When the Workplace Becomes a Warzone What happens when manipulation becomes a management style? When truth-telling is punished, and chaos is the language of control? In this week’s episode of The Gaslit Brain, we share a real story from a listener who endured severe psychological abuse and gaslighting in her workplace, a…
There’s a moment in every survivor’s story where confusion gives way to clarity. When you realise what you thought was love, care, or even mentorship, was actually control. That moment of recognition can shake you to your core, and that’s where The Gaslit Brain Series begins. In this episode of The FEMCAST podcast, we…
Why This Series, Why Now At The FEMCAST, we believe in amplifying voices that challenge abuse, expose manipulation, and carve out safer futures. Today, we are proud to launch our brand-new series: The Gaslit Brain with Dr. Jen Fraser. If you’ve followed us before, you’ll remember Jen’s powerful insights in our last series, based…
The Woman Who Refused to Stay Silent – Vicky’s Fight for Truth This week, we remember Vicky Phelan — a woman whose courage and determination exposed the greatest medical scandal of our time. On 25th April 2018, Vicky’s refusal to be silenced by a Non-Disclosure Agreement revealed systemic failures within our health system that endangered…
Breaking the Silence – The Emotional Toll of Fertility Issues Fertility issues is more than just a medical journey, it’s an emotional, psychological, and societal challenge that millions face, yet few openly discuss. The road to parenthood can be filled with obstacles, heartbreak, and hope, but too often, these struggles are minimised or swept under…
Why ‘Mental Health Awareness’ Falls Short in Toxic Workplaces Workplace discrimination against individuals with mental health issues persists, even as companies claim to be more open to employing those with such challenges. In reality, many people with known mental health conditions already hold positions in the workforce. So why do we continue to…
The Hidden Cost of Neglect – How Ireland’s Cervical Check Scandal Changed Women’s Lives Forever Living as young woman in Ireland whilst the cervical check scandal first appeared in the public eye meant that the topic of female reproductive health went from a stigmatised taboo to an all-consuming national conversation. Advocates such as Vicky Phelan brought the conversation…
Physical Vascular Therapy is a revolutionary treatment that targets key areas of the body using a pulsed electromagnetic field to deliver a special, patented signal configuration. This therapy aims to improve restricted microcirculation, which is the blood flow in the smallest blood vessels. By enhancing microcirculation, Physical Vascular Therapy supports cell maintenance, ensuring that cells…
The hidden cost of skipping holidays that is hurting your workforce. A recent survey by FRS Recruitment has revealed a concerning trend – over 40% of workers failed to use their full holiday entitlements last year. This statistic is alarming, considering the critical role that rest and recuperation play in maintaining both physical and…
What we need to teach kids about the psychology of bullying. Children’s schools are inspected and regularly checked by professionals to ensure safety from the harm of fire. Not only are the building and facilities, with specific attention to risks like electrical wiring, assessed by firefighters, but the whole school from the principal to the youngest student…
A Staggering 26,000 Domestic Abuse Reports Made to Gardaí Since June 2024: A Harrowing Reality In a shocking revelation, a staggering 26,000 reports of domestic abuse have been made to An Garda Síochána since the beginning of June 2024. This grim statistic equates to one report every ten minutes, highlighting the pervasive and relentless…
Addressing the Epidemic of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Ireland through Early Education The Taoiseach’s recent declaration of an “epidemic” of sexual and gender-based violence in Ireland highlights a pressing and pervasive issue within society. The reality of this crisis has been brought into sharp focus by recent high-profile cases, including the tragic stories of…
The recent revelation that a Dublin maternity hospital has appointed Dr. Christopher Morris, a doctor with a criminal conviction for assaulting two women, to a position where he will likely treat domestic violence victims, raises profound concerns about the priorities and values within our health system. This situation not only highlights the systemic failure…
The recent case of a doctor convicted of raping his wife is an unsettling reminder of the persistent issue of violence and entitlement that men often exhibit towards women. The doctor, a 36-year-old Leinster resident, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for the horrific crime of anal rape and false imprisonment. This case…
I help clients heal after pregnancy loss so I figure it’s better to answer your questions here, with accurate info in a post. After all I’m a qualified gynae nurse and midwife as well as a therapist. You wish you’d understood what miscarriage is before it happened, not blamed yourself. You wish took time…
Toxic workplaces, the not so silent epidemic that claims lives and leaves countless others shattered. This tragic death was preventable, the loss of Dr Vaish Kumar’s life, and the loss her family and friends will feel is lasting. This headline will move down the website into oblivion, their pain is forever. BBC covered the story…
In the pursuit of societal change, the adage “if you want to see change, be the change” rings true, serving as a shining example of inspiration for those advocating for progress. I had the privilege of participating in a transformative training day with the Limerick branch of Women’s Collective Ireland, an experience that not only…
Over the weekend, another woman fell victim to the scourge of domestic violence, leaving behind two devastated daughters and a grandchild she will never see growing up. The ripple effect of such tragedies leaves families traumatised for generations to come. These incidents demand the same level of societal outrage as the high-profile cases, such…
Following the success of their recent hit Channel 4 documentary Celebrity Save Our Sperm, produced by Crackit Productions, the Society for Reproduction and Fertility (SRF) is delighted to host the stars of the programme for a deeper dive into the battle to improve male reproductive health during their live ‘One Night Stand’ event . Ollie…
Sharing your unique experiences of trauma can indeed be a difficult and painful process. When faced with someone who responds dismissively, it’s important to remember that no one else can truly understand the depth of your trauma except for you. People who make statements like, “I wouldn’t have got that from them,” lack the insight…
If little girls are made of sugar and spice, and little boys puppy dogs’ tails, how do you frontload your fertility to get your family started? The real nitty gritty of having babies comes down to how well our bodies are working and often what’s going on in our heads too. So, where do we begin with…
Guess what? Infertility makes you blue. It’s official. Baby-making is fun for maybe three months. Six at a pinch. Sex gets a tad less spontaneous. Excitement fades pretty damn fast. Niggling doubts, worry and plain old icy fear. Once the ‘f’ word leaps out of the bedroom and onto the doctor’s couch there’s no stopping it. Next…
Dry mouth, shaky voice, pounding heart and crampy gut are sure signs of anxiety. When you need to feel better in a hurry use these 6 ways to calm down quickly! The Vagus (wandering) nerve is where the magic unfolds. Starting in the brain it wanders down the neck to the voice box and on to…
Recently I spoke about my ’16 expert hacks to double your IVF success rate’ with our favourite magazine, RSVP. Why do some people sail through IVF and achieve pregnancy more easily? With 30 years helping my clients build their families, I’m sharing my 10 trusted hacks to help you get pregnant with fertility treatment.Part…
It’s all around Falling in love is the most wonderful feeling in the world. So can we hang onto that special magic? Love flickers, fades and falls into routine, even for the most in-love couples. Science explains why. Brain chemicals sparking romance are different to the long-term blend. Espresso turns to Nescafé. It’s hard to…
Give it a squeeze! What’s the best way to choose a perfect peach? Give it a squeeze! Now scientists say it’s the same for IVF embryos. Engineers are a practical bunch. Teamed with doctors at Stanford University, bioengineers realised the feel of newly formed IVF embryos offers a super quick indicator of viability. Normally it takes 5-6 days…
Miscarriage hurts, and is often misunderstood. Síle Seoige’s groundbreaking TG4 documentary ‘Deireadh Tochta’ follows her journey, shares stories, explores research, finds help. I’m delighted to have been part of her healing to a rainbow pregnancy. I was a ‘rainbow’ baby, born after my mother’s fourth miscarriage. She felt each of her pregnancy losses all her…
Hitting forty, trying to conceive and fearful of your fertility? Cue furrowed brows and quizzical head tilts. Sure, you look and feel about 25 – but just try telling that to your eggs or your doctor. Aging eggs with a fail-grade AMH put the heart crossways on otherwise young and sexy intending mothers. I know, because…
School Culture that Looked the Other Way I was an “unwilling bystander” in a school culture that looked the other way when abuse was occurring. This was before I stepped into the whistleblower role. I knew about an abusive teacher, but my attempts to stop his harmful treatment got me nowhere. Instead, I encountered all…
Incinerated and al dente spell doom for decent chips so I parted with my old deep-fat fryer last week. Could it apply to ovaries – a built-in obsolescence? Eggs get blamed for aging – is it a deserved bad rap? Ovaries are one of my favourite body parts, vying closely with wombs, vaginas (of…
Turn on, Tune in, Drop out Take my daily Mindfulness Challenge to see how easy it is to feel better, no matter what the week flings at you. Is your life on a frantic auto-pilot? Up out of bed, shower, coffee and hit the road in a blur of activity? A morning of phones. emails…
Anxiety about trying to conceive may actually be sabotaging your efforts to conceive. A new Swedish study finds anxiety and depression reduce the chances of getting pregnant and having a baby. It’s a vicious cycle, all too familiar for many women trying to conceive. How do you know if anxiety is sabotaging your efforts to conceive?…
Real Life Mindfulness Let me break it to you gently. Like it or loathe it, you can’t escape real life mindfulness! Taking a shower, baking a cake, making love, composing an email? There’s nothing new about present moment focus. And yes, we thrive on it. It’s credited with boosting creative thinking, reducing depression and improving physical…
We’re either not getting enough of it, can’t stop doing it, or need less than our partner. Always a reliable topic for a chat, sleep issues are big now during #COVID-19 lockdown living. ” Why can’t I get to sleep?…” I’m waking up at mad hours even though I’m working from home now.” “I…
Why do you think they call it Dope…amine Enjoying a break – but still can’t stop a sneak peek at your email or fb feed? It’s really addictive … and gets even worse back at work. Let’s look at email. How many do you clock up in a day? It’s a mainstay of contact for…
Sex and seaweed doesn’t exactly trip off the tongue. I discovered a vital link which surprised me. Sex hormones make us sexy. The thyroid gland is the iodine-seeking device which brews up those vampish hormones we love.They need iodine and seaweed is full of it. No, it’s not just for the ladies. Iodine turbo-charges sperm.…