Take time to recover

It’s been a tough 12 months so, in this issue, we’re focusing on how we can restore ourselves. In our Dossier on page 48, Nathalie Hourihan takes us through a therapeutic process called Internal Family Systems to see if she can heal her past and find new ways to survive and thrive in the world. She gives us practical tools to concentrate on recovery and renewal.

We also encourage you to reach out to people who can raise you up. ‘Women support women – they are the bedrock of my sanity,’ says our inspirational cover star, Olympian Denise Lewis. Vee Sey helps us define who our real friends are in her column on page 32. ‘Genuine friends stand by your side while your life falls apart,’ she says. Ali Roff Farrar explores if she wants to become a mother on page 38, and digs deep to discover where her real fear lies – not getting support when she is at her most vulnerable.

Pema Chödrön has the last word on page 98 with a timely reminder to put our energy on what we can control: ‘We can make ourselves miserable, or we can make ourselves strong. The amount of effort is the same.’ Let’s make ourselves stronger by asking for support.