By love-89.com As we sit down for this interview, I can’t help but reflect on the journey that has brought you here today. You mentioned that as an adult, you’ve often been on guard against misfortune. Can you share what prompted this mindset?
Recently, a set of photographs from your childhood surfaced, and they seem to have triggered a flood of emotions. What do those yellowed images, dating back to January 1969, represent for you, especially given that you were only 18 months old?
One of the photos features you crying under the headline “Suffer Little Children.” It’s a stark contrast to the cheerful family snapshots of that time. How does it feel to look back at that moment, captured so publicly?
The accompanying caption, “Be grateful that little girl isn’t yours. She so easily could be!” seems particularly haunting. Can you delve into the nature of the campaign these photos were part of? What was the Mental Health Trust hoping to achieve, and what does it mean for you personally?
You mentioned that growing up, you had a vague memory of these pictures, yet they resurfaced years later in 2011 alongside childhood keepsakes from your grandmother. How did it feel to see them again? Did your own experiences as a mother influence your emotional response?
Looking at those photos now, you expressed anger and an unsettling sense of lost trust. Can you elaborate on that feeling? What do you think it reveals about your childhood and how it affected your development?
Reflecting on your parents’ tumultuous marriage and eventual divorce, how did these experiences shape your understanding of security and happiness as a child?
You shared that by the time you were 10, your life had changed dramatically with your parents’ separation. How did that instability impact your view on relationships and trust throughout your life?
Even during significant life events like your wedding day in 1999, you felt detached. What do you think led to that sensation of watching life unfold from a distance instead of fully engaging in the joy?
You discovered a term, cherophobia, to describe your anxiety around happiness. Can you explain how this insight changed your perspective?
In writing your book, *Feeling ‘Blah’?*, you explored the impact of childhood experiences on our adult lives. How did your somatic therapy journey contribute to your understanding of joy and the challenges you faced?
You also mentioned a turning point—embracing happiness instead of pushing it away. What does that journey look like for you today, and how do you envision yourself comforting that small child in those photographs?
Your book is now available in paperback. What do you hope readers take away from your story and your exploration of joy?