Tracey is someone who loves being outdoors, whether that’s gardening, spending time outside in the fresh air, or finding small ways to make her space her own. She’s an operations manager, supporting teams and leading others every day. Tracey has experienced mental health challenges, including depression and anxiety, but that’s only one part of her story.
Her mental health journey began in her 30s when her marriage broke down suddenly. The impact was overwhelming. “I just couldn’t function,” she says. Despite having a supportive family around her, Tracey recognised that things weren’t improving and made the decision to go to her GP. Asking for help marked a turning point.
Through counselling, she began to process what she was feeling and develop coping techniques. At first, she couldn’t do much more than cry, but over time she found what worked for her and started to feel more in control.
As life moved forward, there were further challenges including redundancy, difficult relationships and periods of anxiety. Each time, Tracey came back to the same important lesson, when something doesn’t feel right, reach out. She accessed support again through workplace counselling and even chose to study counselling skills herself, helping her better understand both her own mental health and others’.
More recently, Tracey faced a breast cancer diagnosis. While she received supportive medical support, the emotional impact was significant. As she began recovering, her partner became seriously unwell, and everything started to build up. It felt like everything just overloaded for Tracey, but recognising the signs, she referred herself for support again and is clear that she wouldn’t hesitate to do so in the future.
Tracey also speaks honestly about how difficult it was navigating both menopause and the hormone treatment linked to her cancer recovery at the same time. The combined impact left her feeling like she was “going mad”. It was a very different experience to what she had faced before, and one that made her realise that sometimes coping strategies alone aren’t enough. With the support of her GP, including medication, things began to feel more manageable again. Her experience is a reminder that when your body and mind are going through so much, reaching out for professional help can be an important step forward. This experience was different to earlier struggles and helped her realise that sometimes self- help techniques aren’t enough. With support from her GP, including medication, she was able to stabilise and move forward. Her story highlights an important message, getting professional help when you need it can make a real difference.
Over time, Tracey has learned to recognise early warning signs. She describes it as a jug slowly filling up until it overflows. Now, she actively protects her wellbeing by setting boundaries, particularly around work, and making time to rest and recharge. She’s found her own ways to switch off too including her love of long, uninterrupted baths, once staying in for a record five hours to fully relax and escape the noise of everything else.
Tracey said:
“Taking time for yourself isn’t selfish you’re recharging your batteries.”
As a manager, Tracey is passionate about reducing stigma in the workplace.
She encourages her staff to speak openly about how they’re feeling and reassures them that asking for help is not a weakness.
“Please don’t ever be afraid to say you’re struggling. It’s a strength.”
She believes creating safe, open environments where people feel able to talk is essential.
Today, Tracey feels more in control of her mental health, not because life is easier, but because she understands herself better and knows when to reach out.
She is most proud of one thing:
“I asked for help when I needed it.”
