In the last year I have gained the kind of freedom and healing that I once could only dream of. God radically healed almost every part of me physically and mentally. I feel as if I’ve got a whole new brain. Sarah 2.0. I recall Brad saying “who are you and what have you done with Sarah!?!?” after just a few weeks. I’ve gone from suicidal thoughts, extreme anger, running away and weekly panic attacks to being calm, full of joy and able to handle situations. I’ve even been healed from things doctors told me would never heal.
This list of results is pretty raw, I kinda can’t believe I’m putting the fact that I struggled with extreme anger online but I know you can only understand how comprehensive the healing is when you know how real the pain was. I haven’t gone into huge detail purely because there isn’t space. But maybe one day I’ll write more. This is also the “practical” version of the story, the spiritual version of how God weaved everything together is eight times longer and seventy times more beautiful. But this is for those who want the straight up results.
I’m posting this at 9.30pm on a Friday because chances are, if you’re reading this tonight you may have struggled with some of the things I have. Anxiety and depression are the things that make you feel lonely, helpless and hopeless. I spent countless nights scrolling, just looking for an answer and a cure. If that’s you right now, I’m praying for your breakthrough, in Jesus name.
Just a few things before you read on:
This is purely my own experience. I’m not affiliated in any way with the course and have nothing to gain. I just know how powerful it is and I know how many people could benefit from it. We’ve already had 5 friends attend the course since I did mine, with varying physical/mental issues. Everyone saw results and will continue to as they journey!
I also don’t want to underplay God’s role in this. He orchestrated everything. Although the course is totally based on science (it’s not in any way religious/faith based and I’ve seen many non-faith based people see huge results) I saw so many links to the bible and what it teaches us about how to think and how God has made us. It just reminds me of how wonderfully we are designed.
The course uses a type of language where you remove identity statements e.g. “I am doing depression” rather than “I am depressed” to remove that label from yourself and make it a tangible thing that you have control over. This was a game changer for me - why would I “do” anxiety, I mean, that’s so silly! So when you read I was “doing” or “I did” below, that is why.
So here we go…On Feb 6 2019 I had a wakeboarding fall which resulted in a severe concussion that took me (and Brad) out big time. After the darkest, most gut wrenching year (cue this post), on 28 Jan 2020 I attended a course called The Switch and saw incredible healing in the concussion and a myriad of pre-existing conditions. Brad attended the course as my support person and he too has seen healing. The course teaches you how to take your thoughts captive, replace them with new ones and calm your stress response. (Stress is responsible for 75-90% illnesses).
It's hard to write all my results as there are just too many to note. I'm so healthy I forget how bad it used to be. I'm certain there are some which have been forgotten, but here are some highlights…
After seeing 6 psychiatrists the year prior to The Switch I had little to no results. I had also met with multiple counsellors, pastors, youth leaders and respected friends over the 7 years before that to try and overcome some of my issues. Again, I saw almost no results and nothing that lasted more than a few days.
Since doing The Switch:
I no longer “do” concussion symptoms including; fatigue, pain, dizziness, nausea, fogginess, sleep issues, noise sensitivity, light sensitivity and chronic headaches. I no longer get lost driving and after almost a year of working merely a few hours and then "crashing" I have worked 40+ hours a week since.
After 52 weeks of attending physio/osteo, I went back 3 weeks after doing The Switch. The physio took one look at me and said: "What have you done? You're talking more than ever, your posture is better and your neck and shoulders are completely loose. If you’re not in pain you don't need to come back anymore!" I wasn’t, so I haven't since!
I went cold turkey on my meds the day the course started (antidepressants, sleep and pain meds). I had tried this 3 times before with terrible results. NB: this was not encouraged by the course but was my own choice.
I no longer do chronic back and neck pain (which had been present since 2013).
I no longer do anxiety - after 15 years of symptoms.
I haven't done a panic attack for more than 16 months! I used to regularly get tunnel vision, numb hands, chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, warped hearing and a ton of other symptoms.
I no longer do overwhelmed - I used to yell and scream and basically turn into a toddler regularly.
I dropped my antique engagement ring in the ocean and it was lost for 20 hours before an incredibly kind man found it. Before it was found (which was a bit of a miracle in itself after the tides!!) I cried of course, but I didn’t lose the plot, I didn’t have extreme guilt and I didn’t get angry, even though it was 100% my own fault.
I haven't done depression or suicidal thoughts ONCE since the course - after 7 years of symptoms.
I no longer do Raynaud's Syndrome (which my Dr. said was incurable!).
I no longer do PMS (Brad is quite relieved!!).
I no longer do any period pain at all - I always had intense pains and even Tramadol wouldn’t ease it. After 7 years of being on medication for it, I came off and my period returned right on time, with no pain at all. PCOS and Endo run in the family and the doctor had said it’s a reality I would ‘always’ have to deal with - clearly he was wrong on that one!
I also had a chronic eye infection that 4 different optometrists said was something I’d have to live with for the rest of my life. It’s gone.
I no longer have extreme anxiety about having children.
I no longer do extreme anger or lose the plot. I have stopped running away.
I can go to the supermarket without losing the plot. I can read what’s on the shelves clearly and I can buy things without getting overwhelmed.
I now sleep deeply and soundly.
I can now eat tomatoes, smoothies, berries, nuts and other weirdly textured things without gagging - tomatoes are now one of my favourites! I still hate mushrooms but I think most can agree that’s just because they suck.
I can try new foods!!!
My fingernails are strong now and don’t break easily!
I am calm, I can handle situations.
I ended up in hospital with 5 stomach ulcers as a result of the extreme stress I'd had before the Switch, combined with high dose medications. I was unusually calm during the 24 hours in hospital, despite not knowing the cause of the internal bleeding for some time.
6 months post the Switch my cortisol levels were at 1057 (the safe range is 200-700) and 10 months post the Switch they were in the 600's - I am sure they will have dropped even more now as I feel so great.
I can buy things without doing stress and guilt over spending money. Back in the day even spending $3 would have me second guessing, calling Brad and Mum and standing in a shop for 20-30 minutes deciding whether it was worth it or not.
I no longer grind my teeth while sleeping - I used to need a night guard to stop causing more damage!
I no longer do bunion pain - apart from after a 21.1km run which made sense! But overall I've had less bunion pain this year than any other time in my life. Again, doctors said there was no cure to this...
I have good self esteem and body image.
I can actually call myself beautiful and believe it for the first time!
I loved our 3.5 week South Island trip and I didn't do stress and it was our most enjoyable holiday yet. In other holidays I would have panic attacks, have every second planned out and lose it if things went wrong.
I enjoy life and can find good in the hard times.
We bought a house very unexpectedly and I didn't “do” stress!
We didn't get to go on our 6 month OE to Europe (hey 2020) that I’d been dreaming about since I was 5 and we still ended up having the best year ever!!
My relationships are immensely better, I was able to forgive and move on from past offences too.
We joined a new church which is very loud and I can attend happily with no noise or light sensitivity.
Our life has been busier, with more responsibilities and expenses than ever and I can handle it - Brad even left a stable salary in the construction industry to go out on his own and I was ok with it. Which is massive (keeping in mind I’m self employed and have always had a fluctuating income).
Some bigger things:
2.5 weeks after the Switch I was able to travel on my own to Florida, USA, spend a week there, shoot an amazing wedding for 14 hours, dance all night, only get 4 hours sleep, wake up and edit 50 sneak peek images and then enjoy the rest of my time there. I did not struggle with jet lag and was able to navigate the 6 flights on my own. Prior to The Switch I couldn't even manage to book a taxi to physio and if I did drive I got lost regularly.
Before doing The Switch I'd never run more than 1km. Since then I have started running and did Round The Bays (8.4km) only five weeks after the course and I ran the Auckland Half Marathon 10 months later, without stopping - I beat my all time distance PB by 11.2km and my time goal by 2 minutes 30 seconds. I had also just had the internal bleeding/stomach ulcers a few weeks prior. I've just started classes at The Dust Palace so will be on the silks, trapeze and hoops learning new tricks and getting stronger. I joined without doing any anxiety or overthinking!
I vowed to never wakeboard again due to immense PTSD, but last week I tried wakesurfing behind the same boat I had my accident on and then decided to try wakeboarding one more time. I got up the first time and everyone on the beach cheered me on. I boarded one lap around the lake and back to the beach, grinning the entire time! It's amazing to have a great memory associated with it now.
As I said before, these are just some of the results I’ve had in the last 12 months and I’m sure they will continue as I uncover more things to “switch” on. The Switch can be used on chronic fatigue, eating disorders, allergies, eczema, infertility, PCOS, endometriosis, autoimmune diseases, food intolerances, digestive disorders, insomnia, CRPS and SO much more. Our brains are powerful and our bodies are often just doing what we’re telling them to do due to longstanding habits.
So that’s a wee list of some of the epic things that happened in 2020. The crazy thing is, this isn’t even everything and I literally can’t describe the extent of what God did last year, even if I had 30,000 words and a powerpoint. This is just a list of the healing I saw, it doesn’t include the intricate details of how Jesus weaved everything together, how he used what was intended for evil, for good. How he whispered things to give me strength and how He used friends and family to encourage us when Brad and I were at our lowest. Those are stories I’ll have to share as time goes on.
This wasn’t a magical course where you go and walk away healed. Not everyone who does it sees these kinds of results. I had to put in the work. Every time I noticed an old thinking pattern, reaction or symptom I had to do something about it if I wanted to see the change. I was the only person capable of making it happen. I was so desperate to be well that I did “switches” on everything I possibly could. At the beginning I did multiple switches a day and as time has gone on I’ve done less and less. Some things, like the concussion, were healed within a few days, others such as extreme anger and anxiety took months and I am still working on destroying those pathways I spent years building. BUT it’s such an easy process and a “switch” can be done in a few minutes. It’s fast, it’s not overwhelming and it’s empowering.
All this to say, healing is possible. I felt so broken and unfixable, thinking that nothing would ever heal me. But this did because it targeted the root of the issues. It’s amazing how fast our brains can rewire themselves. This is in no way to promote myself, but I want everyone to know that there is hope, even if you’ve struggled with something for years. Even if you’ve been told you’ll never get healed from mental illness, I’m living proof that you can!
I mean, all this happened in 2020, the most ridiculous, unexpected, stressful year for most of the planet. So if that’s not proof that this course works then I don’t know what is.
Glory to God alone.
If you’ve been journeying illness of any kind for a while, I’m so sorry. It can be so lonely and it can feel so hopeless. But I promise you, you aren’t alone. God sees you, He knows you and He loves you. Tell Him how heavy your heart is, He can handle it and He can heal it. This isn’t the end. I am praying for you and for your breakthrough, mine took 7 years. Some journeys are shorter, others much longer. I am believing on your behalf for you to see a miracle. But at the end of the day, what Jesus did 2000 years ago on the cross was the greatest miracle of all and that’s the true healing we are all searching for, the only one that can fill that longing in our hearts and the only healing that lasts forever.
If you want to read up some more, I did my course with Mel - www.empowertherapies.co.nz. She is highly experienced and a fantastic teacher. Also just a note, I gain nothing from this, I’m not affiliated with her services in any way, I just want everyone to experience the freedom that I have because I know it’s possible.
I’m sure I’ll post more about this in the future. Feel free to flick me a message if you have questions - hello@sarahflorence.com.
