I was thirty-two years old and recently divorced when I was diagnosed with early menopause. I still remember my doctor trying to calm me down as he mumbled to himself, “This is the youngest I’ve ever seen.” I was in tears for days, weeks, months, knowing I would never be a mother. It was devastating. No words can describe the pain and the journey I went through. There was no cure, and there was no recommendation from the doctor. Trust me, I traveled around the world trying to find a cure, a reason, a way to turn back time and bring back my normal, regular menstrual cycle. I tried herbal pills, acupuncture, birth control pills, hormone therapy. You name it, I’ve been through it.

The truth is, deep down I wasn’t surprised. I’ve always been a very negative person. Before I was given the news, I had heard stories of women in their early thirties diagnosed with menopause, and I’d always worried that it would happen to me. Golden rule of The Secret: if you worry about something, it will happen to you.

After five years of trying one medication and doctor after another, I had something worse happen. I developed high blood pressure and calcium deficiency because I was aging rapidly. My kneecaps were constantly in pain when I walked too much. And I had to start taking blood pressure medication. I was only thirty-six, but I felt as if I were sixty-three. In fact, I woke up every morning thinking that I would probably die very young. I was depressed every single day.

I got married again, and my husband was very patient with my emotional ups and downs. He encouraged me to go out, exercise, and eat a healthy diet. At a certain point, I decided to stop all the hormone pills just to give my body a break.

One day after I had stopped all the hormones, I walked into the bookstore and saw The Power. I’d read The Secret before but told myself there was no point in following it because I was such a negative person. But somehow a strong voice was telling me that this book would be my only hope and only cure. And if none of the treatments was working, perhaps I should be my own doctor and treat myself a different way.

I read the book and was immediately hooked. I bought the audiobook and listened to it every day – on the subway, buying groceries, walking on the street, when I woke up on sleepless nights. I was in tears every time I heard that I should be able to do anything and get anything I wanted in life.

Then I began to practice positive thinking and imagination. I imagined myself having regular and strong blood vessels. I imagined myself taking no medication and still having normal, healthy blood pressure. I imagined myself running around without feeling any pain in my knees. And I imagined myself having a normal menstrual cycle. I felt love every single depressed about little things. I felt blessed and happy to be surrounded by people I loved and places I enjoyed.

After three months, I stopped taking all my medications. After several more months without any medication, my blood pressure was normal. My knees were no longer in pain, and most unbelievable of all, I got my period.

My thanks to the entire team from The Secret for giving me the strength to overcome the challenges in life. You made me believe that I am strong, I deserve everything, and I am Invincible.