Like you, I too suffered from numerous unexplained physical and emotional symptoms like fatigue, depression, brain fog, hair loss, infertility, gut problems (to name a few). After many years I was finally diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. But although I had an answer, I was still pretty lost.
I went through a lot of doctors after that initial diagnosis. The more I learned, the more I became aware of the fact that Hashi’s is more of a gut problem than anything – the thyroid is just an innocent bystander – and that many conventional doctors aren’t trained to dig down and find root causes to autoimmune issues.
I learned that healing the gut is paramount, and that diet is key. I revamped and reworked my diet, sleep habits, and lifestyle, following the Auto-Immune Protocol (AIP). The AIP was a life saver for me.
I feel better today than I did 10 years ago. So for those of you who don’t feel well just resorting to thinking “oh I’m just getting older” – don’t believe it! Lies, I tell you, all lies!
Yes, I worked my butt off to get where I am today. Yes, I had a lot of ups and downs and setbacks and frustrations along the way. But the day I started on this “healing journey” is the day I stopped being sick and started healing. Did I get well overnight? Heck no – I did it with baby steps, slowly adjusting diet, lifestyle, and addressing emotional issues and other root causes as they became apparent.
I spent about 6 years in therapy as I was going through these health issues to address some of that emotional trauma. Doing so revived a love of psychology I have held deep inside of me for eons, and a few years ago I decided to pursue health and nutrition coaching. The training I have received from the Kresser Institute’s Health Coach program (I am an ADAPT Certified Functional Health Coach or A-CFHC)as well as my time spent studying for the National Board exam (I am now a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach or NBC-HWC) has enabled me to grow as a person in ways I did not know were possible. I am truly excited to be able to help others grow in this same manner, to learn the ins and outs of lasting behavior change.
I’m thankful for the help I received from the lovely Mods and Admins over at Hashimoto’s 411 on Facebook when I was first diagnosed. Without the information gleaned from that group and its amazing database of information, I don’t know where I’d be.
To learn about what a health and wellness coach can do for you, check out this post for a brief explanation of what coaching is – and isn’t. For more information about functional medicine, see this post.
If you would like to work with me one-on-one, you can schedule your Complimentary Session here.
I look forward to joining you on your journey – welcome!
Sandy
![In the coming days and weeks, I’ll be sharing some tips and tricks to help you get unstuck - no matter the circumstances of your stuck-ness.
This is the second in a series - if you missed the previous post, see my blog (link in bio).
Here’s the first tip:
Get in touch with your body.
Stop for a moment and check in. Where are you holding tension right now? Some common places we hold tension are:
the jaw
the neck
the gut
the shoulders
Or there might be pain somewhere, like a headache, backache, eyestrain/pain, etc.
I invite you to notice this pain or tension.
Be with it. Breathe into it. Relax into it.
Getting in touch with your body is a brilliant way of not only teaching yourself how to relax but also helps you to be present.
And becoming present creates S P A C E. And within that space there is an opportunity to see what is needed.
So: what is that physical symptom telling you that you need? Don’t overthink this!
SOMEthing usually comes up, like:
I need to rest
I need to let go of [XYZ]
I need to get outside
I need to exercise
I need a good cry (this happens often in real time during my coaching sessions!)
Once that need is met, some things might clear up. You might not get completely unstuck, but there is usually a shift that takes place or a relaxing that happens.
The pic of me is when I just woke up from a nap. I was working and feeling stuck.
I checked in and realized I was freaking exhausted. I needed rest, so closed my eyes for a few minutes before getting back to my computer.
You're not seeing the "before" photo, but trust me: what a difference a few minutes of rest make!
(and my hair always looks better after I sleep on it lol)
One thing to note:
Getting in touch with the physical body might be really REALLY hard for some people.
I invite you to be super gentle, and practice this technique with “nonjudgemental curiosity”, and let me know how it goes!
#stuck #struggle #stugglebus #rest #physical #tension #pain #tipstrickstools #swansoncoaching #lifecoach #holisticcoach #wellnesscoach](https://autoimmunenutritioncoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/435120410_964353791722252_2190116072632110028_n.jpg)
![Something I experience in my coaching sessions every day is seeing people who feel “stuck”.
Stuck in a job they don’t like.
Stuck after graduating from college, working their dream job, not knowing what’s next.
Stuck not knowing what to do now that the kids have left home.
Stuck in a relationship that is no longer serving them.
Stuck in not knowing what to do regarding that big decision looming over them.
Many times these clients say “I just need more tools in my life to figure this out, then I’ll be good”. They want “tips, tools, or tricks” to help them get unstuck.
In other words, they want information.
The thing is, there’s a sh*t-ton of information out there. Any answers we desire are at our fingertips thanks to the interwebs.
So why are we always so stuck?!
Information doesn’t help one get unstuck. It can be a starting point, but information alone will not get one unstuck.
Doing the [sometimes hard] inner work is what gets you unstuck.
Understanding yourself, your beliefs, your emotions, your body, how you think and act the way you do - and *why* you are doing any of it - including being stuck - is imperative to get unstuck.
And this is what coaching is all about. To help you better understand yourself so you can make different choices moving forward.
Over the coming days and weeks, I’m going to share with you some things I discuss with my clients in the first or second session to help them better understand themselves and how they move through this world.
This awareness helps them become UNstuck.
Yeah, they might be called “tips and tricks and tools”, and you can absolutely self-coach yourself using them. It is sometimes easier with a facilitator (e.g. a coach, therapist, or spiritual advisor), but if you are willing to go deep on your own and be honest with yourself, I invite you to play around with these techniques.
So stay tuned!
In the meantime:
Are you feeling stuck?
What has helped YOU get unstuck?
Would love to hear from you.
#stuck #struggle #strugglebus #lifecoach #holisticoach #tipstrickstools #swansoncoaching](https://autoimmunenutritioncoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/434572858_963909818433316_8140446297598528977_n.jpg)