I was in full denial with myself. In 2020 I started to feel reduction of mobility symptoms, mainly my right leg. It felt to be very heavy and not responding properly. Unbalance and poor coordination occured. I felt tired all the time. Even though I was just 35 years old, I felt like an octogenarian.

I didn’t listen to my body, just hoping and wishing it will pass. Totally lost I was avoiding taking care of myself, until I shared with professionals what I was facing. After visting my GP a couple of times, she sent me to a neurologist. I wandered, what for? None of my family, friends or people that I know had a neurological disorder. Anxious and frightened I received the diagnosis that I have MS (multiple sclerosis). A chronic unpredictable neurological condition that affects the central nervous system, with no cure. That was shocking news, but I still thought everything will be okay… I was fooling myself.

Active

It took me a while to process the information and become accountable for my well-being. At the beginning I was in a lazy mood, I didn’t want to walk, exercise, eat properly, sleep or learn new stuff. I was frustrated not doing anything for myself.  I convinced myself that I couldn’t do more, because I had MS. But even having MS, you can still be active. Then I discovered that all those things that I was avoiding actually improve your well-being. I noticed that when I went for a walk in nature for a couple of days, I automatically wanted to do more and include it in my daily schedule.

Focusing on myself helped me to reorganize my life and find a different perspective. Looking back, MS was a catalyzer to find myself and reorient my career.  For sure there are ups and downs, good days and bad days, with no pattern to follow. Each person with MS experiences it differently. Symptoms, progression and responses to treatment vary widely.

New path

MS forced me to take a pause – and in that pause, I found a new path. I let go of who I thought I had to be and began to rebuild from within. Becoming a vitality coach wasn’t about chasing energy, but about understanding it. What drains us, what fuels us, what matters.

This process within myself meant embracing a softer, wiser, more grounded version of me. That’s who I bring into my coaching: someone who’s been through the hard days, and found light on the other side. I understand both the visible and invisible challenges this condition brings. It has taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of mental and physical self-care – values I now bring into my work as a vitality coach.