aim2 blog

 

introductory talks

I recently delivered two free talks at Equilibrium Health Centre near Chippenham.  the first on Stress and the second on Self-Defeating Behaviours.  Download the short handouts here.

Stress is Britain’s Number 1 killer – it can lead to many terminal conditions such as Cancer, Stroke, Heart Disease, Suicide, Lung Ailments and Cirrhosis. Not only that, a stressed patient will more likely have a less than satisfactory recovery from any ailment.  Nearly 50% of adults suffer adverse health effects due to stress and between 75 and 90% of GP visits are stress related.
I discussed how stress arises within us and how our bodies and mind react to stressful situations. Some stress is unavoidable, but much of our most harmful stress is self-generated and it is this aspect that I focused on. How we react to events has more to do with our perception of those events and our perceived abilities to deal with them.

Have you ever found yourself doing something and said to yourself ‘I shouldn’t be doing this – it’s bad’ but carried on doing it anyway and then regretted it long and hard afterwards?  Whether its eating or drinking too much, shouting at the kids, defending your point of view ad infinitum, or ending another relationship before “they”do, we are always capable of shooting ourselves in the foot – over and over again!
I showed how our self-sabotage moments are strategies we learnt as children.  Although once useful, these strategies (mostly unconscious) are the very things that create stress and unhappiness in our lives today.  We “know” but we “just can’t help it”.  I explained how psychotherapy is a practical and powerful treatment to help us all to overcome our self-defeating behaviours and live happier lives.  Whether it’s procrastination, holding a grudge, or pretending you’re fine when you’re not, our very “own worst enemy” can be overcome.

kingston university

I recently returned to Kingston upon Thames to deliver Safety Management training to MSc students on the Aircraft Maintenance Management MSc course and several members of the Nigerian Air Force.  It still gives me a buzz going back into the academic world.

expedition to Ladakh

5-weeks, 45 young explorers, 13 trainee leaders, 40 horses, donkeys and mules, 2-valleys, 14 leaders, 20 sherpas, cooks and pony men, 1 1/2 stone lost weight, and a long time without a shower!  Here's me at the Lassirmu La, a high pass leading from the Sniamo Valley back into Phiang Valley as we left our Base Camp and returned to Leh (the capital of Ladakh).

The Expedition was one of three that the British Schools Exploring Society ran this Summer.  The other two were to Svalbard in the Arctic, and the Amazon.  It was a logistic accomplishment to move nearly 100 people and 40 animals, and all their gear, food etc, plus science kit, up to two Base Camps sitting at 14,000ft.

Most of the 45 young explorers (ages 18 to 20) managed to climb at least one summit around 20,000ft altitude, many climbed two; quite incredible and what a way for them to spend their Summer holidays!

Myself and a colleague (Brett Sadler) ran a training programme for the trainee leaders, which involved giving them free-rein to mentor the young explorers.  There were a few open-air classes delivered, this could be a Guinness record for the highest "school" in the World?

Here's the view looking down from Dawa Peak - spectacular isn't it.

BSES run expeditions for young people every year; you can find out more details from the BSES web-site.