Unable to find something that checked all the boxes, I began making my own nutrition bars with clean, whole food ingredients. I took it a step further and included multiple amazingly beneficial adaptogenic foods, in the form of functional mushrooms. These powerful fungi have been a part of my diet for years, and I firmly believe in their ability to strengthen our physical and mental health.

What I discovered was nothing short of life changing. I learned how real and powerful the mind-body connection is, how neuroplastic pain works, and about the process of neuroplasticity. The most important finding was that this process can be used to heal physical pain. Through practice with a few different techniques, it became very clear that my back pain was not the result of a physical ailment. But a protection response that had become hard wired into my nervous system. As I continued leaning inwards, getting vulnerable, and discovering outlets of self discovery, I began feeling profound positive change. For the first time in years, I experienced relief and a sense of empowerment. This is an ongoing journey to this day, but this mind-body approach, paired with two other natural remedies, have guided me back towards living the life that I love.