From Hell to Heaven in a Three-Stage Rocket:

My Experience with Dr. Bas de Cock & Teams

My experience with Dr. Bas de Cock & Teams has been a true rollercoaster of emotions and recovery. It felt like a three-stage rocket ride, from the dark depths of hell to the radiant heights of heaven. Well, "heaven" is a bit of an exaggeration, but that's exactly what it feels like when you emerge from a dark hole.

Step 1: Inner Silence Retreat, March 2023

In November 2023, I (then 69) decided to turn my 40-year career as a photographer into my hobby. Finally, the end of the rat race. Finally, peace, I thought. But things didn't go as planned. In December 2022, I was struck by burnout, which led to panic, depression, tinnitus, and many other physical discomforts. I felt lost in a hellish chaos. My doctor recommended "temporary" antidepressants, but I wanted to avoid that at all costs. I happened to come into contact with Bas de Cock, which immediately resonated with me. The Inner Silence retreat (primarily focused on tinnitus) in March 2023 changed everything. It was as if I had landed in the "emergency room" of an unusual hospital. It worked. This first rocket boost pulled me out of the deepest valleys of my misery. It turned out to be the beginning of my journey to recovery.

Trap 2: Beyond the Sound retreat, February 2024

After March 2023, however, things weren't exactly easy. The following year was filled with various physical ailments and surgeries, which constantly challenged me. But in January 2024, the turning point finally arrived. The Beyond the Sound retreat, which followed shortly thereafter in February, allowed me to process all the strain on my system. It was like a second rocket that accelerated my recovery, allowing me to move forward with renewed vigor and regain confidence in the future.

Step 3: Evoking Inner Healing, October 2024

The goal was to achieve greater peace of mind and mental clarity and prevent a recurrence of burnout. So, a greater focus on personal development. This was achieved during the third retreat, Evoking Inner Healing, in October 2024. With the help of plant-based medicine, Holotropic Breathing according to the Stanislaf Grof method, a fantastic team and group members, the inspiring Rose Mountain environment, and last but not least, my beloved life partner, I felt at the end that I had come "home." Frans was Frans again 😊. Hopefully, it will remain that way for a long time, despite all the inevitable ups and downs.

Looking back: In 1985, I thought, "If I follow my heart, everything will be fine." Fortunately, many good things have happened in my life, few obstacles. But due to my burnout in December 2022, following my heart proved to be insufficient. I was also experiencing a lot of stress all those years, not just negative stress, but mainly "positive" stress as well. In retrospect, patterns that developed in my younger years were holding me back. A retreat like Evoking Inner Healing is ideal for accessing that.
Actually, the retreat is not only suitable for me, or for traumatized people, but for everyone who wants to live a healthy and conscious life.