On this episode of Let’s Talk, I had the absolute honour of sitting down with someone whose story strengthen my belief that our inner strength is our super power. Chris’s journey of multiple sclerosis (MS), mental health struggles, and ultimately, transformation, is one that stayed with me long after our conversation ended.
This story is about rediscovering strength, taking ownership of your healing, and refusing to let a diagnosis define your destiny.
The Life Before MS
Before MS entered his life, Chris was a true entrepreneur. He owned several pubs and clubs, poured himself into long workdays, and built what many would call a successful empire. His days were filled with back-to-back business commitments, and he only allowed himself a couple of holidays a year to “make up” for the intense grind.
But beneath all that momentum, his body was quietly sending signals ones he didn’t fully understand at the time.
The Diagnosis That Changed Everything
Chris started experiencing symptoms like numbness, bladder urgency, and unexplained weakness in his leg and foot. Doctors initially labelled it as stress, but the symptoms persisted. Eventually, the truth came out: Multiple Sclerosis.
When he told me about turning to Google for answers, I could feel the fear and helplessness he must have felt. The internet painted a scary picture. And then came the moment someone casually said to him, “My dad had MS and it killed him.” That comment put him on a negative spiral.
Telling his family was tough. He tried to shield his young children, but his ex-wife was aware about the diagnosis but could not understand his needs and the changes he needed to make to his life style. It was a heavy, lonely reality he had to face.
When Traditional Medicine Falls Short
Like many, Chris went down the traditional medical route, steroids, disease-modifying treatments, and painkillers. But instead of improving, his symptoms worsened. The fatigue, the anxiety, the breakdown of his marriage, it all piled up.
The most heart-breaking part? Chris reached a point where he genuinely felt like he was becoming someone who was difficult to live with.
The Darkest Phase In Chris’s Life
In 2007, Chris hit rock bottom. He told me, with incredible vulnerability, about the day he stood waiting for a lorry to take his life. But in that moment, something shifted. He thought about the driver and the trauma they’d carry forever. That simple thought, one moment of compassion was the spark that saved him from taking that drastic step.
He realised he needed help. And that’s when everything began to change.
Rebuilding Life
After a suicide attempt and a hospital stay, Chris was placed on antidepressants. But deep inside, he knew medication alone wasn’t the answer. He began searching for hope—and he found it in stories of people thriving with MS.
That’s when Chris decided to rewrite his own story.
He made radical lifestyle changes, starting with his diet. He followed the Swank diet, cutting out red meat, saturated fats, dairy, and sugar. He focused on clean, whole foods—mostly plant-based with some fish. He cut out alcohol completely. And slowly but surely, he started to feel stronger.
He also began moving again, starting with simple exercises like sit-to-stands. Movement became medicine.
From Wheelchair to Walking
Doctors told Chris he had secondary progressive MS and would be in a wheelchair full-time by 2012. And for a while, that was his reality especially outdoors, where falls were frequent.
But Chris didn’t stop. He kept working on his body, his mindset, and his healing. In 2010, he met the love of his life, who later became his wife and her support was transformative.
Then, in 2017, Chris walked into his neurologist’s office without a wheelchair. Chris had done what many believed was impossible.
Redefining Success and Purpose
Today, Chris lives with a completely different mindset. He prioritizes purpose over profit. Health over hustle. He no longer consumes anything blindly, he makes conscious choices about what food he eats and also carefully curates the media, people, and energy he allows into his life.
He’s now a qualified hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner. While he doesn’t give medical advice, he helps people shift their internal narrative transforming how they think, speak, and see the world. His work is about reclaiming mental and emotional power.
Message From Chris!
If there’s one thing Chris wants you to remember, it’s this: You have more control over your health than you think.
Don’t ignore the symptoms. Don’t let fear take the wheel. Tune into your body. Take ownership of your lifestyle. And for the love of all things good don’t rely on “Dr Google”! Seek facts, stay grounded, and always, always believe that things can get better.
Keep a journal. Celebrate your small wins. And on the darkest days, remember that hope is still possible.
Final Thoughts
Chris’s story isn’t just about surviving MS, it’s about reclaiming life, redefining what’s possible, and reminding all of us that healing is never out of reach and the Power is within us.
His courage and resilience lit up our conversation on Let’s Talk, and I know his story will do the same for you.
If Chris’s story moved you, please share this blog, subscribe to the podcast, and leave a review. You never know who might need a little reminder that “the impossible is possible”