Digestion

When I started seeing a psychologist for my depression this past summer, I had no idea it would lead to me changing my diet. Again. I also had no idea that so many of the issues I had been dealing with led back to my digestion. I had a gut feeling something was wrong with me, but I didn’t know I was literally right.

When I explained the many and varied issues I’d been struggling with, my psychologist suggested I try to improve my digestion. I can’t say I took her advice to heart very quickly. I admitted my digestion wasn’t it’s best. It hadn’t been since The Great Gluten Incident of Aught Nine. But, I didn’t feel like I constantly had a rock in my stomach. That only happened every week or so. And, I was able to eat 3 meals a day, most of the time at least, if I picked the right foods. I am vegan and I poop three times a day, minimum. My digestion is fine! All of this depression, lack of appetite, low energy, psoriasis, social anxiety, and weird weight loss are just a part of life. OKAY?!

Luckily, I finally listened to her & started seeing a naturopath. My first naturopathic appointment was very illuminating. My naturopath spent over an hour taking notes while I talked about my symptoms as well as my life in general and in the end, the seemingly disparate issues I’d been struggling with were boiled down to two issues; my hormones and my digestion. That’s it.

We started a plan of attack to work on both of those issues. We are making headway with both. My digestion has recently improved to the point where my previous state of being is unbelievable to me while my new state of being is almost as unbelievable. How did I live like THAT then? How is my body doing THIS now? We talk about how busy we are and how we make do because we are so busy and how that often leads to not caring for ourselves or ignoring our health. But, I also think we are designed with an instinct to carry on, and sometimes we are simply carrying on because that’s what our bodies do. Sometimes we need outside perspective so we can see what we are carrying on through. I’d been carrying on through a lot.

In the five months since I started seeing my naturopath I have had changes in just about every area I was struggling with before. My mood is completely different. My ability to bounce back from difficult situations exists now. My weight is steady. My appetite…happens! I digest my food in an hour or so instead of a day or so. My baseline, my foundation, for dealing with what the heck ever is stronger and higher. My sense of humor is back. When I hope, it sticks around for awhile. I am able to redirect myself when I feel sad or troubled. I feel capable when I get home at the end of the day, instead of completely worn out. My psoriasis has improved, something I didn’t believe would ever happen. Now, I think I may have clear elbows for the first time since second grade. Mainly because of my digestion (I think some of these have some to do with my hormones, as well. But, the biggest change in all of these happened when we started improving my digestion).

Since I started on this journey, I’ve noticed news articles that suggest other people are discovering what I’ve discovered. Digestion is key. If you don’t’ absorb what you eat, you will suffer. Because, you are what you eat, y’all.