Jade’s story

In her mid 20s, Jade looked to have found the dream role in her high-flying marketing career – but inside, the anxiety of working in such a fast-paced, high-pressure world was becoming overwhelming. Thankfully, our Suffolk Work Well team was there to help.

Jade had graduated from university at 22 and quickly rose up the ranks to Marketing Manager, leading her team on high-intensity campaigns. But that intensity was becoming too much.

“Every evening I’d come home, close the door and cry,” she said. “The thought of going into work the next day filled me with dread.

“Imposter syndrome had me in its grip, and my confidence was at rock bottom.

“I felt trapped, desperate to succeed in a career I’d worked so hard for, but unable to fight the crippling anxiety that consumed me.

“Eventually, I hit a breaking point. I made the gut-wrenching decision to leave my job.

“It should have felt liberating, but instead, I felt a crushing weight of guilt.

“Suddenly, my life had no structure – no job, no income, no routine. Just endless anxiety. I knew I needed help.”

Jade reached out to Suffolk Work Well after receiving a recommendation from one of our employees. That’s when she was introduced to Nicki Bush, a case worker for the service.

“From the moment I was introduced to Nicki, everything began to change,” she said. “In our first session, I poured my heart out, sharing every fear, every doubt and every hope I had for the future.

“Nicki didn’t just listen; she understood. She never judged me or dismissed my dreams, no matter how far-fetched they seemed.

“Instead, she became my biggest cheerleader.”

Jade shared her passions with Nicki – how she wanted to work with animals, stemming from her love of her two cats Gucci and Leo.

Nicki first encouraged her to try out volunteering at the Blue Cross to find fulfilment – a step Jade described as “life-changing”.

Jade said: “Week by week, we talked about how volunteering helped my mental health, gave me a sense of purpose, and reignited my confidence.

“What made Nicki truly special was the way she tailored her support to me.

“I didn’t want to revisit my childhood or dissect my past – I’d already done that with other counsellors.

“What I needed was practical advice to help me move forward, and that’s exactly what Nicki gave me.

“She taught me how to calm my anxiety with breathing exercises and mindfulness techniques, how to make time for things I loved like walking and colouring and how to break my big ideas into manageable steps.”

Our Suffolk Work Well service is a 12-week programme, providing people like Jade with tailored one-to-one support, an introduction to our physical and emotional needs and a bespoke Personal Wellbeing Plan

“Talking to Nicki was like chatting with a best friend who just gets you,” Jade added. “She made me feel heard, valued and supported in a way I hadn’t experienced before.

“I didn’t feel like a burden or a broken record  – something I’d worried about with family and friends.

“With Nicki, I could be completely honest and that trust allowed me to grow in ways I never thought possible.”

Ideas that Jade shared with Nicki included a user-generated content cat business on Instagram named after the pair, which she operates today.

“Nicki never told me I couldn’t do something,” she said. “Instead, she helped me focus, prioritise and believe in myself.

“Her ‘make things happen’ attitude matched mine perfectly, and I found myself looking forward to every session, eager to tell her the progress I’d made.

“I truly don’t think I could’ve done it without Nicki and Suffolk Work Well.

“Nicki’s encouragement gave me the confidence to take risks, trust my instincts, and embrace change.

“She didn’t just help me manage my anxiety; she helped me rebuild my life.”

Jade now has her own pet sitting business, user-generated content (UGC) business (@gucci.and.leo) and works at a local cattery while continuing to volunteer with the Blue Cross in her spare time.

She has since helped fly the flag for the Suffolk Work Well service – going as far as to raise £500 through a 56-mile walking challenge.

If you are experiencing mental ill health in the workplace, or need a helping hand in getting back to work – our Suffolk Work Well team are here to help.

Learn more about Suffolk Work Well and how you can self-refer.