In in my 40's it all looked good from the outside.

Three kids, a house, dog, husband, and a career. My life was full. I was dedicated to my family and work. 

Hidden inside was a different picture.  

You would have called me a shy, sensitive child. Terrified of pretty much everything, and far too skinny in spite of my grandmother’s best attempts to fatten me up. I was forever breaking out in rashes and or having allergic reactions to something. I avoided people at all costs, and would usually be found in the forest by my house - the birds and trees my best friends.

As a teenager, while my classmates played sports and danced at lunch time sock hops, my spare time was spent devouring self help books, endlessly searching for something to help explain my crippling anxiety and why felt so different from everyone else.

When I was 16 my dad passed away and my world fell further apart.

Friends, my devoted mother and a strong spirit helped me find my way through some dark years.

Blessed to find a caring partner I got married and dove deeply into family life.
However, things took a turn in mid- life. The years of overriding stress and chronic health issues had finally taken it’s toll, I found myself breaking down emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

Illnesses had been piling on top of each other.  Endometriosis, heart palpitations, hair loss, digestive ailments, interstitial cystitis, eczema, food and environmental allergies, as well as psoriasis spreading over most of my body.  My body needed help, my marriage was failing, and my job was draining the last bit of my soul.

I could no longer pretend I was well. It was now a time to stop looking after everyone else, and start looking after me. I had to be braver then ever. I took the first step and quit my job.

After 25 years working in a hospital setting I had seen endless heartbreak, illness, and death. It had left me deeply depleted, and with a strong sense that there was more to healing than I had ever understood before.

I stepped onto a new path, devoting myself to exploring the world of alternative medicine - seeking help from a Chinese medicine Dr, a bodytalk practitioner, spiritual healer and a homeopath. Gradually, rashes began to heal, endometriosis pain and digestion were easing.

Most importantly for the fist time, I started to feel hope.

Inspired by my transformation, I went on to study more about the worlds of spirituality, energy medicine, and the nervous system.

I eventually began a two-year apprenticeship in the spiritual arts, where I fasted alone in the forest on a vision quest. I traveled to workshops and training's internationally where I participated in rituals, ceremonies and experiencing the healing medicine of nature and the earth.
After a 3 year intensive training in  Somatic Experiencing ®  which led me into a deep exploration of the nervous system, I experienced a profound shift in anxiety and symptoms of ADHD. Critical healing for my mental and physical health.

As my confidence and strength grew, it led to new ways of exploring my soul - I joined a band, performed in a dance group, started writing and teaching, travelled to burning man, did acting training with Josh Pais of Committed Impulse, dabbled in improv, created a business and wrote a book. Whew.

My spirit had come alive. I felt like I was finally becoming the person that had been locked away in a prison of anxiety for most of my life.

Today, I feel nothing but gratitude for every messy step of this journey so far. It’s been a lifetime of living and learning.

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Sandy Dow believes in a world where people of all ages are taught basic education and care for their nervous system, so they can better support their mental and emotional health.

Sandy is a trauma informed coach, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, author of the book Thriving in Chaos, and creator of the coaching method The Dow Effect.

Over the past 40 years Sandy has contributed broadly in the helping profession, including roles in health care, addiction, youth mentorship, and performance coaching for artists and entrepreneurs - offering her guidance and education to clients around the world. In addition, contributing her stress management and resiliency building tools on podcasts and her YouTube channel. 

Sandy draws on her experience in somatic therapy and nervous system education to empower people under pressure to self-manage the challenges of chronic stress.