In the years that followed, I faced several other health and emotional challenges adding to the list of diagnosis including post-traumatic stress disorder accompanied by anxiety and OCD, polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, cystic acne, hypothyroidism and the list goes on.

Spending much of my life in and out of hospitals, doctor surgeries and other allied health practices I understand what it feels like to have ill-health rule your life. I allowed it to rule my relationships, my social life, my work, my food choices and even the clothes I wore.

In my late teens and early twenties, I struggled with the concept of not being able to do what other twenty-year olds were doing without suffering serious consequences. I rebelled against my health, I binged drunk, I ate unhealthy and I didn’t listen to my body. In my mid-twenties I was literally struck down by illness, which forced me to quit teaching and find a healthy way to begin to heal my body…. this ultimately led me to becoming a naturopath and what an amazing experience it has been and continues to be.

I often get asked what helped my own recovery. As much as I would like to say it was one simple thing, unfortunately there is no magic diet, nutritional supplement or herbal formula that solely helped. It has been a long journey, and definitely challenging at times (and will always be) but also very rewarding to get my health to where it is today.