The Mind Change Podcast

In this Q&R episode of The Mind Change Podcast, Heather and Kent McKean respond to listener questions that reveal how deeply the subconscious shapes everyday life.In this episode we explore:🎶 Music & Lyrics – How words and songs program the subconscious.💰 Money & Worthiness – Financial struggles tied to safety, value & self-worth.🛡️ Safe Haven – Guarding boundaries against intrusive thoughts.😴 Sleepiness – Why drowsiness in self-work signals real rewiring.🔤 Dyslexia – Learning differences as survival adaptations.🦠 Illness – Stress and subconscious patterns shape the host environment.Heather and Kent show how tools like GPS, Safe Haven, and memory work can uncover subconscious programs, release old patterns, and create resilience.✨ Change is possible—learn how to align your inner world with the life you want to live.👉 Full resources, courses & community: mindchange.com👍 Like what you hear? Follow & leave a review to help others find the show.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mind-change-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Heather McKean interviews Vicki Durfee who shares how addressing buried trauma unlocked profound changes in her body and life. After years of interstitial cystitis procedures every 3–4 months, chronic pain, and weight gain, Vicki discovered Mind Change, began with the book and a small group, and eventually flew to a private retreat during 2020. As she released shame and fear, her triggers calmed, her marriage came alive, and she shed 65 pounds without “dieting”—guided instead by self-worth.  If you’ve “tried everything,” wonder whether your symptoms are tied to old wounds, and are finally ready to choose yourself, this conversation offers a hopeful, practical roadmap for true healing.What we cover in this episode: 💔 Breaking free from domestic violence and hidden trauma 🩺 Living with 8 years of chronic illness and invasive procedures 📖 Discovering Mind Change and early breakthroughs ✈️ A life-changing retreat in Hawaiʻi during the pandemic 🧠 How trauma maps onto the body and fuels symptoms ⚡ Ending an 8-year medical cycle and reclaiming health 💍 Restoring intimacy and healing her marriage 👨‍👩‍👧 Inspiring her family to begin their own journeys 📉 Releasing 65 pounds naturally—without dieting 🌱 Growing in confidence, spirituality, and self-love 📚 Paying it forward through book clubs and mentorship 🌟 Core message: Healing is real, and the time to start is now👉 Full resources, courses & community: mindchange.com👍 Like what you hear? Follow & leave a review to help others find the show.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mind-change-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is more than a “bladder problem.” In this episode, Heather McKean explores IC as the body’s urgent language for suppressed boundaries, unresolved anger, and survival patterns learned in childhood. She maps common emotional imprints—authoritarian homes, sexual shame, peacemaker roles—and how they later surface as boundary fatigue, smoldering rage, hyper-control, and pelvic pain. Through the Mind Change approach, Heather explains “secondary gains,” why symptom flares can function as subconscious protection, and how rewiring the root narrative restores safety from the inside out. Listen in for a real client story, practical reframes, and a hopeful path forward.What we covered in this episode: 💡 Interstitial cystitis is not betrayal; it is the body communicating unmet emotional needs.⚡ The bladder symbolizes boundaries, territory, personal power, and suppressed emotions.👶 Many roots of IC begin in childhood through authoritarian homes, secrecy, or experiences of sexual shame and coercion.😡 Buried anger and unprocessed grief often resurface as pelvic pain and inflammation.🚫 Boundary fatigue develops when someone keeps saying “yes” while meaning “no,” leading to pain and flare-ups.🔥 Patterns of hypervigilance, perfectionism, and control mirror bladder tension and prevent release.💔 Sexual disconnection, shame, or trauma can show up later in life as pain during intimacy.👥 Old power dynamics are often recreated in adulthood through controlling partners or bosses.🧠 Symptoms are not failings but survival strategies that subconsciously protect through distance, control, or safety.🪞 The Mind Change® method rewires subconscious contracts so the nervous system and body can finally relax.🌱 Healing begins when buried rage is expressed, as seen in Melissa’s story of recovery.🙌 Interstitial cystitis is not a curse but communication, and with subconscious rewiring, true healing is possible.👉 Full resources, courses & community: mindchange.com👍 Like what you hear? Follow & leave a review to help others find the show.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mind-change-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Heather McKean and Kent McKean dive into the explosive rise in autism and other neurodivergences—not to assign blame or “cure” identity, but to ask better questions about what today’s physical, emotional, and cultural environments are doing to developing brains. They unpack historical data, presentism, and labels; reframe “maladaptive” patterns as survival adaptations (and sometimes superpowers); and outline a Mind Change path focused on nervous-system safety, subconscious rewiring, and family-wide healing—keeping uniqueness while relieving unnecessary suffering. What we covered in this episode:📈 Autism rates skyrocketed from 1 in 5,000 kids to 1 in 30 in two generations 🧬 Why genes alone can’t explain the surge—environment & culture play a bigger role 🏫 How schooling, screens, toxins & stress reshape developing brains 💡 Autism as adaptation & survival strategy, not defect 🧠 Trauma’s imprint—how it rewires biology and passes through generations 👩‍👩‍👧 Parental stress and healing: why when parents shift, kids shift too 🔖 Labels can help—but they can also limit growth 🌍 The autism explosion as a mirror of our wider cultural crisis👉 Full resources, courses & community: mindchange.com👍 Like what you hear? Follow & leave a review to help others find the show.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mind-change-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Bipolar disorder is one of the most misunderstood and medicated conditions in mental health—but what if the brain isn’t broken at all? In this episode, Heather McKean redefines bipolar through the Mind Change lens, showing how chaotic childhoods, emotional suppression, and trauma can create subconscious survival strategies that appear as mania and depression. She shares her own personal diagnosis story, exposes the risks of conventional treatments, and explains why bipolar symptoms may actually be intelligent signals from the subconscious asking to be heard. This empowering episode offers a fresh perspective for anyone impacted by bipolar patterns, pointing the way toward lasting resolution and freedom.What we covered in this episode: 🌀 Bipolar reframed — A survival strategy, not a brain defect.🏚️ Childhood roots — Chaos, suppression, abuse, or neglect wire extremes.🛡️ Protective roles — Mania as armor, depression as slowdown.⚡ Adult patterns — Anger, highs/lows, distrust, withdrawal.💭 Core beliefs — “My needs are dangerous,” “I must impress.”📚 Expert views — Researchers question conventional treatment.💊 Medication risks — Switching, numbness, side effects, suicide risk.🧠 Chemical myth — “Imbalance” has never been proven.🌱 Heather’s story — From diagnosis to full healing.🔑 Mind Change — Rewire subconscious, not suppress symptoms.💡 Hope — Bipolar patterns can be resolved.👉 Full resources, courses & community: mindchange.com👍 Like what you hear? Follow & leave a review to help others find the show.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mind-change-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, Heather McKean sits down with Molly Thames to explore her incredible journey from trauma, anxiety, and postpartum struggles to true healing through Mind Change. Molly shares how years of counseling left her feeling stuck, but just a few sessions with Mind Change shifted her perspective, restored her sense of worth, and brought peace to her parenting and marriage. This heartfelt conversation touches on birth trauma, breaking subconscious programs, and the ripple effect of healing across generations. Whether you’re a parent navigating overwhelm or someone longing for real transformation, Molly’s story offers hope, encouragement, and proof that deep change is possible.What you’ll hear in this episode: 🌱 From years of counseling to real breakthroughs with Mind Change 💥 Healing birth trauma, postpartum anxiety, and depression 🛑 Coping vs. reprogramming: why lasting change happens at the subconscious level 😂 How laughter and joy became part of her healing 👩‍👦 A parenting shift sparked by her son’s question, “Why do you love me?” 💑 Marriage transformation through support and boundaries 👨‍👧‍👦 Generational healing with her children and father ⚖️ Moving from scarcity and survival to abundance and presence 🌈 Life after healing: vibrant, hopeful, and free👉 Full resources, courses & community: mindchange.com👍 Like what you hear? Follow & leave a review to help others find the show.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mind-change-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, Heather McKean uncovers the hidden emotional and subconscious patterns that may be fueling your chronic neck tension, stiffness, or pain. Sharing her personal journey of years of failed medical treatments—including surgery—Heather explains how unspoken truths, rigid beliefs, perfectionism, and childhood coping mechanisms can keep your body locked in pain. You’ll learn how to recognize these patterns, address the real root causes, and take your first steps toward lasting relief and emotional freedom.What we covered in this episode: 💆‍♀️ Neck Pain’s Complexity – Often physical and emotional.🧠 Mind-Body Bridge – Neck connects thoughts and feelings.💔 Heather’s Story – 15 years of pain healed by addressing trauma.👧 Childhood Roots – Early neglect, control, or criticism.⚖️ Emotional Triggers – Control, fear, resentment, feeling trapped.🔄 Rigidity – Inflexible thinking and resistance to change.🙊 Suppressed Truths – Fear of speaking up or conflict.🎭 Secondary Gains – Pain can give rest or avoid issues.🛠 Healing Steps – Face truths, set boundaries, release burdens.🌀 Mind Change – Rewire patterns for lasting relief.👉 Full resources, courses & community: mindchange.com👍 Like what you hear? Follow & leave a review to help others find the show.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mind-change-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode Heather hosts an honest, hopeful roundtable with Cadence McKean (18), McKenzie Brewster (32), and Angela Hooper (53) on reframing menopause as a brain “upgrade” and a powerful moment of neuroplasticity. Together they explore working with the cycle from teen years onward, viewing symptoms as intelligent signals (like hot flashes linked to unexpressed anger), and the cultural narratives that disconnect women from their bodies—including the reflex to medicate without listening first. You’ll hear real stories, practical practices (silence, nature, attuned rest), and a call to start writing your post‑menopause story today.What we covered in this episode:🌙 Menopause as a Unique Neuroplasticity Window 🔥 Symptoms as Messages From the Body 😡 Unexpressed Anger and Hot Flashes 🪞 Identity Shifts in Menopause & Life Transitions 📖 Writing Your Post-Menopause Story Now👉 Full resources, courses & community: mindchange.com👍 Like what you hear? Follow & leave a review to help others find the show.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mind-change-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Menopause isn’t a decline—it’s a rebirth. In this transformative episode of The Mind Change Podcast, Heather McKean challenges the cultural myths and medical misconceptions that have fueled fear and shame around menopause for generations. She reveals the neuroscience behind hormonal shifts, the role of trauma in intensifying symptoms, and why this life stage opens a rare neuroplastic window for rewriting subconscious patterns. With insight, compassion, and empowering tools from the Mind Change® method, Heather reframes menopause as a sacred initiation into deeper wisdom, self-authority, and emotional freedom.What we covered in this episode:🌸 Reframing menopause as a neurological, emotional, and spiritual upgrade🔥 Rage, grief, and truth often surface as the body demands authenticity⚡ Menopause as a prime time for rewiring subconscious patterns💥 Trauma and stress amplify symptoms like hot flashes and insomnia🕊️ Reclaiming postmenopause as a time of wisdom and influence👉 Full resources, courses & community: mindchange.com👍 Like what you hear? Follow & leave a review to help others find the show.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mind-change-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, Heather McKean explores the emotional and subconscious roots of adrenal fatigue, from childhood trauma and people-pleasing to fear of vulnerability and spiritual burnout. Through relatable stories and mind-opening insights, you’ll discover how long-held survival patterns quietly drain your life force — and how Mind Change can help you finally break free. If you’re tired of being tired, this episode could be your turning point.In this episode:⚠️ Chronic stress and burnout explained in a clear, relatable way 😴 Common physical and emotional symptoms you might not connect to adrenal fatigue 👧 How childhood roles and patterns silently drain your energy as an adult 💔 Uncovering the emotional root causes behind chronic exhaustion 🧩 How to begin real healing with the Mind Change® method👉 Full resources, courses & community: mindchange.com👍 Like what you hear? Follow & leave a review to help others find the show.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mind-change-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Kidney stones aren’t just mineral buildup—they’re messages from a body under emotional siege. In this episode, Heather McKean connects the dots between chronic self‑criticism, suppressed rage, childhood scapegoating, and the brutal pain of kidney stones. Discover how to decode your body’s SOS, release the pressure, and finally heal—mind, body, and spirit.Inside this episode⚖️ Biology vs. the body’s warning system — what symptoms might really be signaling 👧 How childhood roles quietly set the stage for chronic issues 🧠 Core beliefs that keep patterns (and kidney stones) repeating 🎭 The hidden benefits and secondary gains that block true healing👉 Full resources, courses & community: mindchange.com👍 Like what you hear? Follow & leave a review to help others find the show.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mind-change-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

ADHD isn’t a defect— it’s a brilliant survival strategy.Heather McKean and co-host Kent dive into the neuroscience (dopamine, DMN, hyper-vigilance), childhood ACEs, and school-system pressures that wire an “ADHD brain.” Then they show how Mind Change tools re-route those patterns—no shame, no labels.Inside this conversation:🧠 Why a hyperactive brain is often a hyper-vigilant brain 🍭 The difference between dopamine “hunger” and true connection 🏫 How compliance-based classrooms can amplify emotional and behavioral symptoms 🔁 Rewiring steps that transform coping mechanisms into genuine superpowersHit ▶︎ to rethink everything you were told about ADHD—and grab the free resources at mindchange.com.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mind-change-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Break triggers and live free—this Q&R episode turns community questions into rapid-fire mind shifts.• Parenting under pressure – Heather unpacks why toddlers tap our own childhood wiring and how to calm the inner “volcano” before coaching kids.• Is change a skill? – Kent explains why multilingual, multi-culture brains often adapt faster—and how anyone can catch up.• Choosing the right help – Separating deep rewiring from surface-level “mindset tips” in today’s crowded coaching space.• Food freedom – Moving from strict avoidance to abundant, judgment-free eating without losing healthy boundaries.• Addiction without withdrawals – Why craving relief lives in the subconscious program (not the substance) and how to rewrite it.• Body vs. mind – Do muscles store memories? We map bottom-up and top-down healing so nothing gets left behind.🎙️ Send an audio question for future Q&Rs: podcast@mindchange.com🗓️ Retreats & courses: mindchange.com/retreatSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mind-change-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) isn’t only genetic—it can be the body’s brilliant way of expressing unprocessed emotion and inherited stress. In this episode of The Mind Change Podcast, Heather McKean reveals how childhood hyper-vigilance, people-pleasing, and family trauma may wire the nervous system for chronic pain, joint instability, and fatigue—then shows how the Mind Change Method helps rewire those patterns for lasting relief.In this conversation you’ll learn: 🧬 Beyond DNA: What EDS is when we look past purely genetic explanations🧠 Mind-Body Loop: How subconscious belief patterns shape physical symptoms🤸 People-Pleasing & Flexibility: Why saying “yes” too often can show up as literal hyper-flexibility👶 Sensitive Childhoods: The cost of growing up hyper-aware in a high-stress home🔄 Secondary Gains: How chronic illness can provide hidden “benefits” that keep it in place🛠️ Rewiring Steps: Practical tools to interrupt survival patterns and claim rest, support, and joy🔗 Show notes, resources, and Heather’s book Mind Change → mindchange.com/podcastSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mind-change-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Food allergies aren’t random defects—they’re often your body’s way of flagging unresolved emotional wounds. In this episode, Heather & Kent McKean reveal how childhood trauma, attachment patterns, and nervous-system dysregulation can program the brain to link certain foods with danger—creating real, escalating symptoms.What’s inside:💥 Why many food allergies start as the body’s survival response to hidden emotional pain👶 How unmet childhood needs and attachment trauma prime the immune system for overreaction⚖️ The role of nervous-system dysregulation in blocking digestion and triggering allergic flare-ups🔄 How restrictive diets may offer short relief yet reinforce deeper patterns of fear and control✨ Mind Change success stories—gluten, peanuts, dairy, and more—showing that when the mind rewires, the body often followsListen for a radically different path to healing—and hope that lifelong sensitivities can change.🔗 Show notes, resources, and Heather’s book Mind Change → mindchange.com/podcastSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mind-change-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What if your tendonitis wasn’t just physical? In this episode, Heather McKean unpacks the emotional and subconscious drivers behind tendon inflammation, revealing how internal conflict, rigidity, and suppressed self-worth can manifest as physical pain. From childhood experiences to adult stressors, she explores how our minds create tension that our bodies can no longer hold. Tune in to learn how to identify the root causes of your symptoms, shift subconscious narratives, and regain your sense of emotional and physical freedom using the Mind Change Method.📚 Get Heather’s book - “Mind Change: Changing The World One Mind At A Time”🎓 Courses🌄 Retreats📅 Weekend Workshops📚 Book Club Facilitator Guides📝 More resources at https://www.mindchange.com/podcastWhat we covered in this episode: 🦴 Tendonitis reveals conflict between action and inner truth.🧘 Flexible tendons reflect flow; tight ones mirror resistance.🔄 Misaligned choices and intuition create inner tension.👩‍👧 Rigid or critical childhoods can seed self-doubt.📏 Perfectionism stems from conditional love or approval.🎭 Suppressing emotions leads to internal strain.🔁 Resentment and self-doubt fuel chronic pain.🚧 Pain can protect by avoiding risk or change.📉 Tendonitis may justify staying stuck or safe.🆘 Pain can signal unmet emotional needs.🌀 Negative thoughts create real body stress.🛠️ Mind Change rewires deep subconscious patterns.💡 Healing starts when you reclaim your power. Episode topics:🦴 What Tendonitis Really Means (00:00:00)🔄 Emotional & Mind-Body Conflict (00:00:58)👶 Childhood Roots of Tendonitis (00:04:10)🧍 How Patterns Show Up in Adulthood (00:13:39)🎁 Hidden Benefits (Secondary Gains) (00:17:25)🛠️ How Mind Change Helps Heal (00:23:56)Get in touch with Heather McKean: Web: https://www.mindchange.com/our-story Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindchange/?hl=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/MindChange Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindchangeSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mind-change-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode of The Mind Change Podcast, Heather and Kent McKean tackle the often misunderstood topic of narcissism with depth, compassion, and a fresh perspective rooted in neuroscience and personal transformation. Rather than reducing narcissism to a label or diagnosis, they explore it as a spectrum of coping mechanisms driven by disconnection—both from self and others. Drawing on the work of Dr. Craig Malkin and their own lived experiences, including Kent’s journey through being labeled a narcissist, they reveal how both narcissistic traits and extreme people-pleasing (echoism) are responses to emotional injury, not fixed identities. This conversation challenges the weaponization of psychological labels, examines the role of childhood trauma and subconscious programming, and offers a hopeful path forward for anyone feeling trapped in toxic dynamics. Whether you’ve been hurt by narcissistic behavior or fear the label yourself, this episode offers insight, empathy, and an empowering invitation to heal through reconnection.📚 Get Heather’s book - “Mind Change: Changing The World One Mind At A Time”🎓 Courses🌄 Retreats📅 Weekend Workshops📚 Book Club Facilitator Guides📝 More resources at https://www.mindchange.com/podcastWhat we covered in this episode:🧠 Narcissism Is a Spectrum - From toxic narcissism to echoism, everyone falls somewhere on the scale.💔 Disconnection Is the Real Problem - At its core, narcissism is about emotional isolation—not ego.📉 NPD Is Extremely Rare - True narcissistic personality disorder affects only 1–2% of people.🔒 Labels Keep People Stuck - Calling someone a narcissist often blocks healing and growth.🔄 Victims Can Mirror Traits - Those hurt by narcissists may unconsciously adopt similar patterns.🧬 It’s a Coping Mechanism - Narcissistic traits often stem from childhood trauma and unmet needs.📖 The Myth Reveals the Pattern - Narcissus and Echo symbolize the extremes of disconnection.📱 Social Media Distorts It - Online narratives overuse and misrepresent narcissism.🛠️ Mind Change Enables Healing - Real transformation comes from rewiring subconscious patterns.🔍 Healing Starts Within - Blame doesn’t free you—self-awareness does.❤️ Empathy Liberates, Doesn’t Excuse - Understanding the roots of behavior frees you without justifying it.🚪 Leaving Isn’t Enough - You must change the inner patterns that led you there.🔓 Change Is Always Possible - With willingness and the right tools, anyone can shift.Mentioned Resources:“Rethinking Narcissism” - Book by Dr. Craig Malkin: https://www.drcraigmalkin.com/#thebook Get in touch with Heather McKean and Mind Change: Web: https://www.mindchange.com/our-story Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindchange/?hl=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/MindChange Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindchangeSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mind-change-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Sleep apnea affects over a billion people worldwide—but what if the root cause isn’t just physical? In this episode, Heather McKean takes you beyond the medical model to uncover the emotional and psychological patterns often underlying sleep apnea.From growing up in emotionally repressive environments to feeling overworked, unheard, or unworthy, Heather explains how early life experiences can shape your breathing and your nervous system. She explores the symbolic meaning of breath, the hidden purpose behind chronic fatigue, and why sleep disturbances may be your body’s way of crying out for emotional safety and healing. If you’ve ever felt like you’re suffocating under the weight of expectations—or struggling to receive love and rest—this episode is for you.📚 Get Heather’s book - “Mind Change: Changing The World One Mind At A Time”🎓 Courses🌄 Retreats📅 Weekend Workshops📚 Book Club Facilitator Guides📝 More resources at https://www.mindchange.com/podcastWhat we covered in this episode: 🌬️ Sleep apnea often reflects emotional suppression, trauma, and unresolved inner patterns.👶 Childhood in controlling or distant homes can shape lifelong breathing and emotional habits.💔 Suppressing emotions early on can train the body to "hold its breath" for safety.🌪️ Feeling overworked and unappreciated leads to self-suppression in search of worth.😶 Sleep apnea can act as a subconscious wall against intimacy and vulnerability.🛌 Nighttime choking or waking may help avoid deep, painful emotions.🧱 Perfectionism and self-criticism create emotional pressure and disrupt ease.🙅‍♀️ Overgiving and avoiding help stem from beliefs that one’s needs don’t matter.🔄 Sarcasm and emotional walls protect from rejection but block true connection.🧘 Disrupted breath mirrors disconnection from joy, life, and self-expression.🔐 Sleep apnea can serve to avoid emotion, intimacy, or rest as self-protection.❓ Healing begins with asking: Where am I resisting breath, rest, or love? Episode topics:📊 What Is Sleep Apnea & Why It Matters (00:00:00)🧠 Emotional Roots of Breathing Disorders (00:01:45)👶 Childhood Environments That Shape Breath (00:03:11)💔 Emotional Suppression & Self-Sacrifice Patterns (00:07:38)🛡️ Defense Mechanisms: Avoiding Intimacy & Rest (00:13:28)🔐 Secondary Gains & Symbolic Meaning of Symptoms (00:14:27)🧭 Key Reflection Questions for Healing (00:15:50)Mentioned Resources:Why Do I Snore? Discover The Emotional Drivers!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn4-vXzxUrg Get in touch with Heather McKean: Web: https://www.mindchange.com/our-story Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindchange/?hl=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/MindChange Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindchange Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mind-change-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

When Brenda Tillman joined a Mind Change book club during the isolation of the COVID pandemic, she never imagined it would lead to rediscovering her childhood memories, reshaping her inner world, and finding healing from long-buried trauma.In this episode, Brenda shares how Mind Change not only helped her deepen her self-awareness, but also gave her tools to improve her marriage, embrace aging with joy, and reignite a lifelong sense of curiosity. Whether you're facing personal blocks or simply looking for the encouragement to keep growing, this episode will show you what’s possible when you choose to do the work. Heather and Brenda dive into neuroscience, emotional healing, and the power of community in a way that’s both accessible and inspiring.📚 Get Heather’s book - “Mind Change: Changing The World One Mind At A Time”🎓 Courses🌄 Retreats📅 Weekend Workshops📚 Book Club Facilitator Guides📝 More resources at https://www.mindchange.com/podcastWhat we covered in this episode:🧠 How your brain is wired for change—even if you’ve never thought of yourself as “science-minded.”📘 Why doing this work in a group setting can lead to deeper breakthroughs than going it alone.📝 How one simple journaling exercise helped Brenda unlock long-lost childhood memories.💬 Ways to shift relationship dynamics using curiosity instead of conflict.🪞 Why taking ownership of your patterns is actually the most empowering thing you can do.🗣️ How affirmations and manifestos can rewire your thinking and reignite your dreams.⏳ Why transformation doesn’t stop with age—and how to stay open to growth later in life.🌍 How personal healing can create ripple effects across your family and future generations.Get in touch with Heather McKean and Mind Change: Web: https://www.mindchange.com/our-story Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindchange/?hl=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/MindChange Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindchangeSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mind-change-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Heather McKean explores the emotional drivers behind Parkinson’s, including childhood trauma, perfectionism, guilt, and suppression of emotion. Learn how the mind may "do" Parkinson’s as a way to gain control, release overwhelming responsibility, or express unresolved pain. With powerful insights and hope-filled guidance, Heather shows how the Mind Change method can help rewire these internal patterns and restore freedom. Whether you or someone you love is affected, this episode offers a radically compassionate and empowering new perspective.📚 Get Heather’s book - “Mind Change: Changing The World One Mind At A Time”🎓 Courses🌄 Retreats📅 Weekend Workshops📚 Book Club Facilitator Guides📝 More resources at https://www.mindchange.com/podcastWhat we covered in this episode: 🧠 How Parkinson’s isn’t just a neurological issue—it’s tied to chronic depletion of dopamine, which plays a crucial role in motivation, mood, reward, and emotional resilience.🎭 How long-term suppression of anger, sadness, or even joy—especially rooted in childhood—can contribute to the body "doing" Parkinson’s as a protective or adaptive response.👨‍👩‍👧 How rigid family systems, performance-based love, corporal punishment, or emotional neglect in early life often plant the seeds for perfectionism, fear, and over-control later in life.⚖️ Parkinson’s may symbolically represent the tension between the compulsion to control everything and the overwhelming desire to disengage from life and responsibilities altogether.💔 Deep-seated guilt, self-criticism, and feelings of being unsupported or like a burden are common emotional patterns among those with Parkinson’s symptoms.🚫 How the mind may unconsciously perceive benefits from the disease—like receiving care, escaping pressure, or avoiding emotional pain—which can reinforce the condition’s presence.🔁 The mental fixation on doing things “the right way” or fearing uncertainty often mirrors the physical symptoms of stiffness and slowed movement in Parkinson’s.🔓 By identifying and rewriting subconscious beliefs—especially those formed in childhood—healing and transformation are truly possible.Episode topics:🧠 What Is Parkinson’s? (00:00:00)💡 Emotional Roots of Parkinson’s (00:01:35)👶 Childhood Conditioning & Trauma (00:02:54)🎭 Control, Perfectionism & Suppression (00:04:45)⚖️ The Role of Guilt, Shame & Fear (00:06:43)🔁 Secondary Gains of Illness (00:14:30)🔓 Rewiring the Subconscious (00:17:48)🌱 Healing & Empowerment (00:18:20) Get in touch with Heather McKean: Web: https://www.mindchange.com/our-story Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindchange/?hl=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/MindChange Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindchangeSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-mind-change-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy