A Chronic Entrepreneur: Taz Dunstan
Scroll down to the bottom of the page to read Taz’s 2021 Update!
For Taz Dunstan, being a chronic entrepreneur means being an invincible business woman. After a car accident resulted in severe damage to the cervical discs in her spine, it left her with chronic pain and limited mobility. She’d been an avid adventurer, hiker, mountaineer and ‘thrill seeker’ and she was told that she would never be able to enjoy those activities again. Instead of accepting the ‘fate’ she was given, Taz turned to her own rehabilitation program including stretching and strengthening and focused on changing her mindset and empowering herself through training. Now, Taz is the CEO and Head Trainer of XL Personal Training where she helps others empower themselves through strength and fitness. She’s still an avid adventurer, hiker and mountaineer with her sights set on climbing Mount Everest in a couple of years, along with being a busy mum of two. Read Taz’s story below and find out more about her work at the bottom of the page.
What’s your Chronic?
My chronic is a chronic pain cycle that my body established after a car accident in 2013 which resulted in my losing the curve in my neck. The damage to the discs in my cervical spine is so extensive that it’s now a degenerative condition that will continue to deteriorate, limiting my range of movement. The most debilitating part of the whole injury is the relentless headache.
Where/when were you diagnosed?
This car accident took place when I was living in Darwin, NT. After three months of seeing a physiotherapist three times a week to try and release my neck and the associated pain, my physio said there was nothing she could do. The process to reach a diagnosis took almost four years, largely due to the insurance company’s reluctance to accept my condition.
What does being an entrepreneur mean to you?
To me, being an entrepreneur is about seeing opportunities in the business world and pioneering a career that can set a standard for others to follow. Implementing infrastructures that mean the business can continue to run without me physically needing to manage it.
What came first, the chronic or the entrepreneurism?
I have always been career focused and committed to achieving my goals, however after the car accident I became frustrated with the lack of help and that directed my personal training into rehabilitation to actively help people achieve a pain-free existence.
Did you go through any sort of 12-stages of grief with the diagnosis or take it in its stride? How did the process manifest itself? Did you immediately reassess your life?
I don’t know if I hit 12 stages. I was definitely angry, then I denied it. To be told that I would ‘never do’ what I had done previously was heartbreaking. Especially being so strong and fit – to be told I would never hike or climb was really devastating. Initially I tried to cope with the pain as best I could. I firmly believe that pain is a personality changer and no one is themselves when they are hurting. It took me roughly six months to adapt to the pain where I wasn’t on the bed in tears every day, then I started focusing on strengthening exercises in addition to the stretching exercises the physio had given me and started empowering myself to inspire others and make changes to achieve the quality of life that I wanted and that everyone should have.
Did you seek out or join organisations representing your chronic for support or did you find comfort and answers elsewhere? What would you recommend in hindsight?
I didn’t look for people who had suffered severe whiplash or chronic pain conditions. I was however very open about my experiences and found that people who had issues contacted me to discuss. That was really rewarding as I had the opportunity to provide some empathy and compassion as well as reiterate that the body is designed to heal and if a health professional wants to give up and break your spirit, they are not the health professional for you.
How have you changed, if at all, in your relationships, decisions and values?
I have become more empathetic. It is one thing to be able to ‘sympathise’ with someone in a bad situation, but when you have experienced something similar you then have the ability to relate which I have found to be really helpful. I no longer take my health and the ability to ‘bounce’ for granted. I am grateful to just have a minute without a reminder of an injury that I am determined not to define me.
What is your life philosophy and has this changed?
My philosophy in life is that your body is strong and your mind is stronger, ultimately your body will achieve what the mind believes. No pain will last forever.
What do you wish you’d known before?
I wish I had someone to explain the process of insurance companies as I found that more distressing and traumatic than the injury itself. Accidents happen and I don’t know if any information can prepare you for that, but how the situation is dealt with afterwards is critical for resolution.
Are you on any treatments? Why/why not?
I was on strong pain killers initially, however I have weened myself off them because I don’t want to stop my body telling me how it’s feeling. I think pain is an important messenger for the body to communicate how it is. If I have a major flare up and am struggling to manage it, I will take an anti-inflammatory but for the most part I manage my condition with good food, heat and a consistent stretching and strengthening rehabilitation program.
What advice do you have for others starting out on this journey?
The best advice I can give anyone diagnosed with any chronic condition is not to let it define you. It might hurt and it might be hard, but you don’t have to break down. You will find coping strategies, your pain tolerance will increase and you will find a way to empower yourself in this situation.
What is a ‘bad day’ for you?
A ‘bad day’ is when I get overwhelmed and fight with myself to get out of bed. At my maximum pain I can barely cope. I feel stressed and angry at my body and it takes me a little while to talk myself around and get back to the positive headspace I need to be in. Usually any long plane trips result in a significant flare up.
What do you do on a ‘bad day’?
On a ‘bad day’, to manage this, I ensure I am drinking enough water, applying heat to my neck and try to lower the workload to allow myself to recover. I also have a lot of head noise so I reiterate that rest is important to allow myself time to heal.
How do you deal with stress?
To destress I love going for a walk or having a laugh with friends. The exact opposite of what I do when I’m hurting. If I can be out in the sunshine I feel happy. If I can be eating good food or training hard then I feel strong and that makes me happy. I like the idea of yoga and a bath but my life isn’t conducive of that at this stage.
What do you struggle with the most?
I struggle the most with my head noise and frustration that my body can’t always do what I want it to. The headaches are especially crippling and when they are at their worst I am incapacitated so getting on top of that and managing my pain in a productive way has been a huge accomplishment. It has taken me five years to get to this point. I still have bad days, but not as many and not as bad as they were initially.
What are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of being able to inspire others to not feel as though they are defined by an injury or condition. Your condition might not get any better, but your coping strategies always can.
Who are your ‘back-up’ dancers?
My support crew are my closest friends. People I feel safe talking uncensored with or crying uncontrollably because I need to. People who I trust who are non-judgemental and completely compassionate. Thy can’t all relate, but they do all care and when I need a hug or some moral support they are always in my corner.
Best bits of being a Chronic Entrepreneur?
The best thing about being an entrepreneur with a chronic condition is that I didn’t let this beat me so as far as the business world is concerned I am virtually invincible! No challenge is so great that it cannot be overcome if you are determined to succeed.
Worst bits of being a Chronic Entrepreneur?
Conversely, it is challenging to accept moments of mortality when the condition flares up, however I use this is time to rest, reflect and then come back stronger.
Are you a 5-year planner or are you winging it?
I used to fly by the seat of my pants, now I have plans to ensure I am on track to achieve my goals. With a condition that will continue to deteriorate I have had to speed up my time scale a little to ensure I don’t ‘miss the boa’” if my body shuts down before the sand in the hour glass is out for my goals.
Dream weekend plans and have these changed?
Dream weekend? A beautiful beach retreat, maybe Phi Phi (pronounced *pee pee) islands with my two beautiful children, having a snorkel, exploring the beaches, drinking coconuts and eating so much pad thai before relaxing in hammocks and enjoying the calm of the waves and the shade of the trees in the warmth.
Previously, dream weekend plans would have been an extreme adventure weekend with lots of hiking, rock climbing, scuba diving and dancing up a storm. My body now has limits that I respect and while I can occasionally enjoy an adrenalin fix, it’s nowhere near as much as I could prior to my accident. Now I appreciate an uneventful weekend to relax and reflect.
Ultimate dinner party guests?
My dream dinner dates are with my closest friends – inclusive of anyone I train – my xlpt fitfam. It might sound dorky but, seriously, there’s a lot of respect and trust involved in sharing your journey with someone so I establish a close bond with everyone I work with. Also my gran! At 93, she has so many stories and such a wicked sense of humour. I love cooking and enjoy sharing food I have made in a comfortable environment. I enjoy eating out but I feel more comfortable at home, especially in winter.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Advice from me now to the me of the past: ALWAYS listen to your instincts. Don’t live for anyone else, you deserve to be happy and own that happiness to share with whoever you want. If anyone tries to push you down, don’t try to help them up. Walk away and focus on being the best you can.
I only have so much energy and it has taken me hitting a wall to start filtering the people I let close to me to ensure I can be the person I want to be (not someone who others can control).
What’s next?
Next up is my eight mountain summit plan to fundraise for families affected by terminal illness in NT. I have climbed Mt Kili in 2015, Mt Kozzi in 2016 and Mt Aconcagua in 2018. Three down, five to go with Mt Everest in my sights for 2020.
How can people find you?
I can be found on Instagram @Tell_it_how_it_is_Taz
Or on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/XLPTfitnessgurufromgrassroots/
Linked in: Taz Dunstan
Twitter @Dunstantaz
Let us know what you think below and share your story with us on Instagram tagging @achronicentrepreneur and using the hashtag #achronicentrepreneur.
2021 Update
I think for anyone who lives with a chronic illness, we have become more mentally and emotionally resilient/ accepting of situations largely out of our control which have been a huge advantage at a time when covid lock down has made the rest of the world prisoners in their own home, as most chronic illness sufferers have felt for the longest time pre covid.
1. What's your frame of mind like at the moment?
I am in a really good place, physically and emotionally. I have used my challenges as a springboard to showcase my strength and while some days are harder than others my mental health has played a huge role in my physical ability to adapt to the discomfort. I am still limited in my movement and cautious with anything or anyone around my neck, especially children in a downward pull but over all I FEEL REALLY GOOD.
How have you survived the pandemic?
I have not just survived during the covid pandemic, I have thrived. I finally feel as though covid has levelled the playing field and the government restrictions have forced people to empathise with the lock down so many people have suffered for years, due to chronic illness, pain, anxiety, depression or any number of mental health issues that have made people prisoners not just in their own homes, but in their own heads.
I focused my energy on gratitude and sharing my self care survival with others to encourage a more positive shift, my 7 day survival guide: "Locked down not out" has just been published and is available on google books with mind set mapping, meal plans and exercise plans to guide eople through this uncertainty with better routines to not just survive but thrive.
2. What have you learnt about yourself through this journey?
I have learnt that perception truly is everything and as frustrating as it may be to accept your powerlessness in a situation, that acceptance can be the most liberating shift. As soon as you stop fighting things out of your control and start chanelling that energy into more positive avenues, such as "getting comfortable being uncomfortable" or "cotrolling what you can when you can" the game changed and life became more poeaceful. The situation remained the same, but I became stronger and more able to deal with it in a healthier way.
How have you changed, if at all, in your relationships, decisions, what you value/your life philosophy?
As recently as 6 weeks ago, I decided "enough" I have suffered enough, more than most people can stand, and I deserve better. My children deserve better and our family deserves better. I stopped waiting for justice or the universe to right the wrongs and I took a leap of faith, I booked a flight and I changed everything.
Suddenly the fights I was having seemed trivial, so I walked away. I don't have to argue my point to smile when someone expresses their views. I can sit in silece, smile kindly and remain unpersuaded. THAT'S OKAY.
I told friends who I love and value dearly, that for the sake of our friendship I needed to remove myself from their lives for a few weeks to move beyond this block.
I set clear boundaries which I have been firm on. this has been confronting and upsetting, but thats what growth feels like, it is uncomfortable but after the tears there is a relief that follows like a cool breeze.
I have become more focused on gratitude and giving back. I have become hyper sensative to a society designed to take, take take. . . I want to bring back humility and philanthropic values of giving back and helping others for no personal gain, beyond the fulfilment of humanitarian values.
3. What modalities are in your wellness teams? E.g. chiropractors, kinesiology, acupuncture, etc... How do you manage your disease through a wellness team?
I'm really fortunate to have managed and continue to manage my own wellness and recovery. As a fitness professional who was previously too scared to work with anyone injured (due to a perception they were a liability) when I was in need and no one would help me, i became so frustrated that I decided to specialise in rehabilitation myself with the help of Rehab FX.
I then began expanding my knowledge of nutrition "food as medicine" and began a university course for natural therapies at the University of Natural Remedies in NSW. This has been postponed due to family court matters, which will hopefully be resolved soon.
I AM BLESSED TO BE SURROUNDED WITH A NETWORK OF PASSIONATE HEALTH AND FITNESS PROFESSIONALS who continue to support and encourage me. I have a life coach "Kat PAYEN-PAYNE who runs "rainbows after the rain" a naturopath "Hannas Naturopathics" and a nutritionist "Margo White".
I am also fortunate enough to have combined my knowledge with products to focus on holistic health and healing and now I have customised packs to help people achieve their own transformations, allowing their body to heal through food and self care.
