Rebecca’s Autoimmune Story

MEET REBECCA

I am 31 years old. I am married to my best friend and we have 3 kids. Two boys and a little girl, whom we lovingly refer to as the queen. I am a writer, self-proclaimed foodie, and #naptimeyogi. I love coffee, Jesus, and wine. Not in that order. I have worked in the training/development side of the restaurant industry for years and hospitality is my love language.

 DIAGNOSIS

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and Epstein Barr Virus in January of 2020. Even though my official diagnosis was recent, my symptoms have been quite persistent for years. Brain fog, anxiety, weight fluctuation, fatigue, joint pain, random viruses. You name it! I began my healing journey by ditching traditional medicine after being told that I was “normal” and that I just had anxiety by all the doctors I saw. I started seeing a Natural Practitioner and seeking healing from a holistic approach.

 LIFE CHANGE

It affected me as a woman and a mother for sure. My autoimmune illness was affecting my anxiety and fatigue so heavily that during really rough times, I would feel like I wasn’t myself at all. It was affecting my relationship with my kids. My fatigue had became so “normal” to me that I stopped questioning it and just thought that was the way I was supposed to feel.

 HEALING

Diet is a huge piece that I have implemented. Even seeing myself as a “clean” eater for a long time, I took it to the next level and began a grain, dairy, and refined sugar-free diet. I started implementing supplements, thyroid medicine, and stress-relieving techniques in my daily life. Along with ditching toxic and unsafe products around my house, I also removed them from what I was putting on my body. It’s a process, but I feel like we are moving in the right direction. I am really heavily focused on reducing my toxic load and nourishing/fueling my body and mind.

 STRUGGLE

I struggle with feeling like enough at times. I also struggle with my sense of accomplishment. As a type-A and type 3 enneagram, I thrive on accomplishments and success. With Hashimoto’s things take time, so it’s a bit of an internal struggle for me. This is something I still have to remind myself of daily. “You are healing,” “You are doing a great job,” are some of the mantras that I try to repeat often.

INSPIRATION

I want to see what happens when I don’t give up.

It’s been really encouraging because it reminds me that things will not change overnight, but the magic that can come from not giving up is worth the wait and my commitment.

Find Rebecca | @littlerosesblog