From the outside, Georgie Shears appeared to have it all – popular at school, a loving family and a nice home in Altrincham.
But Georgie was harbouring a dark secret. Her mental health struggles meant she felt inadequate throughout her life, masking her struggles by being the life of the party.
Things came to a head during the Covid pandemic when the 44-year-old became gripped by crippling panic attacks which left her trembling on the floor.
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That’s when she knew she had to take control – later immersing herself in mindfulness which finally helped to change the trajectory of her life.
“I was gripped by an overwhelming sense of panic,” Georgie, who lives in Chorlton, said. “All my past anxieties came rushing back, paralysing me like a punch in the gut.
“It was at that moment I knew something needed to change, drastically. I decided to take control of my life. That’s when everything shifted.”
Georgie says she first began experiencing poor mental health as a child following the breakdown of her parents’ relationship.
As she grew older, Georgie felt like an outsider. Despite having close friends in school, she constantly felt on the periphery of her group, always going along with the crowd while being the girl others wanted her to be.
She eventually learned how to mask her insecurities. “I was the life and soul of the party, always so much fun, a great laugh,” Georgie added. “I was having a ball. But, away from the dance floor, I was struggling with depression and was put on medication in my early teens.”
After leaving college, Georgie found herself with no real direction. Eventually landing herself in the marketing industry after a stint in sales, her career followed a specific pattern – great colleagues, dull work.
Georgie felt unfulfilled and disconnected. To make matters worse, her once-happy relationship had also turned sour.
As her mental health continued to deteriorate, Georgie made the decision to walk away from everything she owned, leaving her with just a car boot full of her belongings and a £50k bankruptcy court order.
But things started to look up when she entered a new relationship and later welcomed her daughter. “New start, new relationship,” she said. “After my daughter made her wonderful, everything I ever wanted, grand entrance, I knew I needed more. I didn’t want to leave her to go back to work in a job I couldn’t give two hoots about.”
A keen gym-goer, Georgie found exercise was a healthy way to cope with anxiety, later deciding to become a personal trainer.
Following the birth of her son, Georgie finally felt like her life was back on track. “Shortly followed by my precious son, the absolutely delicious icing on the family cake,” she said. “As a business owner, wife and mother I felt like I was on the right path, gaining confidence and – after many different therapies – experiencing a breakthrough in dealing with childhood traumas.”
However, at the height of the Covid pandemic, Georgie’s panic attacks returned – this time worse than ever. The mum knew something had to change.
“Determination ignited,” she said. “I dived headfirst into a learning journey towards my own healing and growth.
“Immersing myself in anything and everything I could find; books and podcasts, investing in courses and coaching with the best practitioners around.
“Embracing meditation, tapping, gratitude, affirmations, new routines, and breath-work. I learned how to tune into my own deep guiding intuition and rewrite my limiting stories.
“I found not only solace and relief from anxiety, but a new zeal for life. It was like opening a door to a whole new world and I was there for it.
“In overcoming anxiety, cutting out people-pleasing, and rising from the depths of despair, I’d discovered my passion for helping other women recognise the depth of their capabilities so they too could confidently follow their chosen paths and create lives they love.”
Drawing from her own experience, she decided to develop the SHIFT Life Transformation System, a framework designed to help people create a life they love.
“It’s a privilege to witness the phenomenal transformations my clients achieve,” she added. “Nothing brings me more joy and fulfilment than empowering other women with the tools they need to create lives they love.”
Robert Johnson is a UK-based business writer specializing in finance and entrepreneurship. With an eye for market trends and a keen interest in the corporate world, he offers readers valuable insights into business developments.
