Having TMJD (or temporomandibular joint dysfunction/disorder) can be really lonely...
I know.
I dealt with it for over 5 years. Each day, I would go to class (during college). I would sing for 20 minutes, only to be in intense neck/shoulder, jaw discomfort for the whole rest of the day. On those precious weekend days when I chose not to do any singing for my studies (I was a vocal music major), I relished each hour of less issues (though still using an ice pack on my face to fall asleep), dreading the coming of Monday when my week of tension and aching and pain would return. I sometimes cried just thinking about it. (And at the time, I hated crying... I still don't enjoy it, but now, I've learned it's okay and good to cry.)
I even tried little tiny magnets taped to my face to bring some relief on those worst days. And they helped... a tiny bit. It was worth a try anyway.
Honestly, it was awful.
Why? Not just because of the hurt...
But because I questioned the career I was so passionately pursuing, the career I felt called to with every fiber of my being, the career where I could share the joy of making music with others.
Not just because of the hurt...
But because no one else understood. I was deeply lonely.
Most people didn't even know I was hurting at all! It's not visible... it's not even a disability or something for which you can get accommodations. I felt alone in this.
My closest friends and I named my jaw "Doris," so we could blame the cranky day on Doris. So we could say, 'Doris doesn't like the rainy weather,' or 'Doris went on a roller coaster today...' And I could share a sliver of my experience with those few close friends - without feeling like a big whiner and complainer, because that is just not who I am!
TMJD is not well understood even by most doctors, dentists, orthodontists, and oral surgeons. Again, I felt alone in seeking help, because they tried to give me shallow bandaids rather than digging to the root of the issues.
How can this be in 2020?
Well, because many different things can cause it or aggravate it or bring it to the surface. Root issues look different for many different people.
So now I sit and watch the conversations in the online support groups happen... how so many people feel jaded and lost and lonely and frustrated and having horrible days, spending thousands of dollars on treatments professionals claim will work, because it is such an evasive issue.
TMJD is much like a snowflake -- a bit different for everyone, and no two manifestations of it look identical.
Truth.
But what I've come to realize as I sit here 4 years later, in my place of privilege regarding what almost feels like a distant nightmare now, from the other side...
Is that people really just need joy. They need light. They need HOPE! They need to know there IS light at the end of the tunnel, that hurting does not have to be the end of the story. They need to know that freedom is possible.
If you, friend, are dealing with this beast, please know you're not alone. If you have a family member fighting this daily battle, they are not alone. You need to know that there ARE other options, there ARE natural, safe, non-invasive options. Will they be guaranteed to work? No. Is it a quick fix? In my experience, no.
Whether you have insurmountable amounts of hurt or just some tightness and a little discomfort...
I want you to feel seen and heard and known. I don't want you to feel alone.
What I do know, is that this journey to wellness, to physical and mental and emotional wellness and change of mindset is WORTH it. If you would have told me 4 years ago that I'd feel better today than I did when I was 17, I'd have laughed at you! Really?!
Really.
There is hope.
If you need a listening ear... if you need to see the light at the end of the dark tunnel.... if you need to hear of other options because you feel jaded and alone and frustrated...
I am here. ❤️ You are not alone.
I cherish the opportunity to be that listening ear and light for those around me. I'd love to be that for you, too, really. Truly! You are welcome here. I've also shared more of my TMJD journey here if that would bless you. That's my goal -- love and blessing!
You know those creepy crawlies that are found in the garden, around the home...? The ants and potato beetles, or worse... ticks?
We use a natural plant-based and non-toxic DIY Bugs-B-Gone spray in our home (read to the end for the recipe!) because we know how unpleasant some of those insect friends are.
We initially were concerned about finding natural alternatives because 1) we know ticks in particular but also mosquitoes are a problem, but also 2) we know the dangers of yard sprays and deet in particular. You can read more about the dangers of that here. My family is especially concerned about the environmental impact of sprays on bees, fish, and other wildlife aside from our children and pets.
My mom started using our DIY spray recipe on the family dog because he's always getting ticks. She started using it a few weeks ago. The week before, she'd found 3 on him! Since using the spray, she hasn't found one yet. Pretty good!
We also know that some people are not just irritated by mosquitoes, but actually allergic! That is especially important to be aware of. Finding safe alternatives for people with skin sensitivities is also really important. I (Andrea) have many sensitivities, skin and respiratory being two of them, and the ingredients in our spray and roller recipes pass the tests with flying colors.
Get our free DIY Bugs-B-Gone spray recipes for home and garden here!
DIY Insect Repellent Roller Recipe
10 drops citronella essential oil (this one was free in June for ER orders!)
10 drops lemongrass essential oil
5 drops rosemary essential oil
Add essential oils above to a 10 ml roller bottle (you can find some here) and fill with a carrier oil of choice (our favorite one is here).
*It is very important to know that not all essential oils are created equal...
You can’t just go out to a big box store (or anywhere online) and trust that you’re getting the good stuff. Lucky for you, I’ve got a source I trust. Contact me for more information.
And learn how to use essential oils safely here!
*Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links. All things I love and use, of course!
What are essential oils?
They are considered the lifeblood, the most powerful part of the plant.
They are distilled from shrubs, flowers, trees, roots, bushes, fruit, rinds, resins, and herbs.
Oils consist of hundreds of different natural, organic compounds.
In humans, they provide support for every system in the body: your skeletal system, muscular system, circulatory system, endocrine system, hormones, respiratory system, and immune system. They support brain health and a healthy weight. They are used extensively for spiritual support in prayer life, as well as emotional support.
They have been used for thousands of years as beauty aids.
An oil in a diffuser can soothe a child’s tough day at school, and provide a calming effect when you’ve had a stressful day at work. Oils can be used as an alternative to cleaning chemicals in the home.
You can literally start swapping out every single toxic chemical in your home to live a purer lifestyle; and you can do it without breaking the bank!
I used to buy my Lavender online, at farmer’s markets, or at bulk foods stores.
In the United States, there is no rating system for essential oils. It would be wonderful if there were because then you’d know exactly what you were buying!
If you walk into a grocery store and look at a box of cereal, you’ll see nutrition facts on the side. There are no “nutrition facts” on the side of oils. That means you have to trust the source. You have to know the company you are purchasing from. How oils impact our emotions and bodies is a really important reason to get the purest, since not all oils are created equal. You can learn more about that here in this blog post.
Thankfully, you do not need to be an aromatherapist to use them. Not sure where to get started?
Check out this free guide for using oils made easy!
The last two weeks have been emotional and a big deal for our whole world, not to mention specifically my state and city of Minneapolis, MN right now. I'd be lying if I didn't acknowledge the hurt I'm seeing from ALL sides -- my black brothers and sisters, my friends who are law enforcement or have law enforcement in their families, business owners, my other friends of color, friends who are religiously and culturally different from me....
It's a painful moment to be alive in the world.
But it is also one of the BEST times to be alive, to be part of the change.
NEVER give up hope that positive change is coming, whether that is societal change, health change, mindset change, job change, friend change... Instead of worrying about whether change will come, be active in making that dream a reality. BE the change. ❤️
That being said...
It's OKAY to cry. Actually, it's not just okay.
It is GOOD to cry. Why?
4 Reasons It's GOOD to Cry
1) Emotional tears contain higher levels of stress hormones than do reflex tears (when you get something in your eye, for example). What does this mean? Our bodies are naturally regulating and releasing excess stress hormones so that we don't have problems of too much stress. Emotional tears also are said to contain more mood-regulating hormones than other types of tears. Helping our hormones balance naturally is important for these regulations to happen.
2) Crying activates the parasympathetic nervous system, helping restore the body to a state of balance. I don't know about you, but I'm all about balance in the body. Especially during times of change and uncertainty, it's important to strive for balance.
3) Some psychologists even say that we're doing ourselves a disservice by NOT tearing up on a regular basis. Crying in a healthy setting shows we are able to let down our defenses, let down our guard, and in that context, it can be a very healthy thing for our body, a process of opening ourselves up in a different way.
4) Crying shows our humanity. It shows we are connecting with others and relating on a level that we don't always understand (and frankly, we don't have to). I believe crying is a deep part of being human.
I know crying is very uncomfortable for some (goodness, it's taken me a VERY long time to be okay with crying, regardless of the reason why), but I think it brings so much healing when we're able to learn to be real with ourselves, to be open and honest, to let our guard down and cry when we feel we need it (or even if we mentally don't want to, but our bodies need it).
So there you have it! Lean into the tears, dear friends. Lean into the discomfort. Change is coming... I pray real, lasting change. I'm here for you.
Need someone to lean on and listen, like I described above? I cherish the opportunity to do that for those around me. I'd love to be that for you, too, really. Truly! And I have a group of like-minded people who love to do this for me and one another, too. You're welcome to join us here. I also have a 30 Days to Balance & Clarity growth group digging deep and leaning into one another for support and growth on this mindset/emotions journey as we learn to balance our hormones naturally and support all of our body systems. Learn more about that here.
Bay leaves (laurus nobilis) have been used for centuries to season food, but how else are they beneficial?
- Bay leaves may be beneficial when dealing with dandruff.
- Bay leaves might help with gas.
- Bay leaves can be good for skin.
- Bay leaves may good for our joints.
Fun facts about bay leaves:
- Don't ingest the actual leaf. It provides lots of flavor just by soaking in the liquids such as soup.
- Ground bay leaf is safe to consume.
- Oregano or thyme could be a substitute if you don't have any bay leaves.
- Laurus nobilis comes in essential oil form! It has powerful properties in this form as well.
- Bay leaf contains powerful antioxidants.
- Bay leaf supports a healthy immune system.
*It is very important to know that not all essential oils are created equal...
You can’t just go out to a big box store (or anywhere online) and trust that you’re getting the good stuff. Lucky for you, I’ve got a source I trust.
Have you ever looked into the future and saw the changes ahead and felt paralyzed with overwhelm?
I thrive in routine, but being able to do lots of different things. I love variety, but set within the context of routine and some predictability. With all that is happening in the world right now and so many ever-occurring changes, I've needed to adapt and learn to become well-versed in how to handle the uncertainty and potential future changes. I'm sure many of you can relate...
So how do I face change and uncertainty with grace?
1. Stop and breathe.
This may seem too simple or really obvious, but I catch myself almost holding my breath in anticipation, or worry, or I-don't-know-what. Just stop! Consciously tell your mind to pause, breathe slowly and deeply, and notice something with your 5 senses to ground you (the water lapping at the lake edge, the little plane overhead, the smell of lilacs, the warmth of sunshine, etc).
2. Tell yourself that the emotions are okay.
So many of us grew up (intentionally or unintentionally) hearing the message that our feelings were too big or too much. Because big feelings make others uncomfortable, we shouldn't feel.
Totally not true! But if you're anything like me, I struggle with being fully myself and letting myself be okay with feeling all of it before I move on. It's okay to feel.
3. Switch tasks.
If you get overwhelmed and feel paralyzed with a specific idea or task, it's normal and okay to take a break from that for a bit, do something else, and then come back to it. Today I felt very overwhelmed by something I was trying to figure out. So, I took a 5-minute break to finish loading the dishwasher and start it before coming back to the task at hand. And I came back to it a little more clear-headed than before.
4. Tell someone you trust.
Even just the act of letting someone you trust in on your feelings or how big the task feels can make it seem less weighty or less overwhelming. Tell someone. :) If it's the right person, you won't regret it. For me personally, this also includes consulting God about whatever I'm facing. He is always with me, and He will not let me down.
5. Focus on the positive truths.
Ultimately, what you choose to focus your mind on is where you will go. At the end of all the what-ifs (or even mid-mind rant), I CHOOSE to stop myself, press the mental reset button, and let my body ride the emotions WITHOUT adding run-away thoughts to it. I know that the big emotions will be over in 90 seconds, and I can then process more cognitively after the initial 90-second wave. Even better? Add something like essential oils to the 90-second emotional wave so that they can address it while you temporarily mentally distract. This trick particularly has served me very, very well.
So there you have it! Lean into it, dear HSP friends. This too shall pass. And I'm here for you.
Need someone to lean on and listen, like I described above? I cherish the opportunity to do that for those around me. I'd love to be that for you, too, really. Truly! And I have a group of like-minded people who love to do this for me and one another, too. You're welcome to join us here to learn more about supporting big emotions, especially how they affect the voice.
Sleeping well is very important to whole-body wellness. We all know that getting enough sleep feels good, but how else does it affect our bodies, our minds, and our emotions?
5 Reasons Sleep is Foundational for Wellness
1. Quality sleep optimizes immune system function.
Conversely, loss of sleep or poor quality sleep has been shown to leave us not only more susceptible to illnesses, but also impairs our recovery time when we do get sick. Our immune system thrives on good sleep.
2. Quality sleep optimizes emotional health.
Most people know that less sleep or poor sleep affects their mood. It often makes them more irritable, cranky, moody, or prone to other emotional/mental issues like anxiety, depression, and toxic stress. Toxic stress has been a big point of public health concern and research in recent years as well, showing that when we are constantly in a place of toxic stress, we don't function well and this can also become cyclical (affecting our quality of sleep just as quality of sleep affects our stress levels).
3. Quality sleep optimizes the body's cognitive growth.
Sleep deprivation studies have shown that cognitive processing steeply declines when loss of sleep occurs. This is important for all, but especially for the young such as children in school, college students, and young mothers... but it's also important for elderly people as they start to experience effects of aging.
4. Quality sleep aids in memory.
There are still many unknowns regarding the connection between sleep and memory, but if we think of all experiences happening during the day, and experiences being processed by our mind and body at night, it makes more sense why we would be able to remember things better if we slept well; our body could process the experience and store the memories more effectively.
5. Quality sleep is an important part of maintaining (or losing) weight.
Our body's way of processing food is dramatically altered by the quality and length of our sleep. This is partly to do with our decision-making about what food to eat when we're fully rested versus when we're sleep deprived, but it also has to do with our body's regulation of metabolism and how it physically processes our food. Our gut does a LOT of work overnight (which is why a good probiotic is often recommended to be taken at night), and by not sleeping enough or well, we cut short the work it was doing to keep us in an optimal weight range.
So you can see, sleep is VERY important. It is a foundational element to so many aspects of our wellness and health! What are you doing to help yourself sleep better and longer?
Need 11 tried & true tips for better natural sleep with zero side effects? You've come to the right place.
Get my sleep tips here. :)
Overall, I'm a fan of utilizing the sense of smell, which taps into a different, older part of the brain than visual or aural encouragements or clues. Why the sense of smell?
Our olfactory senses are actually housed within the limbic system, the parts of our brain that deal with memory and emotions. So by using the sense of smell, we can affect our memories and emotions! How can we harness this to change habits?
When essential oils are inhaled through the nose, aromatic molecules are carried through the lining of the nasal cavity by tiny olfactory nerves, located in the roof of the inner nose, to the part of the brain called the limbic system. This limbic system in turn influences the endocrine system and the autonomic nervous system.
Because smell information is sent to different parts of the brain, odors can influence many aspects of our lives, such as memory, mood, and emotion. For thousands of years, fragrant plants have been used in healing practices across many cultures, including ancient China, India, and Egypt. Aromatherapy, for example, aims to use essential oils from flowers, herbs, or trees to improve physical and emotional well-being. memories of smell can be vivid and long lasting, which may have a positive effect. Scents are powerful—they can transport us to different places, remind us of people, and trigger memories long forgotten. We can also harness this powerful sense of smell to help us kick toxic habits and ingrain new, better habits.
3 Ways to Harness Our Powerful Sense of Smell to Kick Bad Habits:
1. Associate the new habit with a pleasant smell.
Anecdotal research shows that people with good habits (like exercising) associate certain happy, energizing smells (like peppermint) with the habit they are trying to create to help their brain and body enjoy the new habit. This makes the habit easier to keep when the going gets tough, as we all know it will. By anticipating those hard days and proactively reminding the limbic system that the new habit is a happy one, this helps us look forward to it more and allows our body to create positive memories associated with the habit.
2. Help the body relax before tackling a difficult habit to break.
We all know that toxic stress prevents us often from seeking the life we truly desire, and often this comes in the form of picking up unhealthy habits. By using smells to calm and relax our bodies while trying to break a bad habit, we're less likely to return to the bad habit out of our stress response. After all, isn't that why we started the bad habit in the first place? It will often take more than sheer willpower to break a bad habit if we don't change the surrounding circumstances at all.
3. Replace the bad habit with a alternative, positive one.
This is often given as a tool to help people break habits like smoking, for example. Some people recommend an alternative activity like gum chewing. I would agree with this idea, but I'd like to add that there ARE ways we can harness our powerful sense of smell to make this process even easier. If we continue with the smoking habit, for example, black pepper essential oil has been shown to decrease the withdrawal symptoms and make quitting easier from an emotional as well as physical standpoint. There are many, many examples like this where the power of smell has aided in replacing a toxic habit with a positive one.
The whole reason we want to use quality essential oils is that we want to really break the bad habit without anything harmful. Not all essential oils are created equal... You can’t just go out to a big box store (or anywhere online) and trust that you’re getting the good stuff! (My sensitive body learned that the hard way...) Lucky for you, I’ve got a source I trust – want to know more? Click the button in the top corner to get in touch. :)
Today I want to share with you a little bit about einkorn, since I made some chocolate chip banana bread with it.
How many of you are eating einkorn? Do you like it? It is definitely a bit different to bake with einkorn than with regular, modern wheat.
It is the oldest grain in the world. We don’t even know how far einkorn dates back yet, because every time another discovery is made, we find out that our previous discovery was wrong! Five years ago they said einkorn was about 3,500 years old. Three years ago they said it was 5,000 years. Then last year they discovered a new finding in Turkey that dated back 10,000 years!
Here’s something I want you to think about. Everything has DNA. Every substance has a blueprint. The blueprint of einkorn is perhaps the oldest blueprint in our food chain that exists today. When you’re eating einkorn, you’re eating the oldest ingested food, blueprinted for support to the physical body. Therefore it was designed to give you the nutritional support that your body needs in all ways, from protein to vitamins, to fiber, to amino acids, to enzymes. No other grain today has all that nutritional content, just einkorn.
Here’s something I want you to think about. Everything has DNA. Every substance has a blueprint. The blueprint of einkorn is perhaps the oldest blueprint in our food chain that exists today. When you’re eating einkorn, you’re eating the oldest ingested food, blueprinted for support to the physical body. Therefore it was designed to give you the nutritional support that your body needs in all ways, from protein to vitamins, to fiber, to amino acids, to enzymes. No other grain today has all that nutritional content, just einkorn.
Einkorn has only 14 chromosomes; other wheats/grains have 28 to 42 chromosomes. The extra chromosomes create new proteins that man was never actually meant to consume. These foreign proteins cause confusion in the digestive system and increase small intestine permeability, which starts autoimmunity and inflammation throughout the body.
The wheat species is called Triticum. You will see einkorn referred to in some publications as “einkorn wheat” (Triticum monococcum). That would be the same as saying “spelt wheat” (Triticum spelta) or “kamut wheat” (Triticum turanicum). You could lump them all together if you want. It has its own identity, though. I wouldn’t want you to confuse einkorn with today’s hybridized Triticum aestivum wheat, so we refer to it as einkorn or einkorn grain.
So if you have a compromise to your digestive system with gluten sensitivity or intolerance from the hybridized grains that are grown today, and you start eating einkorn, you might need to go a little slow introducing it, take a little time, because your body has to adapt to the new blueprint. Does that make sense? You have to reprogram your body back to the way that it was created to function and find its homeostasis, and you will find great satisfaction in your nutritional needs once that homeostasis is found.
Gary Young found einkorn the first time in the Karimabad Valley in Hunza Land [in Pakistan] in 1996. It took four years before he was able to get the word translated from their language to discover it was einkorn. He looked all over the world and finally found some seed in Jordan, on the east bank of the Jordan River across from Israel.
They took the seed to France, where Jean-Noël was investigating einkorn. They started planting and it started to grow, and it is flourishing there still today!
So if you have a compromise to your digestive system with gluten sensitivity or intolerance from the hybridized grains that are grown today, and you start eating einkorn, you might need to go a little slow introducing it, take a little time, because your body has to adapt to the new blueprint. Does that make sense? You have to reprogram your body back to the way that it was created to function and find its homeostasis, and you will find great satisfaction in your nutritional needs once that homeostasis is found.
Gary Young found einkorn the first time in the Karimabad Valley in Hunza Land [in Pakistan] in 1996. It took four years before he was able to get the word translated from their language to discover it was einkorn. He looked all over the world and finally found some seed in Jordan, on the east bank of the Jordan River across from Israel.
They took the seed to France, where Jean-Noël was investigating einkorn. They started planting and it started to grow, and it is flourishing there still today!
Einkorn berries before 
einkorn berries during
einkorn berries after -- rough flour! I could have made this more fine but chose not to.
I LOVE banana bread -- homemade is even better! It's the best when it's warm, fresh out of the oven. Yummmmm....
Ingredients:
1/2 c. melted coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 c. honey or maple syrup or agave syrup
2 eggs (preferably local and fresh)
1 c. mashed ripe bananas (about 2 large bananas) -- I freeze my almost mushy bananas
and just thaw it before throwing it in the recipe. Works great!
1/4 c. milk of choice or water
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon himalayan sea salt
1-2 drops cinnamon bark essential oil (only pure ones, especially for cooking!)
1 & 3/4 c. unbleached, unenriched whole wheat flour or Einkorn (an ancient grain I wrote about here)
Optional: 1/2 c. mix-ins like chopped nuts, chocolate chips (my favorites),
chopped dried fruit, fresh banana slices, etc...
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (165 degrees Celsius) and grease 9x5 inch loaf pan
In a large bowl, beat the oil & honey together with a whisk. Add the eggs and beat well, then whisk in the mashed bananas and milk.
Add the baking soda, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon, and whisk to blend. Lastly, switch to a big spoon and stir in flour, just until combined. Some lumps are okay! Gently fold in mix-ins as desired now.
Pour batter into a greased loaf pan (I grease with this spray cooking coconut oil).
Bake for 55-60 minutes (less without mix-ins, more with mix-ins is my experience). Let the bread cool in the loaf pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes before slicing.
Then enjoy! Yummm. :)
It is super important to know that not all essential oils are created equal.
You can’t just go out to a big box store (or anywhere online) and trust that you’re getting the good stuff, especially when cooking. Lucky for you, I’ve got a source I trust – want to know more?
I'd be happy to point you in the right direction.
"Smile! We're in Europe, Andrea!"
I was so thrilled to be on this trip exploring the world and enjoying my boyfriend (at the time, now husband). But the smile I see in that picture is shadowed by pain. I smiled through the pain so many days, so friends wouldn't need to see it because why would they need to? What good would it do?
This picture was taken almost 6 years ago in 2014. Gabe & I were on choir tour in Europe when we were dating in college. 😊 It was such a special time, and I look back on it fondly, though I was in a lot of discomfort from TMJD (temporomandibular joint dysfunction/disorder). On a choir tour, the schedule of singing and rehearsals and performances is pretty rigorous, even for someone without any issues -- lots of standing, singing in cathedrals without air conditioning in thick, velvet robes, sometimes two concerts in one day, etc.
If you look REALLY closely, you can see little tape right by my ears. What's that? Little tiny strong-powered magnets.
I was SO desperate for relief (but too sensitive to take any meds) that I was taping little tiny magnets to my face 15+ hours per day. It DID help a little bit on the worst days, or at least made the worst days less bad (as long as I actually wore them every day), but I hated feeling like a robot walking around with magnets. It felt especially weird because when people asked me why that helped, I didn't have a good answer. No research, or minimal anyway, had yet explained the possibilities for why it helped some, but it helped enough that I did it. I hated being asked all the time about it, even though I would rather people ask than just stare.
I figured that if I had to live with chronic issues, at least I'd rather no one else could visibly see it -- at least I could ignore it by giving my jaw a name (yes, my closest friends knew which days "Doris" was cranky!). But the magnets made it feel permanent because others could visibly see it too. And no one knew if this was going to be a permanent issue or not. That was the hardest part. I questioned my desired career choice. I mean, how could I possibly be a music teacher who has to sing for 7-8 hours per day if I am in pain after 20 minutes of singing? How's that ever going to work out? But I was so far through my degree that I didn't want to waste the time and spend more time in school, so I kept going. I figured I could get a different job with my degree if I had to.
So how did I get from there to here? Today I feel better than I ever have -- physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and relationally.
But it wasn't an easy journey. Lots of experimentation and trial & error happened (including the magnets) until I found some things that really helped. But once I did, it was like a light switch. Things started getting better so quickly that I dared not believe it would actually be a permanent solution. You see, different drs I visited just gave me a list of things to do/not do. They said there was no cure and no known cause, though they gave me a night guard splint to hopefully help. And that did, a little, but it didn't really get to the root issue. Perhaps some drs know more today than they did then, but I didn't believe that they were right with what they told me then. I couldn't believe it!
I'm no doctor, but with what I know about the body and how EVERYTHING affects everything else (for one quick example gut health affects mental health), I knew there had to be other options. And I'm SO glad I was open-minded enough to truly seek and try them and not discount them.
For me it wasn't a matter of if I could afford the options. Yes, some of the things I tried before finding things that truly brought wellness cost me money. But for me the question I kept coming back to was, 'If I found out that this would help, that this would bring wellness and/or relief and I didn't try it, how sad would I feel? Health to me is more important than "fun stuff," especially because I want to truly enjoy the fun stuff! If I can postpone some of the "fun stuff" for a few months or a year until I feel better, how much more will I enjoy it?'
'But if this doesn't work for me, what do I have to lose? A few dollars, I guess. If this DOES work for me, what do I have to gain? Everything! My life and desired career! My social enjoyment in the evenings back instead of going to bed early with a numbed-from-ice-packs face! Opportunities that this holds me back from!' Even if it wasn't cured, I desired a more full and healthy life.
And I have found it. 
I CAN work multiple jobs now because I enjoy them and have the energy for them! I CAN go enjoy social events (when this whole stay-at-home is over) when I used to stay home and ice my face. I CAN sing for 7-8 hours per day without any discomfort.
If I stop my balancing act of solutions, I do have uncomfortable days again, so I know I still "have TMJD" to a lesser degree -- but the beautiful thing is that it rarely affects me anymore. I feel so empowered to know more about how the body works, how food affects us, how the environment around us really does change us for good or bad. God made plants to be healing, for our good. I have many options now on those very few days when I struggle. I had one day last week where my jaw kept clicking and was really sore (probably from weather pressure). But it didn't turn into a big problem because I knew right away what options I had available to me and what I wanted to try first, before it turned into a bigger problem.
I feel empowered now to make my own wellness choices as a part of a huge wellness community, more like a family, really. And I feel free. God gave me freedom!
And that is WORTH the trial and error process to me.
If you're struggling now (with emotions, with chronic issues, with weight, with motivation, with TMJD, with anything, really!), what is holding you back from really digging deep, from embracing the journey to wellness? How can I encourage you to take those first steps (or maybe 5th or 55th or 107th steps!)?
I have a group of people I'm walking this natural wellness journey with, ready to be their cheerleaders. It's free! If you need a little hope and cheerleading on your wellness journey, come join us. 🥰 And if you want to ideas for your specific situation, I'm more than happy to listen and share what I know. You can find me on FB or contact me through the button at the top of the page too!
I love you guys, really and truly. I'm here for you. 
We all know that working a 9-to-5 job can be stressful for many, but depending on the job, this can be especially true for a highly sensitive person, or HSP.
Here's are 4 ways I help myself stay grounded at work in a very busy, high-intensity job as an HSP.
1. Gratitude
I stay grateful. Before I even get up in the morning, I think of (and sometimes write down) at least 3 things I'm thankful for. This really sets my tone for the day and gets me excited for what is to come, even if some of the tasks of the day seem daunting.
2. Affirmations
I root myself in who I am, not who others or my job thinks I need to be. This helps me accept hard things that occur at work as situations I can assist with rather than part of my identity. An example of an affirmation I might pick for myself is: I am capable, responsible, and kind.
3. Breathe
Take 3-4 moments each day to just breathe. I usually use the square breathing technique (breathe in for 4, hold for 4, out for 4, and hold for 4 again) to calm my heart rate and breathing rate down. I also use calming essential oils during this breathing time because essential oils can be found in the bloodstream within 22 seconds, so they do their work quickly!
4. Leave Work at Work
As hard as this can be, I've had to learn to separate my work feelings from my home feelings. I am very "feely" and it can be easy for me to get caught up in the way things at work made me feel or how I hurt for a circumstance that my students may be undergoing. By processing it on my commute home, I can step into my house with a different mindset and ready to truly rest and sleep better, have family time, or get chores done without feeling the weight of all that occurred at work on my shoulders.
These take practice, but implementing these 4 strategies have really helped me be my best at work while still having energy left for my family and myself.
How do YOU stay grounded as an HSP working a 9-to-5 job?
