Instead of losing all hope when faced with a debilitating eye condition, stroke and acute depression, Dr Arien van der Merwe found ways to grow into a more perceptive, empathic healer. She explains how neuroplasticity helped her recover from paralysis, discusses the placebo versus the nocebo effect and metabolic syndrome, and lists her personal tips for self-care.

Struggling with hearing loss, painful distortion, cognitive decline and other challenges after two ear strokes, international cognitive behavioural therapist and speaker Cherona Dannhauser had a successful middle ear implant. She shares her journey, including what if felt like to hear her own voice – and that of her young adult son’s – for the first time in 4 years.