This post is less of a formal blog post and more like telling my story. Some of you may just want to jump right to the whole point of Warrior Life Wellness, which is about helping YOU. If you are that person, then you’ll want to jump over to the blog portion of the site or the military families page. But if you want to know more in-depth details about how I came to be here, as creator of Warrior Life Wellness, read on.
Where I came from
Almost ten years ago, I had graduated with my first bachelor’s degree. Throughout my college “career,” I kinda knew that things were off with my body but I did not have the knowledge or tools to figure it out. I gained 20 pounds during my freshman year. While I eventually lost those pounds, it didn’t mean I was healthier. After graduating and returning home to Texas, I made a decent effort to eat healthier, but I didn’t really have a plan.
As I grew older, I began to feel crappier. (And by “older” I mean into my mid-20’s!) Joint pain, back pain, bloating, adult acne, eczema, and fatigue were my daily friends. Stress piled high, partly from life circumstances and partly from my own doing. My then-fiance, Mark, deployed to Afghanistan twice within a couple years. I coped by overworking and under sleeping. I also did not know how to handle the PTSD symptoms he exhibited after returning from the combat zone.
Reaching a breaking point and why I became a nurse
I reached a health crisis point in 2013, and knew that I had to find a better way. I devoured mounds of information about clean eating (Paleo template), how just avoiding gluten is not enough, and that more than just good nutrition is needed for a healthy life. Things like sleep and stress management can make or break a person, regardless of how well they are eating. I also dedicated myself to researching how to help Mark with his PTSD and other post-combat issues. I came to find out that so many veterans are hurting in the same ways he was, and I wanted to help them too.
Out of this intense struggle with our health, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to become a healthcare professional. I tossed around the ideas of paramedic, nurse, registered dietician, and nutritionist. I finally came to the conclusion that becoming a Registered Nurse was what I wanted and needed to do.
Changing plans for the military – and LOVING IT!
Nursing school was the hardest thing I have ever done, but it was 110% worth it. In December 2017, I graduated with my BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing; and in February 2018 I received my RN license! My original plan as a new nurse was to work for a VA hospital. During school, I had a paid internship at the Fayetteville VA. I truly loved taking care of the veterans on our med-surg floor. However, the Army decided to not keep us stationed in the United States: my husband received orders for Germany! This meant that I had to change my career plans before they even began. But it has ended up being a wonderful change of plans, because Warrior Life Wellness has come to fruition!
The past two years were extremely stressful: not only did I complete a BSN, but my husband went on yet another combat deployment during my final (hardest) year. However, I was able to keep my health intact this time. I had the tools to manage properly. While optimal health is always a work in progress, I’m to the point where I don’t have to be as “strict” with my diet. My gut has healed immensely, I have minimal skin breakouts, and I rarely struggle with fatigue. I’ve been able to add some dairy back into my diet, although eggs still give me problems. I do still need to keep my anxious feelings in check, and less than 7-8 hours of sleep per night can mess with my mood. Your wellness battle-buddy and advocate
But overall? I feel AMAZING. While I didn’t do this alone, I feel proud that I didn’t listen to the naysayers or give in to “we don’t know what’s wrong.” It is an empowering feeling to be in control of your health again! If you’ve read here to the end, please know that I want this kind of success for each and every one of you. If you are a military wife, I KNOW your pain, stressors, and worries. I KNOW just how angst-filled this life can be, with deployments, TDY’s, frequent moving, and separation from family. If your service member deals with post-combat injuries, I KNOW just how frustrating and scary that can be. It takes a toll on your health as well.
You are not alone! I’m here for you, to be your wellness battle-buddy and advocate. I’m here to be your nurse coach, your mentor, and your friend. That is what nurses do: they walk alongside their patients as they navigate their health journey. We never leave your side until you have healed or achieved your goals. I will take this journey with you for as long as it takes. You can do it! You can find vibrant health amidst the craziness of military life!
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