Hello, I'm Hazel
I help high achievers overcome burnout and restore their health so they can be their best at work.
Using somatic, cognitive, and emotional processing root cause techniques I guide committed people back to feeling energised.
For years, while building a 20-year career in the corporate world, I struggled with relentless symptoms and tried just about everything to get better - exhaustion, pain and loads of random symptoms that took over my life.
I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia back in 2008, which later evolved into Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and eventually Long Covid. It was a lot to handle while juggling the constant demands of my career.
What I now know is that these conditions were all different manifestations of nervous system burnout.
Once I had my lightbulb moment and I realised all my symptoms were connected to my autonomic nervous system. That discovery was the true turning point in my recovery journey.
This changed everything - I realised that it was my responsibility to change how my nervous system was responding to stress from within. Outsourcing my health to various therapists and practitioners just wasn't going to cut it.
I was then compelled to share my knowledge with others facing similar health struggles. I retrained as a Certified Nervous System Regulation Coachr so that others don't need to spend decades in the dark.
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 restore your health 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. I also had pretty bad noise sensitivity, which a Fibromyalgia expert also said was incurable and would only get worse. Not only was this extremely unhelpful, but it was also incorrect. Many years later I found out that a more accurate diagnosis was Muscle Sensory Amnesia.
However, in my mid-30s , I worked with an incredible Muscle Activation Technique practitioner in New York and over a period of 6 months many of my symptoms improved, but still I was experiencing a sharp pain in my shoulder.
The First Crash
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 loads of foods. Even basic tasks like showering or walking up the stairs were overwhelming and eating was terrifying. Fortunately, brain fog was minimal which meant that I could return to work (luckily I was able to WFH a lot), but my energy levels were another matter. Exercise and socialising were extremely limited, it was miserable. And friends generally 'didn't get it'. 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 well" according to the UK medical system. I knew that I had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome but I intentionally avoided pursuing an official diagnosis as I could see no benefit - I didn't want a label to define me. The only advice I received was to pace myself. Also unhelpful. being the curious and determined person that I am, I refused to give up, I spent thousands on various treatments and therapies. On the plus side, over the next three years I slowly recovered to about 80%, but I never felt resilient.
The Second Crash
In 2020, I caught Covid, and my world turned upside down again. This time, it was the virus that triggered my second crash. The fatigue hit me like a brick. I was so scared of what was coming 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 really difficult, 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 support and retrain my nervous system using a variety of methods such as brain retraining, somatic therapy, vagal toning, subconscious techniques and emotional processing.
That's why retrained as a Certified Nervous System Regulation Practitioner and why I’ve designed my programme to encompass all of these modalities because I know what is needed to truly recover with lasting results.
My Credentials
You are in good hands, I have trained with some of the most credible and authentic nervous system regulation organisations in the world.
Certified Nervous System Regulation Coach - Institute of Applied Somatics
Certified Nervous System Regulation Practitioner - Neuro-Myo-Fascia-Repatterning - Focalizing Institute
Trainings
Vagus Nerve Masterclass - The Nervous System School -
Befriending Your Inner Parts: A Guided Internal Family Systems (IFS) Experience - IFS Institute
Healing Attachment Wounds: Building Emotional Safety - Trauma Solutions
Advanced Level - Psychophysiologic Disorder Association - (Association for Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms)
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.