So, basically it all started while I was in college.
I was eating poorly.
Downing caffeine.
Barely exercising.
Stressed about every single thing. Bills, classes, work.
It took a toll on my body.
My stomach was always upset.
Every time I ate, I felt sick.
And I ashamed to say that this went on for years before I finally realized that something wasn’t right.
After seeing a tummy doctor he immediately thought my stomach lining was bad.
That I had too much acid and that was making me sick.
So for a year he stuck me on medicine to remedy the problem.
AND I DIDN’T GET BETTER.
I was frustrated.
I wasn’t getting any better.
I was closing myself off from friends and family.
I started becoming a homebody.
I always wanted to be close to home because I always felt sick after eating.
I was tired of always feeling bad.
Finally, I HAD ENOUGH.
This was not how I wanted to live my life and I wanted to be back to old Lauren.
I went to see the best tummy doctor there is in Orange County.
I just KNEW this man would know what is happening after a year of meds and nothing was getting better.
He took ONE look at me and said.
“You are stressed.”
Stress?
Yup.
He said he gets patients like me all the time, girls in their 20s, in college, juggling school, life, work, relationships.
Wrecking their body and ignoring the signs.
The stress in my life had completely shut my body down. He suggested that I started talking to a therapist.
I never thought that therapist would help me with something as trivial as anxiety and stress.
I was at a breaking point in my mid-twenties.
I needed help.
Mind blown.
It was life changing.
After seeing my therapist I began taking Prozac while taking the steps on breaking out of my shell.
That is the most important part. I didn’t stick a band-aid on the situation.
I forced myself to be in situations that would normally stress me out and bring out my anxiety.
Slowly but surely, I was becoming Lauren again.
I wanted to go out and see friends again.
I wanted to travel again.
It felt great to be able to do those things.
Now with the help of Prozac I feel free.
The best part?
My mom cried when she saw me after a couple of months of being on the medicine.
I was ME again.
So the moral of this story, and I hope you don’t judge me, is
LISTEN TO YOUR BODY.
Please, if you are struggling with daily life.
Feeling anxious about going to work, going to school, your relationships?
Talk to someone.
Therapists are there to help.
And they do.
If you can’t get to a therapist, talk to a trusted friend or family member.
I wish I didn’t ignore the signs my body was trying to tell me.
I wish I never got so far as this, but I am here to tell you…never be ashamed about asking for help.
So that’s my secret.
Boom.
I love you all and I am glad I was able to share that with you.
Please visit Pink on the Cheek to see about daily life of Lauren and say HI!!
Founder and creator of LIY, Erin turned her dream of a hobby blog into a full-time career which she now runs alongside the LIY team! When not in front of her computer screen [with a La Croix or wine in hand] or in front of a mirror taking mirror selfies, you can find Erin spending time on the water, cuddled up with her two pups and husband most likely watching the latest Shark Tank episode, or getting lost in an easy beach read.
