“Owning your story is the bravest thing you will ever do.” -Brene Brown

Hey Love,

You might be wondering how I went from being chronically ill and bedridden to starting the journey of entrepreneurship with a passion for helping other women overcome their chronic illness. Follow along to read my journey!

The Beginning

It all began with one bite — I was a college student living in a dorm. One day, I woke up to find a large rash on my arm, that I would later find out was called erythema migrans, AKA a bulls-eye rash. Thinking nothing of it at the time, I continued moving through my day, going to class, and working towards my dream of becoming a physical therapist. After a few days, it disappeared and I didn’t think about that rash again for years.

As time passed, I started feeling less like myself. I was having anxiety and panic attacks, extreme fatigue, and negative reactions to foods I had eaten my entire life. I searched for answers but was often told “it’s all in your head” suggesting that I was crazy and that nothing was physically wrong with me. Anxiety meds were thrown my way and I was expected to move on with life as if nothing was wrong.

So I did. I had big dreams and goals and I continued to push through. I moved across the country with my (now) husband to attend a doctorate program in physical therapy. New symptoms continued popping up and became so severe that one month in, I withdrew from my program and ended up bedridden. It turns out, ignoring my body’s screams for help wouldn’t work forever.

The Darkness

This was rock bottom. I felt out of control, hopeless, helpless, sad, depressed, defeated, angry, fearful — you name it, I felt it. I believed that life as I knew it was over and I would live like this shell of a human forever.

Throughout this time I received treatments for Lyme Disease, Co-infections, Epstein-Barr Virus, Chronic fatigue, SIBO, Candida, Leaky Gut & Digestive symptoms, Adrenal Fatigue, Food Allergies, Histamine Intolerance, Anxiety & Depression, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and more. I was in pain. Exhausted. Confused. Lost.

I went to multiple doctors, tried hundreds of treatments, medications, supplements, and therapies, yet I continued to be severely ill. Something was missing.

At the same time, my younger sister was battling chronic illnesses similar to mine and I was living in a constant state of sadness and anger.

→ “Why is this happening to me, to us?”

**The Pivotal Moment**

I flipped the script. One day, I stood up and said “enough is enough!”

I felt a deep fire within me to fight for my sister and I. It felt like if I didn’t figure something out, nobody would.

This is when **Conquer from Within** became my motto.

I knew I had to do the inner work in order to heal and I needed to be my own advocate.

I followed my instincts and found a new doctor with a new treatment that shifted my perspective of health, hope, and life. Still, a piece was missing. Treatment took a toll on me mentally and physically, and I didn’t have guidance for getting through it. I realized that doctors (even holistic ones) would not be my fix all.

It was up to me to support my body 90% of the time, while the treatment from the doctor was there to support me for the other 10%.

These realizations are when I took a deeper dive into the wellness world. I wondered if there was a profession that supported people with aspects of healing that aren’t touched on with a doctor. That’s when I found the health coaching field.

I continued learning and when I came across a Health and Wellness Coaching program at Maryland University of Integrative health I knew deep down “This is it!” And my career path shifted, right there in the middle of my chronic illness crisis. I would not only learn how to help myself, and my sister, but also be in a position to help thousands of other women overcome the overwhelm of chronic illness!

The Light

As I went through my new treatment and began the Health Coaching program, I learned that…

→ True healing is multidimensional and is certainly not one-size fits all.

Healing is much more than physical. It’s a combination of nutrition, movement, self-care, sleep, mindset, healthy environment, relationships and more. All of these work together to create an environment for the human body to reach optimal health.

Learning this, I essentially created my own home treatment plan, incorporating small changes in the various areas of wellness. I was committed and determined to do whatever it took to heal.

The biggest shift in my journey is when I started the internal work.

I turned to yoga and meditation to shift my perspective and embrace my circumstance, to accept the new habits that have become my daily routine and advocate for myself. Learning to love myself and my body. And let me tell you, it made all the difference!

This awakening and the healthy lifestyle habits I created finally allowed me to arrive in a space where I felt so much better. Instead of being in a state of fear and stress, my body learned that it was safe. I experienced more peace. My nervous system started to calm down, and I began to feel better.

Support

Throughout my journey, I often wished that I had a health coach — someone to be there to guide me step-by-step through the journey of chronic illness, instead of having to figure it all out on my own. Someone who would listen, guide, and shed light on new perspectives and tools.

I was lucky to have my husband as one of my biggest supporters and champions who helped

me research and learn. But we still had to do all the work on our own.

Everyone needs a guide and supporter. Someone outside of their immediate circle who can hold unconditional positive regard. Someone who knows what the journey is like on the inside. I am committed to being that for you so you can navigate chronic illness with less overwhelm and more peace.

From one chronic illness warrior to another, you can find peace in healing.