Healing Ourselves
We are all looking for “a quick fix,” and most of the time it doesn’t go as planned. When we seek to master our health, quick fixes rarely work. We can heal if we are willing to dig deep, hold ourselves accountable, and explore!
Humans have evolved and this progression has led us from the caves to creating exquisite communities. We are still hard-wired with primal instinct and this instinct is vital for survival. Now, we are using this same wiring for our current reality, which is working overtime. As humans progress, we no longer need our primal brain to protect us from animal predators, however, it is still in use in the modern era triggered by different stimuli. We still face the predator, yet it may be a car with an inattentive driver or someone running out before you. After severe enough events, there can be everlasting scars left.
We are more than ever at the forefront of major changes in how we heal ourselves. We have so much information at our fingertips. We must try different cures and learn to tailor our health regimen to fit our needs. This can be exhausting and make us want to give up. Healing is not easy! Unfortunately, the longer we wait to try possible remedies, the more we lose sight of how we want to feel, how it feels to not hurt, or, worse, to succumb to dis-ease using topical measures that may assist in alleviating pain in the moment and which may cause worse long-term damage.
My Turning Point
As a volunteer EMT, when the pager rang, I ran! I could be at home waiting for calls, and we had to be in the rig within five minutes of a call. Luckily, I lived about five blocks away and could be there within two minutes.
On one call, I was too weak to lift our portable monitor. I grabbed for the grab bar on the rig’s passenger side, lost my footing, and nearly dropped the monitor! This was bizarre and I didn’t have time for it, so I brushed it off and focused on my patient. A couple of calls later, we were paged out to a lake property late in the evening. There were about 100 yards of terrain-built stairs. I was completely out of breath when we reached the bottom of the stairs. I took a second and got to work on our patient. We got him loaded on the cot and three of us attempted to get him up the 100 yards of stairs and into our rig. I was shot, yet again I brushed it off.
Soon, I lost about 40 pounds in three months (for the normal person this would have been a blessing). I was drinking copious amounts of fluid and could eat all day and was still hungry. My hair was falling out in sheets. I could not sleep for more than a couple of hours at a time. I was exhausted. I realized that I was also losing muscle mass! I was out of breath very quickly. I was also very stubborn! I was too busy to make an appointment.
I was a mom, and a wife, and had the privilege to serve my community as a volunteer EMT. I didn’t have time for nonsense, and the idea of being sick had little effect on me. I had to push forward and I had to keep going because my livelihood depended on it. I was steadily becoming sicker and didn’t want to admit I couldn’t make it all balance anymore.
My Healing Journey
During one of my interactions with the local ER, I was asked by the doctor on call if I was trying to lose weight. I said no and described my symptoms. She made an appointment to see me the following Monday. This started my healing journey! I had survived many big traumas by this point. I was about to understand exactly what was in store for me because I allowed myself to ignore my basic needs.
I was diagnosed with three autoimmune diseases within a few weeks of the initial diagnosis. I was not satisfied with the options given to me by my endocrinologist. I met with many doctors, and one took me by the hand and gave me hope. She gave me a list of resources, books, and modalities that might help with the severity of my symptoms. I fortunately already had some experience with metaphysical, and I was now on a journey to find healing and myself.
A New Age deep dive was so enticing to me; I was learning that none of these practices were exactly new, just new in modern times. I started to approach meditation. This was a fun step for me. I loved guided meditation as I could see every image in my meditation and make it feel real. I found one that gave me a safe place to go into my mind when stressed out. I played it over and over.
I changed my diet and attempted to rebalance my body. There were improvements. Paired with medication, I was feeling better yet still was not myself. I needed to adjust my life and make some major changes. I was listening to the voice inside of me crying for help to fix my internal issues from years of stress, trauma, and lack of self-care. I was living on autopilot.
Since 2017, I have worked with many modalities, and have had many highs and lows along my journey. I did not give up. I knew I could get back to a version of myself that I would love! I met with many doctors and practitioners who used different modalities. I took the advice of each with grace. Practice doesn’t exactly make perfect! I learned each modality offered and read everything I could to get my hands on. I needed a complete lifestyle change.
Meditation and introducing energy therapy using crystals helped me pinpoint the areas in my body that were struggling. I decided to take a friend up on her offer for a massage. She used several oils, and after just a short time of smelling the sweet aroma, my body was relaxed and my mind opened to the power of plant medicine. Then, as she worked on my body, she explained again how the years of not dealing with my pain had left me feeling this way. I was already a couple of years into my journey, and asked myself, “How am I still in such a poor state?” I was shaking. Then I tried cranial sacral healing, and the emotions flowed through me, I was experiencing the power of another human laying their hands on me and bringing healing.
Digging Deeper
Digging deeper, I decided to assist others on their healing journey. I was unsure how it would happen, so I continued to study. I also continued to uncover the layers in my own journey. Later, I added yoga, EFT tapping, reiki, art therapy, and many different types of meditation. I was then ready for the teacher; as they say, the teacher arrives when the student is ready. I found an interesting ad for a college called The Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, researched it, and found that the ideals and teachings aligned perfectly with my values. I have learned so much and was extremely excited to continue this journey.
It has been seven years of growing learning, experimenting, and practicing holistic wellness. I remember I must be mindful of what my body needs. No one else is going to know exactly what my body craves. Practicing every day takes time and love, and I will not give up on myself. I can now love my body in a way I had never experienced before. I am still seeking knowledge every day! I want to use my journey to assist others in their journey toward healing!
What are the exact steps to healing? I cannot say that honestly! It is all about learning, and trial and error! We can use intuition to figure out what will work for us. There is no magic wand that works for everyone. I suggest you explore, study, and use your intuition to find your own healing path.