OVER DEZE AFLEVERING
What happens when you do everything “right” and it still isn’t enough to protect your health?
In this powerful episode of SoulShift, Ali, Mindy, and Christine sit down with Tara Benoit, a former CEO, elite athlete, functional wellness practitioner, and author of Torn Heart, to explore what can happen when years of high achievement, stress, trauma, and pushing beyond your limits eventually catch up with the body.
At 46, Tara experienced a rare SCAD heart attack—spontaneous coronary artery dissection—despite spending decades prioritizing fitness, nutrition, and her health. Her experience forced her to confront a profound loss of trust in her body, the grief of losing the life she knew, and the realization that strength isn't always about pushing harder.
Tara shares how her recovery led her to look beyond isolated symptoms and understand the interconnected nature of the body, including the relationship between stress, the nervous system, gut health, hormones, and overall well-being. She also opens up about menopause, trauma, PTSD, and the identity shifts that can accompany a major health crisis.
Most importantly, Tara speaks about the importance of listening to your body, advocating for yourself, finding the right healthcare team, and using your voice when something doesn't feel right. Her story is ultimately one of transformation—from fear and loss of control to deeper self-trust, purpose, and hope.
In This Episode, We Discuss:
- Tara's journey from elite athlete and CEO to surviving a SCAD heart attack at 46
- What happens when a lifetime of high achievement comes at a biological cost
- The loss of trust in your body after a major health event
- How trauma, chronic stress, and years of pushing through can affect the body
- The connection between the brain, gut, hormones, and nervous system
- Why symptoms can sometimes be dismissed or treated in isolation
- The difference between conventional and functional medicine approaches
- Navigating menopause alongside a major health crisis
- Grieving the loss of your former identity and learning who you are now
- Why listening to your body's signals matters
- Advocating for yourself when you feel dismissed by the healthcare system
- Finding the courage to use your voice and ask for the care you need
- Turning a life-altering experience into a mission to help other women
- Rebuilding hope, self-trust, and a stronger relationship with your body
Tara emphasizes that women should not dismiss symptoms that feel wrong or assume they're being dramatic or overthinking. Her own experience of seeking care repeatedly before receiving a diagnosis became a major part of her mission to encourage women to advocate for themselves.
Today, Tara helps high-performing women better understand their health and become stronger from the inside out. Her mission is to ensure that no woman feels dismissed, diminished, or left behind in her own body.
She is the author of Torn Heart and has used her experience to advocate for women with SCAD and inspire greater awareness and support.
Connect With Tara
Website: www.tarabenoit.com
Instagram: @tarabenoitofficial
LinkedIn: Tara Benoit
Facebook: Tara Benoit Inspires
TikTok: @tarabenoitinspires
YouTube: Tara Benoit Official
Her book, Torn Heart, is available on Amazon in Kindle, hardcover, and paperback formats.
Resources & Links:
- Explore Mindy’s work at www.thefreedompromise.com
- Connect with Ali at www.aliandersonwellness.com
- Learn more about Christine at www.radiantheart.health
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✨ Let’s shift — gently, together. ✨
