π‘ the dirt on...why getting sick gives us goldfish brain (and how a user manual can help)
A resource for taking care of yourself when you donβt have any spoons to take care of yourself
The Dirt is a free biweekly newsletter for wellness-curious, eclectic, fun, smart humans who love plants, pop culture, and entertaining perspectives.
Hello there, Friend,
Iβve been sick - a lot.
If you don't believe me, here's a compilation of what a quick search of the words "sick" and "mom" yielded in my text messages:
π So, Iβm pretty much a pro at being sick.
That's how I initially entered this line of work - by learning how to take care of my own sad, sensitive body.
And hereβs one thing Iβve come to know about sickness:
Sickness never shows up alone. It always comes hand-in-hand with itβs best bud, Pain.
Pain looks different depending on the ailment - it can look like head pain, back pain, achey pain, crampy pain, or my favorite: existential pain.
π§ And pain is known to do some wild things to our memory.
Pain will have you more forgetful than Dory from Finding Nemo.
When we are sick, pain reduces our ability to pay attention, impairs our decision-making abilities, and interferes with our spatial memory (like where we put the dang keys).
And after being sick, with the best of intentions our little olβ brains wants to protect us from our pain by suppressing, re-categorizing, or just flat-out changing our memories.
π€·π»ββοΈ What does this mean for folks with chronic illness?
The thing about chronic illness is if youβve been sick with that ailment once before, chances are that at some point in the future, youβre going to be sick with it again (even if you do all the thingsβ¦because sometimes, life just happens).
And, when you were sick that first time, you may have found the perfect combo of supports to make you feel a bit better (a few of my go-tos are vitamin D, ginger-lemon tea, and Americaβs Got Talent golden buzzer moments on repeat).
BUT, because of the impact of pain and sickness on memory, chances are, next time youβre sick, you wonβt remember those uber helpful things.
So, the next time you have an IBS flare-up, thereβs a pretty high chance youβll be sleuthing the internet for solutions on the squatty potty, all the while forgetting that the bone broth and boswellia felt super good in your tum tum.
π£ This is why I believe ALL folks with chronic illness need a user manual.
A user manual is typically a guide providing instructions on how to use and service a particular thing, like automobiles (think of the untouched one in your car's glove compartment, buried under fast food napkins).
In the context of a user manual for you though, this is a document that outlines the things you need to service yourself.
A personal user manual helps keep tabs on exactly what you and your bod need to thrive, because when we know what has or has not worked for us, itβs easier to make informed, feel-good choices in the future (and to share this with our loved ones when we donβt feel good so they can support us too π).
π A Wellness User Manual will track things like your:
βΒ Star Players: What are the foods, herbs, practices, etc that need to always be prioritized and why?
βΒ Hard Nos: What are my hard nos, the things that I just donβt do under any circumstances for my health, and why?
β¨Β Uniquely Me: What are the quirky parts of my needs or wants that others might not get, but that are actually super important to me and my well-being
π§Β My Vampires: What sucks the life out of me, or drains me, as it relates to my health/sickness/etc, and whatβs the helpful reframe?
πΒ Phone-a-Friend: Who do I call when I need some extra TLC?
πΊοΈΒ Want a starting place to build out your user manual?
I created a Notion dashboard full of digital portals for keeping tabs on exactly what you and your bod need to thrive. It includes a User Manual (with questions to guide you in tracking your wellness wants and needs), a Goals & Habit Tracker, an Herb & Supplement Tracker, a Symptom Tracker, and much more:
Ciao bella, Andie
The R.E.P.O.R.T.
an eclectic wellness-adjacent roundup of whatβs good on the web
Called-out is an understatement - this book served me a mirror and said βI believe you are the one sabotaging your most successful, creative self.β A must-read for anyone that has ever gotten sick right after a breakthrough moment of joy or success.
π READ The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level
Is it anxiety or your blood sugar crashing? Is nerves or a lack of nourishment? Anxiety is very real and should not be minimized and-and-and, there are very real connections between skipping meals and increased anxiety, depression, and mood imbalances. So please, please - eat that fricking breakfast!
π₯‘ EAT Breakfast (and hereβs more on why)
Autoimmune disease doesnβt guarantee that youβll bruise more easily than a 5-day old banana, but it can increase the odds, and I do a shorty little video to explain whyβ¦
πΊ PLAY TikTok on Why Autoimmune Disease can Lead to Bruising
SCENE: Cozying up in your softest loungewear, you turn on your favorite record, light up some candles, have some chocolate and your CBD-infused beverage on hand, and settle into a Netflix & Chill-for-one, indulgent AF kind of night (or, at least, thatβs this playlistβs vibe).
πΏ ON REPEAT D&Bβs Mixtape #03 - The Bedroom Baddie
Weβve got to protect each other out there, folks. The spicy virus is still circulating the world and while itβs now a regular βround town, for some of us (i.e. chronic illness cuties), itβs still a menace that can really mess up months to years of our lives. So, when in doubt about that tickle in your throat, stay home please, or at least wash and mask up, my friends.
π RECOMMEND Cute KN95 Masks
Check out the free.99 User Manual (aka Notion dashboard) full of digital portals for keeping tabs on exactly what you and your bod need to thrive. It includes: a framework tracker (for keeping track of your astrological chart, human design, gene keys and more), a goals and habit tracker, an herb and supplement tracker, a symptom tracker, and more.
βοΈΒ TOOLS A Guide to the You-niverse: A Wellness Portal to You (Notion Dashboard)
βHappiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony.β
- Thomas Merton
Work with Me:
πΏ Learn More About 1-on-1 Functional Nutrition + Herbal Coaching
β Book a Free Discovery Call
Try this Visual Vibe on for Size:
Weirdly Relatable Closing Thought:
π Say hi online!
π‘ Drop by Our Digital Home (aka website)
πΈοΈ Hang out in the Social Sphere
β Book a Free Discovery Call
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or medical provider. The information provided in this document is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any decisions regarding your health.