The Survival Strategies We Forget We Learned with Linda Lewis
Children are remarkably adaptive. When life feels unsafe, unpredictable or overwhelming, they find ways to cope. They learn what helps them stay safe, avoid conflict, gain approval, reduce threat or simply make it through the day.
The challenge is that these strategies can stay with us beyond childhood and become the way we cope with everything, throughout our adult lives.
In this episode of the Burnout to Brilliance Podcast, Jayne Morris MCC is joined by Linda Lewis to explore the often-overlooked relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), adult coping patterns and burnout.
Together they discuss how childhood adversity can shape nervous system development, influence relationships, affect self-trust and quietly contribute to the ways people respond to pressure, responsibility and stress throughout adult life.
This is a compassionate and insightful conversation about survival, adaptation, trust and the possibility of understanding ourselves differently.
In this episode we explore:
• What Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are
• How childhood adversity can influence nervous system development
• Why survival strategies often continue into adulthood
• Hypervigilance, people pleasing and burnout
• Trust, relationships and psychological safety
• The connection between childhood experiences and adult health
• Why some people struggle to ask for help
• The empowering role of awareness and psychoeducation
• Creating pathways towards healing, support and recovery
About the Guest
Linda Lewis is a survivor advocate, trainer and specialist in the field of domestic abuse, sexual abuse and trauma awareness. Through her professional work supporting survivors and raising awareness of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Linda helps individuals and organisations better understand the long-term impact of trauma, abuse and adversity.
Drawing upon both professional expertise and lived experience, Linda is passionate about empowering survivors through education, awareness and access to support. Her work highlights the importance of understanding trauma not simply through what happened, but through the ways people adapt in order to survive.
Listen & Subscribe
🎧 Also available on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
Resources & Links
📖 The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/about.html
🌐 The Survivors Trust: https://thesurvivorstrust.org
Connect with Jayne Morris MCC
The UK’s leading executive burnout coach & author of Burnout to Brilliance
LinkedIn: @jaynemorrisMCC
Burnout to Brilliance on Amazon
Follow Balanceology
LinkedIn: @Balanceology
Website: www.balanceology.uk
About Balanceology
Balanceology is a leading coaching organisation dedicated to preventing workplace burnout and restoring sustainable success. Through talks, workshops, trainings, coaching and retreats, Balanceology supports individuals and organisations to work well, live fully, and thrive.
The Balanceology Certified Burnout Coach CPD Training is ICF accredited and carries 64 CCEUs
