Hello! My name is Sara Joy Gardner and I am so grateful that you are visiting this Facebook page and I can share how the gut-brain axis knowledge changed my life! This is how I am continuing to heal from a rollercoaster ride with IBS.
For years I struggled feeling confident about my physical appearance, even though I was an active teenager. So, my sophomore year of high school I decided to try a new diet, in hopes of becoming healthier. This diet changed my world for a time and I had a better outlook of myself.
BUT…after several months I decided to reintroduce some gluten and dairy products, but my body had a very poor reaction. So, for two and a half years I lived a gluten and dairy free lifestyle. This was so difficult for a gal who LOVES the occasional brownie or Mac N Cheese.
Fast forwarding to my first year of college at Brigham Young University – Idaho. I was still maintaining my gluten and dairy free diet, but quickly began to see a change in my wellness. Healthy foods like broccoli, squash, chicken, and many other foods were irritating my stomach.
My usual energizer-bunny self was swallowed up in the anxiety of worrying about another upset tummy.
All the good calories that would usually energize me were gone! I became… ~ sluggish ~ lost weight ~ continually sick ~ all food gave me anxiety ~ MAJOR decline in school performance
Honestly, opening the fridge made me want to cry, because I wanted something to eat but everything had a negative effect.
I was frightened and thought I would just wither away. Thankfully family and friends encouraged me to receive professional help. I went to many doctors, but none of them were able to give me a straight answer. I received SO many different potential diagnoses:
1. Crohn’s disease 2. Potential cancer 3. Overactive pancreas …just to name a few
But, after some testing they all found that there was NOTHING they could do to help me, that all the symptoms I was dealing with were in my gut and NOT something they could treat. This was terrifying to an 18 year-old! I had my whole life of dreams and goals, was I going to feel like this forever??
Finally I went to a doctor in Idaho, who specialized in pancreatic activity and sugar digestion who diagnosed me with IBS!!!
He then mentioned that I should research the gut-brain axis. He could give no further help, but he opened my mind to entirely new possibilities.
Thankfully, I was in the right place at the right time. Because, my amazing, now husband, taught me about the GUT BRAIN AXIS. He helped me understand the importance our gut plays in life. He helped me realign my gut, brain, and axis in between. This rocked my world! It has been over a year and I now have….
~ENERGY ~MOTIVATION ~I LOVE EATING ALL TYPES OF FOOD ~I NO LONGER STRUGGLE WITH DEBILITATING IBS ~I HAVE A POSITIVE OUTLOOK ~I HAVE MAINTAINED A HEALTHY WEIGHT ~INCREASE IN SCHOOL PERFORMANCE ~I AM STRONGER
There are days of struggle, but since reconnecting I now have the tools to live a happy & healthy life!
I now want to share this hope with others, let’s TOGETHER break the stigma of IBS & mental health TODAY! There are ways to heal your LIFE, BODY, and HEALTH!
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