My story of burnout. Do you resonate with this too?

I know I show up on your social media feed looking healthy, and well, and full of energy... but it wasn't always like this...

I still remember this moment clear as daylight.

I was 31, living in Sydney, and on Week 10 of a 12 week intense work schedule.

I was working as an Osteopath 3 days a week, but I'd taken on extra work for 12 weeks, adding up to me seeing 80 patients a week. I was also still in the thick of my professional dance career too, dancing in shows 6 nights a week.

So this particular moment, I was treating a patient in the clinic, and my vision started to black out from the sides. Like someone was closing the curtains on what I could see.

Then my whole right side of my body went into spasm, and I couldn't open my jaw.

My receptionist called the doctor, they send me straight to hospital emergency, where I spent two nights, went through ALL the tests, and was sent home with no diagnosis. All they could say was they thought I had a 'migraine without a headache'.

Over the next 10 weeks, I got sicker and sicker.

I put on over 10kg in weight, but it was different to putting on fat, as my clothes still fit. My whole body was swollen - my face was puffy, my rings were tight and my socks left marks on my ankles.

The extra weight was stressing me out, so I was running 10km a day and restricting my diet, but it all seemed to get worse.

I found myself crying all the time for no reason, and I had no energy at all. I look back at photos from this time, and I looked grey. Unwell and grey.

Eventually, with no answers from the doctors, I was referred to a wonderful naturopath, who has since become my mentor and dear friend (hi Amanda) (Jan -tag amanda habarecht if possible).

Finally given some answers, and told that my body had completely shut down with burnout and adrenal fatigue...I started on the path to health.

My body was so inflamed and full of fluid, that with the right supplements and a change in nutrition, I lost 7kg in one weekend, and the full 10kg in 1 week. It wasn't fat...it was all inflammation weight.

It took me about 3 months to get 60% better, 3 year to get 80% better, and 8 years to really feel 100% well again.

It was this experience that lead me down the path of studying Naturopathy and Nutrition. I wanted to also help other women who needed something outside of the convention medical paradigm of diagnosis and treatment.

Which leads me to where I am now. I'm 47, and really healthy and well. I have bucket loads of energy. But I still need to watch my body for things that trigger inflammation. So I make sure I eat well (all the foods I love, that love me back). I make sure I sleep well. I make sure I exercise lots (but no more running to stress out my adrenal system!!!!). And I make sure I rest.

All the things I now help women with. Women from all over the world... as they start to see changes in their bodies and need some extra support, care and information too.

If this resonates with you, and if you have something "not right" going on with your health, or with your body...please reach out, as I'd love to help,

Andrea x