"Sometimes it feels like I’m watching life through glass—present but not really here. This ‘zombie mode’ isn’t laziness or indifference; it’s dissociation. A survival strategy the brain uses when reality becomes too much. In this blog, I share what it looks like from the inside, why it happens, and how to recognise the signs so you know you’re not alone."

I was made redundant this week—and instead of collapsing, I treated it as a cocoon. This piece blends story and science: what trauma does to the brain, why it often hits women (especially neurodivergent women) harder, and my COCOON framework to move from survival to strength. If you’re navigating shock, burnout or big change, these gentle, practical steps—breath, grounding, reframing, micro-actions and community—will help you grow wings.