Free Your Mind Counselling Service - Karen Pinder.

02/09/2026

So sad this is going on.

Today marks five years since the murder of Fawziyah Javed 🍂

Fawziyah had her whole life ahead of her. She should have been celebrating her birthday later this week. She should have been making memories with her little boy, watching him grow, and planning his future.

Instead, her family and loved ones continue to live with an unimaginable loss. Fawziyah’s family feel there will never be closure or justice for their loss 🍂

Fawziyah’s story is a devastating reminder of the impact of Honour-Based Abuse, and what can happen when warning signs are missed. Despite asking for help, including two police visits just days before her death, the abuse she experienced was not properly recognised as HBA. The full picture was not seen, including the wider patterns of control, fear and family involvement that can make HBA so complex and dangerous.

Her legacy lives on through the campaign, led by her mother Yasmin Javed. That campaign has now helped secure a statutory definition of Honour Based Abuse, a historic step towards ensuring victims are seen, believed and protected earlier.

But this work does not end with a change in law. Fawziyah’s name continues to remind us why recognition, training and safeguarding must translate into real protection for victims.🕊️

05/08/2026

We often fall in to thinking traps. Do you notice which one you recognize, it might be more than one.
Comment below let’s see which is the most common.

23/07/2026

Try and change your negative thoughts.
What happens to how you feel?
Give it a try

17/07/2026

Sometimes we need to know

💜 **A Historic Day for Victim-Survivors of Domestic Abuse**

Today marks a significant milestone as **Jennie's Law** has passed through the Oireachtas, bringing Ireland one step closer to stronger protections for people experiencing domestic abuse. The legislation is now expected to be signed into law by the President.

Named in memory of **Jennifer Poole**, Jennie's Law will establish a public register of serious domestic violence convictions, helping people make informed decisions about their safety while increasing accountability for perpetrators.

This landmark legislation is a testament to the tireless advocacy of Jennifer's family and everyone who has campaigned for change. While no law can undo the devastating impact of domestic abuse, it is an important step towards protecting future victim-survivors.

As a domestic violence service, we welcome this progress and remain committed to supporting anyone affected by domestic abuse.

💜 If you or someone you know needs support, please reach out. You are not alone.

15/07/2026

While many of us look forward to the England game, major sporting events can bring increased fear and risk for people experiencing domestic abuse.

Find out how to recognise the signs and where to get help: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/getting-help-for-domestic-violence/

03/07/2026

From Fawning to Repair

People-Pleasing,

What looks like kindness, helpfulness, or “keeping the peace” may sometimes be a nervous-system strategy for preventing rejection, conflict, or emotional loss.

People-pleasing is not always generosity.

Sometimes it is a protective pattern.

It can form when the system learns:

“It feels safer to lose myself than to risk losing connection.”

That does not mean the person is fake.

It does not mean they are manipulative.

It does not mean they do not care.

It means the system may have learned that connection feels safer when the self becomes smaller.

But repair begins when the self no longer has to be sacrificed for safety.

Connection should not require disappearance.

And love should not cost a person their own self-trust.

© Melissa Lee Turrentine
Causal Coherence Framework

11/06/2026

Do what is right for your mental wellness

18/05/2026

For many men, opening up hasn’t always felt safe, easy, encouraged, or even possible. And for some men when they have, they havent had a safe space to land, and they've been met with shame.

Sometimes what’s needed isn’t pressure to talk,
but space, patience, and understanding. Because being a man doesnt have to mean suffering in silence.

10/05/2026

Do you recognise any of these traits?

🧠✨ 5 THINGS ONLY PEOPLE WITH ADHD WILL UNDERSTAND ✨🧠

#1: CLEANING IN CHAOS 🧹😂
You start with one simple task… maybe cleaning the kitchen. Sounds easy, right? But somehow, 10 minutes later, you’re reorganizing old books, reading a notebook from 2018, listening to music, and wondering why there are random dishes still in the sink. ADHD brains often jump from one task to another because attention follows interest, not always priority. It’s not laziness or carelessness — it’s a brain constantly chasing stimulation and new thoughts. Many people with ADHD struggle with “task switching” and staying focused on boring or repetitive activities, even when they genuinely want to finish them.

#2: TIME IS A LIE ⏰😭
For many people with ADHD, time feels completely unpredictable. Two hours can disappear in what feels like five minutes during hyperfocus, while five minutes doing something boring can feel endless. This is often called “time blindness,” a common ADHD experience where estimating time, planning ahead, or staying on schedule becomes difficult. That’s why someone with ADHD might accidentally procrastinate, arrive late, or suddenly panic when realizing how much time has passed. It’s not because they don’t care — their brain processes time differently.

#3: NOISES EVERYWHERE 🔊😵
Too much noise can feel overwhelming… but total silence can also feel uncomfortable. ADHD brains often struggle to filter sounds properly, meaning every little noise — a barking dog, phone notification, fan, or conversation — competes for attention at the same time. Some people with ADHD actually focus better with specific background sounds like music, rain noises, cafés, or white noise because it helps regulate stimulation levels. The brain is constantly searching for the “right” amount of input.

#4: EMOTION OVERLOAD 💥😢
One small thing goes wrong, and suddenly it feels like the entire day is ruined. Emotional regulation can be difficult for people with ADHD because feelings are often experienced more intensely and more quickly. Frustration, embarrassment, rejection, excitement, or sadness may hit harder than expected. This can lead to shutdowns, crying, anger, or feeling emotionally exhausted. Then later, the emotions calm down just as fast, leaving people wondering why everything felt so overwhelming in the first place. ADHD is not only about attention — it also deeply affects emotions.

#5: HOBBIES AT FULL SPEED 🎨🚀
Find a new hobby. Buy all the equipment. Become obsessed for three days. Then suddenly lose interest. Sound familiar? ADHD brains are strongly connected to dopamine and novelty. New hobbies feel exciting because they provide stimulation, motivation, and curiosity. But once the excitement fades, the brain may struggle to maintain interest, even in things the person truly enjoys. This is why many people with ADHD collect unfinished projects, random skills, or hobbies they loved “for a while.”

ADHD is more than being distracted. It affects focus, emotions, motivation, memory, time management, and everyday life in ways many people never see. Understanding these experiences helps reduce stigma and reminds people with ADHD that they are not alone. 💙

21/03/2026