MUM ON HOW PSYCHOLOGY WORKSHOP CHANGED HER

email As Carie Lyndene looks back on the car crash that took the life of the man she loved, she feels one overwhelming emotion – guilt.

It is 35 years since her partner Bobby died but Carie still replays every moment of the horrifying incident in her mind.

Bad weather, a bus strike, the need for a haircut and spending longer than planned chatting to her sister meant she was late picking Bobby up from work.

Unusually, he jumped into the passenger seat of their car, leaving Carie, then 24, to drive.

Minutes later, they were involved in a devastating crash that left Bobby dead at the age of just 25.

For years to come – and despite Carie not being at fault – she suffered from intense survivor’s guilt.

Only the intervention of a friend, who took her to a psychology workshop, helped her come to terms with the post- traumatic stress and intense grief she was suffering from.

Three decades on, she is a successful saleswoman and business coach, who believes the tragedy she went through has made her stronger and fuelled her success.

Now her powerful story of overcoming such a traumatic loss has been included in a new book, Women of Spirit, which tells the stories of everyday women who have shown amazing strength to triumph over adversity.

Carie hopes speaking about her heartache will help others.

The 58-year- old, who grew up in Edinburgh, said: “To lose Bobby when we were both so young – and to be driving the car when normally I would be sitting where he was sitting – left me with terrible survivor’s guilt, even now, 35 years on.

“It’s hard not to think, ‘ It should have been me’.

“I think about what Bobby would have done if he had been at the wheel

Whatever curveball life throws at you, there is always a way forward