Hi, My lovely friends,
You know me as your cheerleading squad in human form, always here to lift you up with a dose of positivity, a sprinkle of sparkle, and tons of self-love! But today, I’m peeling back the social media veil to share a slice of real life, because behind every glossy photo is a journey, complete with bumps and mountains to overcome. And guess what? It's perfectly okay. We're all human, wonderfully complex and beautifully resilient!
Let’s talk about something I don’t usually share about - my anxiety. Yep, even The Self-Care Queen has her moments, lovely people! The combination of managing my ever-changing health, the rollercoaster ride of betrayal, my marriage ending, almost being homeless, and navigating the waves of peri-menopause (oh, the joy! 😅) have stirred up a whirlwind of emotions and past trauma. It’s like my body has decided to throw its own uninvited panic party.
I felt the need to write this post because what you may see on my social media profiles are my brightest moments, my wide smiles, my good health days and my fun adventures. But life, as we all know, isn't always about smiles. Behind my tiny screen, I grapple with anxieties and a past trauma that can often seem overwhelming.
Ambulances and hospitals take me back to an awful time in my life. Normally, I manage it, compartmentalise it, and detach it from my day-to-day. But recently my resilience has been stretched to its limits and in the past few months, life has tossed me a tsunami of challenges.
The difficult ending of my marriage felt like someone had pulled the rug from underneath me. My safe space was shattered and my trust in myself and the people I thought I could rely on was destroyed. Coupled with the not-so-kind territories of peri-menopause, some new health issues and my body often feels like it's walking on a tightrope without a safety net.
Just last week, as I entered the hospital for what was supposed to be a "routine" appointment (oh, how we love that word!), I could feel the tidal wave of panic rising. But this time, it decided to crash. Yep, a full-on panic attack, right there, in the middle of a busy hospital entrance. With each step I could feel my breath becoming harder to catch, my heart was pounding in my chest, tears burnt my eyes, and a terrible sense of doom was crushing me. Surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the hospital I burst into tears and then felt the dread hit me that someone might try to talk to me to see if I was ok. What a thing to worry about hey, the fear that someone would show me kindness or sympathy!
But here’s where the magic happens, wonderful warriors! I dipped into my self-care toolbox, the one I’ve been curating, especially for moments like these.
First up, I used the 5 sense grounding technique. I focused on the here and now, grounding myself in the present, reminding myself that I am safe, I am loved, and most importantly, I am in control.
Next, I found a quiet place to sit and tapped into the power of EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), tapping away the layers of anxiety, each tap a step back to me, to peace, to calm.
And finally, I put in my ear pods and listened to music, my ever-reliable friend, to anchor myself into something that gave me joy.
I was able to use all of these tools in the moment, and they helped me feel better. But it’s important to note that I didn’t just pull them out of thin air; they were already there, waiting for me when I needed them most.
And that’s because I’ve been working on building my self-care toolbox for years now. I’ve been training in self-help and practising self-care for years, and it’s made a huge difference in my life. I’ve learned that when I take care of myself first, everything else falls into place. And that’s why I’m so passionate about helping other women do the same. Because we all deserve to feel good about ourselves and our lives, no matter what.
I'm sharing this because I know I'm not alone. There are many women out there, just like me, grappling with chronic health, life changes, menopause, anxiety, and struggling with past trauma. We are not alone on this journey of untangling our minds from its fears, I want you to know that it's okay to not always have the smiles that social media expects us to wear. It's okay to stumble and fall, to feel anxious, and even break down. Most importantly, it's okay to reach out, to ask for help, and to use whatever tools you have, just to make it through.
Remember, we are all stronger than we believe ourselves to be and it's essential to prioritise self-care and self-compassion.
So here's my message to all of you, my incredible community, especially those navigating the choppy waters of change and with the companion of anxiety - you are not alone. Your feelings are valid, and it's more than okay to have moments of struggle. What's important is knowing that you have an inner toolkit, and it's yours to use. Let's arm ourselves with awareness, compassion, and resilience.
Let's embrace our journeys, complete with their ups and downs, and remind ourselves of our strength every single day. Remember, it's okay to seek help, it's okay to talk about it, and it's absolutely okay to say,
"Today, I'm taking it one step at a time."
I’m here, with The Self-Care Club sharing tools, waving pompoms and cheering you on, because you, my dear, are unstoppable. Let’s turn our anxiety into our power, one breath, one tap, and one song at a time!
Remember, you're a radiant force of nature, and nothing, absolutely nothing, can dim your light.
So, if you haven't already join us in The Self-Care Club for only £7 a month, access our library and connect with our community. Join us in sharing our stories and strategies, and lifting each other up, every single day!
Together, we're not just surviving; we're thriving, and I’m here for it, every step of the way!
Until next time, keep shining, keep loving, and most importantly, keep being you, because you are amazing!
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to message or leave them below! And if you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends and family on social media. Thank you for reading!
with Love
Sarah 💖✨
