Project Description
Natalia, NJ, US
“Before coming here I felt really lost, did not have my place in this world. The word that keeps coming back to me is “worthless.” I’m leaving here not saying that PTSD can be cured overnight. But I am leaving with more self-confidence and more self-worth that I have more place in the world and just being here so relaxing and all of the staff here and the Program Directors are so wonderful that you really feel like you’re taken care of and that it’s like your second home where you can allow yourself to heal here.”
Improvements with: Anxiety, Low Energy/ Fatigue, Self-Worth Issues, Chronic Fatigue, Dark Circles under Eyes, Depression, Emotional Eating, Emotional Trauma, Insomnia/ Sleep Issues, Lifestyle Habits, PTSD, Spirituality/ Connecting to the Soul.
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| Depression Score: 44 (extreme) | Depression Score: n/a |
| Anxiety Score: 34 (moderate, borderline high) | Anxiety Score: n/a |
| PTSD. I was really struggling with PTSD and Agoraphobia. There was a 2-week period when I could not leave my bed for days. I am 21 yrs. old and came home for the summer from college. My mom had to bring food because I was so depressed, in a place where I felt really hopeless and that my future would be the same as it always has. | I’ve found some really beautiful moments. I found myself going into the really cold water and doing the polar plunges on my own, and hiking. And spending time with people. Where before this I was afraid to leave my room. |
| Emotional Trauma and Hopelessness. . I had bunch of different trauma and mental illness. I wanted to handle better school, myself and my emotional, spiritual and physical well-being. I came to Fresh Start because I wanted balance. | I am more confident in myself and less hopeless, and that really allows you to live life better and easier. |
| I did not do well in a rehab-type trauma center. I’ve been in other places, I was in a trauma center for three months when I was 18. In that place, you did not have any kind of personal freedom, which was really difficult for somebody with PTSD. I felt like I was being constantly watched, and it was really hard for me. | You have some personal freedom. You don’t feel trapped. Everything you’re doing here is because you want to do it and you want to be here. |
| Emotional Eating. Struggled with food, ate junk food due to long-term disability after COVID (=everything smelled and tasted horrible). Had a lot of trauma associated with foods that generally are good for you. | Since being here I’ve eaten the majority of what’s been here – these healthy meals, because the chefs here are amazing. And I was afraid that I won’t be able to eat raw food and stick to the diet. I really surprised myself and am really happy with that because moving forward I won’t have to rely on fast food and will be able to make more conscious choices about my health. |
| Depression. I was so depressed and so stuck. I was dissociating from my life and my body, doing everything through avoidance. | I found my way to be my own anchor, not to try to rely on the things like social media, TV shows, or movies, to just get me through the day and to get me through life. And I feel more comfortable sitting by myself and being alone. Energy work, body work, even colonics, massages – everything I had made me feel more connected to myself. |
| Chronic physical illnesses. I have suffered for my entire life from various kinds of chronic illnesses and I’ve never really felt well or healthy. | Everyone tells me that physically I look so much healthier. Right now I have make-up, but even without it. It’s been really cool because you are so used to your own face for other people to tell you that they see a difference in you as well. |
| Dark circles under the eyes. Even as a little girl, I always had dark circles underneath my eyes. I’ve always had chronic fatigue, even as a child. A lot of anxiety. | I came here and found out that my adrenal gland was really really depleted. And today and yesterday I went and saw a naturopath and had my live blood analysis done again. While my adrenals used to be really depleted, now they are healthy. They told me that I need to continue for months to take adrenal support for it to really function like it is supposed to, but there as a huge difference. These dark circles are not as prominent or are not there anymore. And I always thought that I’ll always be someone who has dark circles underneath their eyes. |
| Poor Circulation. And then they took a live blood analysis, and my blood they described as “sticky blood”, which can be a result of being dehydrated. | I saw myself today my images of what my blood looked like before and after my 3 weeks here, and it was like looking at a completely different person’s blood. |
| Sleep Issues. I struggled with insomnia. I would go to bed anywhere between 3 or 4 in the morning and sometimes would stay up all night for multiple nights… I would be somebody who would not be able to get out of bed till noon or 1 p.m. | Since I’ve been here, with the right supplements and being out of my bed, I have been falling asleep minimum at midnight. but usually at 10 or 11, and then I’d wake up around 7:30, 8, sometimes later. But I’m usually able to make it to breakfast at 9 a.m. I have really readjusted my sleep. |
| Anxiety and Fatigue. On top of my anxiety, I was so unhealthy that I felt trapped in my body. I was too tired to do anything to change it and fix it. It used to be at University doing a 5-minute walk to get for myself some food was too difficult. I would rather sit in my dorm room and have nothing to eat than be able to move and walk those 5 minutes to get something to eat. | I look healthier. I feel healthier. Now I feel like I have more energy…. Now I am walking around and I have so much more energy than I had before because I am out and about doing all of these activities. So there has been a really really large improvement. |
Experience Highlights:
- Results: For someone who came here for some really deep emotional issues and was here for three weeks, the improvements that I saw I did not expect to get as much as I did.
- Energywork and Spiritual Component: There are a lot of things here for your emotional and spiritual well-being. Somatic therapy, a lot of different practitioners working with Reiki energy healing, and other things that made me more connected to spirituality and understand that bad things are not happening to me for no reason. For me personally, it was an emotional and spiritual journey.
- Physical and Emotional Wellness Components: Because I struggled with mental illness and physical illness, I benefitted from both.
- Community: There have been some very beautiful moments here when you get to know other people and you form a community… I feel that if you’re coming to Fresh Start, you are coming for a reason. And a lot of the time you will find people here have a lot in common with you. You can form great friendships and conversations with people here who are like-minded and have a lot of laughs, in addition to healing.
- Happy Staff: All Fresh Start is, you can feel, everyone who works here is happy to be here.
- Individualization: They individualize your plan to a tee. And you can tell they put a lot of thought into treating you specifically as an individual and it’s not like an overall blanket – one treatment for everybody. They really look into who you are and take the assessments that you give to heart. And they are always there available for you, if you need to talk, or if you need support, or about the treatment plan.
- Connection with Nature: We took a trip off the Island. I don’t remember when I laughed and had so much fun, and felt like a kid again. In the ocean all the time, picking up hermit crabs and really connecting with myself and with nature. And I found that to be really healing and moving, and I really hope I can keep it forward with me.
The information above is based on the following resources:
- Unedited Video Testimonial Materials
- Before and After Self-Assessment
- Program Participation and Progress Sheet
- Before and After Emotional Wellness Tests
Disclaimer : Results of participants differ and the Fresh Start cannot guarantee that you will experience your improvements in the same way as in this testimonial. The Fresh Start is not an allopathic medical facility and does not claim to either diagnose or treat any disease. The Fresh Start does not guarantee a recovery from any specific disease or a health symptom.
