The deeper truth behind healing, self-worth and lasting change
As we move into Mental Health Awareness Week, I’ve been reflecting deeply on my own journey with mental health and the action I had to take to heal.
Not the surface-level changes.
Not the temporary fixes.
But the deep inner work that truly changed my life.
Because there was a time when I hit rock bottom.
A time when I felt so overwhelmed, exhausted and emotionally broken that I genuinely did not want to be here anymore.
And that is why I care so deeply about this conversation.
Because no human being should have to suffer in silence believing there is no way forward.
For years, I lived in a constant state of stress and overwhelm. I was a single parent raising two young boys whilst running a household and single-handedly building my business. I was constantly giving, constantly doing, constantly carrying responsibility.
I didn’t stop.
I didn’t rest.
I didn’t process life.
I simply survived each day.
On the outside, I probably looked capable and strong. But internally, my nervous system was exhausted. My body was tense. My mind never switched off. I had lost myself completely.
At the root of my anxiety and depression was chronic stress and a life completely out of balance.
But what I came to realise was this:
Healing was not simply about changing what I did.
It was about understanding why I was living that way in the first place.
Because the deeper truth was that I did not truly value myself.
I believed everyone else’s needs were more important than mine. I believed I had to keep giving, keep doing, keep proving myself. Deep down, I did not feel that I mattered.
And this is the part I think so many people miss.
We often try to change habits without healing the beliefs driving them.
We try to rest whilst believing rest is lazy.
We try to say no whilst fearing rejection.
We try to prioritise ourselves whilst feeling guilty for doing so.
We try to create balance whilst still believing everyone else matters more than we do.
So although taking action was crucial, lasting transformation only happened when I started working on my inner dialogue and subconscious beliefs at the same time.
Otherwise, I would always drift back to old patterns.
This was the root cause.
This is where real healing happens.
Not by placing a plaster over pain, but by understanding what the body, mind and nervous system are trying to tell us.
As a physiotherapist and wellness practitioner, this is something I now see everywhere. Whether it is physical pain, emotional overwhelm, burnout, anxiety or exhaustion, so many people are desperately trying to cope whilst never addressing what sits underneath it all.
We live in a world constantly searching for relief.
Scrolling.
Overworking.
Overexercising.
Numbing.
Distracting ourselves.
Seeking validation.
Chasing temporary highs.
But temporary relief is not the same as healing.
Real healing asks us to slow down long enough to understand ourselves more deeply.
To ask:
Why am I living this way?
Why do I struggle to choose myself?
Why do I keep abandoning my own needs?
Why do I believe I must earn rest, love or worthiness through overgiving?
These questions changed my life.
Because once I became aware of what was harming me, I started making different choices.
I stopped watching and listening to things that filled me with fear and anxiety. I silenced notifications on my phone. I stopped forcing myself to socialise out of guilt or fear of what people would say. I stopped worrying about appearance or how clean my house was.
I also stopped caring so much about what other people thought of me.
For years, I carried the exhausting pressure of trying to be everything to everyone. I worried about being judged. I worried whether people thought I was a good enough mum, business owner or person.
I realised how much energy I was losing constantly seeking approval and abandoning myself in the process.
I also became more mindful of the people and environments I surrounded myself with. I started choosing relationships that felt supportive, calm and aligned, rather than ones that left me feeling emotionally drained.
Protecting my peace became more important than trying to fit in, prove myself or keep everyone happy.
I started paying attention to how things made me feel.
Did something leave me feeling calm, grounded and energised?
Or did it leave me feeling overwhelmed, anxious and emotionally drained?
For the first time in my life, I consciously started protecting my peace.
I created more balance in my life intentionally. I made time for movement, rest, stillness, family, nature, breathing space and healing. I started saying no without guilt. I started letting go of people, habits and expectations that no longer served me.
And slowly, my life began to change.
Not overnight.
Not perfectly.
But little by little, things started to shift
Because nothing changes if nothing changes.
Healing requires awareness.
But it also requires action.
And often, the most powerful action we can take is finally deciding that we matter too.
Today, my work is no longer simply about helping people strengthen their bodies or improve their posture. It is about helping people reconnect with themselves. Helping them understand the deeper connection between the body, mind, emotions and nervous system.
Because symptoms are often messengers.
Our bodies whisper long before they scream.
And sometimes anxiety, exhaustion, tension, pain or burnout are not signs that we are broken. They are signs that something in our lives needs attention, compassion, balance or change.
So during Mental Health Awareness Week, instead of only asking:
“How are you feeling?”
Maybe we also need to ask:
“What needs to change?”
What no longer serves you?
What are you tolerating that is harming you?
What beliefs are keeping you stuck?
Where are you abandoning yourself?
And what action could you take today to support your own wellbeing?
Because you matter too.
Your needs matter too.
And healing begins the moment you stop believing you must sacrifice yourself in order to be worthy of love, acceptance or belonging.
Healing is possible. Change is possible. And you are far more worthy of care, rest and support than you may realise.
Through my physiotherapy work, movement classes, workshops, online membership and wellness education, I am passionate about helping women reconnect with themselves and create healthier, more balanced lives – physically, mentally and emotionally.
And if this blog spoke to you, I would love for you to share it with someone else who may need to read it today.
Rhi x