Skip to main content

You, My Friend, Matter.

Are you someone who has put herself on the back burner? Maybe you're like me and you've neglected your healthcare needs for years? Today is the day that you make a change. Okay? Say it with me. 

I matter. My health and well-being matters.

How did that feel? Was it hard to say? Did it leave you with a pit in your stomach? That pit in your stomach is your body's way of telling you that you need to make a change.

I decided that a new year was the perfect time to push myself to make an appointment and take the first steps toward medical wellness. Self-care is a topic that we hear about almost daily. We're told to take care of ourselves so that we can take care of others. Make time to rest. Eat well. Exercise. Have a good skincare routine. Declutter our spaces. Listen to our bodies. Meditate. Be mindful. The list goes on and on....and while I have mastered many of those things, I also realize that medical wellness also fits into the equation (whether I want to admit it or not). 

So it was during that first week of January when I reluctantly entered the doctor's office in search of answers for several specific reasons. I've dealt with some of the symptoms my entire life, but have never had the courage to ask about them. Other symptoms are things that have started happening within the last couple of years. I have spent far too many telling myself to "suck it up," convincing myself that what I was experiencing was just part of life. 

On the opposite side of the spectrum, when it comes to my kids, my husband and my extended family, I always preach self-care, mental health and physical wellness. It's time I start listening to my own words. I obviously want to be around for as long as possible. I realize that I am not invincible. I realize that by putting the needs of everyone else in my life ahead of my own, I wasn't truly living my best life. I need to prioritize my own health, in order to continue to be the guiding force that my loved ones need and depend on. 

If you could hear my inner monologue, you would be shocked. It can be brutal. I've always held myself to very high standards. They skyrocketed once I move myself out my childhood hometown. That place held me back in so many ways, but that's a story for another time. I have worked my tail off to get where I am today and to be the best version of myself. When I was experiencing symptoms, my inner monologue would immediately kick in with "You need to suck it up Crystal. You don't have time for this. It's all in your head." I thought that I was just being my typical overly critical self.

Bottom line? This wasn't all in my head. It took finding the right provider to validate my feelings, truly listen to me and put me on the right track. I will be 36 this year. For the first time in my life, I will be on medications. The idea scares me at times, but I'm embracing it. With each passing day....and each symptom's relief, I am becoming more and more okay with the fact that sometimes we just need a little help to live our best lives. 

If you haven't made yourself a priority for a long time. If you are experiencing any kind of symptoms, please don't ignore them. The time is now. I encourage you to take that first step. Make that appointment. Your future self will thank you. 



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

No One Prepared Me for This

This is the part of motherhood that I feel no one prepared me for. Perhaps you can't really be prepared at all. I didn't think it would happen as quickly as it did.  I'm talking about the day you wake up and your firstborn child is looking you in the eye and well on the way to surpassing your height. Can we not?  Seriously!  Sending Rhylan to middle school last year was a very tough concept to grasp. I've come to terms with being the mother of a middle schooler. I mean...what choice do I have? In doing so, I've had a front row seat to extraordinary growth (and I'm not just talking about physically). I've watched him overcome so much. Whether it was constant encounters with a bully (no one prepares you for that either), watching him navigate tough decisions, strengthening his sportsmanship or taking accountability... I'm constantly amazed by him. Last year was fifth grade. He seemed like a baby walking into that giant middle school. We're currently im...

What I Learned from Frugal January

While I don't believe in new year resolutions, I do believe in goals, aspirations and dreams. As a society, we're made to feel that with each new year, we must make resolutions, which more often than not, fade by March or set us up for failure. The feeling of failure is never good for the spirit, so a couple of years ago, I decided to stop giving in to that societal pressure. I have found that self-reflection is an excellent place to begin a new year and set realistic goals. This year, I started by challenging myself to what I named Frugal January. It's exactly what it sounds like. I challenged myself to only spend on necessities. I gave up runs to the coffee shop and trips to TJ Maxx. I gave up frivolous, careless and impulse-based spending, no matter how big or small it was. I asked myself one question with every single purchase decision, "do I really need this?" If I could live without it, I declined it. Did this cause me physical pain at times? Yes! There were...