My Story — Pillar of Light

I developed Glandular Fever (M.E.) at 19. It never went away. For 14 years I've lived with chronic illness, mostly bed-ridden. I'm now 33.

At 26, I discovered I also have Autism — specifically Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). Some of my old music: SoundCloud and YouTube.

I don't have much work experience. But I have 14 years of life experience. I've always been good at guiding and inspiring others. That's what I bring.

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Symptoms of M.E.

24/7 body pain — feet feel like standing on golf balls
Extreme fatigue — 10% of a healthy person's energy
Dry mouth 24/7, even when drinking
Swollen glands, including my face
Secondary: bloating, weight gain, insomnia, chronic anxiety

Symptoms of my Autism

Sensory overload — sounds, light, touch are magnified
Difficulty reading social cues
Obsessive, looping thoughts — echolalia
Hyper-fixation and Autistic Inertia
Extreme emotions — highs and lows, no middle ground
Severe isolation needs

Symptoms of my PDA

Resistance to demands — even tiny ones
Freeze response to any task, including lifting a glass
Every task is a mental wall to climb
Structure causes breakdowns — I cannot work with routine

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My Accomplishments

These are personal wins. My lived experience is what makes me unique.

Went from not being able to watch TV, to reading 20+ pages of heavy classics in a sitting.

Went from a short walk putting me in bed for days, to walking uphill daily and doing pushups and planks.

Cured a year of insomnia. It has never returned.

Healed 12 years of chronic anxiety. I'm human — I still feel anxious sometimes. But the chronic version is gone.

Went from losing every friend I had, to building a solid support system through DBT and practice.

Rebuilt my family relationships from complete breakdown to genuine harmony.

Went from 15+ plates piled in my room (couldn't carry them) to washing dishes and cooking daily.

Went from 10 minutes of music production before crashing, to 2 hours a day — while managing a team, cooking, and starting this practice.

Battled suicidal ideation and deep depression. Found strategies to pull myself out. I'm here to help you find yours — gently, without toxic positivity.