My Story - Part II
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and includes the opinion of the author. Information is not meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness or disease. It is simply information found through experience and/or research. Always follow the directives of a licensed health professional. Neither Anita Bastian or the publisher of the information takes any responsibility for actions readers take in regards to how they use or perceive the information. Readers are encouraged to do their own research
As many of you have already learned, when we battle health issues, there are almost always multiple factors that contribute to our current state. There is not just one thing causing us to struggle or feel tired all the time. It’s far more likely that it is a combination of factors. But no matter what your struggle or set of circumstances, as long as there is life, there is hope. We now have new multi-faceted natural solutions that didn’t exist a few years ago. You may not feel perky YET, but keep on keepin’ on. You can. It is possible to overcome more than you know.
My struggle was over the course of decades. Once I got to the heart of my problems and incorporated cellular-based solutions, my return to health was expedited! Don’t get me wrong - I am still seeking to optimize my function. But I am oodles better than I was 20 years ago. I am truly grateful. That is part of the reason I now do what I do. People need to know. There is hope and effective solutions. With God, ALL things are possible. Our brains can work better. Our bodies can recover.
If you haven’t read Part I of My Story, please jump back to it by clicking here. Now on to the rest of my story…
In June of 2009 my family and I relocated to Minnesota (from Wisconsin) due to a job change for my husband. I motored along pretty well. I was always cautious about not over-doing-it. I would still get fatigued easily, but could function quite well as long as I was careful. The electromagnetic sensitivity persisted. We used the old-fashioned corded phones.
Within a year I was back in the classroom teaching second grade half days, and by 2013 I was teaching about 90% of the day. I could tell that the longer days were starting to wear on me and the increase in electronics and WIFI in the school was taking its toll. I was feeling more and more drawn to pursue natural techniques to support students. There were always those dear kiddos that would struggle to learn or pay attention. It didn’t seem like any of the strategies were making a real difference in their lives. They would move from one grade to the next with the same learning issues. It was heart-breaking. The combination of my health and desire to pursue this, lit a spark within me. After nearly two years of deliberation, prayer, and research, I resigned from teaching once again. This time to become trained in brain integration (2014-15). Basically, brain integration is a natural technique that involves using muscle testing and specific acupressure protocols to enhance brain function.
In the spring of 2013 while I was still teaching, I had my first experience dealing with shingles. Within the course of the next 5-6 years, I developed shingles about every 9-15 months. The last round of it was by far the most excruciating. The nerve pain was so bad that my body jolted from the pain for several days as if I had been shot with a taser. I never want to experience that again!
In early December of 2015, I was curled up on the couch reading a book, and reached behind my left shoulder to itch. My hand came back bloodied. There was a circular opening about the diameter of my pinky finger that had opened up. After 2-3 weeks, it still had not healed. Over the course of several-months guided by a naturopathic doctor, I used products and ointments that assisted my body to eventually expel toxins from this area and heal. Crazy experience. My blood was sent to a lab overseas for analysis. Results indicated that my blood contained circulating tumor cells. I took the supplements that tested best based on their lab testing. Testing done a year later showed what I was doing was marginally successful.
In the midst of working through this, in January of 2016 we downsized the size of our house and community by moving about 20 miles south of where we lived. To save on the expense of moving I thought we could do the move by ourselves. We had three months to pack and prepare. Not a great idea. I could tell it was wearing me down. After the move, I had debilitating fatigue and relentless insomnia. The naturopathic doctor I was seeing said I had adrenal exhaustion that was affecting my heart. I was placed on bedrest for a few weeks and took natural supplements to support my adrenals and my heart while I was continuing to work with the open sore and blood issue. Gradually, I regained some energy. But again, I had to remain cautious so I wouldn’t slip back into exhaustion. I later worked limited hours at my office seeing clients.
The brain integration technique I was using in my practice yielded mixed results. A few clients had some pretty awesome changes that allowed them to function at a much higher level. Others didn’t really see much change at all. Several other integration practitioners were experiencing similar results. Something was missing. But what?
I later concluded that this technique worked well in the 90’s, but people are much less healthy now than they were then. A dear friend I made while doing the integration training, told me about Nutrition Response Testing®. (Shout out to Sandy!) She had completed the professional level training and was very excited about the results her clients were getting. She knew incorporating nutrition was right up my ally.
During my Pro Level training in January of 2019, I experienced another health setback that led to new and transformational understandings. A very traumatic event exposed my struggling heart. A Heart Sound Recorder showed that all four of my heart valves were not functioning well. I was experiencing numerous heart palpitations, intense fatigue, and what I call uncomfortable zings of electrical surges within my body. I literally slept between 15-18 hours a day! Often dozing during the ‘awake’ hours. I was crazy tired, and couldn’t concentrate. I was in survival mode again. It may sound strange, but I didn’t fret. (Maybe I was too tired to worry! 😊) God had led me to natural testing methods, and I trusted that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. He would get me through this. just like He has seen me through all the other health crises in my life. “Keep on keepin’ on. A little better every day,” I told myself.
I just needed to support my body with the tools to repair and restore my health. The very experienced practitioner I went to was just starting to use cellular-based products in her practice. (Praise the Lord!) I know that along with a healthy lifestyle, the program using cellular-based foundational products made the biggest change in my health. It was by far the biggest change I had seen in all the years of seeing different doctors, practitioners, and using tons of quality supplements. Truly a game-changer! Seriously transformational.
The products supported my innate ability at the cellular level to get toxins like heavy metals, chemicals, mycotoxins, Lyme co-infections, and parasites, out of me. There were MANY toxins in my bucket that had been there for decades in some cases. These were the underlying causes to why my health journey was such a rollercoaster. Many of the natural things I tried helped to some degree, but didn’t really address the root causes at the cellular level. Within about 4 months of following my program using cellular-based products, I was able to work limited hours. (I still struggled with sleep issues and fatigue, but I was able see a few clients.)
Of course I brought this cellular-based product line into my practice! I am always seeking the best and most effective options for my clients. Through this amazing journey of learning, unlearning, and relearning that I am still on – I get to see how kiddos and adults reclaim their physical health at the most foundational level – our cells. If our cells aren’t well, we aren’t well. As our trillions of cells are supported in getting toxins out and producing energy at the mitochondrial level—we truly can enjoy a deeper level of wellness. We can continue to optimize our brain health and overall wellness.
Along the journey, I learned to support my mental and emotional well-being. Some of the techniques I utilized were: Emotional Freedom Technique® (EFT), Emotion Code®, cranial sacral therapy, and HeartMath® heart-focused breathing. These techniques were used at various times to help push through and overcome bouts of anxiety that would occur as I worked through the layers of physical healing. All of these techniques support the parasympathetic system so that the body is more able to relax and heal. I found that as the body detoxes physical toxins, held emotional toxins may rise to the surface. These emotional supports are a vital part of the healing journey.
I remain grateful for the journey. The ups and the downs. The new understandings. The greater wholistic wellness I now have that allows me to enjoy a more active and fulfilling life seven days a week. God has seen me through it all. I will keep on keepin’ on in faith and in my healing journey to further optimize my health so I can be of greater help to others. Now I am more equipped than ever before to mentor people or provide resources to support their wholistic wellness – mind, body, and spirit. But something tells me the best is yet to come! I am committed to continue to learn and seek the best available tools and methods for my clients.
To be wholly well, I believe a wholistic approach is truly necessary. The more we nurture and support all aspects of our being, the better we can enjoy the life we were created to have. When we are grounded in faith and supported with the needed physical and emotional tools that work with our body’s natural detoxing mechanisms, we can achieve a much deeper level of wellness. Using cellular-based support, my training, and expertise, I have been blessed to see transformational changes in many clients during their wellness journey. By addressing underlying root causes and empowering clients with effective natural tools, they are now able to enjoy life and learning — without brain fog, debilitating fatigue, migraines, and attention issues.
Some have been able to safely wean off or be taken off meds by their physicians.. It is so awesome what the body can do when we honor how we are created and get our bodies functioning more the way God intended them to function.
What a joy and honor to come along side people and mentor them to greater wellness! Overcoming my mess has transformed into my mission. The journey may not be easy, but it is so worth it! You are fearfully and wonderfully made! The victory is yours; I pray you embrace it. There are people who are counting on you.
Blessings always,
Anita Bastian, Brain Health & Detox Specialist
Beyond Brain Integration LLC