Wellbeing
When I was 13 I fell off my pony Herbie and landed on my coccyx. Back then it was very unusual to see anyone other than a doctor - and after being given some cream, and ‘time’ for the pain to go away, it became a distant memory. It wasn’t until my early 30’s that the problem reoccurred. But by this time, the years of my body overcompensating for my ‘injury’ created a much more significant impact on my life....
And so followed GP referrals, drugs, consultant appointments, physio, epidural and coccyx steroid injections, MRI scan, x-Ray followed by a coccyx manipulation (after what was now over 20 years since the original accident).
I felt like I was 100 years old - I struggled to get out of bed in the morning; my social life and personal life was affected and I had bouts of depression. The chronic pain started to change my personality (not to mention my behaviour) and my historically positive outlook was replaced by a more negative and cynical view of the world.
The final conclusion by my consultant was that “I should expect wear and tear at my age”. I could not believe that I was being washed hands of at such a young age! And it was at that point that I knew I had to take control and stop being a ‘victim’. I investigated further into an intensive 3-week pain management program with the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital and at the same time was recommended chiropractic and osteopathy.
And so followed the next chapter – by far from plain sailing. It involved me looking long and hard at those aspects of my life which were diminishing my sense of wellbeing. There were 3; myself, my partner and my career. Now you can see why it wasn’t a smooth voyage!
All of this was life changing. The journey – every part of it – is what has contributed to my passion, belief and knowledge about Wellbeing. As you will hear many people say (and you may be one of these!), our struggles with adversity make us who we are today. This is why I focus on the areas of Wellbeing, Resilience and Positive Psychology; and am passionate about helping individuals to thrive in life…rather than simply survive
My Learnings (some of them!);
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Wellbeing isn’t just about the physical. We MUST consider our mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing too
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We are far more resilient and have more control than we may first believe
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Knowledge is power – when I learnt more about chronic pain and the effect it has on the body and mind, I was able to support myself and gained courage in my rehabilitation
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Listen to your body – it is constantly providing you with helpful information, including warning signs to pay attention to
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Ask for help – this does not make you a failure. It demonstrates courage, a willingness to show your vulnerability and an openness to accept that others want to be there for you
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Even on the darkest of days, if you search hard enough, you will find a glimmer of light – never underestimate the value in noticing the good, no matter how small 🙂
How I can help?
I offer coaching and workshops to support your journey to better wellbeing. Take a look at what others say;
Coaching
"If you feel stuck, if you need motivation, if you know there is a challenge but are not sure of what it is or how to get around it, Laura will help you see it and overcome it"
"Laura helped me move from a person who was so conditioned by my own subconscious interpretation of various life events, to a place where I became much stronger and more aware of where and what I want to be, do and have in my life"
"I was going through a difficult time in my life and lacking clarity and direction. I approached Laura for her expertise and guidance and went through a life changing process"
Workshops
"I found the session extremely illuminating in building more of an insight into my own wellbeing. In particular, I found the techniques in dealing with self-talk very helpful"
"The course allowed me to learn more about myself and how to look after and deal with stressful situations"
"The workshop has made me question some of the techniques / lifestyle choices I make and consider how my wellbeing / resilience could be improved"