Carla Snow

27, Irish opera singer, living in London

Carla talks to us about her ongoing endometriosis diagnosis, as well as her Second Nature journey towards nourishing her mind, body and soul in the hopes of managing her symptoms holistically.

A typical day for me starts with reading a Second Nature article on my way into the office (full-time I’m a Business Coach for a beauty software company, part-time I’m an Opera singer). I’ve noticed that they help me stay focused on my intentions for the day when it comes to making healthier choices.

After dinner, I’ll usually read, or do yoga – something I’m really into as I’m trying to be more mindful. Or you’ll catch me singing away to myself as I find it helps me de-stress and re-centre myself when I have negative thoughts.

“I was reading an article from Second Nature about this thing called the ‘all or nothing mentality’ when something switched and I finally felt seen.”

Such thoughts were something that I experienced a lot while I was unemployed. It was tough facing rejections and, when the feelings and thoughts came, I would self soothe with food and then beat myself up about what I had eaten. It wasn’t until I was reading an article from Second Nature about this thing called the ‘all or nothing mentality’ when something switched and I finally felt seen. I could see other women and men in the app group chats really resonating with the same article and I realised I wasn’t alone.

Sometimes when you’re having those negative thoughts you can really feel like you’re the only one in the world experiencing them. It’s a hard mentality to break and with the help of Second Nature, as well as doing my own mental health journey, I’ve realised that all wellness health is life long. Good and bad days will come, but there is hope in accepting this fact, sitting with the thoughts and letting them serve you when they’re there so you can learn from them to make changes and move forward.

“…I’m hopeful and curious to see how improving my relationship between food and my health will help my endometriosis…”

Though I’m only in the early stages of my journey, I’ve already learnt so much from Second Nature and seen improvements to my sleep and how I manage stress thanks to the healthier habits that I’ve incorporated into my life. I’m currently in the process of being officially diagnosed with endometriosis, which after years of not knowing what was causing the excruciating pain I was experiencing, is a massive relief.

I’d ideally like to avoid being on hormone medication to manage it, so when I found out about Second Nature and their holistic approach, as well as having qualified nutritionists and being backed by the NHS, it was a no brainer. Because of the food journal and the ability to link my cycle with the app, I now know when to eat more iron to help with the pain, as well as when to decrease the amount of food I’m eating to help with the nausea.

Since starting Second Nature I’m hopeful and curious to see how improving my relationship between food and my health will help my endometriosis, and help me to hopefully achieve a healthy and happy pregnancy in the future.

Carla’s Second Nature journey started with our quiz, why not start yours today?