This June marks a major milestone for me: one year since I started my journey into studying Holistic Nutrition.  It’s a bit surreal to think I’m already a third of the way through.  I have two years to go, though depending on how life moves (and how many times I have to re-read the same page), I could end up finishing sooner.

I chose an online program because, let’s be honest—I’m a mom first.  I need to be there for my kids when they need me, and the ability to go at my own pace has been a lifesaver, though, ‘going at my own pace’ often looks like a lot of stops and starts. It’s been a year of eye-opening wonders, deep frustrations, and some very hard-earned lessons.

​When the Textbook Becomes Your Life

The most incredible part of this year has been realizing that I’m not just studying theory; I’m studying me!

I can still recall how studying the module on hormones felt less like school and more like reading my own diary.  Everything I was reading was exactly what I was feeling at that same time. It was as if the timing was planned; just as I was entering perimenopause. Seeing exactly how our systems can get out of sync gave me so much relief. It gave me a sense of control again; I finally understood what was happening and, better yet, what I could actually do to help myself feel human again.

​The Mind-Body Breakthrough

But as much as the physical science helped, the most profound moment of the year didn’t come from a chart or a supplement list. It happened during my Mind, Body, and Spirit module.

I had to complete an assignment and I shared my personal experience with Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN), and my instructor’s feedback on that assignment actually moved me to tears. She pointed out how, in the metaphysical framework of teachers like Louise Hay, facial nerve pain and inflammation can reflect deeply suppressed emotions—specifically anger connected to feeling hurt, rejected, or feeling shame.

The face represents our identity and how we present ourselves to the world. Inflammation there can suggest a silent inner conflict: the struggle between expressing our authentic feelings versus maintaining harmony.  Reading that was spot on.  I realized how much of my life I had spent staying quiet and putting everyone else’s peace above my own.  It ignited a deeper passion in me and made me realize, more than ever, why I want to do this job. I want to help others uncover these same connections in their own lives—to show them that our bodies aren’t just ‘broken.’ 

​The Brain Reboot

While my soul was busy having this big awakening, I have to be honest, my brain was struggling just to keep up with the basics. Science was never my forte to begin with, and trying to master biochemistry in the middle of a perimenopausal fog is a special kind of challenge.  There are days when I’ll read a full page, get to the bottom, and realize I didn’t actually process a single word. My brain just… slides right off the information.

I’ve found myself reading the same paragraph four or five times, just waiting for my brain to ‘reboot’ so the words finally stick. I won’t lie – when I opened my textbook to a full-page spread of the Periodic Table, I actually cringed. (Flashbacks to high school chemistry, anyone?) Juggling the complexities of biochemistry while trying to remember the kids’ practice schedules and where I put my keys? Honestly, it’s a miracle I remember my own name some days. If you see me staring blankly into a corner, I’m not ‘finding my zen’—I’m just trying to remember if I already ate lunch or if that was just a dream. LOL!

The Big Vocabulary Heist

In 2024, my nerve pain got so bad that I had to do something I never wanted to do: I started medication.  My doctor picked a “mild” option, but it still turned me into a zombie.  I didn’t just “nap”; my entire system went offline, and I passed out every day for the first week.

Even when I was awake, the brain fog made it hard to find the right words. I’d be in the middle of a sentence and completely lose my train of thought. It got to the point where my family and friends were basically playing a constant game of ‘fill-in-the-blanks’ for me.

​Me: “Can someone pass me the… you know… the cold-box-thing with the milk?”

Kids: “The refrigerator, Mom.  It’s called a refrigerator.”

I eventually had to stop the meds because I wasn’t even operating at half-capacity. I took about three months off to rest, taper off, and get myself back together.

So here I am—one year in.  I’ve learned that healing isn’t just about the right protocol; it’s about the courage to look at the suppressed parts of ourselves and the patience to honour our bodies when they need rest.

​Salt & Soul Tips

• Salt (The Science): My biggest takeaway this year?  Your nervous system isn’t just a bunch of wires; it’s a living record of your stress. When we are in a constant state of “fight or flight,” our body prioritizes survival over healing, which can make nerve inflammation feel impossible to calm down.  The science shows that we can’t just supplement our way out of a stressed system—we have to actually signal to our brain that we are safe before the healing can really start.
• Soul (The Wellness): Practice “Unmasking.”  If my nerve pain is flared, I will ask myself: “Is there something I’m not saying?”  Giving your emotions a “voice” (even just in a journal) can help lower the mental tension that turns into physical inflammation.  You can’t pour from an empty cup, and you certainly can’t stay focused when your soul is screaming for a nap!