A mum from County Durham who was so anxious her hair started falling out has opened up about how she used her past traumas to help others through her new business.
After going through IVF, Sarah Jane Phelps, 44, from Witton-le-Wear said she "lost herself" following a dark period in her life when she lost her baby boy and struggled with the breakdown of her marriage. She began suffering from anxiety and started losing weight as well as hallucinating.
But she decided to make a change and began receiving therapy which completely changed her perspective on life. And around 18 months ago, Sarah Jane, who is mum to Ethan, five, made a life-changing decision to share her story and experiences to help others who may be struggling.
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Sarah Jane was forced to close her nail business Polished Nail Designs due to Covid-19 but she used this time to gain a qualification and soon after set up her business 'Practically Positive in every way'. Through her new business, Sarah Jane teaches people how to feel more confident through one-to-one sessions and group workshops.
Explaining how it all began, Sarah Jane said: "I had difficulty getting pregnant and had to go through IVF which was really difficult but I got my gorgeous little boy out of it. It was a very difficult time. I lost a little boy and my marriage fell apart as we just couldn't communicate with each other.
"I have always been a glass-half-full kind of person but I just lost my way. I was always the person to tell others to look at things from a different perspective and I just could no longer do that for myself. I completely lost who I was.
"I suffered from anxiety and I've never been an anxious person. I was hallucinating and my hair was falling out and I was losing weight so it was really taking a toll on me physically. I became very isolated and just didn't know what to do.
"When my business was closed during lockdown, I took it as an opportunity to learn how to share my experiences with others. I wanted to just to share my story, I never intended to set up a business but it just grew and grew and I realised there was a need there."
Sarah-Jane came up with the idea of launching her business and hasn't looked back since. She said: "Life can be tough and I still have my off days but it's about giving people the tools to process those feelings and move on. I don't regret anything that's happened in my life as it's brought me to where I am."
With newly restored confidence, Sarah Jane underwent an empowerment arrow break - an activity where an arrow is placed to your throat and you have to snap the shaft of the arrow in half without injuring yourself. She also recently bent a steel bar which she said she couldn't have done without her mental strength.
She said: "For me, the feeling afterwards is just something I can't describe, there are no words. You feel free and empowered. It's about having that self-belief and confidence that you can. There is no way I could have even contemplated doing any of it if I didn't have the self-belief."
Sarah-Jane wanted to give that sense of achievement to others and came up with the idea of holding an Empowerment Fire Walk which is where people walk over burning hot embers.
The event will be held at Headlam Hall Country Hotel & Spa on Saturday, April 2, and will involve a mindfulness workshop along with a firewalk on the evening.
She added: "I want people to feel that self-belief and confidence. It was an unbelievable experience and I wanted to give that sense of achievement to others, to be able to step into the future knowing they too can achieve whatever they set their minds to." You can find out more here.
