Comments by Michele Waterman

Showing 7 of 7 comments.

  • Alex,
    Thank you so much for sharing your story with me. I feel very supported knowing that I am not alone in what I experienced on psych meds over the last 16 years. I am very happy to hear you are doing well and that the universe has guided you to a path of purpose and passion that allows you to share your experience, strength and hope with others while maintaining your authenticity and integrity. I got accepted into Santa Clara University in 2015 to finish my masters in counseling psychology. I had a major panic attack as I stepped into the room for new student orientation. I thought there was something wrong with me. Yes, it unearthed unresolved trauma stored in my body. Yes, it brought to the surface my struggles with learning differences (dyslexia). The truth is, my body did me a favor moving me away from traditional mental health. My dad was very sick at the time, in the hospital and entering the last phase of his transition. I used that as an excuse to defer my studies and then soon discovered that traditional mental health and counseling wasn’t really going to align with my career values (creativity, connection, communication, collaboration, and prosperity are my top 5 career values which don’t line up with becoming a MFT). Today, I am a mindset empowerment coach, trainer, author, speaker, and mental and emotional wellness activist. I meet people where they are. I help them release and let go of what no longer serves them, support them to align with their values, and create a compelling vision for their future. I help people with lifestyle detoxification and share lifestyle medicine strategies and daily self care practices that harmonize the body/mind/spirit. My focus is working with women in recovery from alcohol and addiction. This population is frequently encouraged to seek outside help for depression and anxiety in early recovery (as was my story). Most women as them detox off of alcohol and drugs will go through some type of mood imbalances. Those that seek traditional psychiatry are typically sold a story that their addiction, depression, and anxiety can be explained by brain chemistry imbalances and remedied by psych meds like SSRI and other antidepressants and in some cases anti-anxiety meds that are extremely addictive. The trouble I have with antidepressants is that most psychiatrists will tell their patients that antidepressants are not addictive and habit forming. That may be true from an addiction model of the world (phenomena of craving and compulsion to use) but that isn’t true from the standpoint of what is happening with the brains and its dependance on the psych meds. I am very happy to know the truth and that the universe has supported me in attracting a kick ass holistic team of natural health care providers and practitioners. I know I am on the path of optimum health and I plan to share my story and hope with anyone that will listen. Thanks again for sharing your story and for your words of support and encouragement.Take good care of yourself. Namaste!

    Report comment

  • Hi David,
    Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging feedback.

    I am curious to know how you are working with people in recovery. Many people that are recovering from addiction need help for various traumas and medicating their symptoms in my opinion, is NOT the answer. EMDR is an amazing therapy to calm down the nervous system as is tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique).

    I am a mindset empowerment coach in California and I work with people in recovery that are ready to take their healing to a whole other level by addressing a comprehensive lifestyle detoxification and employing holistic approaches to harmonizing body/mind/spirit. I have a podcast program that I am launching next month. Perhaps you would be interested in being a guest on my show. It’s called Radical Joy Radio. Feel free to connect with me by sending me an email message from my website http://www.michelewaterman.com.

    Again, thank you for your kind words of encouragement.

    Report comment

  • Thanks for sharing your feedback and link. I am just at the beginning of the journey as a mental health activist and advocate. Once I have healed my mind/body/spirit connection and I am completely off these soul sucking psych meds, look out world, because here I come to shed some light on the truth!

    Report comment

  • Thanks for your feedback. It is outside of my scope of practice as a certified professional coach to encourage you to get off psych meds. From one caring human being to another, and as an empowerment and mindset coach, you may want to get clear on your intention, whatever that may be, so the universe can get behind your decision and support you. If you want to taper off meds safely, the universe has your back and will connect you with the right support and resources. 30 years is a long time, I completely appreciate your concerns and hesitation. There are holistic psychiatrists and naturalpaths out there that specialize in helping people like you and me. Dr. Brogan is a great resource! I would never suggest anyone in your situation attempt tapering without the support of a trained medical doctor. Good luck to you.

    Report comment

  • Hi there. Thanks for your feedback. I’m using a holistic protocol – basically radical self care (I spend time with my family every day, I exercise regularly, I do a forgiveness practice called ho’oponopono every night, I do a daily gratitude meditation, I spend time in nature with my goats, chickens, dogs, cats, and ducks). I’ve done an extensive lifestyle detox and I use lifestyle medicine. I’m in recovery (I haven’t had a drink for 16 years). I eat a very clean diet; good food = good mood. I don’t eat sugar, dairy, corn, soy, or gluten. I work with a holistic psychiatrist that specializes in helping women taper safely off of psych meds (Dr. Brogan). She has done blood work and we have determined which systems in my body need extra support (through supplementation), I do kundalini yoga (a very prescriptive yoga that aligns the energy centers in my body and assists with the detoxification, I just bought an infrared sauna, which I will use daily. As you may know, psych meds and other toxins get trapped in our visceral fat so I have to commit to a lengthy detox process to rid my body of these mind numb and havoc producing invaders. I also do daily coffee enemas which detox the liver, increase the production of bile, which helps with digestion, and it activates my parasympathetic nervous system, which increases calmness and peace in my nervous system. I also work with an ayurvedic doctor in San Jose, CA. He is an MD and naturalpath. He did additional testing and found that my liver isn’t working properly–no surprise after taking my psych med cocktail for 16 years. If you have any other questions, feel free to email me at [email protected] or visit my website http://www.michelewaterman.com.

    Report comment