CaramoCare Gives Back Via Carma

A Match Made in Heaven

Karma = Carma and CaramoCare

We all want to reduce our carbon footprints as well as be the sort of business that makes a routine feature of giving back.

CaramoCare has been wondering how to achieve that in a way that ‘fits’ us. There’s no point doing something performative - it has to be authentic. It has to make sense to those who interact with us.

Of course, much of this work will be directed to helping those most in need who don’t readily have resources to access the therapy. We know and trust our partners in schools, GP surgeries and social services to know who best to target this help to.

There are many ways to achieve this, and they will likely morph as the business grows.

We also wanted to be a sustainable business who don’t squander resources. It’s actually currently quite a low-carbon setup, but there is always more we could do.

One thing we’d wanted to do was encourage people we worked with to submit testimonials (the best possible way to help encourage others to engage in therapy). I saw a great post about planting a tree for each testimonial.

Fantastic! That would be a win-win. It was way out of the price range for a small enterprise like ours. It was and is a brilliant idea for bigger businesses than ours.

Starloop is great concept

Never being defeated, there MUST be a way to make this concept work.

There is!

Enter Carma (Rhymes pleasingly with CaramoCare and plays on Karma).

They plant trees regularly with a baseline subscription (which we started as a personal one already). So, 12 trees a month will be planted from our donation (also supporting veterans who plant the trees). 144 per year and a few bonus ones. A dashboard constantly updates to show our impact.

We will add another tree for each testimonial submitted and will shout about this! Think about what we could achieve together.

A veritable Carma CaramoCare Forest!

Before we come across as all holier than thou, we looked at some of our personal carbon footprints via Carma Earth’s quiz. There is work to do for sure.

Here are the results for Dr Sharryn - OUCH!

Need to do more for sure

It could be worse, but it’s not good enough, so she is aiming to reduce her carbon footprint to 2.0 by New Year 2024.

Take the quiz for yourself. It’s fairly crude but acts as a catalyst (kick up the butt) for change.

So, Happy New Year from all of us. Let’s keep doing great work and make an impact as we do.

Tetris could help reduce trauma

Could playing games REALLY reduce your trauma?

Remembering a visual image of trauma while playing a visual game blurs the trauma and knocks the edges off it.

I recently talked about trauma therapy with a trainee; she suggested I listen to a podcast about this. Professor Emily Holmes was speaking in the Life Scientific series on Radio 4.

Her research had developed around visual imagery and its power.

What was most interesting was that she looked at two versions of this visual imagery.

The first was recalling a traumatic event.

Here, we hold onto ‘snippets’ of the event, which become intrusive. I had already latched onto this in my trauma therapy. This concept of a ‘snippet’ that embodied the whole pain worked well to focus the work on. It’s also a concrete anchor for clients to hold onto and work on.

This made a lot of sense, including that we didn’t have intrusive thoughts of the whole incident, only parts. These do intrude and affect us day to day.

The second was even more enjoyable! It was a clear image or video of what would or could happen.

The example was of someone with agoraphobia (couldn’t go out). This person had an explicit video of people laughing at them if they went out. No one had ever asked about this before! Working on that helped resolve the phobia quickly.

Following this, Professor Holmes described people feeling suicidal, having a clear visual film of what they would do. All of this was new to me. It may also hold for nervousness about presenting, public speaking, attending school, and many other issues.

What Professor Holmes then did

The next stage was realising that if we recall these images or snippets of trauma as clear visual images, we can’t then do a complex visual task and still hold onto the trauma images as clearly.

I would have assumed that the traumatic images were deeply imprinted and challenging to move. Not so! The evidence was that doing this reduced the feelings from the trauma following this.

It was suggested that visual tasks simultaneously blurred the trauma (and reduced its power and hold) or knocked the edges off it.

The original studies looked at visual tasks, and then one of the younger research team members suggested Tetris as precisely the sort of task they were looking for. It is a simple game with blocks and is relatively universally accessible. Showing this to those who had been in a traumatic accident in Emergency Departments helped reduce traumatic memories afterwards.

Listen, if nothing else, it helps pass the time waiting in the hospital!

This resonated with me. It didn’t heal the trauma directly, but it did have a lasting effect in reducing it. So two things help—Tetris reduces it, and Trauma Therapy heals it.

The two trauma therapies I’m thinking of specifically are EMDR (the original Grand-daddy of PTSD treatment) and Blast (a newer, faster, re-ordered version of EMDR). These heal the trauma by also ‘calling up’ the visual snippets or images, stimulating the two sides of the brain individually and repeatedly. So we stimulate the left side and then the right, and repeat that, most often with a pen torch or light. The theory is that this disconnects the two sides of the brain, which can’t work together with this repeated separate stimulation. When they can’t work together, we get space to reprocess the trauma.

What does this knowledge mean?

Firstly, it helps support the basis for EMDR / Blast.

Secondly, it is a tool clients can potentially set up at home if doing exercises to try and find their traumas. They are unlikely to have immediate access to therapy at that point, and this could be instant help at home alone.

I would undoubtedly feel more confident in my book, asking readers to look for their trauma if they had something helpful immediately available.

Thirdly, it might be helpful in multiple situations.

Could it be used (content-free, where we don’t ask about the details of the trauma) in classes at school?

Could it be used before starting therapy to help clients?

Could it be built-in to virtual courses or programmes?

I can’t thank Hannah enough for steering me towards this podcast. It ignited something, and I hope to contact Professor Holmes next in New Zealand.

Tetris could help reduce trauma

Could playing games REALLY reduce your trauma?

Remembering a visual image of trauma while playing a visual game blurs the trauma and knocks the edges off it.

I recently talked about trauma therapy with a trainee; she suggested I listen to a podcast about this. Professor Emily Holmes was speaking in the Life Scientific series on Radio 4.

Her research had developed around visual imagery and its power.

What was most interesting was that she looked at two versions of this visual imagery.

The first was recalling a traumatic event.

Here, we hold onto ‘snippets’ of the event, which become intrusive. I had already latched onto this in my trauma therapy. This concept of a ‘snippet’ that embodied the whole pain worked well to focus the work on. It’s also a concrete anchor for clients to hold onto and work on.

This made a lot of sense, including that we didn’t have intrusive thoughts of the whole incident, only parts. These do intrude and affect us day to day.

The second was even more enjoyable! It was a clear image or video of what would or could happen.

The example was of someone with agoraphobia (couldn’t go out). This person had an explicit video of people laughing at them if they went out. No one had ever asked about this before! Working on that helped resolve the phobia quickly.

Following this, Professor Holmes described people feeling suicidal, having a clear visual film of what they would do. All of this was new to me. It may also hold for nervousness about presenting, public speaking, attending school, and many other issues.

What Professor Holmes then did

The next stage was realising that if we recall these images or snippets of trauma as clear visual images, we can’t then do a complex visual task and still hold onto the trauma images as clearly.

I would have assumed that the traumatic images were deeply imprinted and challenging to move. Not so! The evidence was that doing this reduced the feelings from the trauma following this.

It was suggested that visual tasks simultaneously blurred the trauma (and reduced its power and hold) or knocked the edges off it.

The original studies looked at visual tasks, and then one of the younger research team members suggested Tetris as precisely the sort of task they were looking for. It is a simple game with blocks and is relatively universally accessible. Showing this to those who had been in a traumatic accident in Emergency Departments helped reduce traumatic memories afterwards.

Listen, if nothing else, it helps pass the time waiting in the hospital!

This resonated with me. It didn’t heal the trauma directly, but it did have a lasting effect in reducing it. So two things help—Tetris reduces it, and Trauma Therapy heals it.

The two trauma therapies I’m thinking of specifically are EMDR (the original Grand-daddy of PTSD treatment) and Blast (a newer, faster, re-ordered version of EMDR). These heal the trauma by also ‘calling up’ the visual snippets or images, stimulating the two sides of the brain individually and repeatedly. So we stimulate the left side and then the right, and repeat that, most often with a pen torch or light. The theory is that this disconnects the two sides of the brain, which can’t work together with this repeated separate stimulation. When they can’t work together, we get space to reprocess the trauma.

What does this knowledge mean?

Firstly, it helps support the basis for EMDR / Blast.

Secondly, it is a tool clients can potentially set up at home if doing exercises to try and find their traumas. They are unlikely to have immediate access to therapy at that point, and this could be instant help at home alone.

I would undoubtedly feel more confident in my book, asking readers to look for their trauma if they had something helpful immediately available.

Thirdly, it might be helpful in multiple situations.

Could it be used (content-free, where we don’t ask about the details of the trauma) in classes at school?

Could it be used before starting therapy to help clients?

Could it be built-in to virtual courses or programmes?

I can’t thank Hannah enough for steering me towards this podcast. It ignited something, and I hope to contact Professor Holmes next in New Zealand.

Glymphatics - Literally Clearing Your Head

Brain excreting waste during sleep

How the brain clears its waste as you sleep - Genius!

We always knew what an amazing organ the brain is. Humans don’t have the biggest brains in the world, but we do have the highest weight of brain tissue relative to our weight, and we cram a ton of neurons (brain cells) in there.

We didn’t (and still don’t) know exactly how it works.

I love that we’ve been studying brains for hundreds of years and that we’re still learning about them. Every day is a school day! We’re still constantly learning. I learned anatomy at Med School in Glasgow in a windowless basement in 1988. This Glymphatic System wasn’t even on the horizon then.

OK, what is it?

We have lymphatics throughout the body. They’re channels that clear waste products from tissues back to the bloodstream so that they can be eliminated. There’s a great wee video here that describes how they work. It’s for parents and is brief, informative and clear.

Essentially fluid and proteins constantly leak out of blood vessels. Lymphatic channels allow them to get back to the bloodstream so we don’t just keep swelling up more and more.

How awful would that be?

While they’re at it, they also have white blood cells which pick up and demolish germs or other harmful substances. Along these channels are filter stations (lymph nodes). These tend to clump in risky areas (bowel, underarms etc). Some are just under the skin where we can feel them, and some are buried deeper and we’d never feel them, like around the bowel or in the chest.

When your ‘glands are up’ this is the lymph nodes working super hard and getting bigger and harder to let us know that they are working hard!

BUT THERE ARE NO LYMPHATICS IN THE BRAIN

Rubbish chute emptying debris from the brain

Ok, stuff still leaks out though. That’s just physics. Our heads don’t just keep swelling and swelling — the skull stops that.

It turns out that there are some lymphatics in the brain in specific areas. Not enough though.

So how do these bits get out?

There had to be an alternative (and there is, though it’s still controversial).

The brain is unique (in many ways). It is protected from rogue materials getting in in a number of ways. One of these is having its own system of fluid (separate from the body’s systems) for delivering essential fuel and other good stuff like glucose and oxygen.

The most effective way it does this is via the so-called Blood Brain Barrier (BBB). Anything above a certain size can’t pass itself. Anything bigger needs a friend (transporter) to get it in. So things like oxygen and water pass on their own. Glucose and amino acids need help. Even bigger things bypass this system but we know they still get there. It’s been suggested that they go around and alongside blood vessels. They even use the pulsing of the arteries to push them into the brain.

When waste products need to leave the brain, this same pulsing pushes them around the venous system in the brain and back into the circulation.

The really interesting bit?

In non-rapid eye movement (quiescent) sleep, the process is increased by around 60% so that it really does empty while we sleep. It’s slow and sluggish in the daytime.

How cool is that?

What a wonderful process to have evolved! Literally emptying the bins overnight. It also means that getting enough sleep is essential to function well in the day.

One of the proteins excreted is Amyloid B. Sounds benign but when this bad boy manages to form clumps or plaques in the brain, it can lead to Alzheimer’s amongst other issues.

I’ll write more on sleep too, but the quickest hack is to get out in genuine sunlight as early as possible in the day. The blue light in the early morning switches off our melatonin (the sleep hormone). This wakes us up and also rests our clock to make us feel sleepier that night.

Sleep (and quality sleep) is the cheapest and best quality medicine.

Sign up for more like this

We're gonna eliminate your Imposter Syndrome.

This is Step 1 - do you have it? How does it affect you?

The real-world screener.

https://drsharryn.gumroad.com/l/impostersyndromescreener

You're juggling everything—high-powered, high-demand and often a high-risk job. You're likely juggling parents and kids on top of that.

You worked like a dog to get here. You were nervous every time you stepped up or took on a new challenge.

Objectively, you have it all, but my God, it's tough. You rarely take time to reflect on where you are (this screener will help you do that). You keep going and put down your route here to luck or errors from others.

Because you believe this, you 'know' it could run out anytime.

So you worry, someday you'll be found out. You 'know' you're not enough and spend masses of energy trying to hide that from others.

Except you are MORE than enough; this screener is the first step in realising that.

It doesn't matter how many articles or podcasts you read or listen to; it's the context of your life that matters. This screener is for you as you live day-to-day. It will anchor your experience so that you know if you suffer, how much you suffer and what that's costing you.

The point of the screener

It is NOT to act as something else to beat yourself up with.

It IS to get an anchor of where you are and then to DO something about it.

Calming or quelling it is not enough.

You need it gone and gone for good.

Do what exactly?

My own Imposter Syndrome (a 30-year sufferer) was cured in 6 minutes. I want that for you, and having stumbled into the cure, I want to share it widely.

Let me tell you that that is possible, and quickly. No resilience training or yoga. There are rapid Therapies that work. They only take 1-3 sessions (often just 1), and therapists are available to help. My upcoming resources will show you how. They will explain WHY and HOW they work (as best we understand at this stage). They will also give you tasters of each therapy to take the fear away.

What do you mean real world?

Many online screeners or questionnaires are different. They often ask very science-sounding questions. I wanted to reflect your world. Our world.

A lot also have duplicate or overlapping questions. I don't think that helps.

I added a couple of questions on 'tells' - the things you know nearly give you away. I haven't seen these anywhere else.

I've been most inspired by the work of the great Pauline Clance. She pioneered the Imposter Phenomenon and realised that high-achieving women suffered the most. Her Imposter Phenomenon Scale also inspired me.

Good luck!

I hope you find the screener helpful.

drsharryn@me.com

Thanks for choosing the screener!

Take time to process your self-rating. The scores aren't as linear as we think in terms of the severity of Imposter Syndrome. We're smart people. We understand that.

If you're having a bit of a wobble afterwards, please reach out.

https://drsharryn.gumroad.com/l/impostersyndromescreener

Imposter Syndrome - Dream of being free?

Dreams really can come true!

We’ve lived with it so long, it seems permanent doesn’t it?

We spend much effort maintaining our protective wall that we’re spend. No juice in the tank for much else.

We didn’t go into our careers (mostly) for prestige, We wanted to be inspired, to make a difference. Do we feel that every day, or even any day?

Even with demands soaring and all Healthcare’s challenges, we have to find satisfaction at least. Even better if we find purpose and moments of joy.

So instead of focusing today on the Imposter Syndrome itself, focus on what could be if it were gone?

More joy at work and the motivation to take opportunities (or empowerment to turn down assignments).

More time and energy for hobbies, family and friends.

What have always wanted to do with your time? The more ‘out there’ the better! What’s stopping you?

The realisation that perhaps you’ve given enough and it’s time to step aside or step away.

Time to GET IT GONE FOR GOOD!

You only get this one life. You need to be the star of that movie!

Be the star 🌟 of your Life Movie 🎥

You think it’s just you don’t you?

You are surrounded by others everyday

Everyone around you is just so ‘together’. They know what they’re doing and you’re just winging it if you’re being honest.

It’s not just you!

In fact it’s mostly everyone else. ESPECIALLY the folk who seem to have it all together.

In years gone by, professionals wouldn’t share that they suffered from Imposter Syndrome. You just didn’t. More recently senior staff are attending Imposter Syndrome workshops to support trainees (cough - actually themselves). They may open up in these where others are likely to be sympathetic.

Go back to work though, and that protective wall is right back up to full height again. Sound familiar?

I’ve just finished the first draft of Imposter Eliminator - Get it Gone for Good. I signed up for the Punchy Books Accelerator Program and used some other tools including hemingway Editor and Grammarly. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think anyone would want to hear from me about Imposter Syndrome.

I had my own Imposter Syndrome cured and when my protective wall fell away and opened everything up, I knew that many colleagues needed this too.

The Imposter Eliminator was born!

Giving Imposter Syndrome the Boot - Forever

I’m no lifelong scholar in this. I stumbled into the cures while learning other skills.

It’d be selfish and tragic NOT to share though wouldn’t it?

So join this community for your own journey and perhaps someday to also help others. Sign-up and look out for updates. We’re gonna kick this thing for good!

PS: Book available free to first 10 folks who will be brutally honest with their feedback.

Teens often want to change others before themselves

Spoiler alert - they can't & it won't work

Solution Focused Therapy is often transformational. In less than an hour, it can help someone walking in low & deflated to see their own world of possibility. They sit up straighter, make better eye contact and start to talk excitedly about their future.

There’s often a moment - one moment - where they suddenly see it. See it. It suddenly becomes real and possible.

They look up and left, and there’s an ‘AHA!’ moment.

That’s why I love it. I never tire of seeing that moment!

Pointing Blame at Others

So often, teens, children and parents come in sincerely believing that someone else is the cause of their issues. If only that person had changed, life would be great. Instead, they outsource much of their stress and pain to others, which is convenient even if it is not feasible or even possible.

It’s tempting, all right. Tempting. Unfortunately, life doesn’t usually work that way.

They may change if the other person is in the therapy room and hears what the client wants and how their behaviour affects the client. But, unfortunately, that’s probably the exception rather than the rule.

Most clients don’t initially understand the power of nudging or shifting their perspective. And it is real power. Changing your perspective indeed changes your situation. It’s also true that therapy for anyone involved in the dynamic shifts how they respond to others. That different reaction starts to impact the others, starting a snowball effect.

Amazingly this means that the expected client doesn’t need to be the client to get results. For example, therapy for a parent can help a child. Therapy for a spouse can help their partner and so on. This is especially helpful when the expected client can’t or won’t engage in treatment.

So don’t despair! Change is possible even if the person perceived to need treatment doesn’t get therapy.

Change is not only possible - it is inevitable. Nothing is fixed. So given that nothing stands still, that change can be positive.

Dr Doyle is right in the pinned tweet above. It is presumptuous to try to ‘fix’ someone else. However, it is entirely understandable to want to!

Realistically, that probably wouldn’t ‘fix’ us in any case. Our world is our world. We need to see our own desired future. Not just as some abstract theory. It’s painting and describing that picture in glorious technicolour and detail that brings it to life.

I don’t believe therapy has to be all deep stuff and digging for reasons. Solution Fused Therapy Otten talks about the small details of every day - what you listen to on the radio on the way to work, how you do hair or make-up on a good day, and what colour scarf you choose. Most of us feel comfortable talking about these.

It is simultaneously superficial with deep work going on underneath.

Don’t be scared - look for Solution Focused Therapists near you (like myself) or even online. Change is constant, so you might as well tilt it in your favour.

Sleep Like a Baby in 3,2,1

Sleep like a baby in 3,2,1

Sleep is mission-critical to health—the hack to end all hacks.

You can see the people around you who sleep well - they're fresh, enthusiastic & most of all fun! You're jealous now, aren't you?

Trying to sleep without these tips is like trying to park a car racing at 70 miles an hour in a tight space. You're on a hiding to nothing!

Parking car @ 70mph

Join them by following these simple rules:

3 hrs before bed stop eating 🍔

2 hrs before bed stop working or studying - put down the screens 📺

1 hr before bed, dim the lights to soft, warm light 🛋️

If we could add one more, it would be to avoid caffeine 10 hrs before bed.

If sleep is the number 1 hack, the sun is your catalyst to get you there.

You've two major light switches, and you can use them daily.

Waking, you want to throw the energy switch & put the bright lights on.

This change is the biggest sleep hack - notice it’s at the opposite end of the day to sleep itself. Weird, huh?

Powering up your screens delivers blue light - not natural white daylight. Unfortunately, your screen also causes you to stress checking social media or emails on waking.

Daylight through the window’s not enough - get out in it. 15-30 minutes is enough. Walk the dog - sit with a drink in the garden. If that’s not possible, get a SAD light to wake you with the added bonus of topping up your Vitamin D levels. Hold for now on the sunscreen this early (even if you’re an alabaster & freckly Celt like me). Make sure you slap on the SPF 50 later to keep the wrinkles (and cancers) away.

So this should energise and wake you. We do the same in reverse at bedtime.

Before that, an extra boost of bright light in the daylight late afternoon lifts us when we might start to flag. Better than the strong black coffee or fatty, sugary doughnut. Again 15-30 mins are enough. Inspiration flows when you get outside, so don’t scrim or think it’s wasted time.

To reverse things, we can put down the screens (2 hrs before bed) and switch to warm yellow or orange-hued soft lights. Then, when we sleep, blackout curtains stop all morning. Keep the room cool & you’re all set.

No sheep required, the zzzzzz’s will flow & your energy levels & health will soar.

Let me know how you get on!

This week, quite an eclectic mix of news and features!

Autumn (or fall) has arrived! Hot chocolate bombs and creative rest feature while soup features as unusual art! We lost the genius of Robbie Coltrane (and so the lovable Hagrid).

There's more alarming climate news about wildlife depletion,. There's a positive and a negative story in Feminist Features (all I can say is that Nancy Pelosi is the real deal!)

We learned more about how the gut microbiome and its potential around social anxiety therapy as well human brain cells meshing with rat brain cells to further improve our understanding of human brain conditions. Stanford and Caltech leading the way.

Please share the newsletter and let me know what you'd like to see here and what you think of this newsletter's choices.

Sunflowers survived Soup

Just Stop Oil

Van Gogh's masterpiece 'Sunflowers' was attacked with soup at London's National Gallery this week. It looked rather like Heinz Tomato Soup and miraculously the masterpiece is apparently unharmed. This was part of a protest by climate protestors and the photo by Just Stop Oil.

While they are certainly creative in their protests, they're not always featured in MSM. Does the lack of coverage encourage or discourage the escalation of their protests? Aren't we better to engage with them, as well as the issue?

Poor LDV - others glued themselves to the frame of 'The Last Supper' - surely that one was more suited to soup?

TeleHealth News and funding

Stat Health tells us white, urban higher-educated people more commonlkyb use Telehealth. That's prbably not a surprise.

It is interesting that of the HealthTech Startups getting funded include $30 M for Folx Health for queer and trans people including expert-led support groups and later emotional and behaviour support via an app. Also Shimmer for adult ADHD support.

Just as the Telehealth data isn't surprising these previously marginalised groups may have resources to use these services.

We Lost Hagrid & Fitz

Robbie Coltrane (Anthony Robert McMillan a real Glaswegian like myself) died this weekend at 72. He oozed fun even after finding success in Cracker as the rather flawed alcoholic forensic psychologist Fitz (you couldn't help loving him anyway) where he won 3 BAFTAs. I hadn't realised his dad was a GP and forensic police surgeon - Rutherglen back in the day will have been pretty exciting!)

His character in the Harry Potter movies was iconic. Hell, he was iconic, and a film star! He acted a little slow in the role while having some cunning plans - always with a sparkle.That's what we'll miss most - that hint of naughtiness with a heart of gold.

My only claim to fame with the Potter franchise is having been in the same year as JK Rowling's husband (and his first wife). He was quiet & strikingly similar to Harry Potter (including in our Yearbook - minus the scar). I'm sure that is purely coincidental!

I had to share this tweet from Stephen Fry - honking helplessly is something we could all use!

Twitter

Ukraine's Starlink Satellite Internet for Ukraine dropped

Elon Musk announced that he could no longer fund this vital service. The Twitter legal wranglings may have impacted this.

Rogue or genius?

This was needed and now is critical. Without him it may not have happened.

There may have been a significant shift in the Ukraine war (Putin rumoured to be open to talks), and who knew it would last this long at the start?

Did he always know and know that it needed to happen quickly and that the US would eventually pick up the tab - was it his plan all along?

Perhaps the Stralink logo directly entering his ear here was partly to blame?

Elon gonna Elon as they say!

Friday was National Desert Day

Seemed churlish not to celebrate it this side of the pond!

Fall is here (autumn to us!) and pumpkin spice will be wafting very soon. Meantime I spotted my favourite hot chocolate bombs again this year.

Add them to milk and the chocolate bomb melts exploding open a pile of mini-marshmallows. If you think you can beat that - I'm up for it. Let me know!

You can even make your own. I'm so up for that!

New Discovery - Wait but Why Website

Frequently Asked Questions — Wait But Why

So what’s the deal with the king? He’s there, he’s not that sure why, we’re not that sure why, but that’s the situation. Is Wait But Why a blog or a real website? Again,...

https://waitbutwhy.com/faq

Is it a blog or something else? It seems made for me - it questions anything and everything & deep dives into it.

Real research, presented graphically. I've shared the FAQs because they are hilarious and the site is awesome.

How did I come across it?

Via Morning Brew the world's top Newsletter. See Newsletters are great! This newsletter is hosted by some of the original Morning Brew creators at Beehiiv (which is particularly awesome - check it out here). Morning Brew talked about Tim Urban from Wait But Why posing a thought discussion.

🥁🥁🥁

What's something thought healthy today that we'll later shake our heads at?

Or the inverse, what is seen now as unhealthy but you see as healthy (they suggested Mountain Dew!)

Climate News

Photo by @markusspiske unsplash

We have lost 69% of the global wildlife population in under 50 years (in my lifetime), mostly from farming encroaching their habitats, driven partly by climate change. Only 37% of rivers longer than 600 miles flow freely along their full length having devastating effects on local habitats.

Which species? There were 5000 examined including pink Brazilian dolphins (quite an image) as well as gorillas and others.

I hope to have many more years and how many more will be lost? Hopes are pinned on a global meeting in Montreal in December to provide resources and impetus. Do it for the pink dolphins.

Via Reuters Oct 13

Creative Rest

Tim Cooper @ Unsplash

Who knew there were 7 types of rest? 7!

the others are:

• sensory

• social

• spiritual

• emotional

• mental

• of course physical - the most important though not enough in isolation

Feeling meh? It might be lifestyle fatigue rather than burnout

For creative rest, try (fun not talent required)

• Listening to music

• Painting

• Colouring

• A walk outside

• Mooching around a shop

• Learning something new

• Take a real day off!

Happy to try all of them. Years ago I did a Bootcamp at Champneys. It was great and let me try out a whole smorgasbord of activities to see not only what I enjoyed but what worked well for me. Zumba and fast walking at it turned out were effective, the infrared heat therapy and thalassotherapy were my favourite experiences.

I thought it might work for busy folk to have snippets of different practices rather than long painful mandatory ones! So trying restorative yoga poses, different coloured sounds (weird concept, huh?) Tai-Chi and more. Like a buffet to see what you like and then choose to go back for more.

Microbiome Bacteria could unlock Mental Health Benefits

CDC @ Unsplash

Mazmanian's lab @ Caltech discovered that in mice specific microbes alone could activate part of the hypothalamus to reduce corticosterone the stress hormone. Higher levels in mice were associated with reduced microbiomes. One particular bacteria (Enterococcus Faecalis - literally round gut bug found in faeces) was found to promote social activity and reduce corticosterone levels following social stress. (Invasive forms of it cause UTIs in kids and sepsis in tiny ones occasionally so sure this is a different strain!)

Alongside this, Stanford scientists have transplanted human brain cells into mice brains. The human cells grew and connected with the rat brain cells creating so-called hybrid circuits. While I see the massive potential of this (autism, schizophrenia and more) - the logistics of it make me feel quite unwell.

Feminism Feature(s)

2 this week

Zach Vessels @ Unsplash

1) The Mayo Clinic analysed 91 000 messages in its Electronic Medical Record, and women were twice as likely to be addressed by their first name. I only usually use mine (Paediatrics & ED are a bit of an extreme for this).

They noted though that patients used casual text tone even when addressing female doctors who had introduced themselves as their full title. It was even more pronounced for Osteopaths and Primary Care Physicians. So-called untitling is subtle.

I probably wouldn't have been too upset by the title issue. It also appears that women doctors got many more messages from patients too.

These effects accumulate and can lead to burnout and loss from the profession.

2) Badass Nancy Pelosi was featured in Jan 6th footage.

‘Do you believe this?’: New video shows how Nancy Pelosi took charge in Capitol riot

House speaker continued to try to find a way for House and Senate to reconvene despite turmoil

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/oct/14/do-you-believe-this-new-video-shows-how-nancy-pelosi-took-charge-in-capitol-riot

Despite being in actual mortal danger (and a specific target) she was icy calm and laser-focused on certifying the election results to prevent the intruders from further damage. She calmly rung adjacent state governors to help. The men who helped were clearly more scared. The men who didn't help included some who literally ran away.

The Guardian asks 'do you believe this?' - oh yeah! Totally!

Go Nancy - a lifetime of service and this proves she's the real deal.

Until next time let's all channel our inner Nancy!

A week like no other - everything shifted & everyone affected in some way:

This week's features:

• HMTQ died and shook us to the core - breaking news / controversy of the week / On this day in History Combined

• Reflecting on 25 years since Diana's Death

• Dying in public - the process web may choose not to see

• 2 mildly humorous takes

• HMTQ had of course to be this week's GOAT - out of respect and 70+ years of devotion to the country

• Hint of Heartwarming - a humorous and inspiring story of HMTQ

• All other features will wait until next week

Again share the love and share the newsletter! There's room in the CaramoCare Family for everyone!

• It must seem like I'm Royal-obsessed! Far from it - the news recently has featured them heavily.

A Week Like No Other

I'm not a big Royalist. Somehow the Royals have featured heavily in the first episodes of the CaramoCare Chronicles. Events, my dear (boy), events!

The infamous (Harold Macmillan) quote when asked about the biggest challenge to his administration. 

Nothing is amusing about this week's events. Two tweets humorously emphasised the enormity of the week—the enormity of 2 Prime Ministers and 2 Monarchs in 2 days. 

The first drafts of this issue included my personal history of Princess Diana's death. Somehow the enormity of the 25th Anniversary passed many of us by. I was training in Australia, watching events unfold one sunny Sunday daytime. I knew that friends and family at home would be sleeping and completely unaware.

None of us knew then what else this week had in store. Thursday will be a much bigger day in history. A colossal event today.

Who could have guessed that William and Harry would be racing to Balmoral? Balmoral is the scene for them of that bad news 25 years ago, almost to the day.

While they are both adults, that must have brought back painful memories. This is on top of the new emotions of losing their beloved grandmother. We know they had experienced trauma in that period, and this may have been triggering for them both. Perhaps in different ways. 

In August 1997, I worked as a Junior Paediatric Registrar at The New Children's Hospital in Westmead. It's not called that anymore! This was a wonderful learning experience. I developed clinical and leadership skills in a much flatter hierarchy than in the UK.  Many other doctors did the same, and hierarchies here are much flatter, partly due to our Antipodean adventures. 

Everything occurred Saturday night in Paris. An hour ahead in Paris, many had gone to bed in the UK. The London cabbies would feature worldwide in News footage as they came together working overnight. In Sydney, we were enjoying Sunday lunchtime and heard a  newsflash that Diana had been in a car crash and broke her arm. If only that had been the full extent of it. If only.

We'd watched the Sunday Lunch Jazz at the Sydney Fish Market at the end of the road. We returned to hear her death announced live on TV.  Ironically this was via the major UK news networks that few were watching at home. 

At that point, I rang home (a costly endeavour in those days!). My mum was in shock at 5 am and rang her friends who rang their friends. It was a shock. There were immediate conspiracy theories. There were two young sons, bereft. They then felt a duty to walk behind her coffin while others cried and screamed at THEIR loss. They held their emotions that day, letting them spill out many years later. 

The week or so after her death felt like a period of near-hysteria. A country that previously had held its' emotions in let everything out. Perhaps due to the shock and her empathy and star quality.

Thousands turned out for the funeral procession. They spontaneously threw flowers onto the hearse carrying her coffin. The whole situation changed the country. The Genie of that emotional expression couldn't be put back in the bottle.

It had always seemed unseemly when people talked about Operation London Bridge. Culturally we don't like to think or speak about family members dying or what happens next. The Royal Family is no different.

Interestingly there was a Twitter thread today on how she had an 'ordinary' death in public. Read the whole thread if you can (below). This was somehow obvious and yet not realised. Please read it. We see this in our families (if we're lucky). We often deny what is evident and correct in front of us.

Twitter tweet

Working from home yesterday with the news in the background, events unfolded—an unprecedented Palace statement. Notes were passed to the leaders in Parliament during one of the most consequential statements in recent years. Newsreaders changed into black, as did the BBC News website. 

The close family rushed straight up to Balmoral. We'd only seen photos of her working with the Prime Ministerial handover two days before. Frail but determined.

We knew she was frail. We knew she couldn't last forever while someone sort of thought she would. She had to, indeed?

With more and more details, it felt like an inevitable announcement of her death. The moment it was announced was a moment we'll all remember. 

The Nation is already in a state of uncertainty politically and economically. Many here are staunch Royalists; many are staunch Republicans. Many are somewhere between the two. Very few don't admire the longevity and experience she brought to the role. Her constancy has been a great comfort for many, and in these uncertain times, we'll feel her loss all the more. 

We are likely to feel a loss we didn't expect to feel. We may feel lost. 

This adds to that uncertainty.

The situation is not without some controversy. Nearly everyone would want to pause, reflect and commemorate her life. Many found the blanket coverage too much, mainly while so much else was happening—huge counter-offensives in Ukraine. Many worried to death about fuel bills. Putting them behind this pageantry (aside from its apparent costs) may also be thought offensive. It's not unreasonable for people to expect to have their needs addressed too. 

People were arrested for holding anti-establishment placards. As these laws passed, many didn't see this as inevitable. 

What positives came out?

King Charles III (that'll take some getting used to!) expressed his love for Meghan and Harry. That reduced some of the worst attacks on them.  William invited them to join him and his wife on a walkabout outside Windsor Castle.

For the first time, Harry and Meghan stopped trending on Twitter. 

How brave must Meghan have been to face that situation and those crowds - one of whom was hostile to her? Many aren't fans - surely they can still see that?  

We also saw the UK get the most impressive pageantry up and perfect in only a day or two. All of these events were simultaneously coordinated. It was breathtaking in scope.

2 Tweets showing the enormity of this week like no other:

This day, this week, this month, this year (and perhaps longer still) - had to be Queen Elizabeth (Previously the Second and now The Great)

70 years. Red boxes everyday except Christmas Day and Easter Sunday.

She was apparently a fast reader - she took it all in and was able to analyse and recall information seemingly effortlessly. I bet it wasn't effortless.

She was 'in' the conversations with those who we might expect to be better informed. She didn't direct and may have steered with gentle probing and questioning. Her experience was unrivalled. It wasn't just that she'd been through it. She reflected on what she (and we) had been through and applied it pragmatically. 

And she never spoke of her conversations with any of her 15 Prime Ministers. She also saw to it that neither did they (on the whole). Without the threat of beheading or the Tower of London. No record is kept save that in her Majesty's memory. We lost that this week. We lost that continuity.

She entered a man's world and enthralled them all. Footage of a G7 summit shows her effortlessly managing heads of state (and those who tried to speak over her).

Even Winston Churchill felt that she was 'only a child'. He was, of course, getting on a bit. She soon dazzled him with her skills and grasp of issues, and they had a lifelong personal friendship. 

Saudi Women didn't drive - HMTQ did!

A visit from Saudi Royalty saw HMTQ offer the opportunity for a tour of her estate. This was gratefully accepted and the Royal seated in a waiting LandRover. No other than HMTQ jumped into the driver's seat (no seatbelt) and sped off. 

Actions speak louder than any words - particularly for one who doesn't have the option of public words. 

The ultimate Feminist!

Another wee tweet:

Of course from HMTQ (a week or two into the first COVID lockdown)

"While we have faced challenges before, this one is different. This time we join with all nations across the globe in a common endeavour, using the great advances of science and our instinctive compassion to heal. We will succeed - and that success will belong to every one of us.

We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again."

Televised address on April 5, 2020

And in other news - you must be exhausted!

I hope you enjoyed this first edition and will keep coming back for more.

I hope that more than anything as well as coming along for the ride, you will want to (and feel empowered to) contribute. And of course, please share widely!

Strong women making history this week - embracing and reflecting on their stories

This week's theme developed itself. 2 historic events anchored to this week and three women connected.

Controversy: A rare unbiased review of the first Archetypes podcast by Meghan.

This day in history: Death of Diana - my memory of that day, and the world's reaction.

The GOAT: The one & only Serena Williams likely finishes her stellar tennis career - she provides this week's quote too.

Again share the love and share the newsletter! There's room in the CaramoCare Family for everyone!

HYNTIYL - Honestly, You Need This In Your Life

What is the best thing parents can do for their family? Spend time being present. With the looming cost of living crisis many parents will need to work more hours and will likely be more anxious when present with family.

Screen-free time allows work time to be shorter and more productive. Sprints, not marathons, can give parents more time and freedom for those in control of their working schedules. 

This app via Product Hunt allows more personalisation of this experience and includes anti-cheating features! Most importantly, it was developed by someone who developed to save their own life and sanity.

BurnoutBuddy - Free anti-burnout & self-control tool for workaholics | Product Hunt

Working late hours and weekends for no good reason? Lacking the self-control to stop? BurnoutBuddy actively blocks you from using work-related apps outside working hours to help you overcome bad habits and improve your work-life balance.

https://www.producthunt.com/posts/burnoutbuddy

Controversy of the Week: Archetype Podcast Episode 1

Imagine a real review of the Archetype Podcast

Imagine - one with the good & the bad

Not one shouting from either extreme support or hate 

Crazily this might be the only one 

Others were at one or other extreme

I start from a positive view of everyone

I believe that that is fair - others may say naive

Written over the holiday weekend - BEFORE today’s news updates

Meghan's Archetype's podcast hits number one planet-wide

My biggest insight? 

Many prejudged it on pre-conceived opinions on Meghan as a (temporary) Royal. In doing so, we may have unfairly minimised some of her stories.

In fairness, the curiosity alone for the podcast would have driven it to number 1.

Specific advertising appeared only around a week before launch. That didn't quite reach us here in Southport. I've seen

some fantastic Billboards from Times Square and elsewhere.

There were a million listens in the first days post-launch. That is incredible.

Talking to influential women celebrities and experts about the stereotypes around women. Promoted as 'uncensored conversations with women who know all too well how these typecasts shape narratives'.

Anchored with the now infamous story about the Proctor & Gamble advert, the Mail said many yawned. This story is so famous that it would have seemed odd NOT to include it as an anchor. 

Meghan had gone to a Catholic school where the Nuns had stood up for change. When denied, they & rebelled & broke free - I love that! Inspo in the unlikeliest of places!

There was also a segment about being 'Straight Outta Compton'. Compton, a city in LA, had a bad reputation for gangs in the 90s & is on the up. Serena was incredulous that Kevin Costner grew up in Compton - it's true!

Meghan was reported as being from Compton; only she wasn't. Not that there was anything wrong with being from Compton.

Episode 1 is a relaxed conversation between Meghan and her long-time best friend, Serena Williams. There is a cameo right at the start of Prince Harry, which many saw as cringy. I'm sure it was not entirely as accidental as it appeared. Harry is involved in this friendship & it could have been spontaneous. I thought it was sort of sweet.

Many said that Meghan dominated the conversation. Perhaps. This podcast would set the tone for the series and needed some scene-setting.

Many said Serena didn't get to say much, and Meghan interrupted a lot. Perhaps. I would have been happy to hear from Serena. A full hour wouldn't have been enough. 

Serena was modest, and her talking about her daughter Olympia was beautiful. There were real insights 'she's so young’, and she asks why people all know her mum's name. Of course, that would be odd. 

Instead of boasting, Serena did the verbal equivalent of an awkward shrug. I related to her then. I related to her even more in her fears of heights (which Meghan shared) and swimming in open water. We also heard about Serena's business and how she'd built it up while at the top of the tennis world. 

Serena knew her stuff on the impacts of how we perceive and treat women. The tennis clips were devastating, and many of us will remember them as they happened. They look even worse looking back. How must that have felt to her, and how did she manage to keep going (and stay calm and focused?)? We heard a little about how difficult it was.

The podcast also pulled back the curtain of celebrity to show the real-life humans behind it. The story of Serena's guilt is when Olympia fell and broke her arm, cradling her in a chair all night and entering the cauldron of elite tennis hours later and 'scraping' a win.  You could feel her guilt and that pressure to carry on and perform.

My sister's child had an injury in my care, and I was also devastated by guilt. Children, of course, are children and constantly exploring.

Meghan's story along similar lines has gained much negative press.  I looked at Mumsnet, Twitter and national press coverage. I was pretty shocked at some of the disbelief and dismissiveness. It was clear that Mumsnetters were far from Meghan fans.

Fans or not, many jumped to downplaying the story of the smoking heater in Archie's room. I know no more or less than others about the truth of the specifics. 

All new parents leaving their child somewhere they didn't know, with people they didn't know, would be nervous. Heightened as it was the first time, and he was only 4 1/2 months. 

They'd had a long flight and went straight into a Royal event. They escorted Archie away somewhere they hadn't seen or settled him in.

Imagine the stress of that public appearance. Imagine missing your new baby and then hearing there'd been a fire in their room. Facts don't matter - wouldn't every new parent's legs go to jelly & then almost stop breathing? Wouldn't they?

I'm surprised many Mumsnetters didn't relate to that (or believe the story).

It did seem odd that if they were such good friends, they had never discussed it before. I am likely being naive. I did feel for them in that situation and especially in having to leave him then again & be all smiles.

So that was the gossipy bit that made the news. 

Dr Laura Kray was the Berkeley Psychology expert bringing research in support. 

Serena then made the comment that hit me hardest.

Little girls are fearless & as they get older, they put their hands up less & less. That's devastating.

So, in summary, while a bit cringy, we needed the G&G advert & the Prince Harry cameo. I get why folks yawned & moaned, but they anchored the series opener.

I hear the bit about Serena being repeatedly interrupted. She was & I would have LOVED to hear more from her. 

Still, she offered quite a few unique insights & relatable ones.

Meghan's recounting of the fire episode has divided opinion. The facts are, of course, the facts. They are still being debated.

In that cauldron of media frenzy, Meghan's reaction was muted, if anything. I don't get how others don't see that. 

Weirdly, Serena & Meghan had never discussed it before.

Almost everyone agrees that Meghan's voice is purr-fect for podcasting & is exceptionally smooth.

I can't wait to hear more about how she uses it with Mariah Carey this week - some of you will already have listened. What do you think of either of the episodes?

GOAT - Serena Williams - is it the sunset of her stellar career? We all knew she was the GOAT - see the image below.

@GRIZ_KCROY

@WTA

The first and original GOAT in last week's CaramoCare Chronicles was historic. Serena is making history today, IRL. She sparkled through the US Open, last night being knocked out in the 3rd Round.

Ticket prices had been trading at $2000+ and traded at $300+ following her exit. The crowds knew. They loved her.

The WTA image shows Serena thanking sport for everything it gave to HER. That is true greatness.

Rather than describe her accomplishments - this fantastic graphic from @russellcfuller on Twitter summarises most of it in visual form. 

@russellcfuller

Grandads are important to CaramoCare - this one got some lovely surprises - courtesy of the Manchester Evening News.

Twitter tweet

Many people saw her greatness early - look at this tweet from Rhiannon Potkey - her coach knew!

Twitter tweet

While focusing on young people and families, grandparents are a critical pillar of many families. This story is heartwarming about a grandad with his own needs. Enjoy! 

From the G.O.A.T. of the moment - Serena Williams

When a reporter asked an 11-year-old Serena Williams which tennis player she would most aspire to be, she flashed that smile and replied, 'Well, I'd like other people to be like me".

That sort of confidence comes from within and needs nurturing by all around our children.

Tuesday was the surprisingly muted 25th anniversary of Diana's death.

I promise all of these came up together this week. There was no pre-planning though I embraced it.

All of us old enough remember that night. I lived in Sydney in '97. I'd heard a brief newsflash about a crash and a broken arm and headed out for the weekly Sunday jazz at the Sydney Fish Market at the end of the road. I was out a couple of hours, tops. Sunday lunchtime there and early hours of Sunday morning here.

When I returned it was pretty clear that things were serious. In fact, while her death had not yet been announced, it seemed that that was just awaiting final confirmation. Like everyone, I was shocked. It was especially surreal watching the UK news channels streamed on Australian TV knowing that people in the UK weren't seeing it. 

The group in the Uk who was the most aware were taxi drivers. 

While her death appeared to be imminently announced I waited to call home, only finally calling at 5 am when her death was formally announced. My mum woke her friends and no-one could believe it. 

The following days were ones of shock for the whole country. The effects on the Royal Family (in particular Princes William and Harry) were profound and continue to this day. The Diana interview with Martin Bashir has been in the news this week.

One thing that popped up on multiple Twitter accounts this week was a reference to one of the biggest apologies in newspaper history. The National Enquirer had to pivot quickly from salacious headlines to effectively an obituary. Here is the quote:

Twitter

I can't comprehend how the 25th anniversary could have been so muted.

This week developed into a theme including strong women

Next week will be back to other story-driven content & cool features.

Catch you then - Live Your Best Life meantime!

Welcome to the CaramoCare Family & 1st (full) Edition of the Chronicles.

This edition has one of every feature we developed - for illustration. Future editions will have a selection of these. Don't worry they'll be a much shorter read!

Again share the love and share the newsletter! There's room in the CaramoCare Family for everyone!

While Monkeypox cases in the UK are reducing, the move to split vaccine doses in the US hit glitches.

America’s New Monkeypox Strategy Rests on a Single Study

Will splitting monkeypox vaccines in five work out?

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2022/08/monkeypox-vaccine-splitting-doses-fda-gamble/671100/

With limited vaccine supplies, the US has started giving doses intradermally rather than subcutaneously (fancy terms for into the skin versus into the layers under the skin). A one-fifth dose has been effective via this route. The community welcomed this news though some technical issues have hampered efforts and led to wastage and disappointment. For example, some vial bungs broke before all doses were drawn up (they were only designed to be accessed once, of course). Lots of doses were wasted.

Europe is also looking at splitting vials to give multi-doses intradermally.

Chillin' and Colourin'

Themed meditative colouring sheets to print & enjoy.

A song lyric this week to get the actual launch going. I'm figuring out how to do these, like the books. Bear with as Miranda's mother might say....

There must be a hack for doing these!

There may be a late update to the newsletter!

‘Let’s get this party started’.

Take your time, colour carefully & breathe…..

HYNTIYL - Honestly, You Need This In Your Life

Something new that's so awesome, cool or just efficient that I HAD to share it. Let's be Ninjas together!

The Chwazi App

This is genius—when someone needs to pay the bill or wash the dishes, for example. How do you choose who? This app is simple, and all those in the game put a finger on the screen, and it lights up each, builds suspense, and then chooses one - the chosen one! The spotlight is on you!

It could work for almost anything and of course depending on the 'prize' at the end, you might be a winner or loser if you're picked.

Fears of stigmatisation from Monkeypox - Is it HIV and 'It's a Sin" all over again?

While it is too early to be confident, the number of new Monkeypox cases may be tailing off. Concerns around messaging around predominantly homosexual men being affected lead to concerns that the community faces discrimination and shame again as they did with HIV 40 years ago.

Indeed 'It's A Sin' recently on Channel 4 brought home how stigmatising that was. We should all have been appalled at how individuals and groups were treated. While the fear was real, that can be no excuse.

The First Issue HAD to be the original GOAT - Mohammed Ali

An inspirational man and athlete. Look at these other boxers try & imitate him.

Boxers imitate famous Muhammad Ali quotes

Oscar de la Hoya, Bernard Hopkins and other boxers repeat quotes from Muhammad Ali.

https://www.usatoday.com/videos/sports/boxing/2014/10/30/18176961/

"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. His hands can't hit what his eyes can't see. Now you see me, now you don't. George thinks he will, but I know he won't.

He was like a ballet dancer, dancing around his prey until he struck. He was lyrical, poetic and beautiful. With two fights called the Thrilla in Manila and the Rumble in the Jungle there was something special going on. The greatest heavyweight ever - bar none!

He converted to Islam & became a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, costing him much of his career and delivering a lot of hate from the American people. He regained this in spades later. He walked the walk rather than talked the talk and supported civil rights, even earning the Martin Luther King medal. From Louisville, Kentucky, he well-knew the effects of segregation.

• 'My only fault is that I don't realize how great I really am - what can you honestly say to that?

• I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was - quite incredible!

• It's hard to be humble when you're as great as I am

• I said I was the greatest, not the smartest! - after being downgraded for conscription due to dyslexia

There were so many more poetic ones. One on every bit of life. Check more out with the link above - you can almost hear him say them.

The best bit? In Sept. 1992, Lonnie Ali, Muhammad Ali’s wife, incorporated G.O.A.T. Inc. This company was used as an umbrella for all of the former boxer’s intellectual properties being used for commercial purposes - he was the GOAT alright!

So, for our first edition, he really was the GOAT. Watch documentaries on his life - it was beyond imagination and completely extraordinary.

Graduation Billboards a thing post-Covid19 in the US

Graduates have missed in-person classes, sometimes the regular examinations and then graduations. They are still missing proms and balls. Some parents took to hiring billboards to shout out how proud they were!

There are online videos of these being revealed to students. Pure unadulterated joy after so much Pandemic stress.

From the Original G.O.A.T. (& he had a lot to choose from!)

Quick yet profound quotes. Something to perhaps anchor a week. Sometimes they'll speak directly to you. Sometimes not so much. Hopefully, they will always be inspirational or foster hope.

CaramoCare is 1st class Concierge Care as well as PAYG services to help families budget.

After the huge background works our team can share free resources to help everyone,. Small donations (buy me a coffee) & large donations enable us to see some of those most in need pro bono.

You can only look at services to others when your cup is filling near the top. Our work will help those we help live out the GOAT’s ideals. Let's pay it forward when we're ready to.

Tuesday was the 49th anniversary of an event that spawned a syndrome

49 years ago, a Stockholm back was held up by robbers. After 6 days stuck in the vault, when it was ending, the hostages were protective of the perpetrators.

Such was the origin of Stockholm Syndrome. Unlike Imposter Syndrome which is wildly more common, Stockholm Syndrome is a recognised Psychiatric diagnosis. Most cases are pop-psychology, rather than diagnoses by an actual clinician. Made in the media, not the consultation room.

I'm writing a short punchy book on Imposter Syndrome so more of that coming soon!

It is also much more complex than customarily portrayed, looking at survival instincts, PTSD and brainwashing. It's so rare and unpredictable that there is hardly any research into it. Understandably research would be challenging.

Climate News - not always good. Sometimes terrifying.

The Bad :

Watch: Buddhist statues revealed as China's Yangtze River water levels drop - CNN Video

Chinese state media, Xinhua, has reported that low water levels in the Yangtze River have revealed a trio of Buddhist statues that are believed to be 600 years old, according to Reuters.

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/travel/2022/08/22/buddhist-statues-china-yangtze-river-lon-orig-tp.cnn

The UK has set a new record with the first ripe blackberry appearing on 15 June. That sounds benign and is actually terrifying. In the field behind my house, they are just ripening now. The UK's south and east coast and much of the centre is brown on satellite photos - it's still green here, so we've escaped hosepipe bans so far. The drought is real.

Elsewhere, bodies have been found in Lake Mead in the US from the 40s as water levels dropped (eek!). Hunger stones appeared in Germany & the Czech Republic as river levels dropped. Carved centuries ago, they told us that when they appear, pain is coming. They're right!

A more beautiful reveal is a series of 3 statues designed to protect river traffic on the Yangtze river from the 1400s to the 1600s.

Interesting though that these are, they are terrifying. What they mean is terrifying - drought is worldwide, and many can't tolerate it, leading to population shifts. Where the developing world has suffered for years, it is no longer hidden from the rest.

The Good:

Wafer-thin solar film could be a game-changer for renewable power

As the world looks for new ways to generate renewable energy, a British firm thinks it has a breakthrough discovery

https://inews.co.uk/news/science/wafer-thin-solar-panels-game-changer-renewable-power-1131242

Not only is this thin solar panel film developed in the Northeast, but the premise is also that we can do so much more. We could supply the UK's needs with purely south-facing business buildings.

That's mind-blowing! A challenge beyond imagination, but possible!

And in other news - you must be exhausted!

I hope you enjoyed this first edition and will keep coming back for more.

I hope that more than anything as well as coming along for the ride, you will want to (and feel empowered to) contribute. And of course, please share widely!

Welcome to the CaramoCare Family & 1st (full) Edition of the Chronicles.

This edition has one of every feature we developed - for illustration. Future editions will have a selection of these. Don't worry they'll be a much shorter read!

Again share the love and share the newsletter! There's room in the CaramoCare Family for everyone!

While Monkeypox cases in the UK are reducing, the move to split vaccine doses in the US hit glitches.

America’s New Monkeypox Strategy Rests on a Single Study

Will splitting monkeypox vaccines in five work out?

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2022/08/monkeypox-vaccine-splitting-doses-fda-gamble/671100/

With limited vaccine supplies, the US has started giving doses intradermally rather than subcutaneously (fancy terms for into the skin versus into the layers under the skin). A one-fifth dose has been effective via this route. The community welcomed this news though some technical issues have hampered efforts and led to wastage and disappointment. For example, some vial bungs broke before all doses were drawn up (they were only designed to be accessed once, of course). Lots of doses were wasted.

Europe is also looking at splitting vials to give multi-doses intradermally.

Chillin' and Colourin'

Themed meditative colouring sheets to print & enjoy.

A song lyric this week to get the actual launch going. I'm figuring out how to do these, like the books. Bear with as Miranda's mother might say....

There must be a hack for doing these!

There may be a late update to the newsletter!

‘Let’s get this party started’.

Take your time, colour carefully & breathe…..

HYNTIYL - Honestly, You Need This In Your Life

Something new that's so awesome, cool or just efficient that I HAD to share it. Let's be Ninjas together!

The Chwazi App

This is genius—when someone needs to pay the bill or wash the dishes, for example. How do you choose who? This app is simple, and all those in the game put a finger on the screen, and it lights up each, builds suspense, and then chooses one - the chosen one! The spotlight is on you!

It could work for almost anything and of course depending on the 'prize' at the end, you might be a winner or loser if you're picked.

Fears of stigmatisation from Monkeypox - Is it HIV and 'It's a Sin" all over again?

While it is too early to be confident, the number of new Monkeypox cases may be tailing off. Concerns around messaging around predominantly homosexual men being affected lead to concerns that the community faces discrimination and shame again as they did with HIV 40 years ago.

Indeed 'It's A Sin' recently on Channel 4 brought home how stigmatising that was. We should all have been appalled at how individuals and groups were treated. While the fear was real, that can be no excuse.

The First Issue HAD to be the original GOAT - Mohammed Ali

An inspirational man and athlete. Look at these other boxers try & imitate him.

Boxers imitate famous Muhammad Ali quotes

Oscar de la Hoya, Bernard Hopkins and other boxers repeat quotes from Muhammad Ali.

https://www.usatoday.com/videos/sports/boxing/2014/10/30/18176961/

"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. His hands can't hit what his eyes can't see. Now you see me, now you don't. George thinks he will, but I know he won't.

He was like a ballet dancer, dancing around his prey until he struck. He was lyrical, poetic and beautiful. With two fights called the Thrilla in Manila and the Rumble in the Jungle there was something special going on. The greatest heavyweight ever - bar none!

He converted to Islam & became a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, costing him much of his career and delivering a lot of hate from the American people. He regained this in spades later. He walked the walk rather than talked the talk and supported civil rights, even earning the Martin Luther King medal. From Louisville, Kentucky, he well-knew the effects of segregation.

• 'My only fault is that I don't realize how great I really am - what can you honestly say to that?

• I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was - quite incredible!

• It's hard to be humble when you're as great as I am

• I said I was the greatest, not the smartest! - after being downgraded for conscription due to dyslexia

There were so many more poetic ones. One on every bit of life. Check more out with the link above - you can almost hear him say them.

So, for our first edition, he really was the GOAT. Watch documentaries on his life - it was beyond imagination and completely extraordinary.

Graduation Billboards a thing post-Covid19 in the US

Graduates have missed in-person classes, sometimes the regular examinations and then graduations. They are still missing proms and balls. Some parents took to hiring billboards to shout out how proud they were!

There are online videos of these being revealed to students. Pure unadulterated joy after so much Pandemic stress.

From the Original G.O.A.T. (& he had a lot to choose from!)

Quick yet profound quotes. Something to perhaps anchor a week. Sometimes they'll speak directly to you. Sometimes not so much. Hopefully, they will always be inspirational or foster hope.

CaramoCare is 1st class Concierge Care as well as PAYG services to help families budget.

After the huge background works our team can share free resources to help everyone,. Small donations (buy me a coffee) & large donations enable us to see some of those most in need pro bono.

You can only look at services to others when your cup is filling near the top. Our work will help those we help live out the GOAT’s ideals. Let's pay it forward when we're ready to.

Tuesday was the 49th anniversary of an event that spawned a syndrome

49 years ago, a Stockholm back was held up by robbers. After 6 days stuck in the vault, when it was ending, the hostages were protective of the perpetrators.

Such was the origin of Stockholm Syndrome. Unlike Imposter Syndrome which is wildly more common, Stockholm Syndrome is a recognised Psychiatric diagnosis. Most cases are pop-psychology, rather than diagnoses by an actual clinician. Made in the media, not the consultation room.

I'm writing a short punchy book on Imposter Syndrome so more of that coming soon!

It is also much more complex than customarily portrayed, looking at survival instincts, PTSD and brainwashing. It's so rare and unpredictable that there is hardly any research into it. Understandably research would be challenging.

Climate News - not always good. Sometimes terrifying.

The Bad :

Watch: Buddhist statues revealed as China's Yangtze River water levels drop - CNN Video

Chinese state media, Xinhua, has reported that low water levels in the Yangtze River have revealed a trio of Buddhist statues that are believed to be 600 years old, according to Reuters.

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/travel/2022/08/22/buddhist-statues-china-yangtze-river-lon-orig-tp.cnn

The UK has set a new record with the first ripe blackberry appearing on 15 June. That sounds benign and is actually terrifying. In the field behind my house, they are just ripening now. The UK's south and east coast and much of the centre is brown on satellite photos - it's still green here, so we've escaped hosepipe bans so far. The drought is real.

Elsewhere, bodies have been found in Lake Mead in the US from the 40s as water levels dropped (eek!). Hunger stones appeared in Germany & the Czech Republic as river levels dropped. Carved centuries ago, they told us that when they appear, pain is coming. They're right!

A more beautiful reveal is a series of 3 statues designed to protect river traffic on the Yangtze river from the 1400s to the 1600s.

Interesting though that these are, they are terrifying. What they mean is terrifying - drought is worldwide, and many can't tolerate it, leading to population shifts. Where the developing world has suffered for years, it is no longer hidden from the rest.

The Good:

Wafer-thin solar film could be a game-changer for renewable power

As the world looks for new ways to generate renewable energy, a British firm thinks it has a breakthrough discovery

https://inews.co.uk/news/science/wafer-thin-solar-panels-game-changer-renewable-power-1131242

Not only is this thin solar panel film developed in the Northeast, but the premise is also that we can do so much more. We could supply the UK's needs with purely south-facing business buildings.

That's mind-blowing! A challenge beyond imagination, but possible!

And in other news - you must be exhausted!

I hope you enjoyed this first edition and will keep coming back for more.

I hope that more than anything as well as coming along for the ride, you will want to (and feel empowered to) contribute. And of course, please share widely!

A-level results day - Stress-cubed for families more than the students!

I remember my results day like it was yesterday. I was sure I'd failed maths A-level (nobody did Further Maths in those days). I sat in the car while my mum and dad went in. I banged my head, attempting to jump out of the car when I passed. I'd expected to have to go through clearing and do chemistry at Manchester.

The joy of passing and going to University (Glasgow) was terrific. I was so self-absorbed I hadn't realised the impact on the rest of the family. I've never lost that certainty I couldn't have passed, overtaken by sheer joy when the result is good. So the one time I did fail, nobody believed me!

What is my biggest takeaway now? Each step is just a stepping stone to the next stage. If you pass and tick the box, you progress. You may still get through or take a different path if you don't pass. Sometimes that path takes you to your own Utopia. We forget how little of the world we knew at age 18.

Every door we exit is an entry to something else.

If we stay positive and keep learning, we will do well anywhere.

Success is not a job, a house or money. It's a happy family, good friends and contentment. You will be disappointed now if you've had to take a different path. You may even still be trying to find that path.

Some day you'll look back on this as a lucky break - I promise.

Solution Focused Therapy is useful whether you followed your planned path or chose another one. They are both big outcomes. They help you look forward to what you want and what that actually looks like.

Ask successful adults you admire their personal A-level results. They probably can't remember. They are everything around results day and forgotten years later.

Top tip. If you do a higher level course or post, nobody will go back and ask you about your A-levels, They might ask about your Duke of Edinburgh Award. A-levels, nah! Not unless your path pivot was intersting.

So look at the work you put in and the path you are choosing. You are not your A-levels. They are a snapshot with a dose of luck on one day. That is all.

Enjoy whatever comes next!

Proud mom rents billboard to celebrate doctor daughter

A New Jersey mom is celebrating her psychologist daughter's success by renting out a billboard in their local Camden community.

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/family/story/proud-mom-rents-billboard-celebrate-doctor-daughter-88193279

A reminder that Americans can show their pride in Academia much more than us Brits. I love this idea!

We tend to have a hug, a wee cry, call the family and friends. We probably have a glass of something to velebrate and maybe a takeout or mealk out.

Lots of people describe an anti-climax.

Should we celebrate a bit more 'out there'?

Let me know what you think and any amazing stories of celebration.

All who need period products in Scotland legally can access free in Scotlland

Scotland is so forward-thinking. The Government may have tried out the Poll Tax there first (dear reader it didn't end well).

They also were the first to ban smoking in pubs. Clean hair after a quiet evening out was beautiful.

The rest of the Uk followed.

Scotland introduced minimum alcohol pricing. 50p per unit which is said to prevent around 2000 lives per year. Wales followed and England may yet follow this same path.

What does the period product legal change mean?

Everything to some of the poorest who missed school or work as they couldn't afford products. Sometimes they had someone controlling their finances who blocked buying the products.

It brings dignity to many. Not everyone will be able to access easily.

Regardless it is game-changing.

Proud to call Scotia my spiritual home.

More building blocks for Tourette's TicMastery build

Booked 3 days of courses at Great Ormond Street to learn more from the experts.

Learning how YouTube is a virtual University and keeping resources to share with those who can't access a wrap-around service.

Tourette's Association America has some particularly good YouTube training.

Looking like ready to launch on October 1st. Exciting times.

The Week

Fires & Droughts Worldwide - let's act now

A deluge of stories on wildfires, droughts, and crop shortages are making global warming real to many across the world.

It already had been to many in the Developing World. We're all starting to get it now.

This cartoon from This Week really illustrates the situation.

Reflecting now on what I can do as a new business to work sustainably and promote sustainability. I was surprised that I had implemented some of the easier tips already

• powering down tech overnight (not charging)

• paperless billing

• online appointments (where possible)

• I have a dual-flush toilet (which also has a sink on top which fills the cistern)

Plimbworld

What more could I do?

• green recycling bin in office

• add plants to the space (I'd need to look at this for a medical space)

• consider electric moped or scooter

I wanted a red carpet and rail to welcome my amazing patients, then I came across this. Let me know what you think.

Etsy

Signing-off for this week

Sign-up and join me in this journey

Treatment Agreements - Not Consent Forms

My most important job today was to create forms to allow us to start therapy. These are often Consent Forms which are for legal reasons. They are a sort-of faux protective shield for the therapist.

Surely it could be done differently? Granted having a Medical Licence to Practice allows a greater degree of freedom.

What is their actual purpose? They are Agreements (a form of contract). They aren't a pass to allow me to treat you. We are in this together. I will temporarily join your team!

What are we each agreeing to?

A patient (adult or child) agrees that the description of therapy and the promises of confidentiality mean they feel able to start the treatment. I agree to do my best work to help support them and keep to confidentiality promises. For children, I am happy for any child to sign (whatever their age). Even if they aren't assessed as fully competent, this allows them to feel empowered (and a parent or guardian will also sign an agreement). That contract is between them and me. No-one else is invited to sign the form to highlight that. It is our agreement.

Whatever their age, they don't have to sign the form to start therapy. That choice is up to them.

I have different forms for young and adult patients, though both should read easily.

There is a Parental Agreement Form which focuses on the therapies, my promise of privacy and keeping their child safe. Again the contract is between either Parent and me. Only we will sign it. Both parents are welcome to sign.

These Agreements are the foundation of all of us being engaged and empowered in the process. If there are any questions these should be asked and where relevant answers added to the form.

Here are the first drafts of the forms - let me know what you think. They need to work for you!

Agreement Forms | Mysite

Agreement Forms or contracts found here. These are not Consent Forms. They are between me and the patient who may be a child or adult. There is also a form for the agreement between me and parents or guardians. Once completed we can start therapy.

https://www.drsharryn.com/agreementforms

If you built it, they will come - there's plenty of debate about that!

If you build it, they will come! Maybe! There's certainly plenty of debate on that!

Austin Kleon describes sharing your work and the creative process. Building this service is a creative process, and I want YOU to be involved!

There are over a hundred Paediatric areas where treatment could be better (in some cases considerably better). It won't be surprising that mental health is one of the commonest by a country mile. Often these areas are where two separate systems ought to deliver a seamless design.

If those in the different systems don't work together (literally rather than metaphorically), how do they make it a seamless experience? So we get delays. We get the frustration. Balls get dropped.

What are the solutions? This isn't easy as many scenarios will overlap different systems. The whole system is complex.

Can individuals make a system for individual situations such as Tourette's? Yes, of course! There are parts of the process that might need to be led by doctors and parts that motivated compassionate people could better lead in various current roles. Evidence shows that online delivered programmes are highly successful.

Brilliant! We can deliver it to anyone who needs it, wherever they are (in the UK at least).

We can scale it with the right people in place, and most importantly, we can share free resources with those who aren't in a position to afford therapy currently. Those people are out there and motivated to be part of this. Those potential patients are searching in vain for a service. Often they search for a diagnosis, believing this to be a Golden Ticket to therapy and cure.

Sadly there is no Golden Ticket. Even if there were, doesn't anyone with distressing tics deserve access to therapy that should help? The therapies are highly effective in managing tics where medications often have severe and variable side effects. They do precisely that, manage the tics. They don't cure Tourette's - nothing does. It can just stop happening as you get older. The therapies are effective most, but not all of the time.

If only we could know who might benefit (and who might not) before we started. For me as a clinician, one of the beauties of this approach is that we cannot predict who might best benefit. The child with the most distressing tics can make astonishing progress.

Meeting a very small number of these very special children led me to devour this training for Tourette's. At this (relatively late) stage of my career, I'm increasingly upset by children suffering because services aren't there for them. Starting the Solution Focused Therapy and later Blast Technique were the first example. When you've done it once (even as an individual), doing it again bigger and better seems natural.

So I'm building it for those who already know they need it.

Subscribe to this newsletter to follow this journey and be first in the queue.

I plan to share an update weekly of what I learned or built this week and what I'm preparing for the next week. I have a full-time Paediatric job, so it may not be a smooth linear process!

You'll get a lot more interesting related info as well. And reach out. What do you need and want? What should it look like? How will you know it was set up right? (Sneaking a Solution Focused question in there!)

Things for many are about to get tough - who is helping?

Twitter tweet

This graph feels intuitively true just now. Ambulance waits, costs of fuel, and so many others.

Three people who stepped up around the cost of living crisis are Martin Lewis, Jack Monroe, and James Anderson. Both had a presence before the current situation and came from different backgrounds and standpoints. They have in common despair at what is to come, and they want to offer advice to help as many people as possible get through it.

Martin was our money-saving guru in the good (low inflation) times. He helped us save money on various household bills and advised us how to avoid paying too much or when to buy. He earned a lot of money through this (working hard to do so). I believe that he has used some of that in various ways to help and does so under the radar. His voice is being heard, and he is articulate. He sounds increasingly desperate in his recent broadcast appearances, reflecting the fears of those he speaks for. His mental well-being is being affected by this desperation and because he is experiencing online hate.

Here is a link to some of that advocacy.

Martin Lewis latest news and money saving tips

Martin Lewis latest news and money saving tips

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/all-about/martin-lewis

Jack has been through some of the most challenging times herself and previously faced a lot of hate. The hatred she experiences now is exponentially worse. Her 'crime'? To have developed a cookbook for those with little and few cooking options. To try and relieve the boredom of the same meal every day. Some recipes are controversial (rinsing tomato sauce from tinned pasta - I understand that, so I applaud her). She offers advice on where people are when they have the least. Interestingly, those who are (currently) above that level often spew the hate. I hope that her book is available to all who could benefit.

Here is Jack's book - buy from her own site please.

COOKING ON A BOOTSTRAP

by Jack Monroe, bestselling author of 'A Girl Called Jack'

https://cookingonabootstrap.com/

James Anderson is a plumber up in Bolton (quite close to here). He has also been through some of the worst imaginable bullying and recent health problems. He works tirelessly for those with plumbing issues such as no hot water or heating. Initially, his charity was to help the elderly and now it serves many families too. He presents a bill to those he helps. He doesn't just fix plumbing. He brings hope. He orders food and gives kids presents. He even gets the odd pizza takeaway for those who are in despair.

I and many others support his charity - Hugh Grant is the biggest and most prominent donor.

He has had online hate resulting in police intervention, and he continues to the detriment of his health.

Anyway, here is his JustGiving site - if you can.

Help raise £30000 to support Depher cic community initiative. Disabled and Elderly Plumbing and Heating Emergency Response. Delivering life saving support.

Weʼre raising money to support Depher cic community initiative. Disabled and Elderly Plumbing and Heating Emergency Response. Delivering life saving support.. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/james-anderson-206

So when it all looks black (and it's going to get darker, no question, remember there are folks out there helping. Sleep tight

Lionesses Roared!

The Lionesses' victory last Sunday was fantastic. The whole country was in raptures & the goals? They were incredible! Toone made victory a possibility and Kelly thumped it home.

Even this Scot (living in England) was right behind them. The whole tournament had been joyous & we'd had none of the relentless oppressive pressure we get with the men's game every night on TV. It was open & positive & joyous.

That back-heel goal in the Semi-final against France for Russo was life-changing for her (even though we know now she does it ALL the time in practice!). It changed the country too. Anything was possible.

Chloe Kelly scoring that final goal was clearly a star. They all were. That video of Chloe on stage at Trafalgar Square dancing out of pure happiness was beautiful. She had presence & charisma - & literally had the moves!

Twitter tweet

It was sort of inevitable that there would be sponsorships & photo shoots. They all deserved it all (in spades!). Some of it can feel a bit exploitative & the picture of Chloe on the front of the Daily Mail yesterday was beautiful as well as somehow disappointing.

Daily Mail

I can't wait to see what these young women do next. Go girls - you are Magnificent!

Be.Real - an App for humanising professionals?

BeReal is a relatively new App & is being positioned as the antidote to Instagram. Instead of pictures endlessly photoshopped & posed (& posed again), you take a simultaneous Front & Back Camera photo at a random time each day. The time is random & the same for everyone. You get two minutes to take it, or everyone knows you were delayed.

In my work in Medicine & Therapy, I wholeheartedly support this. It doesn't need to show anything special or competitive & is more accessible to all.

It has enormous potential to show professionals in a friendly way, making us 3-dimensional. Shame we can only share reels with friends & not link them to our website feeds. Please BeReal (or collaborator look into this as an idea.

People love us as we are, so let's share that!

Two weeks ago, a new study said to 'debunk' the theory that low Serotonin causes depression was described in the Guardian. It made headlines but is it true?

Indeed, depression is complicated & the current medications were discovered back in the '40s, and '50s, looking for new antihistamines. As this article mentions, we might treat headaches with paracetamol. That doesn't mean that we think we are low in paracetamol! The premise around serotonin certainly made sense. The worst possible outcome, however, would be that people stopped taking antidepressants suddenly, with terrible effects.

What the study does do is prompt us to question the underlying assumptions & progress our knowledge.

Another article discusses the implications in more detail & I think this approaches things sensibly in the context of the entire history of serotonin & its' effects. It also looks at the stigma of depression & the simplicity of this model to understand & communicate. So let's note the study, not act too quickly & look forward to further exploring the real basis for depression.

CAMHS Pressure & Antidepressants News

CAMHS was under significant pressure even before the Pandemic. However, it has been overtaken by a Tsunami of demand since. One marker of this is this article on GPs being pressurised to prescribe antidepressants for teens before they can access Psychiatric support, as the NICE Guideline sets out. Is this the canary in the coal mine, or are we too late for that already?

Sign-Off

So that's a wrap for the first newsletter! A little news & commentary.

Please reach out to me with any ideas or comments.

Reach me also for individual help.

Kindest Regards