REAL LIFE STORIES
By Beverley

Hold on a little tighter...

Back in 2009 I was forced to leave a 30 year senior manager corporate career. It was in June of that year that I was diagnosed with Corporate Burnout, this in turn resulted in me suffering depression and severe anxiety.  It was two days before Christmas 2009 that I found myself standing in the snow in my pink slippers, newly single (he decided that the 22nd December was a good day to walk),  jobless (having had to leave my 30 year career through ill-health), in debt (as a result of losing my corporate salary) and homeless (having had to move out of my flat due to dry rot), in truth I was suicidal.

The future was black, I remember feeling that life could never be positive again, I felt alone, angry, sad and fearful of what the future held. I was heading towards a Christmas that marked 2009 as the worst year of my life. I had no idea where I would end up, what I would do or indeed how I was ever going to get better. I still actually remember thinking ‘I have forgotten how to be happy’, positive thoughts just seem to elude me.

I was on medication and regularly seeing a counsellor but at that point as I shivered in the coldness of the day it appeared not even these could help.

Why am I sharing now?

Because Saturday 10th October marks World Mental Health Day and I want to give others hope.

I can honestly say the journey back up wasn’t an easy one, I often stumbled but managed to pick myself up to get back on the journey of recovery again. I trained as a coach to start my own business, Awaken,  in 2010,  once the dry rot was cleared I decorated my apartment from top to bottom over three months to get it ready to sell and I constantly read books to work on myself so that I could learn how to change my thought patterns and therefore my life.

In 2012 I realised my dream of becoming an author when my book ‘Made it thru the Rain’ was published in which I share my journey through those dark days and how I turned it around.

I now live back in my home village in South Wales where the support of my family and friends is invaluable. I am in a long term relationship with someone I describe as my rock; I work as an author, a speaker, a mentor and well-being consultant through my own successful business; I also  volunteer for various separate organisations; I have learnt to live life with gratitude, faith and belief knowing that it is possible to get back up when you have hit rock bottom.

If I had been told back then in 2009 that the experiences I had gone through would make me stronger and would lead to the blessed life I have today I would never have believed it, in truth it seemed impossible.

So if your path this year (and with lockdown it has not been easy for so many),  has left you in a dark place please know not ‘it is not forever’ and you are not alone, reach out to others, look for the things you have in your life to be grateful for and never lose sight of them.

I know from experience it is a tough journey and it hurts but trust me once you are through it you will come to see life as a gift. Hold onto today, let yesterday go and hold onto hope for tomorrow.

Today ten years on I love life, I thank all those family and friends who stood beside me and held my hand; I thank all those who believed in me and helped me along the path when I stumbled and I thank my faith that always taught me that if you hold on just a little tighter you can ride this rollercoaster which we call life, I promise there is there light in the sky of hope.

It is my sincere hope that you aren’t where I was in 2009. However, if you are or if you know someone that is, PLEASE share my story so that I can give them the gift of hope.
I am no superhuman and if I can turn it around I know in my heart others can too.

Beverley Jones Author, Speaker, Business Mentor and Well-Being Consultant

Helping others through the anxieties of life and business.

www.awakencoaching.co.uk

Tel 07502375714