwblog [https://www.facebook.com/abgwblog] Shared stories are anonymised. This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice. Disclaimer: https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/ [https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/] © Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.