Mark
Paasman

I have had to fight for my life several times. Violence, life-threatening situations and serious injuries left their mark. Then came loss, chronic pain and years of personal, financial and legal pressure.

It built up. And I kept going. Working, caring for people, solving problems, helping others. My body was constantly on alert. Flashbacks, poor sleep, guilt and helplessness affected my daily life. I was still capable of a great deal, while inside I had less and less left.

I know what it is like to lose yourself. To seek help and still not feel truly heard. To reach a point where you no longer know what you are holding on for.

With the support of my wife Danielle, I found the safety and space to investigate what was happening inside me. I spent years studying stress, the body, neurochemistry, behaviour and language. I read, listened, drew, made connections and put what I learned into practice.

My questions came from necessity. How could my body react before I had a chance to choose? Why did the past still control my life? And how could I regain control?

Through that study and practical work, I developed my own method. I freed myself from the stress I had carried from the past. The flashbacks disappeared. I regained calm, self-worth and trust in myself.

Those events are part of my history. They no longer control my life.