THE PHILOSOPHY
We are more connected than any generation in history. And more isolated than ever. Something went wrong — and it wasn’t you. Modern life has normalised chronic stress, invisible labour, and loneliness — especially for women carrying everything. You weren’t built to do this alone. And you were never supposed to.
#IAmHer
Does this sound familiar?
Built around the actual biopsychology of women, not unrealistic self-care advice.
If this feels familiar, you’re not weak.
Your nervous system may simply have been under pressure for too long.
Three generations ago, women’s roles were singular. Hard, often limiting — but singular. Then came the promise that we could have it all. Work AND family AND home AND self.
Nobody redistributed the invisible load.
Today, most women have to work — the cost of living has removed the choice entirely. And if you secretly want to slow down, be present, be at home? You carry shame about that too.
The anxiety so many women feel isn’t weakness. It’s a completely rational response to an impossible situation that nobody is naming honestly.
Until now.
NHS-accredited trauma-informed health coach helping women break free from chronic fight-or-flight –NHS-accredited trauma-informed health coach helping women break free from chronic fight-or-flight –
MY STORY
I know this because I lived it.
My childhood was mostly happy. Then my first panic attack arrived — and my whole world changed. Suddenly I was anxious about becoming anxious. It spiralled. And it didn’t stop for 25 years.
Looking back, I understand why. My father was in and out of our family home. My mother, Japanese by culture, never once said she loved me. I grew up in an environment my nervous system had to constantly read and predict. It learned early to stay alert.
Life added more weight. And the loss I will never fully put down — my son, Finias Akimitsu, whose name means Autumn Light. We call him Fin. I left St George’s hospital empty handed — screaming and crying in a way I didn’t know my body was capable of. Fin is woven into everything I do.
Meanwhile I’d been quietly building a relationship with health for over 25 years. It started when I began putting on weight as a teenager and my GP refused to help — I wasn’t “fat enough” to warrant support. So I figured it out myself. Blood sugars, food, the whole body, toxic load at home. The system wouldn’t help me, so I helped myself. I went to CNM to make it official. The knowledge had been lived long before the qualification.
When I qualified as a health coach in 2023, I noticed a pattern I couldn’t ignore. My clients knew what they wanted to change. They just couldn’t do it. Not because they lacked willpower — but because they were already on the edge of burnout. It was never a diet problem. Once you see it, you see it everywhere.
Then I did what so many women do. I paused what was working and chose what looked sensible on paper. Thirteen months in the NHS — patient-facing, inside an acute hospital, watching what happens when we wait until people are in crisis. During that same time, my daughter Seren was going through serious health challenges of her own. Every hospital admission set me back further. I left in September 2025. Broken. But finally ready to stop.
I stopped looking for the one big thing that would fix me. Instead I made small, honest changes. Slowly, my body began to learn that it was safe.
I went on holiday and actually relaxed. Properly. Even the flight. I drove on the motorway alone — something I’d never done without another driver in case I panicked. Small things. Everything things.
After 25 years, my anxiety is gone.
What would your life feel like if your body felt calm and safe on an ordinary day? Not a spa day. Not a holiday. Just — any day.
I didn’t have one breakthrough moment. I had a hundred small ones. And that’s exactly what I guide women through.
I want to reach you before the wall. But if you’ve already hit it — you’re still exactly in the right place.
CNM
Diploma Level 5 qualified health coach · CNM Ambassador · Personalised Care Institute Accredited
Real
Not theory. Not a pedestal.
HOW I WORK
Not your typical health coach
Who this is for…
This work may be helpful if you:
This work may not be the right fit if you:
Real life support. Sustainable change. No perfection required.
Health Coaching; Working with your real life
Breaking Free From Survival Mode
Built around the actual biopsychology of women, not unrealistic self-care advice.
Does this sound familiar?
You’re capable. You get things done.
But lately something feels different.
You might be:
If this feels familiar, you’re not weak.
Your nervous system may simply have been under pressure for too long.
NHS (PCI) – Accredited Trauma-Informed Health Coach helping women break free from chronic fight-or-flight –NHS (PCI) – Accredited Trauma-Informed Health Coach helping women break free from chronic fight-or-flight –
Still stuck in fight-or-flight… Or constantly feeling on edge?
If life has started to feel like constant pressure, exhaustion, or overwhelm, you’re not alone.
Every so often I send thoughtful emails sharing simple ways to calm the nervous system, navigate burnout, and reconnect with yourself.
I also occasionally share updates about the supportive women’s community and events I host.
No spam. Just thoughtful emails. You can unsubscribe anytime.
This work may be helpful if you:
This work may NOT be the right fit if you:
My work focuses on calming the nervous system first, so real and sustainable change can happen.
My work focuses on calming the nervous system first, so real and sustainable change can happen.
Your nervous system is not broken
Your nervous system has simply been carrying more than it was designed to hold.
When pressure builds without enough recovery, the body adapts by staying in a heightened state of alertness — often called fight-or-flight.
Over time this can affect:
But when the nervous system begins to feel safe again, things can start to shift.
Energy stabilises.
Sleep deepens.
Mental clarity returns.
Calm first. Then change.
A nervous system – first approach
Most health advice focuses on discipline, routines, and trying harder.
But if your nervous system is stuck in survival mode, pushing yourself harder often makes things worse.
When the body remains in prolonged fight-or-flight, the nervous system prioritises survival over everything else. Energy becomes unstable, sleep is disrupted, cravings increase, and even simple tasks can begin to feel overwhelming.
My work focuses first on reducing the pressure the nervous system has been carrying, so the body can begin to feel safe again.
Instead of starting with strict routines or major life changes, we begin with small shifts that help stabilise the system:
When the body begins to feel safe again, things that once felt difficult often start to change naturally.
Energy stabilises.
Sleep deepens.
Mental clarity returns.
Why this work matter to me
For many years I lived in a constant state of pressure.
On the outside I appeared capable and productive. I was working, raising a family, and holding everything together.
But internally my nervous system was always “on.”
I was diagnosed with anxiety as a teenager, and for a long time I believed that was simply part of who I was.
Looking back now, I can see that my nervous system had simply been under pressure for years.
Like many women, I was carrying invisible responsibilities, constant decision-making, and the emotional weight of keeping life running smoothly.
My body was doing exactly what it was designed to do — staying alert in order to cope.
Over time I began to understand what was actually happening in my nervous system.
Instead of pushing myself harder, I started reducing the pressure my system had been carrying and supporting my physiology in small, realistic ways.
Gradually things began to change.
My mind became quieter.
My energy stabilised.
I was able to rest properly.
Today I don’t see myself as an anxious person. I see someone whose nervous system simply needed the right conditions to feel safe again.
I realised my nervous system had never been broken.
It had simply been trying to protect me.
That understanding completely changed how I approach health, wellbeing, and stress — and it is now the foundation of the work I do with other women.
Why this work matters to me
For many years I lived in a constant state of pressure.
On the outside I appeared capable and productive. I was working, raising a family, and holding everything together.
But internally my nervous system was always “on.”
I was diagnosed with anxiety as a teenager, and for a long time I believed that was simply part of who I was.
Looking back now, I can see that my nervous system had simply been under pressure for years.
Like many women, I was carrying invisible responsibilities, constant decision-making, and the emotional weight of keeping life running smoothly.
My body was doing exactly what it was designed to do — staying alert in order to cope.
Over time I began to understand what was actually happening in my nervous system.
Instead of pushing myself harder, I started reducing the pressure my system had been carrying and supporting my physiology in small, realistic ways.
Gradually things began to change.
My mind became quieter.
My energy stabilised.
I was able to rest properly.
Today I don’t see myself as an anxious person. I see someone whose nervous system simply needed the right conditions to feel safe again.
I realised my nervous system had never been broken.
It had simply been trying to protect me.
That understanding completely changed how I approach health, wellbeing, and stress — and it is now the foundation of the work I do with other women.
You don’t have to do this alone
Alongside my writing and coaching work, I also host small community gatherings for women across Bath and North East Somerset (BANES).
These include wellbeing walks, coffee mornings, and small supportive groups where women can step out of the pressure of everyday life and connect with others who understand.
For many women, simply having a reason to leave the house and meet others can be a powerful step in recalibrating the nervous system.
These include:
Sometimes the most powerful step is simply realising you’re not the only one feeling this way.
Enter your details below to be kept in the loop about community evenets.
You don’t have to do this alone
Alongside my writing and coaching work, I also host small community events for women who want connection, support, and space to breathe.
These includes:
Sometimes the most powerful step is simply realising you’re not the only one feeling this way.
Enter your details below to be kept in the loop about community events.
What Women Are Saying
“I highly recommend Mariko as a health coach.
I was struggling with sugar addiction, chronic heartburn, and health anxiety — and didn’t know how to make a change or where to start.”
“I joined this wellbeing group primarily to meet new people, and it has been such a rewarding experience.
One of the things I love most is that there’s a fresh face at every meeting, and it keeps the energy high and the conversations exciting.”
“Within weeks, my anxiety eased, and I felt more able to recognise and manage it before it spiralled.
She’s helped me massively — I understand myself more and have real tools to cope when life feels heavy. Thank you, Mariko.”
“Thank you Mariko, your wellbeing walks made me feel motivated to get off the sofa and go out walking! Willl join again.”
“I attended the Sweet Escape workshop recently, and it was an eye-opener! The session helped me understand food cravings and how much sugar is in everyday foods without realising.”
“The information gained has enabled me to change how I think about sugar and food in general. I’ve already changed my diet, lost weight, and feel better.
Mariko is very knowledgeable and helpful, and there was no judgement from her about my diet or sugar intake.”
“Brilliant! What an informative and thought-provoking session. Mariko is clearly knowledgeable on all things sugar and nutrition — she delivered so much information in such an easy-to-understand, interesting way.”
“It really is a social lifeline for me as it’s been quite hard making new friends since moving to Bristol. xx”
Start by understanding your nervous system
If you feel constantly “on,” overwhelmed, or exhausted, the most helpful first step is understanding what your nervous system may be responding to.
Take the 3-minute Nervous System Quiz to discover where your body may currently be operating.
Understanding your nervous system is often the first step towards feeling like yourself again.
Start by discovering where your system may currently be operating.
