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A decade ago I was at a place you might know well. Rock bottom. I felt totally stuck, overwhelmed and had no idea how to get out. As I sat on the floor listening to my baby and toddler crying out to me from their cots upstairs, over and over in my head went the words, I’m going to kill myself. I’m going to kill myself. I was completely unrecognisable to myself and so full of shame for not coping.

How dare I, I would tell myself, with all that I had – two healthy children, a husband, supportive family, a roof over my head – not be coping. I was also drowning in the shame and guilt for my actions. Punching the brick walls in my home over and over again in a rage I had never experienced. Picking up my toddler and screaming at her that I couldn’t do this anymore.

As I stood by the window of the top level of our skinny, high terrace, I was having serious thoughts about throwing my baby out. And so because of this shame, I told no-one what was going on with me. Not my mum, my husband or my best friend. When my husband came home as I was in the middle of my rock bottom moment, he came over, held both my hands and gently pulled me to stand in front of him. In a very gentle yet desperate way he said to me, ‘You know you falling apart means this whole family is falling apart. Please go and get some help.’

So feeling like a total failure as a mother I made an appointment with my doctor. Expecting her to tell me what I had been telling myself for months to just get over it, I was shocked when she said I had postnatal depression. She gave me my treatment options and just before I left said to me something that I had probably heard many times before but this time I really heard it, ‘You know when you get on a plane and they tell you to put your oxygen mask on first before assisting others? That’s what you have to do.’

I got home and sat on the end of my bed knowing I only had a few minutes before my family would be home and this rare moment of silence would be over and thought about my doctor’s words. I thought what made me a good mum was being 100% selfless. I thought I was supposed to give to everyone and everything else first. But here I was with a prescription for antidepressants in my hands, fighting with suicidal thoughts, and in that moment I know something had to change. I felt the tiniest amount of grit in the bottom of stomach and made the decision that I was going to find something I could do that would be my oxygen mask. One little thing every day. I was so sleep deprived, unmotivated and overwhelmed and didn’t know if I could do it, but I knew there was too much at stake not to try. I was missing out on this time with my little girls, time I would never, ever get back.

So that’s what I did. It started with a couple of minutes of exercise each day which was my beginning of a very slow journey out of the downward spiral I was in. This led me to seeking more medical help (and not lying on my mental health check which I’d previously done). Then I opened up to a couple of friends and started allowing the fake smile I had permanently stuck on my face when I left the house to come off. Then I began sharing my story which led me to gradually let go of the shame and feelings of failure that would consume me which in turn led me to doing probably the most powerful thing I have done. I forgave myself.

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Lizzie's Story Update 2024

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From there, something remarkable began to happen. My tiny, daily exercise routine grew into a lifeline, and as I felt my strength returning, I started to envision ways to help others in similar situations. I began sharing my story openly, first with a small circle and eventually with larger audiences. Each time I shared, I saw the impact it had—people connected with my journey, found hope in my words, and began to believe they too could climb out of their own dark places.

My simple daily exercises evolved into 'Two Minute Moves,' a method that has now helped countless people find their own moments of strength and clarity. If you had told me a decade ago that I would one day be standing on stages, speaking to crowds about overcoming adversity, I would have laughed—or cried—at the absurdity of it. But here I am, using my voice and my experiences to empower others.

I turned my personal struggles into a mission, one that has taken me across the globe, speaking at conferences, working with companies, and writing books that encapsulates all the lessons I’ve learned.

The journey from rock bottom to where I am now was arduous and often felt impossible, but every small step I took was a step away from despair and towards a life filled with meaning and fulfillment. If you had told me back then that this was possible, I wouldn’t have believed you. Yet, here I stand, a testament to the power of small, consistent actions and the incredible transformation that can happen when we reach out for help, prioritise our wellbeing and dare to believe in ourselves.

So, if you find yourself at rock bottom, overwhelmed and stuck, know that change is possible. Seek professional help and start with your oxygen mask—one small act of self-care, one tiny step each day—and watch as those steps lead you to places you never dreamed you could go.