At 65 years old, Dr Sharon Walt still feels like she’s 39. The Auckland-based health coach regularly takes part in half-marathons and spends time in nature as often as she can. But while she is happy with her life now, it was very different 10 years ago when her body “shut down”.
“I used to work in a university in the area of biomechanics,” explains Sharon, who got her doctorate in kinesiology. “I helped develop the first 3D motion capture lab in New Zealand and we used the technology to aid orthopaedic surgeons in their treatment of children with cerebral palsy.
“But the stress of my workload – and I do believe things are very different now in universities – made me really sick. It started as anxiety and not being able to sleep. I went on medication for anxiety, but while my anxiety went down, I became a complete zombie. I don’t think I laughed in a year.
“And that’s when things got really weird,” she continues. “I would get so tired, I was sleeping up to 20 hours a day. I went back to my doctor and blood tests showed that my cortisol levels were through the roof.
“That’s when it hit me. Here was I thinking the medication was stopping my anxiety, and it wasn’t. It was just masking it.”
Esta historia es de la edición January 18, 2021 de New Zealand Woman's Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición January 18, 2021 de New Zealand Woman's Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
The perfect GETAWAY
From lengthy airport clinches to party ghosting, Michéle examines goodbyes
Message in a BOTTLE
Kevin makes a discovery in his shed that piques his detective skills
Empowered & thriving! PERFECT AT ANY AGE
Weekly editor Marilynn bravely shares her bold new approach to living her best life at 50 and beyond
Nature goals FIND YOUR GREEN SPACE
From stressed to refreshed! Lifestyle medicine practitioner Dr Jenny Brockis shares the simple steps you should adopt to give your wellbeing a boost
Nature & the city KELLY & MARLEY'S WILD PROJECT
The podcaster’s eyes have been opened to a new way of life
TikTok star Paris 'I'M BRINGING OUR KAI TO THE WORLD
After a tough start to motherhood, the foodie tells how she reclaimed her life
Love and the city! WENDYL'S CHANGE OF HEART
After a decade in the country, she’s given up the good life to return home
New TV star Andy 'I THOUGHT BEIN AN ALL BLACK WAS TOUGH!' Кро
It was a big shift channelling his talent into the hit show Moving Houses, but the sporting legend is a natural
Babies and beyond! INES HEALS BRAD'S HEART
The actor is embracing life with his zero-drama’ partner
Spreading the joy SIR ASHLEY'S KINDNESS CLUB
The Kiwi health legend is taking a jab at teaching kids important life skills