Journey to Health and Wellness
As 2021 is coming to a close I have spent the last few days reflecting on the changes that have occurred throughout this year.
The beginning of the year seemed to get off to a rough start. Still, in a global pandemic, my mental and physical health wasn’t doing too well. Diagnosed with Hashimotos in August of 2019 and choosing to forsake the recommendations of the naturopath I had seen previously landed me in the most miserable state of health I’ve experienced to date. From 2019 to 2020 to 2021 I boomeranged from eating Paleo to extremely restrictive to hating diet culture and enjoying a free-for-all where food was concerned that lead me to the downward a terrible physical downward spiral.
I haven’t gotten it all figured out just yet, but I’m definitely on the mend. I returned to the advice of my naturopath, and a quasi-Paleo diet- and after many labs, many supplements, and huge dietary changes I can happily say I feel much better. Matter of fact, I think I feel better than I have in a long time.
This time of year is always so difficult for me. It seems right around November my depression really ramps up and it lingers through the winter. Seasonal affective disorder- maybe. Low Vitamin D- very likely, as it is chronically low. But, this holiday season has been better. I’ve been able to decorate the house and tree, take walks to see lights, and wrap gifts. For lots of years, I couldn’t do these things and needed a lot of help. I’m so thankful to feel better.
I’ve learned a lot of ways to improve my health. I hope to elaborate on all of that in future posts. I’ve had some life changes as well. Over the summer I decided to go back to travel nursing. I was in a major rut at home and my occupational changes shook things up seeing new places, meeting new people, and enjoying new adventures. The changes have brought on some stress, but I think it’s good stress- the kind that breaks up monotony and complacency and brings joy.
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