I was only having a near-life experience, until...

A woman who has gone through anxiety, depression, PTSD and a near-death experience.

My name is Louise, and I #SPEAKPURPOS3 and support #transformeproject because I privately struggled with anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms for 2 years.

On the outside my life looked great (thanks instagram), but behind closed doors I was crumbling everyday. The stress of my job as a special education teacher, workplace bullying, family dysfunction, fear of being unemployed, and constant barrage of negativity on the news made me feel like there was no way forward or out. I felt stuck, alone, misunderstood, and worthless. I knew things were bad when my psychologist sent me home with a “crisis plan” that I needed to discuss with my husband and roommate.

In the midst of this dark season, I had a bicycle accident that made me think I was going to die. A good samaritan held me and wrapped me in a blanket while we waited 15 minutes for first responders to arrive. It felt like my body had exploded, and I could tell I was loosing a good amount of blood. In the distance I saw a little girl crying and waving goodbye to me... everything went white and quiet. I truly thought I had died.

Luckily, moments later I opened my eyes again to see two women paramedics helping me in an ambulance. These ladies were my ANGELS. They didn’t care how broken I was; they got right to work dressing my wounds, comforting me, and letting me know that everything would be okay.

My near-death experience opened my eyes to the ways I was living my life before. Living with anxiety, depression, and PTSD left me feeling limited, and like I was only having a near-life experience.

This realization made me determined to improve my life; I started doing yoga everyday, started meditating everyday, quit my job, read many self-help books, went to therapy... and now, more than a year later, my life is completely different. I am HAPPY, and most importantly LIVING MY WHOLE LIFE.

I stand with women everywhere; Women who feel alone, at their breaking point, or like their best isn’t good enough. I see you. I love you. Together, we can TRANSFORME.