About Cypress Knees

During the summer of 2012, at the age of 38, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. At that time, I was married, and our children were ages 4, 8, and 11. This was a season of life characterized by activity and fullness.  The digestive condition I had personally endured seemed to jeopardize managing the responsibilities I was faced with. My heart was wholly invested in my family.  There was a powerful pull for me to be present for them, yet there were days when getting out of bed seemed an impossible feat. 

The experience of “dis” ease had created feelings of isolation and undermined confidence. Productivity became compromised, and my mental health was challenged immensely. The joy I once experienced when eating became nonexistent. Eating behavior leaned far to the point of over-restriction and fear. Food has ties to tradition, culture, heritage, and comfort; its role is far greater than sustenance. I believed my relationship with food had been damaged. 

My perception of my own health was impacted negatively.  I had allowed flare-ups to embed more fear. There was a bidirectional relationship between mind and gut that would play out in the ebb and flow. The condition caused doubt and worry, contributing to stress in the system. That stress seemed to exacerbate the condition. Back and forth we went.  I assumed that the cycle had been established.

I felt defeated by the condition and heavily identified with being sick.  It seemed that my identity was being redefined in profound ways and that my sense of control and agency was slipping from my grasp. Anxiety and sadness would weave in and out of my life story for a full decade. I would rejoice in days of remission, and then the rug would be pulled out from under me.

Upon diagnosis, I began to treat the condition with healthy, whole foods, then over time, introduced mental health support.  Therapy encouraged me to cut off relationships that posed a threat to my mental health. Gradually, I turned to a spiritual path for my healing. The answer was a holistic approach, one that encompassed all aspects of our being human. 

I am drawn to a calling to help others manage and cope with digestive illness. I listen and gently honor approaches that resonate with each client’s unique needs. Whether you are at diagnosis, just beginning to adjust to living with digestive illness, or you’re a seasoned pro, we are here to offer support and love for your ebbs and flows.

Warmly,

Jeanine