Fear, Fairgrounds and a right pain in the neck

You know that feeling when something’s just… off?

When life is out of alignment, it doesn’t just mess with your mindset—it can show up in your body in the most unexpected ways. In my case? It turned into a literal pain in the neck. And a whole month of vertigo – and I’m not talking about a very long ride on a particular theme park ride!

I’m not talking about a passing wave of dizziness or that drunken feeling after coming off a rollercoaster either. I’m talking 24/7 spinning-room, can’t-lie-down, nausea-inducing disorientation. Every night, the moment my head hit the pillow, my world turned into a perpetual ride on the Waltzers. And every morning, I’d wake up feeling like I’d just been flung off a fairground ride—foggy, nauseous, and sleep-deprived.

At first, I blamed it on the usual suspects: maybe it was time to tweak my HRT. Maybe it was stress—work had been overwhelming lately. I was knee-deep in transitioning my coaching practice, juggling personal responsibilities (hello, ageing parents and travel logistics), and constantly battling the daily grind of being everything to everyone. Even getting to the gym felt like a chore, and healthy eating had taken a back seat.

And of course, imposter syndrome decided to join the party. Despite all my experience, I found myself wondering “When will they find out I’m not keeping up?”

So I did what many of us do—I promised myself I’d slow down, look after me, and chill out… eventually. Until the vertigo got so unbearable, I couldn’t ignore it anymore.

The Turning Point

In desperation, I booked a chiropractor who combined physio and chiropractic in one session. What they discovered? It wasn’t stress, hormones, or lack of sleep.

It was my trapezius (shoulder) muscle in spasm.

That spasm had pulled a vertebra out of alignment in my neck—specifically one pressing on the carotid artery. That pressure was the source of my vertigo. One big “aha” moment where I asked for help, one very loud shriek of pain during adjustment, and I finally felt some relief.

Is the vertigo gone? Not yet. But it’s massively improved. I’ve still got work to do—home exercises, follow-up sessions, lifestyle changes—but the path to recovery is clear. And more importantly, I’ve reclaimed a sense of control.

Realignment = Transformation

This experience was a powerful reminder: real transformation doesn’t happen by accident. Whether it’s your health, your relationships, or your mindset—if something’s out of alignment, it’s going to show up as pain, friction, or fatigue. And you can’t just wait for it to get better on its own.

You have to do something.

Here’s the process I followed, my unique SIM Methodology —and what I often take my coaching clients through:

  1. Get Real – Be brutally honest about where you’re at. Denial delays healing.
  2. Silence the Fear Monster – Feel the fear, and do the thing anyway.
  3. Apply the 94/6 Rule – Be part of the 6% who take responsibility and take action.
  4. Step into Selfish – Prioritise your wellbeing. No guilt.
  5. Make a Defiant Decision – Choose to change—and follow through.

When I recognised I couldn’t fix this alone, I worked through these steps quickly:

  • I admitted I was struggling.
  • I opened up, asked for help, and found no one judged me.
  • I bypassed the GP waiting game and booked a chiropractor.
  • I put myself first, instead of my default of always looking after everyone else.
  • I invested in my recovery and committed to learning how to stay well.

If You’re Out of Alignment…

This is how I work with my coaching clients too. No one gets a one-and-done session. We dig deep, find the root of the problem, and build a personalised solution—whether that’s a course, Timeline Therapy™, hypnotherapy, or a blend of everything.

I’m currently taped up with kinesiology tape, expertly applied by the physio who knows exactly what to do to ease my pain and stop this merry-go-round.  I can feel the fair-ground ride starting to slow down, and I know it won’t be long before I can safely step off it.

If something in your life is out of alignment—if there’s a recurring pain in your neck (literal or metaphorical)—DM me the word NECK, and let’s have a chat. If I can help, I will. If not, I’ll recommend someone who can.

Because you deserve to feel aligned, clear-headed, and fully you again.