vestibular migraines and beyond


Health happens in our habits... Let those healing habits be a light in your life.  Let them be the promise you make to yourself that you believe in healing and thriving with your vestibular something and beyond.  And if you need to refine or create them, now is the time to start.  Healing comes through habits and you have control over those.  What a beautiful thing, friend.  Even in the heartbreak of a vestibular something there is light.

Keep following it.

​Over five years ago, I lost my wellness in a flash.  I blinked and it was gone without warning or explanation.  I sat in front of my computer in an intense panic trying to figure out what the hell had just happened.  
Why did I feel off kilter?
Why was I no longer grounded?
Why were my eyes struggling to focus on my computer screen?
So many whys...

I've shared my story extensively on Vestibular Warrior YouTube, the mind and body experience in my book and all things holistic wellness in this space, but my mission now is to share what created the health I have today.  It probably goes without saying that sharing is therapeutic and I know if you've journeyed with a vestibular something then you know the weight of it.  

It was shackles that I had to learn to break free from.  Shackles that I no longer carry.  Once in a while I feel a pang - a reminder of the weight of the vestibular something - and it only further ignites my fire to elevate my wellness every day through the actions I take.  

Because my recovery did not happen overnight.  It happened in the new health habits that I created and committed to over and over (and over) again.  Even when I wasn't sure what was helping, I made a promise to myself to commit to my health habits every day: eating to nourish my body, supplements to fill the gaps and support, pure plant oils for emotional and physical support, movement to cleanse and release the trauma... and other healing modalities along the way (e.g. craniosacral work, energy work, chiropractic work, meditation + neuroplasticity work).  

Daily health habits while trudging in survival mode.
Determination to heal the root cause.
A belief that we are meant to thrive in this life.
An intuition that there had to be a greater meaning to this vestibular insanity (as it felt in the derealization).
I share my below routine because it supports my glowing wellness every single day.  Remember, this is just my routine and what I've created and learned works best for me.  My goal is to feel amazing, so I experiment and figure out what works best in my world.  I've linked everything below to products and articles that I love.  If you want to support me and the Bliss Out movement, purchase your pure essential oils through the links below (and I so appreciate it!).  If not, I'm happy just to have connected with you.  I'd love to hear from you!
The first thing I do when I wake up is scrape my tongue and then brush my teeth with OnGuard toothpaste.  I apply Peppermint essential oil to my temples and the Balance oil blend and/or Adaptive oil blend to my feet bottoms.  I like to roll Adaptiv across my forehead and on the back of my neck (think, calming + empowering vibes- YES PLEASE). I then fill a glass with water and add 2 drops of pure citrus essential oils (lemon is a favorite of mine) to start the day with hydrating and cleansing goodness.  Within a half hour, I then drink celery juice and then tend to eat breakfast about 30-45 minutes after that.  I'm a fan of a big bowl of oatmeal topped with blueberries and a splash of maple syrup and cashew milk (or any plant-based milk).  I use a french press to brew either chaga, Rasa or a matcha latte (I heart these products) to warm my soul as I jump into the day.

For me it was hours, days, months and years of embracing a plant-powered diet and learning it was the foundation of my healing.  I started to touch recovery around 18 months in.  I felt myself stepping through my glass window (derealization) and my eyes seeing the world as they once had.  (Vestibular migraines are trippy, huh?)  I felt the light in my soul start to shine bright as I realized that all those moments of habits that I had made a part of my life had carried me to recovering my wellness.  There was no quick fix- just a rebuilding and intentionally creating health.  
I drink my superfood latte throughout the morning.  Often I'll eat a GoMacro bar or have a Minimalist Baker muffin if I'm hungry.  I make a point to keep drinking water too; although, I'm not always great at it (something I'm working on).  I use my essential oils throughout the day (some days every hour, some much less) and change my routine depending on how I'm feeling, but you can find my favorites here.

Midmorning I typically take an Adaptiv + Copaiba capsule to support calm vibes in my system.
At lunchtime, I take my supplements.  Beginning in the fall of 2016 I started taking supplements consistently for the first time in my life.  I took the Vegan doTERRA Lifelong Vitality Pack for three years and then experimented with Medical Medium protocols to further support my healing.  I know my body needed extra love and I continue to listen to what it needs.  Vestibular conditions don't happen overnight even if the symptoms appear out of the blue.  I knew my body had been drained from this health crisis.

Most days either midmorning or around lunch time I drink a nourishing plant-based smoothie.  I'm also a big fan of the REBBL plant protein elixirs.  I like to get in a 15-30 minute walk.  I walk around the city, listen to a podcast or music, and enjoy the fresh air.  You'll notice that I eat pretty light during the day.  That's just what works best for me.  I tend to lean towards a Vata dosha (find out yours!) and the way I eat is what makes me feel my best.  Of course there are plenty of days that I cook a delicious, more substantial meal or get plant-powered takeout. 
Dinner is always delicious plant-based meal.  I truly believe that food is meant to fuel my heart and soul.  I love running around with my boys after dinner (and getting dessert).  I tend to keep our house stocked with Oh She Glows desserts for good measure.  On the weekends I like to cook a soup/stew or two and have the freezer stocked for easy workweek meals.  I'm also a lover of Thai food takeout, curry dishes, nachos, burritos and falafel wraps with hummus.  Man, I'm hungry just thinking about all that nourishing fuel!  I stick to a vegan diet (which I embraced in 2009) as you've probably noticed.  I talk all about nourishing health here.
Before bed, I take PB Assist (probiotics) and oils internally to support my health and set the stage for happy sleep.  Most nights I take Turmeric and Copaiba softgels before bed (anti-inflammatory powerhouse).  Before bed I'll create relaxing vibes with a diffuser.  I try for an epsom salt bath 1-3x/week which is dreamy and soothing.  I'll dry skin brush before a bath/shower. As I climb into bed, I'll apply oils topically as needed, often the Adaptiv Touch blend on my wrists to promote calming/centering energy.

In December 2016 I bought my first kit of pure plant oils.  I was in the deep darkness with the vestibular storm and I needed a natural healthcare system.  I certainly had no idea what I was doing when those beauties arrived but oh boy did I learn!  I bought The Essential Life book and just started learning, experiment, building confidence, creating empowering vibes in every facet of the vestibular darkness.  This habit became (and continues to be) a huge light in my life.  It's why I share the oils lifestyle today.