I never set out to be an expert on worry. In fact, for most of my life, I was the poster child for chronic anxiety. My journey to becoming a "worry warrior" was born out of sheer necessity and a desperate desire for change.

As a young mom of twin boys, my life was a whirlwind of diaper changes, sleepless nights, and constant fear. What if I'm not a good enough mother? What if something happens to the babies? These thoughts plagued me day and night. Despite the joy of motherhood, I felt like I was drowning in a sea of "what-ifs."

Then life threw me another curveball. My marriage fell apart when my boys were just three years old. Suddenly, I was a single mom, juggling two jobs to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. The worry intensified. How will I manage alone? Will my kids be okay?

Two years later, I met Bob. He was kind, loving, and had three amazing children of his own. We got married, and I became a stepmom overnight. While our blended family brought so much love into my life, it also brought new anxieties. How do I balance the needs of my biological and step-children? Am I doing enough for everyone?

Just when I thought life was settling into a new normal, tragedy struck. Bob was killed in a freak swimming accident. The loss was devastating, and my anxiety reached new heights. I was now a widow, responsible for five grieving children.

For five years, I soldiered on, my mind a constant battleground of worry and fear. I tried everything - self-help books, meditation apps, even therapy. But nothing seemed to stick. I was functioning, but I wasn't living.

Then came my breaking point. It was my youngest stepchild's birthday, and I was planning a party. As I stood in the pantry, staring at cake mix options, I felt a full-blown panic attack coming on. My heart raced, I couldn't breathe, and the world seemed to spin around me. In that moment, hiding among the groceries, I realized something had to change.

That's when my journey to becoming a "worry warrior" truly began. I threw myself into researching the science of anxiety. I studied neuroplasticity, cognitive behavioral techniques, and mindfulness practices. I experimented with different strategies, keeping what worked and discarding what didn't.

Slowly but surely, I began to transform my relationship with worry. I developed my own techniques, like the S.T.O.P Method and the 5-Minute Calm Down. I created the Worry Tracker Journal to help me identify patterns in my anxiety.

As I applied these techniques to my own life, I noticed a dramatic shift. I was sleeping better, enjoying time with my kids more, and feeling more confident in my decisions. Even when life threw new challenges my way - like meeting and marrying my current husband, Mike, and welcoming another set of twins - I found I could handle them with a newfound sense of calm and resilience.

Inspired by my own transformation, I completed a course in creative writing and began volunteering as a counselor for women struggling with mental health issues. The more I shared my story and techniques, the more I realized how many women were fighting the same battles I had.

That's what led me to create the 7-Day Worry Detox program and write "Transforming Fear into Freedom." I wanted to share what I'd learned with other women, to show them that they too could break free from the chains of chronic worry.

Today, as a mom and stepmom to seven wonderful kids, I still face challenges. But now, instead of being paralyzed by worry, I have the tools to face those challenges head-on. My mission is to help other women do the same - to show them that a life of freedom from worry is not just possible, it's within their reach.

Remember, I'm not special or unique. I'm just a woman who got tired of letting worry run her life and decided to do something about it. If I can do it, so can you. Are you ready to join me on this journey to freedom?