Project Description
Julie, ON, Canada
“Everything that I did here was with so much love and compassion for myself, it’s like I was taught how to just wrap my arms around myself and be a part of the journey. It’s really hard to put into words what this has done for me holistically, from the food to everything else. I’m still me. I’m just smarter me. I’m a healthier me. I have the energy to go back and just live this beautiful life.”
Improvements with: Caregiver Burnout, PTSD, Body Image/ Self-Worth Issues, Depression, Digestive Health, Heartburn, Self-Love and Love for Others, Weight Loss.
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| Depression Score: 36 (severe) | Depression Score: 1 (no depression) |
| PTSD: when things started to get to a healthier place for the people I was supporting, then I started to slide and things started to impact me. What was worrisome was the suicidal ideation that came with it. And then it was about six months after I stopped working that I was diagnosed with PTSD. And I learned that I wasn't going to manage PTSD, that it was going to manage me. I didn't have control over that and that was difficult for me to. | I learned how to regulate. So I may not control the PTSD, but I can regulate right now. I can go, hey, hey, I'm here. We got this! which I didn't have before. All that was playing over and over in my mind was what I heard. You can't control it. You can't control it. That's a very desperate hard message to repeat all the time hence why I would just want to end it. So here I learned how to regulate which will serve me forever. |
| Impact of PTSD on Relationships.It was difficult seeing how I was responding with my husband. I didn't recognize myself at all. | I don't think I can get off the plane fast enough and run to my husband fast enough. We're ready for when I come home. We're ready to do what I need to do to continue. We're going to enjoy cooking together or dehydrating. Yeah, I'm so blessed. He's part of the magic also. |
| Low Energy. When I got here, I was so depleted. I had no more energy, even to eat. | I have energy to come home and continue exercising. My appetite was coming back. |
| Difficulty to connect with others. I love people. I was going to connect with other people's stories. I was excited about that, but I also couldn't access it when I first got here, I wasn't accessing a lot of things. | My want to be social became, I became more active with the group and fun and made some deeper connections, but really got along with everybody it was wonderful. I started living while I was here. The energy of the people here is pretty unique and it's beautiful and I feel like everybody I run into that works here has been me. That's how it feels. And may our stories may be different, but it's home. I don't feel like we need to exchange deep conversations. I feel like they're loving on me because they know I'm here and at one time maybe they needed the same thing it's all organically happening here. |
| Loss of a creative spark. As hard as my husband tried to put things in place for me to do the things that he knew I was always passionate about, I didn't have passion anymore. | I loved finding out about myself through the art class. It was really important it actually made me excited to, to the possibility that my interests may have changed, that it doesn't mean that I'm not artistic anymore. I just may be doing different things. And that's OK. |
| Meds. Another issue was I kept going from one medication to another, and had side effects from all of them. | No more medication, no more medication, no more medication! My psychiatrist guided me how to come off it. I feel incredible because I feel that's the difference I wasn't feeling. Now I can feel I'm not feeling side effects from a medication that isn't helping me anyway. I'm not feeling numb. I'm feeling everything, Feeling everything. I'm so excited. |
| Disconnect. I felt disconnected from my vessel (=body). I intuitively new that my body needed healing. | I started working with my body: being taught how to work with my body, how to listen to my body, so that my body was going to help me regulate. And it was like my body was excited to be here woo-hoo. I feel like my body got it before my mind did. And my body gave me what I needed to stay focused and continue with my appointments and just do the work. |
| Digestive health: Heartburn and feeling like I had “armour” wrapped around my waist. | Heartburn is gone. The armour started dissolving. |
| Self-Love: I thought I needed to lose for that 20 lbs. | Lost 7, but, most importantly, I love my body! |
Experience Highlights:
- Walk guide and outings
- Zumba class
- Oh my Lord, the food, come on! It’s like being at a wedding.
- Informative classes
- Rock Paining Class
- Absolutely everybody here is contributing to our well-being
- It’s Magic: it’s like everyone had a map of me
The information above is based on the following resources:
- Unedited Video Testimonial Materials
- Before and After Self-Assessment
- Program Participation and Progress Sheet
- Emotional Wellness Test
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.
