Becoming a Doctor was my path from a very young age, and every decision I made had that intention. In my late teens, the pressure of perfectionism got the best of me. I started to suffer mentally, physically, and emotionally. I ended up struggling for years with Anorexia Nervosa, a common pattern of disordered eating, and crippling anxiety, in order to gain control over what felt like an out of control life. At one point I was hospitalized, and subsequently went through periods of struggle and recovery. Despite these challenges, I kept up with school, maintained my perfect report card, graduated in an advanced program, and got into my dream university to study Nutritional Sciences. I woke up one morning before the biggest exam of my university career and decided I did not want to become a traditional Doctor. It didn’t fit who I was and who I was becoming anymore. I had a passion for nutrition that was sparked in me. I had to trust the timing of my life. I felt called to delve deeper into nutrition, wellness, and a wholistic approach to health. Becoming a Naturopathic Doctor allowed me to become a Doctor in a way that resonated with the journey I had been on and was going to continue to be on. This was the point that I decided to get better for myself and my future. It was a conscious choice that I made that morning on my own, and I have never been the same since.
I needed more than to simply be fed calories to “fix me.” I needed to learn how to eat again, how to trust my instincts, how to support my body, and how to feed my soul. Day by day, I made consistent choices to nourish myself.
My story is important because it is what led me to where I am today. Without the struggle, I would not have gained clarity on my calling or my path. I would not have thought outside the traditional box. I would not be half the practitioner I am today without those early experiences. I would not be half as authentic. I would not be half as empathic. I simply, would not be me.
We have ultimate control over what we feed our bodies, and those choices can either harm or heal. I choose to heal, and I hope you will too.