From Pain to Purpose: My Journey to Healing, Overcoming Chronic Illness, Emotional Trauma, and How CNM’s Naturopathic Nutrition Program Transformed My Life

Life rarely goes as planned. My journey has been filled with twists and turns, struggles, and moments of darkness, but also with immense hope, growth, and transformation. I want to share my story not just to look back on how far I’ve come but to inspire others who might be in a dark place, wondering if things can get better. They can. And sometimes, the right path appears when you least expect it. For me, one of those turning points was discovering CNM (College of Naturopathic Medicine), which has not only transformed my life but given me a way to help others on their healing journey.

My Early Years: Bullying, Emotional Struggles, and the Search for Relief

From a young age, I struggled with emotional instability and mood issues. At just 13, my world began to unravel due to relentless bullying at school. I went from being an A-grade student to someone who could barely attend class, resulting in leaving school with just one GCSE. The bullying didn’t stop when the school day ended. Even away from school, I was still a target. The constant anxiety and emotional pain became unbearable.

When my friends were trying alcohol i joined in, this gave me instant relief from the stressed state i was in, I turned to alcohol. It was a quick fix, a temporary relief that dulled the relentless emotional turmoil was something i clung to and as destructive as it became, it gave me something I was desperately seeking: an escape and a way to push through my debilitating shyness.

Young Adulthood: Escaping One Struggle, Facing Another

During this turbulent time, I faced overwhelming emotions and an inner turmoil that often felt unbearable. Later in life, while enduring the cycle of domestic violence, I reached a breaking point and attempted to take my own life. Looking back, I understand now that it was a desperate cry for help—a moment where I felt trapped with no way out and nobody to talk to. At that time, I couldn't see a way forward, but that dark moment became a significant turning point. It opened my eyes to the fact that even in the depths of despair, there is a possibility for change and healing. I share this not to shock, but to let anyone reading this know that no matter how deep the darkness feels, there is always hope and a path to a better life.

Motherhood, Refuge, and Finding My Inner Strength

Becoming a mother changed everything. Despite the violence and instability I endured, my children gave me a reason to fight. We spent time in a refuge, moving house 25 times in an attempt to escape the cycle of violence and mental abuse. Those years were some of the hardest of my life, yet they taught me resilience. No matter how many times I was knocked down, I always got back up. Not just for me, but for my children.

Exercise and yoga became my sanctuary. It wasn’t just a physical practice; it was a lifeline that helped calm my turbulent mind and reconnect with my body. It was during this time that I started experiencing the early signs of arthritis in my fingers and developed a frozen shoulder. When I sought medical advice, I was told to "get used to it" because it would likely spread to all my fingers and surgery was recommended for my shoulder. I refused to accept that fate. I decided to deepen my yoga practice by completing yoga teacher training. Remarkably, through my training and consistent practice, my arthritis symptoms completely resolved, and I avoided surgery. Yoga gave me back my mobility, reduced my pain, and restored a sense of peace that had been absent for so long.

From Yoga to Naturopathy: Addressing the Root Causes

While yoga helped immensely and i pracitse this every day in some form whether it is the breathing exercises or postures, I still struggled with lingering fatigue, emotional instability and unexplained body pain that affected my ability to maintain steady work. Determined to find a solution, I turned to natural medicine and discovered naturopathic nutrition. I was drawn to the holistic approach that considers the whole body rather than just isolated symptoms. I enrolled on the Naturopathic Medicine Diploma at College of Naturopathic Nutrition, where I learned how interconnected the body’s systems are and how imbalances can manifest as common but debilitating symptoms.

What truly pushed me to dive deeper was a terrifying experience with my daughter. After receiving the HPV vaccine, she suffered three seizures on the same day she had been previously very healthy. This marked the beginning of a frightening new chapter where having seizures was a part of her life. Despite seeking medical help, doctors dismissed my concerns. When I mentioned the vaccine when asked when her seizures started, I was met with hostility and denial rather than support. Feeling abandoned by conventional medicine, I knew I had to take matters into my own hands. This is what led me to sign up to CNM..

Finding CNM: The Turning Point I Didn’t Know I Needed

Enrolling at the College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM) was life-changing. I found myself surrounded by like-minded individuals passionate about true healing and holistic health. CNM’s comprehensive curriculum provided me with the knowledge to heal myself and others. I learned not only about nutrition but how lifestyle, environment, emotions, health history, family history, medication and even mindset can affect physical health. I discovered the profound impact of addressing root causes rather than just symptoms and after 300 hours of clinical experience it opened my eyes to its healing effects.

Through CNM, I was able to support my daughter’s healing journey. With targeted nutrition, lifestyle changes, and natural therapies including detoxification, her health transformed. She hasn’t had a seizure in years, something I once thought was impossible. Personally, I reached a level of health I never imagined was attainable, realising how catastrophic the oral contraceptive pill had been on my mental health from an early age, how the mind body connection is related to pain, and how if the systems of your body are out of balance this can cause debilitating symptoms . Gone are the days of chronic pain, fatigue, addiction to alcohol, and prescribed medications including opiates. Now, I wake up feeling energised, motivated, and deeply grateful for knowledge that should be readily available to everyone, stopping so much unnecessary suffering.

What’s even more rewarding is the ripple effect of this journey. I now help clients reclaim their health, guiding them through their struggles with empathy and a toolkit of knowledge that I wish I had years ago. Witnessing their transformations is a constant reminder of how far I’ve come and how powerful naturapathic nutrition and natural medicine truly is.

Why I Recommend CNM

If you’re searching for a meaningful way to heal yourself or help others, CNM offers an unparalleled education in natural health. Their programs are thorough, practical, and taught by experienced professionals who genuinely care about their students’ success. For me, CNM didn’t just provide knowledge—it reignited my purpose.

Final Thoughts

Healing isn’t always easy but sometimes simple changes can have quick results you just need to know! I’ve faced bullying, addiction, domestic violence, chronic health issues, and the heartache of fighting a flawed family court system that, in many ways, perpetuates the abuse of already abused mothers through archaic, patriarchal norms. Losing my son to this draconian system has been one of the most painful parts of my journey. Despite extensive evaluations and advice from professionals who assessed both me and my son, the very man and his family who abused me were granted custody against all recommendations. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of my son, and I pray to see him again one day soon. The grief is a wound I carry, but it also fuels my determination to keep moving forward, to be a source of strength for myself and my other children, and to help others who find themselves in similar situations.

But through it all, I’ve found hope, strength, and purpose. Yoga brought me back to my body. Naturopathy gave me answers and solutions. CNM gave me the knowledge and confidence to change my life—and now, I get to do the same for others.

To anyone reading this who feels lost or overwhelmed: don’t give up. There is always another path. Healing is possible, even when it feels out of reach. I’m living proof of that.

Thank you for reading my story. I do this because being in despair is such a lonely place, and other people's stories helped me survive during my darkest times. If sharing my journey can offer even a glimmer of hope to someone struggling, then it's worth it. If you have questions or need guidance, I’m here to support you.

With love and hope.

If you’re interested in enrolling at CNM, use this number when contacting CNM C255671. As a CNM Ambassador you will receive a £250 reduction on the cost of your course!