Cheryl Hickey opens up about how a heart scare changed her: 'I’m a different person'
The Canadian TV host is emphasizing knowing her stress signals and placing self-care at the forefront.
Cheryl Hickey is detailing her path to prioritizing self-care.
On Thursday, the "ET Canada" host took to Instagram with a carousel of candid photos from 2018 paired with a detailed story about an intense heart health scare she experienced that year.
The 47-year-old underscored the significance of understanding stress signals and placing self-care at the forefront.
"In 2018, my stress was an 11/10," Hickey shared, before confessing to not honouring her own needs and not advocating for herself at the time.
I let myself down by having zero boundaries and not standing up for myself.Cheryl Hickey
The turning point came during a day spent with her children. "After 11 days of late nights and long days, I was spending the day with the kids swimming when my heart took off," she penned. "I struggled to get from the deep end to the shallow end, all the while instructing the kids to get out of the pool! That was my main focus before passing out."
The urgency of the situation was palpable, as she fought through the rapid heartbeat to ensure her children's safety — even in her state of panic. However, things escalated, necessitating immediate medical intervention.
"We were just over 200 beats per minute for well over 2 hours now," Hickey recalled.
Ultimately, medical professionals were able to rule out any issues with her heart and attributed the episode to stress.
This revelation caused a profound shift in her perspective, Hickey admitted. Self-care is now something she takes very seriously.
"Listen to your body, honour yourself. Boundaries are not a bad thing," the Canadian TV personality wrote.
"In 2023, I’m a different person now... I knew I was pushing it too far that year," she added.
"I knew I didn't stand up for myself in many professional areas and in some big personal ones, and the toll that took cost me, and nearly cost my family."
I didn't stand up for myself in many professional areas and in some big personal ones.Cheryl Hickey
Nowadays, her journey toward healing involves optimizing her sleep, managing stress, and seeking assistance when needed. "Put you first so you can be all the things you need and want to be for others," she advised.
In the comments, fans shared supportive messages and applauded Hickey's vulnerability.
"Thank you for your openness and your vulnerability," an Instagram user wrote.
"Thank you so much for being real and raw," another person added.
A fan commented: "We are required to do too many things today. Be all things at all times, online and off, and it’s just nuts. Thanks for sharing this. You are helping many many people."
"What a terribly scary time for you and your family. I’m so happy you’re okay," someone else chimed in.
In September 2022, the mom-of-two shared an Instagram post thanking hospital staff for wearing COVID-protective gear.
"This fashion Friday I want to highlight all the long-term care nurses, doctors, and all healthcare staff," she stated. "When we all get to wear the work clothes of our choice, these dedicated people are double and triple wrapped in plastic and cloth, sweating, making it happen."
"Tension headaches from the masks, marks from the glasses, and shields on their foreheads. Perspective is everything," she wrote, acknowledging the privilege she has of dressing fashionably for work.
"I say thank you for the warm eyes behind all the protective gear. Those eyes are the best OOTD there is," she concluded.
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