Stress LessHow One Woman Is Using Her Personal Struggle With Mental Health to Help Others
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By Rebecca Schonfeld, NLC
I’ve suffered from anxiety and depression my whole life.
During high school, I was in and out of therapy due to deep-seated anger. In college, I struggled to the point that I was living on one Snickers Bar a day.
After I was finally diagnosed and prescribed medication, I had ups and downs, but I eventually married an amazing man and got pregnant with my first child.
Unfortunately, my pregnancy was terribly difficult, and I sunk deeper into depression. In my third trimester, I took myself to the psychiatric ER and begged them to admit me, put me to sleep, and wake me up when the baby arrived. Of course, this did not happen.
Eventually, I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, and it was as if my depression magically disappeared.
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A few years later, I got the courage to go through another pregnancy, but 10 weeks in, I had a miscarriage and had to undergo the trauma of a D&C procedure. The details are still foggy, but the day after, I found myself sitting next to the East River telling myself I couldn’t handle the pain of life anymore. Somehow I called my mom (although I don’t remember it), ended up in the ER, and confessed that I was having suicidal thoughts. I was then admitted to a psychiatric hospital.
It was during this tragic, scary, and confusing time that I was finally able to begin turning my life around.
With the help of doctors, therapists, medication, and support, I found the help I desperately needed, changed my perspective on many things I had felt for so many years, and shed the anger I had harbored for too long. I started to realize the effects a healthier lifestyle had on my mental health as well. I found yoga, practiced healthier eating, and enrolled in The Nutritious Life Studio to learn more.
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That was two years ago, and now I’m thriving. I’m healthy, can accept the hard days and embrace the easier ones, and I’ve begun my own health coaching and wellness concierge service—so that I can help others who struggle with mental illness the way I have.
Participating in The Nutritious Life Studio Certification Program was one of the many incredibly impactful steps I took that led me to such a good place. With support from Keri, the Become A Nutrition Coach (BNC) Team, and the incredible community of my fellow BNC alums, I know I’m on the healthiest path I’ve ever been, and I’m excited for the future.
To hear more of my story, watch my in-depth interview with Keri, below.
Find Rebecca at rebeccaschonfeld.com or on Instagram at @rebeccaschonfeld.
(Featured Photo: Shutterstock)
The Nutritious Life Editors are a team of healthy lifestyle enthusiasts who not only subscribe to — and live! — the 8 Pillars of a Nutritious Life, but also have access to some of the savviest thought leaders in the health and wellness space — including our founder and resident dietitian, Keri Glassman. From the hottest trends in wellness to the latest medical science, we stay on top of it all in order to deliver the info YOU need to live your most nutritious life.
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