05/04/2026
Because May is both Mental Health Awareness Month and Fibromyalgia Awareness Month, I wanted to take an opportunity to be open about some of the things I have been struggling with for a long time, and what I have been learning more deeply in recent months. For the first time, I’m learning to listen to my body instead of pushing through pain, exhaustion and adrenaline.
☯️
There’s a version of me many people see: the practitioner, the healer, the one holding space, the one who keeps going. And then there is the quiet reality: living with chronic illness, navigating crushing fatigue, physical pain and mental health challenges, and learning how to build a life around healing instead of just survival.
☯️
For a long time, I kept that part of my life private, for my own protection, because invisible illness is hard to explain, and because when you’re caring for others, it can feel vulnerable to admit you’re struggling too.
☯️
But this month feels like the right time to speak more openly. Navigating illness as a practitioner has been one of the most humbling experiences of my life. I have learned after many fumbles and hard lessons that:
❤️🩹 Healing isn’t linear.
❤️🩹 Rest without guilt is productive.
❤️🩹 Boundaries mean you care.
❤️🩹 Asking for help is strength, not weakness.
❤️🩹 You can support others while still needing support yourself.
☯️
It has also made me a better practitioner. I understand chronic illness, nervous system dysregulation, invisible struggles, and mental health challenges intimately. I have experienced grief, frustration, sadness and hard days, but I’ve also learned resilience, softness and acceptance. I am sharing this for connection, advocacy and to remind anyone who needs to hear it: you’re not alone. I see you and I am you.
☯️
