In my early 20s, anxiety made its initial appearance - manageable at first, until it escalated in my late 20s and early 30s during a painfully prolonged relationship. For over four years, I found myself perpetually stuck in fight or flight, my nervous system utterly dysregulated - a term that, at the time, was completely unfamiliar to me. Weekly emotional breakdowns, constant nausea and digestion issues, and tunnel vision dominated my existence. Reactivity, anger, indecision, and physical discomfort became my norm. Sleep eluded me, and the joy in life seemed elusive. I became a mere passenger in my body, waiting for someone else to change their behaviours so I could change my life. Despite futile attempts to think my way out, I remained stuck, stagnant, isolated, and unsure of how to reclaim my well-being.  And I felt very alone as I was ashamed to tell anyone what I was truly going through. 

The turning point arrived in a figurative smack across the face with a two-by-four when the betrayal and pain hit an all-time high, and I finally reached my absolute breaking point.  After the relationship ended, aware of the deep hole I was in, I embarked on a journey of emotional turbulence, initially seeking less healthy coping mechanisms before discovering meditation. This eventually led me to breathwork, yoga nidra, and other more constructive healing avenues.  I eventually left Vancouver, moved to Whistler to be closer to nature and the sports I loved, quit working in the corporate world and created The Collective Alchemy.

Through this challenging period, I learned that even in the darkest times, opportunities for growth abound. Though initially daunting, these moments hold immense potential for alchemizing goodness in our lives - if we choose to embrace them. This can be hard to see when you are in the eye of the storm, which is why I am so passionate about supporting people with tools like breathwork, yoga nidra, meditation and other mindfulness and embodiment practices that help us step away from the negative thought loops, negative self-talk, limiting beliefs, patterns and behaviours that hold us back and prevent us from moving forward.