Episode Transcript
[00:00:01] Speaker A: Welcome back to Integrative lyme Solutions with Dr. Karl Feldt.
[00:00:05] Speaker B: I am so excited about the show.
[00:00:07] Speaker A: That we have ahead of us.
[00:00:08] Speaker C: We have some phenomenal information that could save lives.
[00:00:13] Speaker B: You're gonna need to tune in to what's going on today. The information is jam packed, so don't step away.
Hello. Thank you so much for joining Integrative lyme Solutions with Dr. Karlfeld. I am your host, Dr. Michael Karl Fe Belt. I've been in clinical practice since 1987. I've seen pretty much everything under the sun, worked with so many different Lyme patients, and I know what a devastating disease this is. That's why I'm doing this podcast to make sure that you are armed with the information that you need in order to be able to be successful in your struggle with Lyme. We'll be featuring authors, doctors, professors, and also people like yourself that have gone through the journey that you're going through, that have been where you've been and is now on the other side. And they get to tell their victorious story as to how they battle Lyme so that you can implement that in your life as well.
Be sure to like us and write a review on whichever platform that you're listening on. What that does is it enables other people to see us more so that they have access to this information as well. So I'm so excited that you're tuning in and get ready for this upcoming show. It is going to be amazing.
Well, I have the absolute pleasure of having Athena Brownson with me here today. Thank you so much for spending some time with me.
[00:01:49] Speaker D: Oh, it's. The pleasure is all mine. I couldn't be more excited. And so, seriously, thank you for all you do. It's truly inspiring.
[00:01:57] Speaker B: Oh, thank you. And you, I mean, you have quite a journey. I mean, you were, you know, pro athlete, skier, real estate tycoon.
[00:02:09] Speaker D: Yes, I like that. Real estate tycoon.
[00:02:13] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah.
[00:02:13] Speaker D: See?
[00:02:14] Speaker B: So tell me a little bit. Tell me a little bit about you before lime. Yeah. What was. Who were you?
[00:02:21] Speaker D: Yeah, so. And I like how you say that. Who are you? Because I think, you know, Lyme disease does cause reinventions of self and kind of metamorphosis. And, you know, I. That corny quote that when you tell the universe or God what your plan is, that they laugh. And I think that is. That's the perfect way to put what my journey has been, because, like you said, you know, I was a professional athlete. I grew up in a small mountain community called Breckenridge, and Here in Colorado. I now live in Denver, and I was on snow when I learned how to walk. So from the time I was, you know, two years old, my dad was a professional athlete, a professional speed skier, and I followed him around the world, watching him go down the mountain as fast as he possibly could. And I was addicted.
So before I knew it, at age 15, I went pro at skiing. And basically that just meant that I gained sponsorships that enabled me to pretty much travel the world, competing about 300 days a year.
So I was dedicated to the craft, my craft, to say the least.
But within that time period, you know, I think I learned the fundamentals that have actually really enabled me to get through what has been a very difficult journey. And. And you look at the principles of athletics and it's, you know, resiliency and grit and the art of showing up and the art of. Of believing in yourself.
But with that also came, you know, quite a bit of physical trauma. I blew nine knees during that time period. I broke my neck a couple of times.
So I was very familiar with battling, you know, physical ailments. But what I was used to was, okay, you blow an acl, if you do A, B and C, you're going to get better. You'll heal this.
And that was, you know, being that I was a professional athlete, my body was. Was a temple, truly. I was in peak physical condition, even, you know, rehabbing through injuries, and I almost felt like the energizer bunny. I look back now at my day skiing, and it usually consisted of a 5am Wake up and then go to the gym and get loose for the ski day, be at the chairlift by eight, ski till five, and then go back to the gym and work out for a couple of hours and then probably go be social. Now the idea of doing any of that today makes me want to cry because the amount of, you know, the amount of energy, it's hard to even relate. So it. It really has been a metamorphosis. And yet now it was about. I was about 25 years old. So about a decade ago, my doctor looked at me and he said, athena, you're going to need a knee replacement before you're 30, if not two knee replacements. You know, this is something you might want to think about, hanging up your ski boots.
And, you know, I begrudgingly decide, decided that it was probably time that, you know, I needed to preserve my ability to use this body of mine in the future.
But, you know, I always had that athlete in me. I always had the.
The need to just really take care of myself.
So unfortunately, when, you know, when things started to change with my health, which we can get into, it was a very, you know, a very much so an identity crisis. And I think that's something that so many patients of going through Lyme encounter is truly a loss of identity. And what I've found is not so much that it's a loss of identity, but it is a metamorphosis. It is a change in ident because the grit and the resilience and the determination that it takes for anyone to really battle this is something that is so admirable and such, you know, it's such a difficult feat that I have so much love and compassion for anyone that's going through Lyme and anyone that loves someone going through Lyme, because it is something that. That almost feels that it robs your identity, but really, you know, it's building an identity that you don't even realize during. During. And that's the journey I'm on currently.
[00:07:14] Speaker B: And. And I. And I hear that again and again. And I mean that. And frequently. What's interesting is that, you know, the people that develop Lyme tend to be the type a type of people. I mean, they are the high achievers, the drivers. They're fascinating to see.
[00:07:34] Speaker D: I honestly, I'd say it's the trauma, laughingly, because, you know, I think there. There is a underlying current current of, you know, high performers where we have put our bodies through the max that they can be, and we are perfectionists. So mentally, it's, you know, never enough and never enough, and you're constantly looking to gain perfection. And, you know, I look at the things I have learned about myself personally through this battle with Lyme, and I don't think that I would be the person that I am today or have learned, you know, the. The things about myself and the traumas that I've needed to heal or I am healing and just an awareness of self and body that I have gained through Lyme. And I wouldn't wish it on anyone, of course, but at the same time, I know that I will come out of this a better version of myself because of everything that Lyme is teaching me. But it is. It is really, you know, a lot of fellow limeys that I meet are all very type A like myself. So that's interesting to hear.
[00:08:49] Speaker B: And so here you are. I mean, you hung up your skis.
Were you starting to notice symptoms already at that time or when where were you at in your life? And all of a sudden you know, things you start to worry or wonder, you know, what was going on with your body.
[00:09:07] Speaker D: Yeah. So hindsight, you know, is, it's very, it's interesting as I, as I really learn more, have learned more about Lyme, because I, you know, have never even seen a tick in my entire life, let alone been, you know, aware of a bite. And I. Obviously that is the case for so many people.
And I think that's really important to point out is that, you know, sure. You know, just last week my dad was bit in Colorado where they say there's no Lyme, but there is and had the classic bullseye. And I told him to immediately go to the doctor and, you know, he is able to treat it, but for the good majority of people, Lyme really creeps up on you, I believe. And that was the case for me.
[00:09:56] Speaker C: Hello, dear listeners, this is Dr. Michael Karlfeld, your host of integrative Lyme solutions. Today I'm excited to share an exclusive opportunity from the Karlfeld center, where we blend healing power of nature with groundbreaking therapies to combat Lyme disease and its associated challenges.
At the Karfel center, we're not just fighting Lyme, we're revolutionizing the way it's treated with cutting edge therapies like photodynamic therapy, full body ozone, IV therapy, silver IVs, brain rebalancing, autonomic response testing, laser energetic detoxification, and more. We aim to eradicate Lyme. Our approach is comprehensive, supporting your body's immune system, detoxification processes, hormonal balance and mitochondrial health, ensuring a holistic path to recovery. Understanding Lyme disease and its impact is complex, which is why we're offering a free 15 minute discovery call with one of our Lyme literate naturopathic doctors. This call is your first step towards understanding how we can personalize your healing journey, focusing on you as a whole person, not just your symptoms. Our team, led by myself, Dr. Michael Karls, is here to guide you through your recovery with the most advanced diagnostic tools and individualized treatment plans and supportive therapies designed to restore your health and vitality. Whether you're facing Lyme disease head on or seeking preventative strategies, we're committed to your wellness. Take the first step towards reclaiming your health. Visit us at thecarlfulthscenter.com or call us at 208-338-8902 to schedule your free discovery call.
At the Karlfield center, we believe in healing naturally, effectively and holistically. Thank you for tuning in into integrative lyme solution with Dr. Karlfield. Remember, true health is not just the absence of disease. It's achieving the abundance of vitality. Let's discover yours together.
[00:11:57] Speaker D: So, you know, looking back, I definitely started experiencing some neuropsychiatric issues while I was finishing up my college degree.
And with how quickly these symptoms onset. Just a lot of depression, anxiety, and I've always been a very upbeat, pretty happy individual. So this wasn't something that I was accustomed to, but I figured I just needed to go to therapy. Maybe it was the depression of losing part of my identity as an athlete and trying to find my place in the world, but I really believe that's when, you know, I was very, you know, very stressed out in school. Being a perfectionist, being very high achieving, I wanted everything to be absolutely perfect.
I put a lot of pressure on myself. Absolutely. But where it really came to a head was I needed to have another neck operation.
And when I was recovering from this neck surgery, I had a couple of synthetic discs that put in my, my upper cervical spine.
And it, you know, the surgery went off beautifully. I. The pain that I was experiencing, I woke up, I remember, and it was gone for the first time in years. And, and it was just this breath of fresh air. Well, as I started to recover from the surgery itself, I started to get all of these very, very strange GI infections and things that I had never experienced and things that, you know, a normal, healthy young adult who, you know, especially with, with an awareness of health that I had shouldn't be getting. So, you know, E. Coli, Sibo H. Pylori, you name it. I started having all of these very difficult, you know, gastrointestinal issues alongside extreme fatigue, which was new to me because I had never been some, you know, I was someone that could sleep four or five and then go do incredibly the next day.
[00:14:09] Speaker B: And you're still in your 20s, you know, so it's not like you're in your 50s or 70s, you know, you're still in your 20s, when people should still be able to rebound very easily.
[00:14:21] Speaker D: And I had rebounded so easily prior, in prior surgeries. So it was very clear to me that something was wrong in my body. And, you know, it's easy at first to attribute it to, okay, I just had, you know, a neck operation, but at the same time, my, my neck, my spine was feeling so good and the pain that I was experiencing there was gone for the first time in years. And it, it was such a contradiction in my head of, okay, you know, the surgery that I just had I'm feeling really good, but the rest of me feels absolutely horrible. You know, I was having a hard time keeping food down.
I was losing weight rapidly. And I, you know, I always say, like, I feel like the. One of the luckiest sick people because I went into my neurosurgeon and I expressed to him what I was experiencing. And, and he, I, you know, is. Is an amazing practice. Lyme literate doctor, which doesn't happen, you know, very often.
[00:15:33] Speaker B: And he actually had a neurosurgeon that was Lyme literate.
[00:15:37] Speaker D: He had. Had Ly. He had Lyme himself, and he was a patient of Dr. Kindlender. So he had, you know, he had. He had Lyme and Babesia and Bartonella and had been treating it for years. And. And he looked at me and said, I really think you should, you know, test for Lyme and co infections.
And I thought he was nuts. You know, usually it's the other way around that the doctor thinks you're nuts, which I've also experienced. But I looked at him and I, you know, first of all, I knew almost nothing about Lyme disease, but I said, I've never even seen a tick. I've never been bit by a tick. Like, there's no way.
So really, I got the blood work done to appease him.
But what came back, you know, I'll never forget the day that I got my results back. Back, and it was so blaringly obvious that I, you know, had very.
I mean, Lyme was. Was quickly deteriorating my thyroid and my gastrointestinal system. You know, I. I was very quickly developing autoimmune diseases, and it was Bartonella, Lyman and Babesia. And that was, you know, that day changed my life forever, both for the good and for bad. But it's something that. That, of course, will never forget.
[00:17:06] Speaker B: So, I mean, yeah, you're extremely fortunate. And then he.
I mean, he was. And his doctor is essentially. And we've interviewed him a couple of episodes ago, he's one of the leading kind of Lyme literate doctors here in the United States.
[00:17:26] Speaker D: He's absolutely incredible. And, you know, I. I really believe that having practitioners that have had experienced Lyme or at least have experienced a large number of patients, so that they have that compassion and that empathy is something that is so vital to the patient. Because, you know, something that really dawned on me while I was. While I was listening to the last episode that you did with Dr. K was it's oftentimes that, you know, we're.
When you're. When you have Lyme, you're doing everything you can to look ahead and to get your mind, you know, away from spiraling downwards because it's, it so easily does.
But we also forget the severity that neuroinflammation has on our psychiatric state. So being able to have a, you know, an advocate, an ally, a practitioner that understands the, what your brain is, is going through. And, and you know, Lyme is something that is so difficult to articulate, not only because it is, you know, it comes with so many symptoms and, and creates so many issues, but because it does cause neuroinflammation. And you almost lose your ability, you know, with brain fog and, and the ability to articulate what you're going through becomes very difficult and very lonely.
And I think the, you know, the majority of, of doctors, and I have seen plenty of doctors, for example, the Mayo Clinic looked at me and said, go to a psychiatrist. I said, I've been going to a psychiatrist for years, but thanks. They're like, Lyme disease doesn't exist. Like chronic Lyme is, is not real. And, and I'm, I'm sitting here saying, okay, so you're going to tell me that I went from being, you know, one of the best athletes in the world at my sport to, you know, barely, I mean, at the time, barely being able to be even in a, in a hospital room because I was so sens. Sensitive to EMF electromagnetic frequencies that I would get physical burns all over my body.
So you're going to tell me that that's psyche? Yeah, I mean, there was a good, you know, I've, I've been battling this for about nine years now. And you know, I have so much hope and I, and I'm so inspired because when I look back, you know, six years ago, I was living in an RV that was not attached to any electricity because if I was in an environment that had LED lighting or refrigeration, if I touched my phone or computer without protective, you know, gloves or in basically a protective blanket, I would literally just get electrical burns that would start bleeding all over my body.
So I literally had to live in an RV that wasn't attached to electricity or wi fi in a remote area for, you know, over six months.
And granted, at that time I was still. I would put on my gloves, I would put on my fair fair day blanket over me basically, and I would write million dollar real estate contracts. And I truly believe that having, you know, real, so real estate is something that I had just become very successful at when I was Diagnosed with Lyme, I had been in real estate about two and a half years. I had finally found my stride. I, you know, it takes a little while to get going in real estate and I, I fell in love with the opportunity to really help people through one of the, what can be one of the most stressful, largest transactions in their life. Buying, selling or investing in a home.
And I was finding that this relationship based business and this ability to really walk people through this journey and, and create a relationship that lasted long past the closing table.
Anything home related that they ever needed, they knew that they had an advocate, they had an ally.
That, you know, that ability, that job, the, My career was so fulfilling to me that when, you know, as I got sicker and sicker, I did have practitioners say, you know, you should probably go on disability.
And for me, being someone that has always been very, you know, driven by doing, I needed to be doing. And I knew that if I did not keep my mind engaged, if I did not continue to do something that brought me fulfillment and truly purpose because it, you know, it is a career that is so often looked at as like a corny used car salesman. But I think that anyone that's worked with a real estate agent that truly cares about what they're doing can attest to the, how significant that impact can be. And I knew that if I gave that up that my mental health was just going to go so downhill that I didn't know that I would be able to get my, my physical health back. Because you know, I, I firmly believe that they go so hand in hand.
And the, the more that you can keep your mind engaged, the more that you can find purpose, the more you can find your why the more you know you're going to be able to self motivate and the, the more you have a reason to get out of bed in the morning.
And what I've found throughout this journey is that we have the ability to create, you know, our own toolkits for how we're going to get through the days that don't feel doable.
Because anyone that is suffering, you know, from Lyme knows that just the simple act of waking up in the morning can be the most difficult, you know, thing imaginable. I had years of sleeping through, I'd set like 50 alarms all over my room and my body was so fatigued that I would sleep through all of them. So if I had something important to do, I would have to have someone come physically wake me up in the morning because otherwise, you know, my circadian rhythm was thrown so off by Lyme that I was, you know, I became a vampire. Basically. I was up all night and just couldn't wake up in the morning. So I, I, I realized that we have this ability alongside treatment, of course, to create a toolkit of okay, what is it going to be that helps me get up in the morning?
What is it going to be that motivates me to take a shower? How am I going to keep myself, you know, on track for, for just checking off my, my goals? Like, did I drink enough water today? And I, I, I put together what, what I call my greatness tracker. And it goes through not only the things in business that I want to accomplish each week. You know, how many phone calls do I want to be making, how many face to face meetings with past clients or current clients, how many dinners or lunches?
You know, these would give me tangible goals that for work and that I could accomplish. And a coach taught me this.
But then I started to add in, you know, all my physical goals. So did I, was I able to get out of bed before 10 at the time? And I did so by learning that I would blast my favorite music and then eventually my favorite music was going to get me out of bed. You know, was, did I take all my supplements? Did I, did I, you know, do ozone therapy or did I do hyperbaric chamber? Because there are so many different modalities of, of health that we need to follow that it can become really cumbersome. And I think if you create it into almost a challenge for yourself of, of something that you can check off and, and that you're physically, you know, you can see yourself accomplishing these things, it creates a reward system in the brain that becomes motivating and you start being your own motivation. And how can I be better than I was last week? How can I just be a little bit better tomorrow?
[00:26:35] Speaker B: Yeah. So this toolkit, and I think that's huge that you establish these kind of small routines that become so important because otherwise you don't have that, that kind of keeps you moving forward in time because you kind of in some way just kind of get frozen, get stuck, and then it doesn't feel like any progress. And that impacts you emotionally, mentally so much if you don't feel that you're moving towards something.
[00:27:07] Speaker D: Yes. And honestly, that's something I still struggle with. And, and I think that, you know, that is a lot to do with the mental work that I still do have ahead of me is I was trained from such a young age. That by completing, you know, by performing well as an athlete, as a student, whatever it may be, that was how I was gaining my, my self worth. And when, when you're not able to be constantly performing and when you're not able to be doing something all the time, I mean, the amount of time that, you know, it feels almost impossible just to trudge through your own brain. I, sometimes I relate it stuck in a bowl of Jell O trying to swim and it's, I'm not going anywhere. And that's, you know, that's really, that can be very disheartening for anyone is to, to not feel like you have the ability to self motivate. And I think the art of learning grace and the art of learning to listen to your body is something that I was never taught and something that I'm, you know, continually learning now. Because there's a very fine line between, yes, we do need to have these toolkits and the ability to, you know, keep ourselves moving forward so that we don't get stuck. Because it is, you know, almost.
It can feel impossible not to get stuck. I promise you, it, it is possible.
But there's such a fine line between continuing forward movement and also not, you know, listening to your body and understanding when you do need rest and understanding when you do just need to be a blank television screen and stare into the, you know, into the ethos. And I think that every, every individual is going to. Is different, of course, but like you said, finding these routines that, you know, okay, if I'm really struggling mentally, this is something that really brings me fulfillment or helps me to get through difficult times. For me, it's, you know, journaling and writing my affirmations, writing out my goals and writing out everything, you know, that I'm feeling. Being able to try to put pen to paper and express everything that, you know, Lyme entails because it is, it can be such a lonely journey because it's so difficult to articulate and it's so hard for people to relate to because they just simply, you know, I wouldn't understand this whatsoever had I not been going through it. So, so if, if you create, you know, your, your go tos for how I can get myself through the most difficult of days, whether that's mental or physical, you're giving yourself a gift. And even if that day means I need to do nothing and I need to can, you know, cancel whatever meetings I have, I need, I, you know, I need to take care of me today. And that's been the most Challenging part for me is, is understanding that that's not defeat. That's actually courageous to say. I. I'm going to listen to my body today. It's telling me no. And as much as I want to push through and try to just grin and bear it, there's absolutely no point in doing so because you'll be mentally not present when you're, you know, doing whatever it is that you're needing to do or wanting to do, but you're also going to be physically, you know, taxing yourself. And. And that's a difficult balance to find.
[00:31:16] Speaker B: I. I would think, Sami, because you. Yeah. Like, you're saying the importance of kind of advocating for yourself and drawing those lines, but then at the same time, yeah, you. You want to evolve in a certain way to be able to walk a little bit further, to maybe being able to read a little bit more or being able to what. Whatever it is that you're wanting to evolve in and to find then that line, I assume, is so challenging to know when to say no and then also know when to kind of push yourself a little bit for your advancement, so to say.
[00:31:57] Speaker D: Exactly. And it. It. You know, I. I just finished reading the book Atomic Habits by James Cleary, and he talks about just the art of. Of trying to show up 1% better than the day before.
And I, I truly think about that every day. And one of my business coaches says, you know, consistently to me, you never know the day that you're going to wake up and you're going to meet the person that changes you, changes the rest of your life. And that could mean you meet a practitioner that has a different, you know, protocol that's going to work for you, because everyone is so different that finding the right, you know, the right protocol is a journey. And it's trying one thing at a time and understanding what's working and what's not working, but having the awareness of, okay, how can I be 1% better tomorrow than I was today? Because.
And that might even look like, okay, I'm going to be 1% better by resting. And I'm just going to, like you said, read a little bit extra today, or I'm going to take the time to meditate, or I'm going to take the time to journal whatever it may be like. This does not have to be a external accolade of I, you know, I went to the gym for 20 more minutes, even though that isn't a huge accomplishment. Great. Count it. But, you know, we have to understand that every single day, we have the opportunity to, you know, potentially do something or meet someone or have a breakthrough. That's going to be the day that everything turns around. Just like the day that, you know, people receive that diagnosis of, you know, and probably don't understand how life altering it's about to be. I sure did not.
I, I didn't realize this. I don't know if you can realize, you know, until you start, until it's happening to you.
But just like that day, you could have a day that everything, you know, starts to go in the other direction. And that doesn't mean that it'll happen overnight, unfortunately.
[00:34:15] Speaker B: I mean, people, when they get the diagnosis, they feel relieved. Great, now I know what I have.
So now we can just treat it and get rid of it. Not recognizing, like, what you're saying, the tremendous journey, once the diagnosis is made, to really get to the other side.
Because it's not, not, it's not an easy one and it's not a clear cut one.
It's. And it's not one that, you know, it's the same for everybody. This is what you do and then you get better.
Each one is very unique in their journey.
[00:34:55] Speaker D: Yeah, and that's something that was very difficult to come to grips with for me because as I said, you know, in my previous issues with health, which all tended to be, you know, orthopedic injuries, I was very accustomed to a, a doctor saying, okay, you know, after surgery, you're going to go to physical therapy and you're going to be doing A, B and C, and then, you know, you'll be back on snow in five to six months. So I was very used to a clear cut path of, okay, this is how I get better. And if I'm going to do this process perfectly.
So when, when I started to learn more about Lyme and when I was experiencing new symptoms, you know, almost monthly, it felt like something new was, was going wrong in my body. And there were so many question marks, even for, you know, some of the, the most Lyme literate doctors in the world. I mean, Lyme disease is so unique in the way that it affects everyone differently. And there's no one size fits all. There's no such thing as if you do, you know, at least with chronic Lyme, if you do A, B, C and D, you're going to get better because there's no, you know, it's almost like a snowflake. There's no case that's the same. It's. And that's why I'm so Honestly grateful for.
For people like you that take the.
The journey with patience of getting back to wellness, because it is.
It's not a quick journey, and it's so.
It's so difficult to comprehend that you're experiencing this ailment and you're feeling so bad for such a long time, yet you still have to find a way to, you know, have hope.
Because when you lose, and obviously some days and some months will be better than others. And I think it's really important to also allow yourself the opportunity to mourn the loss that you experience with Lyme, because you. You do lose, you know, a version of. Of yourself, and it's okay to mourn that, but the importance of not getting stuck in that mud and not losing hope and, And. And truly becoming, you know, so overwhelmed by. By how you're feeling mentally, physically, you know, even spiritually.
It's so difficult to not, you know, want to just get, like, throw it away and lay on the couch for forever.
But what I've. What I've found personally is that when we do find some form of. Of purpose and of helping others, whether, you know, that's through your work or maybe it's connecting with other people that have Lyme or whatever. Whatever way that you. You have to give, I found that the more that we're able to think outside of ourselves, the more that we're able to heal honestly. And it. It allows you to just stay in a. In a headspace of, you know, it doesn't necessarily always look like positivity, but it is a. In the world of Lyme, to be able to have any. Any positive thoughts and any hope and to get up every day, I think, is a huge win because it's not easy to. To do.
[00:38:45] Speaker B: And you were. I mean, yeah, this journey is so lonely, like you mentioned, because it's so hard for people around you to understand what you're feeling, what you're going through, unless you experience it yourself. I mean, what kind of support system were you able to develop?
Because I know that is so important for so many people.
[00:39:11] Speaker D: Yeah, you know, it's. It's so true that it is one. It's almost. It's another devastating loss is. Is realizing that you don't have the ability to express fully what you're experiencing.
And that can be maddening, you know, not having the ability to have the. The people around you fully understand what the severity of what you're going through. And. And I think because Lyme is, you know, not talked about enough and, like, it is so different in everyone that there is no real knowledge, like external knowledge of how severe it is and how hard of a battle it is. And I went from, you know, I actually, in hindsight, I understand this is a gift, but I went from being a social butterfly that had, you know, 40 acquaintances and I was constantly doing things, my calendar was book, book, book, to very quickly realizing that those 40 acquaintances went away the second that you're not, you know, able to show up for the fun.
But then you realize who your tribe is.
And, you know, in life, I truly believe that all. All you need is a few people. You know, whether that's your family, whether that's your chosen family because they're such close friends, whether that's a support group or fellow patients, whoever that may be. Having just a handful of people that at least have the ability to listen and through listening can gain empathy or they are also experiencing chronic illness potentially. But for me, you know, something that's been really beneficial is with my. With my tribe, I like to say my, My closest, which is, you know, my parents have been incredibly supportive and my.
My business partners are incredibly supportive and a couple very close friends.
But it's been helping to educate them on what I'm going through. So sending them podcasts, sending, you know, books that have or. Or medical journals or anything that. That expresses what you're going through or explains what Lyme does to the body and to the mind.
You know, people don't have this education, so if. If they don't have it, how could they truly be there for you as a support system?
So something that is, you know, very tangible and that. That we can all do is say, hey, this podcast really explained well what's going on with me neuropsychiatrically. So it'll give you a little bit of insight into maybe why I have a short film fuse or why I struggle with depression or why I get such bad anxiety before we do these things, because people will, you know, it without that context and without the. The framework of education, you know, it's very easy from the outside to say, look at Athena. She's, you know, being insanely angry and ragey. And I don't understand, you know, why she's so upset. Upset about this. Well, little do you know, do they know that when you're suffering neuroinflammation, you know, Lyme rage is a thing. And my, you know, there are going to be days where my nervous system is so taxed and I'm already in such a state of fight orf flight, that my resiliency, my ability to handle external stress, stressors that are coming in, which can look like, you know, something that might not feel like a big deal whatsoever from the outside can feel like the end of the world to someone whose nervous system is already at its max.
So if I'm providing, you know, something that's not just me saying, okay, I'm really angry because I have Lyme disease and you don't understand what it's like my mind, you know, I feel like I'm gonna lose it, and I am losing it. No, but if. If they're hearing it from even an. An external source, whether it be another patient or a doctor or just learn, like, understanding what Lyme does to someone's brain and body and mind and spirit and soul is something that is the most valuable gift you can give to those who love you so that they can give the gift back of. Of grace and of understanding. And, you know, I. I spent years of feeling a lot of resentment towards the. The. My loved ones because they didn't understand.
And I was so, you know, I had a lot of anger that, you know, I'm going through something so horrible.
Why do you not under. Like, do you not understand this? Like, how can you not understand what's going. But how would anyone understand?
So if we can be proactive by providing tools for our support systems of. And this could be something that you ask your practitioner, you know, like, what are. What are your favorite books about Lyme disease? Or. I'm, you know, for me, I have to. I know that if I'm not going to therapy and, and doing, you know, talk therapy and emdr, and if I'm not meditating, if I'm not really being diligent about how I'm taking care of my mind, that I'm going to be so much more prone to, you know, Lyme rage or to depress waves of depression. But I think it's really important to educate your loved ones about what you're going through so that they can help you get. Get out of that place, too, when you're in it.
[00:45:30] Speaker B: Yeah, that. That's so important and that, you know, building up that resilience, you know, through this whole journey is not easy. And then. And. And then also in regards to, you know, removing that state of isolation, so to say, because you feel so lonely and feel so isolated, you know, that's why, you know, groups, you know, different groups. But also that's one of the reasons we do these kind of podcasts, you know, so People can see that. Yes. What I'm feeling is not abnormal. You know, I'm not strange, I'm not weird. I'm, you know, this is, this is okay, you know, I don't need to question, you know, what my journey and thinking that, you know, this is so, so different than what other Lyme sufferers are dealing with.
So, you know, removing that level of isolation and understanding that this is a journey, that's sad to say. Yeah. So many people are going through. I mean, Lyme has been just exploding.
[00:46:39] Speaker D: It's the fastest growing, growing epidemic in the United States right now.
And I think the amount of education and awareness of it is probably lower than any other, you know, chronic illness. I mean, it's, it's heartbreaking and it truly is one of the most isolating, lonely experiences. And, you know, it's very difficult not to get stuck in that loneliness. But when you, when, you know, I can't tell you how many episodes of your podcast I've sent to my loved ones, because when you're, you know, actively seeking to connect with someone else that's going through something similar to you, which for me, you know, actively connecting is listening to a podcast and, and having that, you know, mind blowing moments of, oh my gosh, I experienced that too. Or, or I'm not crazy. This is something that this person has gone through too. And this person, you know, it starts to, you start to, you know, have validation that what you're going through because, you know, as much as you want to say you don't need the validation to under of what you're experiencing because you're experiencing it, but your mind, it, it really plays tricks. It's. It. You, you almost can't believe that you feel that bad and that the. Is, do I really feel this bad or is it in my head? What, you know, how is it possible to be feeling so horrible? Like, it can make you feel definitely crazy and alone. And, and when you hear someone that's going through something similar and they have, you know, articulated what you're experiencing and you have the ability to say, you know, here's this piece of. This is what I'm going through here. Like, please listen to this.
And you know what? The people that love you and the people that are your support system and your tribe, they can't wait to listen because they want to understand you, and it doesn't. You know, I think that Lyme does a great job of allowing your brain to play tricks on you because it really does feel at times like no one wants to understand me or no one will ever understand me or people don't care enough or whatever it may be, but people really just don't have the, the resources. They don't know where to look for. How do I understand what my loved one is going through? And you know, I have so much love and respect and gratitude for, for anyone that is, is in relationship in some way with someone that's experiencing chronic illness like Lyme, because the amount of, of, you know, compassion and love and grace and empathy that, that can go into that is, you know, it's something that takes a big person. And there are a lot of people out there that want to be that person for you. They just don't know how yet. And I don't think we understand how to, to enable that person to be there for us until we start hearing how other people are doing it and what other people are experie.
So the more that we can, you know, share our stories, the more that we're able to connect, you know, connect with people through podcasts, through books, through public speaking, whatever it may be like, let's all support one another by telling our stories so that people gain that educational awareness of, of this absolutely terrible disease.
Because that's how we're going to get through it is, is through having amazing people around us.
[00:50:35] Speaker B: And how do you, I mean, you, as a youngster, I mean, you had this strong purpose of this is who I was, this is who I'm going to become.
How do you feel that this has changed your purpose? I mean, what, what do you feel your purpose is now?
[00:50:52] Speaker D: Yeah, you know, the, that this journey has transformed me or is transforming me. I believe it's in, in in such huge ways that it's, it's almost hard to articulate.
I, I know for a fact that I would not be the character and, and the, the. The woman that this is turning me into is someone that I'm so very proud of. And I, I look at my, you know, my past life, I almost say, and so much of my self worth and my fulfillment came from external accolades in performing and what I've truly, you know, and I also didn't have the ability to spend any time alone. Like, I hated being alone. I wanted to be around people all the time. I had a fear of missing out on everything.
I was very uncomfortable by myself. I never, ever would have addressed, you know, childhood trauma that I had experienced. And Lyme has really, you know, it's, it's allowed me to slow down and to look within and really understand the wounds that are there that are not just from Lyme, but from a lifetime of, you know, of injury and of trauma and the PTSD that comes with it. And. And a lot of, you know, I. I don't think that I would have ever taken the time to truly recognize these wounds and begin to heal and transform them had I not got in line.
So when I, you know, although real, you know, it's real estate, and it can sound like such a external again, you know, accolade.
Sure. If I was. If I was selling houses, just to say I sold this many houses a year and I'm at the top of this list and I'm at. Then, yes, definitely, that would probably be very similar to how I was getting accolades in. In my previous life of skiing. But what I have truly learned is, is my purpose is in. In giving people and. And giving people the support that they need and giving people a safe space. And giving people, you know, a safe space to. To express their stress. Express. Express whatever it is that they're going through during a really monumental period in their lives. It creates this very authentic, very vulnerable relationship that will last a lifetime. And these relationships and being able to guide people through something that can be really taxing is something that brings me so much fulfillment because it's. It just leads to. To deeper, genuine, authentic relationships. And I really believe that, you know, I'm extremely open with my clients, my, you know, my company, my business partners about my journey with Lyme disease. And everyone, you know, that I work with knows that four days a month, I'm going to be getting plasma transfusions followed by ivig.
And, you know, that's where I'm at right now, and it really wipes me out. So for those four days, you're most likely going to be working with one of my business partners.
But being able to be in a space where I. I feel comfortable, you know, being vulnerable and saying, hey, this is where I'm. What I'm battling.
I, you know, but I'm. I'm going to be here for you. And I also have a team by my side, so we'll never let the ball drop. But it create, you know, it brings the human element to a world of business that can feel very transactional. And I think that bringing that human element and almost the. The compassion and grace that I've learned for myself to those that I'm working with has been one of the most fulfilling journeys imaginable. And honestly, it's. It is what keeps me getting out of bed in the Morning. No matter how crummy I feel, because I get to work with people that I care about and that I know care about me also.
[00:55:35] Speaker B: Yeah, because you're. You're developing then, real relationships instead of just creating a. A Persona that you think that you need to be in order to be able to be liked and appreciated, you're. You're actually having to be. Be real. And the people that.
That stay with you are the ones that, you know, that like the real you.
[00:55:59] Speaker D: That was so beautifully put. I have goosebumps, and it's so true. You know, the. The facade I look at most, you know, my life before Lyman, I had a really beautiful facade of success and of. Of being the best and being a social butterfly. And I had a lot of acquaintances.
No real, you know, very few genuine, real relationships. And I. I really needed that, you know, external, like, acceptance from a large number of people that didn't matter.
And now, you know, I look at my life now, and 100%, the people that I do business with, the people that I do life with are people that I am vulnerable, authentic, and I am myself. And if they are willing to be there by my side and to work with me, or then those are my people. Those are the people that I want to build relationship with. Those are not the people, you know, the people that want a facade or, you know, an external, you know, maybe a different Persona that you create are not the people that are going to be by your side. Well, when you're going through your most difficult days, and I say that because I've had clients that come visit me in the hospital.
I mean, my company, the. The company I work for, Compass, it's the largest real estate company in the United States. When I was hospitalized for a few months about three years ago, they went and interviewed and hired an assistant for me because I didn't have the ability to do it at the time. And they found someone that was, you know, that was so unbelievably incredible.
So find, you know, finding those places where you can be vulnerable and you can be, you know, very real with what you're experiencing and.
And the people that reciprocate that care and compassion and want to be there for you, you know, become very evident. And I think that's a beautiful gift in life.
[00:58:19] Speaker B: Is there anything. I mean, obviously we. We haven't touched much on. On your kind of your. Your healing journey. I mean, kind of the practical aspects. I.
I felt that this was so much more important, and the. The emotional, the.
The kind of the resilience. Aspect, the routines, rituals, what kind of drove you further in that area. But is there anything else that you feel is really important that the listeners that you would have liked to have known when you were diagnosed?
[00:58:55] Speaker D: Yeah, first of all, just. Just giving yourself the grace and the space to understand that, you know, this is not something that is easy for anyone, and it does feel extremely isolating. But the more that you can build your. Your tribe and the more that you can build your support system around you, the, you know, not the easier, but the more doable everything is going to be. And, you know, I think one of. One of the biggest things when I got Lyme, when I was diagnosed that I never in a million years would have even sunk to understand was just the complexity of Lyme. I had. No, you know, I didn't. I. I almost wrote it off to the point where I didn't want to know anything about it. I was almost afraid of understanding what Lyme was, and I also didn't understand the severity of it. So it took several years before, I mean, I was seeing amazing practitioners. But because I didn't give myself the understanding of what Lyme was and why it is so complex, I wasn't giving myself the full opportunity to find healing because I wasn't invested in the protocols that I was going through. I was just trying to get the protocols done. I wasn't present in understanding what all what factors went into.
Okay, how is this protocol, you know, working? How is it, is this not a protocol that's working in my body? I did not have the awareness to self evaluate and say, you know, this is what's going on in my body. This is what we're trying to treat it with, and this is how I'm feeling, you know, each day. And then actually like, really comprehending and understanding what is going on in your body.
I think it's really critical to, to have an awareness and to ask questions and to seek out research and knowledge and to read books and to listen to podcasts about Lyme and what it entails and what other people's journey has looked like, what has worked for other people. You know, what are your specific issues and how are you going to tackle them one by one? And, you know, I really, really did not have any understanding for years about what I was facing. So I was just going through the motions instead of really being invested in my own wellness. And when I say investing in your own wellness, it's, you know, what are the tools that you're using to keep your mind in a In a good, safe space.
How are you nourishing your body?
What are you doing to keep your gut, you know, healthy? What. What are all of these factors that are going to support. Support you throughout your treatment?
Because if you're not looking at the full picture, unfortunately, you know, I don't know that you. You get better until you do come to terms with what it is that you're going through and take the time to really understand, okay, I'm treating this with this tactic because, you know, Babisia has done this, or, you know, I'm fighting. Fighting Bartonella by doing this, but then also being, you know, your own advocate and expressing to whatever, you know, practitioner you're. You're seeing. And I highly recommend, you know, talking to multiple until you find the right fit for you, because you want this person to be someone that you feel comfortable talking about all of your vulnerabilities to and expressing, you know, day to day, what's going on in your body. Because if. If you have an awareness that, you know, what I'm going through is not just a hurt that this. This treatment is not right for me, then you need to pivot and. And there are options for many things. And I think until you truly dive into what happens when you're killing off these infections, then it's really difficult to have any, you know, any sense of what's going on in your body. So I would say study up, my friends.
[01:03:43] Speaker B: Oh, thank you. Well, Athena, what a journey. And thank you for sharing this powerful message of encouragement, of direction, of hope.
Thank you. Thank you so much for what you're doing and for what you're bringing to the world.
[01:04:02] Speaker D: No, thank you. Honestly, it's such a pleasure and I'm so very grateful for everything that you're doing for all of us, Limey. So, so thank you very much.
[01:04:12] Speaker B: Thank you.
[01:04:21] Speaker A: The information. This podcast is for educational purposes only, and it's not designed to diagnose or treat any disease. I hope this podcast impacted you as it did me. Please subscribe so that you can be notified when new episodes are released. There are some excellent shows coming up that you do not want to miss.
[01:04:38] Speaker B: If you're enjoying these podcasts, please take.
[01:04:40] Speaker A: A moment to write a review. And please don't keep this information to yourself. Share them with your family and friends. You never know what piece of information that will transform their lives. For past episodes and powerful information on how to conquer lyme, go to integrativelimesolutions.com and an additional powerful resource lime for Lyme support and group discussions. Join Lyme Conquerors Mentoring Lyme warriors on Facebook. If you'd like to know more about the cutting edge integrative Lyme therapies my center offers, please visit thecarlfeldcenter.com thank you for spending this time with us, and I hope to see you at our next episode of Integrative lyme Solutions with Dr. Carl Felt.
