Yup, I’m goin’ there. Have you ever seen something in passing and the thought crosses your mind “maybe I should do something with this?” Then life goes on, you get sidetracked and forget, then something similar shows up again? And, again? Then you KNOW you have to act on it, right? Well, thus this post.
Funny thing is I don’t mind talking about PTSD. In some ways it is therapeutic and if it can help others who might have or have had PTSD, so be it. I’m all for sharing to help others! These are some things that have been on my heart for sometime and I’m finally getting them out there. If you note the date, yes, I am writing this on my birthday. I’m also ok with that. They say you make time for what is important to you. Well, this is important to me, or I wouldn’t be taking time to write it now! Without further adieu……
A few days ago, a friend posted this picture on facebook. Interesting, right? Since I’m a processor, I’ve been thinking about this for a few days…..the saying “heal the gut, heal the brain came to mind.” Which then made me think back to where that all started. Right before we moved to Sioux Falls from Champaign, Lauren was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder {SPD} and food intolerances to wheat and dairy. When we got to Sioux Falls, we were connected with an awesome chiropractor who helped get us straightened out – got Lauren on a good probiotic, helped us make a few more dietary tweaks, helped us with some OT stuff, that kind of thing. She is also the one who told me “heal the gut, heal the brain,” and taught me about how our gut affects so much of our health. This picture reflects that.
Fast forward to February 2014, enter a whole foods way of living. This was the major step for me, I believe. Prior to this, I discovered I also had gluten and dairy issues, so had cut those out. I was also cutting out some processed foods, had cut out pop, but still wasn’t doing as well as I could be. This way of eating changed my life. That sounds dramatic, I realize, but it did. For the first time really in a LONG time, I felt alive again. I had energy and could handle life and the situations that came my way….hello, I’m a parent! I noticed my fog began to lift, my depression started to ease, my anger was fading, anxiety was going, I was a new person! It was amazing! I can only share my experiences and what cutting out gluten, sugar and eating whole foods and exercise have done for me. I’m a believer!
It’s interesting, with the roadtrips we have taken this year, I have splurged on them. Ya know, Garrett’s’ caramel corn in Chicago, that sort of thing. Every time we have taken a road trip and I have had sugar/gluten/dairy, I become a very angry person a few days later. That is the only common denominator with my anger is the food. {You better believe I avoided this at Thanksgiving!!! And, the ride home was much better!} Once again, I am seeing the connection of how food affects our minds.
So, mind you, all this is going through my mind, then a friend posts this the other day. An article called “The Real Cause of Depression May Have Nothing at All to Do With Your Mind”
The link is here:
The changes ~ a supernatural touch from God and cleaning up my diet and incorporating exercise! That’s it! So if you wanna know why I’m so passionate about this, now you know! It’s not about weight loss, it never has been for me! That’s can be a by product, which some folks need, yes. But for me, this is about helping others be healthy, healed and whole, the way God made us to be. He didn’t intend for us to abuse our bodies and put all this junk into them that we do, friends. Please hear my heart here, if you are struggling and are looking for someone to come alongside you and help, I’d love to help. You are worth it! Your family is worth you being healthy and around to ENJOY them! One thing that might be helpful is my guide on How to Kick Sugar to the Curb. You can download a copy by clicking on the link.
