The Diagnosis Doesn’t End the Story

If you’ve ever lived through a life-altering diagnosis—or supported someone who has—you know that the moment you hear the words from a doctor is both the beginning and the end.

It’s the end of how things used to be. And the beginning of living life with new terms, new fears, new rules.

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Renata

Today’s episode is a little different—but it’s one I believe is critical.

We're talking about something many of us don’t realize until it’s too late: the financial and societal cost of unresolved trauma. And yes, I mean real dollars. But also the cost in lost potential, strained relationships, and the weight so many of us silently carry.

This is not just a personal issue—it’s a societal one. One we cannot afford to ignore.

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Thank you for listening to todays episode! I would love to hear from you and to receive your questions and feedback.

I would value and appreciate support of my show. This will help me continue to help you - subscribe today for as little as $3.00 per month here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2364681/support

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Renata

A trigger is not just a strong reaction. It’s a sudden surge of emotion or physical response that seems disproportionate to the moment—but perfectly logical when you look at your past. Triggers often come from unresolved trauma. They are your nervous system sounding an alarm, not because you're weak, but because you’ve been through something that taught your body to brace for impact.

Triggers can be people, places, sounds, smells, tones of voice, or even innocent gestures that resemble a moment of past pain.

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Thank you for listening to todays episode! I would love to hear from you and to receive your questions and feedback.

I would value and appreciate support of my show. This will help me continue to help you - subscribe today for as little as $3.00 per month here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2364681/support

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Renata

Episode Description:

In this powerful episode of Cycle Breaker & Change Maker, Renata Ortega sits down with registered psychotherapist and coach Nisrine Maktabi for a deeply personal and healing conversation on what it means to break cycles—especially those rooted in patriarchy, war, displacement, and intergenerational trauma.

Together, they explore the invisible patterns that shape our nervous systems, the lasting impact of attachment wounds, and the lifelong journey of rehoming ourselves when our origins were marked by instability or silence. From Nisrine’s story of surviving the Lebanese Civil War to Renata’s reflections on growing up with an abusive, mentally ill parent, this episode is a courageous invitation to talk about what was once untouchable.

If you’ve ever felt like home was not a safe place—or like you’ve had to carry roles that were never yours to begin with—this conversation will meet you with empathy, truth, and tools for healing.

Topics Covered:

• The nervous system’s response to war and relocation
• Rehoming as a trauma-informed healing practice
• The survival patterns of people pleasing and fawning
• Breaking cycles of patriarchy with compassion
• The power of somatic work, storytelling, and authentic connection

Content Note: This episode contains discussions of trauma, abuse, war, and mental illness. Please listen with care.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to todays episode! I would love to hear from you and to receive your questions and feedback.

I would value and appreciate support of my show. This will help me continue to help you - subscribe today for as little as $3.00 per month here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2364681/support

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Until the next time - warmly yours,
Renata

In Episode 4, I introduced the idea of letting go—specifically, letting go of relationships that are no longer healthy or aligned. Today, we’re diving deeper.

Letting go isn’t a one-time action. It’s a process, a practice, and for many of us—a profound act of self-liberation.

And if the mere thought of letting go of someone brings up guilt, fear, or anxiety—you are not alone. That’s exactly what we’re going to talk about today.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to todays episode! I would love to hear from you and to receive your questions and feedback.

I would value and appreciate support of my show. This will help me continue to help you - subscribe today for as little as $3.00 per month here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2364681/support

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Renata

Hello, and welcome back to the Cycle Breaker and Change Maker Podcast. I’m Renata Ortega, and if you’ve made it here today, I want you to take a moment to acknowledge your courage. Today’s topic is one that touches so many of us in ways that aren’t always obvious until we start to look inward. We’re diving deeper into a topic we began in Episode 3—abandonment.

This episode comes with a gentle caution—if abandonment is something you’ve experienced or are currently grappling with, please listen with care. Pause when you need to. Breathe deeply. You are in control.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to todays episode! I would love to hear from you and to receive your questions and feedback.

I would value and appreciate support of my show. This will help me continue to help you - subscribe today for as little as $3.00 per month here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2364681/support

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Renata

In episode 2, I introduced the concept of the negative relationship cycle—how we often find ourselves in harmful or unbalanced relationships without even realizing we’re repeating a pattern we never chose in the first place.

Today, we’re going to go deeper. This episode is for anyone who’s ever thought, “Why does this keep happening to me?” or “Why do I keep ending up with people who hurt me, drain me, or make me question my worth?”

If that sounds familiar, please know this: You are not broken. You are not beyond healing. You are not alone.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to todays episode! I would love to hear from you and to receive your questions and feedback.

I would value and appreciate support of my show. This will help me continue to help you - subscribe today for as little as $3.00 per month here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2364681/support

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Renata

Andrea Page founded FITMOM in April 2000, one year after her first son was born. The birth of FITMOM was the result of her own personal struggle to overcome severe postpartum depression in her first year as a mom. She found exercise to be the key to her survival and wanted to help support other new moms on their journey to health and wellness in their postpartum years.

Throughout her career, Andrea has been deemed an International expert on prenatal and postnatal fitness and was selected to collaborate on “Healthy Beginnings”, a guide published by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Of Canada, to help women achieve a healthy pregnancy. She has written hundreds of articles and, alongside other experts, developed the curriculum to train all FITMOM coaches and licensees.

Over the years Andrea has inspired and motivated thousands of women to work towards improved health with a special focus on mental, physical and spiritual health for the new mom. As the mom of three boys, Andrea understands the challenges and needs of new moms and is constantly searching for solutions to help moms build their community support.

You can reach Andrea at:
https://www.fitmomniagara.com/contact

https://www.facebook.com/fitmomniagara/

https://www.instagram.com/fitmomniagararegion/

Support the show

Thank you for listening to todays episode! I would love to hear from you and to receive your questions and feedback.

I would value and appreciate support of my show. This will help me continue to help you - subscribe today for as little as $3.00 per month here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2364681/support

You can reach me here:
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Until the next time - warmly yours,
Renata