From Rock Bottom to Greek Island Dreams: How My Autoimmune Journey Led Me to Help Others Heal

Sometimes our greatest struggles become our greatest gifts to the world.

When Vulnerability Meets Community: The Post That Changed Everything

Just a few days ago, I sat down and wrote something I'd been carrying in my heart for years. A simple social media post about my journey from 2017 to now —from rock bottom to running wellness businesses in Greece, with the ideathat if I could help at least 1 person, it would be a success. I hesitated before hitting 'share,' wondering if anyone would care about or relate to my story.

What happened next completely overwhelmed me.

The messages started pouring in. People sharing their own struggles with autoimmune conditions. Others feeling dismissed by doctors. Some at their own rock bottom, feeling hopeless and alone. The support, the connection, the raw honesty from complete strangers—it was more than I ever expected.

But here's what struck me most: so many people are suffering in silence, feeling exactly like I did in 2017.

That response didn't just warm my heart—it reinforced everything about why I do this work. It reminded me that sharing our stories, our struggles, and our healing journeys isn't just cathartic for us—it's essential for others who are still in the darkness, wondering if there's a way out.

The Darkest Chapter: When My Body Became My Enemy

In 2017, I was drowning. Not in the crystal-clear waters of the Aegean Sea that I now call home, but in a sea of pain, confusion, and medical dismissal that nearly cost me everything.

I was serving in the army, but my body was waging its own war against me, and had been for years. Every morning brought fresh agony—joint pain that made simple tasks feel impossible, crushing fatigue that no amount of sleep could touch, brain fog so thick I could barely string thoughts together. My hair was falling out in clumps, my weight fluctuated wildly, my heart would race for no apparent reason, and a crushing depression had settled over me like a heavy blanket I couldn't shake off.

But perhaps the most devastating part wasn't even the physical and mental symptoms—it was the constant gaslighting from medical professionals who looked at my test results and declared me "fine."

"It's all in your head." "You're just stressed." "Maybe try yoga and meditation." "Maybe you're in the wrong job and should consider leaving the army."

When you're told repeatedly that your very real suffering is imaginary, you start to question your own sanity. The depression that Hashimoto's was causing made me suicidal, and the medical dismissal only amplified my despair, making me truly believe that this half-life of pain and hopelessness was all I had to look forward to.

The Turning Point: Finally Getting Answers

It wasn't until I found a doctor who actually listened—who looked beyond the surface and dug deeper—that I finally got my diagnosis: Hashimoto's thyroiditis. An autoimmune condition where my immune system was attacking my thyroid gland, wreaking havoc on virtually every system in my body.

Suddenly, everything made sense. The fatigue, the weight changes, the hair loss, the joint pain, the depression—it wasn't in my head. It was Hashimoto's attacking my thyroid, which controls so many bodily functions, including mood regulation. Finally having a name for my enemy changed everything, but I was not diagnosed for a long time until 2021

The Great Escape: From Army Barracks to Greek Paradise

If you'd told me in 2017, as I lay in my army bunk contemplating whether life was worth living, that by 2025 I'd be living on the stunning Greek island of Kos, running not one but two thriving wellness businesses, I would have laughed through my tears.

Yet here I am, successfully running: 🌿 Evexia Kos - my wellness practice rooted in ancient Greek healing wisdom 🌿 Retreats in Greece - helping people from around the world 'find themselves in Greece'

What changed everything? Everything.

• My environment: From sterile military facilities to the healing energy of the Greek islands

• My doctors: From dismissive practitioners to integrative healers who saw me as a whole person

• My community: From isolation to surrounding myself with people who believed in my healing journey

• My belief system: From hopelessness to the unwavering conviction that transformation is possible

  
  

Living with Hashimoto's: The Daily Reality Behind the Dream

Don't get me wrong—moving to Greece didn't magically cure my Hashimoto's. I still live with an autoimmune condition every single day. But what changed was my relationship with it and my approach to managing it.

Here in Greece, I've discovered:

• The healing power of Mediterranean foods rich in anti-inflammatory nutrients

• How stress reduction through island living supports thyroid function

• The importance of community and connection in autoimmune healing

• Ancient Greek practices that complement modern medical treatment

  
  

My Hashimoto's journey taught me that healing isn't always about curing—sometimes it's about thriving despite our challenges. It's about finding what serves our bodies, minds, and spirits, and creating a life that supports our wellbeing rather than depletes it.

Why the Response to My Post Matters So Much

The overwhelming support I received after sharing my story wasn't just heartwarming—it was a stark reminder of how desperately we need these conversations. Every message I received represented someone who:

• Felt seen and understood for the first time

• Realised they weren't alone in their struggle

• Found hope that change was possible

• Needed permission to keep fighting

  
  

This is exactly why I do what I do.

It's not just about running retreats or wellness programmes. It's about creating spaces where people feel safe to be vulnerable, where their experiences are validated, where healing becomes possible because they finally feel heard and supported.

Why I Do What I Do: My Mission Born from Pain and Purpose

Every single day, I wake up with a crystal-clear purpose. My pain became my passion, and my struggle became my strength—not just for me, but for every person who walks through my doors, onto my beach, or joins one of our retreats.

I do this work because I know what it feels like to be:

• Dismissed by medical professionals

• Trapped in a body that feels like a stranger

• Convinced that suffering is your only option

• Ready to give up on life entirely

• Completely alone in your struggle

  
  

And I also know what it feels like to:

• Find practitioners who truly see and hear you

• Discover healing modalities that actually work

• Build a life that supports rather than sabotages your health

• Wake up excited about the possibilities each day holds

• Be part of a community that believes in your healing

  
  

It's not just about autoimmune diseases—it's about everything that life throws at us, whether it's injuries that change our relationship with our bodies, menopause that makes us feel like we're losing ourselves, chronic stress that depletes our reserves, or any of those curveballs that leave us feeling lost and needing a safe space to find our way back. The response to my post reminded me that there are thousands of people out there who need to know that transformation is possible, that they're not broken, that there is hope.

How I Help: Creating Space for Your Transformation

My approach to helping others isn't theoretical—it's born from lived experience and reinforced by every person who reaches out feeling lost and alone. When you work with me or join one of our retreats, you're not just getting a wellness professional. You're getting someone who has walked the path from despair to hope, from sickness to vitality, from surviving to thriving.

Here's how I support your journey:

Personalised Retreat Matching

I don't believe in one-size-fits-all healing. Whether you're dealing with autoimmune issues, chronic stress, burnout, or simply feeling lost, I personally match you with retreats and experiences that align with your specific needs and healing goals.

Safe Space for Vulnerability

Having been dismissed and gaslighted, I create environments where your experiences are validated, your struggles are acknowledged, and your healing journey is honoured without judgement. The response to my post showed me how hungry people are for this kind of safe space.

Holistic Approach

My Hashimoto's taught me that true healing addresses the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. Our retreats integrate movement, nutrition, stress reduction, community connection, and spiritual practices.

Cultural Healing

There's something magical about Greece that goes beyond the stunning scenery. The slower pace, the emphasis on community, the connection to ancient wisdom—it all creates a container for transformation that I've witnessed again and again.

The Ripple Effect: Your Healing Heals Others

Here's what I've learned, and what the response to my post confirmed: when you heal, you don't just transform your own life—you create ripples that touch everyone around you. Your healing gives others permission to heal. Your transformation shows others what's possible.

Every person who leaves our retreats feeling more connected to themselves, more hopeful about their future, more empowered in their healing journey—they go back into the world and share that energy with their families, their communities, their own circles of influence.

Just like my simple social media post created a wave of connection and hope for people I've never even met.

A Message for Anyone Who's Where I Was

If you're reading this from a place of pain, dismissal, or hopelessness—if you're where I was in 2017, or if you were one of the people who reached out after my post—please hear this:

Your current chapter is not your whole story.

I know it feels impossible. I know you're tired of fighting. I know you've been let down by people who were supposed to help you. But please, don't give up. Life can surprise you in ways you can't even imagine right now.

The fact that so many people responded to my story with their own struggles and hopes proves that you're not alone. There's a whole community of us who understand, who've been where you are, and who are proof that transformation is possible.

Your healing matters. Your story matters. Your life matters.

Ready to Write Your Own Transformation Story?

If something in my story resonates with you—whether you found me through that original post or you're discovering my journey for the first time—if you're ready to explore what healing and transformation might look like in your own life, I'm here.

Whether it's a conversation about which retreat might serve you best, guidance on navigating your own health challenges, or simply someone who understands what it's like to feel lost and find your way—I'm here to support you with the hard-won wisdom of someone who's walked this path.

Because healing is possible, even when it feels impossibly out of reach. Change can transform so much more than you think. And sometimes, the most beautiful chapters of our lives are written after the darkest ones.

The overwhelming response to sharing my story reminded me that we're all more connected than we realise, and that our healing journeys can light the way for others.

Ready to find yourself in Greece? Let's start the conversation.

What resonates most with you from this story? I'd love to hear about your own journey in the comments below, or feel free to reach out directly if you'd like to explore how a Greek wellness retreat might support your own transformation.