When I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2018, it was the biggest battle of my life, however, what I didn't realise back then, was that cancer was only the very start of my struggles, and the hardest journey lay ahead.

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After my surgery, I remember coming home to a barrage of well-wishers, flowers, cards, and endless visitors (which was totally lovely, but totally overwhelming at the same time). I knew at this point that the old me had disappeared. Amongst the tubes and drains that I carried with me for the weeks afterwards, I remember searching for her in the mirror, trying to be that upbeat carefree friend in return, but what I saw wasn’t the me that had stepped onto the operating table earlier that year. The person staring back at me looked shattered, stressed and grey, she was fearful. The health anxiety kicked in.  Over the weeks and months to come, I just couldn’t find me, she had been replaced with a hypochondriac, a fearful and frightened mess.

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 Whilst I felt totally grateful and beyond privileged to even still be here and indebted to our amazing healthcare system, I couldn't help but feel extremely guilty, sad, confused and fearful.  Life had changed. I had changed. ​

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Not once had anyone warned me about the battle with my head. I had people tell me about the treatment, about how my body might respond, about the after effects, and potential further treatment, but not one person had ever said ‘This is just the very beginning’. Maybe they didn’t know, maybe they did. Either way, it became something that I felt very alone with. I didn't know where to turn, it felt like I was the only one on the planet feeling this way.

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I learnt first-hand how isolating and overwhelming these symptoms can be. The constant checking of symptoms online, and the endless doctor appointments in search of reassurance - all in the attempt to find relief from the anxiety that had taken hold. I found out that it's a vicious cycle, one that can consume every aspect of life and rob us of the joy and freedom we once had. 

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However, through my journey of healing and growth, I discovered that there is a way out. I found relief, not by escaping and shying away from fears, but by facing them head-on and in turn, shifting my mindset towards self-empowerment and self-compassion.

 

Using the techniques and strategies that I researched, developed and learnt, I went from strength to strength, reaching targets and crossing barriers that even the old me would have struggled with. One of my greatest achievements in 2022 was running the London Marathon! Something I would have previously never thought possible. My new ethos on life taught me that the brain is our most powerful resource and we can turn things around and achieve goals that we previously only dreamed of - all by simply knowing how to harness the power of our minds!

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This is what I can't wait to share with you!...

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