I’m a 30-year-old business-woman with a dance and fitness studio I’ve run for over ten years. I have a passion for helping people embrace their true selves and live life in a loving, kind way. I see the best in people and want to help others overcome a negative mindset. Dance is my life, and the best form of fitness, self-expression and release for me when I feel overwhelmed or stressed. Finding your outlet and something you love to do is a huge part of self-care, healing and self-love.

Over the years I’ve battled with my mental health and have witnessed the struggles faced by others. I believe it is time to take action and help and support the younger generation as they learn to cope with the pressure of modern life.

As a teen, I suffered from anxiety and depression, resulting in self-harm which at the time, wasn’t as openly spoken about as it is now. I wish I’d had the opportunity to talk to someone who understood my feelings and what I was going through. I remember very clearly how I felt. I would get crazy thoughts that made me feel like a freak show, wanting to disappear, wishing I wasn’t here, wondering if anyone would care if I died. I thought about how I would like to die and how many people would come to the funeral.

At 14/15 years old these are not healthy thoughts. These feelings of unworthiness and sadness carried on through my late teens and 20’s. I hit rock bottom in my late 20’s off the back of a failed business which left me with huge financial burdens, the loss of my baby, being told I had PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and potentially not being able to have children and the breakdown of my marriage. It was truly the lowest I have ever been, and I wanted to end my life. At the time I saw no way out, this overwhelming, consuming feeling of sadness and lack of control with my life was all too much. Nothing anyone could say made me think any differently.

The turning point However, looking back now I had so much to be grateful for regardless of my losses, but when your head is consumed with the dark mist nothing seems to matter. Anyone suffering from mental health issues will know that there isn’t always a reason why you feel the way you do, and you certainly do not have the power to switch it off whenever is convenient. I had reasons in later life to hit rock bottom but as a teenager I couldn’t tell you why I felt the way I did.

It isn’t always easy to speak to people about how you feel. But let me tell you, those who truly love you will listen all day long. There will always be someone ready to hear you out. Do not suffer in silence as I did, and many do. Life is precious and all of us are here for our own purpose, we just have to remain strong and determined to find out what that is.

I spent years thinking I was a person that people didn’t like, didn’t want to be around, or support because I wasn’t worthy enough. I had to get through things on my own and that was my only option. This was self-sabotage at its best. It blows my mind now that I felt this way for so many years of my life.

A very hard cycle to break BUT it is possible, I am evidence it works. After years of living with this I now get it! It isn’t me or them, it is just that life has a different route for you, and they, or that thing, are not a part of it. All these experiences I have had, or you are having now, is the universe leading us to our tribe. By starting to love who you are it will open so much for you in life and you will see things much more clearly.

Even when I was suffering I never let it show, the smile would go on, the jokes would flow and I would muddle my way through the day and most likely cry myself to sleep at night. I have always been the person who’s there for advice, support, laughs or simply just an ear.

At times, to the detriment of my own mental health. I’ve never minded this, as I want to  help others and seeing people hurt how I was hurting is horrible to witness. I understand exactly how painful these feelings can be.

I am an empath with strong intuition. Being an empath means I feel other people’s emotions as if they are my own, and I have a need to help everyone. I do not claim to be a psychic but I am certainly very sensitive to a higher vibration and energy force, and can sense a lot that goes on around me, both to myself and other people connected with me.

The work on healing myself from depression and feelings of being unworthy and unloved has been a long old road. Overwhelming at times! I feel for anyone just starting this journey, and I am right here with you, to help you find a path to a true happier you. That’s why I believe my life experiences have been leading me to ‘Charlotte’s Way’ – to help others and to give hope to anyone going through the same thing.

I hope you get what you need from the affirmation cards to start your journey to a happier mind and life. More from Charlotte’s Way is coming but for now let’s take one step at a time together.