Help! I've Tried Everything. I'm Not Feeling Better!
Jennifer Culver, PhD and Functional Medicine Coach
Professional Coach for Women in their Wisdom Years | Food Addiction Coach | Ayurvedic Nutrition | Nutrition & Lifestyle-based Interventions to combat chronic disease & restore optimal health
I've Tried Everything, Now What?
This is an epidemic that continues to increase. You don't feel well and you try all the trendy things that others are trying, as well as visit your doctor and your tests come back "normal" yet you definitely don't feel your best. You may have even received and completed one or more failed treatments.
And... you continue. You've become a supplement junkie, filling your cabinets with everything under the sun. You think more is better and that with all the supplements you have, all your bases must be covered. But then you get sick of taking all the pills, powders and keeping it all up. So then you think: maybe I'll go vegetarian or keto, or do a cleanse - that should help. Or maybe you start giving all your attention to training for a 5K, registering for an upcoming race while researching the "couch to 5K" websites. Eventually you become exhausted physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
You're getting desperate. You may fluctuate between giving up and binge eating and/or drinking. Please note everyone has a different story, but this is an all too common pattern right now and oftentimes leads to a lack of confidence in medicine, food, supplements, and eventually your perspective and life purpose.
What can you do?
Option #1: Taking a Pause It's always difficult to determine where to start...and sometimes when and where to stop. If you've been spinning your wheels for months or years, you've very likely stressed your body and mind. You may have significant adrenal fatigue (which your doctor can measure with a blood test). Now, I cannot diagnose or prescribe, but I invite you to take some time to pause and stop "doing." Try "being." Stress can exacerbate the challenges you're seeking to treat. Mindfulness and stress management techniques may be a key component in your wellness.
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Option #2: Awareness of Food Sensitivities Health is incredibly connected to the health f the gut. Your consumption of different foods and other substances may actually be causing you more harm than good...even "healthy" foods. Now if you've tried everything, you probably tried eliminating common allergens like gluten, dairy, soy, wheat, etc. But if you haven't tested your system, you're guessing what you might need to remove for a while rather than having concrete evidence. This can lead to a yo-yo diet pattern and frustration. Food sensitivities can be tested at home and/or with a practitioner. You may even determine you have a food allergy, which is more severe than a sensitivity. BUT, these can be treated and in many cases can be reversed. Through testing you can determine if/what dietary restrictions are ideal for your microbiome (system.) Shift from trying what others do as you move in the direction of what you need for your unique system.
Option #3: Consulting with a Functional Medicine Practitioner By explaining your history and stepping through some assessments, your provider can give you an overall picture of your system and health, based on genes, family history, life events, environmental factors, and lifestyle components. From there, practitioners recommend plans to address your needs. Again, instead of guessing, you receive a true understanding of who you are, where you are, and appropriate steps to take to move forward in health and happiness.
I invite you to speak with a functional medicine professional about your unique situation.
Dr. Jennifer Culver is a nationally board certified health and wellness coach, a certified functional medicine health coach and holds a PhD in holistic life coaching. Dr. Culver is also an experienced professional yoga teacher and mindfulness coach. Her mission is to help people combat chronic illness and restore optimal health through nutrition, movement, and additional lifestyle factors within the functional medicine model.