The hours were long and included shift work. My body clock was all over the place, I was in danger of falling asleep at the wheel. At work I was not alone in my sleep deprivation. All around I could see dissatisfied people, missing their children, feeling exhausted, suffering from headaches and stress, but muddling along. Lots of people fell ill, but the culture was that you dragged yourself in regardless and carried on – until burn out! I then became quite ill, and after 10 rounds of antibiotics which didn’t work, became desperate for help. I went into the health food shop where they suggested homeopathy (of which I knew nothing) and amazingly my condition took a turning point and was speedily and effectively treated.

From then on the wheels were set in motion. I felt how powerful homeopathy and the holistic therapies were, not just physically but on the mental level. I was amazed at what it brought out. Going through the process of homeopathy made me understand how negative feelings can be stored and suppressed in the body and result in illness. How basically we are all the same we all just want to be happy and free from sorrow. I felt the urge to help others in distress.

I looked at different aspects of my life and changed them. I learnt Chi-Kung, and I am now an instructor in it. Chi-kung is a fantastic tool box for dealing with life! I studied and became a registered homeopath, then a kinesiologist and finally an allergy therapist. My love for art found a vent again and, my life became balanced. My aim now in life is to help others cope, when they are feeling at ‘dis - ease’ with the stresses of life, work , families and the ill health that can follow. After all, we know that ‘stuff’ happens but how we cope with it is what matters.