From 'I Don't Want to Be Here' to Running 85 Marathons: Sally Orange MBE | E30

In this episode of P.S I Love Me, Lynda is joined by Sally Orange MBE: mental health campaigner, endurance athlete (85 marathons and counting), and former British Army Major who spent 22 years serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps before being medically discharged due to depression and chronic anxiety. Sally shares what it was like going from “Major Sally Orange” to “just Sally” overnight, and how losing her career forced her to rebuild her identity from the ground up.They explore the stigma that still surrounds mental health, why so many high-achieving people are brilliant at supporting others, but struggle to receive help themselves, and why speaking up is one of the bravest things you can do. Sally also explains how movement became her lifeline from a place of darkness, and how running marathons dressed as fruit became a powerful conversation starter that made mental health more visible, accessible, and less scary to talk about.The conversation also covers Sally’s experience of breast cancer, the strange invisibility of illness, and what resilience actually looks like when life hits hard. If you’ve ever felt like you’re holding it together on the outside while falling apart on the inside, this one is for you.To learn more about Lynda and her transformative coaching check out: https://www.lyndawilliamscoaching.com/homeConnect with Lynda on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyndawilliamscoach/Follow Lynda on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndajw/Join her Evolved Woman Program: https://www.lyndawilliamscoaching.com/lwc-evolved-woman-programCheck out Sally via her website: https://www.sallyorange.com/If you are struggling with your mental health, please explore the following resources:Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/Stay Safe: https://stayingsafe.net/Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/need-urgent-help/what-can-i-do-to-help-myself-cope/ 🌟 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment! Share this episode with someone who needs to hear: you don’t have to be in crisis to deserve support.The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding any health concerns or before making changes to your wellness routine.You Will Hear:• What it’s like losing your identity overnight after leaving the military• Depression and chronic anxiety vs the common PTSD assumption• Why we wait for crisis with mental health (the “learn to swim in a storm” analogy)• “Movement is medicine”: starting with tiny steps and building momentum• Resilience without toxic positivity: honesty, recovery, and bouncing back• Cancer and mental illness as “invisible” experiences, and why appearances deceive• Suicide prevention, asking for help, and why speaking up mattersKey Moments:00:00 – Coming Up01:10 – Lynda introduces Sally Orange MBE and her story03:09 – 22 years in the Army, discharge, and the PTSD misconception04:08 – The Army as identity, purpose, and community: “Major Sally Orange to Sally”05:28 – Why hiding struggles blocks support: “how can people help if they don’t know?”07:35 – “You wouldn’t learn to swim in a storm”: build tools before crisis hits10:10 – How marathons began: movement, tiny steps, then big goals11:14 – Fruit costumes, world records, and why humour opens real conversations18:49 – Cancer and mental illness are often invisible: don’t judge the cover19:44 – Running an ultramarathon through chemo dressed as a giant boob24:11 – MID-ROLL AD: The Evolved Woman programme30:02 – “I’d never speak to others the way my head speaks to me”35:17 – Cancer as an “Ironman”: break it down into stages, not a whole year42:01 – “Time of my life”: removing pressure from running and performance47:43 – Gratitude journalling and rewiring perspective without toxic positivity52:11 – Where to find Sally online52:34 – Lynda’s closing reminder: it’s okay not to be okay