The Alchemy of Shame | Jess Nicks | TEDxNorthern Quarter

Coach and NLP trainer Jess Nicks examines how shame can act as an invisible script that shapes identity, confidence and a person's sense of what is possible. The talk looks at the internal self-criticism that holds people back and how changing one's relationship to shame can support personal growth. It draws on the speaker's own experience of burnout, late-diagnosed ADHD and a health crisis across 22 years in the music, advertising and TV industries. The talk was given at TEDxNorthern Quarter, an independently organized TEDx event. TED has flagged it, noting that its content falls outside TED's guidelines for TEDx organizers, that it represents the speaker's personal views, and that several claims lack legitimate scientific support. Viewers should not treat it as health advice.

• Shame as an internal script that shapes identity and confidence
• Self-criticism, doubt and the personal relationship to shame
• The speaker's experience of burnout and late-diagnosed ADHD
• TED flag: claims lack scientific support; not health advice

NOTE FROM TED: Please do not look to this talk for health advice. We've flagged this talk because it falls outside the content guidelines TED gives TEDx organizers. Contents only represent the speaker's personal views and understanding of mindset, healing and Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Several claims lack legitimate scientific support. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_content_guidelines.pdf Shame can become an invisible script that shapes identity, confidence and what we believe is possible. This talk explores the psychology of shame and the internal noise that holds us back - and how changing that relationship can unlock personal growth and potential. Jess Nicks is a coach, NLP Trainer, performer and creator of Debitch Your Brain®, a programme that sweeps away self-criticism, doubt and burnout, especially in neurodivergent minds, and replaces it with self-confidence and focus. She unhooks clients from the burden of patriarchy, perfectionism and people-pleasing so they can lead from their own truth. Her work has become a powerful catalyst for women with ADHD and other creative, high-performing brains who are tired of fighting themselves. Jess spent 22 years as a creative leader across the music, advertising and TV industries. During that time she went through breakdown, burnout, late-diagnosed ADHD and a life-threatening health crisis, but has transformed those experiences into the Debitch Your Brain® concept and her one-woman stage show Bitch on the Mic, performed at the Brighton Fringe. Jess is a compelling new voice in the global conversation about neurodiversity, self-leadership and what it really takes to reclaim your mind. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx