Hello, I'm Hazel
I help people recover from stress related chronic conditions.
I do this by teaching people how to self-heal through regulating their nervous system and shifting they brain out of stuck patterns
For years, I struggled with numerous chronic symptoms and tried everything to get better. This was also whilst trying to hold down fast paced corporate jobs. Progress was slow and whilst I experienced some improvements, I kept hitting a recovery plateau.
Then I had my lightbulb moment. I discovered that all my symptoms were connected to my autonomic nervous system. This realisation marked the beginning of my true recovery journey.
After learning how to heal myself, I felt compelled to help others who are facing similar health struggles. I decided to retrain as a Certified Nervous System Regulation Practitioner.
The ability to self-heal through nervous system regulation is crucially missing in the narrative provided by conventional medical and charitable institutions, and I’m on a mission to change that. My goal is to empower more people understand the root cause of their symptoms and how they can heal themselves.
How it all started...
Looking back, it’s overwhelming to think about how long I lived with poor health. Now, nearly fully recovered, I am grateful to have learned how to heal myself. I understand what you’re going through, and I know how you can heal yourself too.
The Pain
In my late twenties and early thirties, I was plagued with widespread pain which originated in my shoulder from carrying a laptop. I saw countless physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, and even spinal surgeons, but the pain just wasn’t going anywhere, it just kept spreading. At 29, A rheumatologist diagnosed me with fibromyalgia, (despite doing no MRIs I might add). This felt like a death sentence, because Wikipedia (a key source at the time) described it as an incurable condition, and that my symptoms would only get worse. Nice!
However, in my mid-30s my luck changed, I worked with an incredible Muscle Activation Technique practitioner in New York and over a period of 6 months many of my symptoms disappeared. I recently learnt that what was causing my pain was Sensory Motor Amnesia (and not the incorrect diagnosis of Fibromyalgia). Unfortunately, misdiagnosis isn’t uncommon and it’s predominantly due to lack of understanding of chronic conditions by ‘experts’.
The First Crash
Although my widespread pain was significantly improved, a sharp pain lingered in my shoulder. Back in the UK, a shoulder surgeon recommended an MRI which confirmed an impingement, and a routine surgery was scheduled (imagine if that had happened a decade ago when the pain first started). However in 2017, just a week after the surgery, I experienced my first "crash." I didn't realise it at the time, but undergoing surgery with a chronically dysregulated autonomic nervous system triggered it to 'shut down'.
I became extremely fatigued and developed severe reactions to numerous foods. Even basic tasks like showering or walking up the stairs were overwhelming. Fortunately, my cognitive function recovered quickly so I could return to work, but my energy levels were another matter. Exercise and socialising were extremely limited, no fun time for me! I was sent for multiple tests by doctors, but they all came back negative (this will sound familiar to anyone who has been on this journey). Therefore, I was "perfectly fine" according to the UK medical system. I knew that I had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome but I intentionally avoided pursuing an official diagnosis, I could see no benefit. The only advice I received was to pace myself. Great! Refusing to give up, I spent thousands on various treatments and therapies. Over the next three years I recovered to about 80-90%, but I never felt resilient.
The Second Crash
In 2020, I caught COVID-19, and things escalated. This time, it was the virus that triggered my second crash. The fatigue hit me like a brick. I was fearful of what was to come having just spent three years recovering. This time there were additional symptoms such as severe brain fog, internal vibrations, noise sensitivity and regular overwhelm. I had just started a new job, and working was a struggle, I was terrified of getting fired, and I had no one else to help pay my mortgage.
Ironically, ‘lockdown’ was a silver lining as I was able to work from home, but I felt horrendous every day for the first 18 months. I don't even know how I got
through it. Gradually, my symptoms improved, but not enough to live a fulfilling life. I didn’t know where to turn.
The Lightbulb Moment
This was the turning point, I discovered my nervous system was the root of all my symptoms., and the rest as they say, is history. I
immersed myself in reading everything I could on the topic. I learnt that due to childhood experiences my nervous system had become less resilient to dealing with stress. It had become dysregulated. I also learnt that I could learn to regulate and retrain my nervous system using a variety of methods such as brain retraining, somatic therapy, vagal toning, subconscious techniques and younger-self healing.
That's why retrained as a Certified Nervous System Regulation Practitioner and why I’ve designed my programme to encompass all of these approaches because I know what is needed to truly recover with lasting results.
I worked in the corporate world for almost twenty years, I know firsthand the pressures and stress it brings - I feel you.
To keep me sane in my corporate years, I created a mini sideline designing sweatshirts with colourful motifs from upcycled fabric.
I love animals and I have rescue dog called Poppy who is from Romania, she keeps me on my toes!
One of my favourite things to do is dance. I love dancing to music with beats and I can totally get lost in the moment and lose my inhibitions.