“I Was Crippled With Anxiety and Had No Sense of Boundaries”

When I first started working with Grace, I was crippled with anxiety. I felt completely lost. I was in unhealthy relationships, had no real boundaries with friends, and was living in a way that wasn’t nourishing my body or mind. I was underweight, overwhelmed, and stuck in patterns that I didn’t know how to get out of.

I’d tried different types of therapy, but nothing had really helped ease the anxiety or panic attacks. When I found out Grace was practising Five Element acupuncture, I was intrigued — I was willing to try anything that might help with my mental health.

From previous therapy, I knew that certain traumas had affected my life, both mentally and physically. But through this work, I came to realise it was all connected in a much deeper way. Ironically, the anxiety wasn’t just about what had happened to me — it was about how disconnected I was from my body. Dissociation was a huge part of what was going on, something I hadn’t even been aware of before starting this work.

The sessions feel like a spa for my mind. They’re a place where I can speak honestly and openly, in my rawest form, without fear or judgement. They feel calm, unthreatening, and genuinely safe — a space Grace holds with confidence and care. I often leave feeling both settled and excited, curious about what has shifted and what might open up next.

I’ve been working with Grace for years now, and she has held this space for me through the rollercoaster of my twenties and into the different challenges of my thirties. There have been many turning points, but one stands out clearly. After my fifth or sixth treatment, I arrived feeling completely disconnected — panicked, anxious, confused, and lost. When I left, I felt a wave of calm move through my entire body. For the first time in a long time, I felt in control. I closed my eyes and saw everything I needed to do that day line up clearly in my mind. I felt focused, motivated, and able to move forward.

Over time, I’ve become far more attuned to my body. I can recognise when I’m dissociating and know when I need to offer myself more care, space, and nourishment. Alongside meditation, I’m better able to manage unhelpful, spiralling thoughts. I can get to the heart of what’s out of balance more quickly, rather than staying stuck in it.

Now, I feel more grounded and more in control. I make fewer decisions from anxiety and fear. I have better boundaries and feel far more aligned with myself and my life.

It makes me emotional to think back to how I felt in my mid-twenties when I first began this journey. What I’d want someone in that place to know is that honesty with yourself really matters. Putting in the work is half the battle. Trusting the process — including the ups and downs — is part of it. Being comfortable with discomfort, knowing it will pass, and remembering that you are not alone. Things do get easier.

One of the most important things I’ve learned is that it’s okay to be a sensitive person. If anything, it’s a strength — the ability to really feel what’s happening in your body and respond to it.